Ely backs off tax hike, Duluth superintendent unlicensed, Mankato miracle
Under pressure, Ely scales back proposed property tax hike
Two weeks ago, dozens of angry Ely residents confronted city leaders about a proposed 27 percent increase in the city tax levy. On Tuesday night, city leaders responded to the pressure by presenting a revised budget that trimmed the levy increase down to 14 percent, aimed at raising $1.6 million (MPR News).
Foster missing superintendent license
"Duluth school district Superintendent I.V. Foster has been working in Minnesota without a license required for his job, reports the Duluth News Tribune. Duluth School Board members declined to comment if this is why Foster was placed on paid administrative leave Monday.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Questions raised about firing of director of Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Pioneer Press: "The head of a Minnesota state office that helps direct how lottery proceeds are spent for special environmental and natural resources projects was fired last week, prompting questions about the legality of the firing and accusations that House Republicans orchestrated it for political purposes."
Mankato economy bests outstate rivals'
Mankato Free Press: "At least as far as retail and service sales are concerned, a combined Mankato and North Mankato has joined Rochester, St. Cloud and Duluth to become among the largest trade centers in Greater Minnesota."
Abandoned mines hold potential to capture wind energy
"A study released by the University of Minnesota Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute shows that water-laden pits and ponds have the potential to store wind energy by using a process developed in Europe in the late 1800's," reports the Northland News Center.
More young people see opportunity in farming
AP: "A Wisconsin factory worker worried about layoffs became a dairy farmer. An employee at a Minnesota nonprofit found an escape from her cubicle by buying a vegetable farm. A nuclear engineer tired of office bureaucracy decided to get into cattle ranching in Texas."
Dayton's response to Koch's resignation, election set
"Minnesota Senate Republicans have set next Tuesday as the day they will elect a new Majority Leader. That's the person who will replace Senator Amy Koch, who resigned suddenly last week amid controversy," reports WCCO.