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Letters to the Editor

Take responsibility, vote

To the editor: We are about 15 months away from, hopefully, a monumental change in the citizens representation in St Paul. Rational and “legal” citizens must take their duty responsibly, as they go to the polls to cast their vote. There are opportunities other than voting, however, to have your voice heard. Participate in your local BPOU’s (Basic Political Organizational Unit), attend and participate in your local caucus, county, district and state conventions. If you commit yourself to vote because of your party affiliation, you should, at least, know the basic principles of ...

No need to meet bold carbon free goals

To the editor: This is in response to the 8-8-2025 ‘Nuclear power: Facts and myths.’ Under the notation, ‘Small Footprint, Big Results.’ I learned that one nuclear plant on 103 acres of land can put out as much power as a wind installation that would require 17,800 acres or, a solar installation that needs 3,200 acres. Another advantage (not mentioned) is being able to locate closer to large centers of use like the metro area. This would cut down on the cost of transmission lines going clear across the state; in addition to reducing the number of irritated landowners who ...

Farmers should embrace AI

To the editor: The future of farming isn’t on the horizon; it’s already here. That message was made clear at this year’s Farmfest, which hosted a panel featuring a local content creator and representatives from Corteva and TerraClear. Their conversation demystified the emerging benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) for farmers and raised some valuable points for our state’s agricultural community to take note of. Throughout the conversation, one central message was clear: our state’s farmers should not fear AI; they should embrace it. As the panelists discussed, AI can ...

Support Flanagan’s vision for the future

To the editor: I am writing to express my strong support for Peggy Flanagan and her continued leadership in Minnesota. I had the opportunity to hear her at a town hall in Marshall on Saturday. As a lifelong advocate for children, families, and Indigenous communities, Peggy has consistently demonstrated what true public service looks like—compassionate, principled, and courageous. Under her tenure as lieutenant governor, she has championed policies that promote equity in education, access to healthcare, and support for working families. Her dedication to ensuring that all voices ...

MN representatives need to explain votes

To the editor: There was a report of good news for the City of Cottonwood in the July 12-13 edition of the Independent. The city of Cottonwood needed a new city hall for some time. The city recently spent approximately $167,000 remodeling a vacant clinic building. Of that, about $92,000 came from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 passed during the Biden administration. This act passed the U.S. Congress in 2021 without the vote of one Republican. Not one. And yes, this includes our U.S. Rep. Michelle ...

I’m on the right side of history

To the Editor: After an overwhelming victory in November, President Trump has been working and winning since day one of his presidency. His incredible list of accomplishments in just 5 months are far too numerous to mention here, but they are being acknowledged by many fair minded Democrats. In less than six months, the Trump Doctrine of common sense and “America First” has restored American pride and respect for our nation around the world. Sunday marked the one year anniversary of Trump surviving an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. Many call it divine ...