Don Davis
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Don Davis has been the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau chief since 2001, covering state government and politics for two dozen newspapers in the state. Don also blogs at Capital Chatter on Areavoices.
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ST. PAUL -- Western Minnesota's 2010 congressional race is under way, even without candidates. The state Republican Party launches a radio ad campaign against Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson today, saying the 10-term congressman is out of touch with his district. With Republicans assuming he will run again, it is the fist volley of a campaign in which Republicans promise to unseat Peterson. A comment by Peterson claiming a quarter of his constituents link the Sept.
ST. PAUL - Minnesota's Republican Party launches a radio advertising campaign against U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson on Thursday. More than a dozen western Minnesota radio stations will carry the commercial saying that Democrat Peterson is out of touch on his House votes as well as criticizing his comment that a quarter of his constituents think the Bush administration worked with Sept.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Republican leaders today plan to announce an advertising campaign against U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson. Deputy Republican Chairman Michael Brodkorb said the ad campaign is partially a result of the Minnesota Democrat saying a quarter of his constituents think the Bush administration had ties to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "Twenty-five percent of my people believe the Pentagon and (then-Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld were responsible for taking the twin towers down," Peterson told Politico, a Washington, D.C.-based news organization.
ST. PAUL -- U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson provided Republicans an opening to attack him when he said he does not hold town hall meetings in his western Minnesota district because many constituents be-lieve the Bush administration helped carry out the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "Twenty-five percent of my people believe the Pentagon and (then-Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld were responsible for taking the twin towers down," Politico Monday quoted Democrat Peterson as saying.
ST. PAUL -- If Iran was behind the deaths of three Minnesota National Guard soldiers, already rocky relations with the United States could become worse, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Sunday from the Middle East. An Iraqi police official says his department arrested a man with Iranian connections in the Thursday attack that killed Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Spc. James Wertish, 20, of Olivia and Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove.
STILLWATER, Minn. - News reports from Iraq detail an arrest in a Thursday attack that killed three Minnesota National Guard soldiers and injured another. The Associated Press reported that the Basra police chief said a man confessed early Saturday to the attack that killed Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Spc. James Wertish, 20, of Olivia and Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove. The attack appeared to be from a missile or mortar shell. American military spokesmen would not confirm the arrest and offered few details of the attack.
ST PAUL -- Health officials are preparing for a pandemic flu that kills many Minnesotans. Or a flu almost no one notices. Or something in between. "Anything could happen," said John Stine, assistant Minnesota Health Department commissioner. "There is no way of giving you a forecast." The current pandemic flu strain has sickened millions, killing 94,000 worldwide and 34,000 in the United States. But Stine and other Minnesota health leaders fear it could get far worse if the current flu virus mutates as has happened in the past. "It's now everywhere," Stine said.
ST. PAUL -- When the new flu began to spread, since it was called swine flu, many people were concerned about catching it from hogs. Now, however, some are concerned that swine may get sick from flu-infected people, especially at local and state fairs. The Minnesota Health Department's Buddy Ferguson said: "Don't bring your swine to the fair if they are sick and don't go to the fair if you are sick." A letter state health and Board of Animal Health officials sent to fair managers and veterinarians said any hog that appears to have flu-like symptoms must immediately be sent home.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota election experts say the state's election law is among the best in the country, but the protracted U.S. Senate race proves it can be improved. The state needs to instill more confidence and stability into the absentee ballot process, Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, told a University of Minnesota forum. "It is highly irregular and inappropriate" to allow candidates' campaigns to reject specific absentee ballots, as current state law allows, Rest said during her address Friday.
FRIDLEY -- Marty Seifert may have held the first, but many other Republican governor rallies will follow between now and election day on Nov. 2, 2010. The Marshall state representative opened his official campaign for governor Tuesday, hosting about 100 supporters in a northern Twin Cities suburban factory, then leaving in a motorhome to visit 13 other cities in four days.