Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Tony Lourey has resigned effective today. Governor Tim Walz has appointed Pam Wheelock as Acting Commissioner. State Senator Jim Abeler of Anoka says “man, I am totally shocked that he would be leaving, there were great problems at the Department of Human Services, that he inherited and I […]
Gov Walz addresses teachers with fiery speech at State Capitol as budget negotiations continue (AUDIO)
Hundreds of educators from around Minnesota rallied in the rotunda of the State Capitol Saturday to call for significant increases to education funding in the next two years. Governor Walz and legislative leaders have been at the budget negotiating table all week, and Walz, a former teacher, had this message for the cheering crowd–and all […]
MN Senate passes “lights on” appropriations bill on party-line vote
The Republican-led state Senate today, on a party-line vote of 35-31, passed a “lights on” bill that would continue funding at current levels if Governor Walz and Republicans can’t agree by the end of the fiscal year–June 30th. Lino Lakes Republican Roger Chamberlain said as negotiations drag on “the political reality is what it is, […]
MN A-G adds Sackler family as defendants in lawsuit against Purdue Pharma (AUDIO)
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today announced he has filed an amended complaint against Purdue Pharma to add eight individuals from the Sackler family. Ellison said, “the Sackler defendants personally control Purdue, each one sat on the board, several are officers, personally involved in designing, implementing Purdue’s deceptive sales and marketing strategy and practices.” Ellison […]
Gov Walz signs bill into law repealing pre-existing relationship defense (AUDIO)
Governor Walz today signed a bill into law repealing the pre-existing relationship defense in criminal sexual assault cases. Jenny Teeson, who was drugged and abused by her husband, who videotaped the incident, was instrumental in getting the issue in front of lawmakers. Her now ex-husband pled guilty to invasion of privacy, a misdemeanor. Teeson today […]
MN Senate passes hands free cell phone/distracted driving bill
A bill that would require drivers to use cell phones in hands-free mode passed off the Minnesota Senate floor today with strong bipartisan support on a vote of 56-10. Republican Senator Dan Hall of Burnsville voted for the measure, but with some reservations. He said, “I don’t like the way this is taking away my […]
Gov Walz joins advocates to preserve health care provider tax (AUDIO)
Advocates are at the State Capitol today calling on lawmakers to preserve a provider tax on healthcare. Governor Tim Walz says he doesn’t question that Republicans want people to have healthcare but said, “what I do question is if you cannot put forward a plan as solid as the healthcare access fund, and your only […]
Legislative Auditor releases report on childcare fraud investigation (AUDIO)
A report released today by the state Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) sheds light on allegations of fraud involving the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program or C-CAP. The fraud had been alleged to total as much as $100 million annually, but Legislative Auditor James Nobles says “we couldn’t find evidence to substantiate that there is […]
Amid controversy, MN A-G Ellison calls Rep. Omar “fair-minded person who rejects bigotry of all kinds” (AUDIO)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she doesn’t think statements made by Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar were meant to be anti-Semitic. And Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison whose Congressional seat Omar took over, says there is a lot of scrutiny on Omar and as a freshman in Congress “she has very little room to make mistakes, and […]
Gov Walz signs first 2 bills into law (AUDIO)
Governor Tim Walz today signed his first two bills into law at the State Capitol. One of the bills provides $13 million in critical funding to the state Licensing and Registration System–MNLARS. The second bill funds environmental and infrastructure projects across the state of Minnesota. Walz says the bills are a bipartisan success story. Walz […]