Obama To Spend 2 Days In Minnesota This Week

ST. PAUL (AP) - President Barack Obama's visit later this week to Minnesota will include a town hall event Thursday and an economic policy speech on Friday.

The White House gave details Tuesday of Obama's plans during his Minneapolis stops.

Officials have said previously that they picked Minnesota because of a recent law change that will boost a long-stagnant minimum wage. Under the law, the wage will climb to $9.50 per hour by 2016 through a series of incremental increases.

Obama's town hall at Minnehaha Park is open to invited guests. Public tickets to his speech at the Lake Harriet Bandshell will be distributed.

The president is also headlining a fundraiser Thursday for the congressional campaign arm for House Democrats.