Sunday afternoon news digest: molasses in January edition

District news is still a bit slow with the recess and news about the rest of Representative Walz's Middle Eastern trip under a security blanket. We evoke the old cliche about molasses this time of year, but are prepared to move quickly, since molasses can be rather fickle (and deadly). We'll try to post news ASAP.

The Winona Daily News picks up the AP wire story in Walz concerned about conditions in Afghanistan, Pakistan.

The Owatonna People's Press reports that representatives of the Divided We Fail makes campaign stop. The Divided We Fall campaign was created by AARP, the Business Roundtable, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the National Federation of Independent Business a year ago to push elect officials to find a bi-partisan solution to health care insurance issues. If that peculiar coalition doesn't get lawmakers' attention on this issue, what will?

Members of the Legislative Commission to End Poverty by 2020 visited Worthington, St. Peter, Mankato, St. James, Windom, Mountain Lake, Jackson and Marshall, according to the Worthington Globe's report, Group aims to put end to poverty.

The Globe editorial board asks that Congress Keep encouraging wind investment. Apparently the free market alone isn't enough to keep Southern Minnesota's turbines turning. A tax credit is needed:

Washington legislators have allowed the credit to expire three different times in the last decade, and the effect on the wind energy industry shouldn’t be surprising. In fact, construction of new wind farms reportedly dropped by 75 percent one year after Congress’ 2003 decision to let the credit lapse.

In the netroots, DB's Political Muse looks at Michele's "Coming Out" Party, contrasting Walzs' service on three committees and multiple town hall forums with Bachmann's lackadaisical approach to serving her constituents.