To the Editor:State economists have unveiled their most recent fiscal forecast projection, and while a $900 million state budget surplus is expected, the amount isn't as high as previously believed.While it's somewhat disappointing that the projected surplus has dropped somewhat from $1.2 ...
To the Editor:Psalm 146:3-5: 3 "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:"My ...
Producing crops, which are used to feed animals and create products for humans, comes with costs. One is the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer runoff that gets into surface waters. When the concentrations are too high, there is damage to the ecosystem. Effects can be localized, or be seen at ...
If you have used the Internal Revenue Service's computerized program to obtain copies of your old tax returns, there is an excellent chance criminals have personal information about you. It has happened to more than 700,000 taxpayers, the IRS admitted this week.It was known about a year ago ...
Dozens of military intelligence analysts complained last year they were pressured to alter reports to make it look as if U.S. action against terrorist organizations was more successful than actually was the case. An investigation of that is proceeding.But last week, members of Congress were ...
To the Editor:The 26th annual Silent and Live auction held by the Knights of Columbus is coming up soon. It will be held Saturday, March 19, in the St. John Vianney School gym. The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. while the live auction will start at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit ARC and ...
We have a crisis in our country. A crisis that claims more lives than car crashes. A crisis that rips apart families of all different backgrounds. Killing 28,648 Americans in 2014, this crisis is prescription drug and heroin abuse. And with deaths increasing nearly sixfold since 2000, it is a ...
Americans have to endure less than a year more of Barack Obama's imperial presidency, but he seems determined to make the time pass painfully.Just a few weeks ago, his White House spokesman said that regardless of the Supreme Court order that the Environmental Protection Agency delay ...
Talk, resolve the issueA?controversy involving rural fire service and paying for fire trucks is throwing off way too much heat for the city of Fairmont and surrounding townships. A meeting on the topic this week included too much rhetoric before settling down into looking at how the sides can ...
To the Editor:Martin County Kids Against Hunger would like to extend a huge thank you to the Fairmont community and surrounding area. The 100,000 meal goal was surpassed by packing 104,868 meals on Feb. 13. Our $20,000 goal was surpassed by raising $29,708.Much of the food is now on its way to ...
To the Editor:An interesting scenario is in the offing concerning Hillary Clinton's bid for the presidency. As they say in Washington, just follow the money.One of Hillary's problems is that she needs to avoid prosecution for the numerous felonies she allegedly committed with respect to her ...
To the Editor:We are graduates of Fairmont High School, graduates of the University of St. Thomas, and former chairpersons of the Minnesota College Republicans.Toward the end of high school, we became immersed in the world of politics. Not only were we watching news coverage on 24-hour cable ...
When someone owns something important, they take care of it. But people care a lot less about things other people own, or about things that they are told everyone "owns." We would argue that such is the case when it comes to water, which everyone needs but no one "owns."There is a name for this ...
To the Editor:Kinship, a nonprofit mentoring program for youth ages 5-15, would like to thank the community for supporting its 8th annual "Gala Gowns Go Green" sale. The sale was a huge success with more than 80 dresses/accessories finding new homes. The sale raised over $2,500.A big thank you ...
To the Editor:We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center for housing the CREST offices since 2002. They have been helpful in making sure we have what we need and assisting us in every way possible.Recently, our CREST offices were moved from one room ...
We believe the city of Fairmont is exploring an important aspect of what we might call our local friendliness. In this case, how visitors from out of town are viewed and treated when they come for special events. The city is contemplating opening up city parks to camping and food trucks during ...
How worried are you about the Ebola virus? You remember, Ebola - the disease that was in the headlines in 2014.How about the Zika virus? Yes, the one making news now.Chances are you would like your government to do more to protect you from Zika than from Ebola - but, perhaps needless to say, ...
Justice Department lawyers insist gaining access to information on a cellphone used by a dead terrorist is a critical matter of national security.But Apple Inc. officials maintain giving the government access could jeopardize the privacy of millions of people who use similar phones.At issue is ...
President Barack Obama has said that when he visits Cuba in March, he will discuss human rights abuses by that brutal regime. He should not be surprised when Cuban President Raul Castro promises to look into it - but does not.Castro is familiar, after all, with the Obama strategy on dealing ...
Get rid of old medsA major drug problem in the country these days involves opioids, which are prescriptions pain-killers. While prescribed to people dealing with pain, they are being abused by those patients, as well as others who get their hands on them, including through illicit sales.One ...