There's such a thing as vehicular homicide. I was almost hit crossing the street by Coco Moon by an oncoming small, white SUV turning from the intersection at the lawyers' office late Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota law says pedestrians have the right away and I did push the button for the walk signal but the walk signals aren't long enough for the traffic lights and you have to be a marathon runner-plus to cross the street. Brainerd really needs to do something with these walk signals and the police need to reinforce the pedestrian laws.

In the Sunday Dispatch a writer complained that Todd Dahl was unfairly treated when someone in last week's Open Forum criticized Dahl and his supporters for wearing campaign shirts at the "Walk in Her Shoes" fundraiser for rape and abuse victims. Both writers have the right to express their opinions but the one writer should have checked her facts when she went on to accuse sheriff candidate Eric Klang of doing the same thing at the "Race for the Cure." No one from Klang's family or campaign committee was at either event with campaign shirts on as she accused. I am privileged to work on Eric's campaign and he has specifically instructed us not to campaign at events that center around afflictions such as cancer, rape abuse or any other tragedy because many friends deal with these terrible things and the day should be about them. No one was at either of these events at Eric Klang's direction or with his blessing.

Peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, which are due to begin Thursday in Washington, won't succeed in finding a permanent solution to the conflict.

The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Board, like most units of government, has ample evidence that these are no ordinary times for public servants. Normally a board that operates without much fanfare or scrutiny, the park board has been in the spotlight of late as it struggles with how to meet the citizens' parks and recreation needs in an era of declining city budgets.