The Morning Report 7/1/09 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Senator-elect Al Franken looks toward Washington.

Note: Please tune into a special Washington Post online Q&A with Politics in Minnesota at 10 a.m. today, July 1 (Central time). <a href=”Submit questions here.

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• High court rules unanimously against Coleman, Politics in Minnesota
• Coleman gracious in defeat, Politics in Minnesota
• Franken also gracious … in victory, Politics in Minnesota
• Has Coleman been ‘gracious’?, Politics in Minnesota
• Equal protection violation requires intent, Politics in Minnesota
• 239 days, 312 votes and one new senator: Franken ‘thrilled’ and ready to go, Politics in Minnesota
• Coleman bows out, concedes US Senate race to Franken, Politics in Minnesota
• Pawlenty signs U.S. Senate election certificate, Politics in Minnesota
• Kelliher vows Legislature will try to narrow unallotment law next session, Politics in Minnesota
• Norm Coleman ends 2008 election legal fight, Smart Politics
• Al Franken wins, Power Line
• Franken and Coleman’s final showdown: the press conferences, Minnesota Independent
• A fitting week for a new senator, Esme’s Blog
• Wellstone’s seat back in capable Hands, mnpACT!
• Tom Bakk & the perils of speaking the truth, Let Freedom Ring
• How Franken won, The Fix - Washington Post
• Lt. Colonel Joe Repya’s leaving the Republican Party, Ron’s Rants - KTLK

Business/Economy:

• DFL budget plan would have cost fewer jobs, state economist says, Pioneer Press
• Report: Gannett to jettison more than 1,000 workers to offset counter newspaper ad slump, AP
• Bank closure part of larger state oversight program, MPR
• Ethanol thirst evaporating, Star Tribune
• Hecker accused of inflating repairs, skimming difference, Pioneer Press
• Wells Fargo waiting for decision on subprime trial, MinnPost
• New creative order emerges in Minneapolis, Ad Age

Campaigns:

• For good or bad, GOP’s Jim Ramstad could be the ultimate man in the middle of 2010 governor’s race, MinnPost
• Hann officially exploring run for governor, Polinaut - MPR

Congress-House:

• Health care proposals divide Democrats in Congress, MinnPost
• With something for everyone, climate bill passed, New York Times. Peterson a ‘fierce defender’ of ag interests.

Congress-Senate:

• Kind words for both sides can’t mask the stakes for partisans, Star Tribune
• Franken’s biggest hurdle: getting sworn in, MinnPost
• Al Franken ready to begin Senate work next week, MPR
  
• A bullet-proof majority with Franken? Senate Democrats can’t bet on it, McClatchy Newspapers

Crime/Police:

• New unit will not include current members of Strike Force, Star Tribune
• Police agencies discuss future of gang task force, MPR

Education:

• On key tests, MN students mostly hold the line, AP
• More Minnesota schools fall behind in math, reading, Star Tribune

Elections:

• Coleman concedes long-disputed race for U.S. senator, Finance and Commerce
• Franken: ‘ I am thrilled and honored by the faith Minnesotans have placed in me.’, Pioneer Press
• State high court rules for Franken; Coleman concedes; Pawlenty signs election certificate, Star Tribune
• Franken ‘thrilled’ over victory in Minnesota’s long-running Senate race, MPR
• Democrat Al Franken wins Senate race, gives Democrats filibuster-proof majority, AP
• Franken wins Senate battle, Washington Post
• Why Norm Coleman lost, Politico
• Franken’s victory bolsters Democratic grip in Senate, New York Times
• Coleman bowing out of this race, but perhaps preparing for another soon, Star Tribune
• The day the recount ended and the fight turned into something really nice, MinnPost
• My analysis of the Supreme Court’s Franken-Coleman ruling, MinnPost
• Final decision in Senate races brings relief for area leaders, St. Cloud Times
• Election certificate signed, Polinaut - MPR
• Interactive timeline of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, AP
• Coleman’s concession, Polinaut - MPR
• Facts about Sen.-elect Al Franken, AP
• Fixing the election imperfections, WCCO
• Voters are frustrated that their votes were not counted, Pioneer Press

Environment:

• Anoka approves wind turbine near high school, Star Tribune

Government-Local:

• Will St. Paul City Council give green light to buying land for road?, Star Tribune
• Hennepin Co. awards $4M in grants for cleanup, KSTP
• Hennepin Co. employees’ leave saves $4M, KSTP

Health Care

• Regions Hospital finishes first phase of expansion, Finance and Commerce
• Allina to build new clinic in Ramsey, Finance and Commerce
• PhRMA, Families USA launch ad campaigns, Politico

Media:

• St. Paul Pioneer Press lays off 11 workers, Star Tribune
• After layoffs, Pioneer Press journalists ask ‘Why wouldn’t you let us make concessions?’, MinnPost

Opinion-Commentary:

• George Latimer and Ellen Brown: Court cleared the way for a vote on IRV in St. Paul, Pioneer Press
• Edward B. Foley: Impressive unanimity: The historical significance of Coleman v. Franken, MinnPost

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: A gracious finish to an epic drama, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Bachmann touts fear, not facts, St. Cloud Times

Other States:

• 11th-hour votes on state budget fail, Los Angeles Times

Pawlenty:

• Democrats continue criticism of Pawlenty’s cuts, MPR
• Minnesota ‘unallotment’ cuts to begin; protests get louder, AP

People:

• New leader takes over at MN Republican Party, AP

Public Health/Safety:

• Uniformed men in Web video were not Minneapolis police, Star Tribune
• Minnesota law can help postpone home foreclosure, Star Tribune
• Heroin, prescription drug use up in the Twin Cities, Star Tribune
• New population stats find growing MN suburbs, AP
• ‘U’ updates map of rural crash ‘hot zones’, AP
• Former worker sues State Fair, claims he was fired because of his age, Pioneer Press

Republican National Convention:

• Months after RNC, 3 more protesters charged, AP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Twin Cities homebuilders avoid a June swoon as building permits rise, Finance and Commerce
• Federal Register publishes Central Corridor document, Finance and Commerce