Dayton

MNGOP Sen. Sean Nienow says Dayton "duped" public about e-pulltabs, demands investigation

The e-pulltabs that are supposed to fund the state's $348 million contribution for the new Vikings stadium were initially projected to generate $35 million by the end of this year. As the Star Tribune reported last Sunday, that projection was largely the handiwork of the very gambling companies that ... More >>

Conservatives upset Mark Dayton missed speech for birth of first grandchild

On Wednesday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton made an appearance at Blaine High School and spoke to students. According to Sally Jo Sorensen, he left around 9:45 a.m.SEE ALSO: Mike Parry says Governor Dayton is a drug addict, pops "15 or 16 pills" during meetings [VIDEO] Dayton was scheduled to give a spee ... More >>

Gov. Dayton calls death of gun background checks bill "very disappointing," blasts NRA

Last night, a bill calling for backgrounds checks on all firearm purchases in Minnesota died in a House committee, meaning any gun control legislation approved this legislative session will be watered down at best.SEE ALSO: MNGOP Rep. Tony Cornish says Jesus would pack heat if he were alive today Th ... More >>

The Star Tribune and WCCO wrote very different stories about Dayton's speech

Governor Dayton gave a speech to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce last night, and depending on what you read, the takeaway was either that he got a standing ovation or a cold reception from the business community.SEE ALSO: Fox 9 led last night's 10 o'clock newscast with a real head-scratcher of a s ... More >>

Mark Dayton doesn't want to raise minimum wage as much as bill advancing in House would

A bill advancing in the House would would raise the state's minimum wage from $6.15 for large employers and $5.25 for small employers all the way up to $10.55 and $9, respectively.ANOTHER MINIMUM WAGE BILL: DFLers want to raise minimum wage 30 percent to $9.50It sounds like that's a little ambitious ... More >>

Dayton's State of the State gay marriage endorsement: A picture tells 1,000 words [PHOTO]

During last night's State of the State address, Gov. Dayton once again went on the record in support of marriage equality.SEE ALSO:-- MN for Marriage's concession: "God has defined marriage as between one man and one woman" -- Senate Majority Leader Bakk responds dismissively to pro-marriage equalit ... More >>

Gov. Dayton's deputy chief of staff wants Mary Franson to read the damn budget proposal

Today, Gov. Dayton unveiled his state budget proposal for the next biennium. SEE ALSO: Mary Franson wins recount in belated MNGOP election night success storyIt's a complicated, multifaceted document. But you won't be surprised to learn that before Dayton's budget press conference had even concluded ... More >>

MNGOP Rep. Tony Cornish will introduce legislation to arm teachers

Last Friday, we told you about how some Minnesota conservatives, in the hours after the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting, opined that Minnesota teachers should be allowed to carry firearms in the classroom.SEE ALSO:-- Cornish, author of "deadly force" bill, thinks Byron Smith is a murderer -- No ... More >>

DFL leaders "won't pass a bill legalizing" gay marriage this session... or will they? [UPDATE]

Yesterday, Gov. Mark Dayton held a joint Capitol news conference with DFL and MNGOP legislative leaders.SEE ALSO:-- Senate Majority Leader-elect Bakk responds dismissively to pro-marriage equality email -- MNGOP Rep.-elect Cindy Pugh is worried about "An illiterate, disengaged and lazy electorate" W ... More >>

Kräftskiva

Mark Dayton apologizes for comparing troubled football players to soldiers back from war

See Also: Meet the Minnesota Vikings All-Arrested team Adrian Peterson arrest in Houston It's no secret that the Minnesota Vikings have a hard time staying out of trouble off the field. As we reported last year, between fights, DUIs, driving into traffic officers, and the infamous Sex Boat Scanda ... More >>

Mark Dayton declares state of emergency over Duluth flooding

Gov. Mark Dayton ordered emergency relief to eight northeastern Minnesota counties this afternoon that are experiencing potentially deadly flooding. Heavy rainfall has thrown the Duluth area into chaos, turning roads into rivers, leaving hundreds without power, and drowning several animals from the ... More >>

One month after Dayton vetoes bill, Linwood man nearly kills himself with illegal fireworks

Sometimes the governor really does know best, apparently.Late last month, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a bill that would've allowed for the sale and use of a wide array of consumer fireworks in Minnesota, including aerial rockets and firecrackers. In his veto letter, Dayton wrote that it's "government's ... More >>

Dayton vetoes "smokin' hot" MNGOP-crafted tax cut bill

An exchange on the House floor Tuesday night succinctly captured the difference of opinion between MNGOP and DFL lawmakers about a tax bill vetoed this morning by Gov. Mark Dayton.House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids, R-Preston, described the legislation as a "smokin' hot tax bill." In reply, ... More >>

