The Daily Digest: Taconite troubles
Good morning!
In Minnesota
Not all Republicans are on board with a plan to eliminate MinnesotaCare under a proposed budget plan in the Republican-controlled Minnesota House. (MPR News)
Gov. Mark Dayton is considering joining a boycott of state-funded travel to Indiana in retaliation for the state's new religious liberty law, which critics argue targets gays and lesbians. (Pioneer Press)
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Politicians and mining company officials are blaming unfair foreign competition for more than a thousand recent layoffs in the state's iron ore industry. (MPR News)
One issue that's defying party labels in the legislature: data privacy. (MinnPost)
Federal regulators listed northern long-eared bats as threatened, giving the creatures new legal protections as they struggle to survive white-nose syndrome. (MPR News)
National Politics
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez was indicted by the Justice Department on bribery charges. (USA Today)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is returning contributions she received from Menendez. (AP via WCCO)
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was a dark horse Republican presidential candidate until he backed a religious liberty bill that's drawn nationwide criticism. (Politico)
The Republican governor of Arkansas won't sign a religious liberty bill similar to the newly-signed Indiana law. (New York Times)
Republicans in Washington are targeting DFL 8th District U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan over recent taconite plant closure announcements in Mountain Iron and Keewatin. (MPR News)
Sen. Al Franken returned to his comedy roots with an appearance on David Letterman's show before the host retires. And he suggested a post-comedy career for Letterman: a run for a Senate seat in Indiana. (The Hill)
...and we haven't heard from former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in awhile. She has thoughts about President Obama, negotiations with Iran and the plane crash in France. (Star Tribune)