HometownSource Blogs

High school students are working their tails off so they can earn money to keep their choir, dance line, debate team and track team going.

Because of budget cuts, the so-called extra curricular program funding is being sliced.

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According to his website, Bob Anderson, the Independence Party candidate who garnered ten percent of the vote in last year’s 6th Congressional District race, is considering another try.

“I am considering another run for Congress in the 2010 election cycle, in the 6^th District,” writes Anderson.

“I will only be seeking one endorsement if I decide to run and that would be the Independence Party nomination,” he said.

Former state transportation commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg gained both the DFL and IP endorsements last year in the 6th District tussle.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees today (July 22) approved a one-time performance incentive bonus of $32,500 for MnSCU Chancellor James H. McCormick — the chancellor’s base pay is $360,000 a year.

“Over the past several years, the board has moved toward a more aggressive performance pay arrangement with the chancellor, reflecting the board’s general philosophy of basing compensation on demonstrated performance and achievements,” said Trustee Ruth Grendahl, who chairs the board’s human resources committee.
“Based on his performance, I believe the board could justify awarding a higher percentage of the $50,000 performance pay incentive, but we are mindful of the economic realities facing our system and other system employees” said Grendahl in a press release.

McCormick’s contract expires on June 30, 2011.

The chancellor is 70-years-old.

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks earns more than McCormick.

Ruth Grendahl of Apple Valley was reelected vice chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees today (July 22) — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President David Olson was reelected, too, for another one-year term as board chairman.
Grendahl is an owner of RnD Products, a business that markets electrical construction products, and has served as deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Service.

A former member of the Apple Valley City Council, she has held other positions in government as well.
Scott Thiss, a businessman from Edina, was reelected board treasurer.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) approved a budget today (July 22) that translates into an average two-year college tuition increase of $114 and state university tuition increase of $169 for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The average tuition for a MnSCU student attending a two-year college will be $4,194 with the average tuition for a MnSCU university student at $5,791.

The infusion of federal stimulus dollars kept the tuition increases under three percent, though the board of trustees actually raised tuitions by five percent, according to MnSCU.

“We worked hard to keep the tuition increase as low as possible,” said Board Chair David Olson. “In the end, affordable
tuition means more students can receive the education and training that Minnesota needs to remain competitive.” he said in a press release.

State funding for higher education was cut last legislative session.

Gov. Mark Sanford, South Carolina, recently was caught visiting his mistress in South America. And, although he is being called to resign by many of the residents of his state and others, he said he possibly can do a better job as governor because of his infidelity.

The funny thing about that is when then Pres. Bill Clinton was caught having a dalliance with Monica Lewinski, Sanford called for his resignation. He said Clinton was not fit to be president.

This just reinforces the idea that politicians feel what is appropriate behavior for others doesn’t apply to themselves.

Cancellation of the July 4th fireworks celebration in Elk River raised questions in that community about the value of having fireworks to celebrate the nation’s independence.

The Elk River Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the celebration for years, decided not to sponsor the July 4th celebration this year due to the rising costs and the major effort required.

The City of Elk River, citing revenue problems, said it would contribute $6,000 for fireworks, but could not afford the full cost.
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According to the publication Politico, Gov.Tim Pawlenty is expected to deliver a major address to the Republican National Committee summer meeting later this month in San Diego.

The publication opines the address will serve as something of a political coming out party for Pawlenty. The governor is not necessarily well known among state-level Republican party activists and political donors, reports the publication.

Pawlent  will make his address on July 30.

DFL State Auditor Rebecca Otto has been appointed chairwoman of the human resources committee of the National State Auditors Association  — the association honored Otto earlier this year with an excellence in accountability award for outstanding special project, best practice review, for reducing energy costs in local government.

Otto was invited to serve as human resources committee chairwoman for through next year.

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with other State Auditors from across the country in this capacity.  Work force and succession planning issues have surfaced as the Baby Boomers retire,” Otto said.

“Recruiting and retaining a highly professional staff in state auditors’ offices can be challenging, and it requires proactive strategies.  The increased workload created by the need to provide oversight of the Federal Stimulus Funds is the newest challenge.  Add this increase in workload to the decrease in staffing levels caused by state budget shortfalls, and many state auditors’ offices have real issues,” Otto said in a press release.

The human resources committee promotes best practices on recruiting and keeping staff within state audit organizations.

Schwan’s USA CUP weekend, presented by puma, ends with championship games Sunday

BLAINE, Minn. (July 19, 2009) – Championship games for all divisions of Schwan’s USA CUP weekend, presented by puma , were played on Sunday, July 19, at the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine, Minn., 20 minutes north of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.

This year’s tournament featured over 13,000 athletes on 841 teams from 26 states and 12 countries, making it the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere. The weekend and week-long tournaments together will generate an estimated $17.5 million in out-of-state economic impact.

The featured game of the day Sunday was the PUMA vElite U16 boys division championship. The vElite group offered a select “tournament within a tournament” in which eight of the top boys’ teams in the nation and the world faced off. The teams were hand-selected by puma and the Schwan’s USA CUP staff. Sunday’s championship between the Tottenham Hotspur and Charlotte United drew an appreciative crowd of knowledgeable soccer fans who watched Tottenham defeat Charlotte United 2-0.

