The Morning Report 2/12/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Suit claims per diem increase for lawmakers illegal, Cashing in on global warming, A new session, a familiar divide, Mpls. program a successful alternative to court system, Women’s coalition releases ‘femicide’ report, Program to help Frogtown lure retail, State revenue collections fell short in January.



Agriculture:

• Cashing in on global warming, MPR

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Democrats look to ‘attach jumper cables to your wallet’ and drain it, MN Democrats Exposed
• DFL Senate candidates face off in nation’s Icebox, MN Monitor
• Socialized health care - brought to you by the MN DFL, True North
• Mike Ciresi: Is there a pro-Mike message?, mnpACT!
• Legislative session to start today; Pawlenty already throwing bombs, MN Campaign Report
• Jeff Johnson’s accomplishments show ability to lead, True North
  
  
• Real state aid to counties falls by half billion bucks, MN 2020
• Minnesota 2008 session: results matter, mnpACT!

Business/Economy:

• Merger plan upsetting to Northwest pilots, expert says, Detroit Free Press
• Alliant off Air Force’s supplier blacklist, Star Tribune
• State revenue collections fell short in January, AP
• Program to help Frogtown lure retail, MSP Business Journal
  

Campaigns:

• Al Franken’s rival isn’t laughing, AP

Congress-Senate:

• Protesters to give ‘toxic trade’ valentine to Senator Coleman, Workday MN

Crime/Police:

• Mpls. program a successful alternative to court system, KSTP
• Bill ups the ante on breaching of no-contact orders, Pioneer Press
  

Education:

• A quiet legislative session expected on K-12 education, MPR
• Duluth school district faces growing deficit, Duluth News Tribune

Elections:

• A chat with undecided Superdelegate Nancy Larson, Star Tribune [audio]

Environment:

• Refinery pollution may soar, Chicago Tribune. Global-warming pollution from Midwest oil refineries is expected to soar by as much as 40 percent during the next decade.

Health Care:

• Doctors balk at request for data, Los Angeles Times. Blue Cross of CA sends letters to doctors requesting disclosure of pre-existing conditions not identified by patients on health care applications.

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• Missouri’s new bridge repair plan getting noticed in Minnesota, MPR

Labor:

• Star Tribune to lay off 58 workers, Star Tribune

Legislature:

• A rocky road ahead: Legislators confront debt, deteriorating highways and bridges, MinnPost
• Suit claims per diem increase for lawmakers illegal, Pioneer Press
• Democrats promise fast start to session, MPR
• A new session, a familiar divide, Star Tribune
  
• DFL leaders pledge quick passage of transportation and public works funding bills, Pioneer Press
• Nine months later, no change, Bemidji Pioneer
  
• Former Minnesota governors weigh in on upcoming legislative session, MPR - Midday [includes audio]
• Local leaders bend ears of legislators, Austin Post-Bulletin

Military:

• Veterans come north with anti-war stance, Duluth News Tribune

Media:

• Newspaper drops daily print version to focus on Web, MPR - The News Grid. The Capital Times of Madison, WI will go online-only.
• Nonprofit journalism on the rise, Christian Science Monitor. Voice of San Diego provides “the best coverage of city politics that we’ve had in years;”  influences projects like MinnPost.
• Trading pinstripes for politics, New York Times. Wall Street Journal now competes with New York Times in political coverage sweepstakes; “People don’t read the Wall Street Journal to find out what happened when a bridge collapsed in Minneapolis, but they might be interested in an article about why it did.”

Opinion-Commentary:

• Nick Coleman: Health care ills close to heart of riled legislator with a mission, Star Tribune
• Sydne Westorff: Marcy-Holmes changes after collapse, Minnesota Daily
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: This session can yield better health care, Star Tribune
• Editorial: May a session of pragmatism break out, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: End or overhaul JOBZ, Minnesota Daily
  
• Editorial: Judiciary’s form elicits scrutiny, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: State water quality diminishing, Mankato Free Press
  

Pawlenty:

• Handicapping the VP race, Wall Street Journal. Pawlenty given a 16% chance in the Wall Street Journal’s Political Market.
• Democrats take aim at Pawlenty, Grand Forks Herald [Website may be down right now --PIM staff.]

Public Health/Safety:

• Women’s coalition releases ‘femicide’ report, Star Tribune
• PFCs in drinking water subject of public meetings, Pioneer Press
• Leaky sewer pipes top priority for Duluth mayor, MPR
• Agency misses chance to curb lead in jewelry, Wall Street Journal. Recalls 2006 tragedy in which MN boy died of lead poisoning from swallowing a charm included as a free gift with a pair of Reebok sneakers.
• Fittest and fattest cities: one is Minneapolis, Star Tribune

Transportation:

• Groups seek three more rail stops, Pioneer Press

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM

• MN resort uses creative loophole to protest smoking ban, AP
• Days after winning trademark battle, International Falls registers low of 40 below, AP