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COVID-19 and the presidential debates

Were the COVID-19 virus to be a creature capable of thought, it would be easy now to accuse it of engaging in a plot aimed at American democracy. The most devious, evil schemer based in Moscow or Beijing could not come up with a more perfect storm leading up to the Nov. 3 election. With Election Day less than a month away, the president of the United States is sick and in the hospital. We join former vice president Joe Biden, President Donald Trump’s opponent in that election, in hoping and praying for a speedy, full recovery. But Trump, who specializes in in-person campaigning, ...

Short Takes

Connecting ag with students THUMBS UP: With our farmers in southwest Minnesota driving their combines from sunrise to sunset during this harvesting season, there is no better time for Gov. Tim Walz proclaiming October as Minnesota Farm to School month. According state of Minnesota press release, Farm to School programs create connections between schools and farmers. Through these relationships, schools can provide fresh food to students, as well as educational opportunities for nutrition and wellness and hands-on learning experiences with school gardens. It’s vital in this region ...

States need firm rules on voting by absentee ballot

There is one safe bet regarding the upcoming presidential election: If vote totals in any of the states are close, there will be controversy over how ballots were handled. That will be so whether President Donald Trump or Joe Biden appears to have the edge. Ballot battles are nothing new, of course. Many people remember the infamous “hanging chads” argument over votes in Florida during the election 20 years ago. Or the eight-month Minnesota recount in 2008 that gave Al Franken a 225-vote edge over Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate race. Those will seem mild this year, unless we are ...

Unemployment fraud

It was to be expected that when Congress approved about $3 trillion in emergency aid to Americans hurt financially by the coronavirus epidemic, the criminal element would seize the opportunity for ill-gotten gains. Both as individuals and criminal organizations, they have been doing just that on a massive scale. It is doubtful we will ever know how much in unemployment compensation has been paid out wrongly. Millions of people need the benefits badly. Though the economy is recovering slowly from business slowdowns linked to COVID-19, it still has a long way to go. Officials in some ...

Flu is on the way

Mention vaccines these days, and chances are the talk will be about when some protection against COVID-19 can be expected. Another killer is about to take the stage, however. “Regular” influenza — actually multiple viruses that vary in threat level, depending on the year — strikes annually. Fortunately, vaccines against it are available already. Influenza kills tens of thousands of Americans every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu claimed as many as 62,000 lives in this country during the 2019-20 season. It is important to note that ...

Take advantage of battleground status

America’s two main presidential candidates visit Minnesota on the same day that early and absentee voting begins. Welcome to the official sign that Minnesota has gone from blue/purple to a legitimate battleground state, at least in 2020. Last week’s dueling visits from Democrat Joe Biden (in Duluth) and Republican Donald Trump (in Bemidji) show both parties see Minnesota as vital to collecting the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Based on the roughly century’s worth of experience this editorial board has watching Minnesota politics, it’s the first ...