Close quarters for pigs; The politics of rural broadband; Craft brew at the fair

Posted at 8:15 AM on July 18, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

Video shot in Minn. spotlights how pigs are treated
Star Tribune: "Mercy for Animals used film shot in Minnesota to bolster its fight against the hog industry's use of gestation crates." AP: "Costco Wholesale Corp. has joined a growing list of retailers and restaurants in asking suppliers to phase out tight confinement pens for pregnant sows."

Lake County broadband effort turns into fight over government stimulus help
MPR News: "To help businesses like Granite Gear and solve the internet woes of northeast Minnesota residents, Lake County began stringing fiber Tuesday in Two Harbors, which is on Lake Superior's North Shore."

2 Minn. men indicted over untimely wolf kills
Star Tribune: "Just months before the state Department of Natural Resources is planning to let hunters harvest 400 wolves in Minnesota, a federal grand jury in Minneapolis has indicted two North Shore residents in an alleged conspiracy to cover up the killing of two of the animals ahead of schedule."

Minneapolis: A look at the midwest's marketing overachiever
Ad Age: "Minneapolis' greater urban area is home to 18 Fortune 500 companies, including five in the top 100. Ad Age takes a close look at the city's marketing scene."

Measuring significant drought years

NewsHour: "Overall, commodities markets are responding in anticipation of a reduced harvest and in turn, any users of the products in their raw form are seeing prices increase,"

Republicans tell Mitt Romney to show tax returns
Politico: "The list of prominent Republicans and conservatives urging Romney to put out more than the two years of tax returns he has promised is continuing to grow each day." Pawlenty: Romney's released enough tax returns (CBS News).

How Minnesota and Portland started a mini feud
Dime: "Portland and Minnesota have representatives in Las Vegas this week, carrying on a mini-feud that started with one team unwittingly a part of it, sucked in by people now long gone."

N.H.L. seeks to end "front-loaded" contracts
New York Times: "It also seeks to end long-term front-loaded contracts, like the 13-year, $98 million deals that Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed earlier this month with the Minnesota Wild."

Minnesota State Fair: Craft beer, Luminarium among new attractions
Pioneer Press: "From a giant sandbox and skateboard lessons to a flight of Minnesota craft beer and a People's Choice vote on food favorites, the Minnesota State Fair has added a dozen new attractions to the 2012 lineup."

Bachman doubles down after bipartisan opposition emerges to her Muslim Brotherhood claims

Posted at 8:15 AM on July 18, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

McCain denounces Bachmann's Muslim Brotherhood statement
MPR News: "Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona took to the Senate floor today to defend a State Department employee against allegations that she has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood." Star Tribune: "The State Department also weighed in, saying Bachmann's remarks were 'vicious and disgusting lies.'"

Bachmann's former campaign chief -- shame on you, Michele
Ed Rollins writes on Fox News: "I have been a practitioner of tough politics for many decades. There is little that amazes me and even less that shocks me. I have to say that Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's outrageous and false charges against a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin reaches that threshold. Her unsubstantiated charge against Abedin, a widely respected top aide to Secretary Hillary Clinton, accusing her of some sort of far-fetched connection to the Muslim brotherhood, is extreme and dishonest."

Star Tribune: "Despite the backlash, Bachmann doubled down on her efforts Wednesday, alleging that the Obama administration 'appeases our enemies instead of telling the truth about the threats our country faces.'" Her opponent Jim Graves is circulating a petition "demanding" that Bachmann end the "McCarthy-styled witch-hunt."

Also on MN Today
Marriage amendment foes winning money race
MPR News: "Opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment on marriage have widened their financial lead but supporters say they are confident the amendment will prevail anyway."

Fed: Regional economy sees moderate growth
Bloomberg: "The Ninth District economy grew moderately since the last report. Increased activity was noted in consumer spending, tourism, professional services, construction, real estate, and agriculture. Growth was also positive, but slightly slower than in the previous reporting period, in the manufacturing, energy, and mining sectors. Some tightening was noted in labor markets, and wage increases were moderate. Price increases were modest, and some decreases were noted."

Video chat with Olympian and Duluth Native Kara Goucher

St. Paul City Council approves Saints ballpark financing
Pioneer Press: "St. Paul is one step closer to seeing a new Saints ballpark in Lowertown.The city council voted unanimously on Wednesday, July 18, to approve a financing plan for a $54 million ballpark in downtown St. Paul near the Farmers' Market."

Franken raps Facebook on photo tagging
Star Tribune: "Chairing a hearing of a subcommittee on privacy and technology, Franken challenged Facebook's practice of automatically including its members in a facial recognition program for photographs."

Revenue commissioner: State tax system in need of repair
Bemidji Pioneer: "'A deficit isn't a Democratic or Republican thing,' Frans said. 'It's a deficit and we've got to solve it.' Dayton, Frans said, will present his budget during the next legislative session and a tax-reform system will be developed to meet that target."

Common Cause seeks criminal charges against MNGOP, Sutton
MPR News: "The group Common Cause Minnesota is pushing for criminal charges to be filed against the Minnesota Republican Party and former party chair Tony Sutton."

Voter ID opponents out-raise amendment supporters
Capitol View: "Our Vote Our Future has raised nearly $183,000 since the beginning of the year, which is about $133,000 more than it reported in June when the last round of finance reports were filed."

Minneapolis native hopes to unseat Joe Biden on Green Party ticket
The Cities: "Anti-poverty organizer Cheri Honkala joined the ticket of Green Party presidential hopeful Jill Stein this week. The Green Party's national convention takes place this weekend in Baltimore, Md."

Lumberjack Days will be missed, many Stillwater residents say
Pioneer Press: "In mid-July most years, Jeff Chilson is stocking up on beer, ice and cups, hiring extra staff and gearing up for 18-hour workdays."