By Amy Zentz New Ulm’s Benny’s Bar, tucked into the mezzanine level of The NU Franklin at 126 N. Minnesota Street, came alive on a recent Tuesday evening with the unmistakable sounds of accordion, guitar, and heartfelt vocals. Local favorites Scott Sparlin and Tony Berg (better known as Polka Anton) delivered a lively, community-driven performance that perfectly captured the spirit of…

am absolutely thrilled to share my latest story for The Journal! This week, New Ulm got a little more mysterious—and a lot more inspiring—as a trio of award-winning mystery and thriller authors brought their “Women of Mystery Tour” to town. ​If you love a gripping page-turner, a cozy independent bookstore vibe, or just celebrating incredible regional talent, this was an event you didn’t want to…

I’m proud to share my latest article published in The Journal (New Ulm) about a powerful community event that’s shining a light on one of the most important health challenges facing families today.On May 13, 2026, about 20 community members gathered at the CAST Senior Center for “Opening the Window to Dementia,” a free public program sponsored by the New Ulm Area Memory Care Friends. The evening…

Summary of Tonight’s Open Mic Night at The Grand (New Ulm) A cozy, low-key open mic night with a small but enthusiastic crowd of locals, artists, musicians, and friends. Amy (Molly) and Jim (Sonny Boy) hosted and kicked things off with three original songs: the relaxing “Relax Your Mind,” the fun country tune “Tired Old Maid” (written for the Brown County Moo Off), and a solid cover of “Mama…

I’m so incredibly proud to share this story about my amazing friend, Ann Vote — a true powerhouse and one of the most inspiring motivational speakers I know! ✨Ann took on the ultimate challenge: a full 12-hour uninterrupted walk (over 50K steps and 21+ miles!) inspired by Colin O’Brady’s book. No phone distractions, just her, nature, and the quest for clarity on the Sakatah Singing Hills State…

Last night we had another wonderful 42nd Street evening at the public library, but I was really disappointed that only Jim and I showed up for the film screening. That said, the presentation itself was excellent! Clay, the Film Society leader, did a fantastic job introducing the movie and leading a thoughtful discussion afterward. These nights are such a hidden gem! ❤️If you haven’t joined us…

Clint Black Delivers Sold-Out Night of Country Classics, Stories at Jackpot Junction Amy Zents JACKPOT JUNCTION, Minn. — Clint Black turned a sold-out crowd into a singalong family Thursday night at Jackpot Junction, blending decades of hits with fresh material and the easy storytelling that has defined his career. The Minnesota stop on Black’s tour drew a packed house eager for the Texas…

MSU Mankato Celebrates 100 Years of The Reporter By Amy Zents MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota State University, Mankato, celebrated the centennial of its student newspaper, The Reporter.The event focused on the publication’s role in preserving campus history and fostering civic discourse. More than 3,500 local newspapers have closed nationwide in the past two decades.President Edward Inch opened the…

2026 Minnesota-based senior broadcast-media specialist and photo-journlist Check my portfolio here Amy Zents’s Journalist Portfolio | Muck Rack https://share.google/4r11CxOFuxSC3W5sY

When you look past the sweeping romance and the iconic cinematography, Gone With the Wind is really a character study and a tragedy. Scarlett O’Hara may be beautiful and adored, but she’s also deeply selfish, manipulative, and profoundly narcissistic. In many ways, she mirrors a certain modern archetype: ambitious, self‑centered, and willing to bend people to her will. That’s part of why the…

https://www.nujournal.com/news/local-news/2026/02/24/history-of-a-heritage/

© 2026 Amy Zents Tiny Print Tyranny I have officially reached my limit with Instagram reels. If I have to scroll down to the bottom of a reel and squint at microscopic print just to get the “real message,” I’m out. I’m not doing homework for your video. And the second your reel has a finger pointing down — you know the one — telling me to “read the tiny print”… absolutely not. I’m not zooming,…

By Amy Zents © 2026 Amy Zents. All rights reserved. 📚🪶  During a trip to Missouri, I visited the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, the river town that shaped Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, one of America’s most enduring writers and voices.Twain is best remembered for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, novels that did far more than…

When robots replace humans By Amy Zents Amazon plans to replace hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers with robots. Internal documents show the company aims to automate up to 75% of warehouse tasks over the next decade. Executives describe the shift as a move toward efficiency and higher-skilled jobs. Leaked details indicate the primary goal is reducing labor costs. The changes extend…

Louie Anderson: A Comedy Legend’s Journey from Minnesota to Stardom By Amy Zents When you think of comedians who made you feel like family, Louie Anderson immediately comes to mind. With his soft voice, warm demeanor, and uncanny ability to find humor in everyday family chaos, Louie became one of America’s most beloved entertainers. From his humble beginnings in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to…

🌍 Behind the lens: Why travel vlogs make me worry 🎥 By Amy Zents I love watching travel vloggers explore remote places—lush jungles, mountain villages, desert trails. Their footage is stunning, their curiosity contagious. But somewhere between the drone shots and the campfire chats, I start to worry. What if they get injured? What if there’s no signal, no help, no one nearby who speaks their…

By Amy Zents YouTube viewing reveals eerie parallels between ‘The Ninth Guest’ and ‘And Then There Were None’ By Amy Zents Journal contributor While browsing classic mystery films on YouTube, viewers may come across “The Ninth Guest,” a 1934 thriller based on the novel “The Invisible Host” by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning. The film bears a striking resemblance to Agatha Christie’s “And Then…