Minnesota House approves school safety funding package

A school safety funding package that would give Minnesota schools more money for building safety improvements, hiring counselors and school resource officers, and other expenses won the approval of state lawmakers Thursday. The school safety budget plans approved by the Republican-majority House largely mirrors a $21 million proposal offered by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton earlier this year.

Audit finds Minnesota preschool programs – complex and fragmented’

Minnesota does a lot to prepare children for elementary school, but its often tough for families to find the right program, leaving some children without the head start they need to succeed. Those are the findings of an analysis of Minnesota's early learning programs released Thursday by the state Legislative Auditor, a government watchdog.

Soil and Water Stewardship Week is April 29-May 6

St. PAUL-In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesotans have a great love for their lakes, rivers, streams and the great outdoors. For over 70 years, Minnesota's soil and water conservation districts have been hard at work protecting the state's critical soil and water resources by working with landowners on programs and practices that support conservation, healthy working lands and clean water.

Minnesota’s two largest export markets push for NAFTA renewal

Minnesota's two largest export markets are touting the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which may be headed for a renewal in Washington as early as next month. Canadian Consul General Paul Connors and Mexican Consul Gerardo Guerrero, who spoke Tuesday at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce breakfast, have been on the road pitching the value of NAFTA to Minnesota factories, farmers and workers.

3 rural Illinois men charged with Minnesota mosque bombing

Federal authorities on Tuesday charged three men from rural central Illinois with the bombing of a Minnesota mosque last year and said one of the suspects told an investigator the goal of the attack was to "scare" Muslims out of the United States. A statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Springfield, Illinois, says the men also are suspected in the attempted bombing of an abortion clinic in November.

Dayton, lawmakers propose overhaul of senior care oversight

Gov. Mark Dayton and a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed major changes to the state's oversight of Minnesota's elder care facilities on Tuesday, aiming to reverse years of pervasive abuse and neglect of Minnesota's seniors that was only recently revealed. Addressing widespread abuse of seniors - and the state's lax oversight - were a top priority for officials heading into 2018, following reporting by the Star Tribune last year that exposed maltreatment and the state's struggles to keep up with complaints.

Lawmakers rethink selection process for University of Minnesota Board of Regents

State legislators are debating proposals to change how members of the University of Minnesota's governing body are picked, a system critics say has sometimes favored the politically connected over the most qualified. The process has drawn fresh attention after the surprise resignation of Regent Patricia Simmons on Wednesday.

Nitrate proposal will take some persuading

Gov. Mark Dayton and Ag Commissioner David Frederickson on Tuesday introduce their new plan to lower the nitrate levels in Minnesota's groundwater. The plan calls for farmers to We can hear the local farmers in the area, who oppose the idea of the state telling them how to farm, getting ready to say, Back in December the Brown County Board of Commissioners let a motion to accept free well testing from the state die without a second.