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Cravaack's challenging environment

Posted at 8:18 AM on April 27, 2011 by Michael Olson (12 Comments)
Filed under: Around MN

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Freshman Republican Rep. Chip Cravaak's re-election efforts are off to a slow start.

Politico called his recent fundraising numbers a "less-than-impressive" $121,000.

Lucky for Cravaack media buys in the 8th congressional district, which is largely made up by Duluth and the Iron Range, can be made for far less than in other competitive districts. But his opponents get the same prices.

MPR's Brett Neely spoke with TV ad buyer Lisa Nordstrom of Compass Point Media, a subsidiary of the Campbell Mithun advertising agency about a recent anti-Cravaack ad buy of $8,500. In the 8th District, $8,500 "will definitely saturate the television market," she said.

Nobody has officially announced to challenge Cracaack, but Politics1 offers this broad lineup of possible challengers.

Jeff Anderson (DFL) - Duluth City Councilor, Radio Station Sales Manager & National Guard Veteran
Tarryl Clark (DFL) - State Sen., Attorney & '10 Nominee in CD-6
Daniel Fanning (DFL) - Congressional Aide, Democratic Activist & Iraq War Veteran
Tim Faust (DFL) - Ex-State Rep., Financial Consultant & Pastor
Rick Nolan (DFL) - Ex-Congressman, Ex-State Rep., Businessman & Ex-Teacher
John Persell (DFL) - State Rep., Ex-Frohn Township Supervisor, Water Quality Specialist & USAF Veteran
Yvonne Prettner-Solon (DFL) - Lt. Governor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-Duluth City Councilor & Clinical Psychologist
Ryan Winkler (DFL) - State Rep. & Attorney

Ely native and current Duluth City Council member Jeff Anderson told the Ely Echo he's seriously considering a run.

Daniel Fanning is talking like a candidate as well:
"There's no way I can sit by and let republicans try to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and working poor, while continuing to give tax breaks to the wealthy, fund unnecessary wars and give subsidies to oil companies that are reporting near record profits" (FOX 21).

Which of the above candidates would you like to see Cravaack face in November? Why? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Also clicking on MN Today:

Drug scarcity frustrates ADHD patients A shortage of stimulants to treat ADHD -- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- has forced some Minnesota patients to pay more for expensive brand-name medications or make a frustrating switch to short-acting versions of their drugs, according to local physicians (Star Tribune).

Republicans move to put same-sex marriage ban on the ballot
Minnesota voters might get a chance next year to decide whether to ban same-sex marriages.Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate announced a bill Tuesday that would put the issue on the statewide ballot in 2012 as a proposed constitutional amendment (MPR).

Magnus: Expanded gambling proposals "in play"
District 22 Republican Sen. Doug Magnus said state lawmakers are not discounting any option when it comes to balancing the budget, including two separate proposals to expand and enhance gambling in Minnesota (Marshall Independent).

Landlocked lakes flooding homes in Otter Tail County
Sandbagging against high water has taken a twist in Otter Tail County in northwest Minnesota, where residents and volunteers are trying to protect homes from landlocked lakes that have been continually swelling since at least last summer (Star Tribune).

Police: burglaries at Duluth businesses up
The number of businesses burglarized this year is almost double what it was at this time last year, according to police. Authorities said burglars have hit five Duluth businesses in the past two and a half weeks, and victims are on edge (WDIO).

Bigfork rallying to preserve City Hall
More than 75 people met in Bigfork Tuesday night, supporting the protection of the city hall building. Several city council members and the administration favor demolishing the place and then building a new one (WDIO).

Duluth school district cuts ties with charter school
The Duluth School Board voted Tuesday to end its sponsorship of Lake Superior High School.The charter school, which serves at-risk students, has applied to the state for sponsorship from the Audubon Center of the North Woods, near Sandstone, Minn (Duluth News Tribune).

"Defiant Requiem" explores story from Terezin Concentration Camp
Guest Conductor Murry Sidlin created this multi-media presentation from the story of Rafael Schaechter, a prisoner at Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camp where the majority of Czech Jews perished (Bemidji Pioneer).

Opinion
Bluff Country Reader: Governor Dayton thinks you're rich Even before his election, Gov. Dayton ran on the issue of making Minnesota's wealthiest residents "pay their fair share." With Minnesota facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, he wanted to "tax the rich" in order to solve Minnesota's economic problems.

Blog Box
Analyzing the same-sex marriage ban vote What are the chances a ban on same-sex marriage will pass in Minnesota? (News Cut)

Minnesota Scenes
ominous clouds

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University researches wind energy

Posted at 2:12 PM on April 27, 2011 by Mark Steil
Filed under: Research


A University of Minnesota research projects hopes to find ways to increase the efficiency of wind turbines.

Funded by an $8 million grant from the Department of Energy, researchers will put up a brand new 2.5 megawatt turbine at UMore Park in Rosemount. Construction is underway on the project which should be operational in early August, University of Minnesota Civil Engineering Professor Fotis Sotiropoulos said.

Sotiropoulos said researchers will use the machine to find ways to make wind turbines more efficient, to help them squeeze more power out of every puff of wind. He said one approach is to reduce air drag on turbine blades.

Researchers are experimenting with a film made by the 3M Corp. that has tiny grooves in its surface. The film has already been shown to reduce drag on airplane wings.

The film also has shown promise for turbine blades in wind tunnel experiments at the University's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, said Sotiropoulos, the lab's director. He said the tests show the film reduces drag on the blades.

The next step is to try the 3M film on the UMore Park turbine once it's operational.

Aother experiment will be to try to find a coating which prevents ice buildup on wind turbine blades. Sotiropoulos said that would also help reduce drag and make the machines more efficient.

The federal grant is part of the Department of Energy's efforts to find ways to generative more electricity from alternative sources.

Statewide food drive reports success

Posted at 4:33 PM on April 27, 2011 by Julie Siple
Filed under: Hunger

mustafa.jpg

Mustafa Sundiata runs the NorthPoint Community Food Shelf, which relies on the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign.

The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign met its goal.

The 29th annual campaign collected nearly 4.3 million pounds of food and raised more than $7.8 million, organizers said. That's an all-time high for monetary donations.

The statewide food drive comes at an important time for the state's food shelves, which usually see donations decline after the holidays. Most shelves raise more money and food during the March drive than at any other time of the year except the winter holidays.

The money and food will help some 300 food shelves statewide.

"We were white-knuckling it until last week, because we were getting messages from food shelves prior to that, saying they were really worried," said Sue Kainz, who organizes the drive. "It came down to the last minute more than any other year that I have done this."

Kainz has been running the campaign for more than a decade.

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