Dayton

House, Senate approve minimum wage increase, but disagree on how much is too much

With both the House and Senate passing a bill to increase Minnesota's minimum wage, it seems like a foregone conclusion that an increase will be signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton. But exactly what that increase will amount to remains an open question.SEE ALSO: DFL Rep. Jason Metsa seeks to und ... More >>

House set to vote on legalizing gay marriage [STREAMING VIDEO] [UPDATES]

-- Updates below jump --The long-awaited day is finally here. This afternoon, the Minnesota House is expected to vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.SEE ALSO: Gay marriage opponents waved bizarre signs during yesterday's Capitol rally [PHOTOS]Earlier this week, DFL leaders said they're tota ... More >>

Smoking is slowly becoming illegal in Minnesota

One day after Gov. Dayton proposed a 94-cent increase in the state's cigarette tax, State Fair officials announced that smokers will be huddled into pens starting with this year's Great Minnesota Get-Together.FROM OCTOBER: State smoking ban turns five today In other words, smoking continues down the ... More >>

Byron Smith faces murder charges

Plus, Governor Dayton doesn't want to relax marijuana laws, Strib journalists want raises

MNGOP House candidate Roz Peterson on Dayton: "We all know he's mentally unbalanced" [VIDEO]

MNGOP Rep. Mike Parry made headlines in August for characterizing Gov. Mark Dayton as a pill-popping drug addict. Around the same time, MNGOP House candidate Roz Peterson said the governor "is mentally unbalanced."SEE ALSO: Mike Parry doubles down on Governor Dayton pill-popper accusation: Top 10 tw ... More >>

Dayton appoints Wilhelmina Wright, first black female justice, to state Supreme Court

Wilhelmina M. Wright's bio reads like a straight-A report card at life: Yale undergrad, Harvard law, a national public service award, and, since 2002, a Minnesota Court of Appeals judgeship.Now, she's adding a few more distinctions to that list. This afternoon, Gov. Mark Dayton appointed her to the ... More >>

Bon Appetit nominates the Bachelor Farmer as one of America's best new restaurants

Saturday afternoon a warm breeze graced attendees at the Bachelor Farmer's kravfskiva, a Scandinavian crawfish bash. Guests wore their yellow party hats akimbo as the Dayton brothers circulated through the crowd. There was a lot to celebrate. In their first year, their restaurant has been graced wit ... More >>

Mike Parry doubles down on Governor Dayton pill-popper accusation: Top 10 tweets

SEE ALSO: Mike Parry says Governor Dayton is a drug addict, pops "15 or 16 pills" during meetings [VIDEO]Mike Parry won't apologize for calling Gov. Mark Dayton a drug addict. Instead, he's doubling down.That's right kids -- Parry is standing by his claim that Dayton pops "15 or 16" pills during mee ... More >>

The Bachelor Farmer announces first anniversary party

See also:The Bachelor Farmer adds brunch and Sunday SupperThe Bachelor Farmer: Best Restaurant (Minneapolis)Obama Motorcade goes to The Bachelor FarmerIt's been a year of toasts and stars for the Bachelor Farmer. The Dayton brother's restaurant has racked up accolades and fans in its first year like ... More >>

Vikings stadium bill: Representatives 'pull rabbit out of hat,' proposal advances to full Senate

On April 16, the Vikings stadium bill seemed to die an anticlimactic death in the House Government Operations and Elections Committee, which seemingly killed it with a 9-6 vote. Afterward, the chief author of the House bill, Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said it would require someone to "pull a ... More >>

House Speaker Kurt Zellers wants Vikings stadium bill to pass... but won't vote for it?

