The Morning Report 7/14/08 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Story: Ventura to announce U.S. Senate plans on Larry King tonight.

Agriculture:

• South metro farmers' crops wiped out by storms, AP
• Governors debate biofuel options, AP

Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Top ten House races to watch: Part II, Politics in Minnesota
• Randy: The Star Tribune reader's rep, Lambert to the Slaughter
• CD 3 gaining importance, mnpACT!
• Minnesota profiles in courage and ego, The Same Rowdy Crowd
• Maryland files for 7B House seat, Minnesota Brown
• Brunch with Madia, Blue man in a Red district
• Just how independent is 51A candidate Daniel Sanders?, Residual Forces
• Somewhere in Minnesota, Roger Moe is almost laughing, Bluestem Prairie
• Food security for the RNC getting an early start, Minnesota Independent
• Let's do the math, True North
• Frankly, candidly, truthfully: Newspapers CEOs talk about 2Q, Content Bridges
• Angvall endorsed in 18A!, Blue man in a Red district
• Can Steve Sarvi become this year's Tim Walz?, Minnesota Independent

Business/Economy:

• State workers' pay hits a ceiling, Pioneer Press
• Minnesota had unexpected revenue bump through June, AP
• Medtronic says it's unlikely to buy valve business, Bloomberg News
• Minnesota entered statehood with an economic whimper, MPR
• County Board to meet: Upgraded airport could bring new businesses, Bemidji Pioneer
• Uncertain times at Rock-Tenn, Workday MN
• NWA, Delta set vote date, MSP Business Journal
• Rich returns possible in copper-nickel deposits, Duluth News Tribune

Campaigns-Senate:

• Barkley to Jesse: Senate job is easier than being governor, MinnPost
• Senate contribution reports rife with uncorrected errors, Finance and Commerce
• Senate race: What if Jesse jumps in?, MinnPost
• Minnesota race part of fight for Senate, Bemidji Pioneer
• Minnesota race part of bigger struggle; Ventura could file, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Ventura Senate decision expected Monday on "Larry King Live," KARE 11

Campaigns:

• GOP lawmaker to run as independent, MPR
• Rukavina to face familiar foe in Iron Range Legislative race, Duluth News Tribune
• Kohls, Krueger plan a rematch in House race, Jordan Independent
• Road still bumpy for McCain's retooled bandwagon, AP. MN Part of that bumpy road.
• Denver businesses stiffed by DNC, Politico
• Not all Democrats want to ride Obama's coattails, Wall Street Journal. 'Midwest freshmen probably would have been better off running with Clinton.'

Congress-Senate:

• The down-low on Coleman's digs in upscale D.C. neighborhood, Star Tribune

Education:

• Ad campaign presses candidates on education, AP. Ads to run in MN
• The wrong education fix, Wall Street Journal. Mentions Walz' efforts to get rid of NCLB.

Environment:

• Minneapolis to push 'green' jobs, KSTP
• PolyMet land deal upsets environmental groups, MPR
• EPA plans for stopping Great Lakes invaders debated, AP
• Rural MN officials grapple with electronic waste, AP
• DNR aims for simpler deer license rules, AP

Government:

• Senator will finish brother's PUC term, Pioneer Press

I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• Plans still murky for marking bridge collapse anniversary, AP

Judicial:

• Minnesota Judicial Appointments: One judge’s view of the process, Dolan Media Newswires

Legislature:

• Improving floor activity, Session Daily
• Profiling the Minnesota Legislature: Sen. Jim Vickerman, Dolan Media Newswires

Military:

• A soldier’s story: St. Cloud prosecutor does his part in Iraq, Dolan Media Newswires

Opinion-Commentary:

• Peter Bell: Fuel prices create a critical situation for Metro Transit, Star Tribune
• Eric Ringham: Into the wilderness, so long as it's wireless, Star Tribune
• Dennis Anderson: New conservation road map far from a plan for success, Star Tribune

Opinion-Editorial:

• Editorial: For now, bus, rail fare hike is a necessary evil, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Futuristic plans for downtown, Bemidji Pioneer
• Editorial: Thanks to JOBZ, city may land jobs, Red Wing Republican Eagle

Other States:

• Group may go to court to halt foreclosure sales, AP

Pawlenty:

• Congressional insiders poll, National Journal. Pawlenty low on the VP list for those surveyed.
• One cannot choose but wonder, Washington Post. 'The buzz factor around the MN governor has quieted significantly...'

Public Health/Safety:

• Making the most of Data Practices Act, Dolan Media Newswires
• For some, schoolhouse is history. For U, it's a hazard., Pioneer Press
• One year later, Abigail's parents talk about pool laws, KSTP
• Jewish outreach program reaches Duluth inmates, Duluth News Tribune
• Psychiatric group faces scrutiny over drug industry ties, New York Times. Scandals in American Psychiatric Association lead to discussion of scandals in MN.

Republican National Convention:

• Renters not biting for RNC week, KSTP
• Air traffic to increase during convention, News Cut - MPR
• Judge denies request to arrest Bush in MN, KSTP

St. Paul/Minneapolis:

• Agencies may just have to hold their noses to spin this Minneapolis water campaign, MinnPost

Technology:

• Austin to field test public wi-fi, MPR

Transportation:

• Report: St. Cloud bridge could have been repaired, AP

Wisconsin:

• Multiple races develop for Wisconsin legislative seats, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Avvo Web site rates Wisconsin attorneys, Dolan Media Newswires

Z-File: Irresistible stories beyond the purview of PIM:

• Who killed Chandra Levy?, Washington Post. First two of ten-part series on unsolved crime of intern's murder.
• Splendid isolation, Washington Post. Writer recalls childhood in Beaver Township.