The Daily Digest (Dayton celebrates passage of stadium bill, Fight over legislative accomplishments looms, Fishing Opener)
The Vikings stadium bill is now in the hands of Gov. Dayton and the Minneapolis City Council. Dayton held an evening presser with the stadium supporters and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf.
AP says Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's patience paid off.
The Minneapolis City Council appears ready to approve the bill in a few weeks.
The news comes after the Minnesota Senate passed the stadium conference committee report on Thursday.
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The city of St. Paul intends to use its portion from the stadium bill to pay off its RiverCentre debt.
The Senate adjourned Sine Die, finishing a rocky session.
2012 Legislative Session
The battle to define the legislative session will continue today. GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers is holding a media avail this morning to discuss the session. Gov. Dayton has a presser in the afternoon.
MPR recaps the year's highlights and says there is a dispute over what was accomplished and who's responsible.
13 members of the Minnesota Senate delivered retirement speeches on Thursday.
Republican lawmakers called and then canceled a confirmation hearing for Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger.
Dayton signed a bill on newborn blood screenings.
Supreme Court
Gov. Dayton will get his first chance to appoint someone to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Justice Helen Meyer is retiring.
Fishing Opener
Gov. Dayton attends the annual Fishing opener today in Waconia. He intends to drop his first line at midnight. Saturday's fishing event appears to be a bipartisan affair. GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers, GOP House Majority Leader Matt Dean. Rep. Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska, Rep. Ernie Leidiger, R-Mayer, Rep. Deb Hilstrom, DFL-Brooklyn Center, have all registered to attend the opener and fish. GOP Rep. John Kline is also expected to attend.
DNR officials expect a "pretty darn normal opener."
Congress
The U.S. records its first monthly budget surplus since 2008.
JP Morgan Chase lost $2 billion as a unit had a difficult time managing risks.
GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann moves to withdraw her Swiss citizenship.
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison unveils a bill to end fossil fuel subsidies.
Accretive Health's CEO intends to fully comply with DFL Sen. Al Franken's request for further information about the company's debt collection practices.
Franken also pressed the Justice Department to explain phone-tracking practices.
The House voted to replace mandated cuts to the Pentagon that were negotiated in the debt deal.
Senate Democrats leaped into the debate over gay rights.
Race for the Legislature
The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which works to elect DFL candidates, has launched a campaign to help Democrats win back control of the Legislature.
Race for Congress
GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack called global warming "bunk."
Race for President
President Obama characterized Mitt Romney's comments on the auto industry as an "etch-an-sketch moment."
Mitt Romney apologizes after reports of bullying as a teen.
President Obama's campaign pushes the issue of gay marriage.
Vice President Joe Biden apologized to President Obama for his comments on same-sex marriage on NBC's Meet the Press.
Romney will use his commencement address at Liberty University to appeal to evangelical Christians.
Romney is also trying to shift the focus of the campaign from gay rights to the economy.
Mr. Obama attended a fundraiser at the home of George Clooney. The event is expected to bring in $15 million.
Finally
There won't be a Digest next week. We'll still be posting blog entries but the grind of the legislative session has prompted us to take a much needed break.