Morning Report 7/21/2009

<b>Top Story:</b> MAC approves $2.2M sign project. <!–break–><br><br>

<b>Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:</b>
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<a  href=”http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/2009/jul20/3483/twin-cities-population-increases-future-size-minnesotas-congressional-delegation-sti”>Twin Cities population increases, but MN congressional seat still in doubt</a>,<i> Politics in Minnesota</i>
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<a href=”http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/2009/jul20/3482/pawlenty-2012-pawlenty-holds-sixth-place-chris-fix-cillizzas-ranking-national-republ”>Pawlenty 2012: Pawlenty holds to sixth place in Chris (The Fix) Cillizza’s ranking of national Republican leaders</a>, <i>Politics in Minnesota</i>

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<a href=”http://minnesotaindependent.com/39703/worry-spreads-along-with-bachmanns-census-opposition”>Worry spreads along with Bachmann’s Census opposition</a>,<i> Minnesota Independent</i>
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<a  href=”http://looktruenorth.com/component/content/article/104-Secretary%20of%20State/8982-minnesota-majority-protest-took-a-lot-of.html”>Minnesota Majority protest took a lot of…</a>, <i>True North</i>
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<a href=”http://postbulletin.typepad.com/political_party/2009/07/is-wind-key-to-powering-minn-out-of-recession.html”>Is wind key to powering Minn out of recession?</a>, <i>Political Party</i>
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<a href=”http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2009/07/ellison_raises_90_percent_of_q.php”>Ellison raises 90+ percent of Q2 2009 large donor individual contributions from outside 5th CD</a>,<i> Smart Politics</i>
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<a  href=”http://www.letfreedomringblog.com/?p=5211″>Haws, Hosch vote against job-saving tax credits</a>, <i>Let Freedom Ring</i>

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<a href=”http://www.areavoices.com/CapitolChat/?blog=55777″>Otto named chairwoman</a>, <i>Capitol Chatter</i>
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<a  href=”http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2009/07/20/what-happened-to-that-unalottment-outrage/”>What happened to that unallotment outrage?</a>, <i>Minnesota Democrats Exposed</i>
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<a href=”http://paidcontent.org/article/419-congressional-quarterlys-sale-to-economist-group-being-announced-tomorr/”>Congressional Quarterly’s sale to Economist Group being announced tomorrow?</a>,<i> paidContent</i>

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<b>Business/Economy:</b>
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<a  href=”http://www.finance-commerce.com/article.cfm/2009/07/21/SEC-filing-Cray-finalizes-deal-at-Galtier-Plaza”>Cray opening St. Paul office</a>, <i>Finance and Commerce</i>

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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/business/51210657.html”>Sources: CIT Group’s board reaches deal with bondholders on rescue loan, avoiding bankruptcy</a>, <i>AP</i>
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<a href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/20/two_markets/?refid=0″>Fewer home buyers trading up keeps prices down</a>,<i> MPR</i>
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/business/51264727.html”>Minnesota gains in venture capital</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/07/20/daily13.html?ana=from_rss”>VC investors put $97M into Minnesota companies</a>, <i>MSP Business Journal</i>

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<b>Congress-House:
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<a href=”http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_12880155?source=rss”>Support for health care plan cheers McCollum</a>, <i>Pioneer Press</i>

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<a  href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/20/mccollum_health_bill/?refid=0″>McCollum, Paulsen disagree on health care reform</a>, <i>MPR</i>

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<b> Congress-Senate:
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<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25193.html”>Harry Reid green-lights controversial gun vote</a>,<i> Politico</i>. Last item: Franken ‘unleashes’ dog bill.

