Welcome to The Week in Minnesota, MinnPost.com's new weekly email alert for people interested in news and analysis affecting Greater Minnesota.
MinnPost.com is a nonprofit, nonpartisan high-quality news site for people who care about Minnesota. We launched in November 2007 and we're growing rapidly. Now, thanks to a grant from the Blandin Foundation, we're expanding our coverage of Greater Minnesota and outreach to readers throughout the state.
STORIES
By Roxane Battle | Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Roxane Battle talks with Sen. Norm Coleman about his endorsement by the Star Tribune, and why this Senate race is the most expensive — and one of the nastiest — in Minnesota history. Part One of three videos.
By Chuck Haga | Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — On some Electoral College maps, North Dakota — which hasn't voted for a Democrat for president since 1964 — has faded to at-risk pink, or even toss-up blank.
By Doug Grow | Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Saturday marks the sixth anniversary of the event that re-shaped recent Minnesota politics. The death of Sen. Paul Wellstone in an airplane crash shook the state — and much of the nation — 11 days before the populist politician was to stand for re-election. But it was the emotional evening four days later that ended up altering the state's political landscape, and George Latimer, the respected politician who hosted the memorial service, still is filled with regrets.
By Marisa Helms | Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Despite the successful consciousness-raising of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there's a message about the disease that doesn't appear to be reaching a population of women that needs to hear more about the elevated risk of hereditary breast cancer they face — Jewish women of European ancestry, called Ashkenazi Jews. Minnesota's Jewish population is estimated at 40,000 to 50,000, with the vast majority of them (about 85 to 95 percent) Ashkenazi.
By Doug Grow | Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
The stakes in Minnesota's political power game are high on Nov. 4. With the likelihood of a strong turnout in the presidential race, the DFL could be poised to pick up the five seats it needs to gain a veto-proof majority in the Minnesota House. With the state Senate already veto-proof, such House gains would greatly diminish the power of Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
By Brian Voerding | Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Is Larry Schug a poet who coordinates recycling, or a recycling coordinator who writes poetry? To Schug, that's not a fair question. Or even a question at all. He is, well, who he is.
POSTS
Britt Robson: Greil Marcus on Bob Dylan: A talk with the country's foremost Dylanologist
Music | TUE 10/28/08 8:13 am
Doug Grow: Angry DFLers assail anti-Franken 'comic book'; Norm Coleman disavows independent effort
Election '08 | MON 10/27/08 3:43 pm
David Brauer: Daily-paper circ drops: How are outstate papers doing?
Media | MON 10/27/08 12:23 pm
John Reinan: The future of marketing: smartphones
Marketing | MON 10/27/08 8:12 am
Scott Russell: The skinny on Habitat for Humanity's side business
Nonprofits | MON 10/27/08 7:00 am
Dave Dahl: Video report: Will the weather affect this year's election?
Weather | FRI 10/24/08 2:00 pm
Pat Borzi: With beefed-up defense, Golden Gophers ready to go Bowl-ing
Gopher Football | FRI 10/24/08 10:29 am
Pat Borzi: Hockey honoree Brian Burke takes on Olympian task
NHL | THU 10/23/08 1:29 pm
Marisa Helms: Sarah Palin goes to town (Minneapolis) for some fancy clothes shopping
Election '08 | THU 10/23/08 10:26 am
Amy Goetzman: A Minnesotan in Norway: Eric Dregni heads to the motherland to become a father and write 'In Cod We Trust'
Books | THU 10/23/08 7:00 am
Eric Black: Here we go again: My experiences covering Michele Bachmann's statements
Election '08 | WED 10/22/08 10:04 am
Jim Walsh: Sounds and the mind: Josh McDermott on the science of music perception
Music | WED 10/22/08 8:16 am
Mark Neuzil: Old-time innovator runs successful Polyface Farm
Agriculture | WED 10/22/08 7:00 am
COMMUNITY VOICES: Opinions on issues of the day
Myles Spicer: One more time: All those who want to pay more taxes, raise your hands!
Community Voices | TUE 10/28/08 7:17 am
Tim Penny: Deep federal-deficit hole? Stop digging!
Community Voices | MON 10/27/08 7:49 am
Shawn Lawrence Otto: Running on fumes: U.S. must invest in new economies through support for education, research
Community Voices | FRI 10/24/08 7:11 am
Jocelyn Hale: Wanted in candidates: A passion for learning
Community Voices | THU 10/23/08 7:33 am
Charlie Quimby: Joe the Plumber: Stopped by taxes?
Community Voices | WED 10/22/08 7:09 am
If you have ideas for stories or writers, including opinion pieces for our Community Voices section, please contact Susan Albright, managing editor in charge of Greater Minnesota coverage, at salbright@minnpost.com, or 612-455-6968.
Compiled by Laura Crooks
Nonferrous mining projects in northeastern Minnesota may be put to a halt because of falling metal prices, reports Marshall Helmberger in the Ely Timberjay. The price of copper has nearly dropped by half over the past month.
Mike Nowatzki of the Forum writes that Xcel Energy plans to replace a certain brand of natural gas pipe in all of North Dakota after the brand was blamed for an explosion in a Fargo house last month.
According to the Duluth News Tribune (registration required), a pickup truck towing a 5-ton excavator damaged five cars and two light poles after losing its brakes on Duluth’s Second Avenue West last Friday.
Local nonprofit organizations are being cautious and resourceful during these economic hard times, writes Cindy Votruba in the Marshall Independent. The needs they serve have increased, and the downturn’s effect on their funding is yet unknown.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a press conference in Austin last Tuesday after a video showed “appalling” animal abuse at a Hormel Foods supplier in Bayard, Iowa, writes Katie Johnson of the Austin Daily Herald. Those allegedly involved in the abuse have since been charged.
The Hastings Star Gazette (reg./req.) reports that an explosion at Spectro Alloys in Rosemount injured one employee on Friday. Rosemount police chief Gary Kalstabakken said that the explosion was “most likely accidental.”
