1.) The state health insurance exchange has about one month to present a 2015 budget to the Legislature, but probably won’t know its full financial ...

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowaler said the Legislature and the administration should use a projected surplus to build up the state's reserve accounts.

John Pederson is depending on geography to give him an edge in the competitive Republican field to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. Pederson hails from St. Cloud, and he says that gives him an edge.

Though focused on his federal campaign, Abeler said he was "not disinterested" in coming back to the Capitol, where he serves as Republican lead on the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee.

Michael Snow, a Minneapolis attorney and investor, gave $1.16 million to federal political candidates and causes last year.

**UPDATED** Less than a week after U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's surprise announcement that she will not seek re-election, the field for the GOP nomination in the 6th Congressional District is beginning to emerge.

It's been just six weeks since Graves, who lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann by just 1 percent last year, had announced his intention to earn a rematch with Bachmann in 2014

**UPDATED** U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's surprise decision to not seek re-election has produced a frenzy of speculation about who might seek the GOP nomination in Minnesota's most conservative congressional district. At least a dozens names have been floated as possible successors to the four-term incumbent.

Graves, who last week announced his intent to win a rematch against Bachmann, again finds himself at a significant disadvantage. But the report also marks something of a downturn in fundraising prowess for Bachmann.

Graves’ campaign manager, Aaron Wells, confirmed his plans to the St. Cloud Times Thursday morning. Graves, a hotel executive from St. Cloud, nearly beat Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann last fall for the seat , which covers the northern Twin Cities suburbs and St. Cloud. Graves lost by less than 5,000 votes on Nov. 6, the closest any Democrat has come to toppling Bachmann.