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Minnesota Scenes
Photo: Evening at Hollow Rock
Minnesota Today from MPR News
December 3, 2012
Rochester Post-Bulletin: Bring back the Minnesota Miracle
“The Education Finance Working Group, a task force appointed by the Minnesota Department of Education, has proposed lessening school districts’ reliance on taxpayer-approved levies to a more equitable statewide levy.
“If a statewide levy sounds familiar, it should. The task force’s proposal is essentially a return to the ‘Minnesota Miracle,’ the funding mechanism that supported state education from 1971 until it was gradually dismantled as part of property-tax reform during the administrations of Gov. Jesse Ventura and Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Returning to a statewide levy, the task force says, will help schools keep up with inflation and minimize the funding gaps that prompted districts to put local levies on the ballot,” via Post Bulletin.
Drug-resistant 'superbug' detected in Minn.
“Health officials in Minnesota say they’re stepping up their efforts to battle new antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
“The latest strain of concern are called CRE, a bacteria resistant to a class of antibiotics known as carbapenem. Minnesota has identified 44 cases of infections by the CRE superbug,” via MPR News.
Fight over ferry’s status prompts earmark queries
Photo by Dan Mullen via Flickr
“To its critics, the S.S. Badger is a relic and a menace, a coal-fired car ferry that dumps tons of raw coal ash into Lake Michigan each year as it plies its four-hour route between Manitowoc, Wis., and Ludington, Mich.
“To its friends in the halls of Congress, the Badger is a national historic treasure, a ship from a bygone era worth saving from the bureaucrats of the Environmental Protection Agency, even if it means skirting the line on the Republicans’ sacred ban on Congressional earmarks,” via New York Times.
Cold Spring: We need to know, why did it happen?
“As family and friends gather at the dairy farm where officer Tom Decker grew up, townspeople question what set off the violence that led to his slaying,” via Star Tribune.
Minnesota same-sex marriage moves: Too soon?
Welcome to the MPR News Update, Minnesota's news on your schedule. Today we're reporting about advocates for same-sex marriage gearing up for a fight in the Legislature. We also ask whether Minnesotans care about the fiscal cliff. And, why we be worried about "superbugs."
David Oliver Relin, co-author of Three Cups of Tea, dies at 49
“David Oliver Relin, a journalist and adventurer who achieved acclaim as co-author of the best seller ‘Three Cups of Tea’ (2006) and then suffered emotionally and financially as basic facts in the book were called into question, died Nov. 15 in Multnomah County, Ore. He was 49,” via New York Times.
“Relin was born in Rochester, New York. In his career he was drawn to telling stories about worldwide inequities involving children. Which is why he was assigned to write a book about Rochester, Minnesota native Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who had an inspiring story about building schools,” via State of the Arts.
Top 5
Activists ponder same-sex marriage in Minn.
- David Oliver Relin, co-author of Three Cups of Tea, commits suicide (New York Times)
- Activists lay groundwork to legalize same-sex marriage in Minn. (MPR News) Gay-marriage advocates debate next move (Pioneer Press)
- Dayton aims to overhaul Minnesota’s tax system (Star Tribune)
- Cities wean themselves from state aid (Star Tribune)
- Christmas trees suffer through drought (Harvest Public Media)
Have a Minnesota-centric story you’d like to see here? Tweet @mntoday.
Fiscal Cliff Fallout
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) debates the “Fiscal Cliff” on This Week. Watch
$9K artwork bought for $12 at Wis. Goodwill
artist: Alexander Calder
title: Red Nose
media: lithograph
“‘Red Nose’ just meant a reindeer named Rudolph to Karen Mallet until she bought a print by that name for $12.34 at a Goodwill store in Milwaukee. It turned out to be a lithograph by American artist Alexander Calder worth $9,000,” via AP/MPR News.
Interceptions doom Vikings in 23-14 loss
“Christian Ponder didn’t help matters with his interceptions, one in the end zone and the other around the Green Bay 10. The Packers turned both miscues into field goals, giving them their 10th straight victory against an NFC North opponent.
“The win also keeps the Packers’ hopes for the (8-4) division title alive,” via MPR News.
Where frac sand mining has taken off
“Southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin have huge deposits of sand that is perfect for hydro-fracking, a fast-growing mining technique used by the nation’s oil and natural gas industry. Dozens of frac sand mines and processing facilities have opened in Wisconsin. In Minnesota, a few mines have opened and many more are proposed,” via Star Tribune.
