Generally, we don’t like corporate mergers. In fact, this very paper came about after many papers merged into a big media corporation, and we eventually lost a truly “local” news option.

Fortunately, we won’t have to worry about losing the local option for health care. We applaud the merger of the Raiter Clinic with Community Memorial Hospital, which are officially banding together next year to compete against Essentia as it moves into town. By becoming one, the Raiter Clinic and CMH will be able to continue to provide a local option for quality health care, and will be more likely...