Events today

• Secretary of State Steve Simon will meet with county officials in Scott, Carver, Meeker, and Wright counties. 
• 7:30 a.m. – Sen. Melisa Frazen holds a town hall meeting, YoYo Donuts, Minnetonka.
• 9 a.m. – Sen. Kent Eken holds a town hall meeting, Hawley City Hall.
• 11 a.m. – House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Rep. Clark Johnson hold a press conference and discussion about education, Centennial Student Union, Room 204, S. St., Mankato. Open to the public.
• 1:30 p.m. – House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Rep. Jeanne Poppe hold a press conference and discussion about education, Skylight Room, Riverland Community College, 2200 Riverland Dr, Albert Lea. Open to the public.
• 2 p.m. – Sen. Kent Eken holds a town hall meeting, Barnesville City Hall.
• 2 p.m. – House Assistant Minority Leader Erin Murphy holds an education roundtable with administrators, Owatonna School Board Room, 515 W. Bridge St., Owatonna. (Not open to the public.)
• 3:30 p.m. – Sen. Kent Eken holds a town hall meeting, Dilworth City Hall.
• 5 p.m. – Sen. Kent Eken holds a town hall meeting, Glyndon City Hall.
• 7 p.m. – Sen. Kent Eken holds a town hall meeting, Detroit Lakes City Hall.

 

2015 session

Minnesota: The joy of divided government, Pioneer Press

Any hope for ‘dead’ bills at the Capitol? Just a little, Pioneer Press

Lawmakers have a lot to tackle after break, KARE

Inmates to butchers: Bill would create meat processing program, Star Tribune

 

2016 election

GOP’s ring collecting hats: Cruz’s tossed, Paul and Rubio next, Star Tribune

Democrat O’Malley says presidency ‘not some crown’ to be shared by 2 families, Star Tribune

History shows early lead in presidential race doesn’t portend victory, Star Tribune

2016 GOP hopefuls pack a lot of heat, Star Tribune

 

Agriculture

Farmers voice frustration at waterway buffer meeting, Owatonna People’s Press

Buffer strip proposal draws criticism from farming community, Pipestone County Star

 

Budget (state)

In Response: Focus on policy with surplus, not politics, Duluth News Tribune

Senate DFL budget just shy of $43 billion, sets aside $250M for rainy day fund, Star Tribune

Funding for disabled and long-term care? It’s personal, Star Tribune

State’s long-term care field in financial mess, Pope County Tribune

Senate Democrats take middle ground on budget, Detroit Lakes

Senate budget seeks to bridge gulf between Dayton and GOP, MinnPost

Daniels backs GOP budget plan; says there’s middle ground with DFL, Faribault Daily News

Minnesota Senate DFL makes a sensible budget bid, Star Tribune

Q&A: What will the rest of the Minnesota legislative session hold? Grand Forks Herald

Senate targets focus on education, more limited tax target, Minnesota Budget Project

Senate DFL wants surplus used for schools, reserves, MPR

Senate DFL wants to spend $42.7 billion on Minn. budget, KSTP

After break, battle over tax cuts awaits Minnesota Legislature, MPR

 

Capitol renovations

Senate to work out of downtown St. Paul during interim, Pioneer Press

Capitol restoration project threatens to bust its $270M budget, Pioneer Press

Capitol renovation project needs $30M more from lawmakers, Star Tribune

Costs of major Minnesota Capitol renovation creeping up, MPR

 

Congressional delegation

Franken

Franken’s Pell Grant amendment fails in marathon budget voting session, Star Tribune

 

Demographics

Preparing for a diverse workforce, Star Tribune

 

Driver’s license bill

Driver’s license bill would expand opportunity for Minnesotans, Minnesota Budget Project

 

Economic development

Katie Clark Sieben: ‘Pathways to Prosperity’: Opening a wider workforce door, Pioneer Press

 

Education (higher)

Minnesota considers bill to scrap remedial college courses, Star Tribune

Bill would help MnSCU better transfer college credits earned in high school, Star Tribune

 

Education (early)

Pre-K teachers may lose business with Gov. Dayton’s pre-school proposal, Detroit Lakes

Schools approve of Gov. Dayton’s pre-school proposal if they have space, Detroit Lakes

Gov. Dayton continues to push for funding for universal pre-school, KBJR

 

Equal Rights Amendment

Equal Rights bill faces baffling opposition in Minnesota House, City Pages

 

Housing

Rural towns, businesses join forces to help workers live closer to their jobs, MinnPost

 

Labor

1,000 AFSCME members rally for quality of life in Minnesota, Workday Minnesota

Loretto man gets 22 months for lying about employees’ wages, Workday Minnesota

 

Letter to the editor, Star Tribune

 

Lobbying

Leap from legislator to lobbyist a short one in Minnesota, Pioneer Press

Legislators to Lobbyists: A database of their clients and cash, Pioneer Press

 

Nursing homes

The need for nursing home workers is causing a local law maker to take action, KIMT

 

Obituaries

Obituary: Jack Puterbaugh, DFL stalwart and advance man for JFK’s final trip, Star Tribune

Obituary: Maureen Flahaven was leader on many local, state issues, Star Tribune

 

‘Religious freedom’ bill

Indiana’s ‘religious freedom’ bill sparks firestorm of controversy, MPR

 

Reproductive rights

Florida Legislature considers new abortion restrictions, including waiting period, Star Tribune

 

Steel imports

MN congressional delegation and Lt. Gov. meet at White House about steel imports, WDIO

 

Transportation

Governor proposes railroad tax-funded safety fixes to include Little Falls and Randall, Morrison County Record

Transportation, two ways, West Central Tribune

Zelle visits Glencoe, McLeod County Chronicle

Letter: Where was Rep. Baker? West Central Tribune

It’s time to invest in transportation, West Central Tribune

 

Veteran

Minnesota veteran, Japanese POW finally gets his medal, Fox 9

 

Vikings stadium

Vikings stadium: Agency’s leadership structure, salary differences questioned, Pioneer Press

Kelm-Helgen’s stadium role duplicates Mondale’s, critics say, Star Tribune

Head of stadium agency calls pay dispute ‘distraction’, MPR

 

Women’s History Month

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