STATE

State GOP is biggest user of tax break Pawlenty axed

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Republican Party was the biggest user of a campaign program he axed that gives donors tax refunds for part of their contributions.

By AP wire report , November 20, 2009

List of taxpayers missing their refund checks

The following list provided by the Internal Revenue Service shows taxpayers who are due refunds and who last had addresses in the towns shown in west central Minnesota. These taxpayers' checks have been returned to the IRS by the Postal Service as undeliverable. Taxpayers can update their addresses with the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. The tool enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds and, in some cases, provides instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. To use “Where’s My Refund?” a taxpayer needs his or her Social Security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2008 return. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

By Tribune News , November 20, 2009

Minn. officials predict 3.5 percent rise in property taxes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — State officials are predicting an average 3.5 percent increase in local property taxes next year as cities, counties and school districts set their levies.

By AP wire report , November 19, 2009

Patrol: One in serious condition; fatalities ID'd in bus crash

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities say one passenger is hospitalized in serious condition after a tour bus crash in southern Minnesota killed two people and injured 20.

By AP wire report , November 19, 2009

Board agrees to allow state money to pay for cost overruns on NDSU president’s house

MINOT, N.D. – North Dakota State University received permission today to spend $196,399 in university funds on cost overruns involving the school’s president house.

By Amy Dalrymple , November 19, 2009

Tribe unlikely to vote on controversial UND nickname soon

MINOT, N.D. – It’s unlikely that the Standing Rock Sioux tribe will hold a referendum regarding the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname in the immediate future.

By Tu-Uyen Tran , November 19, 2009

Minn. unemployment rate climbs in October

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota's three-month streak of a falling unemployment rate has been broken as the rate climbed to 7.6 percent for October.

By AP wire report , November 19, 2009

Part of S.D. town evacuated after chemical leak

BIG STONE CITY, S.D. (AP) — Residents of the northeastern South Dakota town of Big Stone City who were evacuated after an anhydrous ammonia leak have returned to their homes.

By AP wire report , November 19, 2009

State swim, diving meet starts today

The diving preliminaries for both Class A and AA open the state swimming and diving meet today at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

By Tribune Sports , November 19, 2009

Two killed in crash of tour bus in southern Minn.

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) — A tour bus returning from a casino ran off a southern Minnesota interstate and rolled over in a ditch today, killing two people and injuring 21, authorities said.

By AP wire report , November 18, 2009

'Some' fatalities in Minn. tour bus crash

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) — State officials say an unknown number of people have died in a southern Minnesota tour bus crash.

By AP wire report , November 18, 2009

Tour bus crashes in southern Minn.

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) — A tour bus has crashed and rolled over on Interstate 90 west of Austin, Minn.

By AP wire report , November 18, 2009

No one injured in explosion at grain elevator

LAKE WILSON, Minn. — No one was injured in an explosion at the Lake Wilson Grain Elevator late Tuesday night.

By Justine Wettschreck , November 18, 2009

MnSCU reports surge in underrepresented students

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is reporting a surge in the sort of students who in the past often didn’t attend college.

By AP wire report , November 18, 2009

Emerald ash borer spreads

Emerald ash borers have spread to a second Minnesota city since the tree pest was discovered in the state last spring.

By AP wire report , November 18, 2009