News & Features from Minnesota Public Radio

ND billboards meant to attract Minn. businesses

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:53:32 -0500

North Dakota is promoting its business climate at Minnesota's expense, and some politicians east of the Red River are not happy about it. The Greater North Dakota Chamber has started a campaign that mocks proposals in the Minnesota Legislature, including bills that would raise certain taxes.

Capitol View blog: Latest news from the Legislature

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:16:57 -0500

The Minnesota Legislature is meeting over the weekend as the clock counts down on the regular session. The House and Senate are both convening Saturday.

Cube Critics' movie review: The new Star Trek film

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:29:26 -0500

Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis and arts reporter Euan Kerr review "Star Trek Into Darkness," in this week's Cube Critics video.

Minn. bike race gives athletes a rough ride

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:54:00 -0500

This weekend, more than 1,000 cyclists will pound the winding, backcountry roads just south of Rochester in a 100-mile race called Almanzo. The event has become one of the nation's premier gravel road events, and the route will take riders on some of the region's most rugged and unforgiving roads.

Minn. doctors on front lines in prescription drug abuse

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:51:21 -0500

Prescription drugs abuses in Minnesota has become severe. "We have a prescription opiate problem in this country and in this state, the likes of which we have never seen," one officer said.

Reviving the 'community sing' tradition

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:04:31 -0500

The arrival of warm weather in Minneapolis marks a new beginning for "singing season," a nod to the past when thousands of people flocked to Minneapolis parks to sing together for the fun of it.

Military drone training comes to Camp Ripley

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:50:16 -0500

The Minnesota Army National Guard showed off its new unmanned aircraft training facility at Camp Ripley today. The $4 million facility, the only one of its kind in the region, will improve training for National Guard soldiers who fly small drones to provide video surveillance.

Can new Vikings stadium design be 'bird friendly?'

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:37:11 -0500

Football fans were reveling over the design of the new Vikings stadium this week, but bird watchers remain skeptical because of the amount of glass included in the design. Glass, they say, kills birds.

'Mad Men' Vincent Kartheiser aims for Guthrie

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:40:47 -0500

To find their Mr. Darcy, the Guthrie Theater in Minnesota has turned to a Mad Man.

House and Senate OK HHS bill with 5 percent hike for nursing homes

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:43:38 -0500

The Minnesota Legislature has passed a health and human services budget bill that increases funding for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities by 5 percent over the next two years.

Target tests video service among employees

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:40:35 -0500

Target is testing a video streaming service called Target Ticket, and for now only Target employees can access it.

U's Rochester campus has first graduation

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:02:28 -0500

On Saturday the University of Minnesota - Rochester will graduate its first crop of students. It's a milestone for the city, which has long sought to establish a school offering four-year and advanced degrees.

History Theatre to tour Minn. with 2 shows

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:54:15 -0500

The St. Paul-based History Theatre is taking its show on the road to greater Minnesota in June and July.

Report: Yahoo nearing $1.1B acquisition of Tumblr

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:43:34 -0500

Yahoo may be on the verge of closing its biggest acquisition under CEO Marissa Mayer, as she tries to attract more traffic and advertising to the Internet company's website.

Mayo Clinic expansion plan makes headway

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 -0500

A plan to provide state money to help Rochester handle a planned Mayo Clinic expansion is one step closer to reality. The plan would rely on $327 million in state aid to help Rochester build roads, bridges and other amenities to grow along with the Mayo Clnic's $3 billion planned expansion.

Organic industry clout grows with consumer demand

Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The organic food industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn't going over well with everyone in Congress.

Prominent Twin Cities concert promoter Sue McLean dies

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:59:16 -0500

Sue McLean, a high-profile concert promoter in the Twin Cities and the largest independent female promoter in the world, died Friday today from cancer. She was 63.

Festival season is assuredly heating up

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:39:56 -0500

This weekend: Minnesota River History Paddling Theater, Art-a-Whirl, Preston Trout Days and the Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.

Gas tax hike and sales tax for transit get scrapped

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:32:32 -0500

DFL legislative leaders say plans to raise the gas tax for road projects and a metrowide sales tax for transit projects are dead for the year.

Target testing video streaming service

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:22:41 -0500

Target is testing a video streaming service called Target Ticket. The service's website says it provides 15,000 titles, including new releases, classic movies and next-day TV shows.

