Morning Report 10/23/2009

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Arf! Franken’s service dog for veterans measure is nearly law, Hot Dish Politics
• ‘Breaking’ a news story that’s quivering in plain sight, The Same Rowdy Crowd
• Coleman raises cash for GOP school board candidate, Minnesota Independent
• Continued revitalization in North Minneapolis, The Mayor Blog
• If this is accurate…, Let Freedom Ring
• Today, Pawlenty will raise cash in DC. Next month, he’ll raise big money in Minnesota, Hot Dish Politics
• Pathway to the governor’s mansion in Minnesota, part III: ethnic heritage, Smart Politics
• TPaw’s Pretzels & Pints fundraiser a success, Let Freedom Ring
• With stakes high, DFL allies’ new PAC targets governor’s race, Minnesota Independent

Business/Economy:

• ‘Flight to safety’ leads to deposit increases for Minnesota’s biggest banks, Finance and Commerce
• Improved jobless rate means fewer jobless benefits for some, MPR
• Indictment says Mound man ran sham real estate investment, Star Tribune
• SBA disaster loans available in Minnesota, AP
• Battered Opus parent company shutting down, Star Tribune
• Eligibility for jobless benefits cut from 79 weeks to 72 in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Xcel one step closer to expanding nuclear power plant, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• PolyMet takes next steps for controversial mine, MPR
• Italian agriculture chief blasts food speculation, AP. Cites MN think tank report.

Campaigns:

• Unions aren’t united in MN governor’s race, AP
• Money pours in for 6th District race, Stillwater Gazette

Congress-House:

• Proposed changes to Medicare move two DFLers closer to public option, Polinaut - MPR

Congress-Senate:

• Franken prescription-drug ad-tax bill draws fire from marketing coalition, Finance and Commerce
• Medical device tax under fire, Star Tribune
• Franken bill provides tax credits for college students, MinnPost

Crime/Police:

• Raids targeting Mexican cartel nab 31 in Minnesota, AP

Education:

• Educators fear payment delays may become permanent cuts, MPR

Elections:

• Minneapolis officials spread the word on ranked-choice voting, MPR
• Video: How instant runoff voting works with multiple winners, MPR
• Election night wins might be tough to call in Minneapolis, Star Tribune

Environment:

• Study finds need for coal-fired power plant in Minnesota, Pioneer Press

Government-Local:

• Sherburne workers must take furloughs, St. Cloud Times

Media:

• St. Cloud Times Capitol reporter Schumacher loses job after child abuse allegation, MinnPost
• General manager leaving KSTP-AM radio, Pioneer Press

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: A critical juncture for St. Paul schools, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Questions abound over instant runoff voting, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Other States:

• Calls for Wis. lawmaker’s ouster after 3rd arrest, AP
• Report: Fewer leaving Nebraska for other states, AP. Net gain from MN.

Pawlenty:

• 2012 peek at Pawlenty’s PAC fundraiser, Politico
• GOP event will be televised nationally on C-SPAN, AP
• Poll says Obama has big lead over Pawlenty, Star Tribune
• 500 gather to meet Pawlenty at fundraiser in Washington, MinnPost
• Pawlenty hobnobs with GOP elite, Star Tribune

Public Health/Safety:

• Homeless and hidden in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Airline crew overshot MN airport by 150 miles, AP
• NWA pilots under scrutiny after jet flies 150 miles past destination, Pioneer Press
• Minnesota Supreme Court says bong water can count as an illegal drug, AP
• Mankato bondsman charged with possessing machine guns, Star Tribune
• Minnesota reports 3 more H1N1 deaths, AP
• New flu hotline seeing heavy usage, MPR
• Health officials admit flu line has been ’swamped’, KARE 11
• Wetterling coverage brings in 30 tips, St. Cloud Times
• Crime falls at U of M’s Twin Cities campus, AP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Coleman says St. Paul has met challenges, Star Tribune
• Downtown St. Paul businesses nervous, angry amid early light-rail work, Pioneer Press
• ‘For sale’ signs adorn St. Paul’s riverfront post office, MinnPost
• Central Corridor brings new vision for Prospect Park, KSTP

Stadiums:

• Los Angeles stadium stirs talk in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Governor’s decision on Industry stadium plan could benefit other California NFL cities, Los Angeles Times

Technology:

• FCC votes for net neutrality rules, Marketplace

Transportation:

• Delta cuts air service to St. Cloud, St. Cloud Times
• Rail proponents: $8 billion just a down payment on a national high-speed rail network, AP

Z-File: Irresistible Stories Beyond the Purview of PIM

• Vive la darkroom!, NPR
• All-star movie faces uphill struggle — because it’s about soccer, MPR