National News

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman is concerned high passport fees could impact travel across the border, which in turn could affect the economic vitality of a border town.
Coleman shared his remarks about the fees with The Daily Journal Tuesday following his testimony in a Committee of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the passport issue.

The St. Paul office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued new guidelines in an attempt to streamline the process to determine if a water falls under the federal agency’s jurisdiction.
The new guidelines are in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers Headquarters’ guidance to implement several Supreme Court decisions.

The Koochiching Forest Legacy Project will receive nearly $3.5 million in federal funding, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The announcement was made Monday during a news conference at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Central Office in St. Paul.
These federal funds, combined with state funds, will protect the forest economy and the recreational and ecological resources on more than 76,000 acres of forest land owned by Forest Capital Partners in Koochiching County.

Senate bill doesn’t include center and House bill doesn’t yet include it

A request for $6.5 million from the state to help International Falls develop a Voyageurs Heritage Center on city-owned property along Rainy River is not yet included in the House or Senate bonding bill.
Rep. Tom Anzelc, who described himself Wednesday at frazzled, fried and busy, said he’s disappointed that neither bill include any money for the center.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The State Department is planning to open a new passport processing office in the Twin Cities area.
Last year Senator Norm Coleman asked the U.S. State Department to open a passport office in Minnesota following publicity over massive passport backlogs. Passport processing offices issue passports on the spot, and the closest one to the Twin Cities currently is in Chicago.
Coleman’s office says the new office will be able to issue passports on the spot to more than 600 customers per day. It’s not yet known where in the Twin Cities it will be located.

Celebrity now candidate, Al Franken talks with The Daily Journal

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough ... and doggone it, people like me." Stuart Smalley, Fictional character and book of same name by Al Franken

For those familiar with Al Franken’s celebrity, contemplating a conversation with him easily brings images of self-help guru “Stuart Smalley,” a character he created, and his spoofs on 12-step rehab programs.

Submitted by Pam Rooney, Koochiching County Recorder

Q: What is the passport card?
A: The passport card is a wallet-size card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card will provide a less expensive, smaller, and more convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea.

Q: Why can’t I use the passport card to fly to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda?

Three candidates seeking the DFL Party endorsement for U.S. Senate discussed their views of the issues facing the country during a debate Tuesday.
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Mike Ciresi and Al Franken met for a debate at Rainy River Community College. The three answered questions about their stands on issues such as the Iraq war, education, global warming and health care during the two-hour debate. A Web cast of the debate is expected to be available to view Wednesday at electioninfo4u.com
But the three candidates agreed on one thing: That the country is in a critical time.

A debate of the DFL United States senatorial candidates Mike Ciresi, Al Franken, and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will be held at Rainy River Community College theater in International Falls at 7 p.m. tonight.
Questions can be submitted to Koochiching County’s DFL until noon today. Questions can be dropped off at the Falls Public Library or e-mailed to Librarian Diane Adams at dadams@arrowhead.lib.mn.us.
The debate will be carried on a live video Web cast at www.electioninfo4u.com, a product of The Daily Journal.

Just a day after new rules for entering the United States were implemented, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason checked the process themselves.
Coleman and Mason drove into the Falls Friday from Fort Frances and experienced quick passage into the U.S. after answering a few questions by a Customs inspector.
The senator described the process as “painless.”