[chambernews] Fwd: The Morning Digest from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Mon Sep 19 09:02:33 PDT 2011

Information from MN Chamber...
Local Small Business' Input Sought - please see headline below.
Thank you!
Karen.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	The Morning Digest from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Date: 	Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:47:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: 	Olson, David <morningdigest at mnchamber.com>
Reply-To: 	morningdigest at mnchamber.com
To: 	karen at kanabecchamber.org

Minnesota Morning Digest 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo_OhkonQfgN7GaiTft1chB7hSgvaJyxysDaTmCgn0qJ8k6nuA727xjqkyNaMoXojBesl4YnMptC7AP-i0lvCKvFWeeEXfMiBgVCcwCKCDK6KA==> 

September 19, 2011

*The Minnesota Morning Digest is underwritten by Granite Equity Partners:*
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo9tD5XtRQWGNJ1YP8CTvldOTmkOQZ1ccSGIGK04A0DQbAbYAJ6DsVAQoNYmfqIxeH5qtXLvISA-KJqyA6kqUHq6h76d0AUpxQPdoQ66oaQ-SRKKJHzkrXpf>

Today's Minnesota headlines...

*Across Minnesota, tax bills and confusion about to rise*
/From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:/  Nearly all Minnesota homeowners 
will pay more property taxes next year, even before factoring in what 
happened to the value of their homes and before their city, county or 
school district decides how much they will tax for 2012. The increase 
results from a tax shift -- approved in the state budget deal reached in 
July -- that is so broad and complex that counties expect a flood of 
calls from confused property owners when they receive truth-in-taxation 
notices in November. Those notices will include a carefully worded 
explanation, which officials are still crafting, of what has changed.
http://www.startribune.com/local/130092028.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo_hnqmofBLl9AAmLiN566Ugqo1OjmCluFAARoIITQZu5d1kTDWvbaPBuvV7-yEU_RH-uhRjnkkT_HbX_s1UGeAP_WnlVkOrbB5Nt18NT_d7psCCPRm1muZtpJO3V4hE-lgGq89Xj3fa6w==>

*Minnesota: 'New day' for fraud, waste accountability, top sleuth says*
/From the St. Paul Pioneer Press: / As inspector general for fraud, 
waste and mismanagement in state health and welfare programs, Jerry 
Kerber has his eye on a huge chunk of Minnesota's budget.  The 
56-year-old lifelong Minnesotan was named to the new Department of Human 
Services position last month. The veteran of state government, who 
headed the agency's licensing division for more than 15 years, will 
oversee a staff of 150 to ferret out everything from welfare fraud and 
false claims by medical service providers to simple oversights that cost 
the state.
providers.
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_18926460 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo8wknfvIaf7IQl7wQVyy-3R8s2Uvl2YV2ONnwnZtrnQknIaLMySUD7CuYHZbATbrTAgzO_zZOsKXcJVR7XM1DolI97ZBoTlMkMC76QGMu2TIkCtcq0cwXpSIxgrzhrYYI41cqTZVZkWaQ==>

*Blue Earth earns shot at Q-Comp*
/From the Fairmont Sentinel:/  Blue Earth Area Schools has received news 
that the district has been accepted into the state's Quality 
Compensation Program, commonly known as Q-Comp. "I think it's a great 
program," said Superintendent Dale Brandsoy. "We'll provide professional 
development for staff and provide better-quality education for 
students." The district was accepted into the program for this school 
year, which Brandsoy admits is "short notice, but (we) can implement it 
this year or next."
http://www.fairmontsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/518855/Blue-Earth-earns-shot-at-Q-Comp.html?nav=5003 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo823mjBwQpVeW_sjpAPbLQDXpzr5gRpUzPlZO4rbMM_0NzWqhlCwJFCWvmIHD4hl_muteboFmhLTg1L3cBvYvgkQNEhIp6bGfvPiXssn-tmp4amp15EJg9HCwaxWei_-F4P7FrEJTgVd75FsFcJupUB_0RmgOCYbIEd4t2eqcVLhGGtFuTr6bhzyEmnsR53yvPJ5LPDktn3GsBurPvcg7IsygrSi_AvRctgepbgjFVuKA==>

