Great photos, lots of news

It's been a busy week at The Free Press.

I'm very impressed with the quality and quantity of reader-submitted photos we are getting for our new web feature "My Perspective."

If you haven't checked it out yet, go to our homepage. Look for the rotating widget. Usually it will go through about 20 photos and continually update with fresh photos.

We received a lot of worthwhile photos of the recent flooding including this one from Donahue Sarff.

Following the flood stories is always interesting. Luckily, there were no major disasters and property damage issues, but it is amazing how many people just go "flood watching" to see just how high the river is getting.

I made my way down to the new Riverfront Park in Mankato and was kind of amazed how high the water was getting. Seems like we will have a flooded park, if we get within four or five feet of the top of the flood wall.

The park is a beauty however, and if you haven't checked it out, it's worth doing.

On the national news front, of course, passage of the health care reform bill was a major happening this weekend. That will be an interesting story to watch unfold when all the details start to be made clear.

It's also likely to be hotly debated in this year's congressional elections.

That will likely keep us busy and in the news business.

Oh yeah, and Twins got some coverage this weekend too with the signing of Joe Mauer to a 8-year, $184 million contract. The commentary was: He could have done better in the free agent market, but he likes Minnesota so well.

Glad, he likes us. Would like to see what the cost would be if he didn't like us.

Watch Ed Thoma's Baseball Outsider blog, I'm sure he'll be weighing in often on this topic. Here's one of his takes.