Yesterday was the first anniversary of the riot at the Nation’s Capital. As Congress worked to certify the presidential
election of 2020, an angry mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters attacked Capital Police and stormed the building in an attempt to stop the process and somehow overturn the results of the election.
As this was one of the Constitutional responsibilities of Congress, all members were there, including Minnesota Senator Tina Smith.
Senator Smith had taken the oath of office to begin her first full term as a United States Senator just a few days prior. She was well aware of the possibility that day for unrest outside of the Capital, but she said it never occurred to her that a riot with such a high level of violence would, or even could, occur.
The Senator said that she was with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska when they encountered a Capital Police Officer who had been attacked with pepper spray, which she described as a shocking sight. Shortly thereafter, she was told by security to go to her office, lock the doors and turn off the lights. Even then, she said, she had no idea of the level of violence that was happening in the halls of the Capital Building, and it wasn’t until she saw footage later, on television, that she understood just how serious the situation had been.
Senator Smith said, on the anniversary of the riot, it was important to be honest about the event, and not look back at it through a revisionist lens. She also said it was important to remember who was to blame for the riot.
“I think today it’s important for us to be real about what happened on January 6th. [We can’t] whitewash it or call it a bunch of tourists with a few people that got out of hand. That is not what was going on. This was an attack on the Capital, and our democracy, that was incited by the former president. We have to understand that if we want to protect our democracy.”
The House of Representatives is currently investigating the riot and the actions that were taken leading up to it. Senator Smith said the investigating committee will hold public hearings in the spring, so the American public can see firsthand what they have discovered. Calling the riot an “attempted coup,” she said it is important that not just the people who perpetrated the violence, but those who organized the event, and she said those who inspired it, are held responsible.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with US Senator Tina Smith can be heard here
Thomas urges precautions on the ice
Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas is reminding all who enjoy ice fishing to be safe when heading out onto the ice.
Thomas said the strange weather conditions this year, an early blizzard followed by warmer weather, might have been good for lake ice, but he said, ice is never 100% safe.
The strength of the ice on a lake cannot be judged by its appearance, age, thickness, the outside temperature, or whether the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all of those factors, plus the depth of the water under the ice, the size of the body of water, the water chemistry and the currents in the lake, the distribution of the load on the ice, and, of course, weather conditions.
Thomas said he himself has not yet tested the strength of the ice on any area lake. However, he said, everyone should keep in mind that the ice might be thick and strong on one lake, and very unsafe on another.
According to the Minnesota DNR website, in fact, ice rarely freezes uniformly. It could be quite thick in one area and just a few inches away, it might be very thin. Therefore, the DNR advises checking the ice every 150 feet or so. Other things to keep in mind, according to the DNR, new ice is generally stronger than older ice, schools of fish or flocks of birds can adversely affect ice conditions, and snow cover can slow down the freezing process on a lake.
Sheriff Thomas said there are simple precautions everyone should take.
“Let people know where you’re going, take precautions, take your ice picks if you’re going to venture out into an unknown area. And if you’re staying overnight in an ice shelter, or a fish house, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector, because we’ve lost people to that in the past.
Vehicles can go through the ice at any time. The DNR advises that people look for 5”-7″ of ice before taking a snowmobile onto a lake, 8”-12” for a car or a small pickup, and 12”-15” for a medium sized truck.
Thomas said it is important to remember that ice is not consistent, and safety must always be the first priority.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Sheriff Jesse Thomas can be heard here
MLK Day Celebration will be virtual again this year
The Northfield Human Rights Commission has announced the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration will once
again be a virtual affair in 2022.
The online event will begin at 7pm on January 17th. The theme of the event is “social action,” and will feature Reverend Cindy Maddox, musical performances, along an open microphone for audience members to share a brief memory or vision inspired by Dr. King.
Northfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann will be presented with the 2022 Human Rights Award during the celebration. The award is given to a local individual, group or organization that has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the advancement of human rights in the Northfield area, either through volunteer or professional efforts.
Sam Temple, the Northfield Public Broadcasting Station Manager, who will be producing the event, said it is disappointing that the event will be held in a virtual environment again this year, but this is a meaningful event, and it will be presented to the public in the best ways possible.
“Hopefully, this is the last time we’ll be doing anything virtual, but we’re just trying to look at the best ways we can put on the best possible event. Because it’s such an important day, and it’s meant so much to the community to have this event. We really want to make sure we do it justice and we make it as impactful as we can.”
All are welcome to the virtual event. For more information on how to participate click here.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Sam Temple can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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