Politics + Public Policy

Restaurants and bars will stay closed through May 1.

Under an executive order issued Monday, Minnesota will provide loans for up to $35,000 to small businesses in the state.

Legislators say they're still available to constituents, but it will be mostly by phone, email, or text.

At a rally in Dallas on Monday night, she endorsed Joe Biden.

Minnesota hasn't had many presidential primary debates. South Carolina has hosted 21.

City leaders are considering establishing a Community Development Corporation that would join First Avenue in overseeing the venue.

The issue could make the state vulnerable to “malicious actors” during upcoming elections, according to cybersecurity firm McAfee.

GOP leaders have objected to the price tag, but Walz’s plan is well within the debt guidelines crafted a decade ago by the Office of Management and Budget under the administration of GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

In what is likely to be a boisterous election season, what are the pros and cons of workplace discussion?

A look ahead at some of the most pressing issues in local politics.

Republicans have put forward their own bills, but the two parties’ differing visions have prevented consensus.

A new initiative launched by the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District aims to get 100 bathrooms opened to the public.

The senators’ Enhancing Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century Act would require government agencies to examine factors behind the slump in new business formation rates.

In a letter, the governors asked Trump to find ways to lessen the impact of the waivers on farmers.

A look at the particulars of a new office building for the city of Minneapolis.

The program, which was revived by the Minnesota Legislature this year, allows investors to claim a tax credit on investments in startups.

There will be no general tax increase, and no gas tax hike. But there will be a cut in the income tax rate for middle-income earners while a tax on medical providers will continue.

Breaking down the Minnesota House by profession.

There are stark differences in philosophy and strategy between the DFL-led House and GOP-run Senate, divisions best illustrated by each side’s omnibus spending and policy bills.

Pharma has become such an inviting target that in a Legislature that can't agree on anything, multiple bills taking on the industry are still alive in both the DFL-controlled House and a GOP-controlled Senate.

One proposal, which has bipartisan support, would allow those who donate to affordable housing projects to take a dollar-for-dollar credit off of their state income tax bill.

The St. Paul Saints, the minor league baseball team that plays home games at the heavily public subsidized CHS Field in Lowertown, is 1.2 miles away from the state Capitol.

Municipal IDs are aimed at providing identification to people who are unwilling or unable to get state driver’s licenses or IDs, often because they are undocumented immigrants.

The Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act would allow donations to scholarship foundations to be credited against state income taxes. The foundations would use the money to give private school scholarships to low- and middle-income students.

Preemption was a more potent issue over the last four years, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate.

A Senate bill to partially legalize sports books in Minnesota narrowly passed out of its first committee Thursday, but the Senate majority leader isn’t keen on the idea, and the state’s 11 Native American tribes are opposed.

Republicans in Minnesota often focus on the state’s high taxes, while DFLers focus on all the services the state delivers for that money — a divergence was put on display at the Minnesota Capitol this week.

DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said there was a move away from putting more money into grants he described as “siloed, carve-out programs,” but instead to “bring the philosophy of equity to all that we do.”

Part of Klobuchar’s case to win the Democratic nomination for president is her ability to appeal to Trump voters. How strong is that ability?

What you should know about Klobuchar’s politics and finances as the senator announces her presidential run.

Rep. Zack Stephenson’s bill would appropriate $2.5 million to the Department of Employment and Economic Development to oversee the program and guarantee any defaults by workers. No interest could be charged during a shutdown or for 90 days after the end of a shutdown.

Recreational marijuana probably isn’t coming to Minnesota this year. But the debate at Legislature has already become largely about when, not if, it will happen.

Alec Smith’s parents were on hand at the Minnesota Capitol earlier this week to tell his story one more time, part of an effort to pass a package of bills to stop price gouging and bring some transparency to the insulin market.

The shutdown has cost University researchers $10 million in unreimbursed expenses, caused facilities to be shuttered, and is getting in the way of some students’ financial aid.

Education was featured prominently in Gov. Tim Walz’s remarks, but he also highlighted a theme that was a big part of his campaign — that the state has addressed tough problems in the past and can do so again.

A look at why a recently launched petition to “give the Northwest Angle back to Canada” to “correct a critical survey error” will never be successful, and why Angle business owners would never want it to be.

The DFLer lays out political strategy to win support for his agenda in a divided Legislature.

When the Legislature begins its work Jan. 8, a battery of lobbyists for Greater Minnesota interests will be there, arguing for a variety of proposals that they believe will boost the rural economy.

The Third District’s new congressman reflects on challenges and priorities as his government-repair mission prepares to enter action mode.

Experts caution against assuming the suburbs are in DFL hands for the long term.

On a recent afternoon, Frey looked back at the highlights and challenges of his first year in the new gig, what he is prioritizing in 2019 — and what his life is now like outside City Hall.

The tight labor market caused by retiring baby boomers is an immediate problem, and its pinch on growing businesses is only going to get worse.

Legislation is already being drafted for lawmakers to take up the issue in 2019, the passage of which would add Minnesota to a growing list of states that have legalized betting on professional and college sports.

Even while the tour raised expectations of an open and inclusive administration, Walz admitted that he might not always meet those expectations.

While the incoming lieutenant governor expressed a willingness to listen to concerns about regulation and efficiency in government, she also set out what Gov.-elect Tim Walz might want in return.

Some in the media, who had already been buzzing about Klobuchar as a dark horse candidate, went all-in after her decisive win on Election Day.

Meanwhile, voters in Minnesota’s most populous county elect two political newcomers over longtime incumbents, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.

Control of Congress doesn’t hinge on Minnesota’s contested House districts, but it depends on districts like them across the country.

Anytime Fitness, Askov Finlayson, Clockwork, Nice Ride, Target are among the companies in the Twin Cities that have enacted policies including full closures, adjusted hours, and more, to ensure employees get to the polls.

Twitter erupted with calls for boycotts against Land O’Lakes over a June donation to King’s campaign, as King is oft criticized as being a white nationalist, and otherwise divisive voice.

Republican Jeff Johnson says Minnesota will become California if DFLer Tim Walz is elected. If the opposite happens, Walz threatens Mississippi.

With Gov. Mark Dayton leaving office, the buffer law has become one of the top natural resource issues in the governor’s race between Republican Jeff Johnson and DFLer Tim Walz.

The homeless encampment along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis has brought new attention to a long-standing and widespread problem.

The two major party nominees, Republican Jeff Johnson and DFLer Tim Walz, once made a thing out of their personal camaraderie. With less than a month to go before the election, though, that chumminess has disappeared.

Conservatives have overwhelmingly rallied to the defense of Kavanaugh.

A draft of the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan proposes building fourplexes across the city, sparking a heated debate among residents and policymakers.

By reducing barriers for students and their families — addressing basic needs like stable housing, job training and mental and physical health care — such schools aim to better equip at-risk students to succeed.