Nearly $21B in goods exported from Minn. annually

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:18:27 -0500

The importance of exports to Minnesota's economy was highlighted by state economic development officials and Duluth business leaders in a news conference on Friday.

PoliGraph: Bachmann health premium claim leaves out key details

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:01:35 -0500

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for the 37th time to undo the new healthcare law - a bill sponsored by Sixth Congressional District Rep. Michele Bachmann. But the vote was largely symbolic; the Senate has no plans to pass the bill.

House approves legislator pay constitutional amendment

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:58:20 -0500

The Minnesota House has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would let voters decide whether an outside group should determine pay for legislators.

Minn. House defeats construction projects bill

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:23:47 -0500

Republicans in the Minnesota House have blocked an $800 million package of public construction projects from moving forward this year, including the next phase of renovation work on the State Capitol.

MN House OKs limits on auto license tracking

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:07:51 -0500

The Minnesota House has voted to place strict limits on a technology police departments use to track the location of vehicles.

Ousted IRS chief regrets treatment of tea party

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:57:09 -0500

The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized to Congress on Friday for his agency's tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. He said they resulted from a misguided effort to handle a flood of applications, not political bias.

Glitch pushes back MNsure deadline

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:23:43 -0500

A computer glitch at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has forced the postponement of a state deadline today connected to Minnesota's new online health insurance marketplace, called MNsure.

Minnesota budget deal: Higher taxes for top earners, smokers

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:10:22 -0500

Minnesota would have the fourth highest income tax rate in the nation under a deal reached by Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL legislative leaders.

Unemployment falls in 40 states, rises in 3

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:25:16 -0500

Solid hiring helped push down unemployment rates in 40 U.S. states last month, the most since November. The declines show job markets are improving in most areas of the country.

Tea party tax returns: Mostly tiny budgets, rare partisan activities

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:03:32 -0500

The AP reviewed 990 tax returns for nonprofit groups that were made publicly available and posted on both the Guidestar and the Foundation Center websites, searching between 2009 and 2011 under the terms "tea party," "patriot" and other terms frequently used by tea party groups.

Walker Performing Arts season takes collaborations to new heights

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:18:10 -0500

Philip Bither may have done the unforgivable in announcing the Walker's 2013-2014 performing arts season - he's named a favorite.

A small shock to the system may help brain with math

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Stimulating the brain with a very small electrical current through the forehead could boost a student's ability to learn and remember basic mathematics, a provocative experiment suggets.

Why is psychiatry's new manual so much like the old one?

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The American Psychiatric Association is about to release an updated version of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM helps mental health professionals decide who has problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

House advances student loan fix

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The days of fixed-rate student loans could be coming to a close, with House Republicans on Thursday advancing a proposal that would link rates to financial markets.

Bachmann sprints to TV with health care ad

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:56:48 -0500

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann quickly launched a campaign-style television ad Thursday in hopes of capitalizing on the latest U.S. House vote to undo President Barack Obama's health care law.

UMD graduates first cohort of tribal management program

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:49:43 -0500

The first cohort of a new degree developed to prepare leaders for the unique challenge of tribal management graduates today from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Minn. jobs, unemployment down in April

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:31:40 -0500

Although Minnesota's unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent last month, it was also another month of job declines.

Bill would ensure habitat preservation for bees, pollinators

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:18:56 -0500

A conference committee has approved a plan to improve habitat for bees and other pollinators. The bill provides $300,000 over the next two years.

In Minnesota, gas prices are heading north for the summer

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:40 -0500

We'll look at what Minnesota drivers are likely to be paying for a gallon of gas this summer, and the trend in gas prices nationwide.

With clock ticking, big differences remain in Capitol budget bills

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:39:39 -0500

Significant differences remain in the tax bill, and DFL leaders appear willing to throw in the towel on a minimum wage increase.

Founding class of UMN-Rochester students set to graduate

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:06 -0500

When the first graduates of the University of Minnesota-Rochester receive their diplomas Saturday, they'll leave a campus that's still figuring things out.

More and more, faculty work for less pay and no security

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

At many colleges, so-called adjunct faculty now outnumber their colleagues on the tenure track.

