As deadline looms, Minnesota struggles to spend COVID funds set aside for rental, mortgage assistance
The plan was to use $100 million of Minnesota’s federal CARES Act money to pay for the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program.
Peter Callaghan
Peter Callaghan covers state government for MinnPost. Follow him on Twitter or email him at pcallaghan(at)minnpost(dot)com.
How Minnesota went from projecting a surplus to a deficit to a surplus again — over the course of 10 months
Welcome to the world of economic forecasting in the midst of a global pandemic.
Minnesota’s budget forecast projects $641 million surplus
State officials released the latest forecast for revenue and spending on Tuesday, and it offered better news for a governor and state Legislature seeking ways to help those hurt by the latest pandemic-related closures.
ACLU appeals dismissal of lawsuit over voting rights for Minnesota felons
In its appeal, the ACLU restates its claim that voting is a fundamental right — and that the state has not provided a rational reason for denying that right to those who’ve been released from incarceration.
Walz, Republicans propose plans to help Minnesota businesses affected by COVID restrictions
Whether the proposals will lead to actual legislation is unclear, but both sides were hopeful that a special session to hammer out a deal could be held as early as next week.
A way-too-early look at which Minnesota legislative seats will be targeted in 2022
The 2020 election’s anomalies are the first place the parties will look when planning for the next election.
As the pandemic surges, Minnesota’s emergency COVID funds are running low
Of the $200 million appropriated to a special COVID-19 fund by the Legislature, only $18.565 million remains. And of the $1.87 billion sent directly to the state under the congressional CARES Act, just $208,527 is left to be appropriated.
The 2020 results are likely to keep Minnesota legislative elections highly competitive — for a long time to come
Minnesota has a relatively non-gerrymandered legislative map. And with Minnesotans once again voting for divided government as the state heads into redistricting next year, things are likely to stay that way.
Legislative Republicans change their tone, and their tune, on the seriousness of the pandemic
Meanwhile, even as COVID-19 cases surge across Minnesota, the state Senate was talking about … who would be the president of the state Senate.
Minnesota’s new budget chief: congressional action will be critical in addressing state’s budget woes
The biggest question for Gov. Tim Walz and legislative budget writers is whether Congress will more help to the states, and if so, how much.
State of Minnesota asks feds to reimburse most of the cost of COVID morgue
The request is one of a dozen made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursement under federal disaster declarations for the pandemic.
Walz indicates new restrictions on bars and restaurants in Minnesota likely coming soon
In response to the explosion of new coronavirus cases in Minnesota, the governor walked very close to saying the state could announce earlier closing times — not a shut-down of the industry — later this week.
The big winner in the race for the Minnesota Legislature: divided government
For two more years, Minnesota is likely to have the distinction of having the only divided Legislature in America.
A ripple not a wave: Legislature unlikely to see major shifts as several races remain undecided
The DFL is expected to retain the state House, while close races in St. Cloud, Rochester and Austin could determine whether the GOP retains its slim majority in the Minnesota Senate.
What to watch for on election night in Minnesota
From bellwether Legislature races to congressional district vote totals, here are the things MinnPost writers will be paying attention to as Minnesota starts counting votes Tuesday.
A look at the Minnesota legislative races that have been flooded with spending, in six charts
The data offers a look at the state of the races that are likely to determine control of the Legislature, particularly the state Senate.
There’s a lot of money being spent on Minnesota Legislative races. Here’s who’s spending it — and where it’s going
The most recent reports show money raised and spent between September 15 and Oct. 19.
Minnesota is still a battleground state — just not in the presidential election
At stake in the 2020 election is control of the Minnesota Senate — and a role in deciding what congressional and legislative districts will look like for the next decade.
Could regional differences of opinion on Minnesota’s handling of COVID offer the GOP an opportunity?
Most polls show majority support for Gov. Tim Walz’s handling of the pandemic. But there are big differences when it comes to how the response is viewed among Twin Cities voters and how it’s seen in the suburbs and Greater Minnesota.
Anatomy of campaign hit literature, part II: When tweets become ‘facts’
A campaign mailer opposing a GOP state senator ties the lawmaker to eliminating protections for those with pre-existing conditions. The evidence? Tweets sent by the Republican Party of Minnesota.
