Gov’t needs to address evictions

August 4, 2021

This past weekend the federal government’s moratorium on evictions during the COVD-19 pandemic came to an end. For a year the moratorium had helped families who couldn’t keep up with their rent because of pandemic-related job cutbacks, shorter hours or illness from being evicted. As a result, eviction notices and actions are starting up, causing a run on the aid programs and courts that handle eviction hearings. This is a problem that the government knew was coming. The Biden Administration knew it could not extend the moratorium through the CDC, where it originated, because ...

Cash for vaccine?

August 3, 2021

Last week President Joe Biden encouraged states and local governments to up the ante — really! — for getting a COVID-19 vaccination. The Biden administration is recommending paying people $100 for getting the shot. That’s right, a Benjamin. A hondo. A C-note, or whatever slang term you want to use. States have already been offering incentives. In Minnesota you could get free Twins tickets or State Fair tickets, or state park sticker, or fishing licenses, California has given away $116.5 million in gift cards and prizes, the biggest payout pot in the country so far. We know ...

Suni Lee steps up

August 2, 2021

We love to look for heroes in the Olympics. Every four years athletes who have been dedicating themselves to training and competition don the colors of their various countries and see who is the best. This year Americans were counting on Simone Biles, considered the greatest gymnast of all time, to be a hero, to bring back the gold in the women’s all around and lead the U.S team to victory. We all know how years of trying to meet high expectations became too much for Biles this week, forcing her to withdraw. But another hero was ready to step in. Suni Lee of St. Paul, who had been ...

Et Cetera

July 31, 2021

Church Anniversary Congratulations to the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dunnell on the celebration of their 150th anniversary. The celebration kicks off at 2 p.m. today with a concert featuring Glenn Henriksen. On Sunday there will be special services and times of food and fellowship to commemorate the occasion. We agree with Dale Knuth, who stated that it is good to see churches celebrating such anniversaries at a time when many others are closing their doors for good. Elm Creek Veggies Kudos to Dean Maschoff whose farm, Elm Creek Veggies, was featured in a recent ...

Biles shows courage in Olympics withdrawal

July 29, 2021

We are used to seeing great athletes powering through obstacles and setbacks, even physical injuries, on their way to greatness. We celebrate them for their courage. But we rarely see them struggling with mental pressure and self doubt, the kind that can be more crippling than the kneed injury that Tiger Woods had when he won the U.S. Open in 2008, or the badly injured ankle that Kerri Strug had when she performed the final vault to clinch the team gymnastics gold medal for the USA in the 1996 Olympics. On Tuesday Simone Biles, possibly the all-time greatest women’s gymnast, pulled ...

Clean car standards are coming our way

July 28, 2021

It’s official. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has adopted the so-called California standard for tailpipe emissions, and will mandate that auto dealers get more zero-emission vehicles on their sales lots. The rules were published Monday in the Minnesota State Register. The rules won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2024 which gives auto dealers and manufacturers some time to adjust. “These clean cars standards are a win across the board. With cleaner air, more car options, economic growth, and less money spent on foreign oil, every Minnesotan will benefit,” said Gov. Tim ...