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Leading lawmakers have announced how they will dispense with what remains of Minnesota's $1.2 billion budget surplus, a framework that suggests the election-year legislative session is moving toward conclusion. The agreement released Friday by Democratic leaders would allow for $103 million more in tax breaks on top of the $447 million already enacted this year.
Top Minnesota lawmakers are working to set the terms of a deal on tax cuts, new state spending and borrowing for construction that would enable them to end their session. Democratic leaders of the House and Senate said Thursday that they were closing in on a framework.
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is advising the Legislature to forge ahead with a bill making clear that lawmakers can't avoid arrest for drunken driving or other crimes during the months of session. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Ron Latz responded Thursday that he's not convinced that a new law is required to resolve what he sees as a misunderstanding of current law.
Top Minnesota lawmakers are making a major push to expand high-speed internet to regions of the state that still don't have it. Minnesota House Democrats are proposing big internet upgrades they say will improve rural schools and businesses.
Minnesota lawmakers haven't had a pay hike since 1999. But they can boost their take-home pay with per diem -- up to $76 per day in the Minnesota House, and up to $86 a day in the Minnesota Senate.
Lawmakers will be less than a month from the mandatory session finish line when they return to the Capitol after Easter, but don't be surprised if they make an earlier break for it. Much of the heavy lifting of the election-year session is done. Negotiators from the House, Senate and Gov. Mark Dayton's administration forecast more ease than usual buttoning up remaining tax and budget bills.
Minnesota lawmakers' immunity to drunken driving arrests would end under a bill that passed a House committee on Friday, a day after the Senate's version was tabled by lawmakers who see it as unnecessary. The archaic provision in the state constitution dates to 1858, when the state's founding fathers wanted to protect legislators from being arrested and detained from votes on important measures.
An expensive office building for lawmakers at the Capitol is facing new scrutiny. The four-story glass, steel and stone complex would sit across the street from the Capitol, and include offices for 45 of Minnesota's 67 state senators. But the cost and design are raising eyebrows, even from supporters like Gov. Mark Dayton, who called the project "overly lavish."
The up-and-down medical marijuana bill at the Capitol may be down again. Top lawmakers in the House and Senate say it's not likely to pass this year. Advocates of legalizing medical marijuana are hoping to make Minnesota the 20th state in the country to do so. Thursday, the advocates said it's possible to pass it this year. But it's not about medicine at this point at the Capitol; it's about math.
Minnesota state lawmakers are trying to slow down a plan from the Department of Public Safety that would restrict public access to driver's license data, including the bulk sale of data to insurance companies and car dealers. DPS officials say they made the change after thousands of snooping incidents into personal driver's license records. But insurance industry executives, and Insurance Federation of Minnesota Vice President Mark Kulda, say it could add money to your insurance bill.
Minnesota lawmakers have a difficult job ahead. They must decide what to do about the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, now that a federal judge has ruled that it is broken and in need of repair.
As the boys state hockey tournament skates into the Xcel Energy Center, it's another showdown in St. Paul that some high school athletes are fighting to win. Lawmakers are wondering if some students and their parents are going too far to gain a competitive edge.
A group of health experts and faith leaders were at the state capitol Monday to ask lawmakers to raise wages to improve the health of workers. Statistics show that low-income workers die eight-years earlier than other workers. Shaquonica Johnson, 37, has been a personal care attendant for 15 years. She works several different jobs at $8.50 an hour to care for her two children.
Minnesota Department of Administration officials estimate it would cost at least $2.4 million to rent temporary space for state senators and staff during the ongoing Capitol renovation.
Minnesota lawmakers have been told that a final decision on a new Senate Office Building must be made within weeks or a related renovation of the state Capitol will cost more and take longer.
Fears of prying from the sky have some Minnesota lawmakers seeking clamps on law enforcement's use of unmanned aerial drones to gather evidence.
Students at Concordia University are attempting something not a lot of college students try to do. They're going to the Minnesota Legislature to get some laws changed, including one controversial loophole for the lawmakers themselves.
Salaries of the top-paid employees in Minnesota city and county government have risen sharply since the state peeled back a restriction that made it rare for local personnel to earn more than the governor.
Lawmakers weighing where to send public construction aid are touring several Minnesota cities with projects in the 2014 mix. Members of the Senate Capital Investment Committee are headed to eight cities this week after spending three days on the road earlier in the month.
In Minnesota, veterans rallied at the Vietnam Memorial in St. Paul to show their support of the national movement. They talked about the closing of the national war memorials and the suspension of death benefits to military families.
Minnesota state legislators are struggling with how to craft new laws that would effectively combat the growing use of synthetic drugs. Several state House committees met Wednesday to strategize how to address problem that medical and law enforcement officials say is rapidly getting worse.
