The Morning Report 6/25/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: MnDOT responds critically to Gray Plant Mooty I-35W bridge report.

Agriculture:

• Kelley Farm plans center to teach origins of food, Star Tribune

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• That Democrat can shoot, Politics in Minnesota
• I’m watching Pawlenty on national TV, Political Party
  
• Socially responsible or just plain socialism?, True North
• They come here with their pinstriped suits and…, Minnesota Brown
  
• A big-government running mate for McCain?, Cato @ Liberty
• Barb Davis White can beat Keith Ellison, Wright County Republican
  
• Gene Lyons’ Obama problem and how it affects Minnesota, Minnesota Brown
• RNC protests: 16 park permits issued by St. Paul, Minnesota Independent
• Minnesota Presidential race update, MN Publius
• MnDOT response to criticism? An elaborate CYA, mnpACT!
• Scandal: Catholics being Catholics, again, Fraters Libertas
• Strib guild rally, City Pages - The Blotter
  

Business/Economy:

• Delta, Northwest pilots reach tentative deal, MPR
• As travelers cut back, so does Carlson, Star Tribune
• AGA Medical files a plan to go public, Star Tribune
• Twin Cities ranks No. 15 for tech jobs in study, MSP Business Journal
  
• Range boom triggers housing concerns, MPR
• Iron Range study puts focus on housing crunch, Duluth News Tribune
  
• Range needs housing to meet worker boom, AP
  
• Coke fleet going hybrid, Pioneer Press
• Study finds MN needs more high-voltage transmission capacity, Finance and Commerce
  
• ‘U’ pulls out of Victoria’s Secret apparel deal over image concerns, Minnesota Daily
• Shareholder wants new sleep number at Select Comfort, Pioneer Press
• The value of small business, The Bridge
  

Campaigns:

• Does GOP really want to run on its record of support for Xcel?, MinnPost
• Muslim voters detect a snub from Obama, New York Times. Obama campaign tells Keith Ellison, ‘We have a very tightly wrapped message.’
• Analysis: Chiding aide, McCain forgets own remark, AP. ‘Suggesting that any particular political candidate could benefit from a tragedy, particularly a terrorist attack, is inappropriate and that’s obvious,’ said Pawlenty.

Congress-House:

• Rep. Oberstar introduces airline passenger-rights bill, AP

Crime/Police:

• Suspect fatally wounded in Little Falls standoff, MPR
• Rethinking security after Little Falls incident, WCCO
  

Education:

• Washburn works to prove itself during hard time, Star Tribune
• St. Paul schools names new principals, Pioneer Press

Elections:

• Senate confirms election commission nominees, including one Minnesotan, AP. Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly.

Government - Cities:

• Ethics complaint filed against city council president over Washington Village project, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• PACT 4 funds will need to be repaid due to mistake, West Central Tribune
  

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• 35W bridge progress - and bridge politics, Star Tribune
• MnDOT disputes findings in law firm’s I-35W bridge inquiry, Pioneer Press
  
• MnDOT disputes critical report on 35W bridge, AP
• Department response offered, Session Daily
  

Judicial:

• Pawlenty names 3 to Minnesota Court of Appeals, AP

Legislature:

• House committee holds meeting to find state government too full of committees, meetings, MinnPost

Media:

• The ever-changing media landscape, MPR - Midmorning

Opinion-Commentary:

• Joe Soucheray: Mayors’ bottle ban is no specious attack on Big Water, Pioneer Press

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: Laurie’s in the room; where are the issues?, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Pressing the point on impartiality, Pioneer Press
  

Other States:

• Blagojevich moves talk away from impeachment, toward taxes, Chicago Tribune. Among the revenue ideas is a massive increase in gambling, including new casinos in Chicago.
• Physician groups fail to overturn midwifery law in Missouri, Dolan Media Newswires

Public Health/Safety:

• Olmsted County fair goes smoke-free, AP
• Mother of autistic child puts priest on stand, AP
• Four Minnesota counties qualify for FEMA assistance, MPR
• University-area home ownership project begins this month, The Bridge
• Golden Valley gets creative to recruit firefighters, Star Tribune
• U.S. court rules in favor of Rochester woman who needs service dog, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• HIV/AIDS awareness takes center stage amongst Liberians in Minnesota, African News Journal
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• City-county library merger running $3.5 million more than expected, Star Tribune
• Uproar over prayer service for gays grows, Star Tribune
  
• Minneapolis Urban League president resigns for new post, Star Tribune
• With Jeune Lune’s triumphs over and legacy clear, its wondrous nomads move on, MinnPost
• Walker’s curator leaving for NYC post, MSP Business Journal
• Minneapolis nonprofit Green Institute in trouble, Dolan Media Newswires

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM

• Needed in Eden Prairie: Astronomy buffs with cash, Star Tribune
• Chrysler will offer wireless Internet access in 2009 models, Los Angeles Times