House GOP Finalizes Bid In Education Funding Debate
At a rally outside the capitol Saturday, activists say with a $2 billion surplus, now is the time to invest in education. Republicans want to use the surplus to lower taxes.
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At a rally outside the capitol Saturday, activists say with a $2 billion surplus, now is the time to invest in education. Republicans want to use the surplus to lower taxes.
Republicans in the Minnesota House are firming up their stance on one of the session's biggest issues: education. A floor session on the GOP's education budget was expected to last hours Saturday. The House would spend about $157 million more on schools and families over the next two years. The bulk of that is in money districts can use however they like.
The Minnesota House is debating a Republican bill to put the brakes on spending for state government operations.
Wisconsin's Gov. Scott Walker spent Thursday in his neighboring state. The potential Republican presidential candidate had three private events, including an unannounced visit to the State Capitol for a meeting with Republican state lawmakers.
The Minnesota House was going on record about how to pour billions more into road and bridge construction. A Republican-crafted proposal to direct $7 billion to projects over the next decade was slated for a vote Tuesday. As drafted, it would redirect existing taxes on auto parts, vehicle leases and car rentals to construction and borrow billions more.
Republicans in the state House unveiled a sweeping tax relief package Monday they hope will mean lower taxes for more than 2 million Minnesotans.
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.
In their unfolding budget plan, Minnesota legislative Republicans are moving to strip powers from Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, ranging from limiting his team's authority to write regulatory rules to curbs on the administration's staffing.
Minnesota House Republicans are proposing to significantly alter state campaign finance law as part of a budget plan. A component of the majority party's budget plan released Tuesday would repeal Minnesota's program that makes candidates eligible for campaign subsidies if they abide by spending limits.
House Republicans are moving to cut the Metropolitan Council chairman's salary in half, a top GOP lawmaker told The Associated Press, a jab at Gov. Mark Dayton over a pay increase they believe went beyond the terms of a deal on commissioner salaries.
Senate Republicans are filing a second ethics complaint against a powerful Democrat stemming from his ties to an embattled nonprofit. Sen. Jeff Hayden served on the board of Community Action Minneapolis, which was found to have misspent $800,000 in taxpayer dollars.
Rochester would get a reprieve under a House Republican's bill to cut state payments to Minnesota's largest cities. GOP lawmakers have long taken issue with big local government aid to Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Rochester.
As Minnesota lawmakers return to St. Paul, Gov. Mark Dayton is delivering them a list public works construction projects that would require state borrowing.
North Dakota's Republican governor on Thursday said state lawmakers missed an opportunity to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination when they failed for the third time in six years to pass a measure that would prohibit bias in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.
Michele Bachmann did not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, but she is still offering her thoughts on the political scene via her verified Facebook account. One of her most recent posts compared the performance of President Barack Obama to that of the pilot who authorities believe deliberately crashed Germanwings Flight 9525 in the French Alps last week.
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.
Minnesota's top Republican leaders proposed Tuesday a budget that includes $2 billion in tax cuts.
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.
It's time to talk about the minimum wage again. The Republican-controlled House was expected to take up a bill Monday afternoon that would allow employers to pay tipped staff $8 hourly if tips bring their pay above $12 an hour.
Gov. Mark Dayton says Republican lawmakers pushing major changes to the state's health insurance exchange should look before they leap. That's why the Democratic governor has proposed creating a task force to study the future of MNsure and health care in Minnesota.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proposed spending nearly all of the state's $1.9 billion dollar budget surplus on Tuesday. Gov. Dayton outlined a series of new spending programs on children, education and families.
A bill that would allow silencers on guns is gaining support at the State Capitol. Currently, the devices are banned in Minnesota, but the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee passed a measure legalizing them.
The prospect of legalizing silencers and removing disclosure to bring a firearm onto state Capitol grounds is heating up gun debate in Minnesota again. Gun rights advocates and gun control backers packed into a hearing room Thursday to testify on measures to expand firearm laws.
A new state Republican Party television ad is advocating a full return of Minnesota's $1.87 billion projected surplus to taxpayers, which is more than majority House Republicans have embraced. Party Chairman Keith Downey framed the "give it all back" rallying cry as a starting point.
