WASHINGTON, D.C. — It might be easier for everyone concerned if Minnesota employed Sherlock Holmes to decipher the clues contained in the federal Race to the Top funding rubric. As is, the amateur detectives at the state level are left to guess as to how effective their solutions, designed to address those nebulous goals, will be perceived by the judges — with literally hundreds of millions of dollars to gain for those who guess correctly — and lost for those who don't.

"I no longer think that competition is appropriate for many reasons," he says. "The most compelling one is that education is not necessarily a market. A business must concentrate on its most profitable customers. Public education has to serve everybody."

Related: A new feature: MinnPost Asks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — White House aims to double the number of U.S. exports in the next five years, and experts point to companies in Minnesota as models for achieving that goal. Minnesota exports grew by 50 percent over the past five years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The president plans to direct $45 million to begin construction on the Central Corridor light rail train, money that local and federal officials say all but confirms the project will win federal approval later this year.

Retired U.S. diplomat Tom Hanson told a crowd in Minneapolis this week that United States is in danger of losing — indeed, may already have lost — its position as economic leader of the world.

The day after taking congressional heat about his role in the AIG bailout, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner got a friendly Twin Cities reception today. He used the visit to push President Obama's message on economic recovery and announced a $5 billion increase in the proposed budget for "products to power the clean energy economy."

2010 STATE OF THE UNION

Pitch perfect. I thought Obama nailed it. To the wall. For me, the president's State of the Union speech fit the moment perfectly.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Collin Peterson said he decided to sit on the Republican side of the aisle for Wednesday's State of the Union speech, the first time he's ever done so. "About halfway through the speech, he had those guys coming along, but then he got to health care and he lost them," Peterson said.

Related: Text of Obama's State of Union address

WASHINGTON, D.C. — When you consider two statements, both from Minnesota Democrats, on what they want to hear President Obama say in his first State of the Union address, you'll get an idea of how steep the uphill path is to unity tonight.

Related: Sen. Amy Klobuchar invites Duluth business owner to State of the Union speech

Any list of states producing corn, wheat and soybeans would likely include the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas; they had the nation's lowest unemployment, while Minnesota was 13th lowest.

The Supreme Court's decision Thursday that ends restraints on corporate spending in elections could reach into places such as the Minnesota Legislature, even city council and judicial chambers.

Twin Cities attorneys who represent detainees at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba say they have seen significant changes since President Obama took office. One abrupt change came last night when the lawyers representing an Algerian detainee received notice from the U.S. government that he has been transferred to his homeland.

Global Post: Ex-Gitmo detainee Abu Bakker Qassim: 'I am sure it will be closed this year'