AM.MN: Rybak can’t win for losing in fusses over candidate forums

Pity Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. He hears gripes when he attends gubernatorial-candidate debates, yet there’s chatter when he skips ‘em, as with his cancellation for today’s forum on hunger in St. Paul. Meanwhile in the Star Tribune, more grousing about his no-shows at mayoral-candidate forums. (Hey, he has been busy doing his own phone-banking.) But when Rybak takes a poll to find out what people want, the GOP demands to know what for.

Elsewhere in Minnesota headlines this morning …

STATEWIDE: Pawlenty crosses state borders all the time, so why can’t health plans? Rybak got off a good line after T-Paw’s speech on the topic du jour: “The problem is the governor does an exceptional job of admiring the problem.” [Polinaut]

STATEWIDE: The guv from elsewhere. Actually, crossing the border into Minnesota is a good start on the road to the governor’s mansion. [Smart Politics]

MINNEAPOLIS: Two thumbs down for new two-ways. A “soft roll-out” of new traffic patterns on former one-way streets gave bicyclists the cold shoulder.  [Twin Cities Streets for People]

HIBBING: High court in high school. Minnesota’s Supremes convene at Hibbing High to hear a Hennepin County appeal before 1,800 students. [Minnesota Public Radio]

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS: Google Voice not listening to rural concerns. That’s what state Rep. Joe Atkins says, citing net neutrality as Google’s telephone service snubs some hinterlands. [Politics in Minnesota]

ST. PAUL: Agenda befowled. The city council may make the chicken-keeping ordinance all loosey-goosey. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]