Bipartisan legislation to crack down on human trafficking turned unexpectedly controversial Tuesday because of a Republican-backed provision relating to abortion that Democrats said they failed to notice. Democrats privately conceded they lack the votes to strip out the abortion provision, and some lawmakers suggested they would attempt to prevent a final vote on the entire measure instead.
Richie Palacios hit a two-run homer in a three-run 10th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1.
Since 1913, St. Clement Catholic Church has stood the test of time in northeast Minneapolis. But a piece of equipment as old as the church itself may lead to its closure.
UCLA finished the season 37-1 by defeating the three-time national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Trump administration's positions on a number of issues is prompting debate on constitutional powers versus executive orders. WCCO spoke with David Schultz, a congressional law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, to get some clarity.
The Detroit Red Wings were defeated 5-4 by the Wild on Sunday. Kirill Kaprizov completed the sixth hat trick of his NHL career on the power play with 1:51 remaining to lead Minnesota to victory.
Since 1913, St. Clement Catholic Church has stood the test of time in northeast Minneapolis. But a piece of equipment as old as the church itself may lead to its closure.
At least a third of older adults in the U.S. experience loneliness, which is linked to a 50% higher dementia risk. With that in mind, two Minnesota high schoolers are launching a nonprofit called Blossom of Blessings.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say officers arrested a woman who was "disrupting" Easter Sunday services at Cities Church, the site where an anti-immigration enforcement protest in January led to federal prosecutors charging dozens of demonstrators and some journalists.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara is facing a newer batch of conduct complaints, and he believes many of them are directly related to Operation Metro Surge.
In a viral video, a Minneapolis mom says kids here "are not doing okay." This comes after she heard a conversation between two sixth graders about some of Minnesota's more recent traumas.
Everyone is safe after a house fire in Mt. Iron, Minnesota, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
Saturday's temperatures drop back into the 30s, with a high of 38 in the metro and 32 in northern Minnesota.
A 28-year-old man is in the hospital after a crash involving a plow truck and a pickup truck in Fredenberg Township, Minnesota, on Friday morning.
Julie Le, who was removed from her post after telling a judge "this job sucks," is now challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota's 5th District.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is more than a hockey school, but hockey has helped put the school on the map. They have banners and big names to prove it, though the real evidence lies with a man called Rooster.
Owen Hailey was the second oldest of four siblings, and was known to be everyone's best bud.
Efforts to quickly and quietly oust the president of the University of Wisconsin system are drawing fire from a Republican legislative leader.
The president of Wisconsin's largest mosque was detained by federal immigration agents, drawing accusations from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his statements against Israel.
Some schools in Minnesota have already announced closings or shifts to virtual learning on Thursday as another round of winter weather threatens parts of the state.
A suspect is in custody after a "written threat" led to the brief evacuation of a church in Hudson, Wisconsin, Tuesday morning.
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.
The Trump administration's positions on a number of issues is prompting debate on constitutional powers versus executive orders. WCCO spoke with David Schultz, a congressional law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, to get some clarity.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say officers arrested a woman who was "disrupting" Easter Sunday services at Cities Church, the site where an anti-immigration enforcement protest in January led to federal prosecutors charging dozens of demonstrators and some journalists.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara is facing a newer batch of conduct complaints, and he believes many of them are directly related to Operation Metro Surge.
With the Strait of Hormuz still closed, gas prices continue to rise, including jet fuel. That’s causing the average summer airfare to rise by more than 17%, according to Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler.
The Trump administration and the state of Minnesota continue to be locked into a series of legal battles. As these issues continue to surface, Esme Murphy talks with constitutional law professor David Schultz.
Minnesota continues to beat the national gas price average, but there are still ways to save in the metro area.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Your car isn't the only vehicle that needs gas. It's a huge budget item for Minnesota fire departments, police and mass transit.
As we all pay more to fuel our cars, drivers might miss the savings hidden right at the pump. It comes down to timing, then adjusting your routine.
With the national average for gas prices around $4, the timing is especially concerning for the floral industry amid the height of Easter and Passover preparations.
The Trump administration's positions on a number of issues is prompting debate on constitutional powers versus executive orders. WCCO spoke with David Schultz, a congressional law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, to get some clarity.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say officers arrested a woman who was "disrupting" Easter Sunday services at Cities Church, the site where an anti-immigration enforcement protest in January led to federal prosecutors charging dozens of demonstrators and some journalists.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara is facing a newer batch of conduct complaints, and he believes many of them are directly related to Operation Metro Surge.
