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Hurricane Donald

THUMBS DOWN: As if Puerto Rico didn’t have enough problems dealing with Hurricane Maria, now they have Hurricane Donald blowing their way.

After Maria devastated the island’s infrastructure, leaving its power grid in tatters, the Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, had the temerity to complain the president and the U.S. government were slow to send aid to its own citizens on the U.S. island territory. She should know that saying “not very nice things” about the president is a sure way to earn his fury. The presidential response has been that Puerto Rico should take care of itself, that its infrastructure was rotten to begin with, that it needs to solve its debt problem, that it should be proud it didn’t have a “real disaster” like Katrina. This week Trump tweeted that FEMA can’t stay there forever.

Mayor Cruz tweeted that Trump’s “unbecoming” comments “seem to come more from a ‘Hater in Chief.'” Indeed.

DUI and legal to drive

THUMBS DOWN: Earlier this month Danny Lee Betcher of New York Mills was picked up for driving under the influence after leaving the VFW where he had been drinking. If convicted, it will be his 28th DUI offense in Minnesota. Twenty-eight! He is the record holder in the state, and sadly, he had a valid, if restricted, drivers license.

Betcher, if convicted, faces a maximum seven year sentence, serving two-thirds in prison and the rest on supervised release, followed by five years of probation. He has already served four years in prison for similar offenses.

At some point, Minnesota has to stop handing drivers licenses to people like Betcher, who can’t stop drinking and driving. Minnesota legislators should look at legislation setting up a permanent loss of license for habitual drunk-drivers.

Oktoberfest is back

THUMBS UP: One weekend is just not enough for Oktoberfest in New Ulm. The German festival is back today with another run of food, music and New Ulm’s favorite brew. This weekend, the Schell’s Brewery is hosting its own activities, and those who missed last week’s German-American Parade can come downtown at 10 a.m. for the Oktoberfest Promenade Parade.

The Hermann 5K Run/Walk will be held, starting at the New Ulm Recreation Center. An 8:30 a.m. Tot Trot will preceded the regular run at 9 a.m.

We hope all Oktoberfesters will have a good time today, and plan to come back next year.

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