AM.MN: Bachmann and Palin each claims a rotunda

Sarah Palin received her subjects in a rotunda at the Mall of America yesterday, only hours after U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann presided over a rally in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda to amend the state constitution with a spending cap. There was a showering of praise between the two, but Palin could have used a shower cap: a man hurled tomatoes from above, missing the former Alaska governor but striking a Bloomington police commander.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

ST. LOUIS COUNTY: Vote today on schools’ future. Officials say only a tax hike will stave off educational extinction. [Minnesota Public Radio via Associated Press]

ST. PAUL: “Jobs, jobs, jobs.” That was the chorus as the DFL candidates for governor debated. [Star Tribune]

MINNEAPOLIS: “Thank you.” That’s what Secretary of State Ritchie will say today to election officials from across the state who worked on last year’s recount. [Associated Press]

MINNEAPOLIS: Budget panel splits baby. The city’s civil-rights department will survive, sort of, by sharing work with its state counterpart for a couple years. [Minnesota Daily]

STATEWIDE: Rybak’s crystal ball cloudy. The Minneapolis mayor skipped the debate Monday for the budget hearing, but his city ties may not hinder his effort to occupy the governor’s mansion. [Smart Politics]

SOUTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA: Blizzard. It won’t be raining tomatoes today. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]