News

University of Minnesota gets funds to further its fight against Aquatic Invasive Species

By Jonathan Mohr, Session Weekly/Session Daily

The University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Invasive Species Center will receive $8.7 million to develop new techniques for fighting the spread of AIS after a new law was signed by Gov. Mark Dayton May 9.

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House passes first omnibus budget bill

By Staff, Session Weekly/Session Daily

A large tax cut for businesses, particularly small ones, is one of the many highlights supporters point to in the first omnibus budget bill to receive approval from the House.

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House OK's technical changes to campaign finance law

By Sarah Lemagie, Session Weekly/Session Daily

In a 126-5 vote on Wednesday, the House passed a bill that would tweak laws related to campaign finance.

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Beyond the Bill: What to do with 700-plus sex offenders? Pressure builds for answer

By Susan Hegarty, Session Weekly/Session Daily

Former Chief Justice Eric Magnuson, left, testifies before the House Judiciary Finance Committee May 10 in support of HF1139, a bill sponsored by Rep. Tina Liebling, right, that would, among other things, modify provisions in Minnesota sex offender program. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

Under court order to treat and release clients held in treatment program, DHS proposes biennial reviews and scattered-site placements.

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Mom, student, tireless community voice: A profile of Chanida Phaengdara Potter

By Jeff Achen, The Uptake

It’s 3 p.m. and it’s New Year’s Day, 2556 –- in Lao culture. On this pleasant April Saturday, Lao community members are filing into the gymnasium at the Crystal Community Center — the men in crisp grey and black suits and the women in heels and shimmering dresses.

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Free at last: Same-sex marriage celebrations rock St. Paul, not to mention church and state

By Hlee Lee and Nick Coleman, The Uptake

An estimated 7,000 people partied down in St. Paul Tuesday, coming to the Capitol lawn and braving record 98-degree heat to celebrate the dawn of a new era: Same-sex marriages are now enshrined in law — a law signed under the blazing sun by Gov. Mark Dayton after a week’s worth of impassioned debates in the Legislature, years of tumultuous politics and decades of effort by a GLBT community that wouldn’t take no for an answer.

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Buddy Poppy Day : Volunteering for veterans

By Tommy Johnson, TC Daily Planet

(Photo by Tommy Johnson)

Early Friday morning, you may see Jane Perry hanging out on a street corner. She has been distributing VFW "Buddy" Poppies as a Member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for over 40 years.

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Minnesota honors civil rights legend: Juanita Jackson Mitchell helped reestablish Twin Cities NAACP branches

By Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Juanita Jackson Mitchell (1913-1992) only lived in St. Paul for four years, but her impact during that stint laid an eventual path to many firsts in Minnesota. The Juanita Jackson Mitchell Crusader for Freedom Exhibit, a compilation of Mitchell’s personal photographs and other artifacts, was on display at the State Capitol May 8-14.

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Suburban Black student suspensions show little improvement in 2010-12

By Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Student walkout, April 26, Hopkins High School (Photo by Charles Hallman)

In last week’s edition, the MSR reviewed 2009 suspension data from several suburban schools showing, as the story headline stated, that “Black suspensions [are] more than double other students’ in suburban schools.” The MSR also reviewed the 2010-11 and 2011-12 discipline data from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to determine if schools have improved since 2009.

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OPINION | Minnesota legalizes same-sex marriage, but my same-sex marriage was real before the law passed

By Stephani Maari Booker, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Instead of attending to the novel I was supposed to be working on, I spent the afternoon in front of the TV watching the debate over and vote on the same-sex marriage bill in the State Senate on TPT’s Minnesota Channel. I listened to the passionate and heartfelt speeches given by DFL Senators Scott Dibble, Jeff Hayden, Patricia Torres Ray and others in favor of passing the bill for legalizing same-sex marriage, and — to be honest — I muted the TV sound when senators opposing the bill had the floor.

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