American Indian tribes that own casinos should join together and provide grants to less-prosperous tribes, the head of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe said Tuesday. (01/11/2005)

With a dose of caution, state finance officials released a report Monday showing stronger-than-expected revenue collections in November and December. (01/10/2005)

The Minnesota House of Representatives said goodbye to a longtime public servant on Monday. Chief Clerk Ed Burdick retired this year after serving 38 years as the body's top administrator and unofficial referee. (01/10/2005)

A coalition of nine environmental groups says it will ask lawmakers this session to substantially raise fines for ATV and other off-highway vehicle driving violations, and to seize vehicles from repeat offenders. (01/09/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and leaders of three northern Minnesota Indian tribes say they were pleased with an historic meeting on the White Earth Reservation Thursday. The discussion centered on the governor's push to change the landscape of casino gambling in the state. (01/07/2005)

Minnesota lawmakers face one of those classic political dilemmas this session - how to balance the strong desire to lock up more criminals against the reality of tight finances. (01/07/2005)

With the new year and the new legislative session, there've been an awful lot of resolutions among lawmakers to find common ground and cross-party compromise. But what does it take to build that sort of consensus? (01/06/2005)

Democrats led by Attorney General Mike Hatch outlined a multi-pronged attack on methamphetamine, a potent illegal drug responsible for a wave of crime across the state. (01/06/2005)

Spending on government health care programs in Minnesota is projected to increase 27 percent in the next two-year budget cycle, unless legislators take action to cut costs. Republican leaders say the state must target benefits to the most needy, but DFL leaders caution that the last round of budget cuts may have made the problem worse. (01/06/2005)

Even though it doesn't have full financing in place, the University of Minnesota took a bold step this week toward bringing Gopher football to a new on-campus stadium. (01/05/2005)

Despite a projected budget shortfall, Minnesota lawmakers appear ready to include more money for public schools when they put together a state budget for the next two years. (01/05/2005)

The Minnesota Zoo is returning to the Legislature again this year for money to expand repair its Apple Valley grounds. Gov. Pawlenty has included more than $34 million in his bonding proposal for the zoo. But MPR's Art Hughes reports the money is a tougher sell for many legislators. (01/04/2005)

The 84th Minnesota Legislature convened Tuesday with pledges of bipartisanship, followed in the House by a slew of party-line votes. Legislators from both parties say Minnesotans expect them to work together and accomplish something this session. Whether they can accomplish that is still unclear. (01/04/2005)

Midday's traditional live broadcast marking the opening day of the Minnesota Legislature's 2005 session continues. Key leaders stop by our broadcast table in the Capitol Rotunda as the session is called to order. ( 01/04/2005)

Midday kicks off the the 2005 legislative session with a special live broadcast from the Minnesota State Capitol. A parade of legislative leaders share their goals and expectations as they prepare to deal with a projected budget deficit and a series of sticky issues ranging from education to abortion, transportation to same-sex marriage. ( 01/04/2005)