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Recent content from Patrick Condon
Minnesota House speaker reverses course, backs legislative raises
House speaker relents on salary decision after facing lawsuit.
Uncertainty greets Dayton, lawmakers in new year, session
Minnesota's legislative session begins Tuesday in the newly reopened and freshly refurbished State Capitol, but the familiar surroundings are the only sure things.
Century-old ax murder case is grist for Capitol insider's true-crime novel
When Marty Seifert was very little, he would ride with his father past an abandoned farmstead near their own southwestern Minnesota property and ask: “How…
Special session elusive as Dayton, Daudt hurl accusations
Ending 2016 as it began, the two are again trading barbs over the need to convene legislators.
Legislative auditor relishes role as monitor of state's decision-makers
Minnesota government's watchdog-in-chief, Jim Nobles, questions authority — no matter the authority.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman officially running for governor
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said Tuesday he is running for governor of Minnesota in 2018, as he tries to leverage his leadership of the…
Special session deal continues to elude Dayton, lawmakers
Governor wants to take action on taxes, public works and premiums, but a deal with GOP has been elusive.
Persistence paid off for new minority leader of Minnesota House
Rep. Melissa Hortman, the new leader of Minnesota House Democrats, ran for her seat twice — and lost twice — before finally prevailing in 2004.…
Gov. Dayton walks out of public meeting over Capitol art controversy
Governor charges political motives by GOP lawmaker in squabble over Civil War paintings in Capitol.
Mills to seek recount after close loss in NE. Minn.
Republican Mills says that there are no allegations of voter fraud but that close margin demands thorough tally of votes
Dayton celebrates Minnesota turkey industry
Governor and turkey growers celebrate successful 2016 with no new avian flu reports.
Rural Republican gains send a strong message to the State Capitol
According to the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, rural legislators now make up more than 60 percent of the House and Senate GOP majorities.
Last election barely past, Minnesota's next governor's race gets going
Dayton's plans to retire leave many in both parties eyeing runs.
DFL state Rep. Erin Murphy is first to jump into 2018 governor's race
DFLer, a former House majority leader, is first to file in '18 statewide race.
How Trump almost won Minnesota
The Republican president-to-be won in a number of greater Minnesota counties that were previously won by Barack Obama in 2012, while Hillary Clinton racked up her Minnesota-winning tally in the bigger cities.
Clinton narrowly wins Minnesota with 46.4% vs. Trump's 45%
Minnesota has backed a Democrat for president every four years going back to 1976, but Trump made a late play.
Wisconsin's move to the Trump column makes history
HUDSON, Wis. – Wisconsin found itself a pivotal player in Tuesday night’s presidential election, as the state swung toward Republican Donald Trump and shattered…
Donald Trump to hold rally today in Twin Cities; Pence in Duluth Monday
His running mate, Mike Pence, will visit Duluth on Monday.
Partisan split in Lake Elmo mirrors sharp rift nationwide
Voters in this east metro city have consistently split their presidential choices nearly straight down the middle. The race will be decided in battlegrounds like this one.
In push, Trump targets states considered in Democratic camp
Among the GOP's nominee stops was a campus rally in Eau Claire that also included Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, once a Trump rival.
Trump die-hards in Minnesota find a Clinton win unthinkable
The Trump campaign might be giving Minnesota a fresh look.
2016 Minnesota Poll: Clinton widens lead over Trump to 8 points
Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump is 2 points larger than in the last Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, in mid-September. She holds a huge lead in the state's two most populous counties, Hennepin and Ramsey.
Seeking productive last 2 years, Dayton pushes for DFL-led Legislature
Governor says he wants his last two years in office to be more productive.
Reversing course from Obama's races, Iowa tilts toward Trump
Iowa gave President Obama its six electoral votes in 2008 and 2012. But this year, it's been flagged as the U.S. state most likely to flip back from Democratic to Republican in the presidential vote.
Reviews: 'Nicotine' and 'Private Novelist,' by Nell Zink
FICTION: A 50-something sensation delivers a sharp new novel and an "unpublishable" work from the 1990s.
