Metro briefs: Thissen warns of aid cuts for metro under GOP

The top DFLer in the Minnesota House said Minneapolis should brace for possible cuts to state aid following the Republican takeover of the House on Election Day.

Rep. Paul Thissen, who will soon transition from being speaker to minority leader, told a neighborhood meeting Monday that he anticipates attempts to divert Minneapolis and St. Paul's local government aid to outstate Minnesota cities or other budget priorities.

Minneapolis' $76 million local government aid allocation comprises about 17 percent of its discretionary general fund budget. It is the third-largest source of the city's general fund revenue, after property taxes and local sales taxes.

"That's going to be a big fight," Thissen told the Calhoun Area Residents Action Group, an Uptown-area neighborhood. "The reality is the Democratic leadership in the Senate is all from greater Minnesota as well. So their instinct would be to support a move like that."

He added, however, that DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's support will be important to maintain "equity" across the state.

Eric Roper

Three finalists have been named for the city manager job. The incumbent, Mark Bernhardson, is retiring at year's end after 23 years. The finalists are Jay Stroebel, deputy city coordinator in Minneapolis; Jamie Verbrugge, city manager in Brooklyn Park; and Heather Worthington, deputy county manager in Ramsey County.

JOHN REINAN

A legendary but little-known St. Paul blues singer and guitarist who influenced Bob Dylan and the Beatles will have part of a city street named in his honor Monday.

A three-block stretch of Franklin Avenue, between Berry and Eustis Streets, will be officially named "Dave Ray Street" at a ceremony starting at 1 p.m. at the corner of Franklin and Berry.

Ray, who died of cancer in 2002 at age 59, was born and raised in St. Paul. He played guitar in a local acoustic trio with "Spider" John Koerner and Tony Glover that won international acclaim for their take on the blues and other roots classics.

An anthology of Ray's recordings from the 1960s to the 1990s was recently released by Red House Records of St. Paul.

Kevin Duchschere

The Scott County Historical Society is greeting the arrival of the holidays with two events on Dec. 5 and 6.

An open house Dec. 5 offers free admission to the museum and historic Stans house from 6-8 p.m., with holiday crafts, activities for kids, hot chocolate and treats.

At the same time, Shakopee kicks off the holidays with its tree lighting, Santa and a velodazzle parade (holiday-lighted bicycles).

Then, on Dec. 6, the society invites families to create warm holiday memories at its Gingerbread House Workshop.

A fee of $10 per family covers workshop supplies. There's limited space, so reservations are required.

Register through Shakopee Community Education at www.shakopee.k12.mn.us/Page/162

To learn more, call 952-445-0378 or e-mail sherrick@scottcountyhistory.org.

The society is at 235 Fuller St. S., Shakopee, three blocks south of the intersection of County Road 101 and Fuller Street.