After two days of a special session, lawmakers have sent just two budget bills to Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The pace is slower than legislative leaders had hoped - and the largest spending bills are still unresolved. One key lawmaker indicated the session could drag on past the self-imposed deadline of the end of the week. ( 05/22/2003)

The conceal and carry law has caused some expected and some unexpected ripples in the state. At least one city and a church are saying the right to carry concealed guns conflicts with current rules. Learn more about the Personal Protection Act. ( 05/22/2003)

The cost of going to a public college in Minnesota will likely go up hundreds of dollars this fall. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to sign a higher education funding bill that cuts each of the state's public university systems 15 percent. The bill that passed at the end of the regular session provides $10 million more than Pawlenty had proposed. Still, critics say the cuts are short-sighted and will lead to an erosion of quality at the state's colleges. (05/21/2003)

A bill that funds the state courts, public safety and public defense is on its way to Gov. Pawlenty. The Minnesota House passed the bill Wednesday on a 70-to-62 vote. Supporters say the bill is the best they can do in difficult budget times. (05/21/2003)

It's day two of the special legislative session. Lawmakers still lack deals on some key parts of the budget. House Speaker Steve Sviggum says it's imperative that legislators finish before the Memorial Day weekend. We have live updates, and talk with key legislators about how the special session is going. ( 05/21/2003)

After two days of a special session, lawmakers have sent just two budget bills to the governor. The pace is slower than legislative leaders had hoped -- and the largest spending bills are still unresolved. One key lawmaker indicated the session could drag on past the self-imposed deadline of the end of the week. (05/21/2003)

State lawmakers have made only incremental progress towards completing a $4.2 billion deficit-reduction package. Legislators returned to the Capitol on Tuesday to begin a special session meant to resolve business left undone when the regular session ran out the clock Monday night. A state government finance bill is now on its way to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk, but at least six other funding measures await final legislative action. (05/21/2003)

The Minnesota Historical Society will close seven of its 27 historical sites and lay off nearly one-third of its staff due to state budget cuts. The society will lose $8 million in state funding over the next two years. The sites, around the state, will be closed to the public, but will still be maintained. (05/20/2003)

An Edina church sued the state Tuesday, asking to have portions of a new handgun permit law declared unconstitutional. Church officials say the law infringes on the Minnesota Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom. (05/20/2003)

The last day of the regular legislative session came and went with only a quarter of the eight major budget bills making it through both the House and Senate. "All six will be a challenge," Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger, DFL-St. Peter, said of those awaiting action. Gov. Tim Pawlenty isn't giving the weary lawmakers time to rest; he ordered a special session to start at 11 a.m. Tuesday. We hear from legislative leaders on the bills that have passed, and the ones that are being negotiated. ( 05/20/2003)

At the end of the regular legislative session, lawmakers passed just a small portion of the state budget. The House and Senate sent two budget bills to the governor, repealed the state's Profile of Learning graduation standards and passed a 2 a.m. bar closing bill. But the final hours of the session were marked by a bitter fight on the Senate floor which prevented a Prairie Island bill from a vote. MPR's Cathy Wurzer discusses the end of the regular session with Gov. Tim Pawlenty. (05/20/2003)

The Profile of Learning as schools and parents have known it is gone. A new set of graduation standards crafted by the House and Senate education leaders and the education department goes to legislators at the very end of the session. ( 05/20/2003)

State lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to strike the Profile of Learning graduation standards from state law. The House and Senate passed compromise legislation Monday night to repeal the controversial show-what-you-know system. The bill also establishes new statewide academic standards for public schools. (05/20/2003)

The Minnesota Legislature's regular session came to a close with a filibuster that blocked final action on expanding nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. The power company is seeking to increase waste storage in order to keep the plant operating through the end of its current federal license in 2014. But a handful of Senate Democrats managed to stall action on a measure that they criticized as environmentally unsound. (05/20/2003)

Minnesota lawmakers ended the 2003 session at midnight Monday, after passing just a small portion of the state budget. The House and Senate sent two budget bills to the governor, repealed the state's Profile of Learning graduation standards and passed a 2 a.m. bar closing bill. But the final hours of the session were marked by a bitter fight on the Senate floor which prevented a Prairie Island bill from a vote. (05/20/2003)