The Morning Report 1/29/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: NTSB chairman smooths over rift with Oberstar, Will insurers go after 35W bridge victims’ awards?, Walz patrols his southern flank, Ford neighbors worry what cleanup will bring,  Advocates make their case for a slice of the 2008 bonding bill, Paulose investigation still on, but is Justice stonewalling?, Solvent fume testing begins in St. Louis Park, Police work to secure tunnels for the RNC.

Agriculture:

• Group: Ethanol pushing up food prices, AP

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Minneapolis school deficit looms–what will voters do?, Twin Cities Daily Planet
• What Keith Ellison really said about Gitmo, MN Blue
  
• Twin Cities radio: changes in the wind? , Lambert to the Slaughter
• Blame and fading memories, True North
• The program formerly known as NRP, Twin Cities Daily Planet
  
• The “new! and improved!!” Erik Paulsen, MN Blue
• Nelson-Pallmeyer wins senate straw poll, City Pages Blotter
• Kisses, hand shakes and skin dominate Bush’s last SOTU, The Sleuth - Washington Post

Business/Economy:

• 3M operating earnings higher, Reuters
• Board: Minn. should have a say in water appropriation for Big Stone II, West Central Tribune
• LEA budget to get a re-review this week, Mesabi Daily News
• Minnesota Power proposes 250 MW hydroelectric energy purchase, Business Wire
  

Campaigns:

• Will the Drudging of Franken’s snit hurt his Senate campaign?, MinnPost
• Ron Paul hits the airwaves!, MPR Polinaut
• Minnesota becomes destination for candidates, their surrogates, Star Tribune
• Senate candidates work to get out supporters, MPR
• Young people perk up for presidential politics, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• For Democrats, a gleeful State of the Union, New York Times. Klobuchar: “Somewhere in that chamber was the next president”

Congress-House:

• Walz patrols his southern flank, Star Tribune - The Big Question
  

Congress-Senate:

• Reaction from Minn. delegation to State of the Union, AP

Crime/Police:

• MPD officer denies leaking top secret information, WCCO

Education:

• College struggling to erase stain of racism, Chicago Tribune. St. Cloud has ‘woeful reputation’ in the wake of vandalism.
• Mexican-American helps state’s minorities win chance at college, AP
• Willmar School Board gets first look at remodeling plans, West Central Tribune
  

Elections:

• Presidential race increases Duluthians’ interest in caucuses, Duluth News Tribune
  

Environment:

• Ford neighbors worry what cleanup will bring, Star Tribune

Events:

• Obama to hold public event in Twin Cities on Saturday, AP

Health Care:

• Legislation proposes mandatory smoking cessation coverage in Okla., Dolan Media Newswires
• Feds OK Medtronic pacemaker trial, MSP Business Journal

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• Will insurers go after 35W bridge victims’ awards?, Star Tribune
• NTSB chief: No final cause on bridge collapse, AP
• NTSB chairman smooths over rift with Oberstar, MPR
• New animated views of bridge design, WCCO

Judicial:

• Paulose investigation still on, but is Justice stonewalling?, MinnPost
• Minnesota voters want say over judges, Pioneer Press

Labor:

• Working Minnesotans are worse off than they were seven years ago, Workday MN
• Workers vote to keep union at Dakota Premium, Workday MN
  

Legislature:

• There’s only so much pie: Advocates make their case for a slice of the 2008 bonding bill, MinnPost
• Tight budget doesn’t stop outdoor issues, Fargo Forum
  

Media:

• Steve Perry to take over Minnesota Monitor?, MinnPost

Opinion-Commentary:

• Brad Swenson: Dayton mulls 2010 bid for governor, Bemidji Pioneer

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Ban on drink specials won’t solve problem, Star Tribune
• Editorial: For at least one night, pick a party, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Editorial: Pawlenty works to clear the air, Minnesota Daily
  

Public Health/Safety:

• Twin Cities meth use on the decline, MPR
• Six months after flooding, Elba’s still in pain, AP
• Solvent fume testing begins in St. Louis Park, Star Tribune
  
• Swastikas, other displays undermine St. Cloud State’s efforts, AP
• Mayo researchers discover possible cocaine vaccine, KSTP
• Neighbors say no to plans for Iron Range youth shelter, Duluth News Tribune
  

Republican National Convention:

• Police work to secure tunnels for the RNC, KSTP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• State Fairgrounds in line for a $9 million makeover, Star Tribune
• Muslim leader remembered as uniter, MPR
• Preliminary tests show USI Wireless’ Minneapolis network has highest speeds of any U.S. metro Wi-Fi, Business Wire
  

Stadiums:

• Construction on U’s TCF Bank Stadium moving along, Star Tribune