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Slow down and drive with caution in work zones

No matter where you drive these days in Minnesota, or for that matter — across the nation — road construction is hot and heavy this summer. Two construction projects are underway in New Ulm. The 20th South Street construction is led by the city and the Highway 14 roundabout is led by MnDOT. A Highway 4 project between St. James and Sleepy Eye includes roadway, bridge and drainage improvements. In addition to resurfacing approximately 25 miles of roadway, three bridges will be replaced. Driving through Minneapolis and St. Paul is no fun as well with several construction ...

Politicians closing the door on the public

Last weekend, several media outlets reported the Biden Administration forwarded questions to a couple of radio hosts ahead of interviewing the U.S. president. A revelation that is not shocking to most journalists covering politicians these days. CNN’s Victor Blackwell asked the host of “The Source” in Philadelphia about the interview of Biden. “I got several questions, eight of them, and the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved,” radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders told Blackwell. A Biden campaign spokesperson on Saturday did not deny that the campaign ...

Boosting internet reliability vital for rural businesses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $25 million in funding availability from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase high-speed internet access in rural and tribal communities. The funding is made available through the USDA’s Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program, part of the Biden Administration’s bipartisan infrastructure law to connect every community in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. The announcement marks the second round of funding for the program. In its first round, the program received 96 applications requesting a total of ...

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THUMBS UP Fourth celebrations continue despite rain The heavy rains seen in June continue to hit Minnesota going into July. The forecast leading up to Independence Day threatened to halt many holiday celebrations. Many area communities including New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Cambria, and Hanska carried on with their Fourth of July in the face of rainy weather and were rewarded for their efforts. Though it did rain on the, most celebrations were able to continue. The rain held off until after Cambria’s parade. Turner Hall was able to move their celebration indoors. The rains ended in time for ...

Keeping the ‘American Dream’ alive

Independence Day: freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower Two-hundred-forty-eight years ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Second Continental Congress actually voted to approve a resolution of independence two days earlier, on July 2. It then took those two days to write the reason and messaging explaining to the 13 original colonies why they had voted for independence. Since that signing ...

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THUMBS DOWN Heavy June rains leads loss of home The high volume of rain and debris on the Minnesota River combined to create a dangerous situation at Rapidan Dam. Dead trees in the water effectively clogged the flow of water through the dam, forcing it to erode through the western bank. On Monday, Blue Earth officials stated the dam was in imminent risk. It turned out the dam structure was not in danger, it was the home on the western bank. The house belonged to the Hruska family, who also operated the Rapidan Dam Store. The erosion of the bank near the house eventually led to the ...