HometownSource Blogs

A friend brought this article, Hyperlocal Websites will Boom in 2009 as Community Newspapers Fold, to my attention. If I subscribe to all the opinions in it I’d have to be pretty scared considering I work for exactly the type of community newspaper the author is talking about.

But, I have to believe there’s a way out for us here at ECM Publishers. I have to believe that we can find a sustainable model for community news that, yes, relies predominantly on online news, but may also have room for a print product (perhaps a subscription model as I discussed in my last blog post.) Read more »

Numbering among Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Christmas gifts was a kind of snowboard device that apparently had the chief executive demonstrating gubernatorial gracefulness and pluck on some smaller hills over the holidays.

Pawlenty, speaking prior to the start of the Governor’s Reform Summit at the Capitol today (Jan. 5), indicated that his family stayed at home for the holidays.

Speaking to business leaders and other attendees at the summit the governor again expressed his disinclination to include tax increases as part of the state’s response to the projected $5 billion state budget deficit.

“I think it would be unwise,” he concluded.

Some of the reform ideas that came up during the summit included paying for performance, reforming chemical dependency programs, and connecting higher education to workforce needs, according to the Governor’s Office.

In my meager attempt to follow in the footsteps of some of the more prominent and prolific industry blogs this time of year, this post is a list of my own predictions for the future of journalism, particularly the future of community newspapers like those here at ECM Publishers.

PREDICTION #1) Free distribution community weeklies will eventually begin charging a subscription rate for their print edition, effectively and significantly trimming print circulation down to the most loyal print readers. Everyone else will go to the web for their community news. (Which we of course hope will be OUR web sites). Read more »

Minnesota Business Partnership Executive Director Charlie Weaver recently commented on the state budget crunch and how the Legislature, a body in which he served, can best address the $5 billion deficit.

“Rebuild government services from the ground up,” Weaver advised.

“Start with zero, with the education and human services in particular, and figure out a structure that makes more sense,” he said.

“I think clearly there’s going to have to be cuts. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be all cuts,” said Weaver.

Weaver argued for greater efficiencies in government — government needs to follow the lead of business, he opined.

“There’s all kinds of things the state can do better and smarter,” said Weaver.

“Now will it save $5 billion, no,” he said. “But they can get up to $1 billion,” he opined.

The moment is ripe for innovation, Weaver argued.

“An economic crisis is a terrible thing to waste,” he said.

Do we need the federal government to step in on some of these issues? Weaver was asked.

“No. I don’t think so. I think that’s about the worst that can happen,” he said.

“We don’t need the federal government,” Weaver said with a laugh.

Asked about lawmakers taking action on home foreclosures — last session a bill was in play that would have delayed foreclosures under certain conditions and other legislation has already been proposed for this session — Weaver counseled a cautionary approach.

“I think it’s unwise when government starts interfering too much with the market,” said Weaver.

“I don’t think the government should be in the business of saving people who make bad decisions,” he said.

“I think there’s some things that can be done, but I’m very wary, for example, of moratoriums,” Weaver concluded.
Are lawmakers actually willing to take a Spartan approach to budgeting?

“I don’t think they have a choice,” said Weaver.

“If you resort to raising taxes, that will only fuel a deeper recession,” he said.

“Raising taxes kills jobs,” said Weaver.

“Even President-elect Obama recognized that — backed off proposals to raise taxes,” he said.

“If the answer is to raise taxes, we will only deepen this recession,” Weaver concluded.
Weaver, a former Republican House member from Anoka, served in the Pawlenty Administration as chief of staff.

He also served as public safety commissioner in the Ventura Administration.

Eagan native Cody Blanshan signed a contract with the CHL’s Rapid City (S.D.) Rush on Dec. 16. In six games the defenseman has six penalty minutes, a minus-three rating and has taken two shots. It’s a the inaugural season for the Rush. Click here for more information.

Sometimes life not only goes on after politics but moos if ignored.
While Rep. Ken Tschumper, DFL-LaCrescent, lost reelection, it did settle the question of his dairy herd.

Tschumper, a dairy farmer, found it difficult to attend to business in St. Paul while tending to the cows.
Last session the legislator spoke of perhaps selling the herd — something he was reluctant to do.
“I had told my wife that if I won reelection I would sell my cows, but I didn’t get reelected so I still have them,” said Tschumper in an email.
“I had to let my hired guy go so I am back to milking twice each day myself and am enjoying it,” he said.

Ha-ha. Get the headline pun?

Anyways. A fellow ECM writer alerted me to the fact that New York City Governor David Paterson has proposed an “obsesity” tax. Read more »

Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, and Sen. Jim Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, with delight announced today (Dec. 22) that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has indicated that it will begin construction on the Lafayette Bridge in 2011.

The bridge spans the Mississippi River and provides access to downtown St. Paul for commuters from Dakota County.

