by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Filings closed June 2 for elected positions with a potential primary on Aug. 11. Here are the filings for offices as recorded by the Secretary of State. U.S. Senate DFL incumbent Tina Smith will be challenged by Steve Carlson, Ahmad R. Hassan, Paula Overby and Christopher Lovell Seymore Sr. Republicans will have a choice between the party
St. Joseph council approves citizen-friendly budget software
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Ways to open up city government and encourage more citizen participation were the focus of the June 1 St. Joseph City Council meeting. Members approved one new service but postponed a decision on a second plan so they could do more research. The council unanimously approved paying $7,000 a year for budgeting software that will provide
Flour & Flower bakery opens
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Flour & Flower bakery, one half of a new St. Joseph food destination, opened last week and its partner business, Krewe, plans to offer a pickup menu starting this weekend. Serving artisan breads and pastries, fresh-cut flowers and coffee, Flour & Flower is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. “Nothing smells better than fresh
Wood-Fired Wednesdays look different than planned
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Rolling Ridge Wedding and Event Center owner Randy Schmitz had planned to open mid-May this year for Wood-Fired Wednesdays, but like many other businesses, was not able to do so because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Schmitz said four months of his wedding business has vanished. Until he can open for business again, Schmitz offered his patrons
Legislative session ends without funding for St. Joseph projects
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Minnesota’s legislators ended their regular session without approving a bonding bill that included money for St. Joseph’s Community Center, but there’s still hope for money this year. Legislators are likely to return to St. Paul on June 12 and a $2 billion bonding bill for projects throughout the state will probably be on the agenda. Before
Don’t tie Postal Service fees, funding to politics
In 1775, when the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the first postmaster general, the challenges facing today’s post office could hardly be imagined. The U.S. Postal Service is one of few federal agencies explicitly authorized by the Constitution. It is legally obligated to serve all Americans, regardless of geography, at uniform price and quality. “Price and quality” are at the
We’ve failed to imagine the pandemic victims
How old are you? How much do you weigh? How tall are you? Almost from birth, we’re obsessed with numbers and counting. Babies quickly learn how to count fingers and toes. As we get older, we keep counting. What’s your SAT score? How much money do you make? How’s your 401(k) doing? So it is with the coronavirus pandemic. How
Much to honor, to mourn, on these dark days
These days, my neighbors and I sit on the lawn and yell at one another. No, we’re not arguing. We’re doing the new normal – social distancing. But communication is difficult because we are so hard-of-hearing we’re next door to deaf. And so we sit far apart and yell our heads off. “What did you say? I can’t hear you