Minnesota’s Economic News — W/E 2/20/26
State and local taxes and spending Mesabi Tribune: School officials beat the drum on seasonal recreation property taxes The Ely Echo: More lodging tax drama West Central Tribune: Minnesota Opinion:…
State and local taxes and spending Mesabi Tribune: School officials beat the drum on seasonal recreation property taxes The Ely Echo: More lodging tax drama West Central Tribune: Minnesota Opinion:…
This week, Center of the American Experiment President John Hinderaker addressed approximately 250 attendees — mostly snowbirds — at the organization’s annual Naples, Florida meeting. Hinderaker delivered a comprehensive update…
Yesterday, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee reviewed its options to exorcise “ghost students” from Minnesota’s college and university system. The poltergeist problem isn’t new. During the 2025…
Last week, the Star Tribune published an op ed on how to grow Minnesota’s economy. It was pretty wide of the mark, in my view, so I submitted a response.…
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) — formerly part of the Department of Human Services (DHS) — presented its new proposed childcare licensing standards before the House…
Even a highly capable, incredibly thoughtful Minnesota teacher may be stymied in the classroom by a lack of consistent student attendance. When students aren’t present, they lose essential instructional time…
In 1997, Minnesota enacted a K-12 education tax credit as part of a bipartisan compromise. A special session was called to resolve a stalemate over K-12 education funding, resulting in…
The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee held its first committee hearing of the 2026 legislative session yesterday. Rep. Walter Hudson (R) introduced HF-3380, which seeks to strengthen sentencing involving repeat violent…
Checking up on national electricity prices: Minnesota continues to have the highest rates in its local region, and prices above the national median, according to the latest data from the…
Last week, the DFL tweeted: State legislators are understandably concerned about the DFL’s embrace of such “direct action” tactics. As a safeguard, Rep. Walter Hudson (R) and, Alpha News reports,…
“Improper payments occur here more than almost anywhere else in the country. It’s time we give counties the tools they need to verify eligibility—the cost of inaction is bankrupting the…
Federal District Judge Laura Provinzino (Biden appointee) has found a government lawyer in contempt of court, imposing a $500-a-day fine, for not returning an illegal alien’s ID to him fast…
In my session preview on Monday, I wrote that “the Republicans are leading with fraud” while “the DFL is prioritizing immigration.” This was quickly born out. Yesterday, MinneapoliMedia reported on…
Fahima Egeh Mahamud became the 79th defendant charged in the sprawling Feeding Our Future fraud case, and the first to be charged in 2026. She is currently being held in…
Junior de Jesus Herrera Berrios, aged just 18, is a popular man. We have not one but two separate habeas corpus petitions seeking his release from ICE custody. First, some…
Grace and Kathryn dig into Governor Walz’s $10 million “relief package” proposal to bail out businesses negatively impacted by the ICE surge. How can we trust this administration to hand out more money without losing it…
Starting in fall 2026, ethnic studies in its “liberated” form will be mandatory across all grade levels. This version of ethnic studies does more than simply encourage cultural awareness or…
Sign the petition today! In the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Tim Walz signed a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requiring 100% of our energy to come from renewable sources such as wind and solar by the year…
With the November election just around the corner, how are Minnesotans feeling about the integrity of our voting systems? The powers that be assure us illegal immigrants won’t be able…
To support Minnesota’s new requirement for a liberated version of Ethnic Studies, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies (RIDGS) is turning the new Ethnic…