Debate was postponed because other legislation took much longer than expected Monday, and now the Minnesota Senate is set to vote today (Tues) on the Republican majority's E-12 education funding package.   It's a fraction of the governor's proposal, and Maplewood Democrat Chuck Wiger (WEE-ger) says the Republican bill... ..."grossly ignores the needs of public education throughout our state.  We need to do much more." Republicans say E-12 education got a big funding increase in the last legislative session.  This time they're focusing on measures to increase literacy, plus a "Parents' Bill of Rights" that prohibits "doxing" -- and they say gives [...]

The Farmers' Almanac correctly predicted, "Old Man Winter" would try to hang on well into April and bring a winter storm to the upper Midwest before the end of the month.  As we continue to look past spring toward summer, the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a "Sizzling Summer with Scattered Showers".  Managing Editor Sandi Duncan says the good news is the summer heatwave shouldn't start right away: "Looking at May we still use the chili word towards the end of the month and we do say that there could be some possible rain for Memorial Day. But it doesn't look like [...]

The Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate over Democrats' objections is saying "no" to a special commission that would recommend a new design for the state flag. New Brighton Democrat Mary Kunesh says perhaps it's now time to consider updating Minnesota's flag, not only so students can better understand and draw it... ..."and also that it does not include images that others and culturally-significant groups might find disrespectful." Some say one part of the current state flag -- the image of an Indian on horseback riding into the sunset --  is an attempt to erase part of the state's heritage rather than honor it.  [...]

A new survey from financial advisors shows that 42% of Minnesotans are pessimistic about the economy. Chris Wayne, President, and CEO of Laraway Financial Advisors in St. Cloud say uncertainty and volatility in the markets are not a heightened reason to panic about the health of personal retirement accounts: "Is it time to panic I would say no you just have to kind of weather the storm it's always good to reevaluate your risk tolerance but I don't believe it's a time to panic not at all." Wayne says the best way to control market volatility is to have some extra [...]

Hundreds gathered Sunday in Minneapolis to pay tribute to Walter Mondale.  The late Minnesotan climbed to the pinnacle of U.S. politics as an influential senator and vice president. Mondale's memorial was held on the University of Minnesota campus, where he studied and later taught thousands of students at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Minnesota political lore and traditions ran deep throughout the ceremony, including a Gopher rouser send-off from the university's marching band. Governor Tim Walz says Fritz was a friend to all: "Walter Mondale changed every person he came in contact with he changed the state he [...]

The community came together in Duluth to Sunday to remember four family members killed in a murder-suicide.   Forty-seven-year-old Sean Barry, 44-year-old Riana, 12-year-old Shiway and nine-year-old Sadie were fatally shot by a relative on April 20th.  Dom from Fairbanks,  Alaska lived with Sean and Riana in a ten-by-16-foot cabin for several years: "Uh, It was a small cabin, but they never made me feel like I wasn't welcome." Dom says he wrote down some thoughts the night he heard the tragic news: "I am with you Sean, Riana, Shiway and Sadie....and you will always be with me." Sean's brother, Brian, said [...]

Five Minnesota State colleges and universities will be part of the expanded Second Chance Pell Grant Experiment.   South Central College in North Mankato was in the pilot program which provides grant funding to students in prison: "To allow access to post-secondary education and programs. It was really designed to provide an opportunity for people that once they're out of incarceration that they would have good paying jobs that will keep them from going back." South Central College President Annette Parker says they've been teaching "mechatronics" at the Faribault state prison since 2017 and more than 60 students have received their certification.  [...]

Minnesota Senate Republicans plan to pass an E-12 education budget bill this week very different from the one the Democrat-controlled Minnesota House approved last week.   Democrats' bill gives public schools a three-billion-dollar bump: "For far too long we've made excuses:  Oop, we don't have the resources.  Oh, we just can't.   Well, members, yes we can.  We have the resources." ...Minneapolis Democrat Jim Davnie.  House Republicans in that debate mirrored what their counterparts who control the Minnesota Senate are emphasizing in their bill up for a vote this week: "We are going off the track of what is foundational knowledge for our [...]

State officials continue to track cases of avian flu. So far, more than 2.7 million cases have been confirmed at more than 63 infection sites. U-S Senator Tina Smith is reminding Minnesotans... "This is an animal-borne disease it does not move from animals to humans and it poses no health threat at all to humans." Smith says the food supply is safe because of safeguards taken, and she's urging Minnesotans to continue buying poultry and eggs.

Three weeks remain in the legislative session and, although Democrats and Republicans hammered out a belated compromise on COVID hero pay and Unemployment Insurance, many question whether two sides very far apart on other major issues can get a deal by May 23rd.  House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman says: "I do think, after lots more communication with Senator (Jeremy) Miller (Majority Leader), that the Senate is really interested in passing budget bills and a tax bill.   I know that they're keenly interested in it, at a minimum, passing a couple of budget bills and a tax bill.   So I think there's [...]