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THUMBS DOWN Fraud speculation makes day care crisis worse in Minnesota The federal government is pausing federal funding for child care in Minnesota. This comes in the wake of YouTuber Nick Shirley posting a video in which he claims a dozen Minneapolis day cares were not really operating as day cares and fraudulently taking federal funds. Though the allegations have yet to be proven, it has resulted in the entire state losing federal funding for day care. Minnesota has long faced a day care shortage. There are not enough providers to meet the demand of parents. Even if this funding ...

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THUMBS DOWN Community mourns loss of Paul Wojahn Paul Wojahn died Sunday at the age of 104. At the time of his death, he was the oldest Commander of a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Chapter in the United States. Up until the end, Wojahn continued to be of service to his community. Wojahn’s service to others began in WWII. He joined the Marines and was part of the beach landing at Peleliu. After the war, he continued to serve his community as a game warden for the Department of Natural Resource (DNR) and a sheriff’s deputy. Even after retirement in 1983, he continued to be ...

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THUMBS UP Three honored for life-saving efforts Tuesday, Sleepy Eye City Council honored Bransten Rehbein-Weber, Max Heiderscheidt and Lucas Heiderscheidt with the Outstanding Citizenship Award in recognition for their selfless and lifesaving efforts during a May 8 house fire. The three young men all entered a home engulfed in flames and assisted in getting two children out of the fire before first responders arrived. Police Chief Matt Andres presented the three young men with the award. He said their efforts went above and beyond what could be expected at such an horrific event. The ...

Minnesota politicians face belt-tightening decisions

The State of Minnesota’s November Budget and Economic Forecast was released last week. According to the Minnesota Management and Budget, the budget for fiscal year 2026-27 includes a $2.465 billion surplus. However, in 2028-29, the state is projected to have a $2.96 billion deficit. Depending on who you talk to, there’s plenty of optimism. There is also warnings of doom and gloom. And of course, finger pointing. “Despite the president’s tariff and destabilization of health care costs, Minnesota’s annual budget forecast has improved in both the short and long term thanks ...

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THUMBS UP SE Holiday Lights in Motion are back After taking 2024 off, Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion are back. Sportsman’s Park in Sleepy Eye is filled with over a half million Christmas lights and a full schedule of themed event nights through the rest of the month. The lights display is a decade-long tradition. Its absence in 2024 was felt throughout the community. Many people took for granted the lights display would always be in Sleepy Eye, but getting the park ready requires a lot of volunteer support. The return of Holiday Lights in Motion is a sign the community is ...

Support local retailers

Christmas is just weeks away and millions of Americans will be perusing for bargains at their favorite retailers. For those of us who have chosen to live in small communities the drive to a large mall or box store might be hours away and not very convenient when the roads are bad and daylight hours are few. Some will take solace in front of their computer screen while sipping their hot cup of coffee to shop from the convenience of their home and not venture out into the cold. Amazon is now the go to place for many when it comes to shopping. It is so successful that its creator ...