Year: 2025

A woman in a turquoise shirt holds a piece of stained glass while she sits at a table surrounded by other pieces of art.

Remarkable Artists Open Their Houston County Studios for Regional Art Tour

Rose Korabek profiles three women artists featured in the 2025 Bluff Country Art Tour.

photo of blooming blue flower

April Springs to Life

Root River Current photographers capture the arrival of Spring in Southeast Minnesota.

A man stands in a stream up to his thighs and reaches out with a wood handled net to scoop up a trout.

2025 Trout Season Looks Promising for Local Anglers

John Weiss opens the 2025 catch-and-keep trout season with a primer on the state of trout fishing in southeastern Minnesota.

view of wild rice growing in Mississippi River

Wild Rice Returns to Nearby Stretches of Mississippi River

Madeline Heim reports on the resurgence of native wild rice in the Upper Mississippi River valley.

A well-stocked, vintage kitchen scene.

Essay | Frank Walsh’s Kitchen

An excerpted essay from the book “Frank Walsh’s Kitchen” of a charming story of two teen boys working at summer haying and the unique lunch that followed.

An older woman in a pink shirt holds up a white hood with eye holes. The right side of the graphic includes a reprint of an historical newspaper article titled: Ku Klux Klan invades Lanesboro.

Minnesota’s Hooded History

Surprising or not, the Ku Klux Klan was active in Southeast Minnesota in the 1920s. John Torgrimson reports on a recent presentation on the history of the Klan’s presence in the region.

An older woman stands in front of a mini-bus holding a bin of snacks and juices.

Area Public Health Officials Remain Vigilant at All Times

Since long before Covid 19, health officials have worked hard to stay ahead of ‘the next’ potential regional health threat; David Phillips reports on one example of a dedicated health team.

collage of event pictures

In the News: Opportunities to Create!

Several recently announced spring and summer activities will spur participants’ creativity in music, performing arts — and gardening!

Giants of the Earth Center street level photo

Commemorating Norwegian Crossings with Music and More

Giants of the Earth Heritage Center has lots to celebrate! Steve Harris guides our way.

Groups of people of all ages sit around tables in a library with sun streaming in the windows.. They are leaning over tables sorting garden seeds.

Cultivating Community: How the Chatfield Public Library is Sowing Seeds

Move over books and periodicals: Laurie Byrne explains how seeds are making their way into area libraries.

Maple syrup pours out of a metal valve with a blue handle into a large stainless steel urn with handles.

‘Sweet Business’ in the Hardwood Forest

Into the woods in search of Carlin’s Sugar Shack — and a sweet surprise! Alison Leathers teases us with syrup and more.

photo of lady slipper flowers

Poetry | “Love…” In Springtime

Original poems — and a doodle — by southeastern Minnesota artist and poet, Diane Knight.

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