A bipartisan group of state lawmakers today introduced legislation that would ban the use of cell phones when behind the wheel–unless the devices are in “hands-free” mode. DFL Representative Frank Hornstein of Minneapolis says it isn’t about restricting liberties, it’s about public safety and adds “distracted driving is the fastest cause of road accidents in […]

Republican State Senator Scott Newman of Hutchinson chairs the Senate transportation committee and says he’ll hold a hearing early in the new session to get to the bottom of a recent data breach involving the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). The addresses of 15-hundred people were inadvertently sent to three different companies. Newman says […]

Minnesota earned a “C” grade for overall infrastructure, according to a new report out today from the American Society of Civil Engineers or ASCE.  Spokesman Jason Staebell says the “C” grade means “infrastructure is mediocre and requires attention. While our bridges, transit system, ports and more are in fair condition, some elements show general signs of […]

House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin of Rogers today announced that she will not seek re-election to the Minnesota House this November. Peppin, an attorney, has accepted a job with the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) in Maple Grove. Peppin is currently serving her seventh term in office. Peppin says “it has been a great privilege […]

Republican State Representative Jeff Howe of Rockville announced today he is running for the state Senate in District 13 to replace Michelle Fischbach, who is retiring to become the full-time Lieutenant Governor. Howe was first elected to the state House in 2012 and currently serves on the Transportation, Public Safety, Job Growth and Civil Law […]

Governor Dayton today vetoed the GOP tax plan in St. Paul at Bruce Vento Elementary School surrounded by students. Dayton said he’s vetoing the bill because Republicans “have not met the condition I set, which is to include the emergency school aid and also because it’s a bill that’s skewed toward the rich.” Dayton is referring […]

Secretary of State Steve Simon is calling on lawmakers to release a million-and-a-half dollars in federal funding for statewide election cybersecurity upgrades.  Simons says failure to do so this year, this session “is a direct threat to our Democracy because the number one threat to our election system in this country and this state is the […]

Republican lawmakers today unveiled their plan to help cut down on childcare fraud in the wake of recent reports that millions of dollars are being funneled overseas–at times allegedly to support terrorism. Representative Nick Zerwas of Elk River is calling for criminal and civil penalties for those who illegally transfer public program money to countries […]

State House Republicans today are unveiling their plan to help cut down on childcare fraud. And this afternoon, Republican State Senator Jim Abeler of Anoka is holding a hearing in the wake of a recent news report on apparent fraud in the state childcare assistance program. Abeler says he and Minnesota taxpayers want to know […]