Obama promises action on controversies

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:29:46 -0500

President Barack Obama tried to defuse a trio of controversies Thursday, pledging to work with Congress to ensure the IRS doesn't abuse its power, urging legislators to provide more money to strengthen security at U.S. diplomatic outposts and promising to seek "a balance" between national security and a need to protect freedom of the press.

Fort Snelling school plans move forward

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19:28 -0500

The Department of Natural Resources is moving ahead with a proposal for an environmental learning charter school at Fort Snelling.

MPR State Capitol team previews final weekend of the legislative session

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:43:28 -0500

Political editor Mike Mulcahy and MPR State Capitol reporters Tom Scheck and Tim Pugmire are Steven John's guests on MPR News Presents to give a status report on all the major legislation, as the 2013 Legislative Session heads for adjournment Monday, May 20.

The 'secret' stadium finance plan: Cigarette, corporate taxes

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:27:38 -0500

So long electronic gambling taxes, hello cigarette taxes and additional corporate income taxes.

Bachmann wants deeper investigation of IRS

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:27:35 -0500

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said Congress needs to dig deeper into allegations that the Internal Revenue Service harassed conservative groups seeking nonprofit status.

On a desert island, first find a source of water; then, a light to read by

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:25:00 -0500

What books would you bring to a desert island?

Legacy deal hinges on rural vs. urban fight over parks money

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:08:50 -0500

Every two years since voters approved a new sales tax to fund four different causes, state lawmakers representing the Twin Cities metro area have fought with those representing greater Minnesota on how to distribute millions of dollars of parks money.

American Airlines: Roller bags to the back of the line

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:29:00 -0500

The airline said Thursday that people carrying just a personal item that fits under the seat -- no rolling suitcases -- will be allowed to board before most other passengers.

Minnesota jobless rate falls; weekly US jobless aid claims rise

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:23:31 -0500

Minnesota's jobless rate fell to 5.3 percent last month even as employers trimmed payrolls by 11,400 jobs last month.

Video: Gay rights pioneers Jack Baker and Michael McConnell predicted marriage victory in '70s

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:15:00 -0500

Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, two Minneapolis men who first fought for marriage equality in the 1970s, have kept a low profile this week. But decades ago on TV, they predicted this moment would come.

A New 'Smart rifle' decides when to shoot and rarely misses

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:25:37 -0500

A new rifle goes on sale on Wednesday, and it's not like any other. It uses lasers and computers to make shooters very accurate. A startup gun company in Texas developed the rifle, which is so effective that some in the shooting community say it should not be sold to the public.

Minn. lawmakers sort out tax increase details

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Leading Minnesota lawmakers have sorted out a tax package that is the linchpin of the next state budget.

Ethan Rutherford's short stories about long trips

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Short-story writer Ethan Rutherford's tales range from the voyage of a Confederate submarine to a science fiction saga about hunting for whales in the middle of a desert. Each of the stories in his debut collection "The Peripetetic Coffin" involve journeys which seldom end well.

Tax subsidies aimed at specific companies to encourage job creation

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

A jobs and economic development budget bill headed to the Minnesota Senate cuts the unemployment insurance tax for businesses, provides funding for job training and spends taxpayer money to jumpstart business expansion in the state.

Minn. primed to put firms on hook during lockouts

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:54:53 -0500

Minnesota lawmakers are primed to adopt legislation giving idled workers longer-lasting jobless benefits when locked out by their companies in labor fights.

Lawmakers end push to open voting early

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:51:13 -0500

Minnesota Democrats are giving up for the year on a push to change election law so people could start voting weeks before Election Day.

DNR collaring moose calves to study, protect species

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:41:18 -0500

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has started the second phase of its ambitious study to determine why the state's moose population is declining so rapidly. Last week, they began collaring newborn moose calves.

Officials should investigate costs, benefits of frac mining, report says

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:03:11 -0500

Local officials should ask in-depth questions about costs and benefits when they consider whether to permit a frac sand mine, according to a report.

IRS commissioner ousted over tea party targeting

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:36:21 -0500

President Barack Obama says the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Steven Miller, has submitted his resignation in the aftermath of an investigation that found the agency improperly targeted conservative groups.

MPR documentaries: 'Song Catcher: Frances Densmore of Red Wing' and 'Artist Charles Biederman.'

