This time of year, most Central Minnesotans see those five words as the final battle cry against Old Man Winter. After all, we just sprung ahead. While we definitely concur, we urge readers to hear “Let the sun shine in!” with a different ear — one tuned into the importance of transparency in ...

What do you call recent legislation to trim the central office at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities? A good start. The bill to trim the bloated central office of MNSCU, which has administrative oversight for Winona State University, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical and (gasp) ...

At least there is a somewhat new twist — albeit an ironic one — on legislative debate this session about an oft-heard proposal to allow Minnesota liquor stores to be open Sundays. The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association — the big liquor lobbyist at the Capitol — opposes the measure becau...

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WASHINGTON — A now-discredited report in Rolling Stone alleged that U.S. military officials in Afghanistan used inappropriate information operations techniques to try to persuade us, as well as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and others, to support additional resources to train more Afgh...

The beauty of the First Amendment is often most vibrantly expressed under the ugliest of circumstances. Such was the case Wednesday when the Supreme Court gave its blessing to the insensitive acts of a tiny church that has made a name for itself by mounting protests at the funerals of fallen soldier...

WASHINGTON —According to the annual Gallup poll of confidence in American institutions, the military ranks first, earning high marks from 76 percent of Americans, and Congress ranks dead last, at 11 percent.  To understand that 7 to 1 disparity, look no further than Wednesday’s hearing of t...

The news Monday was about as good as anyone could have hoped for. Minnesota’s improving economy has lopped $1.2 billion from what had been a projected $6.2 billion budget deficit for the next two fiscal years. Given that almost everyone in St. Paul agrees that the state won’t repay its $1.4 bill...

Regardless of what you might think about the political chaos in Wisconsin right now, there’s no denying that Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial union-busting plan would help put the Badger State back in the black. That’s more than we can say for a proposal to freeze the salaries of Minnesota’...

The Minnesota Legislature is chewing on the so-called “Cheeseburger Bill,” a piece of legislation that would prohibit people from suing food retailers for making them fat. Rep. Dean Urdall, R-Grove City, has once again sponsored the bill, claiming it is necessary to prevent frivolous lawsuits....