Judge issues first OKs to groups appearing before special master

As a third day of hearings before a special master began Thursday, the first of nearly 40 groups that argued for continued funding during Minnesota's state government shutdown had their requests granted. Ramsey County Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin agreed Thursday with the pleas regarding Blind Inc., the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, the state school board association and the state Department of Human Services licensing division. Special Master Kathleen Blatz, a former state Supreme Court judge, began hearing requests for continued funding July 1 and has been making recommendations to Gearin. Gearin however did deny one request – a petition by Arc Minnesota for continued funding of its housing access services. Gearin granted the petition from Blind Inc., which asked for continued funding for training for the blind. "These services should be deemed critical core functions," the judge wrote. The judge also granted the petition of Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, which asked that state funding for emergency general assistance, emergency supplemental aid and payments for short-term shelter and utility needs continue.