Budget Bills Start Long Legislative Path In Senate
Pieces of Minnesota's $40-billion budget are starting to move. The work starts first in the Senate Monday with bills that fund state agencies and Minnesota's public universities and colleges.
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Pieces of Minnesota's $40-billion budget are starting to move. The work starts first in the Senate Monday with bills that fund state agencies and Minnesota's public universities and colleges.
Supporters of Sunday liquor store sales can put a cork in it for now. The Minnesota Senate Thursday killed an effort to repeal a decades-long ban on Sunday sales at liquor stores. Currently, Minnesota liquor stores are open Monday through Saturday, but not Sunday.
Just one day after Gov. Mark Dayton visited a St. Paul pre-kindergarten class, his fellow Democrats passed a bill with only a fraction of the funding he wants to send every 4 year old in Minnesota to school for free.
Minnesota Senate Democrats produced a two-year budget outline Friday that would commit $555 million more for education programs and sock $250 million extra into state reserves, a framework that lands them between the ambitions of Gov. Mark Dayton and majority House Republicans.
Lawmakers worked late into the night Monday to pass a bill that would keep some Minnesota workers from getting a pay raise this summer. Just before midnight Monday, the Republican-led House passed legislation that let employees pay a minimum wage of $8 an hour to workers who get more than $4 per hour in tips.
Minnesota House and Senate Republicans are ready to release a transportation plan they'll push as an alternative to a hefty proposal offered by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.
State legislators are pushing to make it much harder to release police officer body camera videos, undermining their promise as a tool people can use to hold law enforcement accountable. Lawmakers in at least 15 states have introduced bills to exempt video recordings of police encounters with citizens from state public records laws, or to limit what can be made public.
A move to minimize the role of seniority in teacher layoff decisions continued to draw heavy debate in its first Senate test. House Republicans and at least one Democratic senator want evaluations to play a role in the decision to lay off educators when school budgets are tight.
A handful of Gov. Mark Dayton's cabinet appointees are officially on the job. The state Senate on Thursday quickly approved eight commissioners on Thursday
Republicans in the Minnesota Senate want to spend more money on education than the state's Democratic governor does. Sen. Sean Nienow says the Republican proposal would total around $450 million in extra school funding over the next two years.
When Cal Stueve's first-grade teacher asked him if he could count, he started at "two" and ended with "ace." Stueve hasn't given up his love for playing cards in the five decades since. He and his friends get together at least three times a week for whist, a four-player game popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. But Minnesota gambling laws have stalled his vision for a bigger tournament.
Minnesota's first big run with no-excuse absentee voting has some lawmakers setting their sights on a more-expansive form of early balloting for future elections. Legislation moving in the Minnesota Senate would establish a 15-day early voting window before an election when polling places would be open, including on those Saturdays.
A debate over police body cameras is stirring a call to action by a group that previously shut down Minnesota freeways while protesting law enforcement tactics. The Senate Judiciary Committee was considering the body camera legislation Thursday.
Rural Democrats in the Minnesota Senate want a big piece of the state's projected $1 billion budget surplus to solve workforce issues in their communities.
Gov. Mark Dayton is objecting to the state Senate's vote to delay hefty raises for members of the governor's cabinet. The Senate voted 63-2 Thursday to suspend the pay hikes Dayton granted to commissioners last month.
A Minnesota state senator resigned Friday from an outside job leading a municipal association that lobbies at the Capitol, despite a ruling from ethics regulators that it wouldn't constitute a conflict of interest.
A proposal before Minnesota lawmakers would make it a requirement that parents with minor children take a marriage dissolution course before their divorce case could proceed. The bill being introduced Thursday in the Senate includes some good-cause waivers, such as not being able to afford the four-hour class.
Democrats in the Minnesota Senate are expanding their focus on education. They want to increase school funding for counselors and programs that let high school students earn college credit.
Representatives of Minnesota's child care industry say a push to fund all-day preschool will make their services more expensive. Senate Democrats want to set aside money for statewide preschool programs starting with the 2015 school year.
Minnesota lawmakers are caught in a dust-up over office space at the State Capitol, and it's threatening to delay the massive Capitol restoration now underway. The three-year, $272 million project is on time and on budget. But the tenants in the new building -- including the governor, the Senate, the House and the attorney general -- cannot come to agreement over how much space they will control.
The ambitious idea of Minnesota lawmakers skipping next year's session to avoid the Capitol construction has morphed into an alternative plan. Now senior legislators and state officials are taking a hard look at moving the Legislature's session off-site.
Minnesota lawmakers moved Tuesday to set up swift approval of tax deductions and credits affecting thousands of people and business owners getting ready to file 2014 forms. Tax committees in the House and Senate advanced legislation that lines Minnesota's code up with some recent federal changes. Final votes in each chamber could come later this week, sending the bill to a supportive Gov. Mark Dayton before personal income tax filing season begins next week.
