Columns | Southwest Connector

We need to have more conversations about eating disorders

With all the trend diets that are popular in the media right now, it can be difficult to know where I stand when it comes to my own body image. I am bombarded by social media posts about if I just … more

Chloe Peter | 11/3/22

Let’s talk about Black lives matter yard signs

I have always been a longform type of guy. I usually don’t bother with Twitter and stuff like that. I find life too complex, communication too subtle. Catch phrases serve political candidates … more

Eddie Glenn, East Harriet neighborhood | 11/3/22

Writer, professor and Rain Taxi board member Kris Bigalk, right, with author Margaret Hasse promoting her new book “The Call of Glacier Park” at the 2022 Twin Cities Book Festival in St. Paul.

Twin Cities literary scene opens new chapter

Did you know the Twin Cities have one of the top literary scenes in the United States? Not too many people associate Minneapolis and St. Paul with the avant-garde. But they are right up there with … more

Eric Ortiz | 11/3/22

Looking at nature, painting what she sees

Minneapolis-based artist Mary Bacon highlights local landscape in her work, and has closely studied local flowers, trees, and parks. She is showing currently at Artacile Art Gallery in the … more

Suzie Marty | 11/3/22

More predictions for the local real estate market

The most frequently asked question I get about real estate is some version of this: “Are we in a real estate bubble? When are prices going to start dropping in our … more

Larry LaVercombe | 11/3/22

The audience pays rapt attention at ACLUMN breakfast. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

Upholding civil liberties, rights across the Twin Cities

When in the course of human events...* Sometimes coincidence sparks a column. During the second week of October my volunteer work with the ACLU and attending a Guthrie Theater play coincided with … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 11/1/22

DON’T BE LURED INTO LIVE-TRAPPING WILDLIFE

The cry of an animal in distress caught my attention one warm August morning. I hurried outside. Animal suffering mostly takes place behind closed doors, at factory farms and research labs, but the … more

By Kristen Olsen Ericsson resident | 11/1/22

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

I am inviting you to my committal service

As far as I can tell I haven't died. I am writing this column. The service will take place at Lakewood Cemetery, the site of my internment. Details to follow. The theme of the service will be coming … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 11/1/22

Ebony Patterson’s "From the corner of my eye" is part of “A Picture Gallery of the Soul” exhibit at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery.

The soul behind the images

When cooler temps and shorter days signal the Fall Arts Season in the metro area, there are many cultural activities competing for attention. As always, this column strives to undercover the … more

by Susan Schaefer | 10/21/22

Why we must work to get out the vote this year

We still live in a democracy – where the person who gets the most votes, the person who wins the election, is the person who takes office. That could change if Republicans take control … more

Larry LaVercombe | 10/21/22

I’M SCARED - WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Is it Halloween? Are there ghosts in my house? I can only focus on what is in front of me. What is this me being scared? It’s a mystery. Do you ever get scared? Is it a mystery to you? Tell … more

Donald L. Hammen | 10/21/22

Michele Rae, RPh, MA, NBC-HWC is the founder of The Center Within, LLC and author of “Living From the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You Are Becoming.” She provides holistic coaching designed to accelerate and support personal, professional, and organizational transformation.

Gifts from surgery recovery

As a pharmacist and health and wellness coach, I felt as prepared as possible heading into my total knee replacement Aug. 29. With the looming nursing strike in our community hospitals, I did my pre … more

Michele Rae | 10/21/22

I'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT GUNS IN AMERICA

When does the right to own a gun capable of such destruction become more important than the lives we are losing? I’m not talking about recreational hunting or going down to the firing range; … more

Chloe Peter | 10/11/22

Lupe Castillo, the co-founder of HeartSpeaks Healing Circles and Palabristas, shared her words of wisdom at a Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association’s Twin Cities Community Pop-Up Market at Mueller Park this summer.

Healing circles really do have the power to heal

Who is a storyteller? It's an important question these days because storytelling matters more than ever. Whoever controls the narrative controls history. A few years ago, a Nigerian writer named … more

Eric Ortiz | 10/11/22

FOR HEALTHIER YARD AND WORLD, SKIP FALL CLEAN-UP

Climate change, habitat loss and pesticides are causing dramatic declines in populations of insects and the birds who need them – with likely dire consequences for humans’ quality of life … more

Constance Pepin | 10/11/22

Art collector and south Minneapolis resident Herman Milligan. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

The soul behind the images:

A showstopper exhibitionWhen cooler temps and shorter days signal the Fall Arts Season in the metro area, there are many cultural activities competing for attention. As always, this column strives to … more

9/29/22

I'm scared – what about you?

Is it Halloween? Are there ghosts in my house? I can only focus on what is in front of me. What is this me being scared? It's a mystery. Do you ever get scared? Is it a mystery to you? Tell yourself, … more

9/29/22

ACES LINKED TO SUICIDE - Adults who had experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime than those who had not experienced ACEs. Researchers used data from the 2012 to 2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) to match people who had attempted suicide with those who had not, based on the presence or absence of nine mental and substance use disorders that are associated with suicide risk. This allowed the researchers to estimate the role that ACEs played in the risk of suicide attempts independent of mental and substance use disorders. The ACEs included in the study were (1) psychological abuse; (2) physical abuse; (3) sexual abuse; (4) emotional neglect; (5) physical neglect; (6) witnessing violence against a mother or other adult female; (7) substance misuse by a parent or other household member; (8) mental illness, suicide attempt, or suicide death of a parent or other household member; (9) incarceration of a parent or other household member; and (10) parents’ separation or divorce.

Suicide rates too high; we should learn warning signs

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide rates in Minnesota declined slightly in 2020, but it’s important to remember there were a record number of suicides in 2019, and this is … more

By Sue Abderholden | 9/29/22

When you bring houseplants inside, check to make sure there aren't any pests. (Photo submitted)

Bringing houseplants inside for the winter

This summer, you may have brought your houseplants outside to enjoy the warmth and humidity – I certainly did! As the nights get colder and days get shorter, it’s time to bring … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener | 9/29/22

OUT AND ABOUT ON THE PAPER ROUTE

There’s a 10-year-old in our house now, and he took on a few paper routes this summer. That means, of course, that mom did, too. I was excited he was interested in the family business and … more

Tesha Christensen | 9/28/22