Facebook and Google are among the top targets.

Minnetonka will be the 12th city in Minnesota to join the Tobacco 21 effort aimed at preventing youth nicotine addiction.

Walz has stuck with a message that he used in the DFL primary: that it will take someone like him — someone who owns guns and knows gun culture — to work with people on both sides of the issue to find compromises on gun control.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wants to move eight police officers currently in desk jobs to beat work next year, backfilling their office positions with civilians. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, meanwhile, wants to shift money around to give all officers pay raises, among other plans.

The conventional wisdom has been that Housley faces long odds in her effort to be the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 16 years.

The issue might offer the most obvious contrast between the GOP and DFL candidates for governor — according to the candidates themselves.

Charts help tell the story of Minnesota's vote tallies on Tuesday.

The mayor presented his 2019 budget in a 45-minute speech to about 50 people inside City Council chambers Wednesday morning.

What we learned from MPR's DFL governor candidate forum with Tim Walz, Erin Murphy and Lori Swanson.

FarmFest was the first (and likely only) time that Jeff Johnson, Tim Pawlenty, Erin Murphy, Lori Swanson and Tim Walz would be together on the same stage.

No race to the left is playing out among the primary field: the leading candidates are all already there.

MinnPost answers your most pressing questions.

Rep. Erik Paulsen will also attend the event with Best Buy employees.

Hillary Clinton “lost all but nine counties, but managed to win the state,” says Jeff Blodgett, a longtime DFL operative. “To me, that’s a lesson in really where the votes are.”

The suit alleges state officials and Greater MSP used a cloud-based file-sharing site to hold materials — including the bid itself — in order to get around Minnesota's Data Practices Act.

Assorted wisdom from two veteran political consultants — one Democrat, one Republican — speaking at the Minnesota Chamber's Women in Business gathering Wednesday.

Anderson Kelliher was Speaker of the Minnesota House for four years but dropped off the political map after falling short in her 2010 bid for governor.

More and more Range residents have been crediting Trump for any boost the mining industry has recently received.

Smith’s attempting to walk a fine line on mining in northern Minnesota. Her critics aren’t having it.

The proportion of candidates for the Minnesota House who are women inched up one percentage point versus 2016.

At the heart of Ellison’s decision: Where he can best counter the Trump administration.

The money will be available for things like bullet-proof glass, metal detectors and security cameras — but not to fund any type of personnel, whether it's school police officers or psychologists.

Reaction to Gov. Mark Dayton’s session-gutting act — vetoing two bills that contained the bulk of the Legislature's work this year — depended almost exclusively on which political tribe one belonged to.

Optimism has been replaced by a darker mood at the Capitol, one that speaks to a realization that time is running out to get anything substantive done this session.

Apparently, there’s no time like the present to start thinking, and fighting, about the process.

Facing a May 21 deadline, Republicans in control of the House and Senate are scrambling to get several key proposals to the governor’s desk.

In shaping their plans, DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders have applied their own political philosophies on who should pay more or less, resulting in dramatically different proposals.

The Legislature is exempt from the state’s data practices law, so information about sexual harassment complaints and investigations is not public, and top leaders have been reluctant to release any details.

As St. Paul prepares to create its own minimum wage, the City Council wants to know: What are the impacts of a higher wage for those now getting public assistance?

The motivation behind two bills debated this week at the Legislature is the same: to have some funding for programs if the state government ever shuts down again.

The application, FieldWatch, gives every officer in the field with an iPhone the ability to stream video from his or her location back to a central command center.

Dayton dished out strong criticism to the two-term governor and returning candidate for the 2018 governor’s race.

Mayor Melvin Carter’s remarks came at a meeting that functioned as something of a preview of his “State of Our City Summit” on Saturday.

Among other things, some lawmakers want to set up a system that would funnel money into preventive measures — by imposing a fee on the pharmaceutical companies that sell opioids.

Thaddeus Medical is in line for $50K, while Hunhu Medical declared a loss in its report to the city.

The Minnesota Business Partnership’s executive director is tackling a workforce shortage, achievement gap and business competition threats.

Ted Matthews might have the toughest job in the state of Minnesota.

During Wednesday's hearing, Hennepin County District Court Judge Bruce A. Peterson was, at different times, confused, amused and impressed by the arguments against the Commons deal.

The speech was shorter and more personal than his previous addresses, and he used it to both look back at his time as governor and describe where he sees Minnesota going after he’s gone.

That breaks with a decades-long trend that saw gun purchases increase after mass shootings.

A lot depends on how other nations react to the new taxes.

A once-projected shortfall transformed into a $329 million surplus in Wednesday's updated forecast. The problem? Everyone expected that number to be much bigger.

State lawmakers try to find a meaningful way to deal with an issue that has been unaddressed for decades - in a place where relationships are often marked by vast power imbalances.

St. Paul has the region's highest percentage of people living in poverty, at 40.8 percent.

Taxes, bonding, and the fallout from a sexual harassment scandal are all expected to be addressed during the upcoming session.

We spoke with the man tasked with implementing the project, Adam Fetcher, about how and why the North Loop-based clothing company decided to take on one of today’s most urgent problems.

Minneapolis’ new mayor on his early agenda and healing the city’s relationship with business.

The budget is the second since the state Supreme Court tossed out a key source of revenue for the city — and the first to deal with the full brunt of that ruling.

The forecast was released at an already complicated time. The relationship between Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP leaders remains rocky, and lawmakers are facing a short session at the start of a major election year.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community was first recognized by the federal government in 1969. Today, it’s a force to be reckoned with.

Reading simple voter sentiments into complex election results is always dicey, but it would be hard to see the results in both cities as a rejection of those who've supported development and greater housing density.

The government’s proposed tax bill would kill the federal historic tax credit, a key financing tool for developers.

Business leaders expect to finish the year with a stable pace in hiring and investing in their companies.

McMahon met with local small business owners, including Hen House Eatery, Wood from the Hood, and Element Gym.

On Thursday, an advisory committee took the step recommending a route and a mode of transit for the project. But there are many, many more decisions to come.

There are hundreds of listings throughout the Twin Cities, despite them all being illegal.

The wall has fed a narrative that the regional governing body lacks transparency, and that it cooperates with local officials only when it is convenient for the Met Council.

One expert estimates that eliminating the state and local tax deduction could pay for 15 to 25 percent of the GOP’s entire tax plan.

Under the Minneapolis wage law, franchise owners must boost wages faster than other small businesses.

St. Cloud’s city administrator called the city council’s current version of the ordinance a “hybrid” of its existing law and of what had been enacted in Edina.

The issue has become a rare one in the open mayoral election. That is, one that cleanly separates the candidates from one another.

In going after Amazon's HQ2, Dayton has displayed a level of reticence that is at odds with his long history of courting companies to Minnesota.

