Gov. Tim Pawlenty today announced he will resume broadcasting his “Good Morning, Minnesota” radio show this Friday, Jan. 5.

I am a regular listener, as I find the show to be entertaining and informative.

I like the way the governor communicates -- he is an interesting study -- and I want to know what he thinks about state issues. His opinion is going to matter a lot now that Democrats control both the Minnesota House and Senate.

The governor's weekly radio show is returning to WCCO-AM, host of the program from February 2003 through June 2006, when Pawlenty voluntarily halted the show prior to filing his re-election bid.

The show will again air from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Fridays on 830 AM. Additional stations across Minnesota will also be able to pick up the broadcast through a partnership with WCCO-AM.

“Hosting the show is a great way to connect directly with Minnesotans and hear their thoughts and concerns,” Pawlenty said in a press release. “Hopefully, it’s also a chance for people to hear about some of the topics in the news beyond sound bytes.”

WCCO-AM was selected after an request-for-proposals process, which consisted of soliciting bids from radio broadcasters interested in airing the governor’s radio show. The contract with WCCO-AM is for two years, with an option to continue for an additional two years.

“Good Morning, Minnesota” is a mixture of current events, entertainment, and commentary. The governor's communications director, Brian McClung, returns to the show as the governor's sidekick, a role he filled for more than two years.