The Morning Report 6/19/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Traffic plans and protests color RNC prep in St. Paul.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Peggy Flanagan ends campaign for 58A seat, MN Blue
• Coleman releases second ad, The Political Animal
• McCain touches down for dollars in Minneapolis, Minnesota Independent
• Party favors: Convention donors spent millions on lobbying and campaign contributions, Minnesota Independent
• Is the GOP capable of discussing issues?, MN Campaign Report
• Iron Range Resources budget showdown tonight, Minnesota Brown
• MnDOT: An endemic failure to communicate, mnpACT!
• Jesse — fools and shame, The Same Rowdy Crowd
• Telling America’s official Republican story: State Department site omits mention of MN-01 GOP primary, Bluestem Prairie

Business/Economy:

• Airline passengers sue to stop Delta-Northwest merger, AP
• Delta to trim U.S. capacity by extra 3%, AP
• Air woes: Sun Country seeks $50 million in help, Pioneer Press
• Another fight over power lines underway in Minnesota, MPR
• In ‘monster house’ debate, Edina limits height to 40 feet, Star Tribune
• Carver County thinks a ring (of fiber optics) may woo business, Star Tribune
• Organic bakery to lease 60,000-square-foot Eagan facility, Finance and Commerce
  
• Brought to you by … anyone?, Washington Post
• IBM’s Roadrunner tops another supercomputer list, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• VeraSun to delay the opening ethanol plant in Welcome, West Central Tribune
  
• Media distort the state of the economy, Stein tells bankers, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Gas prices drive buyers toward non-motorized lawnmowers, Finance and Commerce
• Fallout from bad loans rocks regional banks, New York Times

Campaigns-Senate:

• Coleman vs. Franken race so far: Lots of dust that keeps settling in the same place, MinnPost
• Former U.S. Sen. Barkley won’t run this year, AP
• Barkley predicts Ventura will enter Senate race, MPR
• Reality Check: MN U.S. Senate air wars begin, WCCO

Campaigns:

• DCCC has eye on 2nd and 6th. Bachmann on O’Reilly, Polinaut - MPR
• Adding up John McCain’s fundraising, MPR
• McCain comes to St. Paul, Minneapolis today for 2 events, Star Tribune / AP
  

Crime/Police:

• An independent “analysis” of the MPD: Will anybody see the results?, MinnPost

Education:

• Struggling Twin Cities Catholic schools given $10 million grant, Star Tribune
• How’s MnSCU doing? Check the gauge, MSP Business Journal
• International students to make new home in downtown St. Paul, Finance and Commerce
  

Elections:

• Analysis by St. Paul city attorney’s office claims instant-runoff voting is unconstitutional, Pioneer Press

Environment:

• MPCA, EPA plans would reduce runoff into Mississippi River, AP
• Fish die-off near Milwaukee signals latest lakes invader may be advancing on Chicago shores, Chicago Tribune

Health Care:

• Two Iowa scouts hurt in tornado recuperating at HCMC, Star Tribune
• Lawmakers try to remove tort shield, Politico. Attempt to upend Medtronic case decided by U.S. Supreme Court.

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• Collapsed I-35W bridge’s successor might be done by September, AP

Media:

• Minnetonka launches new online content through website, KSTP

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: A well-advised ‘whoa’ on IRV, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: Senator needs more than clear conscience, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Compromise is key with religion at work, Star Tribune

Pawlenty:

• Extreme makeover, The New Republic
• Pawlenty tamps down veep talk, Star Tribune
• Pawlenty doesn’t expect to be asked, Big Question - Star Tribune
  

People:

• Ramsey County manager leaving for better-paying gig in California, Pioneer Press

Public Health/Safety:

• Minnesotans’ cynicism about government increasing, poll finds, Pioneer Press
• New St. Paul firefighters put training to real-life use, Star Tribune
• Demand is high at area food shelves, St. Cloud Times
• Coach’s hiring divides Le Center, Mankato Free Press
• Siren companies to test emergency sirens in Duluth, Duluth News Tribune
  

Republican National Convention:

• St. Paul police get handle on convention traffic patterns, Star Tribune
• St. Paul police release RNC traffic plan, Pioneer Press
• Downtown dwellers, businesses brace for RNC, MPR
  
• RNC protest group files lawsuit against St. Paul, MPR
  

Transportation:

• The new 35W bridge: An inside look (literally), Roadguy - Star Tribune
• McFarlin will leave MnDOT next week, Star Tribune
• Residents voice concerns over LRT planning, MPR
  
• Commuters could hop on Duluth-to-Minneapolis passenger rail, Star Tribune
• MnDOT records: Inspectors saw rusty plates on Winona bridge years ago, AP
• MnDOT open house to discuss Hastings bridge replacement, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Pace on bridge construction anything but slack, WCCO
  

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM

• English soccer pros to play Minnesota Thunder, MPR
• Next battle in St. Paul: Pigeon contraception, Star Tribune