government shutdown

A government shutdown could disrupt the July Fourth holiday for those planning to use Minnesota's 66 state parks and six recreation areas. More than 3,000 campsites have been reserved in state parks for the holiday weekend.

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A Ramsey County judge has denied Gov. Mark Dayton's request to order stalled budget talks into mediation. Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled against the Democratic governor's request Thursday during a hearing expected to address the size and scope of a looming government shutdown.

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Minnesota's highest court has dismissed a petition from four Republican state senators seeking to prevent the judicial branch from authorizing state spending in a government shutdown. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the matter properly belongs before a lower court.

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Minnesota's cities are pushing to keep their state aid checks coming even if state government shuts down on July 1. The League of Minnesota Cities filed paperwork Wednesday arguing that the state should be required to keep paying aid to local governments. Cities have already built this year's budgets around the checks expected in July and December.

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We told you last week the West Metro Corridor project would stop if the state government shuts down. But, today Stearns County Highway Engineer Mitch Anderson told the county board they can't afford any delays in the project. He says they need to get it open to traffic by the scheduled date in November.

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If the state government shuts down in two weeks, it won't be just state workers that will be affected. Private companies that work directly with state projects, such as road construction, will also be impacted. State Senator John Pederson of St. Cloud owns Amcon Block. He says he's been advising his workers to plan ahead.

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The impact of shutting down Minnesota government would be felt far beyond the state work force. State officials have been warning thousands of outside contractors and vendors that their work and payments could come to an end soon.

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Gov. Mark Dayton has filed a petition in Ramsey County court laying out services that he says must be preserved if state government shuts down July 1. The petition filed Wednesday asks the court to order that things like police, emergency and disaster response and public health functions be continued.

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The state Department of Human Services is notifying 42,500 child care assistance recipients and providers that they might lose their benefits if the government shuts down July 1st. In Stearns County, Human Services Administrator Dave Rooney says there are hundreds of families affected but they have to wait for the courts to rule before they can make contingency plans.

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The state Department of Human Services is notifying hundreds of thousands of clients that they might lose access to health care assistance and other services if Minnesota government shuts down on July 1.

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