Coming into the session, phasing out the business property tax was among the top priorities for a caucus that some say is under pressure from business interests to deliver after a bruising and somewhat disappointing 2011 session.

Sen. Julianne Ortman said she expects former Sen. Ellen Anderson's appointment will be rejected.

Opponents of a proposed unionization of certain in-home childcare providers will take their case to federal court alongside a challenge in Ramsey County.

In a report Wednesday, the White House highlighted Minnesota's efforts among nine other states as examples of the diverse approaches being taken across the country.

As more farmers, businesses and homeowners look to put up wind turbines and solar panels to generate power, utilities like rural electric cooperatives are pushing back against a state law that they say puts them at a disadvantage.

The state government finance bill may have been the last omnibus bill to pass in the recently concluded special session that ended the government shutdown, but in the eyes of Republican legislators, it certainly wasn’t the least. Although Republicans’ social policy proposals were rejected by Gov. Mark Dayton, the state government finance bill is loaded with GOP policy priorities for revamping the way state government operates.

From his pronouncements in the State of the State address to his actions throughout the legislative session, all indications are that Gov. Mark Dayton was prepared to take his agenda for an income tax increase to a shutdown of state services. His strategic rhetoric about compromise and meeting halfway may lead some observers to believe that his objective for the 2011 session was to sign a balanced budget by May 23, but actions speak louder than words. And a review of his actions over the past six months indicates that he may have intentionally orchestrated events that led to a 20-day state government shutdown.

After the framework of a budget deal was announced last Thursday, commissioners, chairs and fiscal staff members went to work, turning the still-closed Capitol into a hive of private meetings on each bill, featuring shuttle diplomacy visits from the leadership as needed.

"It really sounds like you want me to become an activist judge," Gearin told the two Republican transportation committee chairmen.

The two Republican chairmen of the Legislature's Transportation committees will be in Ramsey County court this morning to make the case that $100 million of transportation projects should restart.