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Classrooms, child care, kids' meals top Walz spending plan
A giant surplus has set the stage for a legislative session debate over how to use it. Gov. Tim Walz laid out his education priorities Tuesday, including a boost in per-pupil school aid, increased funding for early education and free school breakfasts and lunches.
Friday is MN deadline to apply for help with rent
Demand has picked up for COVID-19-related rental assistance, so state officials have set this Friday at 9 p.m. as the deadline for people to apply for help.
St. Cloud, Moorhead reject mask mandates
Several other Minnesota cities are requiring masks in indoor public places, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth.
Osterholm: Twin Cities emerging from 'viral blizzard'
University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist Michael Osterholm predicted a “viral blizzard” due to the omicron variant of COVID-19 a few weeks ago. He says the Twin Cities is beginning to emerge from that, with case counts dropping daily.
Meet the Minnesotan who wrote a novel in Japanese — and then got it published
When Marnie Jorenby sets herself a challenge, she doesn't hold back. Not only did she decide to write a novel, she decided she’d write it in Japanese and get it published in Japan. It took a while, but she did it.
Study: Cash aid could help boost babies’ brain development
Some Twin Cities mothers are part of a study of the connection between cash aid programs and babies' brain development.
Crime debate begins in advance of legislative session
Democrats in the Minnesota House said Monday they want to spend $100 million on several initiatives that they believe will help tackle crime. Republicans said the plan won’t hold criminals accountable. 
State court reverses PolyMet water permit, but sides with company on other issues
The state appeals court has reversed a key permit for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine, sending it back to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for additional analysis of its impacts to groundwater. But in a mixed ruling, the court also sided with PolyMet and the MPCA on several issues.
How Hennepin's director of corrections is approaching youth and carjackings
In response to a wave of carjackings, Hennepin County officials are paying special focus to concerns related to youth offenders. The director of the county department of corrections — who was a Minneapolis cop for over 20 years — weighs in on prevention and public safety efforts.