*Minnesota grads flock to NDSU*
/From the Fargo (N.D.) Forum: / North Dakota State University continues 
to be the top importer of Minnesota high school graduates, according to 
a new report. The same report also shows that Minnesota State University 
Moorhead and Minnesota State Community and Technical College are among 
the top 10 Minnesota schools to import high school graduates from other 
states. The analysis by the Minnesota Private Colleges Council shows 
that Minnesota was a "net exporter" of undergraduate students in 2010.
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/334227/group/News/ 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo9hj4kYfnAvZBCqDNYE_16joIVZwE24hmVbNA7pxIkYEQRJqfcnKQzQU7LbD1y5GxDvhF0LG_ttuyAb4svpbN-SVpvXbXyfZbJSbj6MBiKrPVGxvEO3FsyjsN5nExoBqvFUued4IFdn1RLi-774fLFS2CHMi22GZNJ3zk0Sb4V9BQ==>

Opinion and Editorial...
	*
*

*Editorial: Progress, hurdles for transit projects*
/From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:/  Two major transit projects 
recently in the news -- the Southwest Corridor light-rail line and the 
Cedar Avenue bus rapid-transit line -- represent the kind of transit 
advances that can help unclog roads and keep the Twin Cities competitive 
with other metro areas. Both projects are progressing, but both still 
face funding and approval hurdles that must be addressed by key leaders 
in government and business. The biggest recent step forward came for the 
proposed Southwest Corridor light-rail line. The Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) gave its approval for preliminary engineering of 
the 15-mile line that would connect 17 stations spanning Eden Prairie, 
Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park and the Target Field Station in 
Minneapolis, then connect with the Central Corridor light-rail line.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/129996018.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo8uzkm1q6jL2FRhkyI9AXHTzgmNsQw2_CXPyn9vex1tzt9eDxXciVqzM499oTwnHu49PmCK2naMV40ZfWOcGCKis3fuZfRmEpK4PBqIWSQ_39Z_CwZKoWycK-jqjOUbIH_lwdmMfx1FnF9tK4VaG1AJPI6E4O22OXQ=>

*Editorial: Test scores show just part of picture*
/From the Rochester Post-Bulletin: / For a number of reasons, school 
officials and teachers probably are fretting less about the results of 
the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments than they have in previous 
years. Statewide, the 9-point drop in proficiency rates on the math 
portion of the MCAs is being attributed to a switch to new, tougher 
exams based on new, tougher standards, and we have no reason to question 
that conclusion. In Rochester, for example, 96 percent of fourth-graders 
at the highly acclaimed Washington Elementary choice school were 
proficient in math when they took the "old" MCAs in 2010. When they took 
the new test as fifth-graders in May, however, their proficiency rates 
dropped to 80 percent.
http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1468593 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo91tCPBYqoEMpbHmh9_Sbp43P9Ad5zvdkULBKYjmSavnOqBxV_9IfMfrEckbMqfuSNXUQXw-Yk3N5qXm3n4EEpGMffansagA1xn38DmxMuw753ITp_D9RxZYfz4jadWWWhviDGPKdL5mBnp6ttM-cBdBGc3jrXmCBw=>

