The Morning Report 3/18/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: NTSB releases early findings, suggests load of sand and gravel in combination with the weakening from cracks brought down 35W bridge.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Wi-Fi for the Convention?, True North
• Michele Bachmann: The bulb is dim, mnpACT!
• What leadership looks like, MN Publius
• Another DFL powertrip, Let Freedom Ring
  
• Jim Ramstad at Education Minnesota, Liberal in the Land of Conservative
• Tax & spend agenda - disapproved!, Residual Forces
  
• MN Senate race swing, True North
• Good faith attacked in bad faith?, The Political Animal
• New Chief Justice Magnuson, Mary’s Page - TPT
  

Business/Economy:

• First, a wave of foreclosures; next, the wrecking ball?, Star Tribune
• Delta pilots tell company no deal with Northwest, MPR
• NWA matches competitors’ rise in airfares, AP
• International Paper gets 4 Minnesota facilities in deal, MSP Business Journal
  
• Pawlenty’s budget solution would exacerbate Minnesota’s problems, MinnPost
• State lawmakers seeking answers as more Minnesotans caught up in mortgage debacle, West Central Tribune
• Minneapolis/St. Paul airport to open wellness center, MSP Business Journal
• Minnesota manufacturing exports hit all-time high, Dolan Media Newswires

Campaigns:

• Pig’s Eye Podcast: A chat with Ashwin Madia, Star Tribune [audio]
• Sen. Coleman blasts Franken for 1996 video, Star Tribune
• Beltrami DFL endorses Franken, Bemidji Pioneer
  

Congress-House:

• Rep. Ellison wants Congress to help with home foreclosures, AP

Education:

• Minnesota House bill would allow schools to sell wind energy, Dolan Media Newswires
• Keeping watch over educational endowments, MPR
• Anti-bullying curriculum draws criticism and support, MinnPost [includes video]

Environment:

• Cap and trade: Why you should care, what you need to know, TC Daily Planet

Health Care:

• Rochester-made device offers ‘a new way to image the body,’ Rochester Post-Bulletin

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• NTSB bridge update looks at stress point, construction load, Star Tribune
• NTSB update on I-35W collapse suggests weight, distribution played factor, Pioneer Press
• Pawlenty: ‘Extraordinary cases’ among 35W victims could get extra, AP
• NTSB puts bridge investigative materials on Web, AP
• Mounds of sand stressed Minnesota bridge, report says, New York Times

Judicial:

• From outsider to head of the state Supreme Court, Pioneer Press
• Attorney Eric Magnuson is named new chief justice, Star Tribune
• Gov. Pawlenty appoints chair and new member to judicial panel, Pioneer Press

Legislature:

• House DFLers to release their budget fix this week, MPR
• Waiting on an agreement, Session Daily. Bonding bill.
• Sesquicentennial organizers look for state money, MPR
• Future of BSU hockey rides on bonding bill, MPR
  

Media:

• Newspaper marketing taking a hit from the Do-Not-Call list?, Poynter Online

Opinion-Commentary:

• Nick Coleman: MnDOT focus on PR erodes public trust in public works, Star Tribune
• Ric Fohrman: Clean-car legislation will help, won’t hurt, Star Tribune
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Needed: Strategy for more college grads, Star Tribune
• Editorial: A new chief, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: Plan to help homeless is good start, St. Cloud Times
  

Public Health/Safety:

• ‘Good faith’ insurance bill heads for vote, Pioneer Press
• State to raise deer kill to reduce bovine TB, Star Tribune
• MN videogame law railgunned, fragged, buzz.mn
• Iron Range health studies cost unresolved, Pioneer Press
• Reebok’s deadly lead charm draws $1 million federal fine, Star Tribune
  

Republican National Convention:

• Maria Cino is GOP party planner extraordinaire, MinnPost

Transportation:

• Red-light cameras: What’s the point?, News Cut - MPR
• Council commits to bridge project, St. Cloud Times