The Minnesota Independent

Minnesota - Latest Stories

North Dakota set to open first state health care exchange, Minnesota moving forward

North Dakota 80
By Jon Collins | 11.14.11 | 9:54 am

Gov. Mark Dayton created two committees charged with forging and implementing the state’s health exchange plan, but Republicans are questioning whether he has the authority to move without the legislature.

Report: Auditor finds lax accounting safeguards for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

capitol 80
By Jon Collins | 11.10.11 | 12:02 pm

The Office of the Legislative auditor found that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency had an accounts receivable balance of $8.2 million in the final quarter of 2010, with errors of $6.2 million.

Election day Tuesday; St. Paul moves to ranked choice voting

MN flag 80
By Jon Collins | 11.07.11 | 1:47 pm

Non-partisan voting resources are available to Minnesota residents through the League of Women Voters and the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

(Video) Ron Paul launches Minn. campaign: ‘All we have to do is legalize freedom’

ron paul 80
By Jon Collins | 11.07.11 | 10:58 am

Paul said we’re witnessing the end of an economic era, which he said was a “tremendous opportunity” for supporters of an unrestricted free market to get the message out.

Barack Obama in Cannon Falls. Photo: Kathy Easthagen for the Minnesota Independent

Obama to open campaign office in Minneapolis Monday

Obama 80
By Jon Collins | 11.02.11 | 12:48 pm

An invitation sent to supporters invites them to meet fellow activists and learn about the campaign’s “grassroots strategy for re-electing the president.”

Campaign finance board considers relaxing disclosure rules on ballot initiatives

By Andy Birkey | 10.31.11 | 2:45 pm

Relaxing disclosure rules would benefit groups like Minnesota for Marriage, which has vowed not to comply with some campaign finance guidelines as they advocate for a constitutional gay marriage ban,

Occupy Duluth to begin Wednesday

Source: Flickr,  David_Shankbone
By Jon Collins | 10.12.11 | 1:26 pm

Protesters will meet for a general assembly at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Minnesota Power Plaza.

President Barack Obama. Photo: The White House, Flickr

Obama introduces opt-out for No Child Left Behind: Congress isn’t acting, ‘so I will’

By Mikhail Zinshteyn | 09.23.11 | 12:01 pm

States, including Minnesota, have complained about requirements of the unpopular education program since its introduction.

Photo: Paul Weimer, Flickr

Minnesota employment stagnant for second month

By Jon Collins | 09.15.11 | 10:33 am

The state has lost 2,600 government jobs so far this year.

Passport immigration stamp

Audits force illegal immigrants to find underground work

By Luke Johnson | 08.15.11 | 10:51 am

Miriam Jordan of The Wall Street Journal reports on a pseudonymous couple who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico to settle in Minneapolis. They held jobs paying well over the minimum wage, plus benefits, before the Obama Administration began cracking down on employers. Both of them now work lower-paid jobs, and worked for less than the minimum wage.