It's been a week since Minnesota lawmakers left the Capitol, after finishing work on a state budget that wasn't completed until a special session and a partial government shutdown. We take a look behind the scenes at how the budget stalemate came, and was resolved, by the state's three top political leaders. (07/21/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty vowed not to sign any more political pledges Tuesday, saying that he still didn't support tax hikes but that his no-new-taxes pledge had become "a distraction." Pawlenty's support for a 75-cent-a-pack cigarette "fee" and a failed proposal for a state-sponsored casino angered parts of his conservative base. How will the 2005 legislative session affect Republican politics in Minnesota? ( 07/21/2005)

The Legislature's grueling seven-week special session is finally over, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty has held open the possibility of a second special session later this year to deal with "amenities" like a proposed Twins ballpark. Why was it so difficult for the governor and legislative leaders to strike a deal? ( 07/19/2005)

Gov. Pawlenty and other lawmakers are warming to the idea of a safety net that keeps government running, even in the absence of a new budget agreement. (07/18/2005)

Transit received mostly good news from the long legislative session. Midmorning discusses the future of service, fares and mass transportation. ( 07/18/2005)

Many state lawmakers say they intend to spend the next several weeks explaining, and sometimes apologizing, to their constituents about what caused a partial government shutdown. Nearly 9,000 state employees were furloughed and some state services came to a halt as a result of the eight-day shutdown. Some legislators say the inability to pass a budget by June 30 was purely political, while others blame it on an unwillingness to compromise. (07/15/2005)

Lawmakers adjourned Wednesday evening after passing a two-year state budget, but without addressing several proposals for new sports stadiums. Gov. Tim Pawlenty held open the option of calling a second special session to consider stadium plans later in the year. ( 07/15/2005)

DFL Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson and Gov. Tim Pawlenty flew around the state yesterday offering Minnesotans their assessment of the legislative session. They had a lot of explaining to do since Minnesotans are still complaining about the state government shutdown, which put about nine thousand state employees out of work and halted some government services for eight days. (07/15/2005)

Now that the new two-year budget has been signed, perhaps the biggest winners are the nearly 9,000 state employees who were furloughed during the eight-day government shutdown. Those employees are now back at work. Many other interested parties are reviewing the fine print to sort out the winners and losers. (07/14/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the remaining state budget bills Thursday, as he tried to shift the focus at the Capitol away from the bruising legislative session. Pawlenty and DFL leaders toured the state Thursday, to put their spin on the session's outcome. (07/14/2005)

The Minnesota Legislature finally put an end to its fitful special session Wednesday evening, filling the state's budget gap in part with a robust increase in tobacco revenue. What political forces made the agreement so elusive? Will there be any political fallout from the eight-day partial government shutdown? ( 07/14/2005)

The final day of the seven-week-old special session showcased a battle of special interests, a bit of political showmanship and some blown fuses, literally. (07/14/2005)

Minnesota schools stand to get a substantial funding increase as the Legislature tries to wrap up its special session Wednesday. ( 07/13/2005)

Stadium supporters are encouraging the governor and legislative leaders to act on stadium bills soon, or call another special session. (07/12/2005)

Some outdoors groups say the Legislature produced at least one long overdue environmental reform: a bill that sets the stage for changes in the way the state doles out lottery proceeds for environmental projects. (07/12/2005)