Clicking on the Web by Howard Lestrud -- It seems as though the Minnesota Twins baseball season never ended when the eventual World Champion New York Yankees knocked the Twins out of the playoffs in October of 2009. With the season over very abruptly, Twins fans can only look toward the 2010 season and inhabiting the new Target Field.

Just the thought of an inaugural season in a new outdoor park is enough to make a true Twins fan count down the days before the first 2010 game on Monday, April 12 against the Boston Red Sox. We’re sitting just under 60 days.

Read more: Baseball countdown continues with spring training around the corner

St. Paul, MN -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) today ordered Xcel Energy to locate and fix any gas lines that have breached sewer lines statewide. If Xcel does not comply with the order, the utility faces a $1 million fine.

The order comes four days after a St. Paul home was destroyed while a plumbing contractor was attempting to clear a clogged sewer line.

Read more: State orders Xcel Energy to fix gas line issues

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

A push to move the state primary up to give members of the military serving overseas more time to vote is being assisted by a former member of the U.S. Air Force, Sen. Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley.

Republican Gerlach and a group of DFL lawmakers today (Friday, Feb. 5) proposed moving the state primary from Sept. 14 to Aug. 10.

Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, spoke at a Capitol press conference today (Feb.5) in support of legislation that would change the date of the primary election from Sept. 14 to Aug. 10. Gerlach believes the proposal will gain bipartisan support.

(Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

 

Read more: Bipartisan support expressed for moving up state primary

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN -- Minnesota Twins fans are urged to mark their calendars as the team announced today two major ticket initiatives for their inaugural season at Target Field.

For the first time, information is being released to fans about how they can secure single-game seats for the historic Opening Series against the Boston Red Sox and games for the balance of the 2010 regular season.

Read more: Twins announce single-game ticket opportunities

Most Americans will get assistance from a professional tax preparer or tax software when filing their taxes this year. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Minnesota and North Dakota encourages taxpayers to use caution when selecting tax preparation help or they may get hit with mounting fines and fees if the return isn’t correct or filed late.

According to the IRS, 80 percent of Americans enlist the help of a tax preparer or tax software when filing their taxes. Unfortunately, every year the BBB receives thousands of complaints from consumers against tax preparers. Commonly, complainants state that the tax preparer made errors in their return which resulted in fines and fees.

Read more: Better Business Bureau gives tips for finding trustworthy tax preparer

A man body’s was found in the roadway on the 10300 block of Ibis Street N.W., Coon Rapids, shortly after 6 a.m. yesterday (Friday, Feb. 5).

The man was a white male in his 40s, but the cause of death is unknown at this time, according to a press release from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office the evening of Feb. 5. See more in Coon Rapids Herald story by Editor Peter Bodley.

Mike Moore, married to Sue and Mike Doucette's daughter Cheryl, described his father-in-law as a "professional grandpa" and a city ambassador.

When he died Jan. 27, Doucette had been married to Sue for nearly 40 years, served on the Little Falls City Council for 30 years, 26 as its president. He sat on countless committees within the city, including its Public Works, Housing and Redevelopment, and Economic Development Authority committees. See more in Editor Terry Lehrke's Morrison County Record story.

Pictured with the Doucettes are two of their grandchildren (from left): Tyler Moore, Mike, Austin Moore and Sue.

The percentage of Minnesotans without health insurance rose from 7.2 percent to 9.1 percent between 2007 and 2009, according to the results of a new survey by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

An estimated 480,000 Minnesotans were uninsured in 2009, compared to 374,000 in 2007. In both years, about two-thirds of people who were uninsured reported having been without coverage for a year or longer.

Read more: More Minnesotans without health insurance, survey shows