As Urgency Fades, Dayton Checks Outlook of Special Session

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - It's time for a special session status check.

Gov. Mark Dayton was set to meet with legislative leaders Thursday morning to discuss his hopes for an emergency session before the Legislature's scheduled March 8 return. The possible agenda includes extending unemployment insurance for laid-off miners, bringing Minnesota in compliance with a federal driver's license law and tackling racial economic disparities.

It's been more than two months since the Democratic governor called for a special session. The urgency faded this month when the federal government announced Minnesota would have until 2018 to upgrade its IDs in order to board domestic flights. Legislative working groups haven't met since last week.

Dayton has said he won't set a deadline for a final decision.