State briefs

St. Louis County Administrator David Twa is taking a pay cut and heading south to work for Minnesota's second-largest county.

Twa, 59, said his desire to work as county manager for Ramsey County outweighed the pay cut. He will earn $114,288 at Ramsey County, about $4,000 less than his salary in Duluth as the St. Louis County administrator.

St. Louis County, with an annual budget roughly half the size of Ramsey County's, was able to pay Twa more because of a waiver obtained during the Ventura administration.

Ramsey County sought a waiver this year from the Pawlenty administration to pay its chief executive more than $140,000, but the request was denied. The cap limits most public salaries to 95 percent of the governor's annual pay.

Twa's start date has not been set. He said he must give St. Louis County two months notice. If his employer lets him go early, Twa could start next month.

Firm won't make sleds in Fargo

An electric car manufacturer will not make a line of high-performance snowmobiles in Fargo.

Chief Executive Officer Larry Oswald said Global Electric Motorcars' parent company, DaimlerChrysler, and a California-based company called off negotiations.

Redline Snowmobiles wanted Global Electric to build its first production model sled at the Fargo plant.

Deliberations open

Truant teenagers and a woman blowing kisses were among a handful of fans who showed up for closing arguments in the civil battery trial of rocker Marilyn Manson in St. Paul.

They provided a fitting backdrop for the controversial yet popular performer, who is accused of pulling a security guard's head into his crotch and gyrating during a concert in Minneapolis.

Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, wore a gray suit and wire rim glasses, and his chin-length hair was pulled back out of his face. His appearance contrasted sharply with the ghastly, cadaverous look he has on stage.