The Daily Digest: Primary focus
Good morning!
Minnesota
There are just five days left before the primary election, and the four Republican candidates for governor are sharpening their attacks. (MPR News)
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday called his Republican rivals "highly irresponsible" for pledging to re-open an Iron Range mine before an environmental study is done. (Star Tribune)
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MPR's Tom Crann interview Republican Scott Honour on why he's running for governor. (MPR News)
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden will deliver the GOP's weekly address Saturday morning. (AP via WCCO)
The University of Minnesota has joined a national pressure campaign to encourage the Washington Redskins to drop its name. (MPR News)
Republican state Sen. Torrey Westrom's quest to defeat long-serving DFL Congressman Collin Peterson is complicated by the fact that Peterson shares many of Westrom's positions. (MinnPost)
The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office says the number of absentee ballots returned and accepted this year continues to lag the number of ballots cast at the same time four years ago. (MPR News)
Michelle MacDonald, the Republican-endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court, was ticketed in Wright County last week for violating the terms of her limited license as she awaits trial for alleged drunken driving and resisting arrest. (Star Tribune)
National Politics
President Obama authorized airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and airdops of humanitarian supplies to refugees. (Washington Post)
Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander defeated a group of tea party challengers in a vindication of his brand of deal-cutting pragmatism.(Politico)
A Montana Senator who plagiarized portions of his MA thesis is ending his re-election effort, potentially further complicating Democrats' efforts to hold the Senate. (New York Times)
The National Guard is cutting back on its sponsorship of NASCAR teams - a cause long pushed by DFL Congresswoman Betty McCollum. (Roll Call)