Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders say they're ready to resume budget negotiations so 9,000 furloughed state employees can go back to work. (07/02/2005)

Among the state employees who didn't work Friday are 700 in the Department of Public Safety. That meant offices in charge of giving driving exams were closed. Some people didn't know about the shutdown or had gotten assurances that the services they needed would still be available. (07/01/2005)

The biggest single impact of the partial government shutdown is the 9,000 state workers who didn't go to work Friday morning. State employees and their union representatives are blaming every state lawmaker and Gov. Pawlenty for failing to get every state worker back on the job. (07/01/2005)

The Minnesota Senate abruptly adjourned without reaching agreement on the remaining budget items. The move affects more than 9,000 state employees. ( 07/01/2005)

A little-noticed provision was tucked into the state parks bill passed by the Legislature Thursday, which rolls back some ATV restrictions in northern Minnesota. (07/01/2005)

Lawmakers have until midnight Thursday to hammer out a budget deal before the state's authority to spend money officially expires. Even without a deal, services deemed essential will continue, but state parks, most highway rest areas and a host of other government functions will cease unless legislators can settle their differences. ( 06/30/2005)

Campsites and parks would remain open and some 4,000 state workers facing layoffs would be safe under the agreement. But the rest of the state is heading toward a shutdown (06/30/2005)

The state's top lawmakers and Gov. Tim Pawlenty are still negotiating a budget deal at the governor's residence. First-term legislators, who will have to vote an any budget agreement but are not invited to the negotiating table, are left to wait. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Rep. Mike Charron, R-Woodbury, who are both in their first terms. (06/29/2005)

Senate Democrats say they're willing to back off their proposal for an income tax increase on the state's wealthiest households, and House Republicans say they're ready to preserve health care for thousands who would have lost coverage under earlier budget offers. (06/29/2005)

This week Deepa DeAlwis was supposed to go on her first family vacation since her husband returned more than a year ago from active duty in Iraq. That was before the partial government shutdown, which will hit on Friday unless Gov. Tim Pawlenty and state lawmakers can reach a budget deal. (06/28/2005)

State officials continue to plan for a partial government shutdown on Friday as legislative leaders continue budget negotiations. Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders met late into the night at the governor's residence in St. Paul with the hopes that they could hammer out a budget deal. But the two sides still remain far apart on several key budget items. (06/28/2005)

As a partial government shutdown looms closer, hospitals and other health care providers are concerned they may be forced to play a greater role in caring for the state's vulnerable. People on state-subsidized insurance will still be able to seek treatment, but the services that help them navigate the health care system will be mothballed. (06/27/2005)

As the state prepares for a possible government shutdown next week, frustration is growing among rank and file legislators. Several state lawmakers say they've heard plenty of citizen complaints, and are frustrated themselves that they aren't more involved in the budget process. (06/24/2005)

State parks might shut down if the governor and legislators don't pass a budget soon. And that has park workers and park visitors worried. (06/23/2005)

A Ramsey County judge on Thursday ordered state officials to fund essential state services if there's a partial government shutdown at the end of the month. If there's any dispute over which services are essential, they will be mediated by former Supreme Court Justice Edward Stringer. (06/23/2005)