Morning Report 3/9/2012

• The head-scratching US Senate announcement of Kurt Bills, mnpACT!
• Shaking heads at a Republican disappointment, True North
• Senate GOP makes a power play on Right-to-Work Amendment, Capitol View
  
• DFL party chair discourages Tarryl Clark from primary run, MN Progressive Project
• Bachmann gets first DFL challenger, Capitol View
  
• Sviggum quits as regent: ‘This hurts bad’, Capitol Chatter
• Howe backpedals on voter ID compromise, Capitol View
  
• Dave Thompson moves his anti-union constitutional amendment to another committee, MN Progressive Project
  

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Minnesota’s racino legislation is critical to the fate of Hastings thoroughbred farm, Hastings Star Gazette
  
• White Earth: Proposed Twin Cities casino key to tribe’s future, MPR
• Mild winter melts profits at N Minn. tourism businesses, MPR
  

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CAMPAIGNS

• GOP state Rep. Bills jumps into U.S. Senate race, MPR
• State Rep. Kurt Bills plans to run against Sen. Klobuchar, MinnPost 3/8/12 10:43 a.m.
• Democrat Tarryl Clark says she’ll run in primary for 8th District House seat, AP 3/8/12 7:46 p.m.
• Tarryl Clark to skip DFL convention endorsement process, Duluth News Tribune 3/9/12 12:00 a.m.
  
• Rohloff seeks DFL endorsement in District 17B, West Central Tribune 3/8/12 3:22 p.m.
• Skogen to seek DFL nod for Senate seat, Alexandria Echo Press 3/9/12 12:00 a.m.
  

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CONGRESS – HOUSE

• Bachmann remains strong in reconfigured 6th District, supporters say, MPR
• On Iran, signs of bipartisanship among MN’s delegation, MPR
  

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DAYTON

• Dayton, Republicans differ over plan to repay schools, AP
• Rosemount state Rep. Bills announces run for US Senate, Rosemount Town Pages 3/8/12 10:17 a.m.
  

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EDUCATION

• University of Minnesota names new Carlson School dean, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 2:35 p.m.
• Relief, but not much: How forecasted surplus will affect schools, MinnPost 3/8/12 9:36 a.m.
• More than 60 candidates vying to be Winona State University’s new president, Winona Daily News 3/9/12 12:00 a.m.
• U ex-president Bruininks moved $350K to his new post, MPR
  

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ELECTIONS

• Dayton and Ritchie again tout electronic poll books as Voter ID alternative, MinnPost 3/8/12 3:30 p.m.
• Dayton, Ritchie offer ‘poll book’ as voter-ID alternative, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 11:05 p.m.
  

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ENVIRONMENT

• By dog team, ex-lawmaker delivers sulfide mining petitions, MPR
• BWCA visitors are aging: Who will take their place?, MinnPost 3/8/12 10:00 a.m.
  

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GOVERNMENT – LOCAL

• City Council approves Shakopee TIF District, Finance and Commerce 3/8/12 7:07 p.m.
• Carver County and Minneapolis schools praised for transparency in government, MinnPost 3/8/12 9:57 a.m.
• Chamber board sets aside $19,000 for bike initiatives, Jordan Independent
• Winona’s frac sand moratorium, Winona Daily News 3/9/12 12:00 a.m.
  

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HEALTH CARE

• Grassley questions Minn.’s handling of Medicaid funds, MPR
• Does DFL’s proposed birth-control benefit conflict with Obama’s health care efforts?, MinnPost 3/8/12 9:15 a.m.
  

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LEGISLATURE

• Voter ID amendment approved by first committee, Session Daily
• Protesters want Franson to resign, Alexandria Echo Press 3/8/12 3:05 p.m.
• Bill proposes University of Minnesota research center on invasive aquatic species, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 6:19 p.m.
• Minnesota bill calling for return of death penalty won’t last long, MinnPost 3/8/12 9:27 a.m.
• Senate passes environmental permitting bill, MPR
  

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OPINION – COMMENTARY

• Rep. Keith Downey: Why ‘right to work’ would be good for workers and their unions, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 6:06 p.m.
  

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OPINION – EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Shutdown measures are a good step, Albert Lea Tribune 3/8/12 10:27 a.m.
  

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PEOPLE

• Emotional Sviggum steps down from U of M regents, MPR
• Steve Sviggum agrees to step down as U of M regent at emotion-filled board meeting, MinnPost 3/8/12 12:14 p.m.
  

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Child-porn charges against Minnesota House worker: He turns self in, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 1:29 p.m.
• Henn. Co. courthouse screening plan draws criticism, MPR
  

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STADIUMS

• Vikings stadium: North suburbs’ Chamber of Commerce calls process ‘unfair’, Pioneer Press 3/8/12 11:42 p.m.