The Morning Report 6/30/09 – Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Kline involved in standardized testing changes on House Education and Labor Committee.

Agriculture:

• Nominees announced for two MN agricultural positions, MPR
• Farm group calls attention to dairy crisis, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Overheard at the Capitol: Dems on Zellers? Personable, sincere, not Tom Emmer, Politics in Minnesota
• Bachmann’s very visual universe: “False Witness” comic #1 sketches the political phenom, Politics in Minnesota
• Capitol Notepad: June 29, 2009, Politics in Minnesota. Quick links & snippets.
• Kelliher to run for Governor, remain speaker, MN Publius
• Rep. Kline still confusing partisanship with representation, mnpACT
• Dane Smith cranks up the DFL’s PR machine, Let Freedom Ring
• Zellers names Hamilton an assistant, Capitol Chatter
• Governors honor former Chief Justice Blatz, The Political Animal
• Gubernatorial Power Rankings: June ’09, MN Progressive Project

Business/Economy:

• Pay freeze approved for state employees, AP
• State finance officials predict $4.427 billion budget deficit in ’12-’13, Polinaut – MPR
• Get ready to pay more for gas and goods: tax hikes hit Wednesday, Pioneer Press
• Furloughs cut Stearns County staffing, St. Cloud Times
• Major changes afoot with Minneapolis agencies big and small, SmartBrief
• Some retailers unaware of new MN flag law, KSTP

Campaigns:

• Minnesota political donor refund program dries up, AP

Congress-House:

• Oberstar confident of Midwest rail plan, Mesabi Daily News
• New role gives Kline voice in school law rewrite, Pioneer Press
• New role gives Kline voice in school law rewrite, AP
• Kline encourages Coleman to fight on, Polinaut – MPR

Crime/Police:

• Gang Strike Force board to discuss temporary unit, AP
• Strike Force’s revival in limbo; officials to meet, Star Tribune
  
• St. Paul PD connecting on Facebook, AP

Education:

• St. Paul school board believes in superintendent even if state doesn’t, Star Tribune
• U of M students build solar house for international competition, MPR

Elections:

• Norm Coleman: the GOP’s million-dollar man, Politico

Environment:

• Farm runoff blamed for town’s contaminated water, MPR
• Minnesota outdoors about to get some green, Star Tribune

Government-Local:

• St. Cloud wants $17 million in state bonding money, St. Cloud Times

Opinion-Commentary:

• Dane Smith: Many states hike taxes in crisis, St. Cloud Times
• Kent Kaiser: You needn’t stand up to be counted, Star Tribune

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: The need for speed in city of St. Paul, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Wastewater suitable for ethanol production, Mankato Free Press

Other States:

• States brace for shutdowns, Los Angeles Times
• Commentary: What our legislators never learned in kindergarten, Dolan Media Newswires

Pawlenty:

• Wisconsin officials yet to agree to Pawlenty’s tax reciprocity request, MPR
• Pawlenty says he’ll follow court’s ruling on Senate, Star Tribune
• Pawlenty’s budget cuts draw protests, AP

People:

• Opperman elected to TCF board, MSP Business Journal
• Mark Sanford betrayed fiscals, too, Politico

Public Health/Safety:

• SE Minnesota milk processor recalls products, AP
• Advocates say housing aid doesn’t go far enough, MPR
• ‘Move-over’ law soon to apply to boaters, too, AP
• Kandiyohi County welfare fraud case is settled, West Central Tribune
• Fargo to vote on tax increase for flood control, MPR

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Rising foreclosures lead to rental problems in Mpls., KSTP
• Census bureau to report on Twin Cities population, AP

Stadiums:

• Twins transfer $4 million to Target Field fund, AP

Technology:

• Nibi Software taps growth of e-learning niche, Finance and Commerce
• Internet post a ‘publication’ for purposes of privacy claim, Finance and Commerce

Transportation:

• MnDOT to begin survey of Winona Bridge, MPR
• St. Cloud to buy 2 homes for roundabout near SCSU, St. Cloud Times

Z-File: Irresistible Stories Beyond the Purview of PIM

• The alligator gar is one ugly fish, with few friends but new fans, Wall Street Journal