The Daily Digest (State surplus, Westrom to run for Congress)
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In Minnesota
Just in time for Christmas, state budget officials say Minnesota is sitting on a big surplus and Gov. Dayton says some tax relief is likely. (MPR News)
State agencies in Minnesota and Wisconsin approved a $332.5 million contract this week to build the main portion of the St. Croix Crossing bridge. (MPR News)
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A long-awaited environmental study of the PolyMet mine is due out today. MPR News reporter Dan Kraker has a fascinating history of about the long debate over mining in the region. (MPR News)
In a lacerating opinion, a judge refused to consider a reduced jail sentence for Tom Petters, who was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme. (Star Tribune)
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has released the names of 30 priests it believes sexually abused children between 1950 and 2013. (MPR News)
In Congress/National Politics
Republican state Sen. Torrey Westrom launched a campaign Thursday for the U.S. House against longtime DFL Rep. Collin Peterson in the 7th District saying that if elected, he'd work to reduce "overreach" by the federal government. (MPR News)
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison is part of an organized effort by the White House and Democrats to defend and promote the Affordable Care Act. (Star Tribune)
The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday to rein in so-called 'patent trolls.' It's the second major patent bill to pass Congress in three years and a companion Senate bill also appears poised to pass. (National Journal)
Congressional negotiators are close to reaching an accord on a modest budget deal to push off some automatic budget cuts next year. (New York Times)
Even states operating successful health insurance exchanges are having trouble with their data on the back end. (Politico)
55 temporary tax breaks ranging that affect everything from mass transit commuters to NASCAR are scheduled to expire at the end of 2013 and Congress has no immediate plans to renew them. (The Hill)
Dozens of current or former Russian diplomats and their spouses enjoyed luxury vacations and spent tens of thousands of dollars on concert tickets, fine clothing and helicopter rides as they lied about their incomes to get the government to pay their health care bills with money meant for the poor, federal prosecutors said Thursday. (AP via Pioneer Press)