The Morning Report 12/17/07 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Cities along rail line plan for big growth; Aid delays prevent flooded businesses from rebuilding; Digital divide still an issue in Minnesota; Xcel revises its long-range energy generation plan; Iron Range town mulls surveillance cameras; PIM Exclusive: Weird New NAFTA Superhighway Docs From MnDOT.

Agriculture:

• Our Decrepit Food Factories, New York Times. Features Minnesota honeybees pollinating California.
  

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Robert Whereatt: But if Pawlenty doesn’t run for reelection, how about…, MinnPost
• PIM Exclusive: SuperRondo II: New NASCO NAFTA Superhighway Docs Released From MnDOT, Politics in Minnesota. PIM Staff think it sounds pretty crazy, but hundreds of newly released pages from MnDOT fully spell out a Lockheed Martin plan to ‘militarize’ Interstates 35 & 94 with the NAFTRACS system. Here are 60 MB of PDFs in a ZIP.

• Is Ramstad still SERIOUSLY considering unretiring?, Eric Black Ink
• Robbinsdale superintendent revises plan to close one school from three, True North
• NormCare instead of real healthcare reform, MN Blue
  
• Mondale, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman head south for Clinton, MPR Polinaut
• Stanek spends 30K on pseudo campaign ad, MN Publius
• Cue the danger music - Is Google Street View a boon to terrorists?, Daily Mole. On Google Maps, the camera-shy Mpls Federal Reserve Bank is clearly portrayed [and it's possible to 'drive' over the I-35W bridge, and look up at the rusting trusses, from W. River Pkwy]. –PIM Staff
  
• Terrorist fundraising in Minneapolis, Power Line Blog
  
• The Range: where “poli sci” is some kind of ethnic dish and potica is political, MN Blue
• Does Gov have power to end sanctuary cities?, Wright County Republicans
• Minnesota bridges crumble from neglect and cheap bolts, The Uptake [includes video]
• Wi-Fi laid low, Fraters Libertas
• Adam Platt: The city that smirks, MSPmag.com

Business / Economy:

• Mobile home park residents battling Arden Hills city plan, Star Tribune
• Before it disappears, New York Times. The Will Steger Foundation slams eco-tourism.
  
• Aid delays prevent flooded businesses from rebuilding, MPR
• Spike in vacant buildings is costing St. Paul time, money, Star Tribune
• 3M releases preliminary results of PFBA study, MPR
• More ethanol, fewer barges on Mississippi, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Taxi deregulation proponents hail newfound flexibility, Duluth News Tribune
  
  
• Xcel revises its long-range energy generation plan, MPR
• EDC outlines goals for 2008, West Central Tribune. City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.
  
• The essence of Essentia, Duluth News Tribune
• Business taxes shoot up in Blue Earth County, Mankato Free Press
  

Campaigns:

• Northern neighbors pour across the border, Star Tribune
• No Running Jokes Here, Washington Post. With his eye on a Senate seat, comedian Al Franken says it’s time to get serious.
• Romney Portrays Huckabee as a Bill Clinton Clone, Washington Post. 2nd item: Two MN SEIU branches financing Iowa ads for John Edwards.

Congress-House:

• Ethics rule leaves lawmakers room to party at conventions, AP

Crime:

• Man faces federal charges in a Sex Ring in Minnesota, New York Times
  

Education:

• Century College pioneers high-tech lab that helps immigrants learn English, Star Tribune

Environment:

• Willmar team plans to develop greenhouse, West Central Tribune
• Cities ponder lawsuit over pollution law, Mankato Free Press
  

Health Care:

• Woman pregnant from frozen donor egg, a Minn. first, AP
• Health care consumers get place on Web to offer opinions - good and bad, Pioneer Press
• Joint medical venture puts cooperation at the forefront, West Central Tribune
  

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• Weekly update on rebuilding the I-35W bridge, Pioneer Press

Media:

• Where were you when Google snapped your street?, Pioneer Press

Opinion-Commentary:

• Lori Sturdevant: Are jobs about to move on down the road?, Star Tribune
• Mindy Greiling: Pawlenty, not the Legislature, is short-changing our schools, Mankato Free Press
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Security and mush, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: ‘U’ bioscience plan deserves state support, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Cloud hangs over Minneapolis police, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Tribal Council sets good tone, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Editorial: Poor voter turnout, comments trouble us, St. Cloud Times

Public Health/Safety:

• Digital divide still an issue in Minnesota, MPR
• Partnership meets on lung disease research, Mesabi Daily News
  

• Biomonitoring: Has pollution spread to body?, Star Tribune
• Willmar boy facing deportation won’t stand alone against ICE, MPR
• Iron Range town mulls surveillance cameras in town, AP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• State-funded partisanship on the rise, Red Wing Republican Eagle

Transportation:

• MnDOT money vs. safety: ‘This bridge can’t wait’, Star Tribune
• Minnesota’s eyes are on I-35W bridge, but look again, Pioneer Press
  
• Cities along rail line plan for big growth, Star Tribune
  

Wisconsin:

• Hmong language being offered at UW, AP