The Morning Report 12/11/07 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: MN judge pushes for flexible sentencing; Klobuchar faces uphill battle to block farm subsidies for wealthy; Minneapolis gets grant to create solar energy; Finally, all aboard Northstar rail; Nonprofits seek to reverse Minn. Supreme Court ruling.

Agriculture:

• Southern farmers seek drought relief, AP
• Klobuchar faces uphill battle to block farm subsidies for wealthy, KSTP
  

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• A Tale of two AFSCMEs: Chapter two, Politics in Minnesota
  
• An escape from the Khmer Rouge; a life in Shoreview, MinnPost [includes video]
• Bachmann Shakeup: Julie Quist to run Minnesota office, three staffers departing, MN Monitor
• Birds of a feather, True North
• Third District congressional candidates forum on Iraq and related issues, Eric Black Ink

Business/Economy:

• Mortgage foreclosures ripple into rural Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Authorities charge 5 in alleged mortgage fraud scheme, MPR
• Great River Energy buys Elm Creek Wind Farm, MSP Business Journal
• Nonprofits seek to reverse Minn. Supreme Court ruling, MPR
  
• Wind-power company considers operations building in LeRoy, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Brooklyn Park company accused of mortgage fraud, KSTP
• 2008 levy amount is approved, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• County to vote on $334.4 million budget for 2008, Duluth News Tribune
• Xcel climbing the national ladder in wind production, Star Tribune
  

Congress-Senate:

• Coleman, Klobuchar split on trade vote; more deals pending, Workday MN

Crime/Police:

• St. Paul police to open largest district office, Star Tribune
• MPD suit riles Minneapolis civil rights director, MinnPost
  

Education:

• Bilked school districts decry scheme, love their gyms, Star Tribune
• With much riding on the outcome, Minneapolis school overhaul goes to vote, Star Tribune
• Increasing minority college enrollment is right thing to do socially and economically, MinnPost
  

Environment:

• Metro Transit embraces hybrid technology, Star Tribune
• Minneapolis gets grant to create solar energy, Star Tribune
• In Midwest duck blinds, visions of global warming, New York Times
  

Judicial:

• Minnesota judge weighs in, Star Tribune

Labor:

• Minneapolis teachers to demonstrate for fair contract, Workday MN

Opinion-Commentary:

• Jay Kiedrowski: Let’s stop the state’s fiscal roller coaster, Star Tribune
• Rev. Dennis Dease: Our soul is still in the right place, Star Tribune. Response to Katherine Kersten.

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Lesson in Pitt case: Oversight works, Star Tribune
• Editorial: A day of progress for two key projects, Star Tribune. Northstar Line and MN Bio Business Center.

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty to attend Bio Business Center groundbreaking, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Public Health/Safety:

• Reservation homelessness survey first in the nation, MPR
• Statewide ban motivating Minnesota smokers to quit, Star Tribune
• City balks at providing full emergency-management funding, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  
• Two month-old smoking ban produces results in Minnesota, AHN
  

Republican National Convention:

• St. Paul downtown to remain open during convention, MPR
• Convention protesters won’t be caged, police leader says, KSTP
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Marcy-Holmes NRP coordinator resigns as program funding runs out, Minnesota Daily

Transportation:

• MnDOT: $30 million won’t prevent delays, Star Tribune
• Three MnDOT managers disciplined over Pitt controversy, Star Tribune
• Minn. disciplines 3 managers who oversaw fired emergency manager, Pioneer Press
• Feds grant $156.8M For Northstar Rail Line, WCCO
• Feds to grant $156.8M for Northstar rail line, MPR
  
• Finally, all aboard Northstar rail, Star Tribune
• County asks MnDOT to take action on Hwy. 71 intersection, West Central Tribune
• U wants LRT tunnel under Washington, Minnesota Daily