Furst Draft

Fan mail for Dan Conradt

A note regarding our Austin edition columnist Dan Conradt:

Hi Dan,
 
I wanted to let you know that now both my husband and I are "hooked" on your articles.  They are so funny!!!   I loved the one awhile back when you wrote about being a "Buffet-aholic".  I loved the one in this weekends paper about being asked for your autograph.
We are new subscribers to the Post B, and are really enjoying it.
 
Thanks for the laughter and smiles you bring to our home!  You are a funny guy!!!
 
Betty Olson
Austin. MN

What's with all the plastic bags at the farmers market?

Interesting note from a reader:

Hi, About two weeks ago I emailed the director of the Rochester Downtown Farmers Market and I asked her why the vendors at the market have a huge supply of plastic bags for carrying purchases. In most markets like this, plastic products are not promoted, and sometimes the markets have a strict bring your own bag rule.
 
I am an independent consultant who has a goal of promoting a greener environment and providing the community with resources to avoid using products and supplies that are bad for the environment.
 
In any case, I was wondering if you would be able to find out the reason they keep handing out plastic bags at an organic farmers market.
I realize not everyone has their own reusable grocery bags yet, but they could at least reuse the plastic ones they get there each week.
 
Thanks :)

Blois' beta version of Minnesota Playbook

Don't know if Blois Olson can sustain this past week 1, but so far his morning political note is a great read. There's a huge opportunity for this kind of Politico/Mike Allen report in Minnesota...Olson comes from a political persuasion, of course, a burden Allen doesn't have...and Olson considers this a beta, so help him out with comments.

You may have seen the New York Times piece on Mike Allen last week. WAY too much hype and back-slapping for a media friend, but if you're into political media, it was hard to resist.

Welcome to Day 5, one week down...email updates will be made this weekend, thanks for your patience

4.30.10 (BETA)

GOP CONVENTION NEWS  Late Thursday night  the GOP endorsed former State Auditor Pat Anderson for auditor, Rep. Dan Severson for Secretary of State, and Chris Belden for Attorney General.
 
YOU BETCHA’  News Thursday that former Alaska Governor and current GOP rockstar Sarah Palin was to endorse Rep. Tom Emmer in his battle for Governor against Rep. Marty Seifert was another shocker in this tight race.  Also working for Emmer, former Sen. Norm Coleman who made calls Thursday to delegates.  Insiders suggest that Rep Laura Brod was key to delivering Palin.   Ultimately the deal was sealed when Palin was in town for Rep. Michele Bachmann, Jackie Emmer and Tom met with her privately.
 
Insiders:  Key players in today’s battle.  For Seifert, former Norm Coleman operative Ben Golnik and campaign manager Kurt Daudt will run the floor operation while Ben Zierke will be point in the war room, with close assistance from Gregg Peppin.   One man quietly working for Siefert and against his boss Annette Meeks at the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota is Tom Steward, former Coleman communications director and husband of former TV anchor Colleen Needles.
For Emmer, campaign manager David Fitzsimmons will be running for floor, with Bill Walsh serving as point person in the war room.  Emmer’s team has it’s own former Coleman staffer named Tom, as Tom Mason will be helping with messaging and communications.
 
WHAT TO WATCH: If you’re watching the GOP race closely, here are a few things to consider.  Brian Sullivan was ahead on the first ballot against now Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2002.  Seifert's team suggests they will be ahead on the first ballot by 100 or so votes.  Emmer’s insiders believe they could win the race 3 or 4 ballots.  Morning take suggests if anyone has a lead of more than 3 points on the first or second ballot they will win.  If it is closer, the GOP will have a long night.  Historical reminder:  Governor Pawlenty and Sullivan went 12 ballots and 17 hours.
 
