ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton isn’t ready to start laying out specific plans for using a $329 million budget surplus. State budget officials delivered the good news of a surplus after previous indications that the Legislature may have to fill a budget shortfall. But the Democratic governor called the surplus modest and cautioned lawmakers against overspending. Dayton says…
NATIONAL — Fiat-Chrysler is recalling nearly 170,000 minivans over an engine stall issue. The company states the recall includes 2017 Chrysler Pacifica vans with gas engines that have been sold across the country. A software issue is causing the engine to stall and the company says at least one crash has been reported that may be related to the recall….
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Multiple political and nonprofit organizations descended on Minnesota’s Capitol to show their support for people who have been sexually harassed or assaulted in the workplace. A crowd gathered with signs and many current and former lawmakers stood up to speak out about Democratic State Senator Dan Schoen and Republican State Representative Tony Cornish, who are…
BISMARCK, ND — North Dakota legislative leaders will review anti-sexual harassment policies for state lawmakers. The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee will meet December 6 at the Capitol to discuss the policies that have been in place for almost 30 years. Republican House Majority Leader Al Carlson of Fargo heads the bipartisan committee of legislative leaders. He says the time…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton calls the sexual harassment allegations at the State Capitol, “atrocities.” The governor has spoken out for the first time since allegations surfaced against at least two lawmakers. Multiple women have accused Republican State Representative Tony Cornish of sexual harassment. State Senator Dan Schoen, a member of the governor’s own Democratic Party, has…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Treasury Secretary is on Capitol Hill looking for support for tax relief. Steven Mnuchin met with North Dakota U.S. Senator John Hoeven to talk about modernizing and simplifying the tax code. The draft Senate tax relief bill provides a net tax cut of about $1,500 for a median income family of four. It would increase…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Collin Peterson are meeting with farmers, business owners and community leaders from across Minnesota to hear their opinions on the proposed Farm Bill. The proposal supports rural development projects, conservation programs, the agriculture industry and the Rural Energy for America program. Peterson says he wants to hear from those the bill impacts…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota residents are in the clear for at least another year when it comes to their driver’s licenses. Gov. Dayton says the state has received an extension on the Real ID law, allowing Minnesota residents access to board planes through October 10th, 2018 with their old licenses. The federal Real ID Act of 2005 upgraded…
FARGO, ND — Just last week California passed a law that reduced the penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV from a felony to a misdemeanor. We spoke to the epidemiologist at Fargo Cass Public Health who says HIV is one of the most stigmatized diseases out there. With all of the modern forms of medicine today, he says lawmakers feel changing…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mediation sessions between Gov. Dayton and top Republican lawmakers are underway. The Minnesota Supreme Court directed Dayton and legislative leaders to work out a months-long legal battle over Dayton’s decision to veto the Legislature’s operating budget. He says he wants to rework costly tax breaks and other measures but Republicans sued, calling it unconstitutional. The…
