By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Friday July 24 1:19 p.m. Fender bender involving a parked vehicle. 2:40 p.m. Resident calling with questions about some cheap costume jewelry she has that is supposed to go to her husband’s ex-wife. The person who the jewelry belongs to is in the female big house in Shakopee… Read More

Failure to advance Farm Bill is a missed  opportunity  To the Editor, Following the Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026, Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association Executive Director Brian Werner issued the following statement: “Today’s outcome on the Senate Farm Bill is a missed opportunity for drivers, farmers, fuel retailers and rural communities… Read More

Change is needed To the Editor, Last week ICE shot two more legal immigrants on American streets bringing the total to 17. Lorenzo Araujo worked in the US for 35 years with no criminal record and provided 3 of his children with a college education. Sebastian Guerrero, a young father with a legal work permit,… Read More

The Prairie spy It was about 53 years ago. The army flew me into Danang. From there, I made my way up north to Quang Tri Combat Base, U.S.Army, by jeep, airplane, and deuce-and-a-half.  I reported in to the First Sergeant, a crusty old (old for the army, anyway) timer who had gotten where he… Read More

Celebrate  Farmers Market week Aug. 2-8 To the Editor, Once a week in the summertime, brightly colored 10×10 tents pop up in a corner parking lot in my community. Under each one of those tents is a producer, crafter, or small business owner who has tables of goods for sale. The next farmers market in… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Otter Tail County Master  Gardener Volunteer By the time July rolls around, many Minnesota gardeners might think the planting season is over. The peas have been picked, the garlic is nearly ready to pull, if not already, and empty rows start appearing in the garden. The good news is those open spaces… Read More

By Jesse Grabow Ask a Trooper Question: I saw your recent article about the visually impaired and white canes. I don’t think a lot of people are aware for something similar for the hearing impaired. Can you talk about that?   Answer: You are correct. Minnesota has a law that when a totally or partially… Read More

the prairie spy A man, a miss, A car, a curve. He kissed the miss, And missed the curve. (I know. You’ve seen this before. I was six or seven and can remember seeing one of these close to home in Iowa, on Hwy 9, from the back seat of the family 1949 Chevrolet. Each… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Well let’s time travel back around 30 years ago. I was in college at the time, not sure which school…U of M Crookston, NDSCS Wahpeton, MSU in Moorhead or NDSU.   I believe it was sometime when I was wrestling at MSU, but attending NDSU through the TRI-College… Read More

By Alisha Asleson Master Gardener By midsummer, even the healthiest petunias can begin to look tired. After weeks of producing colorful blooms, the plants often become leggy, develop long stems with fewer flowers, and lose the full, mounded shape they had in spring. While it may seem counterintuitive, this is the perfect time to give… Read More