House Speaker Kurt Zellers, like many Minnesota legislators, is trying to cover his ass best he can in advance of next Monday's House floor vote on the Vikings stadium bill.During an appearance on Dan Barrerio's KFAN radio show yesterday, Zellers offered up this shining example of Orwellian Doublesp ... More >>

Stadium bill deader than Vikings' postseason chances, but Dayton hopeful for another shot

Remember that Vikings stadium bill? That thing now looks like it's in worse shape than Adrian Peterson's knee.The bill was sacked last night by the House Government Operations and Elections Committee, which killed in with a 9-6 vote. Afterward, the chief author of the House bill, Rep. Morrie Lanning ... More >>

Majority of Minneapolis City Council now supports Vikings stadium

​Today, after months of backdoor negotiations and hemming and hawing, a majority of Minneapolis City Council members pledged support for a new Vikings stadium at the Metrodome site.At a news conference, Mayor R.T. Rybak told Gov. Mark Dayton: "We want to hand you the signed letters of seven city c ... More >>

Watch your heads, Minnesota boaters: Asian carp have arrived

​Batten down the hatches -- Asian carp have arrived in Minnesota. A silver carp and a bighead carp were caught in the Mississippi River March 1 near Winona, the furthest point upstream the fish have been seen thus far.Recent reports make the invasive fish sound like villainous creatures from a sci ... More >>

Controversial pro-gun "deadly force" bill approved by Senate, likely headed to Dayton

​Yesterday, with a mostly party-line 40-23 vote, the Minnesota Senate approved the controversial Defense of Dwelling and Person Act, a bill that broadens the rights of property owners to use deadly force. Since the House passed a version of the bill last year, the legislation should soon reach the ... More >>

New Stillwater bridge: As deadline and redistricting loom, pressure is on Bachmann

​After the upcoming election, Michele Bachmann will no longer represent Stillwater. Nonetheless, she remains "absolutely committed" to building a new Minnesota-to-Wisconsin bridge in the Stillwater area.Time is running short for the bridge design currently under consideration. In response to a let ... More >>

Dayton blasts Republicans after nominee ousted for backing clean energy

Repub Senators to Anderson: You aren't down with coal and natural gas? Then get the frack out!​Are you a supporter of renewable energy? Perhaps you've said a derogatory word or two about fossil fuels in the past? Then, in the eyes of the MNGOP, you aren't fit to serve as chair of the Public Utilit ... More >>

New Saints ballpark highlights Governor's bonding proposal

A rendering of the Saints' proposed Lowertown ballpark. The project is one of many in Gov. Dayton's $775 million bonding proposal.​It isn't $500 million for a new Vikings stadium, but today, Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a bonding bill that would allot $27 in public funds for a new St. Paul Saints bal ... More >>

Minnesota shutdown is longest in state history, with no end in sight

The state's getting bad press.​Minnesota's state government shutdown is officially the longest in state history. But elected officials in the only state that hasn't finalized a budget aren't in a rush to end the gridlock. No meetings are scheduled between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders to ... More >>

Minnesota lawmakers not accepting their salary: The full list

​After Gov. Mark Dayton announced he would not accept a paycheck during the shutdown, we asked all the Minnesota legislators whether they would follow suit. While the vast majority didn't reply, we got some responses and put together a preliminary list. Now we've got our hands on the official li ... More >>

Gov. Mark Dayton proclaims tomorrow "Linda Scheid Day"

Senator Linda Scheid began her career in Minnesota politics in 1976. ​At sunrise tomorrow morning, all the flags at state and federal buildings throughout Minnesota will be ceremonially lowered to half-mast. That's because Tuesday has been proclaimed "Linda Scheid Day," in honor of the Brook ... More >>

Minnesota banks could benefit from a government shutdown

At least one union is asking bank CEOs to cut a deal with the school districts.​If the Minnesota Legislature doesn't resolve the state budget by July 1, a government shutdown wouldn't be bad news for everyone. In order to stay open, school districts without enough reserve funds to pay employe ... More >>

Minnesota Supreme Court rejects GOP shutdown lawsuit

​The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled four Republican senators jumped the gun in saying that Gov. Mark Dayton is overstepping his constitutional bounds by involving the courts in government shutdown contingency plans. That's because no state money has been ordered to be spent, so there's no ... More >>

Senate petitions court to join shutdown lawsuit, while courts sue to stay open

​GOP members of a Senate panel have passed a resolution authorizing the entire body to intervene in the lawsuit filed by Gov. Mark Dayton to keep essential services running in the case of a government shutdown. Today, the courts filed their own petition begging legislators and the governor to ... More >>

Metro Transit will try to keep running during shutdown

​Transit riders can relax, at least for a little while. The Met Council says that Metro Transit buses, trains, light rail and Metro Mobility will all continue to operate regular services if or when state government is shut down by the budget impasse. But the council says transit services can' ... More >>

