By Cashton Newgaard The NFL landscape is constantly evolving, with players moving between teams for various reasons. One such notable transition was Kirk Cousins’ departure from the Minnesota Vikings. His departure marked the end of an era in Minnesota as he and the team could not come to terms with the new contract extension. Cousins wanted too much money, that’s all we as … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The Influence of Music and Mood on Productivity
By Alleen Erchoff-Costet Do you listen to music while doing everyday tasks such as reading, studying, or driving? Music is often believed to improve focus, block distractions, and make tasks more enjoyable. However the impact of music on brain function is not well understood, despite many studies. So exactly how does music help reduce stress? Listening to music can reduce … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Quitters Can Win
By Kyra Arndt You might have heard the common expression “Winners never quit and quitters never win,” which implies that in order to be successful one can absolutely never quit. I, however, believe the opposite to be true. Quitting is not always a sign of weakness; in fact, It takes strength to recognize when a situation is no longer serving you anymore and walk away. At the … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – Nuclear Fusion: Powering a Brighter Future
By Isaac Vick Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, has long been hailed as a promising energy source due to its potential to produce clean and abundant energy without emitting greenhouse gases or producing long-term radioactive waste. However, achieving fusion reactions that release more energy than is initially invested has proven to be an elusive goal, … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Animal Testing
By Addison Kessler Animal testing is an integral component of modern science, product testing, and education (Beauchamp/DeGrazia PMC). It has been used to help understand the human body for thousands of years. Animal testing is wrong because the animals have no choice in whether they will be tested or not. Why test on animals when humans and animals are not biologically the … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: We’re Going To State!
By Maggie Dempewolf As I sat there in the auditorium, shakily holding onto the hands of my fellow one act play teammates, I really thought to myself, could this be it? Are we really going to go to state? Well, let me tell you just how excited everyone was when we heard the judge’s next words. “And finally, in first place, performing “Clowns With Guns,” Fillmore Central High … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Are Video Games Unhealthy?
By Saturn Ludewig Video games have become an integral part of modern entertainment, but as their popularity soars, debates about their impact on mental and physical health continue to surface, highlighting both the positive and negative effects they can have on an individual. A common belief and misconception made by people is the thought that video games are bad for a kid’s … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The 11 Mile Ritual
By Hannah Kingsley Have you ever wanted something so bad you claimed that you would do ANYTHING in your power to obtain it? In the world of folklore, there is a way to make wishes come true. All you need is a vehicle, a deep desire for something, and the willpower to get through chilling miles that feel like Satan himself cursed them. Then, you will be ready for the 11 Mile … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – Beyond the Bin: Repurposing Food Scraps and More for Less Waste
By Hayden St. Mary Every single day, around 330 million pounds of food are wasted across the U.S. That’s the weight of about 55,000 trucks!! Even if just the people who read this article start to use some of these easy ways to reuse or repurpose food, it can make a big difference! If you’re an adult, chances are you have to wake up early for work and need to have your … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project A Home Divided
By Siri Corson The car seemed to shake as my friends enthusiastically screamed the bridge of the song “Cruel Summer.” My teeth were clenched under my smile as I wondered how many more “Swiftie” songs I would be subjected to on the 45-minute car ride to Decorah. At some point we turned the music down to discuss topics we held dear to our hearts like guns, political candidates, … [Read more...]
Ohtani: History in the Making
By Cashton Newgaard America has just been shocked! December 9, 2023, the biggest contract in not just baseball, but in all American sports history was signed by Shoei Ohtani. Imagine what a person could do with $700 million. That is a huge amount of money. This contract is already becoming one of the hottest topics in baseball history. This two-way player just keeps … [Read more...]
Christmas Traditions Around the Globe
By Alleen Erchoff-Costet What does the Christmas spirit mean to you? Christmas is celebrated in many different ways in cultures around the world. Most of us might set up a Christmas tree and open presents on Christmas day. Christmas traditions may include decorating the tree, baking cookies, opening presents, watching movies, and keeping up with The Elf on the Shelf. Some … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The Biden Administration’s Struggle in the Middle East: A Growing Crisis Unfolds
By Isaac Vick The Biden administration finds itself entangled in a complex web of diplomacy and crisis management in the Middle East, as it grapples with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The president and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, face a daunting challenge in persuading the Israeli government to temporarily halt its offensive against … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project “The Tale Of Despereaux” and Why This Book Helped and Changed Me for the Better
By Maggie Dempewolf Never would I have thought, at the young age of 10, that picking up “The Tale of Despereaux“ from the school library in the fifth grade would change me for the better. Looking back on it now, at the age of 18 with an expansive collection of books, I am so glad that my younger self chose to do what she did. So here is the telling of how one book changed … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Gender-affirming Care; Can It Save Lives?
By Saturn Ludewig In case anyone does not know what the terms referring to one’s gender mean, transgender is defined, by a Google search, as “denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth,” a transgender man is someone who was born as a female and labeled as a woman but is transitioning to become a man, … [Read more...]