Morning Report 3/11/2010

---

BEST OF THE BLOGS

• Racino bill stalls in first Senate hearing, Politics in Minnesota
• Clark’s anti-porn bill passes out of Senate committee, Politics in Minnesota
• Want to make Glenn Beck cry? Here’s how, Politics in Minnesota
  
• Photo of the Day, Politics in Minnesota
• New Orfield book “Region,” and new OPEN Society leadership, make the case for smarter growth and racial integration, Growth and Justice
• A day at the State Capitol, Northwoods Politics
• Gun show background check proposal is defeated, Hot Dish Politics
• Matt Dean, Erin Murphy & GAMC Reform, Let Freedom Ring
• Paul Thissen discusses GAMC, The Cucking Stool
  
• Beyond the horse race, The Same Rowdy Crowd
• Senjem endorses Seifert for governor, Political Party
• Al Franken joins Google Twin Ports coalition of the willing, Minnesota Brown
• There will be drool, Shot in the Dark
• GOP  gov race: there will be blood 2, mnpACT!
  
• Jobs rally, Mary’s Page - TPT
• Strange Rumblings in Timmy-land, MN Progressive Project
• House Democrats try to stay on offense heading into 2010 midterms, The Fix - Washington Post. MN CD 3 on list of GOP districts that voted Obama.

---

BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Housing activity on the mend, but pricey homes still lagging, Finance and Commerce
• Business, labor groups converge on Capitol, AP
• Medtronic discloses US attorneys probe, AP
• Monsanto draws antitrust scrutiny, Wall Street Journal. MN AG Swanson weighs in.
• Jobs still elusive, five states posted record unemployment rates in January, AP. MN one of few states to report job gains.

---

CAMPAIGNS

• DFL Party’s gubernatorial contest remains fluid, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• State Senate GOP leader backs Seifert in Minnesota governor race, AP
• One-upsmanship in GOP governor endorsements, Star Tribune

---

CONGRESS - SENATE

• Senate heeds call of jobless, Star Tribune

---

ENVIRONMENT

• Burnsville, Savage find water a little too flavorful, Star Tribune

---

GOVERNMENT - LOCAL

• Shakopee joins hunt for Google high-speed prize, KSTP
• Wind farms stir debate at township meetings, Rochester Post-Bulletin

---

LEGISLATURE

• Time running out to select which bills may become law, Politics in Minnesota
• State webmaster bill draws Microsoft attention, St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
• Lawmakers make final construction bill push, AP
• Stillwater American Legion post seeks change to state’s charitable-gambling laws, Pioneer Press
• Racino bill withdrawn — for now, Star Tribune
• State considers tougher copper-nickel mining rules, MPR
• Bill could quicken handover of public data in Minnesota, AP
• Lawmakers propose moratorium on new public boat access, Duluth News Tribune
• Legislature acts to ban sex offender chiropractors, Star Tribune
• Bills would give same-sex couples death rights, AP

---

OPINION-COMMENTARY

• Jack Nordby: Beware idea of judicial retention vote, Star Tribune
• Bill Boyne: How to end political gridlock in St. Paul, Rochester Post-Bulletin

---

OPINION-EDITORIAL

• Editorial: Broadband and the politics of productivity, Pioneer Press
• Editorial: Pawlenty’s fire-safety fund raid is bad idea, West Central Tribune
• Editorial: Common ground in Orono dispute, Star Tribune

---

PAWLENTY

• Pawlenty to sign — but trim — $1 billion bonding bill, Pioneer Press
• Pawlenty won’t veto construction projects bill, MPR
• Pawlenty to sign bonding bill, Star Tribune

---

PEOPLE

• Bridget Coleman, 84: Mayor’s mother was a true daughter of St. Paul, Pioneer Press

---

PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFETY

• Police: Cretin-Derham Hall, Minneapolis schools online threats appeared to come from Australia, Pioneer Press
• Mpls. schools to remain in ‘code yellow’ lockdown, MPR
• Mpls. schools lockdown extended through today, Star Tribune

• Xcel Energy lays out gas-line inspection plan, Pioneer Press

• Minnesota launching massive gas line safety initiative, MPR

• More students relying on free and reduced lunches, MPR
• Pawlenty checks on flood prep progress, MPR
• Some call illuminated ads on rear windows a safety hazard, MPR

---

ST. PAUL / MINNEAPOLIS

• Rybak: Minneapolis needs to stick to long-term planning, Star Tribune
• St. Paul gears up for rail work, Star Tribune

---

TRANSPORTATION

• Met Council airs frustration with U of M over light rail, MPR
• Google rolls out new bike mapping feature, WCCO

---

Z-FILE: IRRESISTIBLE STORIES BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF PIM

• Feds charge sushi chef, restaurant with serving illegal whale to activists in sting op, AP