THUMBS UP

School board candidate filing period opens Tuesday

Anyone interested in running for school board, next week is the time to step up. The candidate filing period begins Tuesday, July 14. The window to file as a candidate ends 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. Any candidate who wishes to have their name on the ballot for school board during the Nov. 3 elections, needs to file with the district office during the July 14-28 window. For New Ulm’s District 88 school board, this means filing candidacy at the district office. This year, New Ulm’s District 88 has three board seats up for election. This means that during the general election, the three candidates receiving the most votes will be elected to the board. 

THUMBS UP

World Cup brings the world together

The final week of the 2026 World Cup has begun with the quarter-final rounds wrapping up this weekend. Semi-final rounds will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. The World Cup final is Sunday, July 19. The World Cup is always an exciting time for the sports world mainly because it involves the whole world. The tournament began with 32 teams competing against each other. The World Cup is also special because it is only held every four years. If you miss the World Cup this year, you won’t get to see another until 2030. This year is also special for the United States because the tournament is being hosted in North America with matches held in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. The last time The U.S. hosted World Cup soccer was 1994. Though team U.S. was eliminated in the round of 16, the World Cup has been a great way to connect with the other nations. 

THUMBS UP

Right to repair settlement reached with John Deere

A recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the states of Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin was reached with the John Deere company. The settlement requires John Deere to make diagnostic and repair resources for their products to allow owners to make their own repairs. It was alleged that John Deere was withholding diagnostic equipment and information needed for owners to make their repairs. This also prevented independent shop owners from making equipment repairs; effectively giving John Deere a monopoly on maintenance. The settlement puts an end to those practices and ensures that farmers have a right to repair. The settlement is a net benefit for farmers using John Deere equipment because it gives them greater freedom in maintaining equipment. The farmer on a budget is able to make their own repairs or find a mechanic at a competitive price.