Representatives Peter Fugina and Douglas Johnson complained that three news stories and an editorial in the newspaper inaccurately accused them of questionable financial practices.
The Minnesota Education Association (MEA) complained that 32 Minnesota weekly newspapers acted unethically in reprinting a news release verbatim as a news item or editorial without identifying for readers the source of the information.
Larry Blahauvietz, a candidate for Pipestone City Council, complained that the paper was unfair and discriminatory when he was refused paid political advertising space in the issue running the day before the elections. A rival candidate’s ad appeared in the paper on that day.
State Representatives Verne E. Long and Wendell O. Erickson complained that the paper ran an inaccurate and unfair headline stating the two had voted continued support for the Vietnam war. Their complaint included a subsequent editorial that identified the two as “warhawks” who “wanted more war.”
Dr. Robert P. N. Shearin complained that the paper used “oppressive attempts to suppress public opinion and information” when it declined to publish a second letter to the editor from him, and when it later decided not to accept any more letters on the topic.