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<b>Education:</b>
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<a  href=”http://www.startribune.com/local/51265072.html”>Minnesota students’ science test scores take big jump</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/25597/”>Bemidji School Board approves loan of $9 million</a>,<i> Bemidji Pioneer</i>
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<a href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/21/school_closures/?refid=0″>St. Paul school board to vote on closure of two schools</a>, <i>MPR</i>

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<b>Elections:
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/politics/51225807.html”>Census: MN led nation in ‘08 voter turnout</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.wctrib.com/event/article/id/54869/”>Election is still on the hot seat for some state residents</a>, <i>West Central Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072001508.html”>Voting rate dips in 2008 as older whites stay home</a>, <i>AP</i>

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<b> Environment:
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/business/51265807.html”>Wind energy: A breath of economic fresh air for Minnesota?</a>,<i> Star Tribune</i>

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<a href=”http://kstp.com/article/stories/s1038754.shtml?cat=1″>White Bear Lake dry cleaner ordered to shut down machine</a>, <i>KSTP</i>

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<b>Government-Local:
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<a href=”http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/125697/”>Montgomery to replace Ashcraft as Duluth city administrator</a>,<i> Duluth News Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.sctimes.com/article/20090721/NEWS01/107200054/-1/RSSTOP”>St. Cloud eyes HRA change</a>, <i>St. Cloud Times</i>
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<a href=”http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/25598/”>Bemidji City Council: Public protests rental ban</a>,<i> Bemidji Pioneer</i>

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<b> Health Care:
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/politics/51267987.html”>McCollum: Health care bill will pass in the House</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>

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<a href=”http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=16&a=408703″>Health groups air concerns with reform plans</a>, <i>Rochester Post-Bulletin</i>

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<b>Media:
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<a href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2009/07/is_the_radio_obsolete.shtml”>Is the radio obsolete?</a>,<i> New Cut - MPR</i>
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<a href=”http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/07/20/10365/star_tribune_returns_to_red_ink_in_june#94-10365″>Star Tribune returns to red ink in June</a>, <i>MinnPost</i>

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<b>Other States:
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<a href=”http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget21-2009jul21,0,5521044.story”>Budget accord reached</a>, <i>Los Angeles Times</i>

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<a href=”http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-statebudgets-poli,0,1413313.story”>Budget decisions could fuel political backlash</a>, <i>AP</i>

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<b> Pawlenty:
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<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25174.html”>Tim Pawlenty readies for national stage</a>, <i>Politico</i>

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<b>Public Health/Safety:
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<a href=”http://www.finance-commerce.com/article.cfm/2009/07/21/White-Bear-Technologies-develops-GPS-pet-locator”>White Bear Technologies develops GPS pet locator</a>, <i>Finance and Commerce</i>

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<a href=”http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=408698″>Group asks hotels to eliminate pay-per-view porn</a>, <i>Rochester Post-Bulletin</i>
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<a href=”http://wcco.com/local/pfc.study.3m.2.1094313.html”>State presents findings of PFC study</a>, <i>AP</i>
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/local/51300622.html”>Somali groups speak out about indictments</a>, <i>AP</i>

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<b> St. Paul/Minneapolis:</b>
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<a href=”http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/07/20/daily4.html?ana=from_rss”>Report: St. Paul Port Authority wants $11M for energy plant</a>,<i> MSP Business Journal</i>

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<b> Technology:
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/science/51266442.html”>Are Minnesota cities shut out by broadband rules?</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>

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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/business/51241502.html”>Qwest boosts top DSL Internet speed</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>

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<b> Transportation:
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<a href=”http://www.startribune.com/business/51216487.html”>$2.2 million airport sign project approved by MAC</a>, <i>Star Tribune</i>
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<a href=”http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_12879901?source=rss”>Commission approves $2.2M plan to replace signs directing traffic to Twin Cities airport</a>, <i>Pioneer Press</i>

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<a href=”http://kstp.com/article/stories/s1038350.shtml?cat=1″>MnDOT offers $25 free toll credits for new MnPASS</a>, <i>KSTP</i>

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<a href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2009/07/taxed_by_the_mile_1.shtml”>Taxed by the mile</a>,<i> News Cut - MPR</i>
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<a href=”http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/21/high_speed_rail/?refid=0″>Foreign firms eye Obama’s high-speed rail plan</a>, <i>AP</i>

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<b>Washington:
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<a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/us/politics/21lobby.html?_r=1&hp”>Lobbies adopt tone of accord with President</a>,<i> New York Times</i>

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<b>Z-File: Irresistible Stories Beyond the Purview of PIM</b>
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<a href=”http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-090720-food-driving-pictures,0,6496359.photogallery”>What not to eat and drive</a>, <i>Chicago Tribune</i>

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