opinion

The St. Croix County Economic Development Corp. is a hard-working group in the Hudson area that performs a tremendous service that, in the long run, has a positive economic impact on everyone. The organization, headed by Bill Rubin, deserves some praise and recognition. The mission...

Well I’m back after having had a little work done -- not that kind of work -- don’t know where I’d start if it were that kind of work. No, I had rotator cuff surgery and survived it. I didn’t know anything about it before the pain in my shoulder just wouldn’t go away. Losing...

A friend writes: "Dear Chuck, I enjoy your columns, but please leave the meditations on sports and athletics to the vicarious crowd and JUST WRITE." Or words to that effect. The missive arrived almost a year ago, I think. I must've deleted it accidentally since, so I can't be sure...

By now you know the ‘Big Game,’ also known as the Super Bowl, is this Sunday. I can call it the Super Bowl because I’m writing it for news coverage (something the NFL loves). But heaven forbid if a business calls the Super Bowl -- well, the “Super Bowl.” The naming issue...

This weekend’s 27th annual Hot Air Affair brings fun and excitement to Hudson as we head into February and the home stretch of our winter. For the past 26 years the event has been a remarkable effort for the group of volunteers that stage the activities each year. The Hot Air Affair...

Trump, Clinton, Cruz, Sanders…Yes, there’s no avoiding a presidential election year with the nonstop campaigning. Those names above -- and many others, including those running for Congress, school board, state Assembly, city council, village board, town board, county board and...

I don’t look forward to the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau’s annual meeting and awards banquet with the same eager anticipation as my wife. She’s a past chamber member and chamber ambassador of the year. She truly gets excited about all things having to...

Well, it was only a matter of time. In the first half of the boys basketball game between River Falls and Hudson Friday night in Hudson, one of the Raider players was called for traveling and the River Falls student section started chanting, “You can’t do that!” How dare they!...

What a way to go. First elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2010, District 30 Rep. Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) surprised many last week by saying he won’t seek re-election in 2016. That’s after winning three elections and serving six years in the state Legislature. Odds are the former...

When confronted with his deepest failings, the honest man must sooner or later 'fess up. Such is the case with this reporter and, well, anything to do with mechanicals, electricals, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, automotive -- and almost everything else that needs fixing or building....

For several years, this newspaper has urged state lawmakers to tighten the drunk driving laws in the state and there may finally be some action on the subject. There was a time when society considered drunk driving something to wink at, or ignore. Thankfully, public attitudes have...

We again ask our legislators to do something about the poor time frame forced on those who wish to become candidates for local office. Candidacy registration, as required by state law, goes from Dec. 1 to the first Tuesday in January. Yet spring elections aren’t until three months...

The Hudson City Council is mulling whether to change the way the city assesses adjacent properties for street resurfacing and reconstruction. Under the current policy, property owners are assessed half the cost of replacing driveway aprons, sidewalks, and curb and gutter, but nothing...