Morning Report 3/5/2012

• Heartless in the heartland: Representative Mary Franson compares feeding food stamp recipients to feeding wild animals, Bluestem Prairie
• Representative Franson’s ‘animals’, The Same Rowdy Crowd
  
• Close, but no cigar, Mary, The Cucking Stool
  
• All but one paired incumbent settles on political future, Capitol View
• GOP Talking Points: Ignore that truth behind the curtain, mnpACT!
• Budget debate turns into campaign debate, Capitol Chatter
  
• Jason Lewis’ gaping omission in attack on nonprofits, Growth & Justice
  
• Dave Thompson introduces boilerplate Anti-Sharia Law bill, MN Progressive Project
• Pure vapor, Shot in the Dark
• Insatiable!, True North
• Emo Senator: Betrayed by Faribault Daily News, rebuffed by Blue Earth County GOP delegates, Bluestem Prairie
  

---

CAMPAIGNS

• Former DFL Rep. Will Morgan will run for House District 56B seat in Dakota County, Pioneer Press 3/3/12 12:20 a.m.
• Jewish group cites Torah in campaign against same-sex marriage ban, MPR
• Al Quist, Mike Parry jockey for delegates at county conventions, Mankato Free Press
• Longtime DFL activist, Esko resident to announce candidacy in Minnesota’s District 11A race, Duluth News Tribune 3/4/12 5:02 p.m.
• Local voters value moderate approach to religion in politics, Rochester Post-Bulletin 3/2/12 8:39 p.m.
  

---

CONGRESS – HOUSE

• In redrawn 4th District, Bachmann, McCollum supporters weigh benefits, MPR
  

---

CONGRESS – SENATE

• New tax credit helps Minnesota businesses hire veterans, Alexandria Echo Press 3/4/12 12:25 p.m.
  

---

DAYTON

• Gov. Dayton’s crucial days may lie just ahead, Star Tribune 3/4/12 10:54 p.m.
• With stadium plan, Dayton carries on unfortunate legacy of ‘gambling governor’, MinnPost
  

---

EDUCATION

• Two school districts awarded literacy grants, MPR
• Sviggum offers vigorous defense at contentious regents meeting, MinnPost
• Private schools to keep five-day student week, New Ulm Journal
  

---

ELECTIONS

• Voter ID in Minn. seen widely elsewhere, AP
  

---

ENVIRONMENT

• Anti-mining crusade mushes through Duluth, Duluth News Tribune 3/5/12 12:00 a.m.
  

---

GOVERNMENT – LOCAL

• Commission takes deeper look at Wabasha County government, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  
• Hearing next week on new frac sand mine, Winona Daily News 3/3/12 12:00 a.m.
  

---

JUDICIAL

• Juvenile offenders can opt for jury of peers, AP
  

---

LEGISLATURE

• Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, to seeks sixth term, Pioneer Press 3/2/12 9:42 p.m.
• Redistricting puts House Majority Leader in tough spot, MPR
• Al DeKruif steps out of legislative race, Mankato Free Press
• Lawmakers not sold on stadium plan, Marshall Independent
• Republicans want Twin Cities mayors to appoint school boards, MPR
• Liebling opts against Senate bid, will run again for House seat, Rochester Post-Bulletin 3/2/12 10:05 a.m.
  

---

OPINION – COMMENTARY

• Rep. Rich Murray: Budget forecast shows fiscal plan is working, Rochester Post-Bulletin 3/3/12 6:32 a.m.
• Vallay Varro: Effort to retain great teachers in sudden death, Duluth News Tribune 3/3/12 12:00 a.m.
  

---

OPINION – EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Productive ambition at the ‘U’, Pioneer Press 3/3/12 4:26 p.m.
• A nod to Minnesota’s Vikings: About time, Duluth News Tribune 3/5/12 12:00 a.m.
• The redistricting plan stinks, Faribault County Register
  

---

PEOPLE

• Sen. Gary Kubly’s funeral services set, Pioneer Press 3/4/12 6:16 p.m.
• Sen. Gary Kubly dies after battle with ALS, MPR
• Sen. Gary Kubly dies, Marshall Independent
• Sen. Gary Kubly remembered as a kind and passionate man and legislator, West Central Tribune 3/3/12 5:11 p.m.
  
• Minnesota’s state demographer to retire after 32 years, Pioneer Press 3/2/12 10:30 p.m.
• Tom Gillaspy, longtime state demographer, to retire, MinnPost
• GOP consultant, wife injured in car crash, Pioneer Press 3/4/12 11:47 p.m.
  

---

PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Washington County: Code Red call system touted for alerts, Pioneer Press 3/3/12 10:25 p.m.
• Medication disposal boxes set up in Hennepin County, MPR
• Settlement could come in Anoka-Hennepin district bullying lawsuit, MPR
• Shouts, snowballs greet white supremacists rally in Duluth (with video), Duluth News Tribune 3/4/12 8:32 a.m.
  

---

SAINT PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Panel rebuffs Linden Corner, Greco plans, Finance and Commerce 3/2/12 5:01 p.m.
  

---

STADIUMS

• Target Center gets second look as Vikings stadium bill takes shape, Pioneer Press 3/3/12 6:40 p.m.
  

---

TRANSPORTATION

• Lawmakers rally around plans for new St. Croix River Bridge, KSTP 3/3/12 8:05 p.m.