Fanning drops out of MN-08 race, fighting anti-Somali bigotry, growing bold ideas locally

Posted at 4:12 PM on January 4, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

DFL'er Daniel Fanning drops out of Congressional race
WDIO: "Democratic candidate for Minnesota's 8th Congressional district, Daniel Fanning, told Eyewitness News he's withdrawing from the race."

Minnesota must battle against anti-Somali bigotry
"Somalis weren't involved in 9/11 but are bearing the brunt of the reaction," writes Hussein Samatar in the Star Tribune.

MN Today contributor Don Reeder highlights an editorial from Winona Daily News on the need for bold ideas in state and local government. "Too often, we've seen state government pass along unfunded problems to local government and schools -- and then, with tremendous audacity, scold the locals when they raise money to pay for the solutions."

Twin Ports researchers get five-year contract to study Great Lakes environmental issues
Duluth News Tribune: Researchers will look into the possibility of converting older bulk carriers, many of which were built in the 1950s, to run on natural gas. "These ships are going to have a problem in their current state with what is coming down the road" for air emission standards, Michael Parsons tells the paper. Parsons is a professor who will lead the study. "Converting to natural gas would make them some of the cleanest ships on the lakes."

Also making news:
Duluth News Tribune: Duluth superintendent sill without a license

Traffic fatalities in Minn. at lowest numbers since 1944

Posted at 8:07 PM on January 4, 2012 by Minnesota Public Radio
Filed under: Around MN

By Rupa Shenoy, MInnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, MInn -- Better traffic enforcement, education, and engineering have led to the lowest number of deaths on the roads last year since 1944, the State Department of Public Safety says.

Preliminary reports show 349 people died in traffic accidents last year, the department says. Officials expect the final figures will show 11 percent fewer deaths than those in 2010 and 38 percent fewer deaths than in 2001.

Traffic deaths had increased every year until 2001, said Donna Burger, DPS director of traffic safety.

"Since that time we took on an initiative called Toward Zero Deaths. It's a collaboration with Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota Department of Health — so it's education, enforcement, EMS and engineering all working together," Burger said.

That comprehensive approach, as well as faster emergency response and safer cars, eventually brought the number of traffic deaths down, Burger said.

Around 80 percent of traffic deaths in 2011 were motorists and 11 percent were motorcyclists. Thirty-two pedestrians and four bicyclists also died.

Burger says there were nearly 25,000 drunk driving arrests in 2011, down more than 5,200 from the year before. She says the number of fatalities related to drunk driving isn't yet available.

The statistics also showed the safest months on Minnesota roads in 2011 were January, March and April. The greatest number of people died in October, July and August of that year.