Lawmakers Agree On Bill With $100M In Tax Cuts
Minnesota lawmakers are ready to deliver $100 million more in tax relief, including extra refunds and credits for homeowners, renters and farmers.
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Minnesota lawmakers are ready to deliver $100 million more in tax relief, including extra refunds and credits for homeowners, renters and farmers.
Dozens of firefighters from across Minnesota arrived at the State Capitol on Wednesday to talk about the importance of fire sprinklers. According to fire crews, a deadly fire last weekend could have been prevented if the home had fire sprinklers.
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.
Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare Group Inc. has faced a firestorm of controversy this year. And as investigators search for a motive in the slaying of Brian Thompson, CEO of its insurance arm, they aren't counting anything out.
A growing number of unemployed workers have been searching for a new job for more than 15 weeks, labor data shows.
"Deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on shell casings recovered at the scene of the shooting that killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday.
Julius Randle scored 16 of his 20 points in the first quarter, Anthony Edwards added 16 and the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 108-80 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
The Twin Cities are still dealing with dangerously cold wind chills on Thursday.
Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare Group Inc. has faced a firestorm of controversy this year. And as investigators search for a motive in the slaying of Brian Thompson, CEO of its insurance arm, they aren't counting anything out.
Navy veteran Robert Tassoni found himself homeless and hurting in the jungles of Central America.
A manhunt is underway for the killer of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down early Wednesday morning outside of a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
A 23-year-old Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to more than six years in prison after his toddler found his handgun and accidentally shot a man to death with it.
The Minnesota Vikings organization is responding to the news that legendary wide receiver Randy Moss is battling health issues.
One family's creative design in central Minnesota allows guests to sleep under the stars — at any time of year.
A 60-year-old bicyclist has died after being struck by two cars on Wednesday in Duluth.
Devotees say the state's sauna mania is about more than sweat and snow.
A chopper landing on a piece of private property on the exclusive East Gull Lake has given flight to a big back-and-forth battle for years.
A newly released report from the Stearns County Sheriff's Office gives more insight into the fatal accident at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride back on Oct. 12 where 13-year-old Alexander Mick died.
Nate Bargatze, one of the hottest stand-up comedians in the U.S., will make three stops each in Minnesota and Wisconsin next year on his "Big Dumb Eyes" tour.
A Milwaukee bar is permanently closed after police found cocaine, bullets and chickens on the premises.
Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions have scored a major legal victory with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law.
Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin, says he's joined the race to lead the national party after an election that swept Donald Trump and Republicans to power in Washington.
Wisconsin's election commission leader has quietly certified Donald Trump's victory in the battleground state, a departure from the chaos that surrounded the 2020 election results.
One month into his stay at the NICU at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, Cooper got a neighbor, Raghu, who weighed even less than him. The parents quickly connected.
A Twin Cities high school hockey team hit the ice for the first time Friday night since losing a teammate to a long battle with cancer. Max Akerson died earlier this week.
The Battis-Bohen bowl tradition is alive and well after 91 consecutive Thanksgivings.
A Red Lake Department of Public Safety officer was one of two people killed in a crash in the northern Minnesota community Wednesday morning.
The cost of Thanksgiving dinner is still nearly 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Union Gospel Mission is lightening the load by welcoming 10,000 families through their meal kit pick-up.
A growing number of unemployed workers have been searching for a new job for more than 15 weeks, labor data shows.
Minnesota is expected to have a $616 million surplus in the next two-year budget, state officials said Wednesday, but there is a looming $5 billion deficit in future years.
State budget forecasters project extra money on the state’s bottom line in the next two years, but there are warning signs of a potential big deficit in the future.
Penelope Hegseth said she wrote the 2018 email "in haste" and with "deep emotions."
The Supreme Court weighed whether Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors experiencing gender dysphoria violates the Constitution.
The Minnesota-born Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi's is making a comeback 20 years after ending its "celebration of food."
While there are many Cyber Monday deals out there from legitimate websites, the BBB's Bao Vang says online-buyer beware.
The mall is expecting tens of thousands of shoppers for Black Friday with plenty of deals.
Great deals means Minnesotans are camping out on Black Friday Eve
Are you running out to get a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner ingredient? Here's what's open and closed on Thanksgiving in Minnesota.
Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare Group Inc. has faced a firestorm of controversy this year. And as investigators search for a motive in the slaying of Brian Thompson, CEO of its insurance arm, they aren't counting anything out.
"Deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on shell casings recovered at the scene of the shooting that killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday.
A manhunt is underway for the killer of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down early Wednesday morning outside of a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
A 23-year-old Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to more than six years in prison after his toddler found his handgun and accidentally shot a man to death with it.
A Coon Rapids police officer was injured while arresting a domestic assault suspect on Wednesday morning.
Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare Group Inc. has faced a firestorm of controversy this year. And as investigators search for a motive in the slaying of Brian Thompson, CEO of its insurance arm, they aren't counting anything out.
Whether it's for five or 15 minutes, Johnson says the small amount of time spent meditating has made a big difference.
Feds find 11 kids illegally employed for at least 4 years at Seaboard Triumph Foods facility in Sioux City, Iowa.
Minnesota Vikings legend and NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss said he is "battling something internal" and asked for prayers on Sunday.
A first-of-its-kind treatment center aimed at helping those living with or at risk of HIV is now open in Minneapolis.
The New York Film Critics Circle, one of the nation's oldest and most venerated critics' groups, is kicking movie awards season into high gear Tuesday as they select their choices for the best of 2024.
Nate Bargatze, one of the hottest stand-up comedians in the U.S., will make three stops each in Minnesota and Wisconsin next year on his "Big Dumb Eyes" tour.
Rap's reigning hater-in-chief Kendrick Lamar will kick off his next tour in Minneapolis.
Legendary Australian rockers AC/DC are Minnesota-bound for the first time in nearly a decade.
Elton John says he's lost his eyesight and struggled to see his new musical, "The Devil Wears Prada" after a "severe" eye infection.
Meet a student athlete from Chisago Lakes with endless drive, despite a surprise diagnosis. Plus, Becker and Totino-Grace battled at U.S. Bank Stadium for the Class 4A championship.
Julius Randle scored 16 of his 20 points in the first quarter, Anthony Edwards added 16 and the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 108-80 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Dominique Petrie scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, Michela Cava also scored and the Minnesota Frost defeated the Boston Fleet 2-1.
Debbie Bury is a hardcore Minnesota Vikings fan. This past summer, after having some vision issues, she found out she had stage 4 brain cancer. The very week she found out her diagnosis, she won a Vikings-theme scratch-off worth $100,000.
The Minnesota Wild are leading the league in points and riding a four-game win streak. Here are some of the reasons why the team is leading the league.
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.
One family's creative design in central Minnesota allows guests to sleep under the stars — at any time of year.
"Thomas Dambo, he believes the trolls really help us kind of shine a light on how we can take better care of the environment and be better to each other," said Stearns.
There are a lot of quirky town names in Minnesota: Embarrass, Nowthen, Clontarff, Kiester. But the people of Nimrod believe their name stands out from the rest.
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?
From turkey, to mashed potatoes, stuffing and pies, many are ending Thanksgiving with full stomachs and refrigerators.
We're just over two weeks since Minnesota's deer opener and already hunters have harvested more than 123,000 of them using firearms. That could equal huge dollars for the state if they all took one extra step.
This holiday season, you might pull out a Betty Crocker cookbook to find a tried and true recipe.
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.
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 Joseph Dames says highs only reach the upper teens with increasing sunshine this afternoon, but it'll still feel like the single digits.
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.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames says Thursday will feel brutally cold, but a warm-up is coming this weekend.
The Twin Cities are still dealing with dangerously cold wind chills on Thursday.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames says there will be dangerously cold wind chills for the Thursday morning commute.
The Vikings are 10-2 for the season, and the Falcons (6-6) have lost the past three games. Former Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins is the quarterback for the Falcons. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin shares a preview.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames says highs only reach the upper teens with increasing sunshine this afternoon, but it'll still feel like the single digits.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames says Thursday will feel brutally cold, but a warm-up is coming this weekend.
Shayla Reaves visits The Fair on 4 at Mall of America, which has transformed to get folks into the holiday spirit.
Just in this last year, UnitedHealthcare has faced a firestorm of controversy. As investigators search for a motive in the slaying of CEO Brian Thompson, they aren't counting anything out.