AM.MN: DFL, GOP pick hopefuls to succeed Day

St. Olaf College physics professor Jason Engbrecht has seen what antimatter can do at the atomic level. DFLers decided Monday to see what Engbrecht, also a Faribault school board member, can do at the next level, endorsing him to replace retiring Republican state Sen. Dick Day. The GOP also met Monday, selecting Mike Parry, a Waseca businessman, over six rivals. An obstacle to either gaining Day’s seat is Waseca Mayor Roy Srp, who the Independence Party is likely to pick Wednesday for the Jan. 26 special election.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

ST. PAUL: Legislators leery about Hmong repatriations. State Sen. Mee Moua and state Rep. Cy Thao say moving refugees from Thailand to Laos spells danger. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

ST. CLOUD: Army reservists headed for Southwest Asia. That’s code for the Middle East. [St. Cloud Times]

AUSTIN: Security ramped up. Not on airplanes — at the library, where a 19th-century map was stolen and vulgar words scratched into staffers’ cars. [Austin Post-Bulletin; News Cut]

ALBERT LEA: Budget leaves city $7,000 short for cop’s pay. But council finds $17,750 for search firm to find someone willing to work as city manager. [Albert Lea Tribune]

STATEWIDE: “Eat wheat!” Farmers will vote on doubling their checkoff rate to fund research and promotion, after 30 years at 1 cent per bushel.

LAKE COUNTY: Jailbirds’ two squares jump in price. A nursing home will charge 60 percent more to fix meals for prisoners. [Lake County News Chronicle]