Minnesota leaders are taking stock of state departments that work in tandem with the federal government to determine those most at risk in the shutdown.
Two-year union contracts providing Minnesota state workers three percent annual raises are up for review by a panel of legislators. The Subcommittee on Employee Relations is deciding whether to ratify the deals.
A special session is expected to get underway today at the Minnesota State Capitol. Lawmakers are expected to deal with disaster relief after last June's storms.
Starting Monday, Minnesota's tax on tobacco is the sixth-highest in the country. The tax just jumped to $2.83 from $1.60, making the average pack of cigarettes in Minnesota now $7.51. Lawmakers who upped the tax said they did it not only to raise money, but to get people to quit.
Authorities in Pine County are searching for an 82-year-old man who told family he was leaving for Texas in early November and hasn't been heard from since.
President-elect Donald Trump made the announcement Thursday evening after Matt Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration.
A southwest Minnesota man is donating his time and skills to provide a service that most of us didn't know needed to be done.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday vetoed a City Council proposal that would establish a citywide labor standards board.
A man is expected to survive after being shot during a possible drug deal in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday vetoed a City Council proposal that would establish a citywide labor standards board.
A man is expected to survive after being shot during a possible drug deal in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture say they have confirmed a total of 15 cases of E. coli related illnesses in Minnesota.
The head coach of the University of St. Thomas' women's hockey team has resigned following an "incident," according to the school, which would not disclose the details of what occurred.
Multiple crashes have occurred on Twin Cities roads during Thursday morning's commute, with icy roadways and even some blowing snow reported as temperatures hover around freezing.
Authorities in Pine County are searching for an 82-year-old man who told family he was leaving for Texas in early November and hasn't been heard from since.
A southwest Minnesota man is donating his time and skills to provide a service that most of us didn't know needed to be done.
A recount of a close Minnesota House race on Thursday could determine the balance of power in the chamber, which now stands at a political tie, according to the unofficial results from the election two weeks ago.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture say they have confirmed a total of 15 cases of E. coli related illnesses in Minnesota.
Multiple crashes have occurred on Twin Cities roads during Thursday morning's commute, with icy roadways and even some blowing snow reported as temperatures hover around freezing.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is grappling with a case affecting whether the swing state's nonpartisan top elections official can remain in her post despite not being reappointed and confirmed by the state Senate.
Documents say Steven Williams resigned from the Prescott, Wisconsin police force "in lieu of termination."
An attorney representing a conservative prosecutor struggled Monday to convince Wisconsin's liberal-leaning Supreme Court to reactivate the state's 175-year-old abortion ban.
Jennie-O turkey brand will display its float at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the fifth consecutive year.
Traffic is backed up on a major interstate in western Wisconsin Tuesday morning due to a crash.
A man is expected to survive after being shot during a possible drug deal in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.
A warm place to live may be taken for granted, but for a veteran taking over his family home, it's a gift.
Michael Fuller and Mahesh Mathew are finding purpose on Twin Cities running paths together.
One issue veterans face is finding a job after they finish their service. They have skills, of course, but they are not always valued as work experience. The University of Minnesota Medical School is hoping to change that.
Alan Vanhoever and Brian Neidt are honored to have served the United States. Both struggled with addiction for years before giving a specialized long-term program a try.
President-elect Donald Trump made the announcement Thursday evening after Matt Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his nominee to be attorney general last week.
A recount of a close Minnesota House race on Thursday could determine the balance of power in the chamber, which now stands at a political tie, according to the unofficial results from the election two weeks ago.
A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth, according to a detailed, newly released police report. He is now President-elect Trump's choice for defense secretary.
State regulators denied two-thirds of the applications seeking one of the initial "preapproved" licenses to operate a cannabis business in Minnesota, a spokesperson for the Office of Cannabis Management said by email.
"We literally walk in and dust off the jackets because they have been sitting for a while," she said.
Thieves capture radio signals from your key fob by using a device that grabs that fob's signal, even from long distances. That signal can be stored and re-used.
The price of housing in Minneapolis rose less over the last five years compared to other metro areas around the U.S.
The Wild also partnered with community food shelves to give out Turkeys this holiday season.
The Minneapolis City Council voted 9-3 in favor of a proposal on Thursday that establishes a citywide labor standards board, a move that worries some small business owners.
A man is expected to survive after being shot during a possible drug deal in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.
A woman in her 60s has been charged with fatally striking a person with her car back in July near Hibbing, according to documents filed Tuesday in Itasca County.
Roseville city officials say that more than 18,000 feet of copper wire was stolen.
