Reality Check: Minn. Legislature Boosts Pay Out Of Public Eye
New numbers from the Minnesota legislature show state lawmakers paid themselves more than a $1 million last year in per diem payments -- out of the public eye.
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New numbers from the Minnesota legislature show state lawmakers paid themselves more than a $1 million last year in per diem payments -- out of the public eye.
A quarter of the Minnesota Legislature has submitted economic disclosure statements that offer the public few or no details about the source of their outside income.
Former state lawmaker and longtime Republican activist Allen Quist says wants to return to the Minnesota Legislature.
Days after the tragedy of the elementary school shootings in Connecticut, the Governor of Minnesota says there's not much the state can do to regulate weapons.
hile there's a lot on the agenda when Minnesota lawmakers return to St. Paul next month, the Capitol's leaders gave no strong indication Monday that bipartisanship will be the new standard.
Republican lawmakers who refused to help Gov. Mark Dayton develop Minnesota's online health insurance marketplace while they hoped for a changing of the guard in Washington will now be on the sidelines while Democrats move ahead.
A group working to put Democrats in control of the Minnesota Legislature is launching a TV ad attacking Republican legislative majorities for the 2011 state government shutdown and property tax increases.
The Minnesota House has approved a $167.5 million flood package designed to rebuild washed-out roads, repair flooded businesses and damaged houses and restore damaged parks after severe floods.
Primary voters in 40 legislative districts are picking candidates for a major legislative election in November.
Democrats seeking control of the Minnesota Legislature have a financial edge over Republicans who currently hold power.
Lawyers for the Minnesota Legislature argue that lawmakers deserve wide latitude to design constitutional ballot questions as they fight an attempt to scuttle a photo ID measure awaiting voters in November, according to new court papers.
Complacency may be the biggest election year challenge for Amy Klobuchar, one of the most popular incumbents in the U.S. Senate, as she runs for a second term representing Minnesota.
The fight for control of the Minnesota Legislature has a new urgency for Democrats gathering in Rochester for their state convention this weekend.
A second attempt by Minnesota Republicans to craft a tax-cut bill has met the same fate as the first.
Minnesota legislators have come up with a way to fund local development projects that relieves them of the hassle that comes from picking winners and losers.
Stadium votes don't run along party lines in the Minnesota Legislature and can be the most difficult — and visible — that lawmakers ever cast.
Minnesota. Gov. Mark Dayton wasted no time Friday vetoing a Republican-crafted tax plan sent to him the night before that contained breaks for businesses but would have taken money from the state's rainy day reserves.
The Minnesota Legislature will stick around into May to try to reach agreement on tax breaks, state-financed construction projects and a Minnesota Vikings stadium plan.
Monday has long been circled on the Minnesota Legislature's calendar as the final day. Now Republican leaders are giving themselves more wiggle room.
A bill enhancing gambling at tribal casinos and privately owned horse racing tracks in Minnesota has sprung up and steamed ahead in the final days of the Minnesota Legislature's session.
In football terms, you could call it 'fourth and long' when it comes to lawmakers approving a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.
A senior Republican state senator says she'll leave the Minnesota Legislature after this term, citing frustration with deepened partisan divides at the Capitol.
The Republican Senate staffer fired for an affair with the majority leader had been denied jobless benefits, reports Minnesota Public Radio.
A group calling itself Main Street Fairness Coalition wants the Minnesota State legislature to immediately approve a bill this session that would force internet retailers to charge their customers local or state sales taxes.
Minnesota lawmakers earn about $30,000 a year, and they haven't had a pay hike since 1989. However, they're able to raise their own salaries by taking daily expense payments called "per diem," which is a kind of back-door pay hike out of public view.
A new lawsuit argues that Wisconsin's elections commission is wrongly blocking absentee voters from canceling their ballots and requesting new ones, with nearly 91,000 ballots already returned ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
A woman who started an online fundraiser that garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars after she called a child with autism racial slurs at a southern Minnesota park has been convicted of a misdemeanor.
Madison, Wisconsin remains one of the only cities of its size without a police body camera program, leaving key moments of a fatal officer-involved shooting unrecorded.
Explosions were heard near a U.S. base in Iraq, and Iran said it targeted Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait as the 21-week war intensifies.
Breezy winds will pull in more humidity and get temperatures back to average in the low to mid-80s on Friday.
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Would you stay at a hotel with deadly drug overdoses and pool parties with strippers? After seeing a social media post advertising a 24-hour "lock-in" party at a hotel in Shakopee, Minnesota, the mayor decided to shut it down.
Thousands of fans descended Thursday on TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, eager to see some of the world's best golfers up close at the 3M Open, including Scottie Scheffler — the world's top-ranked player.
John, Yvette and Hope Hoffman addressed a federal court Thursday as Vance Boelter awaited sentencing for killing former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and shooting the Hoffmans in their Champlin home.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
A woman who started an online fundraiser that garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars after she called a child with autism racial slurs at a southern Minnesota park has been convicted of a misdemeanor.
Portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen for day use starting Monday, after wildfires prompted a rare closure of the forest last week.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with plenty of community celebrations.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
A Lakeville, Minnesota man was killed after being struck by a cable while working on a cell tower last week near the state's North Shore.
A new lawsuit argues that Wisconsin's elections commission is wrongly blocking absentee voters from canceling their ballots and requesting new ones, with nearly 91,000 ballots already returned ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
Madison, Wisconsin remains one of the only cities of its size without a police body camera program, leaving key moments of a fatal officer-involved shooting unrecorded.
The state Democratic Party is asking Wisconsin's elections commission to allow voters who already returned absentee ballots to cast new ones, after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the governor's race and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined it.
