ST. PAUL (KVRR/AP) — Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz have agreed on broad budget targets that add up to nearly $17.9 billion in new spending, including $3 billion for tax cuts. But the details of where the money will go remain to be negotiated. Agreeing on the targets was a necessary step so that legislators can begin work…
ST. PAUL (AP/KVRR) — Leaders of the Republican minority at the Minnesota Legislature roll out a $13 billion “Give It Back” plan in response to the states latest budget surplus forecast. Republicans announced their plan a day after state budget officials released an updated forecast showing that the surplus has remained stable at $17.5 billion. Higher-than expected revenues helped offset…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP/KVRR) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley say they will prosecute pharmacists who dispense abortion-inducing pills. The Republican leaders sent the warning in a letter to South Dakota pharmacists. It follows a recent FDA rule change that broadens access to the pills. South Dakota bans all abortions except to save the life of…
MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR) — Xcel Energy is warning new and existing customers of another scam. People contacting Xcel by phone may find a number online that connects them to scammers instead of the company. Once connected, the scammer can collect Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and money upfront for services. The customer may not even realize something is wrong, because…
ST. PAUL (KVRR) — It appears Minnesota lawmakers will not get everything done before the 11:59 p.m. end-of-session deadline. It become obvious Sunday afternoon that they won’t finish on time. Lawmakers on Saturday reached a $4 billion tax relief package which includes the elimination of state taxes on Social Security income, an income tax rate cut. It also expands the renter’s…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – DFL State Senator Kent Eken of Twin Valley proposes an amendment that would benefit Minnesota senior citizens with their social security. He wants to remove a state tax on social security benefits. It will move the responsibility for the taxes on investment incomes over a quarter of a million dollars a year. The incomes would…
POLK COUNTY, MN — Polk County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a Social Security scam that is going around. They have received a number of reports of people getting calls claiming there is fraud with their Social Security number in Texas. The calls are made to appear that they are coming from local numbers. The person on the other…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Human Services says a data breach potentially exposed personal information on up to 3,000 people. Commissioner Tony Lourey tells legislative leaders it happened Sept. 28 when an employee fell for a phishing scam and clicked on a malicious link that caused the employee’s email account to send spam. Lourey says technicians could…
FARGO – Senator Heidi Heitkamp spoke to North Dakota senior citizens at Touchmark at Harwood Groves about the importance of their benefits. The Democrat focused the discussion around Social Security and bettering healthcare programs. Heitkamp said she is standing firm to reduce the cost of healthcare because it is crucial for parents with disabled children, elderly in nursing homes, and people…
FARGO, N.D. — Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) attended the Central States Pension Committee meeting to talk about the pension crisis. Potential cuts to the current system threaten thousands of retirees across the country. Heitkamp is on a bipartisan congressional pension committee tasked with solving the problem. About 2,000 North Dakotan workers have paid into the Central States Pension Plan. Without a…
