Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced a signing ceremony set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the…
Monday, May 6, 2013
After Gov. Mark Dayton called a recent town hall audience rude, Patch wants to know what you think is acceptable behavior.
A week ago, an audience at Shakopee High School responded with laughter, head nods and interruptions when Gov. Mark Dayton said that the state's legislators are underpaid. In a Tuesday press conference, Dayton said the behavior was juvenile and reminded him of his ninth grade general science classes in New York City. Such responses are hardly unknown. As debate heated up on health care reform a few years ago, protests often greeted Democratic members of Congress trying to sell the legislation to constituents in Town Halls. More recently, Nick Espinosa and Sam Richards dumped glitter on presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the beginning of a speech in Eagan in February 2012. Such outbursts aren’t confined to the United States either. In …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
This week's compilation includes a Red Cross Hero, 'unemployment is a very boring existence,' MCA issues, profitable liquor store, superintendent search and light rail.
Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Brooklyn Park Man Pulled From Maple Grove Pond Dies The 20-year-old man was pulled from the pond near the 12300 block of Elm Creek Boulevard. Freshwater Society Officially Declares Ice Out on Lake Minnetonka The call came at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning; Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol uses a different standard. Dayton Heckled in Shakopee, Calls Audience 'Rude' and 'Juvenile' Gov. Mark Dayton told a Shakopee audience that "I’ve been all over the state and I’ve …
Monday, March 11, 2013
With a proposed business-to-business sales tax off the table, the state isn’t able to fund the property tax rebate.
On Friday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton announced that he is taking a business-to-business sales tax plan out of his revised budget. The news was overwhelmingly welcomed by businesses, whose leaders had criticized the proposal since its inception. But it also forced Dayton to remove another plank in his budget plan: a $500 property tax rebate for families. Patch wants to know how you feel about this trade-off. How would you have used the property tax rebate? What will you have to forgo now that it’s gone? Was the property tax rebate even a good idea in the first place? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Southwest Minneapolis legislator leading the charge for legalization.
In Wednesday night's State of the State speech, Gov. Mark Dayton made a full-throated plea for the lawmakers to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota. According to prepared text from the governor's speech sent to reporters, Dayton added this addendum: Let me mention one other cause, which is controversial, but consistent with my faith and my principles. And, more importantly, consistent with this country’s founding principles and its Constitution. I believe that every Minnesotan should have the freedom to marry legally the person she or he loves, whether of the same or other sex. Last year, Minnesotans began a conversation about why marriage matters, and we found our common belief that it is about love, commitment, and responsibility. I …
Watch Dayton address the full Minnesota Legislature at 7 p.m. Wednesday
See it here at 7 p.m. Central on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, as Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivers his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. Video via The UpTake and the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Friday, January 25, 2013
See which goods and services would be taxed more, less or not at all in Minnesota under the governor's proposed changes.
Here are three lists the Minnesota Department of Revenue released Thursday night, according to Morning Take (click on PDF thumbnails at right to display lists): Which changes would affect you? Which would have an effect on businesses in Southwest Minneapolis or the community more broadly? Leave a comment with an example below. Related posts:
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton, in his first appearance since having back surgery late last year, will outline his proposed budget for the next two years.
Laying out financial plans for the next two years, and with a Democratic controlled Legislature out in front of him, Gov. Mark Dayton will address both the public and public servants at the Minnesota State Capitol this morning. You can watch streaming video, live, courtesy of the UpTake right here as Dayton will lay out a series of tax hikes, line-item increases and an expected payment shift for Minnesota schools in his address. It's the first public appearance for Dayton since he had back surgery in Rochester, MN last month. Media outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio are saying the budget could have a big impact on Dayton's political future. The first-term governor has not hinted whether or not he will run again for the state's top seat…
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Patch will pause to remember the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary.
Patch websites in Minnesota will go dark for a moment Friday morning to honor the memory of those killed one week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. The brief Patch blackout is set for 8:30 a.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Gov. Mark Dayton has called for a moment of silence in Minnesota one hour later, at 9:30 a.m. CST. In his statement (click on PDF thumbnail), Dayton also asked places of worship and government buildings that have bells to ring them 26 times "in honor of each life that was taken far too soon at Sandy Hook Elementary School." Twenty children and six adults died in the mass shooting. Newtown Patch's news hub has extensive coverage of the events of Dec. 14 and since, including the names of those who died…
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Digs Studio will teach you how to make some of their decorations.
This winter, the Kingfield craft, gift, and yarn store Digs Studio is the recipient of an unusual honor. They've joined a small handful of Minnesota artists to decorate part of Governor Mark Dayton's official residence for the holidays. See more photos of Digs owner Linda Schneewind's creations on the store's Facebook page. Digs owner Linda Schneewind and Digs employee Tracy Holy were given the task of outfitting the library of the Governor's Residence. Going with a literary theme, Holy said Schneewind complimented work by several Minnesota artists with presents wrapped in bows made from old book pages and rose wreaths made from recycled felt. The best part: Schneewind and her employees will teach you how to make the wreaths and trees to …
Mike Hindin
9:37 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Try anything with John Wane in it. I don't care about Hollywood past or present. more ›