State senators continue their three-day tour of southern and southeast Minnesota today, hearing pitches from projects vying for state bonding dollars. The panel was in Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna and Albert Lea Tuesday and ended the day in Austin where Senator Dan Sparks is stressing that state bonding money for public works projects is vital. The committee hears about several proposed projects in Rochester today, including runway safety improvements at Rochester International Airport, plus a presentation from nearby Oronoco. Then it’s off to Chatfield, where that community’s Center for the Arts wants funding for phase two. The panel ends the day in Lanesboro. Tomorrow they’ll be in Winona, hear pitches for 10 projects in Lake City, then head to Red Wing, Rosemount and Apple Valley.