AM.MN: Obama-objectors make school speech a screechable moment

A/V club members are being drafted into early service as school districts opt to videotape President Obama’s Tuesday speech to students rather then let them watch it live. Fergus Falls and Becker bowed early to pressure from parents outraged at presidential politics being piped into kids’ noggins. The Sartell-St. Stephen superintendent says Obama’s study-hard message sounds okay, but “on the other hand, there is the concern of it being political.” In North St. Paul-Maplewood “people may think it’s political” to ban the speech, but it’s not, says the assistant superintendent.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

STATE CAPITOL: Minnesota Leadership Summit won’t be open to Minnesotans. At least Gov. Pawlenty had a choice not to attend. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

STATE FAIR: Republican debate set. Seven would-be GOP heirs to Gov. Pawlenty’s throne  – six squires and one maiden – will meet in battle fair on Monday. [Minnesota Public Radio]

STATEWIDE: Amy up, Al down in poll. Sen. Klobuchar is tops among Midwestern senators in recent approval polls by SurveyUSA; Sen. Franken starts with the lowest marks in the surveyed states. [Smart Politics]

BEMIDJI: Environmental groups sue Clinton. The U.S. Secretary of State gave the final OK for an oil pipeline from Canada to cross Minnesota. [Bemidji Pioneer]

STEARNS COUNTY: Furcations curtail services. Budget cuts mean many staffers are out on mandatory furlough today and Tuesday.  [St. Cloud Times]

LAKE CITY: How do you like them apples? The new SweeTango is a cross between Minnesota’s famed Honeycrisp and Zestar! varieties. Must be an old family name. [Associated Press]