Disagreements over how to fund health care programs were a major factor leading to the shutdown, and the budget agreement has not put an end to the controversy. (07/12/2005)

The proposed 75-cents-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax is likely to discourage people from smoking. But can the state afford fewer smokers? (07/12/2005)

Minnesota's public school officials are expressing relief following the early-morning agreement of the state's K-12 education financing bill. The legislation provides the first increase in school funding in three years. Up to $800 million in new education spending will be available, but some of that is contingent on districts getting approval from their local voters. School district officials praise the return of a positive cash flow. But the action comes more than a week past the deadline for schools to finish their own budgets. Some districts that braced for the worst by laying off teachers are now working toward bringing them back. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. (07/11/2005)

Minnesota lawmakers found money to make up some of the projected revenue shortfall facing Twin Cities transit service. Overall, lawmakers say, transportation spending on the state's aging road and bridge system will remain largely unchanged. The budget agreement contains no increase in the state gasoline tax, license tab fees, or other sources of revenue that could help fix what many say is a deficient state transportation system. (07/11/2005)

Legislative leaders say they're worried about finding enough votes for the health and human services bill, which includes a 75-cents-a-pack cigarette tax. (07/11/2005)

Some workers say they're relieved to be back on the job. But they have to contend with a heavier workload and feelings of resentment over the shutdown. (07/11/2005)

Minnesota's budget negotiators struck a deal over the weekend to restart idled parts of state government and balance the books in part with a substantial increase in tobacco "fees." The Legislature passed a temporary "lights on" bill and working groups are hammering out the details of the agreement. Will the special session really end on Wednesday? ( 07/11/2005)

Legislative leaders still have to work out the fine print, but schools will see an increase and MinnesotaCare will continue to insure at current levels. ( 07/11/2005)

The state Capitol was humming Sunday as House-Senate panels hammered out the final details of sprawling bills for public schools, health care and taxes. (07/10/2005)

Minnesota state workers are back on the job after Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders reached an early-Saturday-morning agreement that ends the state's first-ever partial government shutdown. Pawlenty and legislative leaders agreed on an overall budget. Pawlenty also signed a temporary "lights -on bill" into law after the House and Senate quickly passed the measure. The law allows furloughed state workers to go back to work while lawmakers iron out the final details in the tax and spending bills. (07/09/2005)

State leaders said Friday they were on the brink of ending Minnesota's unprecedented partial government shutdown, as a marathon negotiating session between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and top lawmakers stretched on into Friday afternoon. Both sides said an agreement was very close, but some DFL lawmakers have reservations about the details. (07/08/2005)

It has been a week since nearly 9,000 state workers were put on involuntary leave. State budget negotiators say they're on the brink of a deal. Will there be political fallout from the partial government shutdown? ( 07/08/2005)

Talks resumed Thursday to end the state's week-old government shutdown, even as a key Republican dealt a blow to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's effort to pull casino gambling back into the mix. (07/07/2005)

Gov. Pawlenty and top legislative leaders returned to the bargaining table Wednesday night, but could not reach a deal to end the partial state government shutdown. Negotiators on all sides said progress was made during the late-night talks, but the Republican-backed plan for slot machines at Canterbury Park remained a key sticking point to solving the budget impasse. (07/07/2005)

State workers out of a job because of the shutdown are dealing with varying degrees of uncertainty. Some of have enough vacation time and savings to get by, while others don't. But most state employees are frustrated the budget impasse had to come to this. (07/06/2005)