The Daily Digest: State of State edition

Good morning!

In Minnesota

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton used his fifth State of the State message to contrast his legislative priorities to the ones House Republicans are pushing this session. (MPR News)

The owners of Minnesota's new Major League Soccer franchise are lobbying for state support to build a new stadium. (Star Tribune)

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There's a surprising amount of drama and intrigue in the race to chair the Minnesota GOP. (MPR News)

The final numbers are in: The 2014 election cost state candidates and the political groups that back them nearly $34 million. (MPR News)

School districts say Dayton's education plan, despite an advertised $1 billion funding increase, will actually barely keep them afloat. (MinnPost)

A House Republican bill would make major cuts to rural broadband grants. (MPR News)

Minnesota's VA facilities have slightly shorter waiting times than the national average. (AP via Pioneer Press)

Another DFLer has entered the race to challenge 2nd District U.S. Rep. John Kline. (MPR News)

National Politics

Iran now says sanctions must be lifted as soon as a nuclear deal is signed, a point the U.S. disagrees with. (New York Times)

Now that New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez has been indicted, politicians are busy returning checks he gave them. (Politico)

Economist Arthur Laffer still holds plenty of sway with Republican presidential candidates. (Washington Post)

Rand Paul is going where no presidential candidate has gone before: his campaign is accepting bitcoins, which may be a problem since the online currency is anonymous. (New York Times)