Around MN: Duluth dries out; New PolyMet CEO; Serious walleye fishing

Heavy rain caused major flooding in Duluth, Minn. and up the North Shore of Lake Superior. Sinkholes swallowed cars as Duluth's stormwater system failed under the pressure of a flood not seen in decades.

MPR News: "State and local emergency management officials on Thursday will begin to assess the damage in Duluth. Up to ten inches of rain fell in torrents over the city on Wednesday, flooding rivers and creeks and overwhelming the city's storm water system. Dozens of streets and highways were closed, giant sinkholes swallowed cars and homes and apartments were flooded. No major injuries or deaths were reported, although there were some close calls and many residents were shaken by the force of the flood."

Ariel survey of the flood from KARE11

Nearly 300 people flee high water in Duluth and along St. Louis River

Duluth News Tribune: "By airboat, trucks and city bus, residents evacuated the Fond du Lac neighborhood on Wednesday as flooding from the region's torrential downpour turned their homes into islands."

Flooding forces evacuation from homes, campsites

WDIO: One man was still in Jay Cooke State Park when the water began to rise."All of the sudden, the path in front of me was just another river, it was 6 feet wide where I tested the edge it was at least 3 feet deep and it was rushing way faster than I was willing to walk through," Lathan Kistler of St. Paul said.

Lincoln Park residents suffer major damage to homes

Northland News: "The unprecedented flooding in the Duluth area has caused hardships for many in the Northland.The Lincoln Park Neighborhood was hit particularly hard. '[In] eight years I've never seen anything like this,' said resident Alisha Barnes, 'It's just a hard pill to swallow. For me and all of my neighbors.'"

Duluth washed out by torrential rain

"We're trying to be as vigilant as we can so that we don't have that catastrophe. Because everywhere you look, there is potential for tragedy" -- Duluth Mayor Don Ness (Star Tribune).

In Lake County, storm deemed worse than 'blowdown' of '99

Duluth News Tribune: Lake County Sheriff Carey Johnson said the heavy rain Tuesday and Wednesday left more of a mark on the county than the Fourth of July storm in 1999 that has since become known as the 'blowdown.' Nearly 24 hours of torrential rain swelled every waterway along the North Shore and left many roads closed due to water running over them or because they had breaches where everything was washed away. Internet, phone and 911 service was out Wednesday morning. The same fiber line that was severed in early 2010 was damaged again near Knife River, knocking out all communication up the shore for several hours."

Gov. Dayton joins Mayor Ness at 11a today to talk about where things stand. Ness told MPR News yesterday that he will seek federal assistance to help rebuild Duluth.

Also on MN Today

PolyMet names Jon Cherry to be President and CEO. Cherry will lead the company as it seeks approval to mine copper, nickel and other precious metals near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (release). More PolyMet news from MN Today.

2012: Labor targets the Midwest

Politico: "The Midwest is ground zero for organized labor this fall. In the wake of the failed Wisconsin recall attempt, unions are forging ahead with their 2012 battle plan, pouring cash and resources into Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio in an effort to recapture ground lost" in 2010.

Graves' wealth is between $22M, $111M

Star Tribune: "Rep. Bachmann seeks to use financial disclosure against her challenger."

DFL-leaning funds lead fall fundraising race

Pioneer Press: "Minnesota Democratic-leaning political funds have raised twice as much money this year as their Republican-tilting counterparts as the race for control of the Legislature heats up."

Red Lake Nation fishery capitalizes on wild-caught walleye

Indian Country: "Beginning in 1917, the now 11,000-member tribe has banded together to market walleye, which has grown into a successful money-maker with $2.5 million in fisheries revenue projected for this year. 'Last year we processed 650,000 pounds,' says Ojibwa tribal member Bill May of his 100 percent tribally-owned and operated fishery that plans to move into greater consumer retailing in the near future. The self-professed 'oldest and largest freshwater walleye processing plant in the United States' ships fish fillets, fresh or frozen, to businesses and homes overnight via FedEx."

Op-Ed: Marriage ban is bad for business

Star Tribune: "Business leaders are opposing the marriage amendment because it's the right thing to do."

Op-Ed: Cellphone tower will scar BWCA

Stephen Wilbers writes in the Star Tribune: "Phone tower ruling undermines and undervalues true wilderness experience."

Crystal lockout isn't done, but is it over?

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: "Some are ready to take the deal, imperfect as it may be. Others would rather walk away for good than concede defeat with nothing to show for 10 months of hardship."

North Dakota family decides to sell dream house they won, stay home in Kindred

Fargo Forum: "It's not every day a family wins a half-million-dollar home, but besides a few overnight camping adventures in a West Fargo dream house, the Gilbertsons have decided to stay put in Kindred. But they won't be walking away empty-handed."

Billions in the bank: New ND budget report says $2B in surplus, reserves by next summer

Forum of Fargo Moorhead: "The latest state finance report predicts a whopping $2 billion in surplus and reserves by June 30, 2013, the end of the biennium."

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