A St. Paul elementary school could be the first in the state to be named in honor of President Obama. Actually, they're talking about naming it for both Barack and Michelle Obama, says the Pioneer Press. Families, staff and community members at the existing Webster Magnet Elementary will vote on changing the school's name. The choices: Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary or Webster Service Learning Elementary. Even if the vote turns out the way the national election did last November, we won't have the first Obama school in the nation: An elementary school in Hempstead, N.Y., was first and schools in California and New Jersey have been renamed, too.

Interesting local newspaper note today: Both dailies are apparently heeding the advice that local news sells. All five front page stories in the Pioneer Press are by local staffers, as are all four front page Star Tribune stories. (The Strib has one less story because it uses its far right column as a news summary.) And each front page is totally different; no overlap of front page stories, although some of them show up deeper in the other paper.

Terrorism charges against the "RNC 8" have been dropped by Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, but other felony charges remain against the group members who vowed to crash last Septembers Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Gaertner, who's also running for governor, said the terrorism charges would have been a distraction at trial, says the Pioneer. "Dismissing those charges will help us focus on the core illegal conduct that occurred," she said. One of the defendants told the Star Tribune that he's happy but wishes all the charges were dropped. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher supported Gaertner's decision, telling the Pioneer that with a terrorism charge, "it becomes more of an emotional issue rather than a trial on the facts." MinnPost coverage here.

The recent raid of Minneapolis money-exchange shops is the latest reason for Twin Cities Somalis to be distrustful of the FBI, says the Star Tribune. Mistrust and fear in the community is also fostered by feds who have been questioning students in the investigation about whether young men are being recruited by terrorists. Two young Somali women talk to the paper, anonymously: "On both sides, there is misunderstanding," one of the women said. "Americans see all of us as terrorists. And on the Somali side, people look at anyone who talks as snitches." And communication is further strained now that the FBI has ended formal relations with chapters of the Council of American-Islamic Relations over their alleged connections to the funding of terror groups.

The six local gang investigators who went to Hawaii in March for an international conference are getting more heat, as the legislative auditor takes a look at the trip. The Pioneer Press says Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion questions the value of the trip, too, especially in these hard economic times. Money for the trip came from money seized in criminal cases, not tax money, and some law enforcement officials say the conference was worthwhile.

While Norm Coleman tells a talk radio host in Fargo (AM 1100, I'm not finding an audio clip) that he stands by plans to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court, the two sides in the Senate recount flap hold dueling press conferences, designed to sway public attention their way. The gist: websites that say "Give it up, Norm" vs. "Count more votes." Everyone sent cameras or reporters to the near-empty Capitol to cover the blusters, so take your pick: Strib, Pioneer, KARE11, WCCO-TV and 'CCO Radio, KSTP-TV, Fox 9, MPR. MinnPost coverage here.

Liberia is taking action against a Minnesota nonprofit that arranges adoptions there, the Star Tribune says. Officials removed 35 children from the West African Children Support Network compound in Monrovia, as part of an ongoing investigation into whether the children were cared for properly and adoption laws were followed. The agency was founded by Liberian-born Maria Luyken of Eden Prairie.

Dave Arneson, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, is remembered in the Pioneer Press. He died Tuesday at age 61. He and Gary Gygax created the game in 1974. Arneson was born in Minneapolis in 1947,  graduated from St. Paul Central High School and got a history degree from the University of Minnesota. The Dungeons & Dragons experience began in the early 1970s on a pingpong table in the basement of Arneson's parents' Highland Park home, where a group of high-school and college-age kids developed their own mental playground.

The legislative auditor is reopening an investigation into Attorney General Laurie Swanson's office, and it's not about expensive sound-proof doors, says Mike Kaszuba in the Star Tribune. Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles wants to know if Swanson's office mismanaged a Medicaid fraud unit by diverting employees in the group to work on higher-profile cases aimed at bringing Swanson more publicity. Two weeks ago, Nobles dropped the inquiry, but after talking to several people, he said in an interview Thursday that he would be "going deeper."

A Burnsville man shot arrows into neighboring homes to impress his girlfriend, says the Pioneer Press. His girlfriend told police he wanted to be Rambo. Both were drinking.

Even local Girl Scouts are having trouble peddling their wares; sales of Thin Mints, Samoas, Tag-alongs and the others were down 6 percent, says the Star Tribune. No bailout is expected, so the adult leadership organization is looking at layoffs and salary freezes.

Sports: Bemidji State loses in its Cinderalla bid in the Frozen Four hockey tournament; Twin lose, too, dropping to .500. The Wild play the Predators tonight and the losing team is out of playoff contention.