On this day in music, December 26, 1970, George Harrison began a four-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “My Sweet Lord,” making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 hit as a solo artist in the US. The tender ballad, which appeared on Harrison’s broadly acclaimed album, All Things Must Pass, gave the “Quiet Beatle” similar bragging rights in the UK, where it topped the charts for five weeks and became the biggest-selling single of 1971.
In 1999, soul star Curtis Mayfield died at the age of 57. After rising to fame as a member of The Impressions, Mayfield embarked on a highly successful solo career, highlighted by his most celebrated release, the 1972 soundtrack for Super Fly. A double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mayfield won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
In 1976, The Sex Pistols recorded “God Save The Queen” at Wessex Studios in London. The controversial song, which was released during Queen Elizabeth II’s 1977 Silver Jubilee, flew to No.2 on the UK pop chart.
In 1979, Pink Floyd’s The Wall began a 15-week run at the top of the US album chart.
In 2007, Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black was named the biggest-selling album of the year in the UK. Today, it remains one of the territory’s best-selling albums of all time.
In 1967, BBC1 celebrated Boxing Day by airing The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour in black and white. Less than two weeks later, the film aired in color on BBC2. While the soundtrack was well-received, the film fared decidedly less well with the public and the press.
In 1979, the first in a series of benefit concerts was held at London’s Hammersmith Odeon for the People of Kampuchea (Cambodia). Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, and Wings were among the start-studded acts who performed.
In 1981, AC/DC began a three-week run at the top of the Billboard 200 with their seminal album, For Those About To Rock We Salute You.
In 1968, Led Zeppelin embarked on their first North American tour, supporting Vanilla Fudge and Spirit.
BORN ON DECEMBER 26
1935: Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir (The Four Tops)
1939: Phil Spector
1953: Henning Schmitz (Kraftwerk)
1963: Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
1966: Jay Farrar (Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt)
1971: Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars)
The 2026 Minnesota Legislative Session will begin on February 17th. State Representative Dave Baker of Willmar says this is the shorter session of the biennium when lawmakers typically put together a bonding bill.
Baker says the bonding bill is usually around $1-billion to fund infrastructure and other projects. He says in his district, he’s hoping that some money can be secured this time around to complete the Glacial Lakes Trail to connect Sibley State Park to New London, and he’s hoping there will also be funds for water treatment projects for Kandiyohi, Atwater, Raymond and Lake Lillian.
Baker says the Minnesota Senate passed a bill in the last session to address fraud by establishing an independent office of an inspector general, but it did not make it to the House floor, so he’s hoping that will get accomplished in the next session to make sure the staggering fraud schemes such as Feeding Our Future never happen again – and another way to help accomplish that would be to get new leadership. He says he endorsed Kristin Robbins – his colleague in the House – for Governor – and he encourages people to get involved in the caucuses which will be held early in February.
Baker says he supports a lot of what President Trump does, but he did not appreciate him calling Somalians “garbage” and linking the whole race to Minnesota’s fraud problem as there are many hard-working Somali-Americans in his district. He says does support the work of ICE agents as we have been too soft on crime and if anyone is in our nation illegally, they need to go.
Baker says he’s concerned about the new paid family leave legislation which will hurt businesses and drive them out of our state. He says he is also continuing to work on overdose issues which continue to plague our society and which claimed the life of his son, Dan, 14 years ago, but he feels we are making progress.
The Litchfield School Board met on Monday evening and had a lengthy discussion about future facility and financial planning. By the end of the meeting, the Board voted in favor of authorizing a scientific community survey to gauge community awareness, priorities and support related to a potential operating referendum and building bond options.
Business Manager Jesse Johnson presented information to the Board regarding future operating budgets with expenses growing faster than revenues with a projected deficit beginning in fiscal year 2028, continued reliance on the fund balance – becoming unsustainable by fiscal year 2030. State funding reductions add to the future uncertainty. Johnson says there are facility maintenance needs such as boilers and other items that need replacing.
Besides the survey, the Litchfield School Board approved of engaging with ICS with guiding the District in planning and assessment; and approved of establishing a working group with interpreting the data gathered and evaluating options.
Also Monday night, the Litchfield School Board approved of a 2024-25 single audit report; approved of purchasing a scoreboard, dive scoring and timing system for the high school pool; approved of the 2025-2027 LEA teacher contract; and approved of the 2025-2027 para contract.