Criminal charges have been dropped against two teenage brothers in connection to the fatal shooting of their 15-year-old cousin in Minneapolis this summer.
Police say an 18-year-old man is dead after he was shot on Tuesday night near Minneapolis' Little Earth of United Tribes housing area.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture say they have confirmed a total of 15 cases of E. coli related illnesses in Minnesota.
PFAS are forever chemicals used in everyday items like nonstick pans, dental floss and food packaging that can build up in our bodies and harm our health.
A new Minnesota state law requires school districts or charter schools to adopt a policy on the use of cellphones in school by March of next year. But one nonprofit has gotten a jump start, working with students to help them find a balance between devices in and out of school.
The Mayo Clinic says surgeons there successfully performed a face transplant for a Michigan man who was severely injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound 10 years ago.
Lifting weights specifically helps strengthen bones, and in Ronnie Laitnen's case, slows down her chronic disease from developing.
After almost a decade of "Disney on Ice" performances, a Minnesota native is eagerly anticipating his first show at the Xcel Energy Center.
Post Malone announced Tuesday that the "Big A** Stadium Tour" will come to U.S. Bank Stadium on May 20, 2025.
The much-hyped fight pitting the 58-year-old Tyson against Paul, 27, shattered records but was marred by tech glitches.
Betty White will be honored with a stamp in 2025, the U.S. Postal Service announced on Friday.
Mike Tyson, a boxing legend, and Jake Paul, a social media legend, threw down Friday in Dallas. Financially, they both came out winners.
The head coach of the University of St. Thomas' women's hockey team has resigned following an "incident," according to the school, which would not disclose the details of what occurred.
Parker Fox scored 16 points off the bench to spark Minnesota to a 58-47 win over Cleveland State.
Kirill Kaprizov scored a pair of third-period goals, and Jonas Brodin and Ryan Hartman also scored to help the Minnesota Wild beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Tuesday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have been hounding quarterbacks all season and often without any extra help.
Lifting weights specifically helps strengthen bones, and in Ronnie Laitnen's case, slows down her chronic disease from developing.
In this election, Klobuchar faired much better than all other Senate Democrats — she won by a significantly larger margin.
For Democrats the postmortem continues on why Vice President Kamala Harris and her Running mate Governor Tim Walz performed more poorly with almost every demographic than Joe Biden did in 2020. In Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar did much better than Harris with some of those same groups.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
Did you know that donkeys are fast, smart and can build life-long bonds with other animals and people? It's believed that donkeys are smarter than most dogs.
The Fitzgerald Theater is the oldest active theater in St. Paul — but is it also haunted?
Wisconsin bars are known for their pints and their patrons. About the last thing you'd expect to discover in such a place would be 55 feet of historic American artwork.
Did you know Minnesota has a real castle? Miller Castle, near Nisswa.
In this edition of Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us through the long history and evolution of the Goldy Gopher mascot.
Krueger is the third-generation owner of Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm. While he finds joy in knowing the evergreens will make a family happy, they might not realize the effort it took to reach these towering heights.
As President-elect Donald Trump fills out his cabinet, there's one department for which he's yet to announce a leader. That could be because he promised it wouldn't exist after taking office.
The tiny sensory organs that cover our tongue allow us to detect five basic tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami — which is a savory, rich or meaty flavor.
Grabbing a TV for a steal-of-a-deal is a popular move during the holiday season. This year, industry experts are expecting shoppers to go big — like really big.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is expected to have a spot in the Trump administration, feels fluoride can lead to a slew of health problems.
Regions Hospital and Children's Minnesota share photos of their tiniest patients dressed to the nines for Halloween.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Thursday night due to the arrival of a severe geomagnetic storm.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Monday night.
Storms ripped through parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday evening. There were several reports of tornadoes and trees were downed in the metro and beyond, including in Cottage Grove, Anoka, Champlin and Fridley.
A powerful thunderstorm tore through the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair on Monday night, delaying Tuesday's opening.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has your latest forecast.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
The wind will slowly die down Thursday night, but temperatures will also start to drop.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has your latest forecast and it's a chilly one!
Cold winds and clouds will linger on Thursday.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has your latest forecast.
An event at CHS Field sure is making us feel jolly! WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso is on site with a sneak peek at the GLOW festival.
A Minnesota man is helping keep the memories of our loved ones alive. Cleaning headstones in his spare time, this St. Peter man is on a mission to make sure no one is forgotten.
The future of the Minnesota House is up for grabs as recounts are underway across the state. WCCO's Caroline Cummings has the latest.
The first snowfall in Minnesota caused chaos on the highways. As WCCO's Adam Duxter tells us, body shops have been very busy today.