The Morning Report 2/19/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: Gov. Pawlenty, legislative leaders want NWA to keep a hub in the Twin Cities, Pawlenty open to talks on NWA bond pact, Rural air service concerns arise, MN lawmaker convicted in domestic assault apologizes, Charter schools use loophole to bypass voters, Minnesota Guard patrols anxious, independent Kosovo.

Agriculture:

• Wheat prices rise as fear of shortage looms, AP
• Cattle industry mixed on USDA tracking plan, Chicago Tribune. Mad cow isn’t the only concern. Several states, including MN, CA and MI, are experiencing outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis. The spread of other cattle illnesses, such as brucellosis and foot and mouth disease, are also a concern.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Taking the gas tax debate to a new level, True North
• Madia endorsed by UAW, MN Campaign Report
• Minnesota budget: We must use all the tools — including taxes, mnpACT!
• NWA ‘concern’, Mary’s Page - TPT
• Transportation Bill on fast track?, Let Freedom Ring
  
• Pawlenty, legislative leaders “extremely concerned” about Northwest-Delta merger, MN Monitor
• Positive and negative viewpoints of a Pawlenty Vice Presidency, MN Monitor 
  
• C.J.: Rep. Walker looks forward to life with a husband named Steve, Star Tribune. Congratulations Neva Walker; third item, more Pawlenty VP speculation.

Business/Economy:

• Gov. Pawlenty, legislative leaders want NWA to keep a hub in the Twin Cities, Pioneer Press
• Retired NBC anchor Brokaw named to Mayo Clinic board, AP
• Duluth lender plans ‘foreclosure tour,’ Duluth News Tribune
  
• Pawlenty open to talks on NWA bond pact, Star Tribune
• Political leaders urge Northwest to keep Minnesota promises, AP
• Rural air service concerns arise, Bemidji Pioneer
  
• Xcel Energy fires up new High Bridge plant, MPR
  

Campaigns:

• Senate campaigns court Beltrami County DFLers, Bemidji Pioneer
• Weak GOP-ers eager to stump with McCain, Politico. Including “blue-state Republicans” like Norm Coleman. ‘I’m in a unique position to substantially benefit,’ said Coleman, ‘Independent voters will be critical to the Minnesota election. McCain will be out there for me…. You look at the targeted Republicans, and John McCain is a huge plus.’

Crime/Police:

• MN lawmaker convicted in domestic assault apologizes, MPR
• Sparks fly at police community relations council meeting, Star Tribune
• Patrol seeks more colors to wear the maroon, Star Tribune
  

Education:

• Charter schools use loophole to bypass voters, Star Tribune

Elections:

• Where have all the polls gone?, MinnPost
• Caucus system: It’s quaint, exclusionary — and so 20th century, MinnPost
• White men hold key for Democrats, Wall Street Journal. Working-class men are generally defined as those without a college degree, including union members and workers with service and technical jobs, typically making less than $50,000 a year; comprise 27% of Minnesota voters.

Environment:

• Legislator wants to see more stringent permit rules for ethanol plants, MinnPost
• St. Louis County balking at costs for proposed state park, MinnPost
• Great Lakes ballast law gets favorable hearing, Duluth News Tribune
• Bill would create pool for park funding, St. Cloud Times
  

Legislature:

• Automatic increase of gas tax removed from transportation bill, Pioneer Press
• Just ahead: Big votes on gas tax hike, Star Tribune
• Bakk: Events center bonding hinges on roads, bridges, Bemidji Pioneer
  
• DeLaForest will not seek re-election to Minnesota House, Pioneer Press
• Transportation bill is on the fast track at the Legislature, MPR
• Gimse named to assistant minority leader role in Senate GOP Caucus, West Central Tribune
  

Military:

• Minnesota Guard patrols anxious, independent Kosovo, Star Tribune
• Bill creating Vietnam Veterans Day clears Minn. House panel, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Media:

• Pioneer Press suit cost Strib millions, Star Tribune

Obituary:

• Phil Resnick defended athletes in trouble, Star Tribune

Opinion-Commentary:

• Winona Human Rights Commission: A diversity training invitation for Drazkowski, Winona Daily News
• Mark W. Banks: The state of our health: Minnesota must do more, Star Tribune
• Neal St. Anthony: Merger advice from a man who’s been there, done it right, Star Tribune
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: One major JOBZ flaw is beyond repair, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Certain jobs need conditions, St. Cloud Times
  

Pawlenty:

• How did veep talk go so far without Pawlenty’s pledge coming up?, MinnPost

People:

• Private sector leads aid to Africa, Washington Times. Minnesotan Ward Brehm is U.S. African Development Foundation board chair; Ward: ‘What Africa needs more than anything else is a middle class and secure jobs.’ More about Brehm, here. Brehm also happens to be the father of Andy Brehm, who does such a terrific job of representing the GOP point of view on Almanac.

Public Health/Safety:

• Lease tied to learning, St. Cloud Times. SCSU sorority mandates alcohol awareness program for house residents.
• Six months after the floods, KSTP
• Pipeline Safety office: Improper procedures in pipeline explosion that killed 2 Superior men, Duluth News Tribune
• Eden Prairie company hopes to clear the air, KSTP
  

Technology:

• Smile, you’re on a bar webcam, New York Times. ‘When you go out, you want to know if it’s busy or not. The camera’s not made to spy on anyone or be incriminating,’ said Jen Renwick, a bartender at Park Place, a bar in MN that set up two Webcams in recent months in partnership with a new company called Barseenlive.

Transportation:

• Ethanol plant operator seeks help to improve road, Austin Post-Bulletin

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM

• Target to mount Segways for patrol, MSP Business Journal
• More than just a cross and a name, Star Tribune