Politics

Nearly a thousand Minnesotans cheered in the frigid hail and snow Thursday, urging state legislators to repeal the state’s law banning same-sex marriages.

Hosted by Minnesotans United for All Families and OutFront Minnesota, the event on the Capitol’s mall attracted students, families and couples from all corners of the state.

Increased funding for the University of Minnesota passed the full Minnesota Senate on Wednesday, but state leaders continued to voice concern about the school’s spending.

Legislators passed the bill, which would freeze tuition for Minnesota undergraduates at the University, but proposed numerous amendments aimed at the University’s spending, varying from preventing state money paying for administrative salary bonuses to raising out-of-state tuition.

Jonathan Magness misses his family.

He’s on the road, filling in as a violinist for the Philadelphia Orchestra while he waits for a deal to be made with the Minnesota Orchestra.

City Council hopefuls in Minneapolis have had Tuesday circled on their calendars for a long time.

That marks caucus night for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minneapolis. Around 7 p.m., constituents of wards across the city will discuss local policy and nominate delegates for endorsements to city positions.

Delegates then go on to the DFL convention to vote on which candidates should receive the party’s endorsement.

The state House granted the University of Minnesota increased funding to freeze tuition Monday, but it came with a few strings attached for the future: to show legislators where the money’s going.

The House Higher Education Committee approved legislation Monday that would require state-funded colleges and universities to be more transparent with how they spend taxpayer dollars — a concern that follows alleged administrative bloat.

The state House granted the University of Minnesota increased funding to freeze tuition Monday, but it came with a few strings attached for the future: to show legislators where the money’s going.

The House Higher Education Committee approved legislation Monday that would require state-funded colleges and universities to be more transparent with how they spend taxpayer dollars — a concern that follows alleged administrative bloat.

The U.S. Supreme Court indicated it’s likely to strike down a federal statute that defines marriage as between a man and a woman during oral arguments Wednesday.

The court’s decision is expected in June, with one justice likely to be the swing vote.

But even if the Defense of Marriage Act is struck down, same-sex couples in Minnesota will still be unable to claim benefits the government grants to married couples, like health insurance and some tax credits, because a Minnesota statute bars them from legally marrying.