MINNESOTA — Minnesota’s minimum wage for most large employers will increase to $9.65 an hour in 2018. It’s the first annual increase stemming from a 2014 bill that hiked the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2016. Other smaller employers will pay at least $7.87 hourly, up from $7.75 The modest raise taking effect January 1st is the…
MINNESOTA — Governor Dayton is declaring a disaster in Clay, Becker and Norman counties after severe weather has left areas of widespread damage. Tornadoes, hail and heavy rain on July 11th and 12th left damage throughout the counties, especially in Ulen and Detroit Lakes. Buildings in the city, including the school, had damage. City officials say some of the…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training has voted against Gov. Dayton’s proposal to name a new $12 million training fund for Philando Castile. Community members favored Dayton’s proposal, but many in law enforcement were against it. They said that since then-St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted, the proposal felt like…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The legal battle between Gov. Dayton and the Legislature is on a fast track to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The dispute revolves around Dayton’s move to zero out funding for the House and Senate while signing a $46 billion budget. The Democratic governor wants top Republicans to rework costly tax breaks and other measures that…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Governor Mark Dayton is facing backlash from some police unions after his announcement of naming a police training program after Castile Thursday. The governor gathered with members of Castile’s family members to announce a $12 million program that will train officers to work in diverse communities. The unions say naming the program after Castile is an…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Mark Dayton wants to hear from people throughout the state on how best to improve Minnesota’s water quality. Dayton’s office announced 10 town halls throughout the summer to help develop water strategies throughout the state. They include meetings in Crookston, Rochester, Marshall, Ely, Stillwater and more cities throughout the state. It’s part of the…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A judge is considering whether Gov. Dayton’s veto of the Legislature’s funding was unconstitutional. The bitter legal dispute between the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature had its first hearing in Ramsey County court. Dayton zeroed out the Legislature’s funding last month to force lawmakers to rework a $650 million tax bill and other measures. The…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Dayton is signing onto the U.S. Climate Alliance that formed shortly after President Trump pulled the country out of the Paris climate change agreement. Minnesota is now with 11 other states in the alliance that are pledging to reduce emissions levels by 28 percent of the 2005 levels. President Trump said the Paris climate…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A government watchdog group is trying to get Minnesota lawmakers their first raise since 1999, but a top political leader is trying to block it. A voter-approved council granted the $14,000 raise last fall but House Speaker Kurt Daudt said lawmakers didn’t set aside money to cover it. The Association for Government Accountability is filing…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Governor Dayton has reversed course on his decision not to sign the Tax Bill and allow it to become law without his signature. He issued a statement around 11 o’clock last night saying he “did” sign the bill to fulfill the requirements to protect the funding for the Department of Revenue. There is still…
