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Absentee/mail-in voting: Why and how it’s done

Columns

This article is the first in a three-part series which describes the process of absentee/mail-in voting in Minnesota. Minnesota has used absentee/mail-in voting for over a century dating back to the Civil War. This three-part series will explain the process and protections in our system that make sure Minnesota absentee/mail-in voting is secure. Absentee/mail-in voting is an important voting option which allows Minnesotans to vote who aren’t present in Minnesota on election day, have challenges which prevent them from traveling to the polls to vote in person, or who reside in ...

Seek constructive solutions to high gas prices

Letters

Suspending Big Oil from their biofuel blending obligations as proposed by Stephen Moore (“Three easy ways to reduce pain at the pump,” Oct. 1) would not bring down fuel prices. Instead, it would increase prices at the pump and further pad the pockets of refiners that are making record profits as families struggle. Ethanol is the lowest-priced source of octane available. A 2025 report by a petroleum refining expert found that, if ethanol was removed from the U.S. gasoline pool, replacing its current octane contribution with refinery octane would increase refining cost and the ...

Celebrating Ruth’s visit to Sleepy Eye

Columns

You might have heard. Babe Ruth played in Sleepy Eye. For thirty years, I’ve tugged and pulled at that game in every possible way. My fascination with that day in my hometown’s history began when I was doing research for the Brown County Historical Society 30 years ago for an exhibit: “Baseball and Brown County, A Glove Affair.” Growing up here, we always knew about Babe’s visit. The picture of Babe and Yankee teammate Bob Meusel in front of the grandstand appeared in the paper every so often. They looked cold. That fall was the 75th anniversary of the Oct. 16, 1922, ...

Thumbs up/down

Editorials

THUMBS UP Oktoberfest starts in New Ulm It is the first weekend of Oktoberfest in New Ulm. The celebration began Friday with musical entertainment on Minnesota Street and at the Best Western. The traditional Oktoberfest Keg Tapping was held at the Best Western on Friday. At the same time, the US Steinholding Association State Championship Qualifying was held on Minnesota Street ahead of the State Finals Tournament held on Saturday. Both locations will be filled with music and other activities on Saturday. In addition to the Oktoberfest events, Brown County Fairgrounds will be hosting ...

Kindness, compassion shown to veterans

Letters

I want to thank the Patriotic Piecers and the Quilts of Valor Foundation for the kindness, compassion, and understanding they have shown southern Minnesota veterans over the past years.  I also want to thank the Journal for the tenderness with which it covers all stories about veterans. As a four-year regular Army veteran processing my own PTSD, I have concluded that everyone who goes into the military leaves behind something they brought with them and takes with them something they did not bring with them. Service does not always end when a veteran out-processes.  For many of my ...

Nice to see Finstad visiting the district

Letters

I was surprised and delighted to see Carl’s Corner featured on an ad that ran during Sunday’s Vikings game. Carl’s has been a go-to place for us for decades. The chicken there is great, but don’t overlook the pizza and (my favorite) the fish. But it was a political commercial, so that took off a bit of my enthusiasm. Still, it was nice to see Brad Finstad in a local establishment, given his scarcity in the district since the last election. Troubling, though, was his touting his big accomplishment of “no taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security” which was the focus of ...