Morning Report 1/28/2010

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BEST OF THE BLOGS

• T-Paw on the budget: Stop the spending WHAT?, Politics in Minnesota
• 9 more candidates line up to challenge legislative incumbents, Politics in Minnesota
• Minnesota improves significantly in latest stimulus information rankings, Politics in Minnesota
• Doorknocking proves hazardous to Drake’s health, Politics in Minnesota
• MisRepyasentation, Shot in the Dark
• Pawlenty and hamburger analogies, mnpACT!
• Kelley campaign: not us, The Political Animal
• Gay marriage could get a hearing in 2010 session, Minnesota Independent
• Parry’s victory — a sign of “great things to come” for GOP?, Political Party
• Minnesota Republicans not impressed by Obama speech, Hot Dish Politics

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BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Minnesota-Wisconsin tax reciprocity issue may not be dead yet, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Analysis says additional budget action not needed, AP. $92 million of WI loss due to end of MN income tax reciprocity.
• Report card: Fourth quarter roundup of Twin Cities banks, Finance and Commerce
• Light rail business assessments delayed, Pioneer Press
• Twin Cities home prices down in November, MSP Business Journal
• 3M raises forecast for 2010 after solid 4th-qtr; autos, TV displays are strong points, AP
• Bremer profits down 9.5% in 2009, MSP Business Journal

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CAMPAIGNS

• Kelliher faces difficult dual role as House speaker, candidate, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Minnesota’s gubernatorial hopefuls expected for cattle-call debate, AP
• A Republican stands up for Rybak, Polinaut - MPR
• Livingstone to vie for Murphy seat, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Former National Guard member from Cottage Grove to seek House seat, Pioneer Press

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CONGRESS - HOUSE

• Bachmann may not speak to tea party activists next month at convention, AP

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CRIME / POLICE

• Minnesotan charged for tampering with U.S. senator’s phones, Star Tribune
• Former aide to Senator Ingebrigtsen implicated in plot to bug U.S. senator, Alexandria Echo Press

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EDUCATION

• Acclaimed St. Paul program helping kids get to college will expand to 10 new cities, Pioneer Press
• Growing charter school teaches with culture, language, MPR

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ELECTIONS

• Republicans see national trend in Parry victory, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report

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ENVIRONMENT

• Minnesota wind energy rises modest 3.2 percent in 2009, Finance and Commerce
• Watershed study could let money flow, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Congress to seek more money to fight Asian carp, AP

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HEALTH CARE

• Minnesota to extend life of health subsidy program, AP

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LEGISLATURE

• House preparing brief in unallotment appeal, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Parry calls for spending cuts, but has no specifics, Star Tribune
• Parties far apart on state budget fixes, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Welti questions Rochester rail bypass, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Mike Parry says he’s ready to get to work, MPR
• Proposal in House committee would fund Central Minnesota trails, St. Cloud Times
• Minnesota lawmakers push juvenile justice alternatives, AP

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MEDIA

• Star Tribune protects Access Vikings data better than A.P. protects the football, MinnPost

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OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Pat Mascia and Kaye Rakow: What will the legislative session bring?, Finance and Commerce

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OTHER STATES

• California to get $2.25 billion in high-speed rail funding, Los Angeles Times

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PAWLENTY

• Republicans filing brief in support of Pawlenty’s unallotment appeal, MPR

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PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Legislators wary of request for sex-offender program expansion, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• State considers expanding sex offender program, AP
• Bremer Foundation focuses east metro giving on anti-poverty efforts, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Young Somalis in Minnesota beating the odds, MPR
• H1N1 pandemic continues to ebb in Minnesota, Star Tribune
• Minnesota arrests are part of national drive targeting gangs, Pioneer Press
• Minnesota song-sharing case heads for 3rd trial, AP

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ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• In Minneapolis, why the jump in homicides?, MPR

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TRANSPORTATION

• Officials, lawmakers to review state transportation plan, MPR
• Obama to announce high-speed rail plan post-speech, AP

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Z-FILE: IRRESISTIBLE STORIES BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF PIM

• The first hints of a dinosaur’s true colors, NPR