State Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, was named co-chair this week of a bipartisan group recently brought together with a serious undertaking: redesigning state government.

Due to the early closing of school on Monday, Litchfield School District's Registration Night for eighth through 11th grades was rescheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 22.

The district spelling bee was rescheduled to 7 p.m. Feb. 22.

The Litchfield School Board meeting also was rescheduled to Feb. 22.

For people who are worried about their next house or home equity payment, or have missed one or two payments, help is a phone call away.

During the past two years, Heartland Community Action Agency’s foreclosure counseling program has assisted more than 262 households in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville counties. Heartland is one of several foreclosure counseling agencies across the state that is helping homeowners at risk or facing foreclosure, free of charge.  

After recently approving a $2.5 million bond issue to comply with the federal- and state-required Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response communications system, the Meeker County Board learned last week it will face another costly state and federally mandated program in coming years.

The Minnesota Legislature convened Feb. 4 for what has the potential to be one of the more interesting sessions in recent memory.

Just how much real work gets done remains to be seen.

An epiphany — the realization of a basic, striking truth. A gut instinct. From knowing whether to take a job or move across the country, many people experience a moment of clarity that defines their course.

For tattoo artist Danya Red Legs, it consisted of knowing that it was time to strike out on his own in business.

Minnesota ranks in the top 10 of states with the largest number of certified organic farms, according to a new survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The 2008 Organic Production Survey also found that while organic farmers enjoy higher sales of their products, they also incur more expenses to raise them compared to U.S. farms overall.