MinnPost

End of Petters case has local media asking, 'What now?' By Max Sparber | Fri., Dec. 4 ALSO: More budget woes; Vikes fans really want a new stadium; Sarah Palin is coming to the Mall of America. Full Story »

CITYSCAPE Twin Cities: We may be more average than exceptional By Steve Berg | Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 How is our metro area doing compared to others? Curt Johnson offers a lucid analysis of our strengths and, more importantly, what we need to work on. Full Story »

BOZEMAN, MONT. — Greg Mortenson doesn't need to rely on think tanks or arcane policy documents to find the road to a better Afghanistan. Full Story »

Yesterday's snowfall of 0.2" (officially at the St. Cloud Airport) was the most snow we've seen since October 12th (1.6" on that day), nearly a month and a half ago. We are about 8" behind normal snowfall for the season and the deficit continues to grow. By Todd Nelson Full Story »

Rising levels of carbon dioxide threaten many things on this planet, but plant biodiversity may not be one of them, according to results of a 10-year experiment by University of Minnesota scientist Peter Reich. Full Story »

One of the many fascinating things about insects is the process of metamorphosis. You know, the caterpillar-butterfly thing. Scientists have known for 100 years that a hormone produced by the brain - a neuropeptide known as PTTH — controls metamorphosis. Full Story »

Union screening: Was she or wasn't she? Candidate Maureen Reed and SEIU don't agree By Doug Grow | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 Just what constitutes a formal "screening" takes on some importance in this intra-party struggle to see which candidate will challenge 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann. Reed has raised the possibility of a DFL primary challenge, threatening party unity efforts. Full Story »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski breezed through her confirmation hearing today and now stands one vote removed from becoming the nation's first openly-gay U.S. marshal. Full Story »

Retired local Teamster executive Harold Yates died Monday and will be buried Friday. He was 75. His union career started in 1960, driving trucks for Admiral Merchant. Full Story »

Scott Theisen Former Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe Better DFL-GOP communication seen as key to insuring state's poorest after GAMC By Casey Selix | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 The Legislature will have to act quickly to ensure health care for recipients of General Assistance Medical Care, panelists agree at Greater Twin Cities United Way forum. Full Story »

Strategic snake pit: Experts worried about Obama's Afghan plan REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra A soldier from Task Force Viper looks out as a Chinook CH-47F transport helicopter flies back to FOB Salerno, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. By Sharon Schmickle | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 What is President Obama's Afghanistan strategy and will it work? Four Minnesota experts on Afghanistan analyze those questions and ... Full Story »

Shocking: Petters guilty! No shocker: Dylan, Prince news By Brian Lambert | Thurs., Dec. 3 Also: 1st District candidate does some scrubbing, and Reusse riffs on Brett, AP and Tiger. Full Story »

I missed this because the communique dropped the day before Thanksgiving, but Minnesota Public Radio CEO Bill Kling finally responded to Star Tribune publisher Mike Sweeney's pokes at MPR getting government money. By David Brauer Full Story »

Sure it's cold, but this is -nutin! Could you image what this would be like if there was a good 12" of snow on the ground from here to the the North Pole? By Todd Nelson Full Story »

6th District race for Congress: Reed says she’ll run in DFL primary if necessary By Doug Grow | Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 DFL efforts to unseat U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann likely will be delayed by an intra-party primary struggle between state Sen. Tarryl Clark and Dr. Maureen Reed. Reed said late today that if she does not receive the party’s endorsement at its spring convention, she will take her ... Full Story »

Wednesday P.M. Report Sanger, Austin win awards; Children's opens neonatal ICU; Toro announces dividend hike; Medtronic names cardiology chief. Full Story »

REUTERS/Jim Bourg Gov. Tim Pawlenty As budget problems mount, Pawlenty questioned about travel outside state By Doug Grow | Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 Minnesota's deficit numbers were as bad as expected. But what was a little surprising was the rough treatment Gov. Tim Pawlenty received from the usually mild-mannered press corps this afternoon. Full Story »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. James Oberstar and Appropriations Chairman David Obey are finalizing details on a $100 billion plan to fund highway and transit projects over the next two years, Oberstar confirmed today. Full Story »

Many unemployed are reeling from end to COBRA health-insurance subsidy By Casey Selix | Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 Bills have been introduced in Congress to reinstate the subsidy through June 2010, but they're still in committee. Full Story »

Jim Hagedorn, a long-time Washington, D.C., figure, has moved back to Minnesota and said today he'll run for Congress as a Republican in the First District, taking on two-term DFLer Tim Walz. Full Story »

Duluth has again tapped Advanstar Communications in Duluth for a new city chief financial officer. If approved by the City Council, Adele Hartwick , a 30-year veteran administrator at Advanstar, will take over for David Montgomery, who had once been the CFO of Advanstar. Full Story »

The Titanic Exhibition at the Science Museum of Minnesota has been extended three weeks, and will now run through Jan. 24. It opened in June and this weekend the 250,000th visitor will view the artifacts from the ill-fated ocean liner. Full Story »

Skeptical Minnesota lawmakers weigh in on Obama plan By Derek Wallbank | Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 President Obama's plan to for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan is dividing Minnesota's congressional delegation, though not along party lines. Full Story »

GOP dislikes Obama timeline; Jesse gives an 'exclusive' By Brian Lambert | Wed., Dec. 2 ALSO: Bleak budget news, more Petters financial fallout and a Mexico wedding trip gone awry. Full Story »

Acclimation is the key... It happens every year. The first cold snap of the season brings the water cooler chatter to a resounding consensus of cold weather loathings. By Todd Nelson Full Story »