FOLLOWING if you’re following the GOP festivities you can do so the following ways:  MPR will have wall to wall coverage at 91.1 FM and online at MPR.org, the Republican Party is streaming at their website www.mngop.org and on Twitter the hashtag is is #mngop10.  To follow all 2010 election news on Twitter you can track #mn2010
 
AIRPORTS are often a great place to connect with people informally, especially Reagan National in Washington for political junkies and lobbyists.  AP Capitol chief Brian Bakst found that out when he had some quality time at the gate with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Reps. John Kline and Tim Walz on his way back from a conference for AP political scribes Thursday.
 
POLLS One poll that starts to tell the story about Democratic challenges in November is the Democracy Corps poll by Democratic polling firm, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.  Greenberg’s poll attempted to measure “drop off” voters, voters who voted in 2008 but won’t likely vote in 2010.  The numbers are notable,   Among drop-off voters President Obama’s approval rating is 58 percent his disapproval is 45 percent.   Among likely November voters approval is 46 percent and disapproval is 48 percent.  You can find more here:   http://bit.ly/apeTqj
 
DFL RACE: Former Rep Matt Entenza picked up a couple endorsements this week, one a group of Young/College Democrats, the other former Rep. Michele Bachmann challenger El Tinklenberg.
 
BIRTHDAYS:  Weekend BDays include WCCO morning anchor Angela Davis, Lockridge Grindal Nauen partner Heidi Silton, former KARE reporter Ken Speake, and Tunheim colleague Bryan Brignac.
ABOUT MORNING TAKE
I have been trying to find a format by which to share the tidbits and buzz I come across on a daily basis during this age of constant communication via Facebook and Twitter, etc.   Inspired by POLITICO’s daily PLAYBOOK by Mike Allen, I thought I would start a fairly informal daily round up.   I will be transparent about when clients are included, or if I am involved in some event.  My plan is to start via email, daily – start small and build.  Eventually maybe it will have a name, etc – but for now – consider yourselves my guinea pigs.  Hopefully the list will grow, if you want to share, feel free.  If you don’t want to be a guinea pig, just tell me and I’ll take you off the list.   My goal is not to aggregate much news of the day, but rather preview the day ahead and help crystallize or foreshadow items on the horizon.

And of course, I’d love your feedback.
- blois

bloisolson@gmail.com  / 651-276-1678 cell /
Blois R. Olson - Executive Vice President - Tunheim Partners

Contributor – MinnPost.com / @bloisolson on twitter

News from Pawlenty: Crist decision "regrettable"

Quick notes from P-B edit board's meeting with Gov. Pawlenty, which was very cordial -- the coffee and chocolates were excellent:

Florida Gov. Crist's decision to bolt the GOP is "regrettable"...

He said he "appreciates the Tea Party movement," says it's a "positive force, generally"...

The failure of education reform along the lines of Race to the Top will "take Minnesota into the ditch"...

Despite "symbolic gestures" to being open to education reform, DFL plans "won't do two spits for school performance"...

Online schools like the Virtual Academy in Houston, Minn., are "fabulous...higher ed is going to get broadsided by this in the next 20 years."

Education Minnesota has an "extreme amount of power" in Minnesota politics -- if you're a Democrat, "you don't dare" cross the union, and Education Minnesota has "about one-third of the Republicans, too."

More coming from Heather Carlson, online and in print.

No credentials for the Uptake

The on-going weirdness regarding the Uptake and the Capitol press room includes this rewrite from Politics in Minnesota, which seems to miss the point, and an update on how the Uptake won't get credentials to the Republican convention in Duluth because they're perceived (by the party poobahs, in this case) as a partisan organization.

Wonder how that factors into discussions behind the scenes at the Capitol about who does and doesn't belong in the press room?

In the latter post at PIM, it's interesting how the writer defines the Uptake as "Minnesota's independent citizen-journalism organization" in the lead -- what, there's only one? is it authorized by the state, making it Minnesota's? independent of what? -- but in the second paragraph quotes the GOP spokesman as calling it "a partisan DFL organization." So is PIM saying Mark Drake is wrong?