Dayton vetoes two abortion-restricting bills

Today, Gov. Mark Dayton announced he's vetoing a bill that would've banned so-called "telemedicine abortions" and required the physical presence of a doctor when an abortion is performed.Last Thursday, Dayton announced his veto of a separate bill that would've required abortion clinics to be license ... More >>

Dayton: Vikings stadium bill needs to be approved this session, or it's too late

Monday night, the Vikings stadium bill seemingly died an anticlimactic death in the House Government Operations and Elections Committee, where it was defeated in a 9-6 vote.Following the bill's defeat, the chief author of the House bill, Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said it would require someone ... More >>

Dayton vetoes MNGOP plan to partially reimburse school districts

Our heads were spinning Monday as the MNGOP pushed a plan to spend money on public school through the legislature.The bill would've used the state budget reserve to reimburse districts $430 million of the $2.4 billion the state owes them. But Democrats, playing the unlikely role of budgetary watchdo ... More >>

Heads spin as MNGOP wants to pay back school debt, DFL preaches fiscal responsibility

​Here's a new one for you -- Republicans want to spend money on public schools. But Democrats, touting the need for fiscal responsibility, oppose the GOP plan.Today, on a largely party-line 74-56 vote, the House approved a plan to take more than $430 million from budget reserves and use it to make ... More >>

Gov. Dayton will veto teacher tenure reform legislation

​Republican sponsors of a bill mandating that teacher layoffs be determined primarily by merit acknowledged today that the bill won't escape the veto pen of Gov. Mark Dayton. The governor met privately with bill sponsors this morning. He reportedly told them he's concerned that tenure reform is ti ... More >>

MNGOP legislators want to phase out business property tax, pay for it by... well, they aren't sure

​MNGOP lawmakers really, really want to cut taxes. But tax cuts require spending decreases, and that's where the problem lies. On a 72-62 party-line vote, House Republicans yesterday passed a bill that would cut business property taxes by $40 million next year and then reduce the levy annually unt ... More >>

NoDak officials upset about Minnesota's coal penalty

​Minnesota imposes a fee upon utility companies that use coal-generated energy.The fee harkens back to the Pawlenty-backed 25 by 25 initiative, which required that 25 percent of the state's energy come from renewable sources by 2025.North Dakota extracts a lot of coal. But Minnesota's fee reduces ... More >>

Dayton vetoes deadly force bill

​Last night, as expected, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the controversial Defense of Dwelling and Person Act, a bill that would've broadened the rights of property owners to use deadly force.Citing the fact that the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, and Minnesota P ... More >>

Vikings, Rybak, Dayton, pro-Vikes legislators finally unveil stadium plan

​After months of hearing lawmakers carp that they couldn't speak to whether they support using public money for a new Vikings stadium without seeing a detailed proposal, a plan has finally emerged.During a news conference earlier today, Gov. Dayton and the Vikings unveiled a $975 million stadium p ... More >>

With Bachmann leading charge, controversial Stillwater bridge project approved by U.S. House

​We gotta give her credit -- Michele Bachmann got it done.Last week, Gov. Dayton wrote Bachmann a letter informing her that the state would reallocate money currently set aside for a new Stillwater bridge if the project wasn't approved by the U.S. House before March 15. With only a handful of legi ... More >>

MNGOP Sen. Hann: Some state employees "do nothing," salaries "a clear misuse of public dollars"

Sen. David Hann: Not a fan of the state paying employees to set up the state's health insurance exchange.​Minnesota Senator David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, is upset about the public dollars being spent on a handful of employees working to setup the state's health insurance exchange.The health insuranc ... More >>

Dayton to Vikes: Metrodome site or bust

​The train wreck that is the Vikings stadium drive went a little more off the rails Monday afternoon.Governor Dayton told Zygi Wilf that the only workable site this session for a new stadium is the Metrodome, which happens to be the site least favored by Vikings ownership.With the team's Metrodome ... More >>

Business community comes out in support of Southwest LRT

​The first Central Corridor train won't run for two more years, but Gov. Mark Dayton already has Southwest LRT on his mind.Yesterday, in his bonding proposal, the Governor included $25 million for what would be the third LRT line in the metro.While Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, chair of the House T ... More >>

Mark Dayton's former home set on fire

​Instead of coming back from the long Fourth of July holiday weekend to find a renewed sense of respect among Minnesota's lawmakers seeking an end to the shutdown, we instead heard that someone tried to burn down Gov. Mark Dayton's former home near Lake Harriet. "To say that it's politically moti ... More >>

Truckers in Minnesota seek a government place to pee, and rest

​Before anyone dismisses state highway rest areas as an unnecessary service and expense during the government shutdown, consider the plight of pissed off long-haul truckers. While most drivers speed past the cone zones that block access to the rest areas, heading for a pit stop at the next fast f ... More >>

Minnesota government shuts down

​The barely-concealed contempt with which Republicans and DFL lawmakers now treat each other in St. Paul came to a logical conclusion last night. Both sides failed to reach a budget agreement to address the state's $5 billion in red ink by midnight, and state government shut down. Tens of t ... More >>

