Minnesota finance officials are projecting a positive balance of $1.6 billion in the state budget for the next biennium. The Minnesota Management Budget office says the surplus is due to a higher revenue forecast, lower state spending, and an increased surplus for the current fiscal year. In December the forecast looked grimmer with a projected […]
Gov Walz announces expansion timeline: all Minnesotans should be eligible for COVID shot by summer
Governor Tim Walz today announced a timeline for eligibility for all Minnesotans to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. Walz says Minnesota will expand vaccine eligibility after 70-percent of adults 65 years of age and older are vaccinated–likely by the end of March. After that, Minnesotans with certain medical conditions, food processing workers and some “targeted essential […]
MDH: 1 in 5 MN High School students using e-cigs (AUDIO)
One in five Minnesota high school students are using e-cigarettes–that’s according to new data from the 2020 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey. And Laura Oliven with the state Health Department says the report “found a whopping 70% of students who used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days showed signs of e-cigarette dependence and that is very […]
Otter Tail County deputy charged in deadly pursuit
An Otter Tail County deputy is charged with misconduct and driving under the influence of fentanyl during a high-speed chase that ended in a deadly crash in Fergus Falls last October. Deputy Kelly Backman was pursuing a minivan driven by a man in a drug investigation when the van slammed into a car, killing 72-year-old […]
Walz $518M bonding proposal emphasizes asset preservation
Nearly half of the 518 million dollars in Governor Tim Walz’s bonding proposal would go for asset preservation — roof repairs, exterior renovation and technology upgrades — at state-owned buildings across Minnesota. Walz contends it’s so the state’s infrastructure doesn’t fall into disrepair. “This proposed bill makes the necessary investments so that we don’t get […]
Minnesota House Taking Testimony On Recreational Cannabis Bill
The Minnesota House will hear public testimony this afternoon (Wednesday 3 p-m) on a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana. House Majority Ryan Winkler is sponsoring the bill. The Golden Valley Democrat says our priorities are “to end the black market for cannabis and move to a safe, regulated marketplace where consumers know what they’re […]
Walz Outlining Plan To Bring More Middle/High School Students Back
Governor Tim Walz will outline his plan today (Wednesday 12 p-m) to bring more Minnesota middle- and high-school students back on campus. Walz says “we’re further along in in-person learning than most places, and I think this is just the way to make sure that we don’t end up with an outbreak.” House Deputy Republican […]
“Buffalo Strong”
Allina Health is asking Minnesotans to join in solidarity with the victims of the Buffalo shooting and community today (Tuesday) to mark the one-week observance. People throughout the state are asked to take a moment of silence at 11 a-m today, which was about the time of last Tuesday’s attack at the Buffalo Crossroads […]
MN Senate honors woman killed in Buffalo clinic shootings
A moment of silence in the Minnesota Senate today honoring Lindsay Overbay, the 37-year-old medical assistant and mother of two who died following last week’s mass shootings at the Allina Clinic in Buffalo. 67-year-old Gregory Ulrich is charged with second-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. K-S-T-P reported earlier that Ulrich had legally obtained […]
GOP bill would force Mpls to pay other communities for help sent during riots
A bill headed for a floor vote in the state Senate would redirect state aid bound for Minneapolis to law enforcement agencies around Minnesota, to pay for help they sent during last summer’s riots. Luverne Republican Bill Weber says a lot of people probably don’t like that Minneapolis cut funding for its police department eight […]