And in the former post by Paul Demko, which seems highly pro-Uptake, I think it's fascinating how the KARE news director vouches for the Uptake because of a long-standing personal relationship. There are, of course, professional relationships that Uptake has with broadcast media as well. Should those be disclosed?

FYI, I was interviewed by a reporter from City Pages last night for what was described as a short take on this imbroglio.

(THANKS to David Brauer for catching my typo...had "KSTP news director.")

'Concerned about property values of nonparticipants'

Here's a note from a Zumbrota reader regarding the Goodhue Wind project and the Dialogues event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Rochester Public Library:

Dear Mr. Furst,
 
In your Furst Draft column dated 4/27/10, you mention there were four wind projects in the works.  I am aware of Horizon Wind, National Wind, and Geronimo Wind developers.  Who is the fourth, and where in Goodhue County will it be located?

(I'll double-check this...I believe four have either filed to begin the development process or are announced.)

My husband and I are concerned about the property values of the nonparticipants in the wind farm projects.  In the past, the officials in Goodhue County have said that there is nothing to indicate that the property values of land in the wind farm projects in Goodhue County will go down.  There is much in the media that can take this issue either way.  As there is not a precedent in Goodhue County, how can Goodhue County be so sure?
 
I am aware that emergency medical helicopters will not go into wind farms based on the closeness of the wind turbines and the turbulence given off by the wind turbines.  From what I have read, a half-mile setback is the minimum requirement for the medical helicopters to land and take off.  I have sent my concerns to the various township, county, and state government officials.  No one seems to want to respond to the seriousness of this problem.  I certainly would not want to wait for an ambulance to move me or a loved one to a location outside of the wind farm in order to have emergency helicopter service.  Perhaps there are many others who feel the same.  Please have someone respond to this.
 
Thanks.
 
Barbara A. Stussy
Zumbrota

Olmsted County gets an "A" for air

News release this morning:

Minnesota’s Grades Improve In Latest American Lung Association ‘State of the Air Report’
 
(Saint Paul, Minn.) – April 28, 2010 – Minnesota’s grades improved in the latest American Lung Association State of the Air Report, earning passing “A,” “B,” and “C” grades for air quality in the 18 counties with enough data to be scored. The report is based on data collected and confirmed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the years 2006-2008. It does not include the most recent winter months, when southern Minnesota experienced a record number (23) of air quality alerts for particulate pollution. The unusually high number of alerts this winter was due to weather conditions.
 
Anoka, Mille Lacs and Wright counties, which each earned “D” grades for ozone pollution last year, saw improvements this year. Mille Lacs and Wright moved up to “C” grades this year, while Anoka County earned a “B” grade for ozone. Three other Minnesota counties saw their ozone scores improve this year. Olmsted, Scott and St. Louis Counties all moved from a “B” grade to an “A” grade in this year’s report. St. Louis is the state’s largest county, and includes the city of Duluth. Olmsted County includes the City of Rochester and the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.
 
In particulate pollution, two metro area counties slipped a grade, while Stearns County improved. Hennepin County received a “C” score, down from last year’s “B,” as did Ramsey County. Stearns County was given a “B” grade for particulate pollution, up from a “C” last year.
 
“It’s important to think of these annual grades as a snapshot in time, and not necessarily as a measure of where we are right now,” said Bob Moffitt, communications director for the American Lung Association in Minnesota. “As we learn more on the proven health risks of air pollution, the federal standards rightly become tougher. This means Minnesota needs to continue its progress toward more mass transit, using cleaner fuels like E85 ethanol and biodiesel, and adopting cleaner new technologies in transportation, generating electricity, and heating and cooling our homes, workplaces and schools.”
 
The American Lung Association in Minnesota has tips on reducing air pollution on its CleanAirChoice.org website. To see a copy of the full State of the Air Report, go to stateoftheair.org.
-30-
 

Action Line now has its own blog

Check out the Action Line blog, which I'm hoping becomes the clearinghouse for tips, feedback and on-going developments regarding our new consumer column. There are new details there regarding Curbside Yard Waste Recycling and whether or not it's still in business.

