A press release from the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

A STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR’s DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF

~ Brian McClung’s statement regarding Minnesota’s Race to the Top application ~

ST. PAUL –- The following is a statement from Governor Pawlenty’s Deputy Chief of Staff Brian McClung regarding Minnesota’s Race to the Top application. Minnesota did not make the first group of finalists announced Thursday by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The second round of applications will be due this June.

A press release from the Minnesota Farm Bureau:

Governor Tim Pawlenty was presented Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture award during the annual Council of County Presidents on February 24 in St. Paul.

The Distinguished Service to Agriculture award is presented annually to outstanding leaders of agriculture in the state of Minnesota. The award is one of the most prestigious awards given by Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.

A press release from Alliance for a Better Minnesota:

This afternoon, Republican Rep. Paul Kohls declared that it's a sad day in Minnesota when politicians "put politics ahead of getting things done."

He's right -- and when it comes to providing basic health care services for 70,000 Minnesotans, Rep. Kohls' statement certainly applies to the 38 Republican legislators who took back their original vote in favor of the General Assistance Medical Care service.

A press release from the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

ST. PAUL -– Governor Tim Pawlenty today released his supplemental budget recommendations, eliminating the state’s projected $1.2 billion deficit and providing tax cuts to spur job growth.

The Governor’s budget maintains funding for priority areas including military and veterans, core public safety, and K-12 education classrooms. Many other programs would be reduced including Local Government Aid, welfare and social services, and state government agencies.

A press release from the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

ST. PAUL -– Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced a proposal to more than double prison time for sex offenders and a new comprehensive internet education program to help protect children from online predators.

Under the Governor's proposal, an offender convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct would receive a 25-year sentence, more than doubling the current presumptive sentence.

A press release from the office of state Rep. Mark Buesgens

ST. PAUL -– State Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, made a motion today to suspend House rules and immediately pass jobs legislation to thaw the pandemic of uncertainty plaguing job providers throughout Minnesota.

House File 363 would gradually phase-out Minnesota’s corporate income tax, working to attract new businesses and reward existing businesses for staying in Minnesota.

A press release from the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition:

ST. PAUL -- A measure to make roads safer and more accessible for all Minnesotans -– regardless of age or ability or whether traveling by car, bus, bike, or on foot -– was introduced into the Minnesota legislature today.

The Complete Streets bills, Senate File 2461 and House File 2801, are supported by a broad coalition of health, family, environment, senior, and transportation advocates who attended an afternoon press conference.

A press release from Minnesota Conservation:

Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature kept faith with voter intent and the state constitution in the first year of conservation funding under the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, an independent analysis by Conservation Minnesota reported this month.

While the state faced a monumental overall budget deficit last year, the Legislature and Governor have abided by the constitutional requirement that the Amendment funds not be used as a substitute for existing general funding.

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Health:

The Minnesota Department of Health today announced that that influenza activity in the state has been downgraded to "local," as reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The reclassification reflects the fact that influenza activity is now occurring primarily in the northwestern region of the state, although flu activity continues to be reported across the rest of Minnesota.

A press release from the Minnesota Republican Party:

Republican Party of Minnesota Calls for Full Investigation of State Absentee Ballot Procedures