am.mn logoU.S. Sen. Al Franken has it in for Brian Williams. That’s one conclusion to be drawn from Franken’s backing of a bill that would end tax breaks for pharmaceutical ads of the sort that pepper TV network news shows. Meanwhile, Franken is having unintended side effects of his own. National Geographic magazine is challenging other senators to draw their states from memory, inspired by Franken’s ability to draw all 50 states.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

SAVAGE: The Powers that might be. DFLer Dan Powers is set to run against U.S. Rep. John Kline with ready road metaphors, saying Kline likes our “endless road of overseas combat” and is “a roadblock” to President Obama. [Polinaut; Facebook]

MOOSE LAKE: TVs tip of iceberg. Gov. Pawlenty overspends millions of dollars confining sex offenders beyond their jail terms, writes State Sen. Linda Berglin; meanwhile, the TVs didn’t make the latest state auction of used items. [Star Tribune; Associated Press]

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Feds question pilots who overshot Twin Cities. Their straying plane may even have been tracked by Obama, if his Minnesota retinue of schedulers determined it vaunted influence. [KEYC-TV; Associated Press; Star Tribune]

HUGO: Flying wheelchair arrives on time. Thanks to gravity and a $2,500 trebuchet. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: PACs starving Bachmann. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann gets dwindling amounts of campaign cash from political action committees each quarter, but she’s doing well with a certain bespectacled, bow-tied pundit. [Smart Politics; Washington Post]

MOUNTAIN IRON: Tour aimed at stimulus cash for schools. Education Commissioner Alice Seagren earns her own performance pay by leading a four-day tour of the state for ideas to get Minnesota a share of $4 billion in federal funds. [Associated Press]