Morning Report 12/10/2009

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• Local governments balk at passing on cost of cuts, Politics in Minnesota
• Environmental groups, labor unions sound off on PolyMet copper mine proposal, Politics in Minnesota
• Madore’s old seat, District 37A, could be a “national bellwether” in 2010, Politics in Minnesota
• EMILY’s List PAC is the latest to endorse Kelliher, Politics in Minnesota
• Unintended consequences, predictable reactions, part II, Shot in the Dark
• Kelliher rings bell again, The Political Animal
• Torgerson takes on Ellison — and Islam — in 5th District, Minnesota Independent
• Rybak hopes to revive the Gopher State tradition of journalist-turned-governor, Smart Politics
• Dick Day gives us a controversial….. ummm, Day, mnpACT!
• Dean Mahlstedt announces in SD 18, Blue man in a Red district
• Peterson on GOP’s ‘Retirement Assault List’, Minnesota Independent
• Mondale: The demise of civility, Esme’s Blog - WCCO
• Bachmann up for ‘Lie of the Year’, Hot Dish Politics

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Obscure federal rule limits recovery for Madoff investors at Minneapolis company, MinnPost
• Delta, United say business travel returns as slump recede, Bloomberg News
• Rural businesses not happy about proposed ban on metal siding, Jordan Independent
• Hecker and KARE: An update, MinnPost
• First-time Minnesota home buyers holler: ‘Show me the money!’, Star Tribune
• Slumping economy hits Indian casino industry, AP

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CAMPAIGNS

• Kelliher picks up Emily’s List endorsement in governor’s race, Pioneer Press
• Women’s network aids Kelliher in gov race, AP
• Parry seeks endorsement for Senate special election, Waseca County News

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• My conversation with Michele Bachmann: ‘I’m a lovable little fuzz ball!’, MinnPost
• Oberstar backs Polymet, Polinaut - MPR
• House GOP-ers wary of ACORN post, Politico. Bachmann one of them.

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CONGRESS - SENATE

• Klobuchar, Ellison raising questions about proposed Senate health-care deal, MinnPost

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CRIME / POLICE

• Harrington won’t seek reappointment as St. Paul police chief, Pioneer Press

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EDUCATION

• MN high school students enrolling in college hits record number, MPR

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ENVIRONMENT

• Government report looks at ethanol’s use of water, AP
• St. Paul City Council takes on emerald ash borer, Pioneer Press
• Some energy-intensive industries taking steps to go green, MPR

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FEDERAL STIMULUS

• Minneapolis clinic gets federal stimulus money, Star Tribune

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GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Council members talk tough but add $10,000 to budget, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• City, county officials happy to hear governor won’t cut government aid, Rochester Post-Bulletin

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HEALTH CARE

• Comparative effectiveness research in the spotlight at Minneapolis med-tech expo, Finance and Commerce
• HCMC struggles with budget choices, MPR

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LEGISLATURE

• Senate aims for enviro management overhaul, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Updated: DFL legislators will pitch plan to restore GAMC, MinnPost
• Minnesota’s revolving door spins particularly fast, Star Tribune

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MEDIA

• Star Tribune will drop some Associated Press content, reopen east metro bureau, MinnPost

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Charlie Weaver: Business taxes must be eased in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Dane Smith: Pawlenty’s spending amendment ‘extreme’ and ‘damaging to Minnesota’, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Immigrant detention is broken, Mankato Free Press

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PAWLENTY

• Pawlenty to meet the President in Chile, AP

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PEOPLE

• Brodkorb’s recipe: thick skin and a sharp tongue, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• State awards $11M in affordable housing grants, MSP Business Journal
• H1N1 flu activity stays low in MN, AP
• Outdoor ice rinks slipping away, Star Tribune
• Judge issues joint trial for ‘RNC 8′ activists, MPR
• Red Wing, Monticello: How big is nuclear danger?, Star Tribune
• For elderly in rural areas, times are distinctly harder, New York Times

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Park Square Theatre plans expansion in downtown St. Paul, Finance and Commerce

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TRANSPORTATION

• Trains on troubled Washington Ave. bridge?, Star Tribune
• U of M, Met Council say they’re ‘making progress’ on Central Corridor deal, MPR
• Hiawatha LRT line opens 19th station in Bloomington, Star Tribune
• High-speed rail pitchmen explain route through Superior, Duluth, Duluth News Tribune