ST. PAUL, Minn. — There are almost 70 confirmed cases of measles in Minnesota so far this year. Now, a state lawmaker is hoping to make it harder for parents to opt out of vaccinating their children. Nearly 2,000 kindergartners weren’t immunized against measles this year because their parents presented a notarized statement to avoid vaccination. DFL Rep. Mike…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Dayton and Republican legislative leaders are back behind closed doors in an attempt to work out a state budget they can both agree on. Earlier this week, offers from both sides were considered, but the talks ended on Thursday after the groups could not bridge the gap in nearly $1 billion dollars in overall…
Minnesota’s political leaders have just days left to come up with a budget deal. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature have until the May 22 deadline to finish the budget. They need to come up with a plan to spend a $1.65 billion surplus. We are inching closer to a potential government shutdown but that’s nothing new to…
BISMARCK, ND — Gov. Burgum has vetoed some or all of nine bills passed by the Legislature, including portions of the Public Employees Retirement System budget. One section Burgum struck down would have had the state terminate its six-year health insurance contract with Sanford Health Plan two years early. Sanford began providing coverage in 2015 after out-bidding Blue Cross…
BISMARCK, ND — After four months and 77 days in session, the North Dakota legislature has adjourned the 2017 session. Leaders thanked members in each party and their staffs for all of their work to get the session done before the mandated 80-day cutoff. Gov. Burgum thanked the legislature for “working with the executive branch and other state agencies…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House has passed legislation that would increase restrictions on abortions. The bills, passed on the strength of Republican votes, require abortion providers to obtain permits from the state’s health department and would ban the use of state funds for abortions. The Senate is planning to take up the permitting bill next week. Democratic…
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Legislature is racing to finish its work five days before the constitutional 80-day limit. This is day 72, and lawmakers may meet Saturday as they work to resolve remaining bills and agree on a budget. The session opened in January with more than 800 measures. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says there were…
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota legislators have approved changes to the state’s medical marijuana bill which was passed by voters last November and Gov. Burgum said he’ll sign it. Senators approved regulations to the bill with a two-thirds majority vote. Under the changes, North Dakota can have up to two growers and eight dispensaries statewide. The organization in charge of…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Devils Lake Republican Sen. Dave Oehlke has been chosen as the North Dakota Senate’s new president pro tempore. The job involves presiding over Senate sessions when the lieutenant governor is absent. Oehlke will have the job until the next regular session of the Legislature begins in January 2019. The GOP has the majority in the Senate, and…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Morrie Lanning is getting the 2017 Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award. The award is given out each year by the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The former longtime mayor of Moorhead and former State Representative is being recognized for his legislative work in making the new Vikings stadium a reality….
