The big news is that Gov. Pawlenty will unilaterally cut the budget from $34 billion to $31 billion rather than raise taxes and borrow less, as DFLers have proposed. Who's held hostage to line-item vetoes and unallotment? Anyone benefiting from "publicly subsidized health care, welfare, social services, state aid to cities and counties and 'probably a little bit in higher education,'" the PiPress' Bill Salisbury writes. The previous-high gubernatorial unallotment was $281 million six years ago.

More ultimatum: DFL leaders, who seem to have been surprised by the move, are demanding a list of cuts, writes Forum's Don Davis — even though the guv can legally wait. Dems hope against hope the public will rise up, or that it will matter. Even Republicans, in the Forum piece, say the Legislature's approved spending looks about right, but Salisbury quotes DFL health maven Linda Berglin saying more cuts are needed. Wacky.

Is a deal possible? The Mankato Free-Press' Mark Fischenich quotes the guv saying he'd prefer a negotiated solution, and there's time before Monday's adjournment for that. Politics in Minnesota's Steve Perry has a great blow-by-blow of the DFL's pushback, but thinks a deal could happen. Still, the Uptake has press conference video of the guv's tough talk here.

Who'll snuff the most jobs? Salisbury has TPaw calling proposed tax hikes job-killers, but in the Strib, DFLers say there would be 16,000 new unemployed thanks to the cuts. Still, the Chamber of Commerce exults. Any health care companies part of that group?

Pawlenty line-item vetoed a $381 million appropriation to give homeless folks heath care, the PiPress' Rachel Stassen-Berger explains. That's out of a $10.7 billion health care budget, Forum notes. TPaw says they could try MinnesotaCare, though it's unclear how folks making less than $7,800 a year could afford even that. Stassen-Berger notes the spending doesn't kick in until 2011, meaning a new plan can be negotiated in next year's session.

MPR's Tom Scheck also notes a veto of film-crew rebate money, while the Strib's Mark Brunswick and Mike Kaszuba say MPR lost $280,000 in digital conversion subsidies. Does that mean longer pledge drives?

They're not quite locusts, but ash borers are the latest plague visited upon Minnesota. The state's first infestation was discovered in St. Paul, writes the PiPress' Tad Vezner, endangering the state's 937 million ash trees. An arborist discovered funny woodpecker holes; WCCO's Heather Brown says the infection might've been in the area three years. The state is seriously considering clear-cutting ashes in affected areas, but there's no money right now. Authorities ask people not to transport wood in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

More ash borer: The Strib's Bill McAuliffe notes Minnesota has the second-highest number of ash trees in the nation. Still, he quotes an expert saying, "We're going to take a pretty major hit, but it's not going to be a complete loss." Some trees with low-level infestations can be treated.

The House approved "no-excuses" early voting, Salisbury writes. Folks could just show up at courthouses within 15 days and cast ballots, cutting absentee hoo-hah. Voters with rejected ballots would have time to vote again. Republicans said "no" because they want everyone to show photo ID, even though Social Security or driver's license info is part of the deal. A veto sure seems likely, but there's nothing new about that.

More early voting: The Strib's Pat Doyle notes online registration is part of the deal. The House doesn't create a June primary or take away gubernatorial appointment power like the Senate bill does, and the Senate establishes an 18-day early-voting period.

Hiring thaw: The St. Cloud Times editorial page castigates Pawlenty for dodging a ballyhooed state employee hiring freeze; MPR reported Thursday that the state had actually filled more positions than had become vacant since the freeze was announced in February 2008.

The PiPress' Dominic Papatola chronicles the dispute over new arts/culture money from the sales tax. The Senate wants the State Arts Board to disburse $28 million of the $45 million, but the House only throws out $8 million. Instead, they toss cash at libraries and zoos; some advocates say that doesn't fit the heritage paradigm. The Senate bill also gives a bunch of money to the Minnesota Historical Society and broadcasters such as MPR.

Related: The Strib's Dennis Anderson again complains about hook-and-bullet sales-tax appropriations. A House plan to cut out federal partners means losing federal matching funds. Anderson also says $2 million should not be diverted to fight the emerald ash borer, arguing the law doesn't allow expenditures to fight "diseases du jour." Notwithstanding the poor timing, got any sources for that, Dennis?

Crime beat: A cornered Minneapolis cop tearfully pleaded guilty to taking $200 from an informant, the PiPress' David Hanners writes. The Strib's Rochelle Olson notes jurors will hear about Fong Lee's alleged gang ties as a part of a civil suit over his killing by police. Rough sex perp Michael Sontoya was found guilty of murder, the PiPress' Emily Gurnon says. And there's truly depressing testimony about how Minneapolis bicylist Mark Loesch was killed, at least according to a co-conspirator.

Mind-bogglingly, there's still a federal law banishing the Dakota tribe from Minnesota; the Strib's Kevin Duchschere says the Minnesota House will likely pass a resolution asking Congress to abolish it. Where's the Senate on this one?

A Texas Molotov-cocktail maker got two years for his Republican National Convention actions, the PiPress' Mara Gottfried reports. Despite the plea, Brad Crowder said he was influenced by a charismatic informant, though the snitch didn't have anything to do with the bomb-making.

Chrysler announced the closure of 19 Minnesota dealerships, but at least one east-metro seller will fight, the PiPress' Gita Sitaramiah notes. A Lake Elmo dealer says his sales are up 40 percent, but Chrysler insists sales are too puny overall. Lots of attention goes to the shuttering of a Walser dealership, but the Bloomington location was effectively consolidated two years ago. Six of the 19 sell only Chryslers.

How many dealership jobs go bye-bye? The PiPress says 900 jobs; the Strib's Dee DePass puts it at 1,000, and adds that coming GM cuts will devastate multi-brand dealers.

The Minnesota Supreme Court says despite what those Ikea directions say, you don't have to screw a bookcase into the wall, the PiPress' Emily Gurnon writes. The court said a Lonsdale couple isn't liable after a neighboring 3-year-old was crushed by a bookcase he climbed on. A majority said no one could've foreseen this; Alan Page, citing his status as a grandfather, disagreed.

Gutsy: WCCO's Bill Hudson bites the hand that feeds him by looking at local folks who've ditched cable TV for online streaming of their favorite shows.

Nort spews: Improbably, the Twins are effectively tied for first after a 6-5 comeback win over Detroit. Joe Crede was the clutch hitting hero again, this time with a bloop. Minnesota, which has played 23 home games compared to 12 on the road, embarks on a seven-game trip beginning at the Yankees' House That Avarice Built.