MN State Rep. Loren Jennings, the chief sponsor of a
new Twins ballpark bill in the MN House, "withdrew his
request" for a hearing on the proposal Wednesday, a move
that he said ends the long-odds attempt to approve a
financing bill this session," according to Robert Whereatt
of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Jennings said the votes
"aren't there" for a ballpark measure (STAR TRIBUNE, 2/19).
State Sen. Roy Terwilliger, a co-sponsor of the bill, said
it's "up to" the Twins and MLB "to find a way to keep
baseball in Minnesota" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/19).
WHAT ABOUT BUD? MLB Acting Commissioner Bud Selig was
in Charlotte for a Regional Sports Commission dinner and
said he is "deeply troubled" by the Twins' situation.
Selig: "I'm very concerned" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/19).
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: MN State Senate Majority Leader
Roger Moe, a ballpark supporter, said that failure of the
project "significantly reduces the chances of the city's
hockey arena being included in this year's capital
improvements bill" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/19).
