Citizenship oath ceremonies for immigrants have dropped from 4 a month to just 1

Lawmakers on Thursday held a hearing on a bill meant to make grooming a felony. The bill, which has bipartisan support, suggests a series of changes to the state criminal code, teacher licensing requirements, mandatory reporter training and school field trip requirements. The state defines grooming as solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of explicit materials to children.

State officials say they are making progress in reviewing more than 5,000 Medicaid providers across Minnesota in an effort to address the federal government’s concerns about fraud in the program.

HCMC, the state’s busiest trauma center, is struggling financially. A bipartisan bill that would use revenue from a ballpark tax to help fund it got its first hearing in the legislature Thursday.

For many immigrants in Minnesota, the final step to becoming a U.S. citizen is taking longer than expected. Oath ceremonies have dropped from about four a month to just one, according to the U.S. District Court of Minnesota. Attendance has shrunk dramatically, from around 500 people per ceremony to as few as 35 to 50.

A state audit raises significant concerns about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to launch its new electronic licensing system this spring. The new system would allow Minnesotans to buy and store hunting and fishing licenses, and register boats and off-road vehicles on an app on their smart phone or other device.

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Minnesota lawmakers consider expanding ballpark tax to fund HCMC

Oath ceremonies decline sharply in Minnesota, leaving many immigrants in limbo

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