A Flawed Provider Revalidation Process at DHS
A Flawed Provider Revalidation Process at DHS by Senator Jason Rarick Fraud is the topic on everyone’s minds, and every time a new story comes out, it seems many of these fraudsters are targeting human…
Sen. Carla Nelson to receive Minnesota Legacy Award from Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities
State Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) will receive the Minnesota Legacy Award from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) at the group's Legislative Awards Dinner on July 23 in New Ulm. The award is given…
Heintzeman: End of session review, part 2
Friends and neighbors, Last week I sent out the first part of my end-of-session review, covering the fight to protect your gun rights, nuclear energy, and a significant minerals tax update for northern Minnesota. If…
Town hall meeting to address issues impacting services to vulnerable people
Sen. Andrew Mathews, R-Princeton, and Rep. Shane Mekeland, R-Clear Lake, are joining Big Lake-based Options, Inc. representatives to host a town hall meeting regarding the impacts state processing delays may have on services provided to…
Heintzeman: End of Session review, part 1
Friends and neighbors, The 2026 legislative session is over, and now that the dust is settling I want to take a minute to take stock of what happened, what did not get finished, and what…
Lieske: Legitimate Medicaid providers being cut off due to Gov. Walz mismanagement
Friends and neighbors, Thousands of Minnesotans who depend on disability services, autism therapy, addiction recovery care, and in-home support are at risk of losing their providers because the state abruptly terminated the Medicaid enrollment of…
Gruenhagen: Minnesota’s lack of transparency in government programs
Friends and neighbors, Minnesota is spending a lot of money on safety net and welfare service programs. According to data from Minnesota Fiscal Excellence, our state has over 227 government employees per 100,000 residents working…
Reflections on my final legislative session
Senator Rich Draheim After completing my 10th and final legislative session in the Minnesota Senate, I’ve been reflecting on a challenging year. It was a divided government, but Senate Republicans still delivered real results for…
Breckenridge community celebrates $3 million for Infinity Center
Community leaders and local lawmakers are celebrating a $3 million state investment secured through this year’s bonding bill for the Infinity Center in Breckenridge. The $22 million project is designed to bring health care, education,…
End of Session: The Good, the Bad, and the Frustrating
End of Session: The Good, the Bad, and the Frustrating by Senator Paul Utke Another legislative session is in the books. This year had a slower start than most, likely because Democrats already blew through…
Lieske: A bad deal: $600 million in cuts to vulnerable Minnesotans
Friends and neighbors, I have been vocal against the Democrats’ tab fee increases of 2023. I support broad tax relief. Yet, I voted against an end of session budget agreement that included tab fee relief.…
New Minnesota law grants honorary high school diplomas for veterans
During the week of Memorial Day, Minnesota took a meaningful step to honor veterans who sacrificed their education in service to the nation. On Wednesday, May 27, the governor signed House File 4492 into law, which…
A Productive End to a Short Session
A Productive End to a Short Session by Senator Jason Rarick After a late start in mid-February, the 2026 legislative session adjourned on May 17. In a non-budget year, we weren’t expecting much. Overall, I…
Gruenhagen: The Climate Superfund Tax: What It Is and Why It's a Bad Deal for Minnesota
Friends and neighbors, It didn’t get a ton of attention, but Democrats pushed a bill this session called the Climate Change Superfund Act. While we defeated it this year, Democrats will certainly be back with…
Jasinski: A good end to a difficult session
By: SENATOR JOHN JASINSKI Friends and neighbors, The 2026 legislative session wrapped up just before midnight on May 17. I have been getting a bunch of questions about everything that happened, so I wanted to…
Federal authorities charge 15 defendants in $90 million fraud; largest autism scheme in the nation
Officials announce charges in Minneapolis on the heels of 41-year sentence for Feeding Our Future mastermind Federal authorities announced charges today against 15 defendants in a $90 million fraud scheme that targeted several Minnesota welfare…
Sen. Dornink: Partisanship leads to polarization
Friends and neighbors, This year, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. As we approach Memorial Day, we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy did not come without sacrifice. We honor the…
Sen. Nelson celebrates Highway 14 interchanges, local projects that received funding in 2026 bonding bill
Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) is celebrating a strong result for Dodge and Olmsted County in the bonding bill that passed the legislature just before midnight on May 17. The bill delivers millions of dollars in…
Westrom highlights success with local road and sewer district projects funded across District 12
Just before midnight on May 17, the Minnesota Legislature approved the 2026 infrastructure package, which funds road, water, and critical infrastructure improvements across the state. Sen. Torrey Westrom announced that the bill includes funding for key…
Senator Coleman secures $13.2 million in local infrastructure investments
Senator Julia Coleman (R–Waconia) has secured $13.2 million in critical local infrastructure investments for District 48. This includes $4.7 million for Highway 5 improvements in the City of Waconia, $6.4 million for critical water infrastructure…