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Prototype program aims to keep Minnesotans employed during health setbacks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When Ginger LaVan was preparing herself for right-side total hip replacement last year, she already had experience with getting health accommodations through her employer, Charter Communications.“When you’re in an office setting like that, particularly after surgery, it’s important to be able to get a doctor’s note for any kind of desk modifications you need,” said LaVan, who works in customer service support. “I had eye surgery a couple of years ago, so I basically wear sunglasses at work all day because the LED lights are so bright — it’s difficult for me to see.”This time around, LaVan would spend three months away from work while she recovered from her surgery. While LaVan said her employer was supportive, she got extra help through Minnesota’s Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network, a fledgling state program known as MN RETAIN.The program’s overarching purpose is to help Minneso...

Readers and Writers: Novels set in Pakistan and St. Paul

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Novels based in Pakistan and St. Paul are today’s summer reading picks.“Under the Tamarind Tree’: by Nigar Alam (Putnam, $27)“Under the Tamarind Tree” by Nigar Alam (Courtesy photo)“Now Rozeena knew, like everyone else, that over the next many months at least fifteen million people — Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs — were displaced. People fled their homes and crossed the border in both directions. Muslims ran to Pakistan for safety, and Hindus and Sikhs ran to India for safety. This movement and exchange of population, one of the largest mass migrations in human history, hadn’t been part of the plan, but it had been necessary for survival … Up to a million people died.” — from “Under the Tamarind Tree”Minnesotan Nigar Alam’s thought-provoking debut novel is about families, friendship, secrets, a long love never consummated, women who want to be independent, and generational trauma carried by those ...

Literary pick for week of August 6

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Those two happy guys who are little kids’ favorite collaborations- – David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka — are back with “See the Ghost,” third in their beginning reader series that began in 2021 with “See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog,” winner of the prestigious American Library Association’s Theodor Seuss Award, followed by “See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat.”Written by LaRochelle and illustrated by Wohnoutka, these goofy books are meta-fiction, meaning characters “break the fourth wall,” speaking directly to the reader. The book itself becomes a character and the other characters can control the actions. (Not that this stuff matters to kids who just want a funny story.)“See the Ghost” (Candlewick Press, $9.99), is subtitled “Three Stories About Things You Cannot See” and it again features Max the dog and Baby Cakes, mischievous cat.In the first story the ghost is afraid he...

One Book/One Minnesota book club pick: ‘In the Night of Memory’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

“In the Night of Memory” by Linda LeGarde Grover is the new title in the One Book/One Minnesota’s statewide book club that invites Minnesotans to read a common title and come together virtually to enjoy, reflect, and discuss. This 11th title is announced by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, acting as the Minnesota Center for the Book, in partnership with State Library Services.LeGarde Grover is professor emeritus of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe. Her previous award-winning books include “The Road Back to Sweetgrass, “The Dance Boots,” “The Sky Watched: Poems of Ojibwe Lives” and “Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year” (Minnesota Book Award).“In the Night of Memory” (University of Minnesota Press)  is about a woman who surrenders her daughters to the county and disappears, becoming one more missing Native woman. But she is also ...

Ask Amy: Atheist worries about “thoughts and prayers”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Dear Amy: I am an atheist and am keeping my spiritual beliefs close to my heart as they would offend most family members and friends who all, to various degrees, identify as believers (Christians or otherwise).When a friend or a family member goes through seriously rough times or health issues (divorce, cancer etc.), and also in case of a friends’ or family member’s loved one’s passing, I still offer up the expected “thoughts and prayers,” as they don’t know that I’m an atheist.I think it is the right sentiment to express support and comfort.Yet every time I write or verbally express “thoughts and prayers,” I feel like a fraud. It feels completely empty to me.In cards, I have expressed “My heart goes out to you,” “You are in my heart and in my thoughts,” “I feel your pain and wished I could lift it,” etc., and these were heartfelt sentiments.Unfortunately, for me these sentiments just do not seem to have t...

