The ghost of politics past. In Right Wing Watch, Kyle Mantyla reports: “Former Minnesota congresswoman and current ‘pastor to the United Nations’ Michele Bachmann joined End Times prepper pastor Jim Bakker for a series of television programs that aired last week, during which she revealed that she is currently considering making a run for the U.S. Senate seat that is set to be vacated by Al Franken. … On last Wednesday’s show, Bachmann said that she has ‘had people contact me and urge me to run for that Senate seat’ and that she is asking God if doing so in His will for her. … Bachmann said that she would be willing to run in order to take godly principles into the Senate but is concerned that she will be unfairly attacked by Washington insiders because ‘the swamp is so toxic.’”
People are finally figuring it out. The Pioneer Press’ Josh Verges reports: “Minnesota last year broke a 15-year losing streak when more people moved here from another state than moved out, according to Census Bureau estimates. … Experts aren’t sure it’s the start of a new trend, but the numbers offer hope for employers that the state’s labor force could grow faster than expected. … ‘I sure hope that it’s a turning point and not a one-time blip in the data,’ said Steve Hine, labor market information director for the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development. … Roughly 100,000 people move to Minnesota each year from another state. But each year for the last decade and a half, an average of 6,600 more people have left Minnesota for another state.”
What does Minnesota’s energy picture look like in 2018, and beyond? Finance & Commerce’s Frank Jossi reports: “Energy generation from wind and solar has grown significantly in Minnesota. Utilities have announced the retirement of thousands of megawatts of coal plants in the next decade. Popular technologies such as electric vehicles, sophisticated thermostats, battery storage and rooftop solar hold great potential to produce cleaner energy. And they pose challenges to the electric grid. … Minnesota is entering a new era of energy production that promises to upend the traditional power grid in the same way the internet, the iPhone and deregulation transformed communications over the past 30 years.”
Winter Olympics start in February. MPR’s Carlos Osorio reports: “The U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team is leaning on 13 newcomers as the Americans head to the Pyeongchang Games trying to end a 20-year gold medal drought. … USA Hockey announced the 23-woman roster Monday during the second intermission of the Winter Classic in New York. Captain Meghan Duggan is one of six two-time silver medalists, and there are four other returning players from 2014. … The roster includes seven Minnesotans, three Wisconsinites and two North Dakotans.”
In other news…
Politics, of course, being a famously fair field of activity: “Senator Al Franken’s Resignation Is Deeply Unfair” [The Daily Beast]
Good luck to them: “2 Minnesotans start 2018 as millionaires” [Valley News Live]
Wow: “Plane without landing gear makes emergency landing in Fargo; four on board not injured” [KFGO]
Making the most of the weather: “Luminary Loppet to boast new ice forest at Lake of the Isles on Super Bowl weekend” [Star Tribune]
