Morning Report 2/23/2012

• MNGOP Attacks Teachers at ALEC’s Request, MN Progressive Project
• Education Grade for Legislature = F, mnpACT!
• Vikings to (Insert City Here) — Moments of Clarity, Mr. Dilettante’s Neighborhood
• When “local control” becomes a meaningless catch phrase, Brick City Blog
• SD61: Dibble, Hornstein and Greene to run in new district, MN Progressive Project
• New 6th, Becky Mocks Anoka’s Bachmann, Pete Is Drafted, Residual Forces
• Dayton signs bill requiring teachers to pass skills test, Hot Dish Politics
  

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Fed: State-chartered banks are stable, but lending still slow, Finance and Commerce 2/22/12 4:35 p.m.
• State manufacturers still optimistic, but worried about workforce, Rochester Post-Bulletin 2/23/12 8:15 a.m.
• Business, educators working together for changing jobs, Pioneer Press 2/22/12 6:09 p.m.
  

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CAMPAIGNS

• Army vet Hegseth seeks GOP US Senate nod, AP 2/22/12 4:03 p.m.
• Sherburne activist will seek new House seat near St. Cloud, St. Cloud Times 2/22/12 11:07 p.m.
  

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CONGRESS – HOUSE

• Rep. Keith Ellison hosting a town hall on the racial unemployment gap, MPR
• Cravaack’s foes criticize his living arrangements; supporters say he’s accessible, Duluth News Tribune 2/23/12 12:00 a.m.
  

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CONGRESS – SENATE

• Franken supporting bill targeting vet-enrollment by for-profits, MPR
  

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CRIME / POLICE

• Minneapolis police ready to restore 12 laid-off community service officers, MinnPost 2/22/12 11:11 a.m.
  

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EDUCATION

• Minn. teachers weigh in on proposed tenure shakeup, MPR
  

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ENVIRONMENT

• Bats and birds to be focus of Minnesota wind farm hearing, Midwest Energy News
• State to decide whether wind farm plan minimizes threat to animals, MPR
  

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GOVERNMENT – LOCAL

• County engineer seeks bonding money for safer railroad crossings, Mankato Free Press
• Lakeville to put Heritage Center project out for bid, Pioneer Press 2/23/12 12:13 p.m.
• Houston, Goodhue counties delay silica sand decisions, Rochester Post-Bulletin 2/22/12 8:59 a.m.
• Public meeting set on Houston County frac sand moratorium, Winona Daily News 2/23/12 12:00 a.m.
  

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HEALTH CARE

• Feds give MN $26M to develop insurance exchange, MPR
  

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LABOR

• Ramsey County judge hears arguments on child care unionization effort, Pioneer Press 2/22/12 12:45 p.m.
• Child care provider unionization effort in limbo, MPR
• Judge suggests Dayton could have avoided union vote lawsuit, Alexandria Echo Press 2/23/12 7:05 a.m.
  

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LEGISLATURE

• Minnesota Senate committee passes photo ID for voting, AP 2/22/12 3:46 p.m.
  

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Weaving sustainable design into affordable housing, Finance and Commerce 2/22/12 3:42 p.m.
• Minnesota campaign aims to expand food stamp rolls, MPR
• Sex offender notification law wouldn’t affect Rochester, officer says, Rochester Post-Bulletin 2/22/12 8:14 a.m.
• White nationalist group to rally in Duluth against anti-racism campaign, MinnPost 2/22/12 1:05 p.m.
• Grappling with domestic violence in a rural setting, Marshall Independent
  

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REDISTRICTING

• Quam blasts new political boundaries in Dodge County, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Redistricting ‘showdown’ shaping up between Minneapolis DFL Reps. Greene and Hornstein, MinnPost 2/22/12 12:50 p.m.
  
• Rep. Peterson content with redistricting map, still studying impact, West Central Tribune 2/23/12 12:00 a.m.
• Peterson comfortable with new political map, Marshall Independent
  
• Legislators consider future in new political boundaries, MPR
• Plan places Lillie, Vandeveer in same district, Stillwater Gazette 2/22/12 12:25 p.m.
• Sen. Mary Jo McGuire redistricted into colleague’s district, MPR
  
• Wells included in new legislative district, Mankato Free Press
• Minnesota’s ‘fair’ redistricting map ensures big legislative turnover, MinnPost 2/22/12 9:55 a.m.
  

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SAINT PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Sabo Bridge investigators still looking for answers, Finance and Commerce 2/22/12 5:06 p.m.
• Workers reinforce Sabo bridge after support failure, MPR
  
• Central Corridor summer construction plan detailed, MPR
  

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TRANSPORTATION

• Light rail gets a name, new logo, MPR