The news drew a positive reaction from Gov. Mark Dayton.

Approval of the building is currently pending in the House Rules Committee.

GOP Sens. Carla Nelson and Roger Chamberlain have introduced an alternate bill.

. "We have just barely got our head above water now with a positive forecast after we've had these nagging problems," Bakk said.

Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah has joined the field of GOP contenders seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in the 6th Congressional District. Sivarajah announced her plan to seek the seat at an event in Ham Lake on Wednesday morning.

Legislation aimed at reducing bullying in schools is almost certain to be enacted this year. Bills in the House and Senate have advanced through all the requisite policy committees and enjoy broad support from the DFL legislative majorities.

This month’s meager primary voter turnout has caused Gov. Mark Dayton and leaders from both parties to once again mull moving the primary to June. Just 9 percent of registered Minnesota voters turned out for the August 14 primary.

With the Senate bill side-tracked to a Taxes Committee, Republicans in both on Thursday upped their criticism of the bill's financing plans.

The Senate rejected a proposal to move Minnesota’s primary date from August to June and sent it packing back to conference committee.

With momentum building to finish off the 2012 legislative session, the House and Senate spent hours on the floor last week debating bills.