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Readers’ Views

More “swampy” stuff To the editor: Trump campaigned in 2024 that he would “drain the swamp” in D.C. Here’s just a few things he actually has done: Accepted a $400 million jet from Qatar, in direct violation of federal regulations. Accepted millions from private donors for his ballroom project. He did not attain permission from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit. Now, congressional Republicans have proposed allocating $1 billion taxpayer funds for underground security for the ballroom. Sells merchandise (merch) like a rock band, look up the ...

Readers’ Views

HCMC trains the doctors Minnesota depends on To the editor: Recent conversations about HCMC’s future have focused on its role as a safety net hospital and its Level I trauma and specialty care services. No question, these functions are critical. But there's another role that deserves equal attention: training the primary care physicians Minnesotans rely on every day. No single site in Minnesota trains more family physicians than HCMC. These doctors go on to care for patients across the state, including in rural and underserved communities where access is already limited and many ...

Readers’ Views

Dear Editor, The case for driving an electric car As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution and the growing impacts of Global Warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear; the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health, especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. When you factor in that EVs cost ...

Readers’ Views

Celebrating Community Impact and Gratitude To the Editor, The Fairmont Community Hospital Foundation invites members of our community to join us for an evening dedicated to gratitude, connection, and the impact of generosity. Our Annual Meeting, An Evening of Gratitude & Community Impact, will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Best Western in Fairmont. The evening will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by the annual meeting at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. This special event is an opportunity to recognize and thank the donors and partners who make our ...

Readers’ Views

To the editor: Another Trump pledge: Drain the swamp. Early 2025, D. Trump removed 18 independent Inspectors General (IG). This left 75 percent of all federal departments without an IG. IGs are nonpartisan, independent agents that Federal employees can safely notify about fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, without retribution. Who better to know if an agency is doing something wrong? In January 2026, Trump nominated Colin McDonald to serve as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of a new DOJ division dedicated to prosecuting fraud. Colin will be under Pam Bondi. Why does the ...

Readers’ Views

Running for county sheriff I, Matt Owens, am announcing my candidacy for Martin County Sheriff. I have had the honor of serving Martin County residents for over 24 years through the Sheriff’s Office: — Corrections Officer — Patrol Deputy — Investigator — Patrol Sergeant As Patrol Sergeant, I supervise our Patrol Division, which includes: — Felony Investigations — Deputy Coroner Duties — Traffic Enforcement — Civil Process — Emergency Response I understand the U.S. Constitution and know that the elected Sheriff is the last line of defense in ...