Arrowhead Indivisible

Tourism is taking a big hit -- a 24% reduction in tourism tax revenues -- due to aggressive tariff talk with Canada.

The situation is so dire for Cook County's tourism-economy, Sullivan and others at the meeting encourage all residents to:

• Email Stauber and all politicians emphasizing the need to keep Cook County attractive and affordable, friendly and welcoming to tourists

• Volunteer at local attractions to increase the friendly feel of the town

• Donate money to local attractions to help them spruce up the grounds or improve service

• Spend money wisely and intentionally to support our local tourist-based retailers.

Happy Earth Day 2025!

Send us your North Shore Love Story for Nature indivisible@boreal.org

After all, it's the reason many of us live here–to appreciate, recreate and steward all of nature.

This year's theme is: "Our Power, Our Planet." It intends to highlight the collective strength of communities, individuals, and nations to protect and restore the planet through actionable, sustainable solutions. Specifically, Earth Day aims to motivate people around the world to triple renewable energy generation by 2030 and promote a rapid transition to clean energy sources of solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, and geothermal power.

Early Brain Development Story:

Congressman Stauber, you have four children & a youngster with a Disability, Down Syndrome. I’m sure you have had plenty of resources to support your youngster with Special Needs without accessing Early Head Start, Medicaid, or CHIP. The prenatal care women receive in Cook County provides support for early brain development during pregnancy. The Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP)/Medicaid Coverage in Cook County is 37.6%. More than one third of the children are eligible for Early Head Start, Medicaid or CHIP. How can you allow these programs to be slashed & decimated for one third of our children? The highest rate of return for taxpayer investment comes when it’s done as early as possible for brain development. The absolute best time is birth through five for all children & their families especially those families with the least money. There is a crisis in childcare availability for all families here in Cook County. I’ve spent 20 years volunteering for children 0-5 here because of my extensive background in early childhood!

The Center for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago and the “Heckman Equation” research show high quality investment results in multi-generational outcomes & breaks cycles of poverty. www.heckmanequation.org (2025) Please contact Professor Heckman & ask about the Heckman Curve. Did you ever contact Professor Art Reynolds at the University of Minnesota for his decades long Birth to Five research as I asked in a prior contact?

With Minnesota’s Arrowhead’s economy heavily reliant on tourism, many of the jobs here are seasonal.

And because it’s difficult to find local people for the work, many of those seasonal positions are filled by immigrants or foreigners who are here on temporary worker visas — all perfectly legitimate, perfectly legal. But with the shadow of the cruel and spiteful new ICE regime over them, these people now live in fear of being snatched up, shackled, and hauled off to prison. It’s sickening.

And the black-masked ICE kidnappers are even terrorizing ordinary US citizens. I know someone — just a regular white guy, born and raised in the upper midwest — who told me about a night he had arrived home late after a long day at work. He had crawled into bed and was lying there for a moment when he realized he might have neglected to lock his front door. He jumped back out of bed and went to make sure the door was locked. But he did that not because he was worried about thieves or burglars. He locked the door because it occurred to him that if he didn’t, government goons on a hunt for foreigners might come bursting into his house in the middle of the night.

How is this OK? Why should we put up with this? People from other countries here legally and with good reason — and now ordinary citizens as well — living in fear of our own government?

A young friend, Allen, has been in this country for 10 years.

He arrived as a bright new college student with a student green card, having perfect English as a second language and looking forward to a life as a veterinarian. He is very close to his parents and siblings, often returning home to see his family when college was not in session. He planned to return to his home country after college graduation. Time passed, and he met a young college woman from Minnesota. They had several common interests, became friends and were soon in love.

Five years ago, they married. Though Allen’s plan had been to return home, he also liked Minnesota, so they decided to live here. He is now a successful veterinarian. she is a professional and they bought their first home. Since their marriage, they have enjoyed three trips back to see his family. Life couldn’t be brighter.

Allen's father is now very ill, so the couple planned to see his family this spring. The trip was all arranged when Allen's cousin, who lives in Virginia, told them that even though Allen has a valid green card, he was at risk of being denied re-entry if he leaves America. There have been cases where anyone looking “foreign” and having a green card is having their phone searched at the port of entry.

If anything is found on the phone that might be construed as against the Trump administration, they are being refused entry. Though Allen is not especially political, he is not sure what might be on his phone. To say the very least, they are shocked and extremely sad that Trump politics is suddenly risking their ability to see their family and have a normal life. They remain in Minnesota, suddenly afraid for their future.

Note: Select details in this story changed to protect this young couple’s identity.