News cycles are funny things — an item can be news right up until the point that something bigger comes along and makes it passe.

In today’s case, that Something Bigger is the Iowa Caucuses, set for this evening, which will officially kick off the 2008 presidential race.  But that doesn’t mean there isn’t local news to be read until the caucuses actually start:

CD3:  Attorney and Iraq vet Ashwin Madia was endorsed by the DFL Veterans’ Caucus yesterday. “It’s important to remember that ’supporting our troops’ doesn’t end when their deployment does,” he said in a statement. “We have a deep moral obligation to stand by those who have served our country with honor as they work to successfully transition back into civilian life.”  Madia faces State Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka and Mayor Jim Hovland of Edina for the DFL endorsement, to be decided later this year.  Bonoff is generally seen as the frontrunner, with the support of several DFL legislators and the influential local American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Workers (AFSCME) unit.

CD1:  Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis announces today that he raised over $156,000 in 2007 for his bid to unseat first-term DFL incumbent Tim Walz.  Although this total does not match up well with Walz’s fundraising success — as of the third quarter of 2007, Walz had over $711,000 in cash on hand — it does match up well with Davis’ GOP rivals.  State Sen. Dick Day reported total receipts of around $157k through Q3 2007, while State Rep. Randy Demmer reported around $150k raised through the same period.  While it is likely that Davis’ total leaves him in 3rd place in the money chase, it should be enough to wage a viable campaign for the Republican endorsement.

HD61B:  Affordable housing advocate and community activist Jeff Hayden announced on the Minneapolis Issues Forum that he will run for the House seat being vacated by four-term State Rep. Neva Walker (h/t MN Blue).  The district covers a large swath of Minneapolis, and should not see any credible conservative candidates.

SD25:  The special election to replace State Sen. Tom Neuville, who was recently appointed to the bench by Gov. Pawlenty, takes place today.  DFLer and high school teacher Kevin Dahle faces off against Republican businessman and former State Rep. Ray Cox.