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:26:31 -0500

Two people from Red Wing, Minnesota who are important figures in Minnesota history, culture and the arts are featured in separate documentaries by Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith. Part 1: "Song Catcher: Frances Densmore of Red Wing" and Part 2: "Artist Charles Biederman."

Marathon debate could set tone for final days at Capitol

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:03:24 -0500

A 17-hour debate in the Minnesota Senate over the unionization of child care providers and personal care assistants could be just a taste of things to come in the closing days of the legislative session.

Open a book, and hit the road

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

What book made you want to grab your suitcase and go traveling?

Did you see 'Saw'? Horror films and why we like them

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

What makes a good horror movie, and why do we pay good money to subject ourselves to them?

Appetites: It's cool NOT to cook

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:50:21 -0500

The pressure to cook is enormous. For people who don't cook, it can be shaming. Hold your head high, non-cooks. You fulfill a role not yet acknowledged in this country.

Minn. taxes on way up, but details still up for debate

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:26:33 -0500

Minnesota taxes will rise by more than $2 billion in the next two-year state budget, but who pays how much on what is still being hammered out as the Legislature speeds toward a Monday deadline for the session's adjournment. Here's a look at what is known and what is left to be decided on the tax plan.

Ill. oil refineries spur MN gas price rise

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:52:20 -0500

The temporary shutdown of two oil refineries in the Chicago area is putting pressure on gas prices in Minnesota.

Stem cells recovered from cloned human embryos

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:37:55 -0500

Scientists have finally recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos, a longstanding goal that could lead to new treatments for such illnesses as Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Minn. Majority says it was targeted by IRS

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:27:20 -0500

A second group in Minnesota says it believes the IRS targeted it for extra scrutiny because of its conservative stand.

Fargo Red River diversion passes US Senate

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:44:17 -0500

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven says a measure that would authorize a Red River flood diversion project has passed the Senate.

MN Senate passes daycare unionization bill

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:10:36 -0500

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill allowing the unionization of home child-care workers in Minnesota after an all-night debate that saw Republicans trying to block the bill.

US House panel to OK small food stamp cuts

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:18:39 -0500

The House Agriculture Committee has begun work on a five-year farm bill that would make small cuts to the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program.

Angelina Jolie and the rise of preventive mastectomies

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:11:09 -0500

Over the past decade, doctors have noticed a big increase in the number of women choosing prophylactic, or preventive, mastectomies. Some, like actress Angelina Jolie, have a genetic mutation that makes it much more likely that they will have breast cancer.

Benghazi review board chair Pickering wants to testify

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:05:50 -0500

Former Ambassador Thomas Pickering on Tuesday defended the investigative board he led looking into last year's attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, saying he wanted the opportunity to clear up "unfounded" criticisms leveled against it during last week's Congressional hearings.

Holder unsure how often reporters' records are seized

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:02:00 -0500

As his Justice Department faces bipartisan outrage for searching phone records of Associated Press reporters and editors, Attorney General Eric Holder says he is not sure how many times such information has been seized by government investigators in the four years he's led Justice.

IRS's 'inappropriate' scrutiny: Read the report

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:59:08 -0500

A much-anticipated report from the Treasury Department's inspector general for tax administration is straight forward about how Internal Revenue Service personnel unfairly singled out some conservative groups for unnecessary scrutiny during the 2012 campaign cycle.

Same-sex marriage bill signed; thousands cheer at Capitol

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:42:33 -0500

Many gay and lesbian couples in Minnesota are looking forward to Aug. 1, when the law legalizing same-sex marriage goes into effect.

'Sleeving' market for homes sparks ethical controversy

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The historically low supply of homes in the Twin Cities means a dearth of listings for sale ... and bidding wars that take place over the few available homes. The steep competition is prompting some real estate agents to market homes privately, before they're listed publicly. The practice is legal, but some real estate agents think it's unethical.

Food stamps, crop insurance big issues in new farm bill

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The House and Senate Agriculture committees are debating a new farm bill this week. The current legislation directed more than $1 billion to Minnesota last year in the form of food stamp benefits and subsidized crop insurance for farmers. Those two expensive programs are the most controversial portions of the new bill Congress is considering.

