New blogs for the blogroll; Legislative race roster; Weekly Report back issues posted


Here at PIM, we've noticed that our stories are getting picked up much more in the state's major media. Two recent examples: the Attorney General unionization battle, and Rep. Joe Atkins' (DFL-South St. Paul) efforts to ban Salvia Divinorum, a shamanistic herb from Central America.

We've added the following new fun and interesting blogs to our political blog directory:
New conservative blogs:
  • America's Mayor: Mayor Nathan McLaughlin of Clarissa, Minnesota shares what's going on out there.
  • Mr. Dilettante: "A befuddled suburban Catholic boy with a liberal arts education tries to make sense of the world."
  • What would AC do? Has a good self-deprecating teaser: "No witty or catchy blog descriptions here. Frankly, I'll be happy if even my mother reads this."
New liberal blogs: Journalism/thinktank blogs:
  • We are dropping Eric Black Ink because his site has gotten combined into MinnPost @ Minnpost.com/ericblack/
  • MPR is getting more bloggy: NewsGrid is the newsroom blog, and News Cut has Bob Collins' special commentary.
  • Political Animal is the blog of the Pioneer Press political staff.
Institutional blogs:
  • Growth & Justice Blog: Minnesota blog for a fair, prosperous, and sustainable economy featuring transportation, urban development and economic topics.
We have posted back issues of The Weekly Report today:
  • The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 35 - 3/7/2008: In this issue: Cuts And Shots; Progress In Motion Arrived; Five "No Regrets" And One "Water Under the Bridge"; The Pragmatist: Rep. Ron Erhardt; Steadfast: Rep. Kathy Tingelstad; Creator, Conscience, Constituents, Caucus: Rep. Jim Abeler; Referencing Jeremiah: Rep. Neil Peterson; Rural Roads: Rep. Bud Heidgerken; Out Of Real Estate And Into Energy With Energy; Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Wild Game; Bits & Pieces; North Star Rising: The "Other" Blue Book; Lobbyist Watch.
  • The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 34 - 2/29/2008: In this issue: Money, Scissors And Overhauls; This Is Not The House!; Stop The Sage Surge: Atkins Takes Away Shamanistic Stuff?; Harness Racing In Minnesota; Hotline Names Cottington A Hottie; An Evening With Daniel Ellsberg; Coleman's Fight For The Senate; Bits & Pieces; February Is "I Love to Read Month!"...So Buy And Read Dean Urdahl's Book!; Lobbyist Watch.
  • The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 33 - 2/25/2008: In this issue: The Transportation Bill At 90 Votes An Hour; The Transportation Bill, The Minnesota Chamber Of Commerce And The Taxpayers League Of Minnesota; $eifert Roll$ In The Dough; A Bold Day; Cell Phone Consumer Protection Proposal Riles Telecoms, Astroturf Group; The AG Unionization Battle; Strib As Vehicle For U.S. Senate Democrats' PR Machine; Ciresi OnDemand; Bits & Pieces; Lobbyist Watch.
Finally, we have also put together a nice chart of state House races which you can download in PDF form here. This chart has this week's latest information, including new primary opponents.