After years of delays, funding is in place to fix the traffic-clogged intersection of Highway 169 and Interstate 494.

By Lori Carlson, Editor
Concerned that Mediacom’s recent lawsuit against the city of Prior Lake could have implications for cable TV franchise agreements statewide, Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) is leading a charge in the Legislature to clarify the existing cable franchise law.

A group from the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE) will travel to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24 to lobby for funding for Highway 13 corridor improvements.

"The efforts of SCALE and being engaged has really helped, along with the delegation to Washington," said Scott County Public Works Director Lezlie Vermillion at a recent meeting. "This roadway is bigger than just one city, and Washington is recognizing that."

SAVAGE -  Travis Burton of Jordan received the DFL endorsement for state Senate seat in District 35, now held by Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan.

Burton received the endorsement in a unanimous vote by delegates at the party's Senate District 35 convention at Prior Lake High School on Feb. 13.

Burton hopes to bring reform to key issues and be an advocate for Scott County. District 35 includes the communities of Shakopee, Prior Lake, Jordan, Savage and Elko New Market.

A $1 billion bonding bill introduced late today by the Senate DFL includes $1 million to finish off the Scott County Regional Public Safety Training Center.

Left out of a smaller bonding list proposed earlier by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the project in Sand Creek Township made the Senate list, edging out another $2.5 billion in projects. 

The training center was also absent from a similar bill unveiled by the House DFL earlier today, which is the start of the 2010 legislative session.

State Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, and State Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, will host two “town hall” meetings for area residents on Saturday, Feb. 6.

The first meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Prior Lake Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Ave. State Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, whose district includes Spring Lake and Credit River townships, will also attend the Prior Lake meeting.

The second meeting will start at 12:30 p.m. at the Shakopee Library, 235 Lewis St. S.

Politically minded people and those interested in having early input in campaigning will gather tonight to cast gubernatorial-preference ballots, select convention delegates, debate a party platform and choose party officers.

By Forrest Adams, Mathias Baden, and Shannon Fiecke

It took two rows of risers to fit them, but 20 candidates for governor squared off Wednesday in the largest showing yet for a 2010 gubernatorial debate.

Five days remain to gather support from the politically minded. The field will dwindle after the Feb. 2 party caucuses, grassroots gatherings where eligible voters can cast ballots for their top choice for governor. (Debate video below)

Delegates will select party nominees at state conventions in coming months. Twelve of the candidates at the debate plan to abide by the endorsement process and not make a primary challenge.

The Jan. 27 forum, sponsored by media organizations and the League of Women Voters, included Democratic-Farm-Labor, Republican and Independence Party hopefuls who've filed papers with the Campaign Finance Board.

A former candidate for the Jordan School Board today announced his candidacy for a Minnesota Senate seat.

Travis Burton, 35, of Jordan represented Scott County at the Democratic-Farmer-Labor National Convention last year. 

With
education funding as his main concern, Burton plans to challenge for
the seat held by state Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, in November.

Burton
sees running against Robling as difficult possibility. Challenging
Robling himself is better than not having a DFL candidate at all, he
said.

District 35 Democrats plan to gather Tuesday, Feb. 2 to cast gubernatorial-preference ballots, select convention delegates, debate a party platform and choose party officers.

Caucus locations are:
Prior Lake and Spring Lake Township: Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St., Savage

Savage (Precincts 2-7), Credit River and New Market townships, and the city of Elko New Market: Glendale Elementary School, 6601 Connelly Pkwy, Savage

Shakopee: Shakopee Junior High School, 200 E. 10th Ave., Shakopee
Jordan and Sand Creek Township, Jordan High School, 600 Sunset Drive, Jordan