Daily Digest (day after State of the Union edition)
Well, despite what you or I think, the president declared the state of the union to be strong, so I guess we’ll have to go with that. Ponder your own ranking as you peruse today’s Digest. We'll start here in Minnesota and circle back to the president's speech.
MINNESOTA:
More than 2,100 people packed a Saint Paul RiverCentre ballroom for a public meeting on the proposed PolyMet mine, matching in size but surpassing in feistiness the combined 2,000 or so people who attended two earlier meetings in Duluth and Aurora. There were standing ovations, boos, laughs and even a guy with a guitar and harmonica who sang out his fears for Minnesota if the state embraces PolyMet, which would be the state's first copper-nickel mine. (MPR News)
Gov. Dayton cancelled his trip to New York to lobby on behalf of bringing the Super Bowl to Minnesota in 2018. He said he wants to stay here to work on the propane shortage. (Pioneer Press)
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State lawmakers held a hearing about limiting police power to collect and keep people's personal information. Law enforcement officials say they're not spying, just trying to catch wrongdoers. (Star Tribune)
Another hearing looked at the online voter registration system Secretary of State Mark Ritchie started without specific approval from the Legislature. (MPR News)
Just about all the top line 2013 fundraising numbers are in for the governor’s race. DFL incumbent Mark Dayton raised nearly $469,000 in the fourth quarter of the year and had about $772,000 going into this election year. (MPR News)
Former Republican state Rep. Marty Seifert raised more than $150,000 in the five weeks he campaigned at the end of 2013. (MPR News)
Gov. Dayton is headed back to the Mayo Clinic next week for surgery on his ailing hip. (MPR News)
About an hour after the state DFL and GOP chairs held a joint press conference to promote next week's precinct caucuses, the DFL announced it had filed a campaign complaint against the Republicans. (Star Tribune)
The state sold $462 million in bonds Tuesday to finance its share of the new Vikings stadium. The interest rate is 4.27 percent. (MPR News)
Jesse Ventura's win in 1998 was the last for a third party in a Minnesota statewide election. And while no one from the Independence Party has emerged for this year's gubernatorial and senate races, the party says voters still want another choice. (MPR News)
WASHINGTON:
Headed into the midterm elections with his approval rating at a low point President Obama delivered a State of the Union Address that was a call to action and for unity. But the president also defended his health care law and pledged to act on his own if Congress drags its feet. (NPR)
The analysis? Obama presented a scaled-down agenda that faces a tough reception from Republicans in the House. And executive action will deliver only so much. (New York Times)
A hometown business got a shout out from the president for the wages it pays its employees. (MPR News)
A fact check of some of what the president said. (Politico)
At least one lawmaker at the speech was not having a good time in the post game interview. (Reuters)
For those of you who think most of these State of the Union speeches are quickly forgotten, well, you're right. But there are a few worth remembering. (NPR)
FINALLY:
Some big news. Our own Brett Neely is a father. His wife Dana gave birth to a son, Jasper, yesterday morning. Dana and Jasper (who did all the work) are fine, as is Brett (who was there at the time). Congratulations to all three!