Ransomware crisis hits oil pipeline

May 12, 2021

Cyber criminals hiding out in the former Soviet Union struck at a major U.S. oil pipeline company this week, hitting Colonial Pipeline with a ransomware attack that force the pipeline to shut down temporarily. The pipeline, which provides about 45 percent of the fuel to the Eastern seaboard, is expected to start up before the lack of service creates problems, price spikes and shortages, but this attack is one more example of the danger of this type of crime. Ransomware attacks occur when hackers break into a company or agency’s computer system, scramble their data and demand large ...

Facebook and Trump

May 11, 2021

When Donald J. Trump was president, the presidency was not a bully enough pulpit for him (“bully” meaning excellent, as Theodore Roosevelt used it), he used social media as no president had before to spread his views and opinions to the public directly, to mock his opponents and praise his friends. When he used Twitter and Facebook to claim victory in the 2020 presidential election when election officials, courts, and even the U.S. Congress said he lost, and to call supporters to the Capitol to try to keep him in office, Facebook and Twitter finally pulled the plug on him.Twitter ...

Playing hardball on vehicle emissions

May 10, 2021

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate have decided to play hardball on the issue of auto emission standards in the state. Hardball is the only game available to them, unfortunately. Republicans are willing to shut down the state parks, indeed, much of of the state’s environmental administration, if Gov. Tim Walz continues with plans for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to adopt the California vehicle emissions standards for the state. This move is coming from the administration side of state government with no legislative involvement. The MPCA writes the rules for state emission ...

Et Cetera…

May 8, 2021

FEDA The Fairmont Economic Development Authority released its first-quarter report for the year 2021, and the report is good. Compared to last year there has been an increase in the three categories of building permits, planning, and zoning permits, and land disturbance permits. Under the building permits in the residential category, in each subcategory, the numbers have doubled. We agree with Economic Development Coordinator Linsey Preuss, who said the numbers are exciting. We couldn’t agree more. Parks Fairmonts parks are open for the summer season. It will be good to see ...

COVID rules to ease, power struggle remains

May 7, 2021

Gov. Tim Walz announced a timetable for the easing and ending of the state’s COVID-19 rules on Thursday. The argument over his ability to make such rules in the first place continues on, however. Here’s what will happen with the rules: As of noon today (Friday) there will be no more capacity limits for outdoor dining, and other outdoor events and get-togethers. The outdoor mask requirement will end, except for large venues with more than 500 people. On May 28, the Friday before Memorial Day, seating capacity and distancing limits will end for indoor events and gatherings. Masks ...

Some COVID practices that are worth keeping

May 6, 2021

Gov. Tim Walz last week was speaking hopefully to business leaders about a possible turn of the COVID-19 dial to ease restrictions this summer, including a nearly normal Minnesota State Fair. His hopes were based on increasing immunization rates and a downward trend for new cases. We do need to keep pressing for more vaccinations, state officials say, and we can’t ease up on basic precautions for staying healthy. But there is some hope that we could be returning to normal sooner rather than later. When that day does come when we are back to our normal lives, there are a few things ...