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Going to pot

Columns

Things have been going to pot at our place lately. This isn’t necessarily a bad development. In fact, some would argue that it’s a welcome outcome. My wife, for one, would likely say, “It’s about time!” The pots that I’m referring to are the kind that have to do with plants. Specifically, the type of plants whose main features are flowers that my wife has objectively and scientifically classified as “pretty.” It’s the time of year once again when I often have potting soil beneath my fingernails. We’re talking about enough dirt in the nailbed to grow a crop of ...

100 days of chaos

Letters

To the editor: After 100 days of chaos President Trumps Approval rating is 39% with 55% disapproval, 53% say the economy is worse since he took office, 62% say prices have risen, and 72% believe a recession is likely due to his policies. 65% say he is purposefully disregarding court orders, 64% say he is trying to expand his power too far, 62% say he has no respect for the rule of law, 56% say he has gone beyond his authority, and 55% say he is not protecting Americans freedoms. 53% disapprove of his handling of immigration, 57% disapprove of his managing of the Federal Government, 61% ...

New Sheriff Part 2

Editorials

To the editor: DJ Trump: He pardoned Jan 6th insurrectionists after Capitol Police were hurt. People died. He still claims he won 2020 elections. Court after court case stating he didn’t. Some other bad choices were cutting N.I.H. funding. Beyond shameful even cut pediatric cancer research. Trying to stop birthright citizenship which is in the US Constitution. “Rounding up” and deporting only “worst criminals and rapists.” Many are US Citizen with no record. He has one! Alien Enemies Act of 1798 says for use in war time. He created DOGE under Elon Musk. Musk fired nuclear ...

Thumbs Up/Down

Editorials

New pope Leo XIV Thursday, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope. He has taken on the name Leo XIV. Even for non-Catholics, this is an interesting development. Leo XIV is the first pope in history to come from the United States, but what is most intriguing is how quickly he was chosen by the papal conclave. Prevost was chosen by the cardinals within a day of the conclave starting. That is unusual in modern times. Conclaves that selected Pope Francis, Benedict and John Paul all took slightly longer to reach a decision. It implies there was an early consensus behind Leo. Early ...

Despite industry challenges, Sleepy Eye Medical Center stands on solid ground

Columns

In recent articles published by the Minneapolis Star Tribune (April 18) and the New Ulm Journal (April 27), Sleepy Eye Medical Center (SEMC) was named among approximately 32 hospitals in Minnesota facing financial headwinds. Despite these industry-wide pressures, SEMC remains financially strong and well-positioned for the future. Our community-owned hospital, governed by a board comprised entirely of local residents, remains deeply committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and planning for the evolving needs of our region. Like most hospitals, our financial ...

The real are you my mother?

Columns

In 1956, the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” hit the silver screen. Seed pods from outer space landed on Earth. If a pod were placed near a sleeping person, a visually identical copy of that person would be produced, and only the copy would be left. Each copy had the original person’s personality and memory, but no human emotion. When a parent duplicate was made, for example, the children were sure that the copies were not the real parent. A psychological problem that very much resembles the movie is called Capgras Syndrome. A person with Capgras Syndrome will believe that ...