While the pitching staff was thriving in June, the team's offense ranked just 10th in the 14-team league in runs — a decline by 40 percent from the lineup's otherworldly May performance. Adding a higher-caliber second baseman and a strong reliever would go a long way in helping the team compete.

Kurt Zellers means business. At least that's what emerges when you talk to the new Republican minority leader for the Minnesota House.

Attention now turns to political rhetoric, rallies and regrets. Also, bye-bye, Marian.

Your humble ink-stained wretch can't provide a yes or no answer to the headline question. But I've been talking to some of my best sources, especially in Republican circles. And based on what they tell me, I am increasingly convinced that when the answer is knowable (and some of them think it already is), the answer will be: No.

Related slideshow: Al Franken Capitol rally

That graciousness shown by former Sen. Norm Coleman Tuesday was not being echoed by top Republican leaders Wednesday afternoon. Tony Sutton, the new party chair of the state Republican Party, and the party’s new deputy chairman, Michael Brodkorb, say they believe the party only needs to make Minnesotans understand the righteousness of the true conservative message and voters will flock to Republican candidates.

Sen.-elect Al Franken's plate is full. On his first full day of being the certified senator-to-be from Minnesota, Franken spoke about some key issues this morning in an interview with MinnPost.com.

Minnesotans — and the nation — can expect to see the "un-Al." As much as he'll tilt toward the left, he might sway toward Minnesota-style boredom, at least at the start. Advisers say he'll focus on concerns that matter to Minnesotans and will try to emulate the best qualities of such former senators as Paul Wellstone, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Bradley.

The lessons we should take from this race are that political operatives can make the difference in an election and that core Minnesota values of humility and populism are recipes for success.

KEWEENAW PENINSULA, Mich. — The Keweenaw National Historical Park, consisting of two former mines miles apart, provides a good snapshot of copper mining and the terrible crash that wrecked the region when the mining companies pulled out.

After eight months, political addicts get to overdose on Coleman-Franken analyses, retrospectives and scene-setters. Also, more troubles for Denny Hecker.

The back steps of Norm Coleman’s St. Paul home framed his concession speech: Coleman was exiting. An hour or so later, the grayish-blue front door told Franken’s tale: He was arriving. After 34 weeks of doubt, the nation’s 100th senator soon will take his place in Washington.

The Minnesota Supreme Court's decision in the Franken-Coleman case will begin its life as one of the most legally significant resolutions of a disputed election in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Minnesota Supreme Court today unanimously cleared the way for Democrat Al Franken to become the state's next U.S. senator. His challenger, former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, even agreed, and the governor said he's signing the election certificate today. The only problem now: There's nobody here to swear him in.

Coleman concedes in contest to Franken | Coleman statement

Pawlenty will sign Senate election certificate today

Supreme Court Opinion (PDF)

Like the Election Contest Court ruling before it, today's Minnesota Supreme Court decision is an almost total rejection of every argument Team Coleman had made.

The Minnesota Supreme Court today, in a unanimous 5-0 decision, shot down every claim that Norm Coleman and his lawyers made during a seven-week trial and, now, nearly two months of appeals. Shortly after, Norm Coleman conceded the contest to Al Franken, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he would sign the election certificate later today. More coverage later.

The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously upheld the three-judge panel in the Norm Coleman-Al Franken U.S. Senate election contest. More later, but the justices ruled 5-0 in Franken's favor. The justices said Franken received the most votes and "is entitled" to an election certificate but didn't order Gov. Tim Pawlenty to sign it immediately.

Related: Certificate is not specifically ordered

Supreme Court Opinion (PDF)

Or at least the social media breakfast capital of the world? It felt like it Friday, as a mob of people began gathering bright and early for the 16th consecutive monthly meeting of an organization called Social Media Breakfast-Twin Cities, a gathering of those who use social networking tools in their business or careers.

CALUMET, Mich. — On Engineers Day at the Soo Locks you can watch ships close-up and tour the hydroelectric plant. Then it was on to Whitefish Point and the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

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AGAWA BAY, Ontario — Back at the lakeshore, we view Magpie High Falls, find gorgeous camping at Agawa Bay and take the harrowing trip to see ancient drawings of canoes and moose.

ON THE SHORES OF WHITE LAKE, Ontario — At this point on the circle tour, roads pull away from Lake Superior and bring us into Ontario's  interior, and so while we have pitched our tent on a lake, it's White Lake, not the lake.

Ontario's Highway 17 climbs small mountains — and is flanked by enormously tall palisades layered with red and pink and white, like a birthday cake.

THUNDER BAY, Ontario — Even the Minnesota-born learned a lot at the Grand Portage National Monument's interpretive center, which opened in 2007. It's just big enough to tell you what you need to know, and small enough to be manageable with children. After that, the road to Thunder Bay spanned both miles and years.