Southern Minnesota's political news is naturally dominated today by last night's debate in Rochester between Al Franken, Dean Barkley and Norm Coleman.
Around 850 people packed the University Center to watch the event, sponsored by Debate Minnesota. KAAL-TV and KTTC-TV posted original coverage; the Winona Daily News picked up the AP story with U.S. Senate candidates trade jabs, as did the Worthington Globe in Senate debate showcases intensity.
Update: Those who missed the debate can watch the entire uncut version or separate clips on each question over at The Uptake. Thanks Jason. [end update]
The Worthington Globe also looked at the somewhat below-the-radar fight for a veto-proof DFL majority in the Minnesota State House, publishing Forum News political reporter Scott Wente's Election to shape state House. Wente quotes our favorite Judson Township native:
. . .Democratic-Farmer-Laborites must defend seats they narrowly won in the 2006 election that handed them control of the state House, and they will try to pick up another five to secure a veto-proof majority.
“The architecture that’s set up here is really, I think, set up for victory again for Democrats,” House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said of the political climate....
. . .Top House Republicans and Democrats say that improving the economy and creating jobs are key issues for voters. Democrats say the public turns to them in difficult economic times and they already have demonstrated an ability to pass legislation that results in job growth.
“There’s a higher degree of trust around the Democratic brand when it comes to handling the tough economic situation and dealing with what needs to be done to reposition the Minnesota economy to make it even stronger,” Kelliher said. . .
The Mankato Free Press editorial board notes it's Not too late to register:
If you are an eligible voter who plans to vote and haven’t yet registered, it’s time to mark your calendar with a big red X on Oct. 14.
That’s the deadline for submitting a voter registration application to your county courthouse so your name will be on the roster Nov. 4 at your polling place.
Minnesota allows same-day registration at the polls, and that’s a convenient thing for procrastinators. But you would save much time and effort for yourself and everyone in line behind you at your precinct by taking care of business by Oct. 14 if possible.
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is predicting this to be “a watershed year” when it comes to voters flocking to the polls for this presidential election. . . .
. . .Absentee ballots also have been in demand. In Blue Earth County, Patty O’Connor handles elections and she told a reporter the phone had been ringing like crazy for ballots. The last time she’d seen that kind of demand was when Jesse Ventura ran for governor.
The high interest in the election is invigorating, and eligible voters not yet registered still have plenty of opportunity to take part in the process.
For more information on voting and elections, visitwww.sos.state.mn.us
Read the entire piece at the MFP.
The Owatonna People's Press reports on the rural driver's need to take extra care in A safe harvest:
It might be tempting to get frustrated when you’re late for work and the fat raccoon in the ditch next to you just passed your car because you’re behind a combine on Highway 14. But, farmers most likely won’t have far to go before they can get off the roadway and out of your way.
The first week of October has brought farmers back to the fields to begin harvest of soybeans and corn, the main crops of the Steele County area — but that also means the large trucks, equipment and tractors are also back on the roads.
That's certainly been our experience, and we give the farmers a wide berth as they do their job. The recent rains may also make the soil left on roads slick up, so drivers should pay attention to road surface conditions, too. Anybody who has ever driven on a county road on a rainy day during the sugar beet harvest knows how slippery mud can be.
The title of this YouTube is "If you rear-end this, you shouldn't be on the road":
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