The Morning Report 3/21/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Inspections prompt a truss bridge closing in St. Cloud.



Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• A post-ideological toll pax?, MN Monitor
• Norm Coleman prepares to slime Al Franken from Teh High Road, MN Blue
  
• McCollum challenger surfaces, The Political Animal
• Pawlenty: The “Minnesota Debacle”?, mnpACT!
• The health care train wreck has left the station, True North
  
• Coleman’s office: the Senator is independent!, The Political Animal
• Fairmont Sentinel headline shocker reported by local reader, Bluestem Prairie
  
• ABM releases new poll showing Franken edging out Coleman, MN Publius
• Bruininks tries to woo farmers–and their money–back to the U, MN Monitor
  

Business/Economy:

• Foreclosure scourge hitting the suburbs, Star Tribune
• Census: suburban population boom slows, MPR
• JOBZ has been beneficial but county will survive without it, official says, West Central Tribune
  
• TCF halts its federal student loan business, Star Tribune
• NWA: Get out of the cold, get money back, KSTP
• Minnesota’s unemployment rate grows in February, MSP Business Journal
  
• MN jobless rate up slightly in February, AP
  
• The Halo has a new name: Capella Tower, Star Tribune
• Minnesota job market ‘looking sickly’, Star Tribune
• Wood-burning plant embroiled in politics, Star Tribune
  

Campaigns:

• St. Paul Republican launches McCollum challenge, Pioneer Press

Education:

• South Dakota tests program that’ll pay kids to learn, MPR
• Panel urges chancellor of Texas for UC post, Los Angeles Times
• Two Minneapolis high schools head for ‘fresh starts’, MPR
  

Judicial:

• Constitutional amendment on judges gets lots of support — but not the governor’s, MinnPost

Legislature:

• Bill would cut JOBZ, other business aid, Red Wing Republican Eagle

Military:

• Sarvi could be third recent veteran on this fall’s DFL slate of congressional candidates, MinnPost

Opinion-Commentary:

• Tom Rukavina: Cutting higher education (again) only fuels a vicious cycle, Star Tribune
• Arne Carlson: Pawlenty’s budget — Seductiveness of the short-term, Fox 9
• R.T. Rybak: The Green Car, Pt.2, Forbes

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Tax credits can invite lifelong learning, Star Tribune
• Editorial: City bends rules, elementary students lose, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  

Public Health/Safety:

• Lawsuit over gay rights group at Maple Grove High, AP
• MDH probing deaths in same family , KSTP
• Plan would limit outdoor smoking areas at Duluth bars, restaurants, Duluth News Tribune
• No serious flooding expected in Red River Valley, Star Tribune
• Flood insurance soaks up rising cost of repairs, WCCO
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Statewide collaboration brings affordable housing to Phillips neighborhood, MinnPost
• St. Paul looks to nonprofits to manage recreation, Star Tribune
• Minneapolis looks for better way to enforce club noise, WCCO
  

Transportation:

• MnDOT closes bridge over Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Star Tribune
• St. Cloud residents worry about bridge closure, MPR
• Recent transportation bill may ease way for funding, St. Cloud Times
  
• Officials weigh next steps for the DeSoto Bridge, MPR
• Truss bridges are concern, St. Cloud Times
  
• MnDOT steps up, News Cut - MPR