The final legal barrier to constructing a $90 million Senate office complex was removed on Thursday.

"If anybody knows me, I’ve never been the type to sit back and be quiet," Kuisle said.

The statewide straw poll contest gave the most enthusiastic party members just their second opportunity to voice an opinion in either contest.

In a statement that accompanied the announcement, Dayton described Smith as "the best administrator with whom I have ever worked."

The latest conventional wisdom points to chief of staff Tina Smith as the odds-on favorite.

The proposal seeks to deal with a variety of issues that disadvantage women in the workplace.

Hausman said the governor's plan includes "strategic investments" for the state, though she was far from endorsing it fully, calling the proposal an "excellent start."

Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority chair Michele Kelm-Helgen portrayed the situation as a potentially dire one.

The board also discussed its thinking about hiring a full-time, permanent replacement for April Todd-Malmlov.

A committee responsible for recommending enhanced safety procedures at the Capitol is advocating a big increase in security spending, but remains deeply divided over the issue of firearms inside the Capitol.