Pagami fire post-mortem; Obama comes to town; Becoming conservative

Eight Forest Service workers faced down death last year in BWCA fire

Star Tribune: "A dramatic new post-mortem on last summer's Pagami Creek forest fire acknowledges that eight U.S. Forest Service employees feared for their lives when trapped by a surprise surge of the inferno and recommends several changes in fire-management tactics to prevent loss of life in the future." Report highlights from the Duluth News Tribune: "Incoming information was incomplete; maps were based on that information; managers made decisions based on those maps, and field personnel didn't know what the maps were showing," the report notes in one analysis.

Obama comes to town

MPR News: "Unlike four years ago when Obama and his Republican opponent visited Minnesota frequently, it looks like the state may not draw as much attention from the presidential candidates -- in part because Mitt Romney has not started an active campaign here."

Washington Times: Obama Minn. trip to test gay marriage's political clout

Jack Meeks, chair of Romney's MN Steering Committee, expects Romney to campaign in MN in the next few months but didn't have specifics.

— tomscheck (@tomscheck) June 1, 2012

Minnesota cabin owners lose mineral lease fight, for now

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: Landowner brings family to fight against more exploration

"The concerns about sulfide mining are understandably far greater than they are about the kind of mining we've had in Minnesota so far" -- Gov. Mark Dayton (MPR News).

Firefighting effort at Sartell mill could reach 6 figures

St. Cloud Times: "The cost of fighting a fire that has been burning since Monday at the Sartell Verso paper mill could run into the six figures, city officials said Thursday."

3 Minnesota trails get national designation

Pioneer Press: "Federal officials have designated three Minnesota trails national recreation trails."

Build-ready projects? $47.5M in Minn. money up for grabs

Star Tribune: "The state of Minnesota is offering disappointed communities a second shot at millions of dollars for local projects."

Oil patch schools in dire need

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: "Oil Patch school districts seeing an influx of new students are in a state of emergency."

Lumberjack Days investigation done, forwarded to county attorney

Pioneer Press: "The Lumberjack Days Festival Association was accused last fall of issuing worthless checks for more than $35,000 to three vendors and the Stillwater Area High School boys hockey booster club."

Foreclosure protest puts Minneapolis officials in tight spot

Star Tribune: "Demonstrators said they'll be back, despite repeated ousters. Owners moved two months ago."

Conservative Moments: an Interactive History

Public Insight Network: "This interactive timeline of political and cultural moments in American conservatism is built from interviews and correspondence with hundreds of people across a wide spectrum of political thought."

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