But they affirmed the lower court's decision to prevent the ordinance from applying to companies without a presence in Minneapolis.

Among the items in the $1.4 billion proposal are several that could impact the business community.

Qatar and United Arab Emirates based carriers are playing a growing role in the U.S. market. But are they playing fair?

St. Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert would much rather voters like him than dislike him, of course, but a series of issues in his ward has made that difficult, if not impossible.

Many CEOs tendered their resignation from the advisory group following a weekend of violence and protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Aims for $1M in startup funding despite ‘sunset’ of state’s angel tax credit.

“I’ve been in this business a long time,” the Minneapolis Public Works Department's Don Elwood said Tuesday. “It will be complete.”

To an audience of South Dakota residents, Kashkari said, “Do we want economic growth, or not?”

“The vibrancy that we now have on the street which was previously an ocean of surface parking lots is something to most definitely marvel at,” said Council Member Jacob Frey.

Minnesota took action in the months after the collapse. But exactly one decade later, St. Paul is back to gridlock on the infrastructure debate.

Farmers and food processors worry anti-immigration policies will harm their businesses—and Minnesota.

The danger to Minnesota’s economy isn’t a flood of immigrants—it’s when they stop arriving.

With just over a year left in his second term, we ask Governor Mark Dayton questions currently on the mind of business.

Optimism about the economy and plans for further business investment are receding after two quarters of increased confidence and spending.

The drive for campaign dollars is heating up in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Businesspeople are evaluating their donation strategy.

The ordinance was passed unanimously during a meeting Monday evening.

There are several reasons why Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans is concerned about the state budget. The biggest one: What, exactly, will the federal government do?

Mayor won’t nominate permanent replacement before election.

The current plan is the culmination of 10 years of work by the city of St. Paul, Ford, state environmental agencies and regional economic development groups. Not everybody is happy with it.

Who is the business candidate in the mayor’s race?

A preemption bill veto by Gov. Mark Dayton means the rules can go into effect on Saturday.

The vote to enact the ordinance will take place in July, about two months after Edina passed the same law.

It turns out that the substance of the ordinance has been decided for weeks, if not months.

Advocates for tariffs need to answer two important questions.

On Tuesday, the city is expected authorize the purchase of the ground beneath the Kmart that blocks Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and 29th Street.

A recent forum offered candidates a chance to explain whether they will accept — let alone seek — support from the local business community.

MnDRIVE snags funds for cancer research as sun sets on program to help startups.

Bank and business relationships are no longer used when determining one's domicile for tax purposes.

The regional board, born of a time when there was a greater sense of regionalism between the cities and the suburbs, could be dead by October 1.

President Trump’s campaign focused on disrupting the status quo. Now attorneys say it’s unclear how far Trump will go to overhaul immigration, labor and environmental laws that affect Minnesota businesses.

The plastic bag ban is now law, despite business objections.

Taxes, booze and plastic bags: Messy as it was, lawmakers finished their work by early Friday, likely avoiding a state government shutdown.

Under the terms of the deal between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders, legislators now have until 7 a.m. Wednesday to finalize the state budget.

Now that Gov. Dayton has signed the bill into law, It’s probably safe to start booking flights for 2018.

The budget directs the Federal Transit Administration to lock in its commitment to providing the more than $900 million federal contribution to the light rail line.

Will Canada get its whey?

Report says state excels at environmental health, lags on community planning.

Republicans' budget proposals represent a desire to halt what they call a “stunning” increase in the growth of state agencies over the last decade.

The City Council has enlisted the Citizens League to study whether it should create a system to get nonprofits to voluntarily pay what the state constitution exempts them from paying.

Grant money will also be used to prevent certain infections, subsequently cutting the number of emergency room visits made to Minnesota hospitals.

That was the takeaway from Saturday's forum at Shiloh Temple for the nine candidates for Minneapolis mayor.

Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders have found agreement on a handful of major issues so far. But things are about to get a lot tougher.

The two Minn. institutions combined for more than $500M in NIH funding last year.

The little cannabis industry on the prairie is pioneering a new model for medical marijuana. But its future is up in the air, given its high costs and restricted access.

A college education is a popular credential in Minnesota, but it isn’t needed to perform most jobs.

New research suggests the state leans heavily on immigrants when it comes to growth of the workforce, overall population, and the economy.

The mayor of the Iron Range city said the two parties should “go their own ways” as it moves to evict the movie studio from its basement due to unmet payments.

The state added 3,800 jobs.

The final vote won’t come until Friday. But the ordinance received enough votes during a joint committee meeting Wednesday to assure passage.

Four of the candidates are seeking the DFL endorsement. The other is going Green.

Proposal would make angel credit permanent and boost annual funding to $20 million.

The store won't be able to sell liquor for 30 days starting July 2—just as other stores can begin opening Sundays.

While medical device manufacturers have something to celebrate, they also have a lot of questions — about the Republican plan and the Trump administration in general.

More than 100 restaurants in the city have joined the group to call for concessions in the ordinance that's expected to arrive this summer.

While the national political climate has grown hostile to immigrants, Minnesota needs them more than ever, says a U of M study.

The northeastern Minnesota city could be the third in the state to mandate the benefit.

The so-called “border adjusted tax” overhauls the way U.S. companies pay taxes by easing the tax burden on exports while making companies pay up for imports.

Subsidies are notoriously difficult to track, but here’s what we know.

There's been no contact between developers and state officials in months.

The committee vote is a just a small slice of what’s happening across the Legislature: Onetime ‘no’ votes are slowly shifting to ‘yes,’ and new lawmakers are more inclined to repeal the ban.

Reports explain why ACA premiums rose and why they may go higher without key ACA provisions.

Dissolving the Counties Transportation Improvement Board would allow counties in the Twin Cities to fund transit projects — without any money from the state of Minnesota.

In response to complaints by two prominent former politicians, the Minneapolis City Council recently directed city staff to examine how it can more closely monitor stadium costs.

Candidates are trying to catch up to a movement started by grassroots activists.

Business is bad as street renovation drags into year three.

The owner of 1-800 Radiators & A/C of Minnesota said a $15 minimum wage will make it difficult to compete with competition elsewhere in the metro.

The 2.3 percent tax placed on medical device sales was said to be harmful to medtech innovators, of which many are located throughout Minnesota.

As the state tilts right, Minneapolis is turning hard left. Has that ruined the city’s business climate, or is it just rhetoric?

Two business heavy hitters will push an aggressive agenda this session that goes beyond tax reform.

If the trends continue, 2017 could be a good year for the state.

The year will start with a legislative session — and end with two big elections.

The new program will help small business compete against more established companies.

"Minneapolis is going to lead on the minimum wage, and we have to get it right," the mayor said.

Speaker Daudt said there seems to be enough support to end the blue law this upcoming session.

