Oh, thank you, Federal Elections Commission, for refusing to step on the airhose of the U.S. Senate contest. National parties got permission for donors to throw up to $30,400 at Al and Norm; the Strib's Pat Doyle notes both candidates sought the change. Political action committees can also contribute $15,000 the candidates' way. What a great way to let special interests tighten their tentacles on whoever wins! Larry Jacobs, who has consistently predicted a Coleman loss, doubts Minnesota judges will make Norm pay court costs if he loses.

Related: MPR's Elizabeth Stawicki says Coleman's probable equal-protection appeal might have a chance because of the law's complexity and the multiplicity of ballot categories. Experts says a few of the 19 current categories might come back in play, though it's not known whether that's enough to undo the coming three-judge panel's ruling. Stawicki notes one reason the U.S. Supremes said in 2000 that Bush v. Gore wouldn't be a precedent the legal complexities, but those complexities give Coleman a long-shot hope.

MPR's Tom Robertson does a Red River flooding story I've been looking for: What's changed? Crookston, which has aggressively moved homes, is better protected with a bypass. Breckenridge has more dikes but is still awaiting federal funds for more levees. Grand Forks awaits a test of its multimillion-dollar upgrades. KARE reports that Fargo is using a portable wall system that protected troops in Iraq from bullets. MPR's Bob Collins is blogging the flood; WCCO's Heather Brown does same.

Today's talker: a Metro Transit driver blew a .24 on duty, WCCO's John Lauritsen reports. That's six times the legal limit for commercial drivers. (Wait -- it's legal for bus drivers to cart us around with a .04?) Says one passenger, "When he hit the corner he was going too fast and he hit the bump. It was just me and my friends, but it was kind of scary, though." The driver grabbed a brown paper bag and tried to tuck it down his pants. A transit official tells the PiPress' Nick Ferraro that this is a first, which is a testament to all other drivers.

Two DFL legislators would let counties raise the regressive sales tax to reduce regressive property tax hikes. The half-cent local-option could save the state $100 million in local aid and raise even more than that, Forum Communications' Don Davis reports. Duluth's tax could sky to 8.375 percent, AP notes. Republicans who won't raise the progressive income tax torture the Dems over raising regressive taxes. Forum's conservative editorial page calls the proposal silly. As few as 300 votes can take it to referendum.

In prison, the Craigslist killer bragged about being the Craigslist killer, the Chaska Herald's Nancy Huddleston reports. As the trial opened, defense attorneys said Michael Anderson was out for sex, not murder, the PiPress' John Brewer writes. The defendant was "trolling for models, for women with sexy voices, for a sitter." Anderson apparently used a "Western-style" gun that requires cocking the hammer and firing, which prosecutors say is evidence of premeditation.

Housing beat: Where are prices rising? Duluth! The News-Tribune's Peter Passi says one service has charted a 4.2 percent increase since January 2008; it's at odds with an MLS report showing an equal decline. Either way, port city prices seem more stable than elsewhere. Meanwhile, the PiPress' ChristopherSnowbeck says legislators might expand eminent domain to more quickly combat foreclosure-related clusters. However, the legislature just got done restricting the practice.

Related: The Strib's Steve Alexander says 300 Minnesota homes will be auctioned Saturday; lots of cheapies but one in St. Paul last valued at $862,000.

Nice try: The ex-husband of Petters stoolie Deanna Carpenter went to court to keep half of a $1 million Ponzi-funded account, the Strib's David Phelps writes. Allen Munson says court receivers liquidated the account without his permission, but it's doubtful the carpenter put most of the dough in. He still lives in a $1 million Minnestrista home as a result of the divorce settlement, but that's probably next on the seizure list.

In a move that won't help convict the RNC8 protesters, a key informant was found guilty of three unrelated criminal counts, the Strib's Randy Furst reports. Andrew Darst busted up his wife's party and a few of her guests. One legal expert says lawyers defending the Republican National Convention protesters can more easily impeach Darst's future testimony.

Anonymous protesters have spent the last month claiming the U dance program is racist, the Minnesota Daily's Briana Bierschbach and Isiah Potts report. There have been letters, signs and photos posted around the U's Barbara Barker Center for Dance, but the aggrieved won't ID themselves and will only answer emails. Hard to negotiate that way, but meetings have been held. Apparently, a casting decision prompted the action. Gawker shows more images and mocks the complaints.

Nort spews: The Gopher women hoopsters play Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tonight.