The Morning Report 8/11/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Light rail debate continues, businesses worry about University Ave. impact.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Vulnerable?, True North
• Norm’s outrage too little and too late, mnpACT!
• Fisking Tinklenberg’s editorial, True North
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce gets into Senate race and goes after Franken on TV, The Political Animal
• Pawlenty disapproval numbers increasing amid VP talk, Smart Politics
• New York Times and Krugman plug Minnesota’s Michele Bachmann!, MN Blue
• John Kline’s Opponent - bummin’ a free ride?, SCSU Scholars
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce gets revenge on Al Franken, The Blottter - City Pages
• Rep. Rod Hamilton - unfit to serve, Residual Forces
• ‘Pa’ Pawlenty raids the family savings account, The Same Rowdy Crowd
• What a huge surprise, Ladies Logic
  

Business/Economy:

• TCAAP site in Arden Hills to get snazzier name for new development, Pioneer Press
• Foshay reopens as a hip-happen’n historic hotel, MinnPost. The luxurious hotel was booked for RNC before construction was completed.
• Experts: Minnesota financial crisis looms, Finance and Commerce
• Wells Fargo economist sees end of high-growth, high-innovation era, San Francisco Business Times
• Voting deadline looms for Delta, NWA pilot pact, AP
• Best Buy to launch airport gadget vending machines, AP
  

Campaigns-Senate:

• Two powerful women endorse Franken for Senate, Pioneer Press
• McCollum endorses Franken for Senate, MPR
• Independent candidate speaks on issues, Austin Daily Herald
• Veteran gets one-on-one chat with Franken, St. Cloud Times
• DFLers surprised at Rochester police response to Bush mask, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  

Congress-House:

• Surprising election outlook: Competitive House races, MinnPost
• Kline returning for second week of GOP protest, AP
  

Education:

• U of M to offer advanced degree in bioethics, AP
• Catholic schools raise $8 million for new high school, Rochester Post-Bulletin
  

Environment:

• Wind power convention outgrows Minneapolis, Star Tribune
• E85: The ethanol blend appears to be stalling, Star Tribune
• MN panel seeks answers on groundwater pollution, AP
  

Judicial:

• Judiciary already struggling to manage financial shortfall, Finance and Commerce

Legislature:

• Lawmakers letting their fingers do the walking, AP

Media:

• David Carr: A reconstructed life, Star Tribune

Opinion-Commentary:

• Beryl Knudson: RNC: Crowd control from both sides now?, MinnPost
• Michele Bachmann: Put all options on the table, St. Cloud Times
  
• Elwyn Tinklenberg: End partisan sniping, start doing real work, St. Cloud Times
  
• Lori Sturdevant: New life for the old-line GOP?, Star Tribune
• Randy Krebs: Unplug the Internet as state parks offering, St. Cloud TImes
  

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: School scores an imperfect start, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: Open Meeting Law gets a boost, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Editorial: Pay attention to St. Cloud’s ‘09 budget, St. Cloud Times
  

Other States:

• CA lawmakers weigh chemical ban in baby items, AP

Pawlenty:

• Minnesota’s Vice Presidential contender, Wall Street Journal
• Pawlenty is latest to make Minneapolis blunder about RNC’s location, Pioneer Press
• Should Pawlenty’s political symbol be a 4-leaf clover?, MinnPost
• National profile has gov again dodging VP talk, AP
  

People:

• Don Boxmeyer, longtime Pioneer Press columnist, dies, Pioneer Press

Public Health/Safety:

• Did agency use illegal workers in state?, Star Tribune
• Twin Cities clinics that cater to poor see rising need for affordable health care, Pioneer Press
• Study: Obesity on the rise in the Midwest, MPR
• Flatiron may cover medical expenses for assault victim, Finance and Commerce
• Tyson recalls Minnesota chicken, MSP Business Journal
• Accidents caused by cell phone use in Illinois are underreported, authorities say, Chicago Tribune

Republican National Convention:

• Hamm’s Plaza demonstration permits revoked for RNC, MPR
• Cheney to speak at RNC on opening night, AP
• Hard fundraising times send GOP scrambling, Los Angeles Times
  

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• City law really gets their goat, Star Tribune
• Apple to open on Grand Ave.?, MSP Business Journal
  

Transportation:

• University Avenue business owners step up opposition to LRT, MPR
• Central Corridor light rail could eliminate 1,000 parking spots, Finance and Commerce
• Developer wants to bring light rail to Rochester, AP