The move by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture deals a major blow to the prospect for a copper-nickel mine on the Iron Range.

The state has added nearly 32,000 jobs in the last 12 months.

Minnesota Republicans have credited their election night success to speaking to people who felt left behind.

Minnesota employers are straining to comply with new overtime rules.

Minnesota entrepreneurs could benefit from the new guidelines, which relax several restrictions and raise the cap on amounts that can be raised.

Chamber president Doug Loon said lawmakers should not be “imposing a straightjacket with one-size-fits-all mandates.”

Twin Cities business leaders say the region must do a better job of recruiting people to move here — and of keeping them here once they arrive.

Yet some worry that the study underestimates the potential impact — especially on small businesses.

After numerous delays, the schedules to complete Southwest LRT and the Bottineau Line are now converging. Is Metro Transit capable of building the massive projects simultaneously?

900 Hennepin changes directions with the help of Minneapolis taxpayers.

Call it the Goldilocks of tax levy hikes: lower than council originally proposed, and higher than what Mayor Chris Coleman wanted.

The minerals company claims government figures are refusing to give it automatic renewal of the right to mine in an area near the Boundary Waters.

Employment is booming across greater Minnesota, but acute housing shortages threaten the prosperity.

With open enrollment for 2017 just two months away, TCB looks at key numbers from the first three years of the ACA-mandated exchanges to predict where those numbers may go.

The Minnesota High Tech Association, state government and private companies are providing hundreds of paid internships to increase the high tech workforce.

The new federal trade secrets law has major ramifications for intellectual property and employment disputes.

Some downtown building owners think Minneapolis should tighten regulations, while food truck operators think the city should give them more freedom.

Minneapolis City Council had blocked the initiative from reaching the ballot earlier this month.

The results are almost in. Will U.S. Bank Stadium deliver on its promises?

Behind the state's deal to bring new jobs to Hoyt Lakes.

As the minimum wage gets its third annual increase, how many people still actually earn it?

Asian and white Minnesotans were also found to be 15 percent more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher than American Indians and African Americans.

Most of the plans and studies are complete. An environmental study has concluded that a cleanup is possible and affordable. And Ford is finally prepared to lay out a more firm timetable for redevelopment.

An estimated 23,000 Americans die each year due to bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics.

Minnesota doesn't have a law explicitly preventing cities from enacting their own wage and benefit ordinances, but that doesn't mean it's clear that doing so is legal.

The city is launching a program to promote the creation of more member-owned commercial enterprises.

Two partners at Faegre Baker Daniels’ London office discuss the intricacies of Brexit and why Minnesotans should be paying attention.

Can the City of Minneapolis really use the property assessment process to incentivize owners to either develop parking lots — or sell the land to someone who will?

The state's Chamber of Commerce continues its call on lawmakers to eliminate the statewide general property tax.

A city that is getting younger, more racially diverse and more urban is grappling with what it will look like in coming years.

Americans oppose the continuation of the embargo by a large margin. Congress might be starting to notice.

Because they generally pay higher tuition, out-of-state students are a key part of the University of Minnesota’s annual budget—especially in the face of decreasing support of the school from legislators in St. Paul.

Hardy’s appointment comes at a time when the Governor and policymakers are increasingly emphasizing equity in conversations about the state’s economy.

MNvest passed during the 2015 legislative session, but it has been in rulemaking since.

GOP Rep. Tim Kelly thought he had a workable plan to solve Minnesota's long-term transportation-funding crisis. So why didn't it even come up for a vote?

The governor also said he won't hold a $300 million budget proposal and a $260 million tax cut bill “hostage” to any special session negotiations.

One of the Minnesota Chamber's three priorities passed.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the policy — and politics — of Minnesota's vehicle tab fees.

The city estimates it will save $28,000 this year on electricity through the agreement.

The bill would require employers to provide paid time off for employees to tend to illness, domestic abuse and care for family members.

Proposal would mean tax break for military retirement pay.

The former Minneapolis mayor plans to continue his work on eliminating the education gap and lead the foundation in tackling issues of housing, poverty and race.

The former Minneapolis mayor previously worked with the organization during his time in office.

Meanwhile, state officials are also debating how much to spend on transportation repairs and construction.

TCB's February report on economic activity throughout the state found a similar pullback in investment and growth.

Though the MJSP has awarded millions in grants over the years, some say the state could do much more to make sure minority-owned businesses are taking advantage of such opportunities.

Karen Francois previously served in a similar department at the City of Minneapolis.

Taking shots at the other side's math is a long-held tradition in St. Paul. Yet the difference in the numbers being bandied about on taxes, transportation and bonding hint at a formidable problem for lawmakers.

A bill allowing aerial fireworks already passed the House and could make it through the Senate. But the governor has public safety concerns.

Peter Nelson of the Center for the American Experiment spoke to the state’s legislative body and believes change could happen, but maybe not this year.

Under the 1971 Fiscal Disparities Act, the Twin Cities region shared $594 million in tax revenue among nearly 200 taxing entities in 2015.

Billions of dollars are fleeing the state because of higher taxes and a growing perception that its government is 'anti-success.'

The agency wants to help direct angel investment money beyond the usual suspects. But is it working?

A U of M study confirms companies benefit from flexible work schedules and environments.

Can two downtown Minneapolis park projects both green up in competition for philanthropic dollars?

Current efforts to allow unaccredited investors to put money in Minnesota companies are awaiting approval in the Department of Commerce.

Mayor Chris Coleman says the stadium will be a “catalyst” for the area. So why does the city need to provide public dollars to spur further development?

The brewer riled many on the Iron Range for its opposition to copper-nickel mining projects.

The House minority leader said he wants to improve Minnesota's standing in science and technology.

The governor has proposed spending $46 million in his supplemental budget bill to improve cybersecurity for state agencies—more than he's proposed for the courts or corrections.

After California’s recent push to ban tobacco sales to those under 21 years of age, a local organization hopes to make similar strides in Minnesota.

Chamber head Doug Loon has teamed up with labor unions and other business groups to push for a transportation funding compromise at the Capitol.

Thanks to the continuing impasse at the state Capitol, the big asks from local governments tend to look a lot like what they requested — and didn’t get — a year ago.

Few businesses are located in the city's poorest quadrant. Can anyone change that?

Local strategies “moving in the right direction,” per Brookings VP.

On Saturday, supporters of a citywide $15-per-hour minimum wage are launching a campaign to collect the 7,000 signatures required to get a referendum on the ballot.

After making several changes to Minnesota's liquor laws last year, the Legislature is expected to focus on other issues during an abbreviated 2016 session.

Can a shadowy group throw a wrench into Rochester’s $6 billion plan?

Minnesotans have known about the huge disparities between whites and communities of color for years. How to close those disparities is another question.

