Opinion

Republicans get what they want with “lights on” bill

Editorials

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate have made a strategic move with the passage of “lights on” bill that would fund current state operations for two more years at current projected levels, which would increase spending by about $1.9 billion, which is what Republicans had proposed all ...

What’s Going On: Pro-life extends beyond birth

Columns

Pam and David were expecting their first children, twin boys, when Pam’s water broke just four months into the pregnancy. She was rushed to her small, rural hospital where their family physician quickly decided the emergency was beyond his abilities and transferred them to a university ...

Thumbs Up/Down

Editorials

Graduation time THUMBS UP: The graduation season is upon us. Martin Luther College is sending its seniors off into the world today. Sleepy Eye and Springfield High Schools held their graduations on Friday. Between now and June 2, all of our area high schools will have completed the celebration ...

U.S. birth rate becoming an issue

Editorials

Whether to have children is an intensely personal decision for women and couples. But it is becoming a social, economic — and political — issue, too. Birth rates in the United States have dipped to historic lows. Last year’s rate was the lowest in 32 years. And analysts point out that ...

Town Talk: City Cemetery decoration rules

Columns

Question — What are the rules pertaining to the decoration of a loved one’s Cemetery lot at the New Ulm City Cemetery? Ground flowers can be planted in the area provided for this purpose, which is generally in an area no larger than 12 inches wide by 30 inches long in front of a ...

Women veterans leading the charge

Editorials

After generations of foolish failure to understand the contributions women can make to national defense, the U.S. armed forces finally seem to have awakened to the previously untapped potential. Important issues regarding how females can serve the nation best in uniform may remain to be worked ...

Hagedorn’s leadership hurts farmers

Letters

To the editor: Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District’s strength is our rich, agricultural way of life. Substantial work and investments are being made by citizens, foundations and organizations to continue to strengthen our rural communities. It’s difficult to see these efforts undone ...

Budget standoff

Editorials

Minnesota’s political leaders are locked in a standoff over the state budget. A week ago Monday, they missed a self-imposed deadline for setting overall budget targets, from which they could shape their negotiations. On Sunday, with one week left to make a deal, talks between Democratic ...

Launch a well-timed coincidence

Editorials

If, as U.S. officials insist, last week’s test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile had nothing to do with events elsewhere in the world, it was a fortuitous coincidence. On Thursday, North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea off its coast. It appears the rockets ...

Motherhood

Editorials

Today we celebrate mothers everywhere, and why not? Where would any of us be without them? Motherhood is indeed the most basic of human experiences. The act of harboring a growing, developing human being is one that only a mother can truly understand. The men involved can only marvel, as ...

Hagedorn prioritizes guns over women’s lives

Letters

To the editor: For someone who believes in the sanctity of human life, Representative Jim Hagedorn has a funny way of showing it. Last month he had an opportunity to support the Violence Against Women Act, a law specifically designed to protect life — in particular the lives of victims of ...

Thumbs Up/Down

Editorials

Fishing opener THUMBS UP: Whether the walleyes are ready or not, it’s fishing opener weekend. The late, cold, wet spring doesn’t bode well for fishing up north, so Gov. Tim Walz took his Fishing Opener about as far south as you can get, in the Albert Lea area, barely ten miles north of the ...

Town Talk: Local control

Columns

New Ulm Public Utilities is a community owned utility, referred to as a public power or municipal utility. This is vastly different from a “for profit” investor-owned utility that is owned by shareholders who are many times not even part of the city the utility serves. There are many ...

Commonplace heroes stop evil

Editorials

Once again we have been reminded of the commonplace heroism that so many people hold quietly at the ready out of their compassion for others. Two armed teenagers bent on carrying out a massacre invaded STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado on Tuesday. Life-saving courage enough was shown ...

State must fund infrastructure improvements

Letters

To the editor: It is no longer a secret that our state’s infrastructure is aging and deteriorating. According to the recently released American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) annual state report card, Minnesota roads received a D+ overall grade while bridges received a C and transit ...

New faces, same results at capitol

Editorials

With time starting to run short in the Minneosta legislative session, the state appears to be heading to yet another special session, or another government shutdown over the state budget impasse. Budget talks at the state capitol fared no better with the new faces in the room — Gov. Tim ...

In defense of Jim Hagedorn

Letters

To the editor: In his time in office, Congressman Jim Hagedorn has been a tireless champion for Southern Minnesota farmers. He’s urged House leadership to extend bio-diesel tax credits, advocated for year-round use of E-15, and urged EPA to stop the abuse of small refinery exemptions, ...

Eagle Update: New 1:1 program

Columns

This fall, New Ulm Public Schools will be distributing Chromebooks to all 5-12 students as part of a new 1:1 program (one student with one device). Students in our K-4 grades will have access to updated iPads for classrooms use, in large groups, or small learning centers (as they do now). ...

Savings species in our best interest

Editorials

It is inevitable that some of the 8 million or so species of plant and animals on our Earth will go extinct within the next few decades. Some will die out this year. In many ways, nature is no guardian of biodiversity. Human activity is accelerating the rate of die-offs, scientists warn. They ...