Minnesota News

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May 22, 2013 10:18 AM

With aid increase, cities look first to streets, roofs, other one-time improvements

Motorists driving through Richfield might someday find Portland and Nicollet avenues in better shape. Hutchinson might put a new roof on its civic arena. The police station in Maplewood might be remodeled. South St. Paul could shore up the levy along the Mississippi River. Austin might update some of its police equipment. These are some Read more →

by Dave Peters

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May 22, 2013 8:47 AM

Officials: Tougher regulations may curb car and metal thefts

Amid the flurry of high profile measures, the Legislature made it tougher to steal a car this spring. That’s in response to a rash of brazen car thefts in the summer of 2011: tow trucks were snatching working cars off the streets in St. Paul and taking them to metal recyclers and scrapping them on…

by Tim Nelson

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May 22, 2013 5:31 AM

Rainbow flags swapped with U.S. flags on Wabasha Freedom Bridge in St. Paul

The rainbow flags St. Paul installed atop the Wabasha Street bridge in St. Paul came down this morning. That’s Robert Kratzke up in the cherry picker basket, actually swapping out the flags. Kratzke and Tim Tesser switched out the banners, put up nine days ago to commemorate the legislature’s debate, and passage, of a measure…

by Tim Nelson

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May 22, 2013 2:34 AM

Paddlers honor legendary Minnesota kayaker

Ten years ago this spring, Minnesota kayaking guru and author Jim Rada died of a heart attack while descending Upper Michigan's Presque Isle River. This May a group of kayakers raced the river in his honor, sprinkling his ashes so he could ride with them one more time.

by Dan Kraker

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May 22, 2013 1:41 AM

Would smarter guns make us safer?

There might be a technological solution to reducing gun violence. A high-tech start up has created “a wireless controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved — and disable it remotely,” reports the AP. Smart guns aren’t a new idea, but technology has advanced since they were first introduced.…

by Michael Olson

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May 21, 2013 1:59 AM

How did the Minnesota Legislature do this session?

Scotty Magnuson literally running last bill to House. #mnleg now Adjourned pic.twitter.com/dL1QYiAPv5 — Brian Bakst (@Stowydad) May 21, 2013 In addition to legalizing same-sex marriage, lawmakers raised taxes by $2 billion and passed a bill that will let some child and home care workers vote to unionize. Session highlights from the last 48 hours: Legislature…

by Michael Olson

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May 20, 2013 10:05 AM

Legislature poised to give LGA an $80 million boost

Minnesota cities will get an $80 million increase next year in Local Government Aid from the state under a provision in the tax bill that seems to be near legislative approval. The increase would bring the LGA total to $507.6 million for the year 2014. That’s nearly a 20 percent increase over this year and Read more →

by Dave Peters

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May 20, 2013 9:39 AM

Tax deal contains goodies for Minneapolis and St. Paul

Tucked away in the tax bill that passed the House yesterday were several items on Minneapolis and St. Paul’s legislative wishlists. A proposed Minneapolis streetcar line gets a $50 million dollar boost thanks to a provision allowing the city to redirect taxes collected from properties along the line to pay for its construction. The city…

by Curtis Gilbert

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May 20, 2013 4:00 AM

Report: Suburban poverty doubles in metro

The number of suburban Twin Cities residents living in poverty has more than doubled over the last decade, according to a new report. Data analyzed by the Brookings Institution show there are 115,000 more poor people living in the Twin Cities suburbs than there were 10 years ago.

by Curtis Gilbert

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May 20, 2013 1:36 AM

Should public schools have more autonomy?

A significant achievement gap exists between white students and students of color: 70 percent of white students graduate in four years, but for African-American and Latino students it’s less than 37 percent. Only a quarter of American Indian students graduate on time. “In the latest effort to boost student performance, the Minneapolis school district wants…

by Michael Olson

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