am.mn logo… but don’t let the snow fool you: Gov. Pawlenty says he won’t continue his tradition of making unallotment budget cuts in December. Last year T-Paw gave out lumps of coal to local governments the day after Christmas, but Tuesday he vowed not to reduce state-aid checks to cities and counties before the Legislature convenes in February. With Norm Coleman poo-pooing reports he’ll announce for governor this month, state Sen. Dick Day looks like the only big-name Republican ready to decide something in December.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: No snow day for education reporters. Read news of struggling public schools or a feature and column about successful private schools. [Star Tribune]

ST. JOSEPH: “Petters Auditorium” … not. The pyramid-schemer’s family name will no longer bedeck the hall at the College of St. Benedict. [St. Cloud Times]

ST. LOUIS COUNTY: Schools referendum passes, barely. Voters decided to close four of the seven schools where they cast ballots Tuesday. [WDIO Eyewitness News]

SAVAGE: Blecchh! The city shut off the flow of musty-smelling and -tasting water from a new plant in Burnsville. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

MINNEAPOLIS: U Otter Stop fighting. A brawl outside a saloon left a female University of Minnesota art history research assistant with a broken leg — a possible hate crime. [Minnesota Daily; Minneapolis Issues List]

MINNEAPOLIS: Who you gonna call? Witnesesses didn’t call police about that fight, but if they do next time, they’ll reach a force with 25 fewer officers. [Minnesota Daily]