Judge Kathleen Gearin supports Dayton in government shutdown

​With the Minnesota government shutdown less than 36 hours away, a critical ruling from Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin has finally given people an idea of what a shutdown means: Gov. Mark Dayton's minimalist view of the core functions of government that would keep running during a shutdown. ... More >>

Mark Dayton wants shutdown contingency to include payments to health providers

​Gov. Mark Dayton will expanded his list of essential services in a possible state government shutdown today, petitioning Ramsey County Court to include payments to health care and financial assistance workers providing services to those on state aid. "We recognize the lack of assured provide ... More >>

Dayton will refuse salary during shutdown

​In a brief statement e-mailed to reporters over the weekend, Gov. Mark Dayton announced that he wouldn't collect his salary in the event state government shuts down on July 1 over the budget impasse. It's a symbolic move. Dayton is a multimillionaire, so missing some paychecks as governor is har ... More >>

Gov. Mark Dayton supports the Surly bill

The fact he can't have any doesn't hold Dayton back from supporting Surly.​The Minnesota Legislature has finally finished hammering out the differences between their two versions of a liquor omnibus bill, and the finished product is now heading for Governor Mark Dayton's desk. Contained in it ... More >>

Mike Struck's family deserves 10x pension, Gov. Dayton proposes

Dayton wants the state to do the right thing.​Michael Struck was killed in the line of duty, and all his family gets is a lousy $191 per month? The 39-year-old MnDOT worker drowned in Seven Mile Creek last week when strong currents pulled his backhoe into the water. Struck was attempting to c ... More >>

Eric Dayton to open restaurant in Warehouse District

Eric Dayton is starting work on his Warehouse District building.​The rumors are true: Eric Dayton, the eldest son of Gov. Mark Dayton, expects to start construction this spring on a restaurant/retail development at the historic Marvel Rack Building at 200 N. 1st St. that he purchased a couple ... More >>

Mark Dayton: WCCO insulted Minnesota with radio deal

Dayton disses the "Good Neighbor"​It was pretty clear yesterday that Gov. Mark Dayton felt like he was getting dissed by the five news organizations that offered him a weekly radio show. None offered him the audience and reach he thought he deserved. Today he singled out WCCO-AM for particula ... More >>

No local media outlets are good enough for Governor Dayton's radio show [UPDATE]

petroleumjelliffeDead air for Dayton.​Jesse Ventura had one. Tim Pawlenty had one. But Gov. Mark Dayton has decided that he won't have his own radio show, even after sending out a 16-page form to local media so they could bid on the project. Even reliably lefty AM950, where "what's left is th ... More >>

Gov. Mark Dayton's budget: The documents

Dayton offers a plan that calls for new taxes.​After nixing the Legislature's proposed $900 million in budget cuts last week with his veto pen, Gov. Mark Dayton submitted his own proposal today for balancing the state's budget, complete with a promised tax hike on the wealthiest among us.

Mark Dayton vetoes $900 million GOP budget-cutting bill

Dayton issues his first veto.​The Republican-controlled Legislature sent DFL Gov. Mark Dayton a $900 million budget-cutting bill today, after no public hearings and with no Democratic support, and he wasted no time in striking it down with his veto pen. He lambasted it as an effort to protect ... More >>

Mark Dayton tells Michele Bachmann to mind her own health care business

Dayton: Bachmann should concentrate her fire on Iowa and New Hampshire, and leave Minnesota alone.​Rep. Michele Bachmann told us that God wanted her in Congress, but she just can't keep her fingers out of state politics -- especially when it might help raise her national profile. Today she de ... More >>

Guided By Voices

Mark Dayton picks Yvonne Prettner Solon as running mate

Image via Dayton for GovernorYvonne Prettner Solon​Former DFL U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton has named Duluth State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon as his running mate in the 2010 race for the governor's office. "I am very proud to introduce the woman I believe will be Minnesota's next Lieutenant Govern ... More >>

Mark Dayton makes run for governor official tomorrow

The former senator plans to visit all 87 Minnesota counties in 87 days following his Wednesday announcement.

Daytons sue after property hit with poop, eggs, used tampons, TP

The Dayton family, heirs to the founders of Dayton's and Target, have been dealing with one hell of a couple years fending off their son's former classmates who can't seem to stop throwing horrid things at the family's property.

St. Paul selling homes for as low as $1

Buying a home for the price of a king-size candy bar might sound enticing, but don't get your hopes up.

The Employer of Choice

The St. Paul City Council wants to keep Dayton's downtown. But at what price?

Back in the Day(ton's)

Santa in the afternoon, the Silos at night: A trip down memory lane

THE FANCIEST CAT

You'll know them by the glittering pom-pom tipped wands that bulge from their pockets.

All New! Page 3