Lawmakers wrap up session in a blur of bills, questions

The Minnesota Legislature wrapped up its work at midnight Sunday with the familiar last-minute flurry of votes and political machinations but surrounded by question marks, as Gov. Mark Dayton threatened to veto major tax and spending bills. The ramifications of the latest round of gridlock at the Capitol could be huge, as the failure to enact a bill syncing Minnesota's tax code with sweeping federal changes would create a massively complex tax filing season next year and hit hundreds of thousands of Minnesota families and some businesses with tax increases.

Pipeline advocates visit Baxter amid statewide debate over Line 35 min ago

Tuesday's Line 3 pipeline replacement discussion was spearheaded by Minnesotans for Line 3 and United Piping Inc. CEO Bob Shoneberger ; Cub Foods owner Chris Quisberg representing the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce; and Grand Rapids resident DeeDee Tollefson.

Dayton makes case for K-12 funding

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton shows a photo of his dog to students in Denise Ducharme's first-grade class while visiting Ben Franklin Elementary School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Rochester. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton responds to questions from first-graders from Denise Ducharme's first-grade class while visiting Ben Franklin Elementary School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Rochester.

With tax pieces in play, it’s Capitol deal-making season

In this Nov. 10, 2016 file photo, Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, center, is joined by Senate Republicans at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Republican lawmakers who control the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton have put forward markedly different plans to square Minnesota's tax code with the federal government.

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.

Sun Country now says it will reimburse some costs for stranded Mexico fliers

Sun Country Airlines now says it plans to reimburse passengers left stranded in Mexico after the carrier canceled its last flights of the season following a late-season blizzard in Minnesota. Instead of extending its schedule or sending charters to bring home about 250 passengers from the Mexican resort cities of Cabo San Lucas and Mazatln, Sun Country opted instead to refund fliers' fares and then told them they were on their own to find a new way home.

VP Pence visit aims to fire up Minnesota Republicans

Gallery: Vice President Mike Pence shook hands with one of the guests who had been waiting to greet him at the Minnesota National Guard - 934th Airlift Wing Tuesday afternoon. Gallery: Vice President Mike Pence waved to the crowd of guests waiting to greet him at the Minnesota National Guard - 934th Airlift Wing Tuesday afternoon.

‘Eggs & Issues’ legislative forum over, easy

Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kilian , Rep. John Poston, Sen. Paul Gazelka, Rep. Josh Heintzeman, Rep. Dale Lueck and Sen. Carrie Ruud wait to be introduced at the annual Eggs & Issues Minnesota Legislative Forum featuring Brainerd lakes area legislators at a panel discussion at Madden's on Gull Lake on Friday, March 23. Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch In lieu of a magic crystal ball, Brainerd lakes area businesses hoped to get a glimpse into the future by asking area legislators to be prognosticators at an event at Madden's on Gull Lake.

Pawlenty Files With Campaign Finance Board: ‘Final Announcement Soon’

Tim Pawlenty said in a statement that he filed a campaign committee Monday with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, and will make a final announcement on his candidacy "soon." Speculation swirled for weeks about Pawlenty's possible entry into the already crowded race, and with Monday's filing, it seems more likely than ever.

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.