UPDATE: Talks Resume to Avoid Minnesota Government Shutdown

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Most of state government will close at midnight if Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders fail to agree on a budget or at least a temporary spending measure.

Top GOP lawmakers left Dayton's office through a side door late Thursday morning after a meeting that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. They resumed talks around midday.

The two sides are split on whether tax increases should be used to resolve a $5 billion deficit.

The shutdown threatens to shutter state parks on the brink of a holiday weekend and furlough thousands of state workers.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)