Briefs
Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota undergrads take out student loans
Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota students who graduated with bachelor’s degrees last year have student debt, and those who took out loans owe an average of $24,000. Students earning master’s and doctoral degrees take out loans less frequently, but when they do, they borrow more money than undergraduates, according to a Minnesota Department of Higher Education […]
Minnesota paid leave program will require higher taxes than originally thought, actuary says
Minnesota employers and workers will have to pay about 18% more than originally thought for a new state-run paid family and medical leave program slated to start in 2026, according to a state-commissioned actuarial analysis. Given the new analysis, the annual payroll tax on wages — 0.78% split between the employer and the worker in […]
75% of state jobs no longer require college degree under Walz executive order
Gov. Tim Walz on Monday signed an executive order eliminating the four-year degree requirement from over 75% of state government jobs. Walz said erasing the four-year degree requirement for about 25,000 government jobs will open the professions to a wider pool of applicants, including people of color who historically have faced barriers in obtaining a […]
MPD cop making big time overtime has been disciplined for manipulating time records
The Minneapolis police officer earning the most overtime cash so far this year, Lt. Robert Berry, was fired in 2007 for several violations of MPD policy, including manipulating his timecard to get overtime pay.
Minnesota abortions are up nearly 40% since Dobbs
Abortions in Minnesota have increased by roughly 40% since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision last June, part of a nationwide increase since the end of Roe. The latest data from the Society of Family Planning, a trade group for medical professionals in obstetrics and related fields, shows that there […]
Walz anticipates Legislature will consider $1 billion to fund infrastructure projects next session
Gov. Tim Walz on Monday estimated that the DFL-controlled Legislature next year will consider a $1 billion infrastructure package to fund public works projects across Minnesota. Earlier this year, the Legislature approved a $2.6 billion infrastructure package — the largest in state history — to fund projects like improving Minnesota’s roads, bridges and water treatment […]
Attorney General Ellison moves to stop judge’s ‘outrageous’ undermining of new voting rights law
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon on Friday denounced a Mille Lacs County judge’s orders barring six individuals with felony convictions from voting, despite a new state law restoring voting rights to felons. Ellison said he has filed motions with the Minnesota Court of Appeals for two cases in which […]
Household wealth is increasing, but renters are largely locked out
The latest federal Survey of Consumer Finances – a triennial government report on the financial health of U.S. households – paints a mostly rosy picture of the U.S. economy. The typical household’s net worth, or wealth – the value of their financial assets minus their debts – has swelled by 37% since 2019, to $192,000. […]
How to stop toddler-involved shootings
On Sunday morning, a 4-year-old in Martin County grabbed a loaded gun in the backseat of the car he was in and inadvertently shot the two-year-old sitting next to him, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. It’s at least the fifth time this year that a Minnesota child has accidentally shot someone, according to […]
Uber and Lyft drivers group schisms as Minnesota governor’s task force weighs regulations
A meeting of the governor’s task force in charge of proposing regulations and minimum wages for Uber and Lyft drivers was interrupted Tuesday by drivers shouting their frustrations, alleging other drivers on the task force no longer represent them. “He is not representing us… Can we have a chance to talk please?” one driver shouted, […]
Two-thirds of nursing home workers say they struggle to afford basic expenses
Two out of three nursing home workers in Minnesota say they struggle to afford their basic needs each month, according to a survey of about 1,450 workers conducted by the Services Employees International Union. The union, which represents thousands of nursing home workers, surveyed both union and non-union members and found nearly half make $20 […]
Report: Emmer not Trumpy enough to be U.S. House majority leader
Fewer than 24 hours into his bid for U.S. House majority leader, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota’s 6th District faces stiff headwinds, according to Time magazine: “A group of (Donald) Trump’s congressional and media allies (have begun) plotting to derail his candidacy.” Citing “multiple sources familiar with the matter,” the magazine reports that Emmer’s problems […]