Minnesota State Legislature

The U of M somehow lost money on TCF Bank Stadium booze sales, leaving legislator baffled

Remember earlier this year when the University of Minnesota was being criticized by the Wall Street Journal and legislature for having lost control of its spending? If the latest news is any indication, it looks like not much has changed the past couple months.SEE ALSO: Rush Limbaugh decries $3,406 ... More >>

Protestors converge on the state Capitol for opening day of the legislative session [IMAGES]

The Minnesota Legislature kicked off the 2013-2014 biennium today at noon. Which means that marching protestors arrived on the Capitol steps at 11:30.See Also:- Take Back the Capitol protests end today- Cover: When will gay marriage be legal in Minnesota?- Marijuana legalization bill could come befo ... More >>

Majority Leader-elect Bakk: "Some real liberal constituencies" pushing marriage equality bill

In 1997, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law banning same-sex marriage. Repeal of that bill would be the first step toward legalizing same-sex marriage here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.SEE ALSO: Marijuana legalization bill could come before DFL-controlled legislature this sessionMore than 4,000 h ... More >>

Minnesota's wolf hunting season claims 50 on opening weekend

Minnesota's controversial wolf hunting season is officially underway, and after the opening weekend, the DNR has tallied 50 kills. That amounts to one-quarter of the quota for the early 16-day wolf hunting season. Another quota of 200 will be set for a later season, running from November 24 to Janu ... More >>

Bradlee Dean cohort slams Rep. Bruce Anderson on church vs. state 'oxymoron' [VIDEO]

See Also: COVER: The Benediction of Bradlee Dean Bradlee Dean gives creepy opening prayer at Legislature Remember last year when Bradlee Dean told the Minnesota Legislature that Barack Obama didn't believe in Jesus? Well, you should, because it totally "rocked Minnesota - and much of the nation." ... More >>

Fulton Brewery's first growlers go on sale tomorrow

Get a peek at the downtown brewery this weekend.​If you're looking for a reason to cut out of work and start your weekend a little early on Friday, Fulton Brewery has an excellent one: growlers go on sale starting at 4 p.m. The guys behind the brand will also be offering free beer samples and a pe ... More >>

Get to know your new Minnesota laws [LIST]

Look, we did something!​Miraculously, the Minnesota Legislature found time in its busy schedule of not making a budget to pass a few bills. Not only that, but Mark Dayton actually signed these pieces of legislation, promptly, and they're about to debut as new laws. Starting August 1, there'll be n ... More >>

Minneapolis fire, police departments face $2.8 million cuts -- at least

Because the additional cuts come midyear, the departments could have to slice deeper to compensate.​The Minnesota Legislature may have finally passed its overdue budget, but that doesn't mean that anyone has to like it. Following the Legislature's cut of $23 million to Local Government Aid, admi ... More >>

400,000 show for Twin Cities Pride

Jon BremPride on parade along Hennepin avenue.​Maybe they were buoyed by news that the New York Legislature had just passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage. Maybe they ventured out because, unlike last year, the weather in Loring Park didn't feel like a steam bath. Whatever it was, organizers ... More >>

Head shops sue Minnesota over synthetic pot ban

Is Minnesota's ban on synthetic pot unconstitutional? ​The war on synthetic drugs is far from over. A lawyer representing several head shops filed a lawsuit today against the state of Minnesota, alleging that a statewide ban on synthetic pot is unconstitutional and not supported by scientific ... 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 >>

Bradlee Dean, homophobic preacher, gives creepy opening prayer at Legislature [VIDEO]

Bradlee Dean, Axl Rose look-alike and legislative chaplain.​There's something fitting about this: On the day that the Minnesota Legislature is likely to vote forward a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, the Republican leadership invited the most notoriously bigoted preacher in the s ... 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 >>

Steve Simon says God made gays [VIDEO]

Rep. Steve Simon.​DFL Rep. Steve Simon had a very simple question during committee hearings on the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment steamrolling its way through the GOP-controlled Minnesota Legislature. "How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves if he ... More >>

Mark Dayton, in State of the State, tallies demise of the Minnesota Miracle

Screen grab via TheUptake.Mark Dayton lays out the bad news.​Gov. Mark Dayton used his first State of the State speech to summon the unity of post 9/11 America under George W. Bush, extol the Minnesota Miracle, and urge Republicans controlling the Minnesota Legislature to work together for the ... More >>

New resolution slams FBI raids of Minneapolis activists

fbi.govThe Bureau is taking heat for its raids on Minnesota activists.​From the moment FBI agents and local police raided their homes last month looking for evidence of ties to overseas terrorist groups, Twin Cities peace activists have been calling the actions part of a government intimidatio ... More >>

U of M Regents spike stadium booze bill compromise

A booze-free zone​TCF Bank Stadium will remain a booze-free football field for the time being. Rather than adopt a compromise approved in the Minnesota Legislature that would have allowed alcohol sales in the most expensive seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, along with some of the general adm ... More >>

Tim Pawlenty threatens state government shut down

​Gov. Tim Pawlenty appears to be walking perilously close to shutting down huge swaths of Minnesota's state government after the state Supreme Court earlier this week shot down one portion of his 2009 effort to balance the state budget unilaterally. The court's decision only addressed a $5.5 ... More >>

City Pages' most popular pot posts of 2009

Toke one and read our top 10 pot stories from the year.

U bans booze at all school sports venues

The new University of Minnesota football stadium and all other sports venues on campus will be dry after the Board of Regents voted to ban booze at athletic events.

Teenager goes on day-long trek to collect essentials: car, laptop, porn

Wednesday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp.

Teens accused of killing deer with bat, screwdriver

Monday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp.

Kids under 8 in car booster seats? It could be the law

Children would be legally required to sit in car seats for twice as long under a current bill in the Minnesota Legislature.

Fish pedicures?

Girl Power: Female leadership in the state legislature remains

Minnesotan women held thier own this election occupying 70 seats in the state legislature, the highest in the state's history.

You have to be this tall to legislate

3Q: Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Smokers make a wheezing run for the border

Taxes and Minnesota's Wealthiest: Heads They Win, Tails You Lose

The rich are different from you and me: They pay less in taxes

Pawlenty Gambles on Stadiums

Do two wrongs make a right?

Tim Pawlenty's New Deal

How Minnesota's new governor set the table for this year's budget-slashing "crisis" in state healthcare spending

Starving Somalia to Fight Terror

Wire-transfer services cleared by the feds, dumped by local banks

Then and Then

'Secretary' and '8 Women' file dated dispatches from the gender wars

Suicide Machines

Never mind how many snowmobile deaths occur as a result, kids are allowed to drive snowmobiles in Minnesota

Hiring Minds Want to Know

Why, exactly, did you leave your last job? Minnesota lawmakers argue over the wisdom of opening personnel files to prospective employers

History Play

Families losing ground in tax policy

Any willing provider

Nursing mothers find legal support in the workplace

Spring Hopes Eternal

The seasonal disorder of being a Twins fan.

The First Cut

With lean budget times in the forecast, Hennepin County prepares to kill "optional" programs like sexual-violence prevention. But is it just a case of bad management?

The End of Welfare as we Know it

The outlook for Minnesota

Hemp and Hype

Will anti-drug hysteria give way to the lust of profit?

Camp Kiddy

Is Blood Thicker Than Due Process?

The Politics of HIV Testing

GLASS CEILINGS, "LOCKER ROOM CONDUCT," AND WCCO.

Double Jeopardy

Laying Down the Laws

AIDS and Sex Offenders

The Big Stick

The neo-liberal creed: We're tired of feeling your pain.