To a new protective vest for Stalker, the K-9 with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

We are pleased to see the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Stalker, get a bullet- and stab-protective vest.

The vest was made possible through a $1,050 charitable donation from a nonprofit organization, Vested Interest, a group that provides bullet- and stab-protective vests and other assistance to K-9 units across the country.

Already we are seeing benefits of having Stalker on the force, and we look forward to seeing the work he will do in the future. The K-9 has contributed to about seven or eight arrests, and he has helped track two people.

To the announcement that the Freeborn National Bank and Jacobson Apartments will not receive tax credits.

We were disappointed to hear the news this week that the Freeborn National Bank and Jacobson Apartments were not selected to receive tax credits for the renovation of the buildings.

The city has applied for the grants for three years with Kansas-based developer Cohen-Esrey, who plans to turn the buildings into 21 apartments on the upper floors, with The Albert Lea Art Center and The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro on the ground level.

We hope that as the city meets with Minnesota Housing officials and Cohen-Esrey in the next week or two, they will find out why the Albert Lea project was not selected for the tax credits and find out how to make this project more competitive in the future.

As Albert Leans, we think the bank building is one of Albert Lea’s gems, and we look forward to seeing it back in use.

Women in business.

Women have made great strides in the business world in the last 20 years. According to Pew Research Center, just one woman led a Fortune 500 company in 1998. Fast forward to today, and women are making greater strides than ever before.

Women make up 45 percent of the labor force,  and 5 percent head Fortune 500 companies.

On Tuesday, we will feature women at three area businesses who are contributing locally. Keep up the good work!

To the end of the presidential debates.

After months of campaigning, we were pleased this week that the final presidential debate took place. That means we only have about two weeks to go until the election.

We encourage people to study up on the candidates and make the best educated decision you can. A lot can happen in four years, so it is important to voice your opinion on who you’d like to see in the White House and what direction you’d like to see the country take.