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PROM TIME: Local students dress up for year’s biggest dance party PAGE 13
Ethnic studies history option looks to past, future BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Relief organization hosts fundraiser for Ukranian soldiers CONTRIBUTED
Olexsander (left) had been a student at the University of Kyiv and Roman (4th from left) was a truck driver prior to being drafted in the war. They visited with Rostyslav Borovyk, Nelia Nosachova, and Joe Hinderer at a gathering at the Hinderer’s White Bear Lake home. BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Russia’s large-scale invasion and war in Ukraine have taken a catastrophic toll throughout the country. With devastation
continuing to rise, relief efforts that support those most affected by the conflict’s lingering effects have received daily emphasis. The Protez Foundation looks to be one such light of hope. The foundation was established
in 2022 by Yakov Gradiner and Yuri Aroshidze. Gradinar moved to the United States in 2007. Gradiner was initially an orthopedic surgeon in
In 1828, Washington Irving published “A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus.” Historians of the 1820s were aghast that Irving invented details within the biography, including the claims that medieval Europeans believed that the Earth was flat and that Columbus discovered the American continents. Nevertheless, countless classrooms in the United States have since taught these embellishments as fact—ignoring Viking maritime skills, Greek mathematical contributions, and millennia of Native American cultural existence. “How can you discover what’s already there?” quips White Bear Lake School District American Indian Affairs Coordinator Vincent Patton. “There’s been a shift in how we teach history,” he continues, “It’s not ‘his’ story, ‘her’ story—it’s all stories.” Such is the aim of the Ethnic Studies US History and World History options at White Bear Lake Area High Schools. Tenth grade Ethnic Studies US History teacher Mark Domschot says, “Everyone needs to see themselves in history. That way, students feel valued.” Domschot’s class does this by relying entirely on primary accounts and documents. “The kids really like critical thinking,” Domschot reports. “They’re digging
SEE SOLDIERS, PAGE 10
SEE HISTORY CLASS, PAGE 2
After the fire: Realtors’ post-lawsuit takeaway BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Swift changes are coming to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). It comes after years of lawsuits from various homeowners arguing that the company enforces unfair practices. The homeowners said these practices have led to high commission rates between a seller and a buyer’s agent, forcing them to pay unnecessary fees to buy a house. The NAR agreed to pay $418 million to settle the commission lawsuits. Additionally, they abolished their Participation Rule, allowing sell-side agents to offer compensation to buyer brokers.
Larry Mahoney, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Vadnais Heights, and Justin Larson, branch manager for Summit Mortgage Corporation in Lino Lakes, both pushed back on what they considered misreporting by the media on realtors’ business dealings. “Realtors will need to step up their game,” said Mahoney. “They need to continue to be professional and clear about the services they provide clients.” He rebuffed media-led accusations that the industry engages in “predatory behavior” regarding client interactions. “This is just not true,” said Mahoney. “While the average Realtor makes a lot per year, it only comes when they make a deal to sell
or buy a house. Even then, the Realtor will work long with a client before a deal is finished. This can take several months. Sometimes, the client changes their mind and walks away. But to suggest that commissions are non-negotiable is just not the case.” Mahoney also argued against claims that increased housing prices was due to commission pay. “Home prices are high because of a national housing shortage. It has nothing to do with commission pay. The average compensation for a realtor is $95,000. For comparison, an insurance salesman makes $103,000, and an auto salesman makes $98,000. There’s no evidence of price gouging whatsoever.” Larson remains hopeful about the
state of the industry. He shared slight concerns about transparency from realtors. “Local realtors will have to be very clear on their conversations regarding buyer’s rep compensation,” said Larson. “In the future, they’ll have to negotiate that into the purchase contract and figure out who’s doing what.” Like Mahoney, Larson disagreed with the media’s view that unfair commissions were the sole reason for increased housing prices. “Housing prices are where they are because of supply and demand,” said Larson. “If you have 30 people looking at the same house in the same school SEE LAWSUIT, PAGE 23
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