Morning Report 11/23/2009

TOP STORY:
Ziggy Wilf will deal directly with legislators in quest for new Vikings stadium

BEST OF THE BLOGS

• St. Cloud Times gives Bachmann free pass, City Pages
• Franken-Coleman recount: Inside scoop on how they knew they were going to win, Minnesota Progressive Project
• Dille will be missed, Blue Man in a Red District
• To purge or not to purge?, Minnesota Progressive Project
• Hyper-partisan Ritchie attacks MDE, Minnesota Democrats Exposed

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• DEED, Minnesota Chamber will team up on business info service, Finance and Commerce
• G.I. Jobs cites Xcel Energy among 100 most ‘military-friendly’ employers, Finance and Commerce
• Minnesota lost more construction jobs in October, Finance and Commerce
• NSP-Minnesota closes mortgage bond offering, Finance and Commerce
• Developer hits snags in renovation of Red Wing malt plant, Rochester Post-Bulleton
• Schmidt Brewery to sell pristine spring water, Minnesota Public Radio
• Minnesota-based bank assumes assets of closed Florida institution, Minnesota Public Radio
• Wells Fargo teaming up with Twin Cities on foreclosure efforts, Minnesota Public Radio

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CONGRESS - SENATE

• At S.D. summit, Klobuchar promotes small business exports, Minnesota Public Radio

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CRIME / POLICE

• Pennsylvania out of prison space; Minnesota could end up with inmates, Pioneer Press
• City clerk accused of giving herself another pay raise, City Pages
• Man who drove into ‘U’ building was targeting FBI, KSTP.com
• Petters case close to closed, KSTP.com
• Video advances are a big crime-solving aid, Star Tribune

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EDUCATION

• Payment shift makes rough waters for charter schools, Minnesota Public Radio
• Creationists in Minneapolis/St. Paul give Darwin new intro, Pioneer Press

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ELECTIONS

• ‘Retooled’ Allen Quist ready to challenge 1st District Rep. Tim Walz, MinnPost.com

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ENVIRONMENT

• San Francisco financier to invest in Minnesota biomass company, Finance and Commerce
• BioCat Fuels seeks private funding for biodiesel derived from rancid waste oil, Finance and Commerce
• Mortenson selected to design, build three solar projects, Finance and Commerce
• Investor says Elk Run project going slower than expected, Minnesota Public Radio

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HEALTH CARE

• Support for legalizing marijuana grows rapidly around U.S., Washington Post
• St. Francis, Allina hospitals won’t change breast-exam screening, Prior Lake American
• Health care reform bill could affect Minnesota jobs, KSTP.com

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LABOR

• State cuts take toll at Minnesota’s largest safety-net hospital, Workday Minnesota

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LEGISLATURE

• Big acts make case for revisiting ticket scalping rules, Minnesota Public Radio

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MIDWEST

• In nation’s forests, push to develop bio-energy raises fears of wood demand exceeding supply, Chicago Tribune

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Viewpoint: Revised election rule would restore democracy for air, rail workers, Workday Minnesota
• Greg Sellnow: Sorry, my turkey’s not free range or organic, Rochester Post-Bulletin

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Reading between the lines of Palin’s itinerary; stop in Hennepin County is Obama’s ‘best performance,’ Washington Post

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PAWLENTY

• Holiday open houses set for gov’s mansion, KARE11.com

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PEOPLE

• Statues of Twins stars planned for downtown Minneapolis, KARE11.com

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Mall of America to hold lockdown drills, Pioneer Press

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Group launches petition drives in St. Paul and Duluth to require photo IDs for drivers, MinnPost.com
• Homeless shelters running out of room, Minnesota Public Radio
• Critic says city’s audit plan lacks independent oversight, Star Tribune
• At old shoe factory, a foot in the door for affordable housing, Star Tribune

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STADIUMS

• Wilf deals directly with legislators now in quest for new Minnesota Vikings stadium, Pioneer Press
• Wilf accuses commission of avoiding stadium issue, Star Tribune
• U2 tickets for TCF Stadium gig gone in two hours, Star Tribune

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TRANSPORTATION

• Why Minnesota’s roads are literally falling apart, MN2020.org
• More people to travel for Thanksgiving, KARE11.com
• Metro Transit officials concerned over Elk River’s Northstar station, Minnesota Public Radio

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Z-FILE: IRRESISTIBLE STORIES BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF PIM

• Amelia Earhart: Minnesota prep basketball player, Star Tribune
• DNR picks Christmas tree for gov’s mansion,KARE11.com