*Editorial: Local small businesses' input sought*
/From the St. Cloud Times:/  The president. The U.S. House Speaker. Both 
parties in the Minnesota Legislature. Who knows? Perhaps even your local 
school's student council. It seems every elected person or body has a 
plan to create more jobs. But what are the people who actually create 
jobs saying they need? Especially in Central Minnesota? With due respect 
to politicians, lobbyists, big business, and the public and nonprofit 
sectors, the Times Editorial Board wants to hear from the heart of the 
job creation engine: Independent owners of small businesses in Central 
Minnesota. (How small? We're saying 150 employees max.) Do you own such 
a business? If so, this board would like you to be part of a discussion 
with your peers and the board to talk about job creation. Our proposed 
date is Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Times.
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110918/OPINION/109180059/Our-View-Local-small-businesses-input-sought 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo-gEBVXYaZJbyTpvg0uIe7oY5jcr_8eVG--tjAHx1gqG8qe_HwGN5Gd_lvpIcXChIUxuvnjV4jPkB8JlIZOYuwQE3BiAmqEaoAywIEV8ii748zgrprEggAVIxLtOruQ56ZkFQI2883DaLYh4po-B4UVUnlu2KcWHb809aHNiuvMFYNw1uosJcvHtlOzMrVI2aiCMsdNmXyaPpGx8BOFo1BLllhD0aULCgY=>

Around the nation...
	*
*

*Obama's debt-reduction plan: $3 trillion in savings, half from new tax 
revenue*
/From the Washington Post:/  President Obama will announce a proposal on 
Monday to tame the nation's rocketing federal debt, calling for $1.5 
trillion in new revenue as part of a plan to find more than $3 trillion 
in budget savings over a decade, senior administration officials said.  
The proposal draws a sharp contrast with Republicans and amounts more to 
an opening play in the fall debate over the economy than another attempt 
to find common ground with the opposing party.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obamas-new-debt-reduction-plan-to-draw-contrasts-with-republican-vision/2011/09/18/gIQAI9XddK_story.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo804cBryFSADIc_FM_7JX_m2V5sDJnX4yMRkKGMwoDSE1ZAiAu_sQ8eyHQ80y7dJzn8UUGEu__-O-JqQgDEhydCgIM_CVtiaD1U0UjoaA-pqjuXPtFtxJxA4sVZWdx6BZdPqTTkS5D52sd_X1v20_fV1VYOm_U2lq_2V_6TDK1DkBzA2pNArcjQrfTltTHwHKVNhPs8ViYCSPuqF0SO7clvYFAAHTELIz9xfACMeh33i5BBW_neUzTRLegdgQN7tyqbrrlgN2fFqAXATtHkeDA44TVTNdOIpkM=>

*Fed Runs Risk of Doing Less Than Investors Expect*
/From the New York Times:/  Investors have concluded that the Federal 
Reserve will announce new measures to promote economic growth after a 
meeting of its policy-making committee ends Wednesday. Long-term 
interest rates have moved as if the Fed had already spoken.  The central 
bank is often described as facing the choice of whether to do more to 
improve the economy. But the anticipatory behavior of investors means 
the Fed really faces a slightly different choice, one it has confronted 
often in recent years: whether to risk doing less than expected.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/business/fed-runs-risk-of-doing-less-than-expected.html?ref=business 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo8WwSJhSs7TmFUirMfHiVtoopLhhBa7J_Pz3diO7e5CxGPuu5E9GRspDQSaIFPAdXIPZY8eqiFiGbI8CWBOuIkLlgNcUPe4lGhVPjlI1rDiYUGwtaMtjdtkvt0_r1oqIsRKxU2tDIOyHAB0dtic4sPuUPgy6W2az4ZbL9rxoUuJLwE3bsMoiVJnkHS9XTkPF5YWTQln9zcuj2ceVyKJPiNUT5US2GpsDeA=>

Around the world...
	*
*

*Greeks Discuss Drastic Moves to Receive Aid*
/From the New York Times:/  Greek leaders struggled through the weekend 
to agree to a set of radical budget reductions that would satisfy 
foreign lenders' demands even as they tried to stave off mounting 
resistance to those cuts at home.  Reflecting the urgency of the 
situation, the prime minister of Greece, George A. Papandreou, canceled 
a planned trip to Washington this week and held talks with his cabinet 
on Sunday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/business/global/19iht-euro19.html?_r=1&ref=business 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo-Z-0y8QXoFfk89UkW1yG_dLrAW7HoyBUwT_JuE9aF7oXc4PJt5NNckip1-ccP9jlZ8UZQvo9Qx9wPoYIHZN-_9N4xHSOSio5M0YRg57-LLuslsjB5GKWPszsQkWcmQKPJJBA0iwAdyJnPdJk2Zy536_2DpZq_Vl1hj0sddVRyMTarqkSxAvIDOX82azOOS8TRXKRZoM_ZAsMMxb-ekdjDH>

