THUMBS DOWN

Good shot to death by ICE agent

The death of Renee Good is a tragedy. By now the video of  ICE shooting Good in her car has been seen by millions world wide and for many this incident feels all too familiar to the 2020 death of George Floyd. The outrage and seeming lack of accountability in the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death led to days of civil unrest in Minneapolis and it’s hard not to worry that the cities could face something similar. At this point the best outcome would be an open and transparent investigation into the shooting. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been blocked from investigating the shooting by the FBI. This does not bode for transparency.

THUMBS UP

St. George Quilt retreat returns

For 15 years, the St. George Parish has been host to the Sewing for Sight quilt retreat, which will meet again today. Participants of the retreat are able to day indulging their passions for quilting alongside other enthusiasts. The retreat is extremely exciting to see. The amount of talent on display at the retreat is exciting in of itself, but the retreat is also a fundraiser for a worthy cause. Money raised from the retreat is used to benefit the Foundation for Saving Sight, which provides eye-care and medical procedures in San Lucas, Guatemala. Countless individuals in San Lucas have already benefited from the generosity of the quilters. This year the foundation aims to raise $15,000 for a surgical microscope that will double the number of weekly surgeries performed in San Lucas. The quilters and foundation deserve a big thumbs up for their continued work.

THUMBS UP

DNR report indicates strong deer hunting season

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported 186,203 deer were harvested for the 2025 hunting season, which is a 9% increase from the previous year’s hunt. In the New Ulm area, a total of 1,254 deer were harvested. In addition, no Chronic Wasting Disease was detected in any animals harvested. The deer population in southwestern Minnesota continues to be healthy and plentiful. Winter conditions this season indicate that the 2026 hunting season could be just as strong.