The threat of sharia, or Islamic law, to America's cities, towns, and way of life in general is going to be a major debate topic among Republican presidential candidates this cycle. More than a dozen states have been working to pass anti-Sharia laws, and we should expect to see more state ballot measures in 2012. It's a big thing in Republican politics these days. So wait until GOP primary voters hear about Tim Pawlenty's old plan to boost sharia-compliant mortgages, so Muslims could own houses! Oh, yikes.

For the first time in the history of red spray paint in the vicinity of a poster girl's breasts, a vandal made a billboard less sexual. To advertise an exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the billboard in Long Lake, MN featured a 16th-century Titian painting of Venus. The vandal painted a red tube top over Venus' breasts and commented, "Brrr!"

In a post-fight interview, UFC fighter Jacob Volkmann was asked who he wanted to fight next. "Obama," he said. "Someone's got to knock some sense into that idiot." The next week he was questioned by the Secret Service.

It's the Monday after a holiday. Naturally, everybody is a bit off. Sort of like this Mitsubishi 3G Eclipse, which—after some freezing rain in Minnesota last week—tried (and failed) to park on a nearly flat driveway. Watch inside.

Minnesota Majority, one of the groups behind the anti-voter fraud initiative called "Election Integrity Watch," told supporters in an e-mail last night to go ahead and wear their "Please I.D. Me" buttons and Tea Party apparel to the polls today.

John Brady—mayor of Mankato, Minnesota—was recently arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. And leaving the scene of an accident. And driving with an open container of alcohol (vodka). His blood-alcohol level? Three times the legal limit.

Storms in North Dakota and Minnesota set off tornadoes yesterday, picking up cars and leveling homes, with one tornado reportedly lasting 30 minutes. A storm chaser shot video of one tornado ripping up a farm house near Campbell, Minnesota.

A sculpture of a beaver with a giant vagina has has torn the sleepy town of Bemidji, Minnesota asunder, awakening ardent debate about the right to bear labia—and inspiring mischievous, sticky-goo-squirting vandals.

Have you heard of Tom Emmer, the far-right Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota? He wants to amend the state constitution to block federal laws. He's also anti-gay marriage. Oh, and he enjoys the monetary support of Target.

What's with the Minnesota senators at Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation hearings? Al Franken is doodling, and Amy Klobuchar wants Kagan to choose Team Edward or Team Jacob. It's like they think the whole process is a waste of time!

An AP reporter got an interesting notification after signing up for psychotic Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's email list this weekend: an entity called "Bachmann for Senate" wanted to thank her for subscribing! Can anything ever be just a typo?

Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey lives in New Jersey and usually limits his Luciferian powers to third-party runs for office. (Platform: "I WILL IMPALE THEM! [criminals]") Then a YouTube proposal to his 16-year-old girlfriend ignited a nationwide manhunt and internet flamewar.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty gave a rip-roaring speech at CPAC, saying we need to "smash the window out of Big Government" with a 9-iron. Has Big Government been cheating on us...? Or CPAC wants some of that Tiger Woods SEO?

Norm Coleman will not campaign for governor of Minnesota, because his family opposes a run. But he does plan on challenging the result of that family vote in court, and the appeal is expected to last until at least May.

In the "Crazy Lady is Crazy Like a Fox" dept., Representative Michele Bachmann has stopped telling constituents to be scared of the census—because if Minnesota loses a seat, it'll be her district that goes.

Currently, Jeremy Paul Olson languishes in a Minnesota jail for the crime of throwing tomatoes at Sarah Palin today. Although he missed Palin's face, Jeremy struck a chord strung through the center of our heart: Who are you, brave tomato-thrower?

Everyone is paying so much attention to one crazy liar lady that they have forgotten all about the other one, the one who still holds elected office! Thankfully, Michele Bachmann is stepping up the crazy.

Minnesota media reporter David Brauer: "I'd kill for my Sunday New York Times to come on Saturday." Move here, then. Problem solved. No need to kill anybody. Jesus. The outlier states are full of psychos. [MinnPost. Pic: Flickr]

This is like the "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" of health care town hall viral videos. According to the videographer/blogger, a dozen teabaggers staked out Al Franken's booth at the Great Minnesota Get-Together ready to boo and hiss and shout "socialism!" and all of those things that they have been doing, everywhere.