Bridge: Aug. 6, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

“If you don’t like the way I drive, get off the sidewalk.” — bumper stickerA club player brought me today’s deal from a duplicate game. He had been South and was unhappy with his partner’s bidding.“When West preempted with four hearts,” he told me, “my partner bid four spades. My hand was huge, and not to bid a slam never crossed my mind. West led the king of hearts, and when partner tabled a balanced hand with 10 high-card points, I was appalled.“I ruffed the second heart — East threw a club — and saw a chance for 12 tricks with a dummy reversal. I led a trump to dummy, ruffed a heart — East threw another club — and led a second trump. West discarded, and I was doomed. I took my three high diamonds, ruffed my last diamond in dummy and cashed two club tricks and my last trump, but East won the 13th trick with a trump. Down one.“I think partner’s bid of four spades was reckless. He let the...

Horoscopes Aug. 6, 2023: Vera Farmiga, make your life meaningful

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Vera Farmiga, 50; Geri Halliwell-Horner, 51; M. Night Shyamalan, 53; Michelle Yeoh, 61.Happy Birthday: Study what’s available, then create the scenario you feel most comfortable with this year. Increasing your awareness, checking out what’s trending and adding skills that will qualify you to do something of interest will make your life meaningful and your future bright. Evaluate your situation and prepare to make the changes necessary to reach your objective. Personal and physical improvements are favored. Your numbers are 5, 13, 20, 24, 32, 38, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Give yourself a once-over and update your image. Keeping up with the times will help you remain current in all aspects of life. Attending social events or a reunion will boost your ego. Romance is favored and will enhance your life. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to let what others dangle in front of you get in your way. Take the road that allows you to control ...

Word Game: Aug. 6, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — HARBINGER (HARBINGER: HAHR-bin-jer: One that foreshadows what is to come.)Average mark 58 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 73 or more words in HARBINGER?TODAY’S WORD — HARBINGER hair hang hanger hare hear hegira heir herb hernia herring hinge hire ager anger angrier rage rain rang range ranger rani rare raring rear rearing regain rehab reign rein reran ring ringer bane bang bare barer barge barn barre barren barring bean bear bearing began begin being berg bier binge brag brain bran briar brig brine bring near neigh nigh gain gainer garb garner gear gibe gnar grab grain grin earn earring erringTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake...

Bajo turbulencia: así se cumple el primer año de Gustavo Petro en la presidencia de Colombia

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

(CNN Español) — El jueves 3 de agosto fue, quizá, uno de los días más duros para el presidente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro. En un documento, firmado bajo juramento, su hijo mayor Nicolás Petro sostuvo ante el fiscal Mario Andrés Burgos que acepta los cargos en su contra por los delitos de enriquecimiento ilícito y lavado de activos. Además, el hijo del presidente se comprometió a entregar información a las autoridades en las que demostraría que parte del dinero que recibió de exnarcotraficantes y políticos corruptos habrían ingresado a la campaña presidencial de su padre en 2022.“Recibo con dolor, a nivel personal, las informaciones sobre presuntas irregularidades en el desarrollo de la campaña presidencial en la costa. En cuanto a la institución, sin vacilación alguna, afirmo y reitero que nadie puede estar por encima de la ley y que la justicia debe aplicarse de manera imparcial, con el debido proceso y todas las garantías del debido proceso y las garantías constitucion...

Pressure grows on Niger coup leaders as deadline looms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Pressure is mounting on Niger’s putschists hours ahead of a deadline later Sunday set by a group of West African countries for the military to step down or face a possible military intervention. ECOWAS, a bloc of 15 Western African countries, issued its ultimatum after Niger’s top military officers announced on July 27 that they had overthrown the country’s President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021. According to France 24, the deadline expires on Sunday evening; Reuters reported ECOWAS did not communicate the exact timing. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said late Saturday that his country opposes any military intervention in Niger.“A military intervention could ignite the whole Sahel region and Algeria will not use force with its neighbors,” Tabboune was quoted as saying in an interview with local media.Several Western leaders have also pressed for dialogue, with Germany advocating for continued “mediation effort...