Food drops helpful

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are in need of help, as they have been thrown out of work. Kudos then to entities such as Heaven’s Table Food Shelf of Fairmont. It collaborates with partners to bring food shipments to town. A distribution of produce, meat and dairy will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Fairmont High School. The food drop is free to all.

Last month, Heaven’s Table hosted a drop at the high school, serving 315 families with 10 pallets of produce. This kind of incredible generosity means a lot to those facing hardship.

U.S. now adding jobs

In news that came as a surprise to many, the United States added 2.5 million jobs in May, and the unemployment rate fell from 14.7% to 13.3%. This is an incredibly good turn for our country, which has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic and then gut-punched by nationwide protests sparked by police cruelty in Minneapolis.

Experts say the jobs numbers mean businesses are recalling workers as states reopen their economies. The number of people receiving unemployment benefits has leveled off.

Things are not perfect in the economy, but the direction is now right again. Thank goodness.

Case will be complicated

Prosecutors this week charged all four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis with crimes. We believe it is interesting to note that two of the ex-officers were rookies, working under the guidance of Officer Derek Chauvin, who appears to be the one actually responsible for Floyd’s death.

Charging the two rookies is a complicated matter, and we believe a jury could see their point of view. We cannot help but have concerns that charging the rookies may lead to their acquittals, which may lead to new, violent protests.

Republicans oust King

Congressman Steve King of northern Iowa has lost a primary battle to hold his seat. We believe that is good news for the people he represents and for the Republican Party.

King says things that are unnecessary and inflammatory. Or, at best, he is not very good at trying to explain himself in ways that do not lead people to believe he is too caught up in other people’s racial qualities, culture or country of origin.

King’s persona is also a distraction and disadvantage for his district, which would be better served by someone focused on, say, agriculture.