*China August Home Prices Rise in All Cities, Challenging Government Curbs*
/From Bloomberg:/  China's August new-home prices rose in all 70 cities 
monitored for the first time this year, undercutting government efforts 
to cool the market through higher down-payments and mortgage rates.  
Prices in Beijing advanced 1.9 percent from a year ago, while those in 
Shanghai, the nation's financial center, increased 2.8 percent, the 
statistics bureau said on its website yesterday. New home prices climbed 
in 67 out of 70 cities in the first half this year and were up in all 
but two in July.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-18/china-august-home-prices-rise-in-all-cities-challenging-government-curbs.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo8N6cuz9QKr77xjmYxgr4i85jkADTNgizZvjcoIXzHYq_TYTZp3gcbR696CLKXdvRLtJqzRi3kB4SqD-Li4L73BwKPNrHAxqc3Xuh-R4eQXPH0jRll6A5hfimYECVTebHDJx5XLpHoklV_uy5oPLkR17fu-eibhO3PuxC0--lItUK8DZxXEJPlWmwZhZfm4EPBW87ip6WIQu6EMxEVtupR5Tn56e3tyPnprb3LHnBZV2Q==>

The economy...
	*
*

*Bernanke Joins King Tolerating Inflation to Revive Economies*
/From Businessweek/:  Inflation flashing red may be less of a green 
light for higher interest rates as global growth falters.  Some Federal 
Reserve policy makers favor keeping their benchmark rate close to zero 
until price increases reach a level Vincent Reinhart, a former top 
official, says could be 3 percent. The Bank of England has held its key 
rate at a record low even as U.K. inflation breached its 2 percent 
target for 21 months. Brazil executed a surprise cut Aug. 31 to 
safeguard its economy even after inflation quickened to a six-year high.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-19/bernanke-joins-king-tolerating-inflation-to-revive-economies.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo__h8sP4ueQSwaqXEDpNuqCHHr7MUhynhV0iY5NrbytIW5E0dtJmoVrGkZ22cWzmAgXur9GLE2a8w9rK8UJR1OIUUrEdNDupbKKQ9aQb8EE0_zr94sPnrlbCk_KvWZ2WOStpT13G-ywcIqlVNRptRmSYoGKHC04RBlM1N4lYcx2r-6vPFZbEIAwvQrgpe8BQd4n9Z_YGEwPNNuDJFio9i55E-pY0mmgNBU=>

*Effort on Home Loans Stalls*
/From the Wall Street Journal:/  A year after U.S. banks slowed down the 
foreclosure machine as a result of pressure from judges and regulators, 
the foreclosure process remains snarled.  Last September, GMAC Mortgage 
LLC, one of the nation's largest servicers of home loans, suspended 
sales of some foreclosed homes and put a moratorium on evictions of many 
borrowers behind on their payments. Other financial firms soon made 
similar moves, embarrassed by revelations of "robo-signing" by employees 
who signed off on hundreds of loans a day and falsely claimed they had 
personally reviewed documents giving the bank the right to foreclose.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903374004576578860527754444.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo_Jc1X58tQ9L2QC2PUH7uroQhzflDR-Ojo718rkInKUVJ35AQTdiEYuBoGJvircZcch_EK-fUTftLJ21srbECx59Q2NYvYY0iEvr5UMWI6w8qIRiKs-GHvSwMt76Dhnr3GqnIKxOBqWTpWeoxkHruTqn1mVn50hNq4tIrEteu_LrcpzSM4EABmLcD-0C5sDURKnkDyPKeY7Rhz9lxEkzYG8>

