The Morning Report 6/26/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: MPR studies business groups’ lobbying spending.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Cato on a T-Paw pick: Sending the wrong signal to fiscal conservatives, True North
• MnDOT — Trust must be earned, mnpACT!
• On the Issues: Steve Andrews (DFL) & education, Liberal in the Land of Conservative
• Truthful dialog?, Ladies Logic
  
• DOJ ‘liberal’ blacklist included MN organizations, Minnesota Independent
• Worrisome graph of the day, SCSU Scholars
• Rep. Laura Brod — Defender of What?, mnpACT!
• RNC FAQ: How many cops, dollars and dignitaries does it take to screw in a political convention?, Minnesota Independent
  

Business/Economy:

• St. Paul Ford plant may get reprieve, Star Tribune
• Reprieve possible for Ford plant, Finance and Commerce
  
• Mayor heartened by report that St. Paul’s Ford Plant could get two-year extension, MinnPost
• Banged-up Hugo now sees a boom in home building, Star Tribune
• Sales of vacant homes policed, Pioneer Press
• Hearing on Xcel rates heated, Fargo Forum

• Ethanol mixes finding way into traditional tanks, AP

• How technology can help trim auto insurance, Wall Street Journal. Progressive’s ‘TripSense’ already used in MN.
  

Campaigns-Senate:

• Reality Check: Record amounts for US Senate race, WCCO

Campaigns:

• On Obama’s coattails, an uninvited rider, Washington Post. Al Franken’s campaign pleading for an Obama visit.

Congress-House:

• Peterson flips on FISA, gets zilch, MinnPost

• Specialty hospital lobby grows on Hill, Politico

Crime/Police:

• Ex-Inver Grove Heights principal sentenced for embezzlement, Star Tribune

Education:

• Bethel University raises $109 million, Star Tribune
• Study: Education schools do poor job preparing elementary teachers in math, AP
• U law school makes a faulty case to alumni for $1 donation, Pioneer Press
  

Environment:

• Geothermal hits home, Finance and Commerce

• Dems’ energy proposals stymied, Politico

Government-Cities:

• Ethics complaint filed against Rochester council president, Pioneer Press
• Council Member Phillips’ hearing delayed, Star Tribune
• Burnsville mayor in line to lead colleagues on national council, Star Tribune

Health Care:

• Judge says Duluth may not change retiree health-care benefits, Duluth News Tribune

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• I-35W is most-watched bridge project in nation, Red Wing Republican Eagle

Judicial:

• Faegre attorney ’shocked’ by Exxon Valdez decision, Pioneer Press
• Duluth lawyer named to state court of appeals, Duluth News Tribune
  

Legislature:

• Minnesota House considers limits on bill introductions, committee referrals, Dolan Media Newswires
• Business groups spend most to lobby this year, MPR
• Two groups’ lobbying costs exceed $1M, AP
• Profiling the Minnesota Legislature: Bill Hilty, Dolan Media Newswires
• Ms. Brod goes to Washington, Big Question - Star Tribune

Pawlenty:

• Meet the Republican VP prospect: Tim Pawlenty, Washington Wire - Wall Street Journal

Public Health/Safety:

• PRG expands foreclosure counseling services, Finance and Commerce

• Bush makes disaster declaration for Minnesota, AP
• Suit against dairy still seen as a rare, extreme step, MinnPost
• Minneapolis church takes gay pride service outside, Star Tribune
• Olmsted board vows to enforce smoking ban at fair, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Playground smoke ban considered, Fargo Forum
  

Republican National Convention:

• Group to defy rules for RNC protest, Star Tribune
• Come one, come all, ye Republican protester, MPR
• Are the Republicans and Democrats ready for conventions?, MPR
• GOP delegates can drink ’til dawn, Star Tribune
• St. Paul city council passes four a.m. bar close, MPR
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• British magazine ranks Minneapolis in its Top 20 livable cities worldwide, MinnPost

Technology:

• Smaller ISPs still pondering tracking subscriber Web use after Charter cancels test, AP

Transportation:

• Minneapolis approves layout for Central Corridor Light Rail, Finance and Commerce