Human-caused global climate change is one of the most complex issues facing society today. It is a global problem felt on local scales that cuts across many dimensions — science, economics, society, politics, and moral and ethical questions. It is here today, will be around for decades and c…
It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since COVID-19 began to grip our state causing a major shift in the delivery of education to students. I recently read an article about education in 1937 during the polio outbreak. The photograph with the article showed several children hu…
The Legislature is into its second month and thus far I have managed to work both across the aisle and increase accountability in St. Paul. I’m proud to say a bill I co-sponsored last month with a handful of Democrats has already become law.
Minnesota is facing a youth nicotine epidemic and flavored tobacco products are the major contributor. Big tobacco has done an excellent job at making products affordable, attractive, acceptable and accessible for youth. In doing so they have been convincing teens and parents that vaping is …
First of all, thank you again for putting your trust in me to be your voice in St. Paul. Being the third generation Mortensen to live in Shakopee, it truly is an honor to be your representative. Of course, we aren’t all going to agree with one another and that’s OK. We just need to be tolera…
Personality, quality, and heart; that is what makes up a local business; it’s not about branding, celebrity endorsements, or labels. Small businesses have two priorities: what they do, and who they do it for. Their passion is their products and services, and the people they share them with. …
As 2020 draws to a close, I want to acknowledge and recognize the significant challenges we have all faced while doing our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We all have sacrificed so much. We will continue to be on guard throughout the vaccine period which will stretch into the new year
As a school board, we would have never guessed that we would have to grapple with a world-wide pandemic during our time on the board.
This was a year of firsts for the Shakopee City Clerk’s Office. It was the first time the city conducted the presidential primary, held absentee in-person voting at City Hall and prepared elections in a global pandemic. Through all these firsts, we want to acknowledge all those who helped us…
In the Community Health Assessment survey conducted almost two years ago, the residents of Scott County identified youth alcohol and drug use as the most concerning health issue in our county. As a result, Scott County Public Health applied for (and received) a five-year federal grant to hel…
Minnesota’s seasons can change quickly. It often seems that just when you get settled into a summer routine, summer ends. That was doubly true this year.
Benjamin Franklin once said that an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
March seems like such a long time ago when our staff and students were part of an abrupt change from classroom learning to distance learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the school year, we had visions of students returning to school on Sept. 8 like a normal school yea…
What will school look like for Shakopee Public Schools this fall? This is a common question and is currently on many minds.
As a young child I was taught the concept of head in the sand. At an early age I also realized the adage, never cry wolf, and its impact on our actions and lives. This summer began with an explosive mandate on recognizing racism for what it is and how it affects all of us, not simply people …
Chances are you spent the last 90 days at home, watching streaming services and eating more processed food than normal (I know I did). You were probably sitting more often, moving your body less, and your sleep schedule might have changed due to not having your normal work schedule dictating…
This is the time of year school board members look forward to. It is the end of another school year and we are able to celebrate the achievements of all the students, teachers and staff in our district. However, this year is a little different with the COVID-19 pandemic and the altered plans…
Over the past six weeks, there has certainly been a significant amount of change in the world — change that was sudden and unexpected. There wasn’t a book to pull off the shelf to help guide us through it. When Gov. Tim Walz issued the executive order declaring that the state of Minnesota wa…
I am so grateful to all the Minnesotans that are taking this pandemic seriously and doing such a good job of flattening the curve. Though it may not seem like it you are saving lives, it is first and foremost what we need to be doing right now.
We are in a public health crisis, and many are making sacrifices that most of us cannot even imagine, especially our front-line health care workers and emergency responders. We are all doing our part in Minnesota to save as many of our neighbors as possible.
Social isolation is a real health threat to seniors even before COVID-19. In fact, the National Poll on Healthy Aging shows that one in four seniors face isolation and one in three lack constant companionship. The National Institute on Aging states that isolation is linked to higher risks fo…
Last month, I discussed the importance of listening to all stakeholders in our district. When I studied journalism as part of my undergraduate degree, I learned that if I wanted to be a good interviewer, I needed to be a good listener. This learned skill is also critical in a leadership role…
Today, our news is filled with reports of new cases of coronavirus in our state, across the country and across the world. Our natural response is concern, and rightly so. But preparation and working together is key to getting through this public health issue.
The No. 1 thing I hear across Minnesota’s Second Congressional District is if health care isn’t affordable, it’s not accessible.
A top priority for me this legislative session is to ensure that when Minnesotans need to get their prescriptions refilled, they can afford to. For too many families in our community, paying those bills has gotten harder and harder as prescription drug companies continue to raise prices.
