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Summer fun returns

We first enjoyed all the smiles more than two weeks ago in back of the Runnings store in Marshall. After a year-long pandemic spoiled our annual community-sponsored festivals and fairs, we were allowed to gather again. The Shades of the Past car show was back. It seemed like there were more vehicles and bikes than ever to see that Saturday. Not only did we enjoy looking at the vehicles, but we enjoyed talking to each other without face masks. Also on that Saturday, Russell kicked off its summer with Bandwagon Days. There was no rodeo, but the carnival rides entertained the children. ...

Budget logjam breaking at Capitol

There are signs the budget logjam is breaking at the Minnesota State Capitol, as some of the budget bills are beginning to advance. The Senate approved the Ag budget bill by a wide margin on Tuesday, after it was approved by the House last Saturday. It is heading to the governor. Better news is that some of the policy hangups that have tied up legislation are beginning to ease. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka indicated Monday that Republicans are giving up on their insistence that Gov. Tim Walz halts the clean car rules. Republicans had threatened to halt the state environment ...

Good news on state tax cuts

Minnesota legislators have been in special session for a week to pass state budget bills. They are still working on those, but they did get a significant piece of legislation finished last week. Legislators agreed on a nearly $1 billion tax cut bill that focuses most of its benefits to businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19. Businesses that received federal Paycheck Protection Program loans won’t have to pay taxes on the loans, putting the state in compliance with federal PPP loan policy. Workers laid off because of COVID-19 who received federal unemployment benefits won’t ...

The dangers of repeat DWI offenders

Throw together a crowd of protesters blocking a city intersection and a 5-time DWI offender driving with no license and you have the recipe for a tragedy. Late Sunday, Nicholas Kraus, driving without a license after five DWI convictions, approached the intersection that had been blocked off by demonstrators protesting the shooting of Winston Boogie Smith, Jr., killed by U.S. Marshals on June 3. Kraus told officers he saw a car blocking the intersection and thought he had to speed up to “jump” the barricade. Instead, he smashed into the car, knocking it into Deona Knadjek, killing ...

COVID numbers falling as vaccinations rise

On Tuesday, for the first time in over a year, the state of Minnesota Department of Health recorded fewer than 100 new cases of COVID-19. Only 95 new cases were reported for the first time since April 2020. And the state reported only one additional death. Lyon County has been seeing similar results. The last new case of COVID in the county was reported on June 7. There have been zero new cases since then. This is happening as the number of vaccinations continues to rise — not as rapidly as some would like, but still rising. About two-thirds of Minnesotans 16 and older have ...

Take out ‘straw purchasers’ of guns

The rash of shootings in Minneapolis and St. Paul has people on edge, especially after three children were killed by stray bullets in recent weeks. The number of illegal guns out on the street seems to be growing, and that’s due to “straw purchasers.” These are people who have no criminal record or other red flags that would prevent them from purchasing firearms. They go into a gun shop, buy a weapon or several weapons legally, and then sell them into the illegal black market. The Star Tribune recently detailed one such case, a woman who bought 47 guns in May. She and her ...