A nod to journalism

THUMBS UP: The Nobel Committee made an unusual selection for the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Instead of picking a political leader, a national statesman, or a diplomat, it selected two journalists, Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia. These two practice independent journalism in two countries where reporters face repression, arrests, attacks and even murder for telling the truth about their countries’ leaders. Ressa, founder of the news website Rappler, was convicted last year of libel and sentenced to jail for reporting the truth about the Philippines’ murderous President Rodrig Duterte.Muratov, one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has seen reporters on his staff murdered, and his workers designated as “foreign agents” by the Putin administration.

Ressa and Muratov were considered “representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

This is a tremendous recognition of the important work that journalists around the world do to protect against abuse of power and government lies.

CTE center looks promising

THUMBS UP: District 88 will be showing off its new CTE (Career Technical Education) Center on Oct. 20. A preview of the center, the former Windings building, looks very promising.

CTE programs aim to introduce high school students to possible careers in the building trades and skilled labor. There is a great demand for these kind of workers, and for many students, it offers a great career opportunity.

We have no doubt the District 88 CTE center will be one of the best in the state when it opens.

Oktoberfest triumphs

THUMBS UP: It was touch and go for a while Friday night at the Best Western Plus hotel, where Oktoberfest celebrants were waiting for the traditional tapping of the fest keg.

Mayor Terry Sveine had the sad duty of informing them that the keg was out of commission, and couldn’t be tapped. Celebrants waited anxiously for an hour before the keg was repaired and the beer poured forth.

We’re sure the taps will be flowing much more reliably today at the Best Western and at the Schell’s Brewery. So Happy Oktoberfest all, and please celebrate responsibly.