The Wall Street Journal says a climate-change bill's fate rests with our own Collin Peterson, and environmentalists aren't happy with the "Marlboro-smoking" congressman. Peterson wants more coal-burning than fellow Dems, to lessen costs on the 10 percent of his district that lives in poverty. (I suspect a few fat cats will also be happy.) He also wants less ethanol regulation, more environmentally related farm subsidies, and the Ag Department, not the EPA, judging global warming practices. Fox, meet henhouse.

As we await the Minnesota Supreme Court's recount ruling — this week, please? — Minnesota Independent's Paul Demko notes a Texas lawyer's complaints that Norm Coleman benefactor Nasser Kazeminy's company stonewalls the DonorGate lawsuit. Casey Wallace, representing former Deep Marine Technologies exec Paul McKim, says the problem is a leisurely internal investigation that's not related to Coleman, even though the civil suit alleges Kazeminy diverted company funds to Laurie Coleman's employer, among other charges.

Related: AP notes the wait for a new U.S. Senator has now entered its fourth meteorological season. Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is stall ...

The Strib's Jenna Ross reports that U grad school tuition will rise as much as five times faster than undergrad costs. In-state law students will see a 15.3 percent hike, compared with 3.1 percent for undergrads. Buried in the story; "most" of the proto-lawyer hikes will fund higher aid to lure primo students. Tough luck if you're a mediocre Minnesotan. Though few will weep, the hikes come as first-year lawyer salaries are falling. The typical master's student will see a 7.5 percent tuition rise with lower salaries ahead.

Want to see Minneapolis' 104-year-old Lowry Bridge blown up? The big green beast can be seen dying here, here, here, here and here. The Strib's Laurie Blake says the girders will be refashioned into a public works facility fence.

It's almost moot now, as Gov. Pawlenty plays to an audience of national GOP primary voters, but his approval rating remains underwater with Minnesotans. The "likable" guv's approve/disapprove percentages are 47/50 according to a new SurveyUSA poll. That's back in negative territory after a plus-1 (49/48) in late May. SmartPolitics' Eric Ostermeier notes that despite the unallotment controversy, TPaw has fared much better than the Iowa or Wisconsin governor.

God bless her, MPR's Jessica Mador actually talks to folks hurt by the governor's low-income renter's credit unallotment. The administration criticizes the redistributionist program for refunding more than some beneficiaries pay in property taxes. Opponents say it's precisely the wrong time to cut $51 million from those who need it most. One 70-year-old Plymouth man living on $12,000 a year will lose the equivalent of a month's rent. But nearby McMansion owners can enjoy their tax non-hike.

AP's Martiga Lohn becomes the latest to look at the "IOUs" the state will issue to school districts in lieu of school-aid payments. As others have noted, local districts will incur tens or even hundreds of thousands in borrowing costs while the state husbands its cash. Fergus Falls will borrow $2 million more than planned, and tiny Nashwauk-Keewatin will pay $30,000 in interest. But both parties supported the payment shift, right?

Everyone eulogizes the Rev. Tim Vakoc, whose skull was punctured in a 2004 Iraq War bombing. He died in a New Hope nursing home Saturday night. The PiPress' Maja Beckstrom notes Vakoc became responsive in his last months; one visitor says, "He continued to reach out to people, just in a different way. His room was always a very calm, warm and peaceful environment." Vakoc is remembered as an engaging field priest known for using bottled water as holy water, puncturing holes to create "a sprinkling effect." A 2007 KARE profile is here.

MPR's Tim Post debriefs the U Med School's conflict-of-interest policy — or lack thereof. A rewrite has been bogged down for over a year. Those frustrated with ongoing looseness note industry will still be able to fund docs' continuing education programs, still hand out small items such as pens and coffee cups, and give unreported gifts under $500 (down from $10,000, though). The U claims too tough a crackdown would "stifle" innovation and creativity, at least in expense reports.

The Strib's David Phelps takes the temperature of the local ad community and writes "flat is the new up." The industry employs about 3,000 people statewide, and while a few firms have hauled in a big new client or two, most have lost billings. One star is local firm Olson, which has consistently posted double-digit growth and has landed "Memorex, Carlson Country Inns & Suites, Lee Jeans, Chinet and United Health Group's Ovations division" in the last six months. Social-media expertise also means new bucks.

Nort spews: Now even Justin Morneau is sick; the slugger's consecutive-games streak ended at 319 as the Twins lost to Houston 4-1. The mediocrity-redefining squad is now 35-36 and four games out of first. And no, BrettFavre has not signed a Vikings contract ... yet.