Top Stories St. Paul

Fair warning to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe: Gov. Tim Pawlenty is watching you. “We want Olympia Snowe in the big tent,” he told MSNBC’s Morning Joe today, “but she can’t say she’s a Republican and vote against the Republican position much of the time.” Also in cable-news drama today, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson has another reunion with her old Anoka babysitter, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: Ready, set … IRV! Minnesota’s biggest city now has Minnesota’s biggest ballot. [Star Tribune]

ORTONVILLE: Big Stone II left unturned. Breath easy: the coal-burning power plant won’t be built. [Minnesota Public Radio]

ST. PAUL: A giant gently fell. The 2008 demolition of the smokestack at Xcel Energy’s High Bridge Power Plant makes a British list of the 15 most explosive videos on the internet. [Daily Telegraph]

VIRGINIA AND HIBBING: There is no Monday. Both cities’ dailies cut back to six days per week. [Associated Press]

IRON RANGE: Scenic breaking of skateboards. Best trick: falling out of a shoe. [YouTube]

STATEWIDE: Vote! Valid at participating localities only. [Minnesota Independent]