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At the urging of local meat packer JBS, Worthington will write off 80 percent of what it could tax a new apartment complex. The city council agreed to forego as much as $250,000 to tempt Gilt Edge, LLC, to build the 72-unit project, with JBS promising to pay rent on vacant apartments so the building is never more than a quarter empty. JBS, formerly Swift & Company, knows a thing or two about empty buildings: an ammonia leak emptied its Worthington plant earlier this month and immigration raids in 2006 snared almost 1,300 undocumented workers from six Swift plants, including Worthington’s.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

ST. PAUL: Detroit to teach St. Paul how to drive. Instructors from Ford Motor Co. will teach tricks that boost fuel-economy at the State Capitol today, at the invitation of two Minneapolis legislators interested in adding the techniques to Minnesota’s required curriculum. [Associated Press]

ROCHESTER: Iranian-Americans set second rally. The local community, about 100 strong, gathered Sunday to protest the recent election in Iran; they’ll do it again Friday. [Rochester Post-Bulletin]

ST. PAUL: Two vie to lead GOP minority in state House. Reps. Randy Demmer and Kurt Zellers are openly seeking the post, but a dark horse could get the nod at a meeting tonight. [West Central Tribune]

DRESBACH: Mississippi’s drop draws water-power suitors. A Wisconsin hospital and a Massachusetts hydropower firm want to generate electricity at the local lock and dam. [Associated Press]

ST. CLOUD: Library’s sculpture named top public art. Called by Americans for the Arts one of the nation’s 40 best art projects for public places of 2008, “Natural Rhythm” screens mechanical equipment, cost $40,000 and is starting to rust. (Also honored for her advocacy work was Sheila Smith of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.) [St. Cloud Times; MinnPost]

MINNEAPOLIS: Former transportation reporter mugged at light-rail station. Chuck Laszewski, who left the transit beat at the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2006 to direct communications at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, got jumped the first time he tried to buy a ticket for the LRT. [Star Tribune; City Pages]

VIRGINIA: Water tower turns “Queer.” Someone altered the “N” in the tower’s “Queen City” motto to a letter “R.” It happened sometime over the last several days but was first noticed Monday morning. [Mesabi Daily News; KSTP-TV]