The Morning Report 8/27/07 - Daily Minnesota Political Stories

Top Stories: FEMA center opens as flood cleanup continues; Artificial wetlands created for developer credits; DFL U.S. Senate debate; Proposed biomass plant in Phillips; NY Times on Joel Kramer's new MinnPost.com online paper; Gov: special session 'nearly certain'; Thompson to visit State Fair w/ Seifert.
I-35W Bridge Collapse:

• 911 tapes tell unfolding horror of bridge collapse, AP
• Why did the Interstate 35W bridge fall down? Everyone has a theory, Pioneer Press
• Low-cost loans offered to businesses hurt by bridge collapse, Star Tribune
• Unraveling the bridge collapse, piece by piece, Star Tribune
• Final I-35W victim laid to rest in Mora, Star Tribune
• Linda Mack: A fleeting opportunity for beauty, Star Tribune. Will the design process lead to a memorable replacement?
  

MN/WI Flood Disaster:

• State flood aid may be a long time coming, MPR
• FEMA declares 3 more counties eligible for assistance, MPR
• FEMA disaster recovery centers to open in southeastern Minnesota, AP
• Efforts to overhaul flood insurance program stall in Congress, AP
• Labor mobilizes to help flood victims, Workday Minnesota
• Churchs Pool Efforts For Flood Relief, WCCO News
• Added to the human toll from last week's floods is the ruination of parks, trails and wildlife areas, Pioneer Press
• Onslaught of disasters tests state's resilience, Star Tribune
• Floods' pain spreads from water-logged fields to cities, Star Tribune
• Flood information, Star Tribune

Agriculture:

• State ag leaders want to hear about impact of severe weather, West Central Tribune
• Flooding hurts clients of community-supported agriculture, AP

Big Brain Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts:

• Health Care Watch: In a Cost-Burdened System, Everyone Wants to Save a Buck, Minnesota Monitor
  
• Health Insurance: The Big Bump in the Road to Entrepreneurship, Minnesota2020
• Incentives Part Of New Bridge Effort, Captain's Quarters

Business/Economy:

• Entrepreneurs create wetlands to sell credits to developers, Duluth News Tribune
• Ethanol plants get back pay, Star Tribune.  Makers of the alternative fuel are getting makeup subsidies, in amounts that are to increase and continue for years.
• Turning waves into watts, Star Tribune.  Though far from the ocean, an Eden Prairie company hopes to make money from using ocean waves and swells to produce electricity.
• Drug makers step up giving to Minnesota psychiatrists, Pioneer Press

Campaigns:

• Midwest's role in campaign unsettled, Detroit News

Campaigns-Senate:

• U.S. Senate candidates hold casual debate, Star Tribune. [Video] The three DFL candidates for U.S. Senate who want to oust GOP incumbent Norm Coleman participated in their initial debate Friday night.
• DFL Senate candidates try to promote differences, Bemidji Pioneer

Congress-House:

• Oberstar promotes tax increase plan, Session Daily

Congress-Senate:

• Meet with Norm Coleman at St. Cloud Chamber, St. Cloud Times.  Sen. Coleman visits St. Cloud.

Crime/Police:

• Police chief's exit brings Hudson's budget issues to the fore, Star Tribune

Education:

• Use zero tolerance, or ‘common sense’?, In Forum.  Schools nationwide are talking about dropping zero tolerance policies on weapons and drugs because the strict rules have prompted punishments that lack common sense.
• St. Paul Education / Target: Achievement gap, Pioneer Press

Environment:

• Green Burning or Greenwashing?, Twin Cities Daily Planet.  A proposed biomass plant in Phillips heats up a discussion about the safety of "green" fuel sources.

Judicial:

• Who qualifies for family gym rate? Rochester bias lawsuit may tell, Star Tribune.  In a Rochester case, what constitutes a family and whether a business must recognize it as such, even if the state doesn't, is now up to a judge.
• Minnesota / Attorney general sues 'sham' charity, Pioneer Press

Legislature:

• Transportation tax hike likely, Bemidji Pioneer
• Path to special session is a tricky one, Star Tribune
• Disasters a perilous magnet for politicians, Star Tribune

Media:

• Former Star Tribune editor to produce online-only daily, New York Times
• Internet-based daily news site to launch this year in Minn., AP.  Managers heading up a new daily online news Web site say more than 20 veteran Twin Cities journalists, including two Pulitzer Prize winners, have committed to make regular contributions to MinnPost.com.

Memorials-Obituaries:

• Vince Bazzachini, ex-leader of NWA union, Star Tribune
  

Opinion-Commentary:

• Thomas Friedman: Save money by going green, Rochester Post-Bulletin
• Your View — Special session should address much, Mankato Free Press
• Terry Morrow: Minnesota needs state natural disaster fund, Bemidji Pioneer
• 'Bridge maintenance is in the Stone Age', Star Tribune.  An interview with Rep. Oberstar.
• Lori Sturdevant: New state representative hits the ground 'swimming', Star Tribune. New GOP State Rep. Steve Drazkowski gets a crash course in emergency services.

Opinion-Editorial:

• Pioneer Editorial: Schools must make a case for levy vote, Bemidji Pioneer
• Our View — Flood protection good bet for homeowners, Mankato Free Press
• Editorial: Keep aid flooding into Winona area, Red Wing Republican Eagle
• Our view: Limit special session to flood relief package, St. Cloud Times
• Editorial: Oberstar's bridge plan would be fast and fair, Star Tribune
• Editorial: Everyone talks about recycling ..., Star Tribune
• Editorial: When Fido turns into Cujo, Star Tribune.  Tough laws must discourage ownership of dangerous dogs.
• Closing that gap, Pioneer Press
  

Pawlenty:

• Pawlenty: Special session nearly certain, Bemidji Pioneer
• Community says thanks: Gov. Pawlenty, U.S. Rep. Peterson among officials speaking at celebration, Bemidji Pioneer. Pawlenty and Peterson attend a homecoming celebration for the Bemidji-based Able Company that saw 16 months of active duty in Iraq.

Press Releases:

• Governor Pawlenty announces proposal to require disclosure of flood insurance eligibility, Pawlenty Official Website
• Senator Klobuchar's Statement Urging Full Federal Assistance to Flooded Areas in SE Minnesota, Klobuchar Official Website
• Statement on Presidential Disaster Declaration for Olmsted, Steele, and Wabasha Counties, Coleman Official Website
  

Public Health/Safety:

• Lack of grocery stores may result in poor nutrition for N. Mpls, MPR
• What's driving hospital deals? The bottom line, Star Tribune.  The consolidation of independent clinics with larger systems is expected to continue in Minnesota.
• Minnesota / Liability ruling jars hospitals, Pioneer Press

State Fair:

• Seifert to lead likely presidential candidate Thompson's visit to State Fair on Monday, Marshall Independent
• Grandstanding at the state fair, MPR
• Fair loses a giant, Pioneer Press.  Paul Day, the superintendent of the State Fair FFA Show, steps down this year.
• DFL events and appearances at the fair, DFLers.org. [PIM could not locate a GOP list]
  

Transportation:

• Amtrak returns to rails, skipping 2 stops, Star Tribune
• Bridge on N. Dakota-Minnesota line reopens after repair, Star Tribune

Wisconsin:

• Bill would grant unpaid leave to families when relative deploys, AP