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From Prayers To Ethanol, Events Prove Times Are Still A-Changin’
By Mr Ethanol | June 25, 2008
MinnPost.com:
Remember when it was OK for Catholics to pray with gays and lesbians? When communities thought they were going to receive a bigger taste of state aid? When ethanol was the answer to all our energy needs? When a bus ride was two bits, or even $1.50? When there was a gate across Rice Creek? The times, as always, are changing.
Be careful whom you pray for. 
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis told staff members of St. Joan of Arc Church they could not hold their annual gay pride prayer service, according to PiPress reporter Tad Vezner. “That descriptor (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) was not possible on church property,” said archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath. Apparently with a straight face, McGrath said that this isn’t some new crackdown because Archbishop John Nienstedt is now in charge. Recently retired Archibishop Harry Flynn would have cracked down on this, too, had he known of it, McGrath said. Maybe. But the service was not exactly an underground deal. In the past, it was advertised on St. Joan’s website and in its bulletin. Many are saddened and angry - but probably not surprised.
At least some communities are getting a surprise when they figure out just how much of an increase in local government aid they’ll be receiving from the state, according to MPR’s Tom Robertson. In some cases, there’s no increase - and in some cases, there’s even a decrease. Legislators did approve a $42 million increase in LGA. But Gov. Tim Pawlenty got a cap on the amount cities can raise property taxes. The two are intermingled in a complex formula that is leaving some cities gasping for funds. “The reality is, I think we were duped,” says Bemidji City Manager John Chattin.
This is never a good sign on a business story: “Back in the salad days…” That’s how the Strib’s H.J. Cummins begins her story on ethanol production in Minnesota. Those “salad days,” when every politician was touting ethanol as the silver bullet to all energy problems, occurred only two years ago. With corn, ethanol’s main ingredient, at a record high price per bushel (almost $8), the industry is in the tank. Some brand-new plants aren’t even going to open for the time being. Full article.
Topics: Ethanol, Legislative, News, Trends |
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June 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Great blog! Ethanol and other biofuels are the future of civilization as we know it.