Study questions how sharply US should cut the salt

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

A surprising new report questions public health efforts to get Americans to sharply cut back on salt, saying it's not clear whether eating super-low levels is worth the struggle.

Report card: Great Lakes still have big problems

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

A decades-old effort to nurse the battered Great Lakes to health has made progress toward reducing toxic pollution and slamming the door on invasive species, but the freshwater seas continue to face serious threats, a U.S.-Canadian agency said Tuesday.

Photos: Thousands gather as Minn. same-sex marriage bill signed into law

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:45:49 -0500

Thousands of cheering spectators filled the south lawn of the State Capitol, with rainbow and American flags fluttering in a sweltering breeze.

FAQ: Same-sex marriage law

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:17:45 -0500

Minnesota's law allowing same-sex marriage goes into effect Aug. 1. On that day, same-sex couples can apply for a marriage license in Minnesota.

Heavy lifting on budget still needed at Capitol

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:20:52 -0500

With the same-sex marriage bill now passed and signed into law, state lawmakers are again turning their attention to passing a state budget before next Monday's scheduled session adjournment.

Dr. Jon Hallberg: Fighting polio around the world

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:15:23 -0500

A disease that's almost eradicated is still in the news. There were 223 cases of polio last year worldwide.

Dayton signs same-sex marriage bill at Capitol ceremony

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:10:34 -0500

Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Thousands of cheering spectators filled the south lawn of the state Capitol for the outdoor ceremony, with rainbow and American flags fluttering in a sweltering breeze.

IRS unfairly targeted Minn. tea party organization, boardmember says

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:01:07 -0500

A Minnesota tea party organization says it was caught-up in the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups.

LIVE VIDEO: Watch Gov. Dayton sign same-sex marriage bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:48:24 -0500

Watch Gov. Mark Dayton sign a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

Dayton signs same-sex marriage bill: live coverage

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:08:47 -0500

Minnesota is now the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex marriage. Follow our live blog for the latest coverage.

Fighting eagles crash land on Duluth airport runway

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:47:35 -0500

Two bald eagles locked together by their talons in a midair battle survived a crash landing onto a runway at a northeastern Minnesota airport.

Blockbuster development slated for Vikings stadium district

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:33:51 -0500

A massive, 5-block, nearly $400 million development is headed for the area just west of the planned new Vikings stadium.

Parents, staff to speak out for reassigned Washburn High principal

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:12:43 -0500

A half-dozen parents, and current and former staff of Washburn High School plan to speak out Tuesday night at a Minneapolis school board meeting about the recent reassignment of principal Carol Markham-Cousins.

Justice dept to investigate IRS targeting of tea party

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:27:38 -0500

The Justice Department is opening a criminal investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of tea party groups for extra scrutiny over whether they qualified for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Tuesday.

Remembering ornithologist Thomas Sadler Roberts: Minnesota Sounds and Voices

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:02:32 -0500

Along with spring, migratory birds are back. More than a century ago, their seasonal arrival was the object of intense interest by one of the state's most important ornithologists, Thomas Sadler Roberts.

DFL lawmaker: Compromise reached on frac sand regulations

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:46:51 -0500

The lawmaker who has pushed this year for tougher state regulation of the frac sand mining industry on Tuesday said DFL legislative leaders have reached a compromise on the legislation.

Scaled-back gun bill moves ahead in Minn. Senate

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:54:59 -0500

A significantly scaled-back plan to revise Minnesota's gun laws advanced toward a final Senate vote after receiving the blessing Tuesday of a vocal gun-rights group.

IRS chief denies partisan motivations in tea party fracas

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:19:33 -0500

In his first public comments on the growing controversy over the extra scrutiny the agency admits it gave in recent years to conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status, the acting IRS commissioner attributes the controversy to employees taking 'short cuts."

Actress Angelina Jolie shares double mastectomy story

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:22:51 -0500

"I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer," she said. "It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested."

Same-sex marriage: Lobbying, polling, timing, key lawmakers led to victory

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:34:17 -0500

Despite the DFL's new majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate, and the defeat of the marriage amendment in 2012, few people thought the Legislature would move this quickly to turn around and make same-sex marriage legal. Looking behind the scenes at the process, the effort hinged on careful lobbying, polling, timing, and the votes of a few key lawmakers.