Republicans have grabbed control of the Minnesota House and broken up the Democrats' short run of one-party rule at the Capitol. House Speaker Paul Thissen conceded early Wednesday that Democrats had lost control of the chamber.
Republican Senate candidate Mike McFadden is making several promises for legislative action if he defeats Sen. Al Franken. McFadden vows to help write a balanced budget amendment — and a bill that would halt lawmaker pay if Congress doesn't pass a budget — within his first 100 days in office.
With less than a month before Election Day, Republican Senate candidate Mike McFadden has less than $1 million banked to oust Sen. Al Franken. McFadden's campaign says he raised more than $2 million in the three-month period ending in September. The total announced Tuesday is his largest during a fundraising quarter.
On Wednesday, Minnesota Wild and Frost in-game host Kirsten Krull returned to Grand Casino Arena for the first time, since the death of a friend, who may as well have been family.
Two popular Minneapolis bike trails — Kenilworth and North Cedar Lake — have reopened after being closed for seven years due to construction tied to the Metro Green Line Extension project, marking a major milestone for cyclists and commuters in the region.
Small businesses across the metro say they're still feeling the fallout from Operation Metro Surge. Many are struggling to stay open and are barely holding on.
As of late, the warmth is winning out, but Minnesotans know all too well that winter can often make a quick encore.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
On Wednesday, Minnesota Wild and Frost in-game host Kirsten Krull returned to Grand Casino Arena for the first time, since the death of a friend, who may as well have been family.
Two popular Minneapolis bike trails — Kenilworth and North Cedar Lake — have reopened after being closed for seven years due to construction tied to the Metro Green Line Extension project, marking a major milestone for cyclists and commuters in the region.
Small businesses across the metro say they're still feeling the fallout from Operation Metro Surge. Many are struggling to stay open and are barely holding on.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
The mother of the man who orchestrated the 2022 killing of 23-year-old Zaria McKeever in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
A 45-year-old St. Paul man was convicted Wednesday of killing a man during an Isanti County, Minnesota, robbery that went wrong in December 2023.
Charges say law enforcement was called to St. Cloud State University after a student informed campus public safety that another student made threats to "shoot up a fraternity."
A 33-year-old man accused of shooting a woman in the chest last year pleaded guilty on Friday.
Officials in northern Minnesota say an eroding cemetery along Lake Superior is leaving human remains exposed near a major tourist destination.
Deron Russell has long been a problem for opposing teams. The Waseca, Minnesota, star broke his own school record in the section semifinal game with a 51-point performance.
Wisconsin lawmakers are taking a shot at expanding sports betting in the state.
A Wisconsin legislator has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in connection with a bitter feud with her caucus over resolutions honoring Hispanics.
As the war in Iran evolves, National Guardsmen from Wisconsin are being recognized for what they are doing in the Middle East.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
Kristi comes to the Salvation Army not only to get food, but to shine her light. She talks with and encourages people waiting in line.
The way Mary Hernandez describes it, the effort to keep families off the street in Shakopee, Minnesota, is like trying to keep your head above water.
Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson, 61, died March 5 after a two-year battle with job-related cancer, the Minnetonka Fire Department announced.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says 95% of all incarcerated individuals will eventually be released from prison. The DOC says it does all it can to help people transition back into the community as productive citizens.
Minnesota has formally submitted a bid to host the NFL draft in 2028, organizers announced Wednesday.
History was made Wednesday at the Minnesota Capitol, where a new rule means children are now allowed on the Senate floor.
Minnesota lawmakers and grocery store workers are joining forces to push for legislation to tackle surveillance pricing.
The lawsuit challenges a recent Trump administration policy that is suddenly fast-tracking asylum cases for Somali immigrants.
Legal service providers are challenging what they call a discriminatory fast-tracking policy targeting Somali immigrants.
Minnesota lawmakers and grocery store workers are joining forces to push for legislation to tackle surveillance pricing.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says more than 3,200 officers with the Transportation Safety Administration missed work on Monday. More than 450 have quit altogether since the government shutdown began.
Minnesota's recent swing from heavy snow to record heat is a recipe for rocky roads.
If you have a newer car, you may be in for some sticker shock when you renew your Minnesota license tabs. That's because the formula for calculating license tab fees has changed because of a 2023 bill.
Gas prices have been rising in the weeks since the Iran war started and WCCO has been tracking them since President Trump took office again last year.
A 45-year-old St. Paul man was convicted Wednesday of killing a man during an Isanti County, Minnesota, robbery that went wrong in December 2023.
The mother of the man who orchestrated the 2022 killing of 23-year-old Zaria McKeever in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
Charges say law enforcement was called to St. Cloud State University after a student informed campus public safety that another student made threats to "shoot up a fraternity."
Proposed legislation to make grooming in schools a crime has passed another hurdle in the Minnesota House Tuesday.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released evidence in connection to the deadly shooting of three Burnsville first responders in 2024, including footage from 12 different body cameras and thousands of photos.
