AM.MN: Opus Prize, unlike U.S. presidency, goes to ‘Muslin’

Last year a website was created to answer the then-burning question, “Is Barack Obama a Muslin?” This morning, news outlets across the land carried the headline: “Woman first Muslin to win Opus Prize.” The Minnetonka-based Opus Prize Foundation awarded $1 million to Aicha Ech Channa, president of the Morocco Association for Women’s Solidarity, who is, apparently, a Muslim.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: R.T. Rybak honors Suicide Commandos. No sooner was the Minneapolis mayor re-elected to a third term than he began abusing his power by dedicating Saturday to an early local punk act. [City Pages]

ST. PAUL: Gov. Pawlenty wants to change the state Constitution. But no one knows how, yet. [Associated Press]

MINNEAPOLIS: Ranked-choice voting was great. Except that only half bothered making a second choice in Rybak’s race. [Smart Politics]

MINNEAPOLIS: Hydro energy at lower falls. Rybak shows state legislators how he’s also abusing water power. [Associated Press]

MINNEAPOLIS: Pawlenty PAC nets $300,000. But the disembodied voice of Kelsey Grammer arrived too late for Halloween. [Star Tribune]

ST. PAUL: Pawlenty calls Manchester. The Minnesota governor phoned congratulations to the newly elected mayor of a city in New Hampshire. If T-Paw gave R.T. that honor, it hasn’t be reported. [Polinaut]