State News

More than 15 percent of the state’s public defenders were cut in June, leaving staff at the Koochiching County Court Administrator’s Office considering how to move forward.
The Minnesota Board of Public Defense voted to cut 72 full-time jobs by the end of the summer to help absorb a $3.8 million state budget deficit.

Minnesota recycles 41 percent of its trash and that admirable achievement is the second best rate of recycling in the country, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
That rate of recycling, however, has not increased significantly for 10 years.

State Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam, announced his bid for reelection in House District 3A, and Marv Ott, announced his candidacy for the seat earlier this year.
The District 3A position represents Koochiching, Lake of the Woods and Itasca counties.
“It’s been an honor to serve the people of northern Minnesota these last two years,” said Anzelc. “We got a lot done, but there’s work left and I want to finish what I started.”

ST. PAUL (AP) — Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and DFL lawmakers used $15 million from a state airport fund to help balance the budget last session, and now, a Senate subcommittee is examining the effects of that decision.
State aviation executives and other business officials told the panel Tuesday that the transfer would probably delay building projects at many of the 136 publicly owned airports in Minnesota.
At Falls International Airport, the cuts will mean canceling the purchase of a pickup truck with plow, a mower and a power washer.

The Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership, an innovative partnership that is helping preserve the integrity of “working” forest landscapes in northern Minnesota, has been recognized for its work by winning the 2008 Environmental Initiative Award in the category Natural Resource Protection and Restoration.

But they have concerns on how actions may impact next year’s budget

Borderland’s state representatives say that northern Minnesota fared well with action at the Minnesota Legislature this year.
However, both Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, and Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam, agree that this year brought some benefit for northern Minnesota, but worry about money.

A major revision of Minnesota shoreland rules is now under way.
The revision will affect shoreland property owners and the use and development of shoreland areas throughout the state.
An advisory panel to the project includes two northern Minnesota county commissioners.
The Shoreland Rules Update Project is being coordinated by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The shoreland rules were last revised in 1989. By statute, the Commissioner of the DNR began new rulemaking in January.

Municipal liquor stores in Koochiching fared well in 2006, according to a Minnesota Auditor’s report.
State Auditor Rebecca Otto’s report issued last week on 2006 sales of Minnesota’s 248 municipal liquor stores showed a combined net profit of some $20 million, generating $16.4 million in revenue for city budgets.
City-owned liquor stores in Koochiching County that have long operated in Littlefork, Ranier, Big Falls and Northome performed well, managers say.

An American history showcase in conjunction with the Republican National Convention

The Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee has announced that “CivicFest: A Very Minnesota Celebration” will be held in conjunction with the 2008 Republican National Convention.
CivicFest, which will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4 will be a nearly 300,000 square foot event celebrating Minnesota and American history, democracy and the U.S. presidency that will be open to the general public.

Minnesotans have an opportunity this month to view a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Andrea Kajer of the Minnesota Historical Society, Jane Leonard of the Sesquicentennial Commission, and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced recently that the copy will be part of a display at the Minnesota History Center, May 6-18, coinciding with Minnesota Statehood Week, which commemorates the 150th anniversary of Minnesota becoming the 32nd state of the Union.