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Money and spending

Local Editorials

Gov. Tim Walz announced his plan for a $2.7 billion bonding bill, which would be a new record for the state. The governor said more than a billion is for asset preservation — maintenance and preservation of existing public buildings. “These are assets that belong to the people of Minnesota.” There’s more for bridge replacement and road improvements, $450 million for housing, including homelessness projects, and money for the environment. In addition to general obligation bonds, Walz would finance this collection with $276 million from the state’s record surplus fund. ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Appreciate support for CREST To the Editor: On behalf of the CREST Board of Directors and staff, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those who financially supported CREST throughout 2021 and during the Annual Appeal. Because of your generosity we will be able to continue to reach out to those in need in Martin County with transportation, telephone reassurance, caregiver support services, and volunteer opportunities. We are so thankful that you believe in our organization and support us with your monetary gifts. We look forward to another year of ...

Small businesses in need of help

Local Editorials

Most economists will agree that small businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy. They create more news jobs, provide goods and services that bigger businesses may see as not worth their while, and support their local communities. But small businesses have been struggling since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when the government mandated lockdowns and shutdowns, limited their capacity for service and created more regulations for them to deal with. Now small businesses are being hit by another factor. Economic inflation is driving up the cost of doing ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance To the Editor: Save the date. Kids Just Want to Have Fun is hosting the annual Father/Daughter Sweetheart dance from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. All young ladies and an adult role model are invited to enjoy dancing, pizza, photo booth, games and more. We are also looking for individuals or businesses to sponsor our photo booth ($180) or our DJ ($250). Please contact Meaghan Slama at (817) 528-4326 if interested. Meaghan Slama Fairmont

Vaccine mandate struck down

Local Editorials

The U.S. Supreme Court didn’t take long to strike down the Biden Administration’s mandate that large employers must require their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or wear masks, or undergo weekly testing. The conservative members of the court ruled that OSHA lacks the authority to make such a sweeping order, though it did allow the rules applying to health care workers to stand. A lot of larger corporations were cautious in their response to the news, saying they’d have to “examine” the ruling to see what kind of impact it would have. The ruling doesn’t say ...

On MLK Day let’s hope and pray

Local Editorials

This week, many Americans celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., who preached both an unceasing struggle against prejudice and discrimination and use of non-violent methods to win the battle. King’s high-profile leadership cost him his life. Others perished, too, during the struggle for civil rights. We have more civil rights today. Institutionalized racism in the for of Jim Crow laws, “red-lined) zoning for residential districts and other forms of bigotry have virtually disappeared from our nation. Sadly, many hearts and minds remain tainted by biases. It is worth ...