Governor Mark Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton says Wednesday is the day for "final breakthroughs" in budget negotiations with Republican legislative leaders, with a government shutdown two days away. The Democratic governor and lawmakers wrapped up talks on health and welfare programs Tuesday afternoon with a plan to continue negotiating on Wednesday.

Gov. Mark Dayton, the Minnesota Vikings owners and other key players in the push to build a new football stadium in Ramsey County met behind closed doors for 90 minutes but didn't resolve differences that have stalled progress.

Those campaign-style TV commercials clogging Minnesota's airwaves are brought to you by the budget stalemate at the state Capitol. It used to be that political ads were mostly confined to election years. But the simmering dispute over taxes and spending between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders have inspired interest groups on both sides to take to the airwaves anew.

Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders met for another unproductive budget negotiation as hopes fade for heading off a state government shutdown on July 1. Both Dayton and GOP leaders said after the 90-minute meeting on Wednesday afternoon that they made no progress in bridging their fundamental split over how much the state should spend in its next two-year budget cycle.

Gov. Mark Dayton is asking President Barack Obama for a major federal disaster declaration after damages from Sunday's tornado have been estimated at over $16 million. Dayton says he sent a letter to Obama on Friday, asking for the declaration for Hennepin and Anoka Counties.

Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed legislation that would have allowed more coal power in Minnesota. Dayton, a Democrat, rejected the bill on Friday, saying it was "unwise and unnecessary." It's drawn criticism from Republicans in the Legislature.

State agency commissioners in the administration of Gov. Mark Dayton are preparing for a possible state government shutdown in case the governor and legislative Republicans can't settle on a state budget by the end of June.

Gov. Mark Dayton has declared an emergency for the Twin Cities after a tornado struck Minneapolis and nearby suburbs. Dayton signed an emergency executive order on Tuesday, continuing the state's emergency response for the affected areas and directing state agencies to help local governments respond to the disaster.

Gov. Mark Dayton says he opposes outlawing gay marriage in the Minnesota Constitution "with every fiber of my being" and believes an amendment to do so will be defeated if it ends up on the statewide ballot.

Gov. Mark Dayton and several of his Cabinet members met behind closed doors with legislative sponsors of a new Vikings stadium as they try to make the team's site choice in Arden Hills viable in the waning days of the legislative session.