Minneapolis would be the first city in the state to have a mandatory paid sick leave ordinance, though St. Paul has signaled that it also expects to adopt one following a public process.

In spite of cuts made to the project in the past year, the rail line remains a top funding priority for the federal government.

The idea, modeled on workers' compensation, received serious consideration by the group despite reservations about its feasibility.

The program mentors small business owners to nurture additional growth.

Currently two out of every ten outstate Minnesotans don’t have access to a high-speed internet connection.

Minnesota’s representatives come from varied ideological, geographic and economic backgrounds. And they all want the medical-device tax to die.

What does the 2016 legislative session portend for Minnesota businesses?

The ballot question would ask voters if tax money currently collected on the sale of auto repairs and replacement parts should be dedicated to roads and bridges.

And what does "repelling invasions" have to do with it?

And if foreign governments are cheating on steel prices, should the U.S. government step in to help support domestic steel producers?

If Punch Neapolitan Pizza’s higher-wage initiative has been good for business, why isn’t the rest of the local restaurant trade following?

Minnesota colleges are updating and expanding their science, technology, engineering and math programs to meet business needs in a 21st century economy.

The company failed to meet the requirements by the state as specified in the loan agreement.

More film and TV productions would come to Minnesota if incentives were greater—but the state remains ambivalent.

St. Paul’s central library reinvents itself with an emphasis on business training and services.

The hike is slight and it might take some time before consumers see any major changes.

Today, especially on the issue of garbage collection, the environmental benefits of organizing the city’s haulers might finally be changing the conversation.

A proposed amendment to the city budget exposes rifts on the Minneapolis City Council usually hidden by the scrim of party identity.

While Strong Towns' agenda might sound familiar to urban planning enthusiasts, there is a difference informed by founder Chuck Marohn’s background.

Small business owners affiliated with the group Main Street Alliance are asking the public to patronize places run by those who support the proposed policy.

Among other things, the new laws would allow for an increase in the number of restaurants that could offer hard liquor.

The event will highlight issues facing one of the nation’s largest generations that is currently entering the workforce.

Options for the Riverview Corridor project include just about every idea for improving transit between Union Depot and MSP, including which route should taken and what transit mode should be used.

Family businesses make up 90 percent of U.S. businesses and 80 percent of the nation’s workforce.

The city council wants a "partnership group" of 15 residents to study paid sick leave. Now comes the hard part: deciding who should serve on the panel.

The approval will enhance the company's ability to provide data to its customers.

One reason is that the previous estimate of $1 billion was always something of a place saver, put there only after preliminary calculations were done early in the planning process.

Can SouthWest Transit’s express bus system survive Southwest LRT? Should it?

The total price of the project is now expected to be $1.48 billion.

Even if you never drink beers produced by SABMiller, Anheuser-Busch InBev or their biggest competitors, the merger’s effects may trickle into the smallest corners of the $100-billion-per-year beer industry.

Six months after Mayor Betsy Hodges made the agenda the focus of her state of the city address, the once-ambitious plan is now a lot less ambitious.

In a statement released today, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said concerns raised by businesses will take longer to resolve than the current timetable for passage of an ordinance allows.

A partnership of more than 50 regional organizations, “Make It. MSP” is aimed at retaining and recruiting workers. Among its initiatives: an effort to make natives more open to those who weren't born here.

Only San Francisco has anything similar to what's being proposed for employers in Minneapolis. But while the local ordinance would cover every employee in the city, San Francisco's covers relatively few.

While the council appears united on issues like mandatory sick leave and fair scheduling rules, there is no consensus on whether Minneapolis should go it alone on a higher minimum wage.

Adam Duininck says the council has backed away from an earlier plan that would have sidestepped the need for the Legislature to sign off on the state’s share of SWLRT funding.

The company proposing the project says it's a way to provide clean energy. But neighborhood residents and city officials worry about its impact on an iconic part of Minneapolis.

The mayor's plan is aimed at driving more long-term parkers into downtown ramps — and freeing up street spaces for drivers who come to the city to shop, dine and attend events.

Is Minnesota ready to capture all the fireworks spending heading out of state?

Since the thaw in relations that followed an unexpected prisoner swap late last year, Minnesota’s representatives have wasted no time getting involved in Cuba policy.

The law, pushed by MNvest, aims to make investing in Minnesota startups easier.

Rep. Erik Paulsen continues his efforts to repeat the medical device tax. With 27,000 med-tech jobs in the state, he's gaining wide support from the delegation.

Minnesota's 3rd District Rep. Erik Paulsen introduced a bill that would slash federal excise taxes for small U.S-based breweries. Weeks later, the big breweries stepped up.

Addressing the needs of Greater Minnesota was supposed to be a priority this year. But groups representing rural parts of the state are giving the 2015 session an incomplete.

The cuts are aimed at saving the massive transit project, which was put in doubt last month when its price tag went up by $340 million.

Removing the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from the rolls of a special assessment zone for the Nicollet Mall redo will save the bank $267,841.83 over the next 20 years.

Will legislature act in final days on proposed soccer stadium?

In 1988, the Legislature passed the largest transportation-funding package in its history. Here's how it was done.

Despite the ballooning cost of the project, elected officials say they would rather cut costs than abandon the 16-mile addition to the region’s light rail system.

Once home to one of the country’s leading film incentive programs, Minnesota’s Film and TV Board is facing the prospect of not existing at all.

A new $2 billion price tag has led Gov. Mark Dayton and Met Council Chair Adam Duininck to call for a rethinking of the project — or even abandoning it.

Curt Johnson, who was chief of staff to Gov. Arne Carlson, offered his thoughts on bringing together the irresistible objects and immoveable forces at the Legislature in the next few weeks.

Republicans say “efficiencies” could go a long way toward paying for needed road and bridge improvements in Minnesota. What does that mean — and how would it work?

A bill going through the legislature aims to make investing in Minnesota startups easier for community members.

In the wake of a recent report on Portland's extensive system, even some urbanists have begun to question the utility of streetcars.

But the effort garnered more debate and votes than it has ever before — while it failed on a 35-to-28 vote, just year ago the same vote was 44 to 22.

Everything you wanted to know about why lawmakers won't pass a measure supported by a large majority of Minnesotans.

What could public involvement for an urban, soccer-specific facility look like if local politicians' "no" doesn’t necessarily mean "no"?

While state unemployment figures remain lower than the rest of the country, growth has been slower.

CenturyLink has applied to compete with Comcast for cable customers but its application might force the city to choose between following state law or following federal law.

The new regulations set aggressive carbon-emissions reduction targets for Minnesota — that is, if they are even legal.

The author, Myron Orfield, says the metro's racial segregation is due to government apathy and "well-meaning but misdirected" efforts by housing advocates and school reformers.