McMullin, other third-party presidential candidates also on Minnesota ballot
Conservative supporters are turned off by Trump and also are anti-Clinton.
Suburban Twin Cities DFLers bring gun safety laws to election forefront
National groups fighting for tighter laws are engaging in state's legislative, House races.
Sanders stumps for Clinton on friendly turf in Minnesota
The Vermont senator wooed younger voters at his stops in Minneapolis and Duluth.
Millennials lean left, but they may be less motivated to vote this year
In Minnesota and nationally, Hillary Clinton's campaign is working to motivate this crucial voting bloc. For Donald Trump, that task is falling to volunteers.
Plenty of opportunities to join others to watch the big debate
Feeling nervous about Monday night's first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump? It's OK, you're not alone. And you don't have to watch…
Gov. Dayton's severance pay for 3 officials incurs GOP wrath
Minnesota House Republicans on Tuesday criticized Gov. Mark Dayton for authorizing a total of $79,000 in severance payments to three state agency heads during his time as governor.
MN Poll: Most 'alarmed' other side might win White House
An overwhelming majority of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump supporters in Minnesota are very alarmed by the prospect of the other candidate winning the presidency, according to a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.
Trump is giving the DFL a run for its money on the Iron Range
Minnesota's Iron Range has for decades been a DFL holdout, but battered miners rethink their allegiance.
GOP hits back at DFL effort to boot Trump from Minn. ballot
State GOP Chairman Keith Downey says Donald Trump got on the ballot 'fair and square,’ and suggests that the DFL is trying to 'rig election'
Riley Horan, 20, hopes to leave mark on politics even if he loses Minnesota legislative race
Riley Horan, who reaches legal drinking age on Oct. 7 and will be on the ballot as a legislative candidate in St. Paul on Nov.…
Judge: Rep. Bob Barrett doesn't live in district, can't be on ballot
The State Supreme Court will make final decision on whether the Republican representing Chisago County will be on ballot.
Dayton, Met Council seek to give Southwest LRT $145M boost
Money to keep project going would come from Met Council, Hennepin County, metro transit board.
Trump event in Mpls. draws GOP donors, some unruly protesters
The New York businessman made his first visit to the state as the Republican presidential candidate for a private nighttime fundraiser at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Trump to pass briefly through Minnesota for fundraiser today
In Minneapolis stop Friday, Republican presidential candidate will raise money from state's business-oriented GOP donor base.
Minn. voters who like Trump's message still aren't sure about the messenger
Political strategists expect Trump's populist message to resonate most outstate, but he needs success elsewhere to win Minnesota.
Jason Lewis wins GOP battle to run for U.S. Rep. Kline's seat
The former talk radio personality won the four-way race to be the Republican candidate against DFLer Angie Craig in what will be a closely fought swing district contest.
School districts get pre-K boost as new state spending spreads
New state funds will allow 74 districts to expand their free prekindergarten offerings this fall.
Minnesota's McCarthy gets Collegeville honor on centennial year of his birth
Former U.S. Sen. Eugene McCarthy was born 100 years ago last March in Watkins, near St. Cloud. Educated entirely in Minnesota, he taught economics and sociology at St. John's and later St. Thomas before he was elected in 1948 to represent the St. Paul area in the U.S. House.
Trump hires Minnesota campaign director, plans visit
He has hired state director, plans Aug. 19 visit.
Minnesota DFL's Sanders, Clinton camps join in opposition to Trump
PHILADELPHIA – Passionate divisions among Minnesota DFLers who watched Hillary Clinton triumphantly claim the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday started to give way to a…
At the convention, Klobuchar and Franken are both in demand
Everyone wants a piece of Minnesota's senators in Philadelphia.
Minnesota's DFL delegation brings deep diversity to the national scene
State's DFL delegation brings deep diversity to the national scene.
Labor is key to a Democratic victory, Minnesota delegates say
Local Democrats stress importance of labor vote to a win in November.
