BREAKING NEWS: Governor Mark Dayton, GOP Leaders Have Deal to End Shutdown

Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers, Sen. Maj. Leader Amy Koch and Gov. Dayton emerge from budget talks July 14 to report agreement reached. (@MNHouseInfo, TwitPic)

_
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislators say they have reached a deal to end a budget impasse that led to the longest state government shutdown in recent history.

The deal came after a three-hour negotiating session Thursday that followed major concessions by Dayton, a Democrat. It would end a two-week shutdown.

The two sides agreed on a proposal that would raise $1.4 billion in new revenue, half by delaying state aid checks to school districts and the other half by selling tobacco payment bonds.

Dayton's concession was contingent on Republicans dropping a list of policy changes plus a plan to cut the state workforce by 15 percent.