Morning Report 9/8/2009

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• In search of Minnesota’s bellwether House District(s), Smart Politics
• Social Security splits young, old, Capitol Chatter
• O Little Town of New Trier, Speed Gibson
• Minnesotans still divided over Pawlenty; Culver and Doyle ratings in 30s, Smart Politics
• After Labor Day, keep working on economic justice, Growth and Justice
• Diaz mischaracterizes healthcare reform debate in Star Tribune, MN Progressive Project
• Did Rep. Ellison’s loose lips sink Obama’s ship?, Let Freedom Ring
• MN GOP Governor hopefuls = broken record, mnpACT!
• Bachmann: I need the federal government to create the jobs in my district, MN Progressive Project
• Elk River opens up city property to religious worship, Minnesota Independent
• Is the Strib assuming things?, Let Freedom Ring
• Minnesota’s schools further imperiled by looming deficit, MN 2020
• Ward Nine: Schiff, Bicking vie again, Minnesota Independent
• Clinging to your guns, religion and cardiologist, MattDean.org
• North Dakota Law tops Harvard in U.S. News ranking!, Law Blog - WSJ

• I can hear music (Part 2), Hartbeat - KARE 11

Business/Economy:

• Diagnosis: Dire straits, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• States facing worst fiscal crisis in history, so what are they planning to do about it?, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Richfield block shows wear of a long wait, Star Tribune
• MN Dems, GOP talk economy…separately, WCCO
• Liquor store is a successful vintage, Star Tribune
• Foreclosure numbers decline in Olmsted County, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Western MN town loses prison inmates–and jobs, MPR
• TCF Stadium still trying to sell premium suites, AP

Campaigns:

• Rukavina formally enters governor’s race, AP
• St. Paul mayor candidates playing some cards close, Pioneer Press
• GOP candidates debate health care at the fair, MPR
• GOP gubernatorial hopefuls debate at State Fair, AP
• House GOP group sets fundraiser Wednesday, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

Congress-House:

• Michele Bachmann’s latest interesting theory, MinnPost
• Walz meets with general in Afghanistan, MinnPost

Education:

• Twin Cities charter schools feel funding pinch, Star Tribune
• Minnesota schools plan harder year, Star Tribune
• MnSCU board considers tribal college presidency, AP
• St. Cloud school board shrinks deficit, St. Cloud Times
• MnSCU bonuses raise ire of union, AP
• Audit of 8 MnSCU colleges is due Tuesday, AP
• Weak economy sparks rebirth of funeral sciences, AP. ‘We’re changing the field,’ says U of M student.

Elections:

• How about a side of instant runoff voting?, Pioneer Press
• CAST OF characters, Pioneer Press

Environment:

• Hybrid school buses are rolling, but not in Minnesota, MinnPost
• Seeds for change, Wall Street Journal

Federal Stimulus:

• $75.8M in bond authority approved for 12 districts, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

Government-Local:

• Hennepin County may raise property tax almost 5%, Star Tribune
• Furloughs to add to Stearns County waiting times, Star Tribune
• Should governor’s pay dictate others’ salaries?, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Small towns: Where the streets have no cash, Star Tribune
• Benton looks to cut budget, St. Cloud Times
• Council considers tax hike to replace lost state aid, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Hennepin employees try new work model, Star Tribune
• St. Augusta, St. Joseph set tax levies, budgets, St. Cloud Times
• St. Louis County turns to telecommuting to save money, AP

Health Care:

• At state fair, Minnesotans and their senators talk health care, MPR

Judicial:

• MN counties prepare to share judges, AP

Labor:

• U of M regents set to approve labor deals, AP

Opinion-Commentary:

• Lori Sturdevant: Organized labor is changing with the times, Star Tribune
• Joe Repya: Get together. Solve problems. Honestly, Pioneer Press
• Nick Coleman: RNC bought our soul for $170 million, Star Tribune

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: In need of a motivating principle, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: Former leaders can help inform state, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Some good ink for Minneapolis police, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Consider toll lanes for St. Croix bridge, Star Tribune

Other States:

• Credit unions help strapped state employees, Stateline.org
• Tax-free liquor lures buyers, stirring crossborder tensions, Wall Street Journal

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty critical of Obama speech, AP

People:

• Twila Brase named to national magazine list, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

Public Health/Safety:

• Suzanne Elwell Standing up for the victims, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Poll: Minnesotans are disapproving, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Sphagnum moss filtering water in St. Paul city pools, Pioneer Press
• Supporter of UND’s ‘Fighting Sioux’ nickname to try again, AP
• Bus rules present challenges for an Anoka family, KSTP
• Somalis in Twin Cities fear arrest in terror probes, Star Tribune
• Metro holiday traffic deaths way down, KSTP

Republican National Convention:

• Ruben Rosario: Cop gives insider’s account of the RNC, Pioneer Press

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Minneapolis library renovation overdue?, FOX 9

Stadiums:

• A change of heart: After all my Pohlad-bashing days, it’s time to praise them for the Twins stadium ‘extras’, MinnPost

Technology:

• Packet Power’s goal: Helping data centers measure energy use, Finance and Commerce

Transportation:

• As demand for rural transportation heats up, funding cools down, MPR

Wisconsin:

• WI lawmaker pushes Pedal Pubs, AP

Z-File: Irresistible Stories Beyond the Purview of PIM

• Pepin holds Laura Ingalls Wilder festival, AP