Perhaps the most important task facing President-elect Joe Biden is ending the fierce, sometimes vicious, partisanship that seems to rule Washington. He has an excellent opportunity to send a message in that regard while at the same time gaining a top-notch member of his Cabinet. It has been ...
What if you built an expensive, elaborate reviewing stand for a parade and on the big day, it overlooked an empty street? That is the question both President-elect Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump must answer within just a few weeks. Inauguration day for American presidents has ...
A second round of federal COVID-19 relief money, more than $900 billion, may be on its way to Americans soon. Thank a group of U.S. senators and representatives who have grown sick of the partisan bickering that has delayed a new relief bill for months. They are unlike many politicians, ...
Many U.S. hospitals are under siege because of COVID-19. Both in personnel and other resources, they need all the help they can get. Earlier this year, when most people thought the epidemic would peak by this fall, Congress acted wisely by including in the CARES Act a provision suspending ...
President Donald Trump’s insistence that the November election was plagued by vote fraud are being dismissed by many. They should not be ignored — or forgotten. President-elect Joe Biden’s victory seems sound. His vote margins in critical states were wide enough that it is difficult to ...
States plan for vaccines As several states drafted plans this week for COVID-19 vaccines, governors and state officials were weighing concerns about the order in which shots will be dispensed. While each of them faces decisions specific to their states, Healthcare providers, teachers, and ...
Racial minorities have been hit far harder than white Americans by COVID-19. Throughout the epidemic, that has been a constant. But why? Theories abound. One is that African-Americans, whose incomes in general are lower than those for whites, do not benefit from as high a quality of health ...
COVID-19 has been an enormous challenge to the nation’s public school system. It has forced tens of millions of students to stay at home, often for months at a time, rather than go to class. Give educators credit for doing what they could with “remote learning.” Thrown suddenly into a ...
Unless members of Congress find some way to compromise and give Americans an early Christmas through a new round of COVID-19 relief funding, the holiday season will be grim for tens of millions of people. President Donald Trump can do little about that — but he can do something. Among many ...
During his successful election campaign, Joe Biden insisted he did not favor a “green new deal” approach to energy. Now, however, it appears he may be poised to deliver a one-two punch in that very direction. First, Biden said he will name former secretary of state John Kerry as his ...
Thanks and congratulations To the Editor: I wish to thank the citizens of Truman for allowing me to serve as your mayor these last 10 years. It has sincerely been an honor and a privilege. We have had some challenges, but we’ve had many more accomplishments, with a few more on the ...
President-elect Joe Biden is being urged by some to include a Native American in his Cabinet, possibly as secretary of the Interior Department. If he does that, the person named would be the first Native American ever to serve in the Cabinet. Proponent of such action have a person in mind: ...
Lighting contest Thank you City of Fairmont and Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce for bringing back the Fairmont lighting contest. We all could use a little cheering up this season and seeing our community glowing with holiday lights and decorations is a great start. We encourage all ...
Federal CARES Act assistance has been invaluable for many American families and businesses. Without it, what appears to be a record-setting recovery from the financial crisis caused by COVID-19 would not be occurring. Millions of families with laid-off breadwinners would be in desperate ...
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials and scientists are in a raee against death. It is one they must undertake in a cautious sprint. Two COVID-19 vaccines appear nearly ready to go. Before doses already on the production line can be distributed, the FDA has to approve ...
Thankfulness helps To the Editor: In these challenging times of unemployment, disease, closed businesses and schools; can we not find things for which we can be thankful? I am thankful for good health, my wife of 61+ years, our four children, our 14 grandchildren, and nine ...
For years, veterans of military service and their families have worried about the Department of Veterans Affairs. News of lengthy wait-lists, enormous cost overruns on new facilities and similar outrages was, to say the least, worrisome. It got worse in 2018, when what happened at a VA ...
Thank you To the Editor: I want to say thank you to everyone who elected me for Fairmont City Council At-Large on Nov. 3rd. I’m excited to represent the people of Fairmont and grateful you have put your trust in me. I pledge to work hard on behalf of Fairmont. Michele ...
With the coronavirus coming back strong, a number of governors have already ordered new — or rather, renewed — steps to combat the disease. Most are reluctant to mandate widespread business closings, however. There are very good reasons for that. Our economy may not be able to withstand ...
Good opportunity The COVID-19 virus is real. Governor Walz has shut down bars, restaurants and fitness centers. He is pausing social gatherings and organized amateur sports. The Minnesota State High School League revamped the sectional football playoffs for one more round of games played ...