Dayton wants 13,000 workers spared from shutdown

​The Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton keep stumbling toward a possible government shutdown on July 1, and now the governor has submitted a list state services deemed essential--and who should keep working despite the shutdown. The list encompasses about 13,000 workers providing core services to 2 ... More >>

800 law enforcement layoff notices? Not today, after all

Layoff notices are delayed for a little while.​Even in the escalating game of chicken surrounding the state budget negotiations, this morning's story was an attention-grabber: Layoff notices were going out today to some 800 law enforcement officers, including State Troopers. Just in case anyo ... More >>

Dayton vetoes abortion bills, reminds politicians they aren't doctors

​Just to prove they weren't totally heartless, Republicans pushed through a bill this session that, while outlawing all abortions after 20 weeks, made exceptions for saving the life of a mother or sparing her from irreparable physical harm. But if that woman were a victim of rape or incest, the b ... More >>

Legislature goes home with no budget

Under the Capitol dome, no budget.​Republicans controlling the Legislature had five months to craft a bipartisan budget suitable for DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's signature, and they failed. Now lawmakers have to come back for a special session that will either produce a budget to fund K-12 educatio ... More >>

Dayton vetoes all nine Republican budget bills

Dayton is Dr. No.​Wasting no time after the Legislature adjourned without reaching a compromise with him over the state's fiscal mess, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed all nine Republican budget bills passed in the waning hours of the session. In doing so, he reminded GOP leaders that he too had the b ... More >>

City Pages' Best of the Twin Cities is here: Get the extras

It's 1961, and life is good​We're mad about the Twin Cities. Why? Because it's 1961, and it's a great time to be living the American Dream.Like the TV series Mad Men, this year's Best of the Twin Cities issue takes you back 50 years: Two new sports teams--the Twins and Vikings--are playing at Metr ... More >>

Mark Dayton's budget would save Minneapolis firefighters from layoffs

Firefighters could still be laid off if LGA takes a hit in the final budget.​If the state budget proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton today were to pass, Minneapolis firefighters could avoid layoffs this year. Last fall, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said the city would be forced to lay off firefighters t ... More >>

Mark Ritchie wins re-election so he can run another recount

Time for a recount re-match.​The Republicans couldn't beat Al Franken in the 2008 U.S. Senate election that stretched into the 2009 recount, and they've been after Secretary of State Mark Ritchie ever since. He ran a biased and incompetent recount, they insisted. He gave us "felons for Frank ... More >>

Minneapolis is not the "Manliest City" in America

Photo: GoldbergGetting our man on​Damn. We're not as manly as Milwaukee, so we'll let you notch one up there, cheese heads. But Minneapolis still broke the Top 20 in Sperling's annual "America's Manliest Cities" survey. The biggest hunk of American manhood can evidently be found in Nashville, ... More >>

Mark Dayton leads DFL race for governor. Margaret Anderson who?

No messy DFL endorsement process for this guy​So, Margaret Anderson Kelliher has to be scratching her head a little bit this morning. She spent a boatload of energy and political capital winning the DFL endorsement to run for governor, and now she's playing second fiddle to former U.S. Sen. Ma ... More >>

Want a crappy home for $1? Call St. Paul's housing agency. Now.

Seemed like a good idea at the time: Flog off city-owned homes for scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel prices. That was then. This is now.

Minnesota Netroots tweets gubernatorial debate

Public policy cheers and jeers in 140 characters or less.

2009 NCAA Men's Basketball First/Second Round

SXSW: Heartless Bastards just kicked my ass

The Dayton, Ohio post-punk band has been the highlight of the festival so far.

Minneapolis City Council totally not down with torture

... More >>

The bird flu: the coolest new lifestyle trend? Who cares? Let's salsa!

Weathering the Storm

MPD chief William McManus on his early tenure

Winged Migration

Dancing down the legacy of the Wright brothers

The Oracle of Dayton

Guided by Voices forecasts the end of the world--or at least the arrival of another dozen two-minute pop songs

River Reverie

St. Paul Parks and Recreation Sponsor Another Year of Rec Check

Thing: The Great Gay and Lesbian Cook Off

Fattening the Goose

Tales of Wonder

Piece of Mind--The TV Movie