We all need to take an inventory of our many blessings and be thankful for our health. Even if we have some health issues, we must be thankful for the means in which we are able to deal with them.

What is Cinco de Mayo? It is a Mexican holiday celebrated on May 5 each year and commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862.

It is highly probable that the 2012 session of the Minnesota Legislature will adjourn before the month of April has ended.

The first Earth Day in the nation was celebrated on April 22, 1970.

Grief is defined in Wikipedia as a multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed.

This is the time of the year when one should wipe off the dust on your bookmarks and take a look at the spring action on the peregrine falcon and bald eagle webcams that have become so popular.

There was a time when the black bear was not a common resident of central Minnesota and even in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.

This election year 2012 may be one of the most important elections in American history.

Most of us are not even aware of what hunger means.

by Howard Lestrud The closest I may ever get to Mars is by buying a Mars chocolate candy bar.

by Howard Lestrud March is a very busy month with many observances planned for worthy causes or to honor special people.

by Howard Lestrud The way our weather has been going, we could actually play baseball tomorrow.

Our United States Constitution is a very dynamic document as is the Minnesota Constitution which frames work our state government has accomplished.

by Howard Lestrud There weren’t too many railroad tracks near the 80-acre farm spot where I was raised.

by Howard Lestrud We, as Americans, are a very multi-ethnic society.

by Howard Lestrud From a business standpoint, some of the best information about legal and business practices comes from the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota.

It’s never too early to plan a summer vacation.

by Howard Lestrud Many of us received what we wanted for Christmas and have been spending our following days incorporating some of our gifts into our lifestyles.

by Howard Lestrud “Well, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet,” exclaimed President Ronald Reagan after he was elected to a second term in 1984.

Fellow ECM Publishers news and editorial guy Don Heinzman and I were musing the other day about the top news stories of 2011 in Minnesota.

by Howard Lestrud There were lots of tears shed by many who were directly involved in the history of the Ford Plant in St. Paul.

by Howard Lestrud Our ECM Publishers editors and staff writers/photographers have been very busy the past few weeks tracking down Santa Claus.