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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Bloodmobile turnout Thumbs Up: The Red Cross is facing drastic shortages in the nation’s blood supply, so much that some hospitals are having to ration blood among patients who need it. So it was important that the New Ulm blood drive, held this week, had a good turnout, and it did. The ...

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 ...

Hospital capacity is often referred to a “beds,” but the surge in COVID cases has proven that to be misleading. What really affects capacity, hospital administrators will tell you, is people on staff to treat those in the beds. More than beds these days, hospitals need trained people, ...