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.

Legislative funding bill clears first hurdle at conference committee

Minnesota legislators could vote Thursday to restore the House and Senate operating budgets, after Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed them in May. A conference committee approved a bill Wednesday night that would designate more than $64 million for both the House and Senate, allowing them to keep functioning for two years. The funding would be retroactive to July 1. Both chambers need to vote on the measure, and Dayton must sign off on it.

Democrats eye state Senate control, House upset in Minnesota

Minnesota voters were choosing successors Monday for two legislators who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, as Democrats sought to remain in striking distance of taking back the state Senate and add a solidly Republican state House seat to their list of upsets leading up to the midterms. The rare Monday special elections were triggered by the resignations of GOP Rep. Tony Cornish and Democratic Sen. Dan Schoen late last year after they were accused by several women of sexual harassment.

Precinct caucuses start the sorting of candidates to become Minnesota governor

With Gov. Mark Dayton not seeking re-election this year, a wide-open race to succeed him will take center stage as precinct caucuses mark the official start of the campaign season across Minnesota on Tuesday night, Feb. 6. Both the Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican parties will conduct non-binding straw polls for governor that will test the early grassroots support for announced candidates. Caucus-goers also will start the processes for endorsing each party's candidates for two U.S. Senate seats, eight congressional seats, 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives, plus state auditor, secretary of state and attorney general.

Minnesota couple raises awareness for unborn child’s defect

Jordan See and Austin Benz - garbed in matching shirts depicting a sweet little cow with a Band-Aid on her tummy and pink bow on her head - chat on a recent day about an uncommon condition of which they are becoming experts: Omphalocele. When the young couple, expecting their first child, initially heard the term, "I could barely pronounce it," said See, now 28 weeks pregnant, at their Mountain Iron apartment.

Pawlenty sets meeting with advisers on governor run

A top adviser says former Gov. Tim Pawlenty has scheduled a meeting with his inner circle as he nears a decision on whether to run for governor. Pawlenty's possibly entry has been the source of speculation for months, and would likely be the immediate favorite among Republicans if he gets in.