State Legislature

The Minnesota Senate has approved a two-year pay freeze for employees in Minnesota public and charter schools. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Dave Thompson, says that without the freeze, districts would be forced to lay off some teachers so they could afford to pay the raises for the rest.

Harming or killing a law enforcement dog could come with stiffer penalties under legislation making its way through the Minnesota Legislature. Lawmakers take a deeper look Tuesday at a bill that would increase potential restitution costs for people who hurt dogs used in police actions, search and rescue, correctional facilities or arson investigations.

One state senator thinks his proposal to end the ban on Sunday liquor sales might have a chance this year. Sen. Roger Reinert of Duluth says the extra tax revenue from liquor sales can help with a projected $6.4 billion shortfall in the 2012-2013 state budget.

The Minnesota Senate has approved legislation giving energy regulators authority to issue permits for new nuclear power plants. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says the bill wouldn't lead to immediate construction of a plant. It would get rid of a 17-year-old moratorium on consideration of nuclear energy facilities.

The Minnesota House passed $1 billion in state budget cuts in a close vote. The bill passed on a 69-63 vote. State Representative King Banaian of St. Cloud was one of four Republicans that voted against it. He says he didn't feel there was enough discussion about the bill.

The Republican-led House is taking its first big vote of the year with a bill biting $1 billion off a state budget problem six times as large. The bill seeks savings by cutting allowances to local governments and colleges, freezing state worker pay and forcing agencies to hand over money they had yet to spend.

Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature are moving ahead on a long-held election law goal with a proposal requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls. Proponents were to outline their plan Wednesday amid a more favorable political climate for the legislation than before.

The Minnesota Senate Education Committee has approved a proposal for a statewide pay freeze for school employees on a 9-7 vote. Sen. Dave Thompson, a Republican from Lakeville, is proposing to freeze pay for two years, including costs-of-living adjustments and rewards for experience and additional schooling.

A state senator from Hutchinson says an e-mail that said he wouldn't meet with his opponent's supporters was a mistake.

The Minnesota Senate Education Committee will hear testimony Tuesday for the first time on a proposed statewide freeze on pay for teachers in public and charter schools.