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Published 9:00 am Sunday, August 30, 2015
To two visits from Minnesota House of Representatives committees this week.
It is always good when legislators travel down to Albert Lea to find out about what issues this part of the state is dealing with. That’s why we were pleased to see legislators have two visits to the city this week.
On Tuesday, members of the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance Committee and the Minnesota House Agriculture Policy Committee toured the Renewable Energy Group biodiesel refinery south of Albert Lea.
On Wednesday, members of the House Capital Investment Committee toured Riverland Community College to hear about a $7.4 million bonding request to renovate portions of the college’s Albert Lea campus.
We hope your time in the city went well, and we look forward to seeing how the Albert Lea visit impacts legislation.
To the announcements that two Albert Lea businesses will close their doors. 
It was sad to hear the news in the last week that Book World in the Northbridge Mall and Taco Bell in the middle of Albert Lea will close their doors in mid-September.
Book World reportedly hasn’t been profitable for several years, and the Taco Bell owner cited concerns about upgrades to its building as the reason the restaurant will close.
No matter what the business, and whether you shopped there or not, it is still sad to see a business leave Albert Lea.
At the same time, we are pleased to see growth downtown, and we look forward to seeing further development there and in other parts of the city.
To postponing the sentencing of Northwood man Tyrone Washington.
Almost two years after the death of Justina Smith in Northwood’s Swensrud Park, the sentencing for the man convicted of killing her has been postponed. A jury in July found Tyrone Washington Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in Smith’s death.
Since, Washington has written the judge in his case, asking for a new trial. He was slated to be sentenced Aug. 31.
We hope for the sake of Smith’s family and friends that the case gets resolved soon. This case has kept getting delayed from day one.
