Blogosphere

State Representative Todd Lippert comments on the inauguration, work to be done in the first 100 days of the new administration, his work on a bill to help farmers, and the Legislature’s work on climate issues.

Though picking up a book or reading about history online is quick and easy, Rice County Historical Society Executive Director Susan Garwood believes being able to see artifacts — the pieces of history — is what bring history to life.

The city of Northfield has agreed to pay approximately $24,000 to a former wastewater plant operator who alleged discrimination.

This week Rich is joined by the part time co-host of The Weekly List, Daniel G. Moir, to talk about the music and legacy of Phil Spector. And they get a little goofy, too.

The city of Northfield has tapped a longtime Twin Cities-based inspector to be its new building official.

If you have typed “home renovation” or “remodel ideas” into an internet search bar, the results were probably overwhelming. Not only that, but the options provided may not have aligned with what you’re looking for.   What if we told you that there was an easier way? Houzz is an online platform that blends the....

Between 1934 and 1945, many local advocacy and state legislative efforts were introduced to preserve the Nerstrand Woods as the last sizable remnant of Minnesota’s “Big Woods.” On March 28, 1945, the bill establishing the Nerstrand Woods State Park was…

1st story – tied for 2020 hottest – what did that result in? SW – driest and hottest Hurricanes – record number of named storms – warmer oceans means stronger and wetter 2nd story – factchecking We engaged on-line with a person who worried that our TCOE analysis did not cover an important feature –

By Rich Larson, News Director The City of Northfield is moving through a transitional phase with regards to funding road construction projects. In December, the City Council passed an ordinance replacing special assessments on a neighborhood or area that would benefit from road improvement, replacing that system with franchise fees that will be added to

<MP3 pending> Our first story – the State of the politics – and KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. Yale says – “people WANT government action” We have an all too human tendency  to prioritize current risks and discount future threats. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-voters/ Estimated 72% of US adults who think global warming is happening  (2020) (it was

This fall the Asian Conversations program will expand from one to two years of programming, specifically tailored to students with an interest in Asian cultures and languages. 

Undoing the big mess that tRump left, and already, a big improvement. SCROLL DOWN FOR BIDEN EOs. See that big pile of folders in the photo? Biden signed a couple handfuls of Executive Orders undoing some of the horrible ones tRump emitted. AND, the Biden administration already has the White House website up, with the “Presidential Actions” link back — Executive Orders are no longer hidden. As with the White House phone line, the White House website started out functional, but then the website wasn’t, the “Presidential Actions” section disappeared and it was very hard to find Executive Orders. The good news was they had to be published in the Federal Register, otherwise, hard to find! GO HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO FEDERAL REGISTER DOCUMENTS AND PUBLIC INSPECTION.

In January, 2017, right out the gate, tRump started in on his “Muslim ban” series of Executive Orders, and for every obnoxious EO, it was up to “someone” to challenge it in court, and challenge they did, over and over and over and over. It was so disturbing to me that I put together a site to track his Executive Orders and those challenges, and by April, I had to give up, there was no way to keep up with the flurry of the awful Executive Orders and lawsuits.

How many Executive Orders? 211 of them, and many perverse beyond belief. Click these links to review:

Trump EOs in 2017

Trump EOs in 2018

Trump EOs in 2019

Trump EOs in 2020

Does anyone remember how he campaigned against use of Executive Orders, over and over slammed Obama for use of Executive Orders?!?!

Here are a few blog posts from those daze, what got my dander up:

UPDATE! Minnesota joins Washington State against tRump’s EO 13769 February 3rd, 2017 tRump’s EO 13769, Norway’s former Prime Minister detained February 3rd, 2017 NY Federal Judge says NO! to tRump’s Executive Order January 28th, 2017 tRump bans immigration from “certain” countries January 28th, 2017

Here are the Biden Executive Orders posted so far — and the Muslim/travel bans, the issue most concerning to me, not that they’re ALL important — have been removed/reversed. Nothing’s come across in Federal Register for Public Inspection yet:

Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians

Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction

Executive Order on Ethic Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel

Modernizing Regulatory Review

Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis

Executive Order on Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census

Executive Order on Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation

Executive Order on Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation

Executive Order on Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security

Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing

Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States

Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

Regulatory Freeze Pending Review

And some “statements” issued:

Pausing Federal Student Loan Payments

Paris Climate Agreement

Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Morlan. They discuss American nuclear deterrence, the nuclear triad, and developments in nuclear weapons, policy, and strategy.  

St. Olaf College alumna Rachel Palermo has been named the assistant press secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris.

News with a Side of Sports with Tim McNiff and Jeff Johnson on Thursday, January 21, 2021.  

Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott discusses increase in scam calls and provides tips to avoid being scammed, and talks about the task force that is reviewing police policies.  The Task Force will give a presentation to the City Council in February. He also provides an update on plans for body cams.

The QAnon ‘Storm’ Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast

Former President Donald Trump did not declare martial law in his final minutes in office; nor did he reveal a secret plan to remain in power forever. President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were not sent to Guantánamo Bay. The military did not rise up and arrest Democratic leaders en masse.

Instead, Biden took the oath of office and became the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday.

And even more details:

Some QAnon followers lose hope after inauguration

QAnon supporters believed Wednesday’s inauguration was an elaborate trap set by the former president, wherein Democrats would be rounded up and executed while Trump retained power.

Rounded up an executed? And these are the folks who were “storming the Capital” two weeks ago.

And same goes for the Proud Boys, so disappointed, not getting what they wanted:

‘A total failure’: The Proud Boys now mock Trump

Even as coronavirus ravaged so much of the local and national economy, the housing shortage that has become an increasingly troublesome barrier to continued economic growth showed no sign of abating.

Behind every glass of milk, container of yogurt, slice of cheese or pint of ice cream, is a dairy farmer/farm family who shares a desire to provide others with responsibly sourced dairy foods.