The process for funding state government every two years involves a bunch of deadlines, myriad requirements — and some big consequences if it all goes awry. Here's how it works.

The new park will come in two parts. An interim version will open in 2016, with the fully developed Downtown Commons debuting in late 2017

The merger of Hamline's law school and William Mitchell College of Law makes sense for a lot of reasons. But it’s also clear that they didn't have much of a choice.

In 1915, the Minneapolis Park Board pioneered the use of urban renewal when it built Gateway Park, on a triangular two-block site that included the early City Hall.

Minneapolis Park Board's recent fight with the Met Council reveals a fear of not being sufficiently protective, even overprotective, of the city's park system.

Even those who most-passionately opposed the measure are talking about tweaking, not repealing, the new law.

The city's zoning ordinances don’t allow hotels of any size in many parts of the city. That may change thanks to Restaurant Alma owner Roberts.

A new report uncovers some surprising facts about the impact of immigrant-owned small businesses.

A bid for historic designation has exposed tensions between those who want to maintain the area's character and a major goal of current city leaders.

The DMC is expected to be state’s largest-ever development project.

The organization is asking the Legislature to consider a “value capture user fee,” essentially a property tax increase on properties whose value would be enhanced by transportation improvements.

A study of sales figures in Washington state concluded that being open on Sunday actually increased sales — far in excess of any additional staffing costs.

By selecting Adam Duininck to lead the Met Council, Dayton has signaled that he not only supports light rail — he's willing to fight for it.

A new Minnesota law allows companies to incorporate with a mission to help society.

Due to health and age, the 75-year-old Sengupta is looking for someone else to carry on the work at his iconic Prospect Park pharmacy, Schneider Drug. No one will be able to carry it on in the same way.

Land-value taxation would mean taxing land separately — and at a higher rate — than the buildings and other improvements that sit on top of that land.

There is some common ground between House and Senate leaders on rural Minnesota, but sharp differences on taxes and education

Now several high-powered real-estate groups are vying to fill the Washington Avenue site with massive towers.

January 5, 2015

New congressman tackles economy, health care.

In a word: maybe, thanks to a section in the recently-passed federal spending bill that has raised questions about the feds' share of the bill for the light rail project.

On Wednesday, both St. Paul and Minneapolis approved operating budgets and property tax levy increases for 2015 — though not without drama in the case of Minneapolis.

“This is greatly improved territory, but there’s always going to be challenges,” said Gov. Mark Dayton. “There will be plenty of ideas for use of this money.”

The latest effort to peel back the state’s ban on Sunday liquor sales will focus on passing legislation that would allow local governments to decide if stores can sell booze on Sunday.

The bridge has drawn objections from the Minneapolis park board, which would prefer that a shallow tunnel be built for light rail trains to travel beneath the Kenilworth Channel.

Concerns over environmental impact, lax regulations on display in New York Times feature.

Officially, Minneapolis' new rules governing food and alcohol at neighborhood restaurants don't go into effect until Jan. 16, 2015. In practical terms, says the city, they already are.

The preservation of landmark buildings is dictated as much by what we see through as what we see.

The numbers raise several challenges for state and local government: how to make sure the skills held by retirees doesn’t go out the door with them, and how to attract and retain younger workers.

The state Legislative Auditor found problems with controls over marketing costs and collection of receipts.

Credit the power of incumbency — and Gov. Mark Dayton's somewhat surprisingly healthy relationship with local business leaders — for the lack of spending so far by some prominent groups.

A group seeking to repeal Minneapolis' 70/30 law governing food-to-alcohol sales for neighborhood restaurants says the rule is a serious problem — and becoming a bigger one.

The promises were among those delivered Tuesday in response to requests from the Equity Commitments Coalition for Metro-wide Transportation.

From ballooning infrastructure costs to a controversial sex offender treatment program, the governor will face big issues if he's re-elected to office.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted Wednesday to spend up to $500,000 to study a shallow tunnel option for the Kenilworth Cooridor.

Franken and McFadden met for their first debate on Wednesday, and Franken's voting record played a starring role.

Eighteen months after Macy's announced it was abandoning downtown, reality is setting in: the store's old building isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Though many of Johnson's positions are unsurprising for a GOP nominee for governor, he breaks from the standard Republican line on a handful of issues, according to analysis from MinnPost's public affairs reporter.

A 2012 environmental review of the SWLRT alignment says that the impacts on parkland could be mitigated. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board isn’t so sure.

The council took its last steps toward a final vote Friday giving municipal consent for a route extending the Green Line from Target Field to Eden Prairie.

As part of the county’s approval, the board also agreed to officially commit to its share of the funding for the project: $165.3 million.

Mike and Leah Driscoll’s Twin Cities Mobile Market seeks to improve the health of people living in low-income areas who lack of easy access to grocery stores.

The Republican candidate for governor says he'll highlight "common sense reform" in bid against Mark Dayton.

Wins by Jeff Johnson and U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden highlight an election that saw less than 10 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

Despite criticisms of Minnesota's tax climate for wealthy residents, a new study suggests that high-income earners in Wisconsin might actually save money if they relocated here.

Wurth Adams Nut & Bolt and Perbix Machines are relocating their headquarters to Brooklyn Park with expansion projects that total $28.6 million.

Cost of living may end up as the region’s ace in the hole, not sports, culture or nature.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development partnered with Gray Plant Mooty for the third time, this time to create a free downloadable guide to help businesses acquaint themselves with security laws and other rules.

The governor said that changes to the state’s IT operations have cut administrative waste and introduced new accountability measures.

Here are some key numbers from the campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.

The Center of the American Experiment, a conservative group, says lawmakers should focus transit spending on improving roads and bridges.

A Met Council leader touted the proposed deal as a “win-win,” while Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges characterized it more as a sacrifice that the city would make for the greater good of improving Twin Cities transit.

While the Twin Cities’ corporate tax structure is lower than those in many major cities throughout the world, it’s higher than those in major metros in places like Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

All but one of the GOP candidates made loans to their campaigns.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce published a report that outlines its stance on bills and how lawmakers voted on them throughout the 2014 session.

The state Republican Party has been conducting a frank reappraisal of its priorities, outreach, and messages since the 2012 election when the GOP lost control of the legislature.

To reach that goal the Environmental Protection Agency is setting customized targets for each state.

Brenton Hayden and Ryan Marvin, co-owners of Minnetonka-based Renters Warehouse, are working on GOP Senator Dave Thompson's gubernatorial campaign.

Looking at how much the average Minnesotan will notice the results of the unsession.

The city is banning Styrofoam takeout containers—but why haven’t restaurants already made the switch to greener alternatives?

Representative Morrie Lanning: “It’s not just the Super Bowl. It’s a $400 million project being built around the new stadium. I don’t know how anybody can now feel that this was a bad deal.’’