Security footage shows thieves fleeing after discovering a 3-month-old in the backseat of a stolen SUV, leaving the infant alone in an alley for more than an hour before police arrived.
A Burnsville, Minnesota, paraprofessional is facing seven charges in an undercover child solicitation operation that was carried out by a detective in Carver County last month, according to court records.
Nurses and physicians at Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis, home to the first level-one and busiest trauma center in Minnesota, on Wednesday urged the state Legislature to throw the hospital a lifeline — and fast.
Ramsey County, Minnesota, health officials say the county had its first case of mumps reported in about five years.
The Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling siding with a Colorado counselor who claimed the state's restriction unconstitutionally censored her conversations with young patients does not immediately strike down Minnesota's law.
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.
A federal judge in New York has tossed out actor Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against actor Justin Baldoni over their roles in the movie "It Ends With Us," but left intact a claim for retaliation.
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane was lured to a Dallas studio for a meeting, then allegedly kidnapped and robbed by a group including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30.
A Las Vegas performer has sued Taylor Swift over the title of her hit album "The Life of a Showgirl," alleging it violates the performer's trademark.
A Minnesota singer has made the big time, signing his first record deal after 43 years in the music business.
The price hike raises the cost of the standard plan with ads by $1 per month and the cost of the standard and premium plans by $2.
Richie Palacios hit a two-run homer in a three-run 10th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1.
UCLA finished the season 37-1 by defeating the three-time national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Detroit Red Wings were defeated 5-4 by the Wild on Sunday. Kirill Kaprizov completed the sixth hat trick of his NHL career on the power play with 1:51 remaining to lead Minnesota to victory.
Ryan Hartman scored twice to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Kelly Pannek had two goals and two assists to pad her league-leading points total and help the Minnesota Frost hold off the Vancouver Goldeneyes 6-5, snapping a three-match losing streak and clinching a spot in the postseason for the two-time defending champions.
The Trump administration's positions on a number of issues is prompting debate on constitutional powers versus executive orders. WCCO spoke with David Schultz, a congressional law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, to get some clarity.
Julie Le, who was removed from her post after telling a judge "this job sucks," is now challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota's 5th District.
In 2025, the entire U.S. Attorney's office had 77 immigration detention cases, she said. In January 2026, she alone was assigned 88 cases.
One of the most heated issues remains immigration, where Craig has walked back her support for the Laken Riley Act.
With the DFL nominating convention just eight weeks away, polls that have come out show Peggy Flanagan in the lead for U.S. Senate over Angie Craig.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is more than a hockey school, but hockey has helped put the school on the map. They have banners and big names to prove it, though the real evidence lies with a man called Rooster.
Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins is almost here. And across town, the St. Paul Saints are getting ready for their season, too, with some added history.
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.
It's estimated that children playing with fire set more than 20,000 fires every year. On average, the fires they start cause nearly 1,000 injuries and 150 deaths each year.
As we all pay more to fuel our cars, drivers might miss the savings hidden right at the pump. It comes down to timing, then adjusting your routine.
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.
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.
The Twin Cities are in for a cold and gusty start to the workweek, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
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.
Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints fans might get a bit damp Easter Sunday afternoon.
It will be a quieter, milder Easter Sunday in the Twin Cities ahead of another unsettled week, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Sunday will start off sunny but chances for rain does move in by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures on Sunday will be slightly warmer with highs in the 50s. Things calm down as the work week starts. Wednesday will be in the upper 60s. Meteorologist Lisa Meadows shares the timing of it all and shares just how long our nice weather lasts.
The Twin Cities are in for a cold and gusty start to the workweek, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Car thefts in the Twin Cities are coming with serious consequences. This week, two boys were shot during a joy ride. As Conor Wight reports, these kinds of situations are becoming all too common.
The sun was out for some of the day, making for a brisk but pleasant Easter Sunday. WCCO caught up with parents, churches and families making the most of it.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say officers arrested a woman who was "disrupting" Easter Sunday services at Cities Church, the site where an anti-immigration enforcement protest in January led to federal prosecutors charging dozens of demonstrators and some journalists.
Since 1913, St. Clement Catholic Church has stood the test of time in northeast Minneapolis — but a piece of equipment as old as the church itself may lead to its closure.