Walleye opener ‘pretty darn normal’; Bear kills dog; MN GOP fiscal woes

Top stories from Minnesota Today this afternoon

Bob Collins is live blogging the Minnesota House debate on the Vikings stadium.

U of M to clamp down on executive severance pay

Duluth News Tribune: "University of Minnesota leaders are looking to tighten up the way departing executives are paid."

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Minnesota walleye preview: 'A pretty darn normal opener'

Park Rapids Enterprise: "Anglers can talk about the early spring, ideal water temperatures and whether the fish have recovered from spawning, but the opening day of walleye season in Minnesota always comes down to getting out there and learning firsthand what the fish are doing."

Dog killed by bear in backyard of Sherburne County home

KARE11: "A dog was killed by a female bear in the backyard of a residence in Livonia Township Monday. Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott says the bear and her three cubs were in the backyard eating out of a bird feeder."

Minnesota House passes bonding bill

Star Tribune: "The Minnesota House has signed off on a $566 million bonding bill that would fund construction and preservation projects across the state."

Hennepin County gun permits up 54 percent In 2012

WCCO: "Applications for gun permits were up 54 percent from last year over the first four months of 2012, according to a report released Monday by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office."

Minnesota Republican Party lays out 'serious concerns' about financial management

Star Tribune: "The Minnesota Republican Party Monday reported officials found 'questionable decision-making and a lack of accountability' among the 'serious concerns' in the party's financial management over the past several years."

Microsoft's Gates allowed to increase stake in Ecolab

Biz Journal: "Ecolab Inc. moved on Monday to allow Microsoft co-founder and Chairman Bill Gates to increase his ownership stake in the St. Paul company to as much as 25 percent."

'Antiques Roadshow' in Minneapolis

MinnPost: "What's the highest-rated show on PBS? Not 'Masterpiece' or 'Frontline,' but 'Antiques Roadshow,' where people show experts stuff from their attics and learn that it's worth a fortune -- or not. For anyone who has ever hoped the painting found in Aunt Martha's trunk was a lost Vermeer, 'Roadshow' is TV crack."