In Human Resources news...
	*
*

*City to workers: Join wellness program or pay $50 a month more*
/From the Chicago Sun-Times: / City employees would see their monthly 
health insurance premiums rise by $50 unless they participate in a 
"wellness program" to manage chronic health problems such as obesity, 
diabetes and high blood pressure, under a private sector-style plan to 
be unveiled Friday.  After a standoff on work-rule changes, Mayor Rahm 
Emanuel has forged an agreement with city unions on a plan to use what 
he has called the "carrot-and-stick approach" to drive down the city's 
$500 million-a-year health care costs by as much as $240 million over 
four years.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/7679419-423/city-to-workers-join-wellness-program-or-pay-50-a-month-more.html 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo9ZdszGgRdcTYD576R-OIMoiaNtD2Tt4sa9uIhD6MMpVlK6nFKJ9iReYHCU5i-mBDwXlfhyfLDcbsM14f7K4KDMVS0wAsGdJvtUSa3xuuSASmosVn58xUB0RIYX-uoYFZpwTpCJL19Vuo_2T1ACactoTV26Nk-0AErWFQizQVhdMXOOe7l81_7E0QJCR5mtUsZm0bduDBT4S4SCO4-9F2C4niN6tFweQsJ6884UrpOtpg==>

*Plans for a New OFCCP Comp Data Collection Tool: What it Could Mean for 
Your Business*
/From HR.BLR.com: / OFCCP recently issued an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for public comment on the development and 
implementation of a compensation data collection tool. Comments are due 
by October 11, 2011.
http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Discrimination/Government-Contractors/Plans-for-a-New-OFCCP-Comp-Data-Collection-Tool-Wh/ 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=6g467ccab&et=1107662845134&s=20114&e=001E4dGzYSZBo8NBQKNqHBtg-SXO3f8PEX2xmUTslWaC329rLF_fRvr76IMPjX5hvG9-SJxECBWC6TAXW9m_hCcd4NGERIFXFfQpdLvdSxMznozyrKjrXfZw1m1lB0cfTSZLewe6AO3TYML_bldlOTy-CzAoiIqqRY0vAbjR4FZlXmKFYEWCfTsE7wdv01IWLLaYIAzhsioCSl6TcxTNBHUzRc01941pZuuw7EweaeyWLRvc-WaXFdXVw==>

<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001CPbz0pBDAy5x3SXMwTi-lXWwXeZQZ4AG2jpj0gswvfY%3D&t=001oGx6WuN9NGKtv3HBVgpPIg%3D%3D&lang=001FCSs65SMrsI%3D&reason=001y5KaVlBn7_Y%3D&llr=6g467ccab> 

This email was sent to karen at kanabecchamber.org by 
morningdigest at mnchamber.com <mailto:morningdigest at mnchamber.com> |
Update Profile/Email Address 
<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001CPbz0pBDAy5x3SXMwTi-lXWwXeZQZ4AG2jpj0gswvfY%3D&t=001oGx6WuN9NGKtv3HBVgpPIg%3D%3D&lang=001FCSs65SMrsI%3D&reason=001y5KaVlBn7_Y%3D&llr=6g467ccab> 
| Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe 
<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001CPbz0pBDAy5x3SXMwTi-lXWwXeZQZ4AG2jpj0gswvfY%3D&t=001oGx6WuN9NGKtv3HBVgpPIg%3D%3D&lang=001FCSs65SMrsI%3D&reason=001y5KaVlBn7_Y%3D&llr=6g467ccab>^(TM) 
| Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>.

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce| 400 Robert Street North, Suite 1500| St. 
Paul| MN| 55101

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://dala.kanabec.net/pipermail/chambernews/attachments/20110919/ace51660/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: karen.vcf
Type: text/x-vcard
Size: 314 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://dala.kanabec.net/pipermail/chambernews/attachments/20110919/ace51660/attachment.vcf>