Morning Report 11/30/2009

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AGRICULTURE

• Narrow row farming good for some in Minnesota, AP

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• Rybak sets date to enter gov race, Politics in Minnesota
• Keith Ellison’s challenger and the dangers of stock photography, Hot Dish Politics
• Tarryl Vs. Dr. Reed = Tarryl TKO, Let Freedom Ring
• Minnesota has 2nd largest decrease in unemployment in U.S. since Obama took office, Smart Politics
• GOP Guv 2010: Even Pawlenty is looking for more, mnpACT!
• On eve of new economic forecast, Minnesota prepares for further budget strains, Smart Politics
• Is Tarryl comfortable as the left’s candidate?, Let Freedom Ring
• Under the double eagles, Hartbeat - KARE 11

 

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• St. Cloud deals with hiring freeze, St. Cloud Times
• Judge OKs fees for lawyers in Petters Group bankruptcy, MSP Business Journal
• Report: $5 billion needed in freight rail upgrades, Mankato Free Press
• 3 state firms are accused of forging signatures, Star Tribune

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CAMPAIGNS

 

• Absent campaign subsidy, races may be more costly, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
  
• GOP candidates outline budget balancing measures, MPR
  
• DFL candidates debate issues in Hopkins, Polinaut - MPR

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• Hater sites take flight, Politico. DumpBachmann gets moment in the national spotlight.

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CONGRESS - SENATE

• Klobuchar calls for help for small businesses, MPR

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EDUCATION

 

• School district negotiations with teachers moving slowly, MPR
  
• School districts compete for new superintendents, St. Cloud Times
• Financial troubles force closing of St. Paul charter school, MPR

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ENVIRONMENT

• Vermillion-similitude, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

• Technicians with power plant begin training on turbines, West Central Tribune
• Effort to scrap anti-nuclear law in MN ramps up, AP

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GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Local governments brace for more cuts, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
  
• Cities across Minnesota are gearing up for a fight for funding, West Central Tribune
  
• City merger came with ups, downs, Mankato Free Press
• Pierce County gearing up election process, Red Wing Republican Eagle

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HEALTH CARE

• ‘Will You Lose?’ campaign lays out HCMC’s fiscal challenge — and its potential effects throughout Minnesota, MinnPost

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LEGISLATURE

• Hausman wades into Central Corridor legal dispute, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
  
• Lawmakers brace for dreary economic forecast, AP

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Rep. Randy Demmer: Resolution is a purely partisan stunt to punish governor, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Walter Mondale and David Lillehaug: Unallotment is at odds with the Minnesota Constitution, Star Tribune
• Dane Smith: These conservatives are saying what?, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Steven Miles: HCMC: A hospital for all of Minnesota, Star Tribune
• John Bodette: Don’t subsidize the free press, St. Cloud Times
• Lori Sturdevant: And, as always, obstacles in the transit path, Star Tribune

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Wilf’s threats must come with details, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: Xcel, regulators out of touch with times, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Entrepreneural government needed, Mankato Free Press
• Editorial: A push for safety on rural roads, Star Tribune

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OTHER STATES

• GOP moderates may be a vanishing breed, but not Maine Sens. Snowe and Collins, AP

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PAWLENTY

• State economist: A thorn in governor’s philosophy, Star Tribune
  
• Pawlenty prepares for trade trip to South America, AP

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PEOPLE

• Jesse Ventura searches for coverups, Los Angeles Times

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Mayo, state researchers release paper on illness caused by pig-brain tissue, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• An answer, questions in Austin plant illnesses, Star Tribune

• Public can join flood planning, St. Cloud TImes
• Virginia split over Main Street surveillance camera, AP
• Co-ed dorms lead to more risky behavior, study says, MPR

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

 

• Parks board breaks ground on long-awaited community center, Finance and Commerce
  
• Ostrow to offer sharper cuts to Minneapolis budget, Star Tribune
• Central Lutheran finishes restoration of tornado-damaged steeple, Finance and Commerce

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TRANSPORTATION

• A pedestrian-friendly Central Corridor, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
  
• Passenger rail proposal gaining steam, Mankato Free Press
• Mpls.-to-Duluth rail price tag climbs to $1 billion, Star Tribune
• Cities going ’round and ’round over roundabouts, Star Tribune
• Lobbyists rush to high-speed rail, Politico