The report comes at a critical juncture when the team and stadium backers were looking to move forward sooner rather than later on the project. It's also being released the morning after a Ramsey County panel said it would not put a proposed sales tax intended to pay for the project before voters, a referendum most thought would likely fail.

The bill, which divvies out dollars for arts and conservation via a constitutionally dedicated sales tax increase, was derailed in the final minutes of the 2011 session by Democrats, who ran out the clock debating issues with the proposal ranging from rural verses metro funding to open meeting laws.

Here's a rundown of the year's top 10 political stories.

The Minnesota Vikings descended on the Capitol this morning with their offensive line of contract lobbyists.

The Senate DFLer thinks next year's anticipated multi-billion deficit makes the Vikings stadium urgent this session.

[Note: This story first appeared in the March 28, 2008, edition of The Weekly Report.] [Update: The Senate — wisely — pulled the Vikings study ...

[Note: This story first appeared in the March 28, 2008, edition of The Weekly Report.] [Update: The Senate — wisely — pulled the Vikings study ...