Thresh & Winnow

I ask too many questions and have too few answers. I started writing these columns to sort out my own thinking. I do it in public because that keeps me honest, which turns out to be harder work than it used to be. If any of it helps someone see a familiar thing from an unfamiliar angle, that’s the point. If not, maybe it’s enough to show that two people can disagree without one of them being called an idiot.

What AI Means for a Town of 2,700 March 4, 2026
AI is the next road. The traffic is already moving. Someone is going to decide what it gets used for. A column about what that means for a town this size.
That's The Line February 4, 2026
The first story is always the biggest. It only gets smaller when the cameras force it to. A column about what happens when there's no camera.
Law and Order? Or Just Order. January 21, 2026
Deport the violent. Remove those who've had their day in court. No argument. But a system that skips the part where it proves its case isn't law and order. It's just order.
The Echo of St. Martin December 24, 2025
In 1918, a German-born grandmother was considered an enemy of the state in Stearns County. Her great-grandchildren now fill the pews. The question is what happens next.
Make Room December 3, 2025
The Innkeeper probably wasn't cruel. He was stretched thin. That feeling still finds its way into our thinking. A Christmas column about doors.
What Kailee Wants You to Know About Food Stamps November 12, 2025
Kailee is nine and knows the price of milk. Her family isn't living large. They're inching forward. A column about what SNAP actually looks like in Stearns County.
Hunting for a Solution November 5, 2025
Deer camp teaches patience, safety, and the principle that rights come with responsibilities. The same ethic applies beyond the tree stand.
Small Town, Fresh Ideas, Better Care October 15, 2025
AI won't sand slippery sidewalks or sit at a bedside. But it's already helping Paynesville's providers see more clearly and act more quickly.
Real Science Plays the Long Game October 1, 2025
Eggs were bad, then good. Butter was out, then fine. Advice changes because scientists learn. That process protects us. A column about the difference between skepticism and cynicism.
Speechless September 24, 2025
An FCC official leaned on a network. A host was pulled off the air. The First Amendment doesn't just protect the people you agree with.
The $24 Case for Complacency August 13, 2025
Reuben's 18-pack went from twenty bucks to twenty-four. The trail of receipts leads back to a pink slip in Washington.
When Nature Sends the Bill August 6, 2025
Flooded basements, shorter ice seasons, rising insurance. Whatever you call it, the bill is real and we're the ones paying it.
The Things We Don't Say July 16, 2025
What happens at the lake when the people you love most are the ones you disagree with most. A column about the grace of restraint.
What Kind of Ancestors Will We Be? July 2, 2025
The founders gave us a nation. Our ancestors gave us our communities. A Fourth of July column about whether we can offer newcomers the same chance our own families were given.