Approximately 29.4 million travelers visited the Twin Cities in 2013, representing a 5.4 percent increase over 2012, according to a study commissioned by Meet Minneapolis.

Two new television ads on behalf of two Republican candidates for governor will be on the air shortly.

The funding will now be used on two big freeway projects, one in the metro and one in southern Minnesota.

Midwestern power companies had blocked a regulation that would reportedly cost them hundreds of millions of dollars a year—but the U.S. Supreme Court has now sided with regulators, reviving the rule.

House Capital Investment Chairwoman Alice Hausman has introduced a $125 million proposal that pays cash for a handful of construction projects out of the state’s $1.2 billion surplus.

Do the Dayton brothers have a leg up in landing top-shelf campaign events?

The Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Republican donor Shaun McCutcheon was another signal to advocates that the Roberts court will be receptive to challenges to campaign finance laws.

This February, the Lottery's online presence advanced to the point that players could purchase instant scratch-off tickets online.

Lawmakers in Minnesota, currently home to one of the country’s lowest minimum wages, have reached a deal to hike the minimum hourly pay to $9.50 over the next few years.

Minnesota taxpayers recoup less than 10 percent of the individual income taxes they contribute, whereas Mississippians get back more than 30 percent.

The $14 million provision included in Governor Mark Dayton’s budget funds the equivalent of about 218 full-time employees in the Department of Human Services.

In a recent poll, Minnesota business leaders identified the issues they'd prefer to see lawmakers address this session.

Taking into account returns on taxpayer investment, how much each state receives in federal funding, and the ratio of federal employees, WalletHub ranked Minnesota third on its list of states least-dependent on the federal government.

Five companies are dipping into a newly approved fund that the state is using to encourage businesses to boost local job growth and investments.

A large chunk of the recently passed tax-cutting bill went toward repealing business-to-business taxes, but the business group is wary about other looming legislation.

At the crux of the delay in passing an increase is the question of whether to index a new, higher wage to inflation.

Wells Fargo is banking on Minneapolis with a major investment in Downtown East.

Governor Dayton’s proposal would cut certain middle class taxes, B2B taxes, local government and nonprofit taxes, eliminate the gift tax, and increase angel investor tax credits.

Companion bills at the state legislature aim to allow craft distilleries to sell products on-site, similarly to how craft breweries sell beer at “taprooms.”

It appears that Gov. Mark Dayton is set to eliminate the gift tax, which he signed into law last spring.

Attorneys general from 42 states, including Minnesota, are advocating for patent reforms that they say would protect businesses from the threat of unnecessary litigation.

The legislative session that begins Tuesday will focus on the recent bonding bill, the minimum wage, business-to-business taxes, and the state’s projected budget surplus.

A program that was born in Minnesota and provides pro bono legal services to lower-income inventors was highlighted as the president outlined new patent reforms.

Everyone’s favorite tax increase may be a double-edged sword.

DFL state Representative Kim Norton said she's heard that Rochester already got so much that they shouldn't ask for any more.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and national employer groups responded both positively and negatively to the second delay of one of the major requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

The money will be allocated across 10 different redevelopment projects, more than half of which are in Minneapolis.

The new post at Rochester’s Economic Development Agency will help steer Destination Medical Center planning.

The National Retail Federation and the International Franchise Association are among those urging Congress to change the definition of "full time" to 40 hours a week, rather than 30.

Governor Mark Dayton focused on higher education, Capitol renovations, and clean water investments in his most recent proposal.

A new study suggests that the federal government would recoup billions of dollars if more young people found work; it turns out, however, that Minnesota’s labor force is not to blame.

MAXIMUS, the lead vendor contracted to build Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, says MNsure officials took over its job in February, according to a report for the Legislature's oversight committee.

Mayor Betsy Hodges: "In every part of Minneapolis, we must maintain and grow the middle-class backbone of our city."

The group Save Our Symphony is urging the city to end its lease with Minnesota Orchestra management; orchestra leaders, however, say they provided sufficient financial information and are in compliance with the lease’s terms.

The Senate DFL caucus doesn't have to admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but DFL leaders said they were glad to put the issue behind them.

In addition to the newly announced offices, Minnesota also has plans for a foreign trade office in Germany and has already established an office in China.

A recent report from Senator Amy Klobuchar and other lawmakers provides advice for increasing U.S. manufacturing production and jobs.

A proposal to limit the amount of expenses advertising agencies can deduct in the tax year is facing unprecedented resistance from some of advertising’s biggest players.

Minnesota was ranked the sixth-worst state for entrepreneur- and small business-friendly tax and regulatory policies.

A new lawsuit challenges the city's role in Ryan Companies’ proposed Downtown East project.

Party Chair Keith Downey says the move across town and demographic sectors was a strategic decision as well a financial one.

Governor Mark Dayton said more than $400 million from the budget surplus should be used for business and middle-class tax cuts.

For Minneapolis and St. Paul to remain prosperous, we should learn from other cities, like Denver.

Due to a decline in unemployment insurance, the state recently approved a reduction in related taxes.

The governor’s rejection of the president’s proposal may also affect those who have employer-provided insurance plans.

The challenge claimed that under the city charter, voters had to approve any stadium spending over $10 million.

Representative Michele Bachmann has a stack of cash left in her congressional campaign account, with no obvious expenses left to spend it on.

Could the Affordable Care Act lead to a decline of mergers and acquisitions in Minnesota or just a more complex vetting process?

The business group released a 60-page report that makes a case for immigration reform.

The International Institute of Minnesota has trained and graduated close to 2,000 nursing assistants over the last two decades.

Minnesota set up its own health care exchange, Mnsure, which had early technical problems as well, but has since allowed about 3,800 to begin enrolling in coverage.

Rochester and Minneapolis have both lost a large chunk of their local government aid over the last few years, resulting in spending cuts.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representatives Collin Peterson and Tim Walz are among the 41 lawmakers sitting on the bicameral committee assigned to forge a compromise farm bill before the end of the year.

While the federal government is still in the process of developing a plan to require greater accountability from for-profit colleges, Capella is giving students a new way to judge their employable skills progress.

The repeal or delay of the medical device tax is a top legislative priority for Representative Erik Paulsen.

The city accuses a property owner of illegally discharging water into Minneapolis’ Chain of Lakes; the building’s property manager, however, remains hopeful that the parties can come to a “mutually acceptable solution.”

Eight financial services firms—led by RBC Capital Markets—were selected to provide underwriting services for the issuance of bonds to finance the new stadium.

Keith Ellison is among those who have vowed to renew focus on the passage of immigration reform.

The process of identifying owners and buying or condemning “eyesore” properties, City Council President Barbara Johnson says, is bureaucratic “paper jungle” that inevitably takes time.

The Twin Cities was the only major metro in the country to see its health care premium rates decrease in 2013; however its employees are contributing more than average to their plans.