Humphrey speech on race reverberating as Democrats return to Philadelphia
As Democrats hold their national convention in Philadelphia for the first time since 1948, Hubert Humphrey's successful push for the first civil rights plank in the national Democratic platform is as pertinent as ever.
Trump, Minnesota GOP enter shaky alliance en route to general election
Fresh off their wild national convention, Minnesota Republicans are joined once and for all with the political thunderbolt that is Donald Trump.
Donald Trump's conservatism still in doubt for many
Some in the Minnesota delegation aren't yet fully on board this train.
Minnesota millennials give voice to their peers' vital role in Trump's bid
Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has a dramatic edge among younger voters, one that Trump tried to cut into Tuesday night.
Minnesota delegates, GOP leaders say Trump shows 'strength' after recent violence
Amid RNC, world turmoil, Minnesota delegates cite Trump's security stance.
Many Minn. Republicans off to Trump-focused RNC are conflicted
The approach of the GOP convention is eroding the last hopes harbored by some state delegates that Trump could somehow be replaced.
Donald Trump's campaign is a no-show in Minnesota so far
Trump's campaign has paid little attention to Minnesota to date, and at the moment there's not a single paid operative for Trump in the state.
Dayton still draws inspiration from mentor Rudy Perpich
Students of Gov. Mark Dayton's tenure are well aware of the outsize influence that the previous DFL governor, Rudy Perpich, made on his successor's approach…
Gov. Dayton is off to Croatia to mark National Guard milestone
Governor, National Guard group will attend ceremony marking collaboration with Croatian military
Dayton ignores last-minute pleas, lets $260M tax cut bill expire
While Mark Dayton said he supported many of the bill's provisions, his administration caught an error that officials said would have cost the state treasury $101 million over the next three years.
Dayton-GOP stalemate puts tax, spending bills in limbo
With Dayton poised on Monday to veto a $259 million tax bill that's the crown jewel of the House Republican majority, Speaker Kurt Daudt must try to salvage the GOP agenda.
Dayton wants spending for U, buildings and transit in special session
Republicans balk at the spending, bonding demands.
Dayton signs body camera bill sought by law enforcement agencies
New law gives police tight control over recordings.
Success or failure of this year's Legislature rests with Dayton
Lawmakers who left key issues on the table might have to heed his agenda to get a special session.
Legislators gave tax break to smokers; now it's up to Dayton
In its final hours, the Legislature approved a tax bill that repealed an automatic yearly increase in the tobacco tax. The measure is now sitting on the governor's desk.
Plenty of blame at Capitol after disappointing close of session
Gov. Dayton won't commit to a special session to try again on spending, transportation bills.
At Republican convention in Duluth, GOP is Trump's party
It's him or "President Clinton," party activists warn dissenters at the divided convention.
Divisions on display as Minnesota GOP gathers in Duluth
Minnesota Republicans gathered Friday for their state convention remain divided over Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee.
At Capitol, House finally releases public works plan but talks on transportation stall
Republicans offer $800M in bonding as hope wanes for a deal on transit funding.
Taking the temperature in Anoka for president: None of the above?
Many who live and work in what's a home base for independent voters seem unhappy with a choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Prince bill to lock down publicity rights runs into a debate at State Capitol
Legislators initially proposed wider protections for guardians of image and likeness, while also carving out exemptions for media and other public uses.
Voter restoration for felons faces uphill battle in St. Paul
There’s no better way to achieve a major change in Minnesota law than to build a bipartisan team of lawmakers as your allies. But for…
Hefty $1.5 billion public works bill fails in Senate by a single vote
Defeat of bonding bill by a single vote raises fear of do-nothing session.
Trump candidacy still tough for many in Minnesota GOP to take
Republican Party responses include no way, OK, too soon to say, no comment.
Dayton wants review of state's diversity efforts
Independent audit aims for recommendations at diversifying state's workforce and its private contracting.
Hearing on background checks for guns draws supporters, advocates
Despite a crowded hearing that at times grew testy, the Senate Judiciary Committee did not vote on either of two bills.
Minn. lawmakers can't agree on transportation spending
Both parties agree the "need is enormous" but are split over using surplus or gas tax.
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