News & Articles

Stauber silent on AI project
Northern News Now reported on Nov. 13 that two Duluth companies – Anno AI and Spear AI, are “poised to transform portions of Duluth, Lake Superior and the Iron Range into testing grounds for military and commercial autonomous aircraft, vehicles and vessels.”
The companies chose Duluth and the surrounding area because it includes necessary components for their work: “four seasons, farms, forests, urban areas and a whole lot of water.
Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Hermantown, and Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul, were noted as supporters. The report was an eye opener.
I reached out to the companies and to my governmental representatives. Thus far, responses have been scarce. My concerns include an apparent lack of transparency, the reported ongoing military testing, and the potential for harmful environmental impacts.
Anno A! and Spear A! are already pushing their work forward. Both companies have websites. I encourage everyone in the area to learn more, inform their friends and contact their governmental representatives. Speak up.
Jane Pastika
Duluth, Minnesota

Cowardly Stauber parrots Trump’s lies
It makes me so angry when I hear president Trump and representative Pete Stauber say that there was widespread fraud in child care centers. As a former early childhood educator that worked in a center in Minneapolis I don’t know of any. Yes we had the doors locked – not to commit fraud but for the safety of the children and staff. I never heard a parent complain about having to be buzzed in every day. We also wouldn’t have let that person with a video camera in, also not to hide fraud but for the protection of everyone.   

Now parent’s are in a dilemma if their child’s center closes to find another place. Many can’t afford to stay home or pay for a nanny to take care of their children. Also contrary to what Trump and Stauber say child care workers are not paid a lot of money – we do it for the love of the children; also we needed 40 hours of in-service each year and cannot just walk in and get hired. You need at least 2 years of training and some centers require a 4-year degree in early childhood education.

I’m not saying that fraud didn’t happen I’m just saying that it’s not as widespread as they claim and not everyone who works in one are lazy or crooked. I, like many, have never commited fraud and I don’t know any that have. I dare either of them to spend a week working in one. I may no longer work In one but I still know several who still do and are good people.
Cecilia Hill
Duluth, Minnesota

THERE’S A MUCH BIGGER GAME AFOOT*
Regarding Venezuela: 
Maduro is a bad man, no one disagrees. But the real reason for the Trump regime’s invasion of Venezuela is about putting money in the hands of Trump and his billionaire friends. It is the scheme of developing 3 spheres of influence in the world:  1) For Trump: North and South America, 2) For Putin: Russia and Eastern and Western Europe, 3) For China: Asia. This explains why Trump has been threatening Greenland, Canada, Mexico, Cuba etc. Now it makes sense.

In their greed and lust for power, Trump and his minions cannot comprehend that settling for one sphere of influence is of less value than holding a place of global influence, prestige and respect in the entire world. They are banking on cashing in on oil and mineral reserves in their sphere for themselves. You and I are not part of their equation. They do not care if We the People are left with the remains of a Constitution, a functioning government, (albeit still not perfect), a democracy.

We the People must use our power and voices and make it known that we WILL not accept this.
PLEASE, right now see below and call/email your legislators. Tell them you are outraged that the Trump Regime is usurping Congressional Authority to push us into a war with Venezuela, and if not stopped NOW, with other countries.  We do not want an endless war with loss of our servicemembers’ lives. Congress must reassert and reinforce the War Powers Act. We must use our voices, demonstrate, be part of something bigger than ourselves, and VOTE for representatives who are not beholden to wealthy people and corporations, but understand the concept of public service.

Sen Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244, klobuchar.senate.gov.
Sen Tina Smith 202-224-5641, smith.senate.gov
Rep Pete Stauber 202-225-6211, stauber.house.gov
Thank you.
*Heather Cox Richardson quote for title
Barbara Lund Gable
Lutsen, Minnesta

WWPD?
Would Putin call out the military to patrol cities in parts of his own country he does not like? Would Putin invade a foreign country and loot it? Would Putin steal oil from other countries? Would Putin annex other countries?
Would Putin send masked armed agents to kill and kidnap people in his own country? Would Putin send agents to kill and kidnap people in other countries? Would Putin build himself a palace? Would Putin surround himself with gold? Would Putin live like a king while his people suffered? Would Putin tell the truth, or would he lie and spread disinformation? Would Putin extort money from businesses and oligarchs and openly take bribes? Would Putin become angry if someone pointed out he is old, sick and out of touch? Would Putin belittle the press? Would Putin want to dismantle NATO?

After answering these questions, answer this one. What is the difference between Putin and Trump?
Jason Maloney
Washburn, Wisconsin

Our national mistake
By now, it should be clear to most Americans about the destructive motives of our national mistake. Our culture, our security and our welfare are in the cross hairs. Our first-day dictator has it in especially for we Minnesotans, and seeks provocation to assault us, in an egotistical snit because in two elections, we didn’t vote for him. His GOP support is willing to use any deceit, any lie, to arouse, stir up or invent scandal to entitle ICE, Trump’s storm troopers, to invade our state, and randomly shoot and kill an innocent woman, without provocation.

Trump’s corrupt, evangelical white supremacist racism found a ready target in the accused fraud in the Somali community, furthering his plan for the ruination of our state. We have seen our governor publicly demeaned, forcing him to step back from a third term. Governor Walz has been an honorable and effective governor, but the MAGA wrecking crew have brought him down.

When the marriage between Putin and Trump in 2020 was postponed by electoral rejection, upsetting Russia’s plan to invade the Ukraine (remember the post-election delay at the border?) Trump screamed loud about voter fraud and encouraged an attempted violent coup. Trump was already backing away from NATO allies, in favor of the former enemy.

His revenge now is not just in rebuilding the White House and putting his name on everything, or destroying all the institutions that had made us a strong country, it’s in his very ignorant disdain for our laws, the motives of our founders and the well-being of our citizens.
We need to realize the hole in which we stand. Along with the rest of the country, supporters or not, the orange gas-bag has us, all of us, by the short hairs. Sadly, Minnesota is only one example of this nation’s slide into weakness, war and corruption.
Ray Allard
Duluth, Minnesota

Ode to a con man
He pointed at a map he’d never seen before,
Said, “Venez… uh… that place—south of the shore.”
“Oil!” he cried, with an imbecile’s grin,
“Liberation begins once we figure how to get in.”

The generals blinked. The briefers sighed.
The map was upside down, the oceans wide.
He promised democracy—very fast, very strong—
Right after a rally, unless golf ran long.

“People love me there,” he confidently said,
While confusing Caracas with someplace he’d read
On a placemat, maybe, or late-night TV—
“Beautiful country. Tremendous. Believe me.”

The plan was flawless, bold and vague:
Tweet at dawn, sanctions by noon,
victory parade.
If facts interfered, they’d simply be fired;
Reality, after all, must bend when
desired.
M. Arnold Bowen
Duluth, Minnesota