The shutdown jeopardized Minnesota's September jobs report; with the impasse ended, however, state officials plan to release labor market stats weeks behind schedule.

“If we spend 90 days just thinking about stuff, this will be a failure.”

According to staffing firm Robert Half, the technology industry will see the biggest gains in professional salaries, followed by accounting and finance, and creative and marketing jobs.

While Minnesota ranked only 25th based on a combination of its GDP and population growth over the last four years, it appears to be improving.

Minnesota companies are closely watching ongoing deal discussions in Washington, D.C.

Although plan architects approved the routing of the light-rail through tunnels in the Kenilworth corridor, Governor Mark Dayton announced a delay of the approval vote pending further investigations.

Tribes such as the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians have missed out on federal dollars, while the Prairie Island Indian Community is concerned about the furloughing of federal nuclear inspectors.

As for the length of the debt limit increase, Klobuchar said she hopes the deal is for “as long as possible.”

Fashion expenditures account for almost half of a teenager’s budget, and spending is down, but retailers may have more to worry about as the holiday season edges closer and the government remains shut down.

A Minnesota Chamber of Commerce official, whose organization is part of a coalition that is advocating for immigration reform, said in a recent interview that the future of the state’s labor force relies heavily on immigrants.

A Twin Cities union official was arrested along with Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison and other members of Congress.

A new study factored in corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and property taxes when ranking states.

Although a large group of federal employees in Minnesota may be laid off in the coming weeks, a recent report said Minnesota is the fourth-least affected state by the government shutdown.

Minneapolis officials recently announced that it has made changes to an ordinance in an effort to increase the transparency of organizations that provide banking services to the city.

Minnesota dairy processors are urging senators to oppose a program that could occasionally cap milk production; some dairy farmers, meanwhile, support the initiative.

The university's requests include classroom, laboratory and infrastructure projects.

The Met Council estimates Minneapolis’ population 27 years from now will reach 487,700.

So far, the effect of the government shutdown has primarily been limited to federal workers turned away from their jobs, but if the government stays in the dark much longer, federal funding limitations may broaden the impact.

The Jefferson Memorial is seen on Tuesday with its entry closed off due the government shutdown.

Minnesota moved up Forbes’ best business states list, driven largely by its high scores in quality of life measurements.

Rental car giant Enterprise announced that it is expanding its CarShare program to Minneapolis, an increasingly competitive car-sharing market.

The number of meals served at Dorothy Day is up 3 percent this fiscal year compared with 2012.

The city fared well in a study that evaluated which actions municipalities are taking to cut energy use in buildings and transportation, among other areas.

The majority of metropolitan areas throughout the United States saw their economies surge in 2012, with Minneapolis-St. Paul near the front.

A planned $100 million renovation of the facility could begin in 2014.

After the poll questions had been asked, a New Jersey judge ruled that the Wilfs' financial information will be made public in their real estate fraud case, although she is allowing them to appeal.

“It was pretty clear that they are not interested in repealing these taxes,” Senate Minority Leader David Hann said shortly after the Senate passed the disaster relief measure 59-0.

In order to save the state about $300 million over two years, Minnesota’s new tax code will not conform to the federal code—leaving out multiple tax cuts enjoyed in other states.

Minnesotans have pitched hundreds of ideas for the governor’s so-called “unsession.”

The rejected moratorium came four weeks after the council voted to allow a six-story apartment development project to move forward against the wishes of some residents who campaigned to “Save Dinkytown.”

The U.S. Export-Import Bank is considering funding a loan that would promote the exportation of U.S.-made equipment—but could aid Minnesota companies’ competitors.

Aside from campaign volunteers, fewer than a dozen people showed up to listen to the candidates on a steamy Sunday afternoon.

A little too quiet on the set?

The most dramatic change to U.S. patent law by the America Invents Act may not prove the most significant. But it is the one that requires inventors’ attention—starting today.

State lawmakers could not come to an agreement on the business-to-business tax repeals that should be discussed, so only disaster relief will be dealt with during the special legislative session.

The Metropolitan Council is expected to vote on the transit project configuration—which could add $150 million to $330 million to the cost—on Sept. 25.

Several months after local businessman Michael McFadden announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate, a Duluth attorney has joined the race with the support of Stanley Hubbard.

Boulder, Colorado’s City Council voted to approve an ordinance that authorizes the purchase of assets from Xcel Energy.

Although Mayor Rybak is not seeking re-election in November, he laid out some long-term proposals for Minneapolis in his final budget speech.

Eleven different groups that support new businesses will receive between $84,000 and $450,000 in two-year grants.

While Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained unchanged, the state added 4,000 government jobs, an increase that a state official said may have been driven by increased funding.

Many young people in their 20s are still struggling to land jobs, and lots of Minnesotans are scraping by on low-paying, part-time jobs.

A new map shows the amount of 2014 Local Government Aid going to cities in Minnesota per capita.

Chamber President David Olson, in a letter to Mark Dayton, said more repeals are needed.

Don Shelby: "Being a loud-mouthed know-it-all would probably not serve the district very well."

Xcel said it would explore new energy commitments to help meet the city’s goals; Minneapolis’ mayor responded positively, and it appears a November ballot measure regarding a city-run utility may be off the table.

Regulators have pledged to lower the level of renewable fuel use that will be required next year.

18 candidates already are vying for the top job at Minneapolis city hall, with more expected to sign on before the filing deadline Tuesday.

A Star Tribune story suggests that the demise of a Washington transit project serves as a “cautionary tale” for local planners.

The controversial plan to build a 140-unit apartment building on land once occupied by the House of Hanson, Duffy’s Pizza, the Book House and the Podium was approved Friday on a 9-to-4 vote by the Minneapolis City Council.

The Minneapolis City Council met Thursday to discuss forming a city-owned electric utility, but the Xcel Energy CEO is confident the city won’t make the transition.

The credit rating agency also reaffirmed its Aa1 rating for the state’s bonds; it now shares that rating with the City of Minneapolis.

About a week after the project’s planners raised their cost estimate from $1.25 billion to $1.67 billion, they tacked on another $150 million.

Current state law prohibits the price of a plan from becoming public until its “effective date,” which was originally October 1 for plans included in MNsure.

Business groups have been quietly championing immigration reform—because without it, the state’s labor pool will dry up.

Is the same-sex wedding business a huge new market or a small blip on the radar?

An environmental group is asking Minneapolis to exclude CenterPoint Energy if it creates a November referendum about the city taking over utilities; however, it isn’t making that same request about Xcel Energy, which opposes the “municipalization” concept.

Mark Dayton gets four appointments to the eight-member board.

Minneapolis is considering adding a November ballot measure about whether to form a city-owned utility; meanwhile, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and Xcel Energy, which would lose a contract if the city created a utility, have criticized the process.