Tolerating deer, taxing questions, Minn.’s oldest ice cream store to reopen

Minnesota's biological capacity for deer greater than social tolerance

Deer numbers have dropped to about 1 million statewide, and the DNR expects hunters to shoot about 175,000 deer this month. Archery and muzzleloader hunters will take another 30,000 deer through December. "We're kind of where we want to be," said Lou Cornicelli, the DNR's wildlife research manager, during a teleconference with reporters Wednesday. "That's about our sweet spot for deer harvest," Cornicelli said, adding that the state's social capacity for deer, for many reasons, is lower than the biological capacity (Duluth News Tribune).

Last minute referendum push

The last-minute push has begun. Voters around Minnesota go to the polls one week from today to decide more than 130 school referendums (KAAL).

Duluth schools' tax request challenged

While grass-roots campaigns promoting levies have been common around the state, the Duluth school district has been confronted by an unusual campaign against the levy -- from two of its own School Board members (Duluth News Tribune).

Austin school board candidates sound off

With less than one week before this year's election, Austin Public School board candidates are sounding off on important current and future district issues (Austin Daily Herald).

Funding for schools is long overdue

The Austin Public Schools Facility Referendum is an affordable option that gives back to our students by giving them a 21st-century education, while providing our schools with more classroom space, which is long overdue (Rochester Post Bulletin).

Schools remind voters of Legislature's role in budget cuts

School boards note that the Minnesota Legislature has not provided enough state aid to keep up with school district costs. Lawmakers have delayed paying $2.1 billion in school aid the last two budget cycles. State payment delays have forced school boards to borrow money (Fergus Falls Journal).

Sec. of State poll finder is now live online.

The Big Story Blog dives deep on the school referendums all day today.

Ellison foe releases graphic Anti-Islam ad

DFL challenger Gary Boisclair's first ad against 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison shows graphic images of murdered non-Muslims and slams Ellison for swearing an oath on the Koran, which Boisclair argues promotes violence against Christians and Jews (Hopkins Patch).

State continues push to be exempted from parts of No Child Left Behind act

The Minnesota Department of Education remains committed to applying for a waiver later this month from the U.S. Department of Education to portions of the controversial federal No Child Left Behind law (KSTC).

Deal reached to sell Selma's, historic ice cream parlor in Afton

Selma's, a landmark eatery in Afton that makes an undisputed claim of being Minnesota's oldest purveyor of ice cream, is changing hands again and will reopen once a makeover is complete (Star Tribune).

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