In recent months, lawmakers have held press conferences near the base of the bridge, citing it as an example of long overdue maintenance on state infrastructure.

According to the lawmakers, the new bridge span over the river will include a bike/pedestrian lane, a dedicated bus lane, and footings for the addition of a light rail line in the future.

“We’ve been waiting a long time to get this done, but the good news today is that it’s going to be done right,” said Metzen of the new bridge.

“This news really is like a holiday gift to those working folks who rely on the Lafayette Bridge to get to work and get home every day,” concluded Hansen.

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, announced today (Dec. 22) that he is forming an exploratory campaign for governor.

Marty, chairman of the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, challenged Gov. Arne Carlson in 1994 for governor and was thrashed by the popular Republican, winning just 35 percent of the vote.

“This is a true exploratory campaign to connect with Minnesotans and hear about their vision for a better Minnesota,” Marty explained in a press release of his announcement.
“People want a government that works for them instead of special interests. They want living-wage jobs and quality schools, not large taxpayer subsidies for private businesses. They want cost-saving investments in children, positive steps to prevent domestic abuse and violence, and health care that’s affordable for their families in good times and bad,” he said.

“I am confident that working together, we can meet these challenges,” he said.

Although Gov. Tim Pawlenty is assuming the U.S. Senate race will resolve itself, the governor said today (Dec. 19) the administration is studying the laws concerning the appointment of a U.S. Senator.

“We’re just looking at the law, how we can do it if we had to do it. So we don’t get caught flat footed,” said Pawlenty.
“But again, I believe the likelihood of us ever using that is remote,” he concluded.

The last Minnesota U.S. Senator appointed by a governor was Dean Barkley, appointed to the U.S. Senate after the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone.

The ongoing contest between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken promises to push the time limit — new U.S. Senators will be sworn into office the first week of January.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled today (Dec. 18) that rejected absentee ballots can be opened and the votes counted, but only if local elections officials and the two U.S. Senate campaigns agree the ballots were rejected in error.

Local elections officials cannot open any previously rejected absentee ballots in the U.S. Senate recount, the court ruled, unless following the conditions set down by the court.

All amended election reports from the local elections officials must be transmitted to the State Canvassing Board by Dec. 31, the ruling states.

Read more »

Former Burnsville football, basketball and track and field star James Ruffin can add collegiate Defensive Player of the Year to his accolades.

The junior defensive tackle for the University of Northern Iowa was named Missouri Conference Defensive Player of the Year Thursday.

He was also named an American Football Coaches Association Football Championship Subdivision first team All-American and a second-team Associated Press FCS All-American also on Thursday.

In 2008, Ruffin, a 6-foot-4-inch, 265-pound lineman, had a team-high 18 tackles for losses and 10 sacks, with 69 solo tackles.

In 2007 he had 20 solo tackles and eight sacks with 3.5 passes knocked down.

He was a 2007 All-Gateway Conference selection, with 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 13 games.

He made the 2006 All-Gateway Conference All-Newcomer squad with 26 tackles, three tackles for losses and one sack in 11 games, seven of which he started.

Jason Olson is at sports.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

The State Canvassing Board has ground through about 420 challenged U.S. Senate ballots — at times today the board worked at a 50-ballot an hour clip, said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

“We’re going to get this done Friday night,” said Ritchie of wading through all the challenged ballots.

Late Friday night, he added.

Yesterday, on a partial workday, the board ground through about 160 ballots.

But Ritchie added that the board would not be certifying or signing-off on the election this week.

About 92 percent of the board’s rulings on the challenged ballots have been unanimous, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

One variable that may impact the pace of the board is the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The court heard oral arguments today on a Coleman petition concerning rejected absentee ballots but as of late afternoon has not rendered a decision.

Supreme Court Justice Alan Page suggested that a decision would come quickly.

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday (Dec. 17) afternoon will hear oral arguments pertaining to rejected absentee ballots in the U.S. Senate race.

Today’s (Dec. 15) court order was in response to a petition filed by the Coleman for Senate Campaign with the court in which the campaign asked the court, among other things, to order local election officials to take no additional action relating to rejected absentee ballots until further ordered by the court.

Although setting a date for oral arguments and taking other actions, the court did not order that local election officials stop reexamining the controversial rejected absentee ballots.

Read more »

The House Finance Committee today (Dec. 15) held a long meeting with Democratic lawmakers — and some Republicans, too — trying to pin down Pawlenty Administration officials on the scope of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s expected unallotment of the state budget.

The first round of unallotments could come later this week.

Pawlenty Press Secretary Brian McClung said the administration has been receiving input for lawmakers and it’s helpful and appreciated.

“They have encouraged the Governor to use unallotment with their input and we are preparing to do so sometime in the near future,” he said in an email. Read more »