News - Minnesota Reformer
Dec 23, 2024 · Immigration drives nation’s population growth BY: Tim Henderson - December 27, 2024 A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Fraud, pesticides and government dysfunction: 2024 in commentary
6 days ago · The Reformer continued to publish hard-hitting commentaries about Minnesota in 2024 — often driving conversation about key issues that don’t get enough airing.. Our most read commentary of the year was by Kayseh Magan, a Somali-American who has worked as a fraud investigator, including in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. “We must grapple with something that is uncomfortable and ...
Housing at the Legislature, HOAs and more: 2024 year in review
Dec 26, 2024 · There’s a certain type of email that consistently arrives in my inbox — it’s long, and it describes one issue or story that the author has researched at length. It’s often conspiratorial in tone, and accompanied by pages of links and documents to back up the author’s account. Lots of reporters get these emails. Sometimes […]
Commentary - Minnesota Reformer
Minnesota: An easy mark BY: J. Patrick Coolican - December 13, 2024 Last week Gov. Tim Walz told Minnesotans that one of the drivers of the state’s emerging “fiscal imbalance” — i.e., over the next couple years, we’ll be spending more than we’re taking in — is the rapid increase in spending on early intervention for children on the autism spectrum.
Republicans win MN House majority, for now, after judge rules …
Dec 20, 2024 · District Court Judge Leonardo Castro on Friday ruled that Democrat Curtis Johnson did not meet the residency requirement to serve in the Minnesota House, enjoining him from receiving an election certificate and saying the seat should be filled through a special election. Castro, in a blistering opinion, said Johnson did not meet the requirement that […]
Minnesota's budget outlook: Smaller surplus, deficits down the …
Dec 4, 2024 · With a multi-billion dollar deficit looming in a few years, the divided state Legislature must decide next session whether to address the imbalance immediately, or delay potential budget cuts or tax increases until 2027. That’s the prognosis of the state’s budget agency, which released a detailed forecast on Wednesday. Budget analysts project that state lawmakers […]
Minnesota: An easy mark • Minnesota Reformer
Dec 13, 2024 · On this score, state government finally seems to be awakening from a stupor. Just consider the evolution at the Department of Human Services since June, when then-Reformer reporter Deena Winter asked the agency about skyrocketing growth in the number of autism treatment providers and spending in the past five years.“I don’t think we are surprised or particularly disturbed by the rate of ...
The Topline: The worth of a single vote • Minnesota Reformer
Nov 25, 2024 · Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Tabke recount nets a one-vote change; Minnesota cities ranked on LGBT equality; new estimates of PFAS in the water; and generational notions about success. Remember last […]
The Topline: 5.5 degrees of warming (so far) • Minnesota Reformer
Oct 28, 2024 · Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: How climate change is already affecting different regions of the state; racial bias in traffic stops versus traffic cameras; the data on reform prosecutors’ records; and […]
Honeywell and other companies want exemptions to Amara’s Law …
Mar 12, 2024 · Amara Strande testifies before a House committee Jan. 31 in support of a bill that would prohibit PFAS in children's products. Strande died months later, before a PFAS ban passed the Legislature and was named after her.