Hart Van Denburg
1) GLOBAL WARMING DENIER BLOCKS FUNDS FOR ENVIRO RESEARCH
The Minnesota Senate Environment committee blocked a handful of projects from receiving dedicated environmental proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery. The projects were for planning and research, including global warming research; others were for environmental education. The chair of the committee says global warming research is a waste of money.
“If I have to go on record and say global warming, I think it’s a farce, I think it’s a fallacy. … When it comes to that kind of studying, I can’t be anything other than honest, I just don’t buy it. And I think there’s a lot of folks that don’t” — Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, chair of the Senate Environment Committee (MPR)
Republican leaders said they wanted to set aside a pot of money to deal with emerging issues, such as chronic wasting disease in deer, aquatic invasive species, and the emerald ash borer.
2) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE HERE TO STAY?
One of the problems with Chronic Wasting Disease is that it sticks around and infects animals long after the initial carriers of the disease are gone. A deer hunter in Southern Minnesota opines that it will take government involvement to return health to Minnesota’s deer herds.
It is likely that some folks will stop deer hunting altogether, for fear of harvesting and eating an infected animal. Others will continue to hunt, but they’ll have their deer tested before eating the venison. Some will probably keep hunting and eating venison, irrespective of the disease. But two things are for sure — the DNR will need to continue indefinitely its CWD surveillance, and hunters and maybe even non-hunting taxpayers will be stuck with the bill – Chris Kolbert (Post-Bulletin).
3) GOV WALKER PRESENTS BLUE PRINT, PUBLIC SUPPORTS UNIONS
After two weeks of protests in Madison and around the country, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R ) is poised to outline his union-gutting budget.
Walker issued Senate Democrats, who are on the lam, an ultimatum: come home and vote, or cost the state $165 million* in bond refinancing.
A new poll suggests that Walker is losing the battle of hearts and minds. The Pew Research Center poll indicates that the public is standing with the unions and not Walker.
4) MORE CLARITY ON THE RIGHT?
Remember yesterday morning when you were reading that News Cut item about the DOS attack on American’s for Prosperity? It’s all about the Koch brothers and the Wisconsin protests over collective bargaining. The act of making AfP’s website difficult to access has turned AfP into a more distinctive voice on the right on matters of the Wisconsin budget and collective bargaining.
RedState defined the DOS event as a hypocritical move by the left that silenced the free speech rights of AfP.
Anonymous defined the act of crashing the AfP site as symbolic.
“[W]e, Anonymous, targeted only two pieces of the Koch brothers’ vast empire of pawns. It is the opening salvo of what has become a call to arms for the American people, to stand up and fight against the corruption that has been slowly, insidiously invading the Democratic process. ”
5) INDIE ROCK NOT DEAD, JUST CHANGING
This review from The Current of Toro y Moi’s new album provides a snapshot of the current state of indie rock. Read it and you will know what the kids are talking about these days.
This album might feel like something of a disappointment at first. The sheer euphoric connectivity of Toro y Moi’s debut is scarcely replicated here. Still, repeat listens reveal a nuanced and intriguing continuation of some of the ideas of Bundick’s debut. More importantly, Underneath the Pine showcases his willingness to take risks with Toro y Moi’s sound, incorporating new influences with care and aplomb.
TODAY’S QUESTION
A reported deal between legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton could clear the way toward an alternative licensing plan for teachers. Today’s Question: What might teachers without traditional training bring to the profession?
WHAT WE’RE DOING
Midmorning (9-11 a.m.)
9- Fighting Terrorism: Is The Playbook The Same in 2011?
Does Osama bin Laden remain the greatest threat to America’s security? Or have home-grown, self-radicalized, “lone wolves” become a bigger danger to the United States?
Guests: Ralph Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis office and Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Intelligence Officer.
10- Faith and suffering in song
Conductor and composer Andre Thomas says that when choirs perform spirituals, they need to understand both the joy and the pain of the slave experience. He joins Midmorning to discuss the legacy of spirituals and their meaning for modern-day audiences.
Guest: Andre Thomas, conductor, composer, and arranger of choral music and professor of music at Florida State University.
Midday (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
11- Governor Mark Dayton in studio to discuss the new revenue forecast and the state budget. (CALL-IN)
12- New American RadioWorks documentary: Power and Smoke: A Nation Built on Coal.
* “million” was missing at first post.
Michael Olson is the editor for Minnesota Today and is filling in on mornings for Bob Collins this week.
