Minnesota
Want an AI data center in your city? Sure, but first sign this non-disclosure agreement.
Some elected officials have had enough and are refusing to go along, while a state lawmaker wants to make these nondisclosure agreements illegal for elected officials.
Not just electricity — water supplies will be taxed by data centers
Proposed mines, factories and data centers threaten to deplete the underground aquifers that supply up to 40% of the Great Lakes’ volume — and drinking water reserves for nearly three-quarters of Minnesotans.
Minnesota lawmakers extend tax breaks for Big Tech data centers
The once boutique tax subsidy has exploded in cost in recent years, as tech companies chased the benefit to meet ever increasing demand for computing power.
Minneapolis automates food permitting, removes ‘two-feet high’ paper stack
Having previously relied on handwritten permit applications and taking payment by phone, the city now uses cloud-based software to automate much of the process and make it more efficient.
Minnesota Senate Democrats propose new tax on social media companies
Some Minnesota lawmakers are proposing a first-in-the-nation tax on large social media companies that collect data on consumers in the state.
Misinformation expert used AI to draft testimony containing misinformation about AI
Stanford’s Jeff Hancock submitted the document as an expert declaration in a case involving a new Minnesota law that makes it illegal to use AI to mislead voters prior to an election.
Survey: Americans think cities can't arrest their way out of the homelessness crisis
Supportive services and more government action is needed to reduce and prevent homelessness, according to a recent public opinion poll.
The states where climate progress is on the ballot
Getting laws passed is one thing. Protecting them from Republican opposition is another.
Why people aren’t buying heat pumps—and what states can do about it
COMMENTARY | New research from the coldest part of the country finds we need to tell people what heat pumps are before telling them why they should buy them.
The right to repair electronics is now law in 3 states. Is Big Tech complying?
You're legally entitled to fix your own gadgets in California, Minnesota, and New York — but not all tech companies have gotten the memo.
Featured eBooks
Nearly half of all lieutenant governors are women. Could the future of the governor's office be female?
If Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is elected vice president, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will be the first Native American female governor. She's one of a growing number of women of color serving in the No. 2 spot.
New data tool looks to cure medical debt woes
As state and local governments grapple with the impacts of medical debt on their communities, a new resource looks to help inform strategies aimed at remedying the financial burden.
Can a ‘sprint’ to a medical emergency solve states’ EMS shortages?
Minnesota lawmakers have approved a so-called sprint paramedic program to confront the state's worsening rural emergency response.
Whole-of-state program delivers security that’s ‘antivirus on steroids’
Woodbury, Minnesota, was one of the first cities to take advantage of the subsidized managed detection and response solution.
State, local govs crack down on menthol cigarettes by pumping prices up
Setting minimum retail prices and increasing taxes can help officials address public health concerns surrounding menthol cigarettes.
Mobile hunting, fishing licenses streamline conservation management
Minnesota’s new system will replace a paper-based license purchase and harvest registration process, saving staff time and improving customer service.
Emergency alert: States confront EMS shortages
Minnesota declared an “EMS emergency” last month, but it’s far from alone. An outdated approach to funding the service is largely to blame, says experts.
In this Legislature’s Civility Caucus, Republicans and Democrats actually like talking to each other
At Civility Caucus gatherings, conversation might go to hot-button issues, but they are much more productive and sometimes even lead to co-sponsored bills.
Cash isn’t the only thing guaranteed income programs can deliver
Data is starting to show that supplemental income programs can boost participants’ employment, housing stability and family well-being.
How one city is bridging the gender gap in construction jobs
Rochester, Minnesota, launched its Equity in the Built Environment program in 2023 that looks to educate and train women for jobs in construction, project management, interior design, and other careers.
