Minnesota News Briefs: Legislative session could end early

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ST. PAUL - State lawmakers are talking about finishing the 2012 legislative session before Easter, but Vikings stadium backers are hoping that doesn't happen because it would be very difficult to pass a bill by April 5th.

State House stadium sponsor, Moorhead Republican Morrie Lanning, says there are a lot of issues other than the Vikings -- like a bonding bill -- which remain unresolved. Lanning warns Minnesotans won't be happy if lawmakers try to rush to finish the session before Easter. A majority on the Minneapolis City Council now supports the stadium bill, but there are still unresolved issues on electronic pull-tabs which would fund the state's part.

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Democrats-Farm Laborers are asking Republicans, why the delay on dealing with an ethics complaint against state Senator Geoff Michel, DFLers allege Michel as second-in-command did not act promptly when a sex scandal came to light that ultimately ousted former Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo). St. Paul Democrat Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) asks why a deadlocked ethics panel was not reconvened Friday night when the committee voted to meet again that evening after session? Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem (R-Rochester) says on the advice of counsel, they were asked to "suspend the proceedings that evening." Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to delay further proceedings until after the session is adjourned.

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The Minnesota state Senate has passed a bill that would pay back school districts sooner for delayed state aid payments that were part of last summer's budget deal ending government shutdown. But Saint Paul Democrat Richard Cohen warns the early repayment will draw down the state's budget reserve in uncertain economic times. Cohen calls it "a political vote to get out of a bad decision from last year." But Brainerd Republican Paul Gazelka supports paying back schools earlier. He says the governor and legislature should pay what they owe and be responsible for the debt, rather than leaving it to school districts.

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The Minnesota House has unanimously passed a measure that would make it easier for older drivers to maintain their 10-percent insurance discount after taking a "55-Alive" course. Under the bill, they'll need to only take a refresher course every three years, rather than re-take the entire course. Starbuck Representative Paul Anderson said tongue-in-cheek that "as one who barely qualifies for this program and who has taken the eight-hour course," he fully supports the bill.

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The state Pollution Control Agency is reviewing a plan today (Tues) to reduce haze around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The proposal details emission levels of several older power and taconite plants in the region and how to lower those emissions. If the MPCA board approves it, the plan will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has the final word.

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Voters in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Renville, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties in western Minnesota go to the polls today to narrow the field of candidates vying for the state Senate seat formerly held by the late Gary Kubly. John Schultz and state Representative Lyle Koenen are vying for the DFL endorsement. The winner will be up against Independence candidate Leon Greenslit and Republican Gregg Kulberg in the April 10th special election. Kubly died earlier this month after a battle with ALS.

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Since the downward trend started in 2006, timber harvest in Minnesota has dropped between 25 and 30 percent. This is due to a number of closures or cutbacks at board plants, paper mills and smaller sawmills around the state. Scott Dane of the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota says while some loggers have left the state, many are trying to weather the storm. He says these logging operations have millions of dollars invested in heavy machinery. Dane says logging operators have also had to cope with rising fuel expenses, regulatory costs and legal challenges from environmental groups.

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Minnesota is above the curve when it comes to the number of its residents with a college education, but experts say it's not enough. A new report from the non-profit Lumina Foundation shows about 38-percent of Americans have a two- or four-year college degree, while in Minnesota it's 46-percent. But Lumina president Jamie Merisotis says that's still not where the state and metro area need to be to power the economy going forward. Merisotis says the goal for getting a college degree should be 60-percent of all Americans, in order to keep up with countries that have more highly-educated adults like North Korea and Canada.

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Over the past few weeks, we've seen gas prices continue to fluctuate. Gail Weinholzer with Triple A Minnesota says four dollar gas is coming and she expects it to hit around the Memorial Day holiday. Weinholzer says crude oil prices are mostly to blame for higher prices at the pump but an improving economy is also pushing costs higher. The statewide average for a gallon of unleaded is nearly $3.75 this morning.

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Graduate assistants at the University of Minnesota have again rejected a move to unionize The university says about 68-percent of nearly 4,400 eligible graduate student workers voted last week. Results released Monday show about 11-hundred voted in favor, while nearly 1,900 voted against forming a union. There have been similar union drives in the past by U-of-M grad assistants and those too were rejected.

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This is day-two of oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on the president's health care overhaul. Carleton College analyst Steven Schier thinks it will come down to a tie-breaking vote on the court over a key part of that overhaul -- the so-called individual mandate that requires most Americans to carry health insurance. Schier says the Affordable Care Act is difficult to understand and digest and that's why many people oppose it.

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Reports out of western Minnesota say baby died last week in an accident involving her mother. It happened near the town of Boyd where police say the 15-day old child suffocated when her mother suffered from a medical condition and fell on top of her. Skylar Whitmore was pronounced dead at the hospital and her mother, 28-year old Joyce Whitmore, was last listed in serious condition.

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Parents looking to get rid of expired or damaged children's car seats now have a convenient and earth-friendly local option. The seats can be disposed of through Recycle Minnesota's REseat program. Spokeswoman Maggie Mattacola says the program came about after she recieved numerous calls from the public about where to recycle car seats. Mattacola says once they're brought in for recycling, the seats are dismantled by a vocational center that employs adults with disabilities. Several collection events are scheduled throughout the spring. For details on where and when those events will take place, visit Recycle-Minnesota-dot-Org.

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Here are the winning numbers from the Minnesota State Lottery for Monday, March 26th, 2012. The Daily Three: 5-3-6. Northstar Cash: 1-7-16-20-22. Gopher Five: 11-12-23-26-42.

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