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Thanks to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s cuts through unallotment, many school districts will have to take out loans to cover the shortfall. But Minnesota’s finance director says he can’t say how much a state delay in paying out nearly $1.8 billion in aid will cost school districts in interest on those loans. Democrat legislative leaders warn that the question is “if” as much as “when” Republican Pawlenty makes good on his IOUs to schools. ”They’ll give it back to us whenever they darn well please,” opines the outgoing superintendent in Thief River Falls.

Elsewhere in Minnesota headlines this morning …

ST. PAUL: GOP to pick new head for House caucus. Republicans in Minnesota’s House of Representatives will pick from among eight of their own to replace Marty Seifert, who is resigning as Minority Leader to run for governor.  [St. Paul Legal Ledger]

ST. PAUL: State pushes trade with Cuba. Minnesota companies interested in doing long-banned business with the island nation will get tips from Minnesota trade officials at a seminar today. [Associated Press]

STATEWIDE: Antiquated transmission grid holding back windpower. An inadequate system of power lines hampers the harvesting of electricity from the wind. [St. Cloud Times]

AUSTIN: Twister’s victims must wait for state aid. Locals whose property was damaged by last week’s tornado may not see emergency relief until the state Legislature reconvenes next year. [Albert Lea Tribune]

DULUTH: Disagreeability pays dividends for local firm. With the pitch “Offshore to the North Shore,” Saturn Systems Software Engineering draws clients who value the kind of American obstinance they don’t get from companies that are truly offshore. [Duluth News Tribune]

WADENA: “Science fiction laser gun” used to find colonial-era artifacts. University of Minnesota archaeology team is aiming a geochemical analyzer at promising fur-trade sites within Old Wadena Park this summer. [Wadena Pioneer Journal via Detroit Lakes Tribune]