Breaking News

Opinion

Another side of protesting

Letters

To the editor: Dissenting in Kleindienst v. Mandel (1972), U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall observed that “the freedom to speak and the freedom to hear are inseparable; they are two sides of the same coin.” A word to protesters: If someone is speaking and you interrupt them so they cannot be heard, you are taking away their Constitutional right to speak. If you are blowing a whistle in someone’s face while they are trying to speak, you are interfering with their right to speak. The right to free speech includes the right to be heard. People who show up at protest ...

Wasting money on intersection proposal

Letters

To the editor: I was happy to see the letter from Dick Seeboth about the reconfiguration of the Center Street and Garden Street intersection. It is a waste of taxpayer money for an intersection that has great traffic except for 15-20 minutes in the morning and afternoon, but only 170 days a year. If safety is the concern, they should do something about the situation at the school itself. I’ve watched. The traffic when school lets out a few times. Students and parents cross Payne Street jumping out between cars. Cars are making U-turns in the middle of the block. I would suggest ...

Empowering voters

Columns

A primary election determines which candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election 2026 Primary dates All Minnesota voters will be able to cast votes in the statewide primary elections including for Governor and U.S. Senate. Some jurisdictions may not have other primary elections in 2026. Use the Polling Place Finder on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website to see what elections, if any, are coming up for an address. • Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 11. Vote by mail or in person June 26 through Aug. 10. • Register in advance by July 21 to ...

Roaming the Ye olde renaissance fest

Columns

A dragon holding a silver ball in its terrifying teeth was perched next to the gate. It was the first hint that we were in for a day of weirdness and wonder. My wife and I recently attended the Siouxland Renaissance Festival. While we waited in line to buy tickets a guy dressed as a medieval raggedy man sashayed through the crowd, hawking his “scented programs.” Whenever someone took him up on his offer, he’d say, “OK, I just have to add the scent.” He then rubbed the paper program on his armpit. “We’re all gonna smell like that by the end of the day!” the raggedy man ...

A musical for all seasons

Columns

NEW ULM - The New Ulm Film Society continues its musical film series with a movie that fits into every season. The film society will screen 1944’s “Meet Me in St. Louis,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 in the New Ulm Public Library. “Meet Me in St. Louis” was adapted from a series of short stories written by Sally Benson, written about the Smith family who live in St. Louis.  The Smith family includes Alonzo Smith (Leon Ames), his wife Anna (Mary Astor), son Lon Jr. (Henry H. Daniels Jr.) and daughters Rose (Lucille Bremer), Esther (Judy Garland), Agnes (Joan Carroll) and Tootie ...

Thumbs up/down

Editorials

Thumbs Up Outdoor music events return The return of the summer season also means the return of outdoor concerts. The New Ulm Municipal Band held its first German Park performance of the summer Wednesday. The municipal band will continue to hold Wednesday night concerts in German Park throughout the summer, with a few notable exceptions. The Wednesday, June 24 concert will be at Oak Hills as part of their annual Ice Cream Social. Thursday, the Concord Singers performed in German Park to kick off New Ulm Music in the Park Series. The Thursday Music in the Park series will continue ...