Gov. Mark Dayton has offered a revised budget that raises revenue from business taxes to provide increased funding for several priorities.

At the close of a press conference called by Republican legislative leaders to discuss the $11 billion health and human services bill, former DFL House Speaker Bob Vanasek offered some pointed criticism of the process used to craft the budget bills. Vanasek voiced concerns about discussions taking place behind closed doors with no public access.

Prison inmates are feeling the affects of the government shutdown. Visitations have been suspended until further notice and group religious services eliminated, according to a July 7 memo sent to the state's roughly 9,500 inmates.

Canterbury Park is heading toward its third straight weekend of canceled racing cards. Some trainers and jockeys are starting to move on to other racetracks across the country.

Running Aces Harness Park is airing radio ads statewide promoting Racinos as a partial solution to the state's budget impasse. The racetrack will initially spend $35,000 to tout the economic benefits of permitting slot machines at the state's two horseracing venues.

The so-called “cone of silence” over budget negotiations has cracked since talks melted down Thursday afternoon and Minnesota headed into a state government shutdown. Dayton spokesman Bob Hume also revealed a “confidential draft” of an early compromise offer via Twitter Friday morning that details more of the behind-closed doors talks.

With just days to go before government will shutdown absent a deal to solve the state's budget deficit, Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders of the Legislature say they are having "worthwhile" and "constructive" meetings.

Support for Gov. Mark Dayton is slipping as an impasse with the Republican-led Legislature heads towards a potential government shutdown, according to a new poll conducted by SurveyUSA. Of those surveyed, 42 percent expressed support for the job Dayton is doing, while 43 percent expressed disapproval.

Four GOP senators have filed a petition in Ramsey County District Court seeking to prohibit the judicial branch from spending state dollars if a government shutdown occurs. The legal brief argues that only the legislative branch has the constitutional authority to appropriate funds.

Republican leaders at the Legislature say they are willing to match Gov. Mark Dayton's numbers for the K-12 Education, Public Safety and Judiciary budget bills.