Upgrades slow at Minn. nuclear plants, anti-mining musher heads for St. Paul, remembering Kubly

State's 2 nuclear plants will get post-Fukushima upgrades

Star Tribune: "Yet some U.S. nuclear critics question whether the actions are sufficient, pointing with skepticism to the purchase of off-the-shelf pumps and backup generators, rather than more expensive equipment designed for nuclear power plants."

Wabasha-Kellogg school will be site for radiation testing

Rochester Post Bulletin: "If there's a major problem with the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant, up to 3,500 people from that area might come to the Wabasha-Kellogg school to be checked for radiation and, if it's found on them, decontaminated. The school has agreed to be the second radiological reception center for a larger accident at the plant north of Red Wing along the Mississippi River, said Brenda Wodele, county emergency management director."

Anti-mining crusade mushes through Duluth

Duluth News Tribune: "Frank Moe, a former Minnesota legislator, will leave Duluth today to deliver petitions expressing concern about a new form of mining in Minnesota. He'll be traveling by dog sled."

Al Quist, Mike Parry jockey for delegates at county conventions

Mankato Free Press: "Former state Rep. Allen Quist on Saturday won double the delegates of state Sen. Mike Parry at the Blue Earth County Republican Convention, the event which sends the second biggest contingent to the endorsing convention that will choose the challenger to Democratic Congressman Tim Walz."

Locked in struggle for wrestling supremacy

New York Times: "Augsburg, in downtown Minneapolis, boasts 11 wrestling championships, including nine since 1995. Wartburg, located here in a town so small the residents proudly note the stoplights, counters with eight titles, including six in the past nine seasons. Theirs is a zero-sum relationship."

Ron Paul to be in Fargo on Super Tuesday

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: "Texas congressman Ron Paul plans to return to Fargo and possibly Bismarck this Tuesday, a state GOP spokesman said Sunday. North Dakota will be holding its party caucuses, along with contests in nine other states, as part of Super Tuesday."

Duluth has doubled its seasonal snowfall in the past week

Duluth News Tribune: "Remember how, a couple weeks ago, there were patches of bare ground in Duluth and continuing talk of the "un"-winter of 2011-12? All that seems like a distant memory now. Lake-effect snow bands dropped several more inches of snow on Duluth and locations along the North Shore today, pushing weekend snow totals well in excess of a foot in some locations. That's on top of the nearly a foot of snow that fell Wednesday. And a few inches fell the previous Sunday, too. In all, Duluth has more than doubled its seasonal snow total in the past week."

Gov. Dayton's crucial days may lie just ahead

Star Tribune: "Any second term likely hinges on his persuasive powers at the Capitol." Gov. Dayton joins the Daily Circuit this morning at 9a.

State Rep. Mary Franson apologizes for comparing food stamps to feeding the animals

Hot Dish Politics: "State Rep. Mary Franson has apologized and removed a YouTube video that compared Minnesota's food stamp program to 'feed(ing) the animals.'"

How to handicap the Super Tuesday contests

Smart Politics: "Santorum vote totals are averaging nearly five points higher than the final polling numbers in primary and caucus states."

Voter ID drive part of quiet, well-funded national conservative effort

AP: "A proposed constitutional amendment to require a photo ID for Minnesota voters is part of a surge of similar legislation nationwide, much of it springing from a conservative organization that's well-known to politicians but operates largely out of public view."

Jewish group cites Torah in campaign against same-sex marriage ban

MPR News: "The group Jewish Community Action says the proposed state amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman conflicts with Jewish tradition."

State's budget gains tied to lower health care spending

Pioneer Press: "Health care costs usually are budget breakers.So, it was a bit of a surprise last week when state officials said a key driver of Minnesota's improved budget outlook was lower-than-expected health spending."

St. Croix bridge supporters hail long-awaited approval

MPR News: "U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, and Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann met in Stillwater this morning to celebrate the passage of legislation that allows for a new bridge connecting the city to western Wisconsin."

Minnesota state Sen. Gary Kubly dies

Worthington Daily Globe: "One of the old-style Minnesota state senators, not into partisan bickering, has died.Sen. Gary Kubly, DFL-Granite Falls, died in a St. Paul hospital Friday after suffering a medical problem Wednesday morning. He was diagnosed with Lou Gerig's Disease in 2010 and his health gradually failed."

Voice for rural Minnesota falls silent

Marshall Independent: "Sen. Gary Kubly loses battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, dies at age 68."

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