The produce section at grocery stores is packed with nutrient-dense foods. Certain fruits and vegetables, in particular, are packed with fiber, and a new diet trend has people "maxxing" out on it.
Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson, 61, died March 5 after a two-year battle with job-related cancer, the Minnetonka Fire Department announced.
Sacramento-based Sutter Health announced plans to acquire Minneapolis-based Allina Health, promising a $2 billion investment in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but healthcare unions say workers weren't consulted.
Hennepin County lawmakers plan to urge state legislators Wednesday morning to save Hennepin Healthcare, the state's busiest Level 1 trauma center, which officials say could close this year without immediate action.
Hennepin County lawmakers plan to urge state legislators Wednesday morning to save Hennepin Healthcare, the state's busiest Level 1 trauma center, which officials say could close this year without immediate action.
Three of the most iconic '90s music groups are joining forces at this year's Minnesota State Fair.
Afroman spoke to CBS News after he won the case, which tested the limits of parody and the license artists can take in social commentary directed at public figures.
Spring break does not have to mean big travel plans or big spending for families who head to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, where a new exhibit invites children to climb, crawl and create as part of the art experience.
Comedian Bert Kreischer is without a tour bus after his caught fire in Minnesota.
The film follows CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp through their seven-year journey to document the toll of America's school shooting epidemic.
Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has signed with Real American Freestyle wrestling.
Minnesota has formally submitted a bid to host the NFL draft in 2028, organizers announced Wednesday.
Erik Cernak scored a tiebreaking goal with 2:53 left in the third period when Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson misplayed a carom off the end boards and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Wild 6-3.
Deron Russell has long been a problem for opposing teams. The Waseca, Minnesota, star broke his own school record in the section semifinal game with a 51-point performance.
A Minnesota economics professor is breaking down the historic WNBA contract for her students in a fun and engaging way.
Young mothers working as Minnesota state senators are trying to change a system that was never designed to include them, saying their workplace is not allowing them time and space to breastfeed their infants.
Unlike the Minnesota House, which does allow children on the House floor, the Minnesota Senate bars children from being on the floor.
President Donald Trump has called the bill his number one priority and says it would prevent non-citizens from voting in the 2026 midterm elections.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says non-citizen voting is extremely rare. He cited a University of St. Thomas study that found only three instances of non-citizens voting in Minnesota between 2014 and 2024.
The U.S. Senate has begun debate on a controversial elections bill that would require voters to show proof of citizenship with a birth certificate or passport. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says non-citizen voting is extremely rare. He cited a University of St. Thomas study that found only three instances of non-citizens voting in Minnesota between 2014 and 2024.
The Nuss Collection is home to a lot of vintage trucks.
Denis Doyle was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. and in 1856, Doyle traveled to Le Sueur County. Other Irish immigrants joined Doyle and the town was born.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
In St. Louis Park, Minnesota, there's a place where you can find radio and television technology that's nearly a century old — and it still works.
One of the best views in Minnesota is at the top of a Bloomington hill. But 15-year-old Jacob Larson isn't here for the scenery. He's here for the jump.
The produce section at grocery stores is packed with nutrient-dense foods. Certain fruits and vegetables, in particular, are packed with fiber, and a new diet trend has people "maxxing" out on it.
Minnesota's recent swing from heavy snow to record heat is a recipe for rocky roads.
Heavy snow followed by bitter cold hit Minnesotans with a double whammy of winter. The good news is spring-like weather is right around the corner, but its quick arrival could spell trouble for homeowners.
Minnesota lakes remain frozen. The people walking on trails around them remain bundled up. After a warm start to March, the seasonal shift is sputtering as it often tends to do.
Drivers are bracing themselves for higher prices when they pull up to gas stations. But the pump isn't the only place you can expect to pay more in the weeks ahead.
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 Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
Wednesday had those summer-like feels, with temperatures hitting the upper 60s. A cold front overnight will make Thursday feel more like spring, with temperatures dropping down to the high 30s and low 40s for the lower part of the state and the teens for northern Minnesota. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks all of that down and shares when we start to warm again.
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.
As of late, the warmth is winning out, but Minnesotans know all too well that winter can often make a quick encore.
As of late, the warmth is winning out, but Minnesotans know all too well that winter can often make a quick encore.
Wednesday evening will be very pleasant, though a cold front approaches — bringing a chance of rain overnight into Thursday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Wednesday had those summer-like feels, with temperatures hitting the upper 60s. A cold front overnight will make Thursday feel more like spring, with temperatures dropping down to the high 30s and low 40s for the lower part of the state and the teens for northern Minnesota. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks all of that down and shares when we start to warm again.
After 7 years of being closed due to nearby construction, two iconic biking trails have reopened.
Small businesses across the metro say they're still feeling the fallout from Operation Metro Surge. Many are struggling to stay open and are barely holding on.
A plan to help lower the cost of renewing car tabs is stuck in neutral at the State Capitol.
Kirsten Krull returned to Grand Casino Arena on Wednesday, the first time since the loss of her close friend Jessi Pierce.