The Morning Report 12/19/07 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Minnesota growth outlook: Slow, State sees job growth in November; jobless rate drops, Lawmakers to consider own probe of MnDOT, Will culture-focused public school help or hurt diversity efforts?, How to set the right price for a light-rail ride.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Taconite plant changes strategy on study of rare lung disease, MN Monitor
• Cameras proposed to fight non-existent crime, Midtopia
• Amy Klobuchar votes no Iraq funding, MN Blue
• Ray Cox wins primary in SD 25, MN Democrats Exposed
• Prager’s hypocrisy: Romney’s religion shouldn’t matter, Ellison’s religion ‘undermines America,’ Think Progress
• “Racially pure” no more - “Issue advocacy group” changes its tone after Pi Press article, MN Publius
• A population “bubble” aids some small towns. Will it burst?, MN 2020
  

Business/Economy:

• Fallout from mortgage crisis snarls plans for Uptown hotels, Star Tribune
• Rival developers unveil plans for St. Paul jail site, MSP Business Journal
  
• Source says Opus has edge on developing old West Publishing property, Pioneer Press
  
• House auction gives good news to North Side, Star Tribune
• Making room for Cirrus to grow, Duluth News Tribune
• Minnesota growth outlook: Slow, Star Tribune
• State sees job growth in November; jobless rate drops, Pioneer Press
• State’s unemployment rates falls belows national rate, MPR
• St. Louis Park plans to drop wireless contractor, Star Tribune
• Duluth School Board approves tax increase for red plan, Duluth News Tribune
  
• MoneyGram urged to discuss buyout, Star Tribune
• Minnesota, land of ‘Amber Waters’, MPR
• Study: Charitable giving in MN surpasses $5B, MSP Business Journal
• Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves plan to transfer transmission assets to ITC Midwest, PR Newswire
  

Campaigns:

• Coleman looking past election?, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• PIM Staff note: We heard presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has been purchasing radio ads in northern Minnesota, but no one in the press has confirmed this.

Congress-House:

• Pending vote has Walz uneasy, Mankato Free Press

Congress-Senate:

• Lawmakers to consider own probe of MnDOT, Pioneer Press

Crime/Police:

• Turmoil builds over report of Northfield mayor’s abuses, Star Tribune

Education:

• Will culture-focused public school help or hurt diversity efforts?, MinnPost
• St. Cloud State students are fine-tuning their safety radar, Star Tribune
• Racist incidents concern SCSU students, MPR
  
• St. Paul students learn teamwork, discipline and respect on Wellstone Elementary drum line, Pioneer Press
• Advisory task force meets; Minnesota Education Commissioner Seagren joins, Bemidji Pioneer
  

Environment:

• MPCA panel approves new water-quality rules, Pioneer Press
• Air pollution alert in effect, Star Tribune

Health Care:

• Doctors say insurance system must change for diabetic care to improve, MPR
• VRMC faces two costly concerns in 2008, Mesabi Daily News. Virginia Regional Medical Center.

Labor:

• Union to board: Move on with contract talks, Red Wing Republican Eagle. Red Wing teachers’ union.

Media:

• Are a reporter’s notes protected from a police search?, MPR [Good question! Especially when they're snoopin' into old police files! --PIM Staff]

Opinion-Commentary:

• Doug Kelley: The governor can legitimately point to results on energy policy, Star Tribune

PIM Staff note - Correction: In yesterday’s Morning Report we incorrectly attributed the piece by Ruben Rosario.
Mr. Rosario writes for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and he isn’t pulling a salary at both papers! PIM regrets the error.

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Fix school system to fix busing problems, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: Power-line plan at junction with renewable energy, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty: Master of the grand gesture, Star Tribune [audio]

Public Health/Safety:

• Iron Range town shelves surveillance cameras after public outcry, AP
• Congress passes pool safety bill following Minn. girl’s injury, AP
• Case managers serve as flood victims’ gateways to help, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  
• Police add security cameras in N. Minneapolis, Fox 9
  
• Concern ebbs as device is found, Pioneer Press
• Maple schools offer free drug-testing kit, Duluth News Tribune
  

Transportation:

• How to set the right price for a light-rail ride, Pioneer Press
• Transportation funding gap growing, alarming, Renville County official says, West Central Tribune
  

Wisconsin:

• Wisconsin among worst prepared for health emergency, KSTP