The eight vElite teams were: Brooklyn Italians (Brooklyn, NY), Charlotte United (Charlotte, N.C.), Erin Mills Eagles (Ontario, Canada), Lions FC Red (San Antonio, Texas), Rockford Raptors (Rockford, IL), Snohomish United Black (Snohomish, WA), Tottenham Hotspur (London, England) and TSF Academy (Lincoln Park, NJ).

Championships were held in two tiers of competition – A and B. Four Minnesota teams won A-flight championships this year.

Here are the scores for Sunday’s A-flight championship games:

13 boys: Lichterfelder FC (Berlin, Germany) 7, Bonivital Flames (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 0.
13 girls: FC Midwest Pumas (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1, PVYSC Neenah Velocity (Neenah, Wisc.) 0.
14 boys: Midwest Wings (Park Forest, Ill.) 3, MTA 95 Elite White (Minneapolis) 2.
14 girls: PVYSC Neenah Red Wave (Neenah, Wis.) 3, BFSC Black Storm (Burnsville, Minn.) 1.
15 boys: Carol Stream Panthers (Carol Stream, Ill.) 4, FCX South Soccer Club (Chicago) 0.
15 girls: Dakota Rev Fury (Rosemount, Minn.) 2, Tonka Tundra (Minnetonka, Minn.) 0.
16 boys: FCX Soccer Club (Chicago) 3, Chicago Kickers 0.
16 boys Puma vElite: Tottenham Hotspur (London, England) 2, Charlotte United Gold (Charlotte, N.C.) 0.
16 girls: MTA White (Twin Cities) 1, West Des Moines Ice (West Des Moines, Iowa) 0.
17 boys: Paper Valley Elite (Neenah, Wis.) 2, West Des Moines Ajax (West Des Moines, Iowa) 1.
17 girls: Burnsville Fire 1, Edina Fusion 0.
19 boys: Rudbeckianska School (Vasteras, Sweden) 5, Reds United (Maple Grove, Minn.) 0.
19 girls: Minnesota Thunder West (Twin Cities) 4, Cottage Grove Wolfpack 1

Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner Michael Campion today (July 17) announced that he is disbanding the interim Metro Gang Strike Force — eight officers assigned to the force will be returned to their departments — citing the resignation of the strike force commander, fewer numbers of local police departments showing interest, and the lack of a shared vision.

“Developments over the past few weeks make it clear that it wouldn’t be prudent to continue the strike force,” said Campion in a statement.

Recently the original strike force had come under criticism by the legislative auditor for sloppy record keeping — Campion had requested an FBI investigation.

Campion had put in place the interim strike force after the allegations and concerns about the original strike force surfaced.
According to DPS, it will closely monitor the preliminary FBI investigation and the investigation of a review panel looking into the strike force.

DPS will use the findings of the investigations in forming strategies for future operations.

In full disclosure, I’m a dog lover. So much so that my fiancèe, Jenny, and I refer to our dogs as our kids.

We treat them as such – giving them unconditional love and attention while still scolding them in our own gentle way when they need to be taught a lesson.

In fact, the proud parents that we are, we can often be found at Wilson Dog Park, nestled on the east shoreline of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. There we can be seen showing off Bailie’s (our German Shepherd/ Rotweiller) leaping abilities with a Frisbee or Jersey’s (our Chocolate Lab) knack for sniffing out a dead fish and rolling around in it until she’s covered in carp.

To further display my bias on this issue, I should mention that Jenny and I met at Wilson Dog Park more than two years ago. We’ve always given credit to Bailie (originally my puppy) and Jersey (originally Jenny’s pup) for the dog park romance that followed. The dogs were even part of the proposal. One day this past January, they were playing in a snow-covered dog park when I called Jersey over to perform the latest trick I had taught her. I pointed at a spot on the ground and said “Jenny watch this,” turning to Jersey and commanding “Dig, dig, dig!” Jersey pulled off the perfect trick, shoveling snow away to reveal a mysterious box that I had buried beneath the surface. I got down on one knee and … yada yada yada … you know the rest…. she said “yes” and we’re getting married next month.

That said, I guess I have the area’s dog unfriendliness to thank for my upcoming nuptials. Read more »

If we’re going to talk alternative models of journalism, let’s not leave any possibility unexplored.

We have to consider the possibility that the masses, not a publishing company, will provide the majority of news and information in our future.

Smart phones have made it a virtual reality that everyone now carries in their pocket or purse the ability to take photos, video, audio and post to the web from anywhere in the world.

The ability to publish is no longer the exclusive privilege of the printing press owners. The ability to produce and share photos and videos has become affordable and manageable by more than just the studios and TV stations. The tools of journalism are now everyone’s tools.
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The Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports that last year there were 455 traffic deaths on Minnesota roads, the lowest number of deaths since 1945 and representing an 11 percent decrease from the 510 deaths recorded in 2007.

The state recorded the lowest number of alcohol-related deaths ever, 163, DPS reports, but the percentage in regard to the overall death rate, 36 percent, was typical.

Some 72 motorcyclists lost their lives last year on state roads, the biggest rider death count since 1985, DPS notes.

But the teenage traffic accident deaths continued to decline — something DPS ascribes to better teen driver licensing laws and the ban on some cell phone use — with 31 teen deaths being recorded in 2008, down ten deaths from the year before.

DPS officials indicated that unemployment and high gas prices could have impacted the lower death rates seen on Minnesota roads last year.

But the they do not consider these variables huge factors.