The effects of Minnesota's prolonged heat wave are becoming impossible to miss with several reports of fish kills.
Three new women's world records have been set at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
What started as a small fundraiser following one of Joe's surgeries at Gillette Children's has grown into a community tradition that has raised nearly $100,000 for the hospital.
A new lawsuit argues that Wisconsin's elections commission is wrongly blocking absentee voters from canceling their ballots and requesting new ones, with nearly 91,000 ballots already returned ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
President Trump says he's considering a "bigger than ever before" attack on Iran after 13 straight days of military strikes.
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Would you stay at a hotel with deadly drug overdoses and pool parties with strippers? After seeing a social media post advertising a 24-hour "lock-in" party at a hotel in Shakopee, Minnesota, the mayor decided to shut it down.
Right now, the national average for a gallon of gas is sitting at $4.09, and some places in Minnesota are as high as $4.24.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
For many Minnesotans, the road to the Fourth of July starts with a short drive across the St. Croix River to Wisconsin to stock up on fireworks. The kinds of pyrotechnics that can be legally ignited in Minnesota might be surprising.
A woman who started an online fundraiser that garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars after she called a child with autism racial slurs at a southern Minnesota park has been convicted of a misdemeanor.
Madison, Wisconsin remains one of the only cities of its size without a police body camera program, leaving key moments of a fatal officer-involved shooting unrecorded.
Charges have been filed against a man accused of committing two sexual assaults in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, a week apart.
Would you stay at a hotel with deadly drug overdoses and pool parties with strippers? After seeing a social media post advertising a 24-hour "lock-in" party at a hotel in Shakopee, Minnesota, the mayor decided to shut it down.
John, Yvette and Hope Hoffman addressed a federal court Thursday as Vance Boelter awaited sentencing for killing former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and shooting the Hoffmans in their Champlin home.
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Here's how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could reduce worker illness and save companies money.
There are new accusations surrounding pollution problems at a battery recycling plant in Minnesota. An attorney says lead migration from Gopher Resource in Eagan poisoned some kids connected to workers.
Taylor Farms said none of its branded salads or kits contain the iceberg lettuce associated with the outbreak.
The advice is to stay inside when air quality turns hazardous, but that's not an option for many outdoor workers.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with plenty of community celebrations.
This weekend, a Twin Cities theater company will be performing "Dear Evan Hansen," a musical that deals with themes of anxiety, depression and isolation. But they also feel it relates to what Minneapolis went through during Operation Metro Surge.
The ruling comes after a coalition of 12 states sued to block the deal, arguing it would harm consumers and the entertainment industry.
The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival is expected to bring thousands upon thousands each day to Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul between Friday and Sunday.
There's so much to do this weekend in Minnesota, from festivals to art fairs.
Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall both delivered two-out RBI singles in the 12th inning, giving the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians and a split of their four-game series.
Thousands of fans descended Thursday on TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, eager to see some of the world's best golfers up close at the 3M Open, including Scottie Scheffler — the world's top-ranked player.
Dejan Joveljić scored in the first half, and Manu García found the net in the second to help Sporting Kansas City hold off Minnesota United 2-1.
Napheesa Collier had 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut, Kayla McBride added 20 points and the Minnesota Lynx headed into the WNBA All-Star break with the best record in the league after an 86-76 win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday afternoon.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer, Trevor Larnach had three RBIs and the Minnesota Twins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over Cleveland to spoil star third baseman José Ramírez's return to the Guardians.
Secretary of State Steve Simon says federal observers at the Aug. 11 primary will most likely be Justice Department attorneys, not immigration or border enforcement agents.
The investigations into the ICE killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celishave entered a critical stage.
The investigations into the ICE killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis have entered a critical stage.
There's less than a month to go before the Aug. 11 primary, and one of the most watched and competitive races is the DFL race for the nomination for U.S. Senate between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig.
New campaign finance numbers are expected out later this week in federal races, including Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, where a flood of ads is evidence of a highly competitive race.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
It's a lake cruise in the middle of town, and there's more than pelicans on the Pelican Breeze tour in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Currie, Minnesota, is truly small-town America. The population hovers at just over 200. But on the northern outskirts, you'll happen upon a place with plenty of bells and whistles: End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum
The U.S. House just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how that could impact Minnesota and why our last attempt at getting rid of it failed.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
When you get home from work in the evening, your first thought may be dinner. You might fire up the stove or oven, you could also start a load of laundry. Not long after that, you're running the dishwasher. You may think you're being efficient, but your house during this heat wave disagrees.
It's one of Minnesota's rules of the road in which two is better than one. But Jodi from Lakeville emailed WCCO saying a lot of drivers don't seem to care about the law.
Catching a flight with just a carry-on can make travel feel easy. No need to check a bag and all your belongings stay with you. But quite often, that suddenly changes before boarding.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The warm-up continues in the Twin Cities on Friday, with even hotter weather set to arrive over the weekend.
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.
Breezy winds will pull in more humidity and get temperatures back to average in the low to mid-80s on Friday.
Breezy winds will pull in more humidity on Friday and bring temperatures back to the mid-80s.
The heat returns this weekend, along with the humidity. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer shares just how long it's going to get.
You've likely noticed the price at the pump is going up again, the U.S. is sending more military equipment to the Middle East and more.
The warm-up continues in the Twin Cities on Friday, with even hotter weather set to arrive over the weekend.
It's finally Friday, and if you're in need of something to do, we have our picks.
The man accused of assaulting women at gunpoint in their homes is now charged, plus more of the day’s top stories.
President Trump says he's considering a "bigger than ever before" attack on Iran after 13 straight days of military strikes.