Baiting the eagles, the Fox News primary, nuclear waste in Minn?

A look at what is making news around Minnesota.

Police surround Lake City home after officer shot

Law enforcement officers from local, county and state agencies are creating a perimeter around a house in Lake City after a police officer was shot in the head this morning (MPR News).

Man faces charges in NE Minn. courthouse shooting

A 42-year-old Grand Marais man was charged Monday with attempted murder for allegedly opening fire on the Cook County prosecutor and a trial witness at the courthouse last week (MPR News).

Minnesota Sun newspapers will be acquired by rival ECM

"ECM Publishers, the community newspaper chain former Gov. Elmer L. Andersen founded, will acquire the rival Minnesota Sun Newspapers, ECM and Sun owner American Community Newspapers announced Monday afternoon," reports MinnPost's David Brauer.

Eagle baiting alleged in ongoing wind farm debate

"Carl Denkinger, an agricultural specialist with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, has investigated six complaints of eagle baiting in the past month within the 32,000-acre wind project footprint," reports the Rochester Post Bulletin.

Bloggers mull the future of the Minn. GOP

The path forward

Let Freedom Ring: "If a snapshot were taken right now, people would undoubtedly predict that the Republican Party of Minnesota was heading for a steep cliff. That's a fair assessment. While it's a fair assessment, it isn't a fait accompli."

So now what do we do about the MNGOP?

"About the Koch kerfuffle: calm down. People make mistakes; sometimes they do the wrong thing," writes Mitch Berg. "Conservatives know this (although Republicans don't always)."

Also on MN Today

FOX News moderators insert themselves at GOP Debates more than any other outlet

"A Smart Politics content analysis of the 10 Republican presidential debates conducted since September finds that those moderated by FOX News rank 1-2 for the amount of time consumed by moderator questions, comments, and admonishments," writes Eric Ostermeier.

Lake Superior region eyed as potential nuclear waste storage site

"The likely death of a planned nuclear waste site at Nevada's Yucca Mountain has left federal agencies looking for a possible replacement." The Washington Post reports the Lake Superior region of Wisconsin and Minnesota is attractive since due to "having little to no seismic and volcanic activity."

Utility dispute casts shadow on Minnesota solar project

"A 600-kilowatt community solar project" in Willmar "could become a casualty of unspecified personnel issues within a rural Minnesota utility," writes Dan Haugen with Midwest Energy News.

Editorial: Complete review of Willmar's Municipal Utilities is needed

West Central Tribune: "The recent turmoil at the Willmar Municipal Utilities has now boiled over onto the public stage as its General Manager Bruce Gomm was placed on paid administrative leave Monday pending an investigation of 'activities disruptive to utility operations.'"

A dysfunctional City Council in Moorhead?

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: "The City Council here has repeatedly found itself divided when it comes to passing major issues this year. A special meeting Monday will bring the divide to light once again as the council attempts to pass its 2012 budget."

MnDOT to pay contractors at least $1.2 million for stoppages during state shutdown

Saint Cloud Times: "The Minnesota Department of Transportation will pay contractors at least $1.2 million -- and possibly much more -- for work stoppages caused by this summer's state government shutdown."

As sediment flows downriver, resentment builds upriver

"Already hamstrung by tight budgets, communities across much of Minnesota are bracing for what could be an $843 million bill - this one aimed at reducing the amount of sediment reaching Lake Pepin on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border," reports the Pioneer Press.

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