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Ugly political rhetoric leads some of us down dark path

Saturday was a very dark day in Minnesota. The news of the assassination of a member of the Minnesota Legislature and the attempted assassination of a second member sent shock waves through the state and the nation. Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were each shot multiple times and survived. They are both currently recovering in a Twin Cities hospital. “We are incredibly lucky to be alive,” Yvette Hoffman said in a ...

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THUMBS DOWN Kraft loses promised federal funding Last year, New Ulm’s Kraft plant was earmarked to receive $3 million in federal funds to improve energy efficiency upgrades. This was part of a larger $170 million grant to help the Kraft Heinz company decarbonize. It is not happening anymore. The U.S. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOEG) has decided that this promised federal grant is not an efficient use of federal money and has pulled the money away. This is disappointing and a little unfair. Different people can debate whether it is in the federal government’s best ...

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THUMBS UP Greyhounds to return to state tournament The New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds will return to the Class A State Baseball Tournament after defeating the Springfield Tigers on Friday. It was The Tigers who won the state championship last year. This puts the Greyhounds in excellent standing going into the tournament. This will also be the third time the Greyhounds have reached the State Tournament in four years. The Journal tips its baseball cap to the Greyhounds. THUMBS UP New Ulm gets creative with housing A lack of available housing has been one of the top issues facing New ...

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THUMBS DOWN A sunny weekend obstructed by smog Friday, May 30 should have been a sunny clear day, but the morning started with a haze of smoke. Instead of blue sky, central Minnesota was covered by gray. This was caused by wildfire smoke in northern Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for most of the state. Hazy conditions are expected to remain through the weekend, limiting sunlight. It is an unfortunate summer trend in Minnesota. The return of summer is also the start of wildfire season and days for smog. THUMBS UP Flandrau swimming pond ...

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THUMBS UP Plenty of Memorial Day observations It is Memorial Day Weekend, a time to remember those we have lost over the years. Many area communities, including Sleepy, Nicollet, Lafayette, Gibbon, Winthrop, Springfield, and New Ulm, are holding special Memorial Day programs on Monday. The New Ulm Memorial Day observance begins at 10 a.m. in the Lower Soldiers Rest. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the New Ulm Community Center. THUMBS UP $100K NUMAS Haus donation shows community’s generosity New Ulm Ministerial Association Shelter (NUMAS) Haus ...

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THUMBS UP Graduation begin School is nearly out for the summer. That means it is the season for graduation. Area high schools and colleges are preparing to host ceremonies for the spring 2025 graduates. In New Ulm, the first commencement ceremony will be held by Martin Luther College. The service is 10 a.m. today in the campus gymnasium. Cathedral High School graduation service is 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. River Bend Education District’s graduation ceremony is 1 p.m. Tuesday at the New Ulm Community Center. Minnesota Valley Lutheran will hold its graduation ...