Hundreds of thousands of people rallied again Monday in 65 cities around the country calling for more rights for immigrants. The numbers are impressive. Organizers of rallies in New York and Washington said they drew 150,000 and 180,000 respectively. About 50,000 turned out in Atlanta. In an interview called "analysis" Juan Williams said on NPR today that this could mark a turning point much like the response to an anti-immigration initiative (proposition 187) supported by GOP Gov. Pete Wilson in 1994 turned California from a red and blue state to a blue state.

Much depends on how many of the marchers can vote. Williams suggests the news out of Washington could activate immigrants who are citizens to register and vote as Democrats.

Some interesting poll numbers are coming in. An ABC News /Washington Post poll shows 63 percent favor allowing undocumented immigrants who are already working in the U.S. to apply for legal status and eventually for citizenship if they pay a fine and back taxes. About 20 percent said illegal immigrants should be declared felons, as legislation passed by the House would do.

The poll also shows President Bush's approval rating at 38 percent and the Republican-led congress at 35 percent.

Here in Minnesota Republicans in the House are calling for property tax rebates, with checks due to arrive a couple of weeks bfore election day. As MPR's Laura McCallum reports the Senate tax committee chair is not impressed:

"It's simple, it's easy to understand, it is direct, it doesn't take a lot of computing," House Tax Committee Chair Phil Krinkie said.

And checks would arrive in homeowners' mailboxes this fall before they have to make their October 15 payment. That also happens to be just weeks before the November election, when all 201 legislative seats are on the ballot.

"This is an election year cry for forgiveness," said Senate Tax Committee Chairman Larry Pogemiller, a DFLer from Minneapolis. He says Republican policies led to double-digit property tax hikes, and their plan doesn't fix the problem.

And with the Twins home opener at the Metrodome tonight, the push for a new ballpark is in high gear. The Star Tribune reports Hennepin County has agreed to kick in another $20 million from taxpayers to keep the plan on track:

At a rally for the ballpark held at the stadium site near downtown Minneapolis, Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat said team and county negotiators finalized a plan over the weekend to cover an estimated $30 million in increased costs since the project was unveiled nearly a year ago. Under the proposed agreement, the Twins' contribution would increase by $10 million -- including $5 million "before the first pitch" is thrown at the new stadium -- for a total investment of $135 million.

Gov. Pawlenty talked to Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition and said unless the state comes up with a plan Minnesota will lose the Twins in 24 months or less. But he says the chances for a new ballpark are 50-50 or less.