Amid a contentious fight over gay marriage, a Republican state senator said Thursday that he was no longer able to keep his own sexuality a secret. (04/14/2005)

Here's the choice facing House members in coming weeks: Back a state-run casino at Canterbury Park or trim thousands off state health care programs, slice into funding for higher education and delay aid checks for public schools. Those stakes are part of a budget resolution approved Wednesday by the House on a 68-66 vote. (04/13/2005)

The debate over gay marriage is getting personal at the Capitol as supporters of a ban push for a vote this year and opponents play defense. (04/13/2005)

A House committee has adopted spending targets for the next budget that underscore the shaky state of gambling proposals at the state Capitol. The Ways and Means Committee spending resolution outlines two sets of spending levels -- one with casino revenues and one without. (04/13/2005)

Lawmakers on the Senate Transportation Committee got a long-awaited chance Tuesday to question the CEO of Northwest Airlines. Doug Steenland agreed to appear after the committee took the highly unusual step of voting to subpoena him. Steenland's testimony covered airport expansion, job agreements with the state, and outsourced aircraft maintenance. But he did not come in for the grilling some had expected. (04/12/2005)

Reacting testily to criticism from former Gov. Jesse Ventura last week, House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, shot back that "the former governor and [former] governors always have more strength, more criticism, more vision and knowledge after they've left office, then when they were in." What do some other former Minnesota governors think of the current legislative session? ( 04/11/2005)

Governor Pawlenty is expected to sign a building projects package worth $945 million Monday afternoon. Included in that package is money for the Minnesota Zoo. Midmorning talks about the mission of zoos as well as the challenges they face. ( 04/11/2005)

There's no shortage of statehouse Democrats eager to criticize Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, but few seem to enjoy it quite so much as Larry Pogemiller. (04/09/2005)

Minnesota hasn't had a parole board since 1982, when it was replaced by sentencing guidelines. The Legislature is considering changing that. Supporters say some inmates deserve a second chance through early release. Critics say inmates should serve their time. (04/08/2005)

The Minnesota Senate has beaten back an attempt to force a vote on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. The failed tactic came as thousands of gays, lesbians, and their supporters rallied on the Capitol grounds in opposition to the gay marriage ban. (04/07/2005)

Governor Tim Pawlenty and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau renewed their call for a long-term transportation financing package on Wednesday. They also offered a summer construction overview. Midmorning discusses the state's transit plan, toll roads and the kickoff of construction season. ( 04/07/2005)

The House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly to approve almost $1 billion worth of building and maintenance projects. The capital improvements bill is the most significant piece of legislation to pass both bodies in the 2005 session. It comes almost a year after lawmakers hit an impasse during a similar debate in the last legislative session. (04/07/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says prospects don't look good for his plans to use casino revenue to fill out the state budget, and he says legislative attempts to bury the proposal are a backdoor push for new state tax increases by Senate Democrats. DFLers haven't released their own budget blueprint, but there's a growing consensus at the Capitol that the Democrats' plan will ultimately rely on new tax revenue. (04/06/2005)

Tuesday marks the first committee deadline of the 2005 legislative session. Bills had to clear all the necessary policy committees in either the House or the Senate by the end of the day. Those that don't face much tougher odds of survival, and that includes two stadium proposals that haven't even had a hearing. (04/05/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to use casino revenue to balance the state budget deficit suffered a setback in a Senate committee Monday. While the Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming Committee rejected two separate gambling bills, proponents still have options for bringing up the issue this session. Minnesota's legislative leaders provide an update on the casino proposals and a host of other initiatives pending at the Capitol. ( 04/05/2005)