The Tip of the Iceberg I’m not a fan of lettuce—specifically, iceberg lettuce. It’s good when crunching your way through tacos in a bag, and it adds fluff to other dishes providing there’s more to it than that.

By Arnold Krusemark The big news of the week will be Valentine’s Day - the same day most of our readers get this newspaper. Valentine’s Day is when we remember our friends and maybe a few relatives too.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation help to anyone who needs it – with special attention to those who are 50 or older or have low to moderate income. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained to assist you in filing many income tax forms and schedules. However, the Volunteer Protection Act requires that our volunteers stay within the scope of tax law set by the IRS for the program. In certain situations, our volunteers may be unable to provide assistance.

University of Minnesota Extension, in partnership with Minnesota Pork Board, will offer Pork Quality Assurance (PQA+) Plus and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) certification sessions in Pipestone on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Pollinators play a critical role in food production. According to the USDA Farmers.gov website, more than 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants need a pollinator to reproduce. Since most of our food comes from flowering plants, we need pollinators too. It is estimated pollinators provide ecological services valued at $200 billion each year.

A local school needs books for underprivileged students. A hospice requires new equipment, and a fire department is raising funds for pagers. These stories appear in the news and fill the pages of local newspapers. What do they all have in common? Thanks to Nobles Cooperative Electric’s Operation Round Up program, the answer is simple: help when it’s needed most.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant. The program was established by the Minnesota Legislature and supports farmers by helping them access essential equipment and invest in on-farm infrastructure needed to support the future of their farm businesses.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Produce Safety Mini-grant. This funding opportunity helps reimburse produce growers for expenses that improve on-farm food safety systems.

January 29, 2026 9:32 a.m. - Welfare Check requested in Slayton city, deputy responded.

Question: Hi, I read your “Ask A Trooper” article regarding Winter Travel Survival Kit Essentials. You might reconsider recommending cat litter as an agent for traction. Traditional cat litter is made of small chunks of clay, when one attempts to use it for traction in winter conditions it quickly dissolves into a slippery mess, making traction less viable. That was my experience.