Politics

18 Mayors: Limit Use Of Food Stamps To Buy Pop

The mayors of 18cities are reviving a push against letting food stamps be used to buy soda and other sugary drinks. In a letter sent to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the mayors say it’s “time to test and evaluate approaches limiting” the use of the subsidies for sugar-laden beverages.

Latest Minnesota Politics

Minn. Tour Touts Struggling E-Gambling Venture

Boosters of the struggling electronic pull-tab games that are supposed to help pay for construction of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium are holding meetings statewide trying to inspire interest and confidence in the games.

2013/06/13

Caterpillar Drops Boy Scout Support Over Gay Ban

Caterpillar Inc. says it will no longer give money to the Boy Scouts of America because the organization doesn’t allow homosexuals to serve as adult leaders. Spokeswoman Rachel Potts says that the Caterpillar Foundation made the decision while reviewing the groups it supports.

2013/06/13

Minorities Driving Minnesota’s Population Growth

New census figures show that minorities are driving the modest increase in Minnesota’s population. Between 2010 and 2012, Minnesota’s minority population grew by about 6 percent — faster than the population as a whole.

2013/06/13

Minn. Officials To Discuss Sales Tax Changes

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is advising businesses and others about changes to the state sales tax that legislators approved last month. The agency planned to release details Thursday meant to clear up confusion about new exemptions and newly imposed taxes.

2013/06/13

New $89M Senate Building A Surprise To Some

The Minnesota State Capitol is about to get a new neighbor for the first time in decades. Construction begins next year on a new, $89.5 million Senate Office Building located directly behind the Capitol.

2013/06/12

Minn. Senate Legal Costs In Brodkorb Case: $226K

State legal expenses associated with former Senate aide Michael Brodkorb’s lawsuit now top $226,000. The Minnesota Senate is paying a private firm to fight claims it mishandled Brodkorb’s termination. The latest $27,700 invoice was made public Wednesday and covers expenses from February through April.

2013/06/12

Anoka County Exec Enters Race For Bachmann Seat

The head of Anoka County’s governing board is running for the congressional seat being vacated by Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann. Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah announced Wednesday that she’s joining the race, stressing her credentials as a fiscal conservative.

2013/06/12

Dayton, Trade Delegation Are Bound For Sweden

Gov. Mark Dayton and the members of a Minnesota trade delegation are headed to Sweden for the first stop of a 10-day mission. The 35-person delegation of public and private sector officials was leaving Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon and won’t return to the state until June 21.

2013/06/12

Xcel Addresses Flood Concerns At Monticello Plant

Xcel Energy says it has addressed federal regulators’ concerns about flood protection at its Monticello nuclear power plant.

2013/06/11

MN’s Most Rapidly Growing Crime Might Surprise You

A coalition of groups are launching a statewide campaign to stop elder abuse, as 30,000 cases of senior citizen fraud and abuse have been reported in just the last couple of years in Minnesota. The shocking fact is that’s only a fraction of what’s going on.

2013/06/11

(credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Obama’s ATF Nominee Gets Senate Hearing

President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the agency charged with enforcing national gun laws said Tuesday the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was “in distress” when he it took over on an interim basis in 2011.

2013/06/11

Good Question: How Much Does The Gov’t Really Know About Us?

From a Hong Kong hotel room, a former CIA worker made public two sweeping US surveillance programs. Now, Edward Snowden could be looking at years in jail for the leak. “Even if you’re not doing anything wrong you’re being watched and recorded,” Snowden said. One program tracks millions of US phone records to search for links to terrorism. Another, taps into nine internet companies to detect suspicious behavior by web users that begins overseas.

2013/06/10

Franken ‘Very Well Aware Of’ NSA Tracking Phone Records

US Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., says he’s not surprised by revelations that federal security agencies collect phone and computer data on American citizens.

2013/06/10

Official: Midway Stadium Clean-Up Is A ‘Win, Win, Win’ For St. Paul

Millions of dollars will be needed to clean up a well-known site in St. Paul because of what’s buried there. Decades worth of manure and construction debris are in the ground beneath Midway Stadium, where the Saints play. And when they move to a new downtown ballpark, the St. Paul Port Authority intends to clean up the property for redevelopment – at a cost of $6-8 million.

2013/06/10

State Sen. Ortman Considering Challenge To Franken

Republican state Sen. Julianne Ortman says she is “seriously considering” a challenge to Sen. Al Franken next year. Ortman tells The Associated Press on Monday that it’s a tough decision she’ll make after discussions with her family and political advisors in the coming weeks. The state senator from Chanhassen has been discussed as a possible candidate but she had not publicly addressed the speculation until Monday.

2013/06/10