Government

State may go after money given to Minnesota, St. Paul orchestras

By Jonathan Mohr, Session Weekly/Session Daily

Despite receiving funding from the state’s taxpayers, neither the Minnesota Orchestra nor the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has played a concert since last fall. Anyone upset by that fact may be cheered by language included in HF1183, which was heard by the House Legacy Committee Wednesday.

MORE »

'Fourth tier' would have little impact on small businesses

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

A new state income tax bracket proposed for the highest-income Minnesotans would not touch most small businesses, since only a small share of households that report “small business” income would be in the new bracket.

MORE »
Minnesota Budget Bites

Shooting down the NRA distraction to improve school and community safety

By Joe Sheeran, Minnesota 2020

After a decade of education and community disinvestment, Minnesotans finally accept the fact everyone needs to start paying their fair share to adequately fund schools. However, the NRA, with its ludicrous School Shield Program, is giving conservative anti -tax policy makers the distraction they need to divert education dollars from students. Don’t be distracted by the NRA side show.

MORE »
Minnesota 2020

Sale of 1522 Hillside a "no-brainer," new avenues for rehabbing historic homes in Minneapolis to be rolled out

By Jeff Skrenes, North by Northside

Last week the sale of 1522 Hillside Avenue North cleared one of the final hurdles before Nicole Curtis can begin restoration of this historic property. Council member Goodman called the sale a "no-brainer," and initiated a 20-minute discussion about how to preserve more houses and engage the private market in a better way. The motion for 1522 carried unanimously, but the preceding discussion marked what could be a sea change in city disposition of boarded and vacant properties.

MORE »
North by Northside

Local Government Aid map: What your city will receive

By Jeff Van Wychen, Minnesota 2020

As of now, a new city Local Government Aid (LGA) formula (H.F. 1608 and S.F. 1491) is carrying bi-partisan support from metro area and greater Minnesota legislators, no small feat for a program that has stirred up quite a controversy in recent years. The list of authors includes current House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski, House Property Tax Division Chair Jim Davnie, and Senate Tax Reform Division Chair Ann Rest on the progressive side and former House Tax Chair Greg Davids and former Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem on the conservative side.

MORE »

House and Senate budget targets include investments, but also harmful cuts to health and human services

By Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Bites

The budget targets released by the House and Senate last week invest in many of the building blocks of our economic future, but also call for cuts to health and human services that could harm Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents.

MORE »
Minnesota Budget Bites

Gov. Dayton rallies support for preserving Saturday mail delivery

By Michael Moore, St. Paul Union Advocate

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton joined more than 100 demonstrators outside the main post office in Minneapolis yesterday, leading the call for federal lawmakers to strengthen – not dismantle – the U.S. Postal Service.

MORE »

Getting your taxes on — where to find free tax help

By Mary Turck, News Day

Do you know anybody who likes filing tax returns? Okay, maybe the EZ form is fine if you have just employer and no fancy stuff. But what if might be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or even the Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled?

MORE »

DFL budget targets for health and human services could spell disaster for Greater Minnesota

By Sally Jo Sorensen, Bluestem Prairie

We're a bit behind the curve in commenting on this story, but the consequences of budget cuts proposed by DFL leadership in the Minnesota House and Senate don't look good for the poor and vulnerable in rural areas.

MORE »
Bluestem Prairie

Frac sand news: Hansen and Schmit bills advance; SEMN permitting; WI project threatens Riverway

By Sally Jo Sorensen, Bluestem Prairie

While bills related to regulating the frac sand industry make their way through the Minnesota state legislature, sand mining continues to generate headlines in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

MORE »
Bluestem Prairie
Syndicate content