The state's prison population is rising unexpectedly fast and Minnesota will run out of prison beds as soon as July. Department of Corrections officials told lawmakers on a Senate budget panel that new projections have the state's prisoner population increasing so sharply the state could fill two new prisons by 2010. (01/08/2003)

Opponents of the Profile of Learning rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday to convince lawmakers to drop the show-what-you-know education standards. (01/08/2003)

Gov. Pawlenty began his term in office with several key cabinet positions still vacant. The Republican governor is pushing for big changes in K-12 education, but he has yet to name an education commissioner to carry out that agenda. Representatives of state education groups have some widely divergent opinions on the type of person needed to lead the Department of Children, Families and Learning. (01/08/2003)

Supporters of a bill that would allow most Minnesota adults to carry concealed handguns believe they have enough votes in the House and Senate for the bill to become law this year. Gun rights advocates say current law isn't fair because law enforcement officials have the right to refuse a permit for no reason. In the meantime, gun control advocates say they'll continue to fight the legislation. (01/07/2003)

Before the opening gavel of the 2003 legislative session, lawmakers were already testing their political messages. House DFLers Tuesday floated a pair of themes linking state assistance to cities and counties with terrorism preparedness. (01/07/2003)

A <i>Midday</i> broadcast from the Capitol rotunda on the opening day of the legislative session, including interviews with legislative leaders, key lawmakers, and dignitaries. Mending a state budget that's an estimated $4.56 billion out of whack will be the monumental chore that keeps new Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature busy from January to May - and possibly beyond. Issues include abortion, sports stadiums, gun laws, roads vs. rail and the like, but they'll all pale in comparison to balancing the budget. ( 01/07/2003)

While the opening session of the Legislature was festive and largely ceremonial, lawmakers face a daunting task: dealing with a $4.5 billion projected budget deficit. The new Legislature includes an unusually large crop of freshman lawmakers who say they're eager to get to work on tackling the budget crisis. (01/07/2003)

Republican Tim Pawlenty took over as Minnesota's governor Monday facing a daunting challenge that he said he intends to use as an opportunity to redefine state government. The opportunity is born out of necessity. Pawlenty must find a way to eliminate a $4.56 billion budget shortfall over the next 2½ years while adhering to a campaign promise not to raise taxes. (01/06/2003)

Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty completed a two-day &quot;listening tour&quot; of outstate Minnesota Friday. Pawlenty sounded separate themes on each of his stops; health care, economic development and the state's budget woes dominated most of the discussions. Pawlenty, who has tried to cut state aid to cities and towns, criticized some localities for depending too much on the aid. (01/03/2003)

Major transportation initiatives have been stalled at the state Capitol for the last few years, leading to what some advocates say is a near crisis situation on Minnesota's roads and buses. During the campaign for governor, Republican candidate Tim Pawlenty promised that would change under his leadership. But then came the news of the state's whopping $4.5 billion projected deficit. The deficit -- and Pawlenty's pledge not to raise taxes -- complicate the debate over transportation funding. (01/03/2003)

It turns out that Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty got a two-fer when he named Carol Molnau as his running mate. Pawlenty announced on Tuesday that Molnau will not only serve as Minnesota's Lt. Governor, but as Minnesota's new Transportation Commissioner as well. According to many reports, she will the be first woman to ever head that department, and she is apparently the first Lt. Governor in modern state history to head ANY state agency. ( 01/02/2003)

Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty named his longtime friend and colleague, Charlie Weaver, as his chief of staff on Thursday. Pawlenty on Thursday also named Joan Fabian as corrections commissioner, a position previously held by Sheryl Ramstad, whom he appointed as a judge on the Minnesota Tax Court. (01/02/2003)

With a projected state budget deficit much larger than anyone thought, officials at the University of Minnesota and MnSCU are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. (01/02/2003)

For the first time in modern history, a lieutenant governor will head a state agency in Minnesota. Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty named the Lt. Gov.-elect, Carol Molnau, as head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Tuesday. This in preparation for taking office next week. Pawlenty faces many challenges as the new governor, including what to do about the projected $4.5 billion state budget shortfall. Still, he's sticking to his campaign promise that he won't raise taxes. ( 01/01/2003)

In an apparent first for state government, Minnesota's next lt. governor will head a state agency. Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty has named Carol Molnau as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Pawlenty says the appointment shows his administration won't be business as usual. (12/31/2002)