On Nov. 5, 1965, the group known as the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology cautioned President Lyndon B. Johnson that continued accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil-fuel burning would “almost certainly cause significant changes” that could har…
When considering your living and lifestyle options in retirement, you should include senior living communities. At first glance, senior living may appear to be expensive because it is more than just an apartment — it’s a community that offers a lifestyle.
On Jan. 6, I was elected to serve as chair of the Shakopee School Board by my peers. While this is only my second year of service on the board, I appreciate the confidence bestowed in me to lead the school board in 2020.
For over 50 years, the Shakopee chapter of Junior Chamber International has brought the Jaycee mission to our community, to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change. JCI Shakopee and its members were honored to receive multiple awards at the JCI M…
Shakopee is blessed with an abundance of parks. At the east entrance, Memorial Park represents the city’s history. Huber Park, at the north entrance, showcases the city’s entertainment options. And, at the southwest entrance, Lions Park highlights recreation activities.
Early childhood education is a very important part in preparing a child for elementary school and beyond. Being school ready not only includes learning the alphabet and recognizing numbers, it also includes instilling practices that allow children to have better social skills and less proble…
Where would Education Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year Kelly Holstine be without President Donald Trump? The former alternative school teacher at Tokata Learning Center in Shakopee first called attention to herself by letting it be known to the media she was skipping a White House ceremony to…
The year 2020 is here and the Shakopee Police Department is launching our “Lock It, Shakopee” campaign aimed at eliminating the most preventable crimes in our city — thefts from unlocked vehicles and burglaries due to open doors. Here’s the catch, we need your help to make this happen.
You visit your mom and/or dad and you feel like something is off; you are noticing things that weren’t there before and your gut is telling you something isn’t right. How do you know when changes in mood, behavior or wellness should be of concern?
One year ago, you sent me to Congress to begin the most important job of my life: fighting for you in Washington, D.C.
On Jan. 1, Minnesota’s minimum wage went up.
Winter has come, and that means college students will be looking for ways to keep warm without breaking the bank. A common way students seek to do this is by using electric space heaters, but in general, using space heaters is more expensive than turning up the thermostat on your natural-gas…
While my wife and I were grocery shopping the other day we happened upon a canned energy drink from an international soda company that had the term “organic” in large letters across the entire length of the can. We were curious about the “organic” designation, so we removed the can from the …
“Hey Korbyn, what do you think about ‘Diet X?’” is one of the questions I receive most often from the members of my gym or even people in general when I tell them I’m in the health and wellness field is what I think about the latest diet trend sweeping the nation. This is an extremely comple…
Last weekend I held a listening session for members of the community and advocates on the issue of affordable insulin. I want to thank everyone that came to share experiences and frustrations about affording insulin and managing life with diabetes. I thought one of the people who attended su…
I am often asked my opinion on the best workout routine for losing weight. People ask me about high reps verses low reps, light weight vs. heavy weight, and isolation exercises vs. compound exercises. If you watch TV, browse the internet, or talk with other human beings chances are you find …
Beginning next school year, our district will have new attendance areas for our middle schools. So what does that mean for you? If you have a student who will be in sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the fall of 2020, they may attend a new school. This week, the Shakopee School Board voted to…
Food is my friend. Food is my enemy. I am comforted by food. I feel like I’m being attacked by food advertising at every turn. Food is how I show love. Food is how we celebrate. I’m a foodie. All I ever think about is food. I avoid food as long as I can until I break and eat everything in sight.
Earlier this year, when I met with leaders from several southern Minnesota rural electric cooperatives, their communities were still reeling from the devastating blizzards and high winds that knocked out hundreds of power lines across the region and left thousands of families and businesses …
Grievously, we lost a very spirited and sincere man, Joe Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan was a kind, warm-hearted person who brought caring-ness to others, including me. Who was Joe Vaughan to me and others? Mr. Vaughan was the CEO of CAP Agency, a loving friend, a rock solid mentor, a gracious helper,…
Shakopee High School has a great opportunity for businesses to help prepare students for college and/or career. 2018-19 marks the second year for the Academies of Shakopee, and we couldn’t be more excited.
As a former public school teacher and a dad, the back-to-school season is a meaningful time of year for me. This year, it’s also full of change. My daughter, Hope, starts her first year of college at the University of Minnesota, and my son, Gus, heads back to middle school. This will also be…
Homelessness is an utmost need within our state and Scott County. There are over 7,000 homeless people in the state each day with over 16,550 public school students homeless at some point each school year, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Back in “the day,” servers at restaurants made enough money to survive on their wage. Not only could they survive, but many people could afford to have kids, pets and a home of their own. Tipping 10 percent, or even $1 per person dining was acceptable. Servers didn’t need more than that. Unf…
