Daily Digest: One vote short
Good morning and welcome to Friday. It's the last day of a busy and momentous news week, so let's get right to it.
1. Another sign of tough going as the legislative session nears an end. The big public works construction bill failed in the Senate Thursday by one vote. All the Democrats and one Republican voted for the $1.5 billion bonding plan, but most Republicans opposed the measure even though several of their districts would have benefited from big projects in the bill. Republicans in the House haven't proposed a bill yet, leading Democrats to say they want a do-nothing session. But Republicans say unless Democrats come their way on transportation funding and tax cuts, it's the DFL that wants a do-nothing session. (MPR News)
2. One thing different this year from last year at the Capitol is that the Democrats seems to be working together. At least for now they're projecting a unified front. (MinnPost)
3. The Minnesota State Colleges and University System has dropped its ban on travel to North Carolina, which is good news for some schools' baseball teams. The reason given for dropping the ban is the Justice Department's decision that the North Carolina's transgender law violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act. (Pioneer Press)
4. Donald Trump's effort to unify the Republican Party after clearing the way to the party's presidential nomination hit a big snag Thursday. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R- WI, said he's not ready to support Trump. He said it's up to Trump to unify "all wings of the Republican Party and the conservative movement," and then run a campaign that will allow Americans to "have something that they're proud to support and proud to be a part of." (CNN)
5. Hillary Clinton is trying to take advantage of the split in the Republican Party. She's been contacting top Republican donors to tell them they have more in common with her than with Trump. Of course, many Democrats have been supporting Bernie Sanders this year for the same reason. (Politico)
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