by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Legislation, advocates say will help remove a fear factor among Minnesota physicians in the treatment of chronic Lyme disease, is heading to the Senate floor.

But detractors of Sen. John Marty’s bill argue that it sets a precedent of government meddling in medicine and question whether chronic Lyme disease even exists.

Green-shirted supporters of legislation concerning Lyme disease treatment appeared at the Capitol today (Monday, Feb. 8) to back a bill by Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, that protects from disciplinary action by the Board of Medical Practice doctors who prescribe or dispense long-term antibiotic treatment to treat chronic Lyme disease. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Read more: Legislators hear testimony about treatment of Lyme disease

On the morning of Jan. 13, more than 300 eighth-graders at Lakeville’s Century Middle School were already preparing for a service learning project that was still two weeks away.

That morning, many of those students, and much of the world, had learned of the devastation unfolding in the island nation of Haiti. See more in Derrick Williams' ThisweekLive story.

Lakeville Century Middle School eighth-graders, from left, Mathea Olson, Madison Frank, Elizabeth Gatti, Jessie Hendricks and Angelica Sollie fill bags of food on Jan. 28 for Feed My Starving Children. The work was part of a community service project and the food was sent to Haiti to feed children in the aftermath of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. (Photo submitted)

Saint Paul, MN – Gov. Tim Pawlenty today (Monday, Feb. 8) announced the appointment of Susan Gensmer, Lyle Hoxtell, Tracy Lindemer, Alan R. Parnes, Rhonda Sivarajah, and Jason Valentine; and the reappointment of Monique Hammond, David Kyler, Tom Lehman, and Susan Rose to the Commission of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans.

Sivarajah, of Lino Lakes, has served as an elected member of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners since 2003.  Previously, she was a program manager with the Anoka County Income Maintenance Department, where she worked for 12 years.

Read more: Anoka County commissioner receives governor's appointment

The final wave of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division (34th ID) Soldiers will return to Minnesota following their one-year deployment to Iraq.  The final group of approximately 150 Soldiers are scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Since May 2009, the 34th Infantry Division (34th ID) provided command and control of military forces in the southern third of Iraq.  Headquartered at Contingency Operating Base Basra, the 34th Infantry Division led a force of approximately 14,000 U.S. service members throughout nine of Iraq's 18 provinces.

Read more: Last wave of 34th Infantry Division soldiers returns to Minnesota

St. Paul, MN -- The Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Office of Energy Security (OES) today (Monday, Feb. 8) announced that it has signed a contract to provide $5 million in seed money to the St. Paul Port Authority to create a revolving loan fund for energy efficiency improvements in commercial and industrial buildings.

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the St. Paul Port Authority grant represents the largest single stimulus-funded contract awarded by OES with State Energy Program funds to date.  It’s also the first ARRA-funded contract issued by OES to target the commercial and industrial sector.

Read more: Minnesota Department of Commerce awards $5 million contract

Honey, I’m taking a thousand bucks to go gambling all day. OK? Sure, sweetheart, see you later. Have fun. Matt Leshovsky is one married guy who can get away with an arrangement like that.

The 43-year-old Elk River physical education teacher and Rogers wrestling coach approaches Texas Hold ‘Em poker as a competition.

He’s been raking in the chips the last couple of years, enjoying success similar to his days as a four-time state tourney wrestler and soccer captain for the Elks in the 1980s.

See more in Bruce Strand's Star News story.

Matt Leshovsky posed with his final hand, and his trophy, after winning the Midwest Poker Challenge championship and a payoff of $37,315 last October. He lays off poker tourneys during wrestling season. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Poker Magazine)

The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District is considering a laundry list of budget cuts next year – including up to 78 teachers – as it anticipates reduced funding from the state in the foreseeable future.

The district’s Budget Steering Committee has recommended $15.6 million in budget adjustments as part of the district’s five-year plan. The plan assumes state funding will decrease by about 5 percent next year, and as much as 10 percent in 2011-12. See more in Erin Johnson's ThisweekLive story.

Two sites in Elk River and two sites in Ramsey  are now under consideration by the VA to be the future home of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

Elk River City Administrator Lori Johnson said so far the city’s heard of two developers who were asked to make presentation to sites. One site up for consideration is in the development near the Aldi and Goodwill just off Highway 169, and the other is property near The Home Depot, also near Highway 169. See more in Elizabeth Nelson's Star News story.