"To remain" or not "to remain"?

Here's the latest on the UpTake matter...just received the news release:

The UpTake To Remain In Capitol Press Room
Live web video of legislature to continue
 
April 27, 2010 - The State of Minnesota has rescinded its termination of The UpTake’s Capitol press room lease, allowing The UpTake to remain in the Capitol press room and continue to provide nonpartisan live streaming video coverage of the legislature as it has for the last two years.

However, the State Administration department is going ahead with its “review” of all media organizations’ leases at the Capitol. 

“Just like several other press organizations, we have deep concerns about the ‘review’ the state is doing of all media organizations space at the Capitol,” said The UpTake’s Executive Director Jason Barnett, “We plan to join with the other media to prevent the government from suppressing access which is necessary for all journalists to execute their rights under the First Amendment.”

(For the record, we as a "press organization" -- as opposed to the UpTake, however you want to define it -- do not have "deep concerns" about the review. They can review and come out with a finding and we'll determine whether there's reason for concern. I don't lose sleep over the state of Minnesota "suppressing access.)

During the review period, the state has suspended doing any new rental agreements with media organizations while they review its policy.  The State Administration made that decision after it had leased The UpTake additional space in the press room.  While the review is underway, The UpTake has agreed to postpone renting that extra space.

So.....to say the Uptake will "remain" in the press room is not quite currently accurate? They won't be corporeally present?

“We fully expect that if any media organizations are allowed to remain in The Capitol press room, we will be one of those organizations,” said Barnett. “We also expect the state to adhere to its promise to not rent out space while it does this review, so the space we desire will still be available when that policy is complete — and we expect to be able to rent it.”

About The UpTake and The UpTake Institute

The UpTake is a citizen-fueled video news gathering organization that uses the Internet as its broadcast medium. Since its inception in late 2007, The UpTake has explored the frontier of social media and news gathering. The UpTake uses a large, national network of professional and volunteer journalists to publish work on its own website, a large Twitter network, partnerships with You Tube, affiliated media outlets in the Media Consortium, the BBC, CNN and others.  The UpTake is considered a pioneer in online live-broadcast participatory journalism. With more than 24 million viewer minutes, The UpTake is one of the top 10 news video channels in the world on Livestream.  The UpTake has hosted thousands of people a day simultaneously on its live chat room, and published more than 2,000 local and national stories since its founding.  It produces a live radio show daily that is also simulcast with video on the web.

The UpTake is a 501(c)4, non-partisan, non-profit organization.

The UpTake Institute was founded in the spring of 2009 to train citizen journalists in the principles and practice of journalism and to re-acquaint citizens with a civic interpretation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: Citizens have the right and responsibility to shape the media. Since its founding,
The UpTake Institute has forged partnerships with You Tube, The Walker Art Center and Wellstone Action. More than 300 citizen journalists have received training.

The UpTake Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit , non-partisan organization.

Goodhue wind power meeting on Thursday

As Goodhue County prepares to enter the wind power era in a big way, promoters and opponents of the most prominent project to date will talk about the issue at the Post-Bulletin Dialogues community meeting this week.

Dialogues, a free and informal monthly event hosted by the P-B and Rochester Public Library, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday in the library auditorium.

Joining Managing Editor Jay Furst and Red Wing/Goodhue County reporter Brett Boese will be Chuck Burdick of National Wind, the project developer; Lisa Hanni, Goodhue County land use director; Richard Samuelson, a Goodhue County Board member; and Steve Groth of the opposition group Goodhue Wind Truth.

The Goodhue Wind project, one of four pending in the Goodhue County, would be a 78-megawatt project with 52 turbines. If approved, construction could begin this year, and the project would become operational next year.

Got a question you want asked? Tell me here and I'll ask it.