COLUMNISTS

Guest commentary: Bayfront Park a blank canvas; paint it wisely

The destiny of Bayfront Festival Park — possibly the most coveted, undeveloped urban land in all of Minnesota — rests with the Duluth Economic Development Authority, with city planners and with private developers. Will it become a sterling example of urban regeneration, community vision and innovation? Or will it just be an extension of Canal Park?

By Douglas Pazienza , March 08, 2010

Local view: The path to physical fitness begins with small STEPS

We all have them, or at least most of us do: reasons we can’t exercise. “There’s no time” or “I’m too out of shape” or “I don’t have the energy.” There are plenty of excuses, and that’s what made the third annual Walk a Mile in Our Shoes Walkathon at Udac so magical last month.

By Bobbie Lenz and Kathy Bray , March 05, 2010

Sam Cook: 7 days of sunshine makes one weak

We’ve made it. We’ve got another Minnesota winter on the run.

March 05, 2010

Local view: Obama betraying our trust

It is very hard for me to believe the president — our chief executive officer and commander-in-chief — doesn’t know he and his administration are headed in the wrong direction of governing this great and most generous nation in the world.

By Art Barschdorf , March 04, 2010

The Old Scout: An early whiff of spring

We have a good guy in the White House, a smart man of judicious temperament and profound ideals, a man with a sweet private life, a man of dignity and good humor, whose enemies, waving their hairy arms and legs, woofing, yelling absurdities, only make him look taller. Washington, being a company town, feasts on gossip, but I think the Democratic Party, skittish as it is, full of happy blather, somehow has brought forth a champion. This should please anyone who loves this country, and as for the others, let them chew on carpets and get what nourishment they can. End of sermonette.

By Garrison Keillor , March 04, 2010

Local view: State, federal agencies failing to protect lake from fish virus

The state and federal agencies responsible for protecting Lake Superior from the spread of invasive species, including the fish virus, are required by law to take immediate action.

By LeRoger Lind, Gary E. Glass and Gary Meier , March 03, 2010

Local view: Pawlenty budget proposal a recipe for disaster

A large part of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget proposal focuses on solving Minnesota’s budget deficit, including by cutting funding and services for the state’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens. His plan to cut at least $347 million from programs for people who are sick, aged, disabled or jobless is very poor public policy and a recipe for disaster if the Legislature cannot find better solutions.

By Jon Nelson , March 01, 2010

Educator's view: Government clueless on how to reform education

The U.S. Department of Education has a plan to reform President Bush’s “No Student Left Behind” education law. To the uninitiated, the slap-in-the-face reforms may sound like good ideas. They aren’t.

By Joseph Legueri , February 27, 2010

Local view: Green Jobs group aims to create sustainable local employment

How do we as a nation and local community satisfy our ever-growing demand for energy? Is it possible without destroying the air and water on which we depend? President Obama warns we are falling behind China and other nations in developing tomorrow’s energy sources.

By Tony Cuneo and Jeff Borling , February 26, 2010

We’re thrilled, every 4 years, by Olympians

The skaters Gliding. Gracing. Leaping. Landing. Spinning.

February 26, 2010

The Old Scout: Unreality is the current reality

Ever since that night in June when we filed onto the football field in our mortarboards and gowns and the distinguished speaker (what was his name?) informed us that we were entering a time of rapid and unparalleled change, we’ve been waiting and hoping, but here we are, all grown up, and the same soupy music is dripping from the ceilings of lobbies, the internal combustion engine rules the land, ditto the hamburger, fashion is retro, movies tend to be remakes, and Congress is more like itself than it ever was before. The same stuffed peppers are harrumphing and pontificating and posing for photos with the 4-Hers and the winners of the 2010 Western Regional Wiener Eating Contest and reading prepared statements on C-SPAN denouncing folks who would throw grandmothers down the stairs and meanwhile hustling the money and working the angles and keeping their eyes focused on their very own tasseled loafers.

By Garrison Keillor , February 25, 2010

Local view: Happy Thanksgiving

Today’s “Thanksgiving in the Spring” dinner at the College of St. Scholastica and how it feeds hundreds of people in need, both on campus and in their homes.

By Ruth Erdmann-Sluka , February 24, 2010

Column: On health care, just do it

Now that Obama’s health-care proposal is finally on the table, Democratic leadership in Congress can pass the thing — and quickly, or risk becoming the loyal minority.

By Eugene Robinson , February 23, 2010

Local view: Red Plan Plus reconfigures grades to save money

Red Plan Plus was officially presented to members of the Duluth School Board on Tuesday, Jan. 12, promising a savings of approximately $70 million over the anticipated cost of the Red Plan.

By Tom Boman and Tom Day , February 21, 2010

Local view: Other plans merely reinforce how good the Red Plan is

The Long Range Facilities Plan, often referred to as the Red Plan, continues to meet the goals set years ago.

By Robert Brooks , February 21, 2010