The Daily Digest (Stinson retires, Emmer running?, IP pushes pot)
Good morning! The Daily Digest is back from a brief hiatus. We're glad you're reading it.
Emmer for Congress announcement? - Republican Tom Emmer sent out an e-mail to reporters this morning saying he'll make a Wednesday night announcement in Delano. Emmer has said he's strongly considering a run for Congress now that GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann isn't running for reelection. Emmer appeared on WCCO-TV on Sunday morning and said he'd discuss his candidacy with his family on Sunday night.
On second thought - Democrat Jim Graves dropped his bid for Congress on Friday. It was a stunning reversal since Graves said he committed to the race when Republican Michele Bachmann announced she wasn't running for reelection last Wednesday. Graves' decision means Democrats have to scramble for a candidate in a heavily Republican district.
Bachmann pays fine - Bachmann is paying an $8,000 fine to the FEC for violations committed in 2010.
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Stinson retiring - MPR News has learned that the person who worked to predict how the state's finances and economy would play out will announce his retirement today. State Economist Tom Stinson,
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Changes to sex offender program coming - MPR News says changes to the state's sex offender program could come this summer after the Legislature didn't act on what to do with sex offenders locked up in treatment facilities.
Snowe in Minneapolis - Former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, is the headliner to today's Women Winning fundraiser in Minneapolis. The event features pro-choice female candidates across Minnesota.
IP pushes pot - Delegates at the Independence Party's state party convention voted to push to legalize marijuana in Minnesota.
Tinucci to run Dayton's campaign - DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has hired his chief spokeswoman, Katharine Tinucci, to manage his reelection campaign. Tinucci has been with Dayton since his 2010 campaign for governor. Dayton also announced that Matt Swenson will become Dayton's press secretary in the governor's office. Linden Zakula, former spokesman for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, is joining Dayton's office as a senior adviser.
All-Day K prompts school scramble - The Pi Press says schools are scrambling to meet demand for all-day K, preschool
Subsidy sinking? The Washington Post says a farm subsidy program that spends $5 billion a year could be nearing an end.
Franken pushes back on links to IRS scandal - MPR News says DFL Sen. Al Franken is defending himself against GOP allegations that he pushed the IRS to investigate conservative groups.
Franken becomes a grandfather - Franken announced on Friday that his daughter gave birth to a boy on Thursday.
The left's alternative on the economy? - The Star Tribune says DFL Rep. Keith Ellison is trying to become a progressive voice on the economy.
Peterson's plans? - The Marshall Independent says DFL Rep. Collin Peterson will decide whether he'll run for reelection over the winter. Republicans have been working like crazy to drive Peterson from the race. He says, however, that their actions are maybe a reason to stick around.
Rest In Peace - Rick Jauert, a long-time aide to ten Democrats in the U.S. House, died on Sunday. He announced last year that he was diagnosed with a fatal neurological disease. Jauert started his career working for Rick Nolan in the 1970s. He also worked for David Minge, Bruce Vento, Betty McCollum, Martin Sabo and Keith Ellison. MinnPost wrote this profile of Jauert last year.