Fred Rogers, from the beloved children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, once recalled how his mother comforted him during frightening times. “Look for the helpers,” she would say, reminding him of the people who, even in the worst situations, step up to help those in need. Many ...

Ann Patchett was an author of the book The Dutch House, which I wrote about for Books & Beyond in 2020. I’m always brought into her books the way she writes about life. Early in These Precious Days, c 2021, she shares with her readers what books mean for her: Books were not just ...

Ahead of the firearms deer season, I pondered over my nature. An excitable guy, subject to the throes of adrenaline and emotion, fidgety and talkative, it’s a wonder I ever got into deer hunting at all, especially the kind I now enjoy most. After a couple seasons of walking hunting, a ...

Last montgh, Hurricanes Milton and Helene devastated parts of the southern United States. As families evacuated and started to rebuild, firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel were a constant presence including the Minnesota National Guard who went down to help. This is what our ...

I recently took an exciting ride in a spendy vehicle, the kind that comes with a price tag well into the six figures. A Bently? A Rolls? A Dragon spaceship? Nope. It was my neighbor’s combine. Modern combines are a marvel of high technology. Their cabs feature multiple touch screens, ...

As a 24-year veteran of the Minnesota National Guard, I know that when you raise your hand to serve, you’re not just sacrificing your time. You’re sacrificing your health, safety, personal freedoms, and time with family in service to your country. Minnesota is home to more than 285,000 ...