Minnesota
Blame game escalates as Minnesota’s budget forecast worsens
MN surplus $160 million lower than estimated
The Minnesota Department of Minnesota Management and Budget released a projected budget that shows a significantly smaller balance than what was estimated in December. FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard has the full story.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota has a couple of years to go before a big budget mess that’s inevitable without some big changes.
Black and blue budget
Into the red:
Unless the state taxes more or spends less, it’ll be in the black in 2027, but staring at a growing $6 billion deficit by 2029.
That projected deficit is up almost $900 million since the last forecast in December, mostly from inflation, so Democrats blame President Donald Trump.
But Republicans say the DFL trifecta had already run the state down the road from a huge surplus to a sizable projected deficit.
“Well, the devil will be in the details,” said Erin Campbell, Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner.
The details in Minnesota’s budget projections keep getting worse.
Focus on the numbers the state reported for 2027 starting February 2024.
“The Minnesota Management and Budget office is forecasting a $3.7 billion budget surplus by the end of fiscal year 2025 and $2.2 billion after 2027,” the state reported.
Ten months later, there was a reported surplus that was expected to shrink significantly because of the rising cost of commitments to spending, mostly on education and health.
“Gov. Tim Walz says the budget is still balanced with more than $600 million in surplus by the end of 2027,” FOX 9 reported in December.
Now the leftover pot of cash at the end of 2027 is down to $456 million and state economists are projecting a $6 billion deficit by 2029.
Blame game
What they’re saying:
“Basically, the only thing that’s changed since November is, is Donald Trump’s chaos to the economy,” said Walz. “It changes day to day. It provides the uncertainty that we don’t need.”
But that projected 2029 deficit was already more than $5.1 billion before Trump took office.
“Democrats in the state, as you have heard, want to go ahead and blame anyone else for the damage that has happened to our state budget,” said Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, (R-Cold Spring). “But this was an irresponsible spending spree.”
Could get worse
Elements of uncertainty:
And the problem could get way worse or maybe better soon.
The state’s financial experts say their forecast could dramatically change based on shifting federal policies, disruptions from federal agency closures, and inflation.
“We’ve chosen to highlight the uncertainty, the uncertainty, because it does feel really significant in this moment,” Commissioner Campbell said.
And now the rhetoric takes a backseat and the real work starts.
Legislators should get budget targets based on this forecast, and they have about two months to put together the budget.
Eagan, MN – Minnesota Aurora FC clinched a fifth straight Heartland Division title and a spot in the USL W League playoffs with a 4-1 win over River Light FC on Saturday at TCO Stadium.
Aurora improved to 10-0-0 on the season and finished its home schedule unbeaten.
Ai Kitagawa scored twice and added an assist, increasing her season total to 11 goals. Flavie Dubé had a goal and an assist, and Amelia Brown scored her first goal of the season.
***Click video box at the top of the page for postgame interviews***
Kitagawa opened the scoring in the 14th minute off a through ball from Dubé. River Light tied it in the 27th on a header from Victoria Adams — the first goal allowed by Aurora this season.
Minnesota regained the lead in first-half stoppage time on Dubé’s breakaway finish and extended it in the 51st minute when Kitagawa scored again on a cross from Gracie Dunaway. Brown added a late goal in the 81st minute.
Aurora will play its final two regular-season games on the road before the playoffs begin the weekend of July 3-5.
Minnesota
Minnesota man arrested in WI for ‘numerous’ criminal sexual conduct charges against a child
A Minnesota man was arrested in Wisconsin on allegations of multiple criminal sexual conduct charges against a child.
Nathan Brase, 33, of Minnesota, was arrested in Medford, Wisconsin, on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued. According to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the warrant was issued following an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation by the Two Rivers Police Department
That investigation reportedly led to Brase facing what authorities say are “numerous” felony charges, including exposing his genitals to a child and grooming a child for sexual activity.
Brase is currently being housed in the Taylor County Jail, awaiting extradition.
Minnesota’s defense was huge in the fourth quarter Friday. And on a rare offensively challenging night, Olivia Miles came up big late in other ways.
The Lynx limited Golden State to just 13 points in the final frame and beat the Valkyries 81-75 in San Francisco.
Minnesota has won 11 of its past 12 games.
Golden State finished 4 of 22 from the field in the final 10 minutes, including an abysmal 2 of 13 from deep. Golden State went 12 for 40 from distance overall, a significant departure from its 36.9% mark entering the game, which was good for second-best in the association.
The Valkyries led by 12 late in the first half, but were outscored 16-3 by the Lynx around halftime and 40-29 in the final 20 minutes.
“You don’t get better when it comes easy. This was definitely a challenge for us. It just helps us to understand how to play as a team, how to handle those different moments, how to stay together,” said Nia Coffey, who led the Lynx with a season-high 22 points. “Things aren’t always going to go our way, so I think we made some good strides.”
Courtney Williams added 21 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and five assists. Playing with much enjoyment, she also blew some kisses to the crowd and made heart gestures with her hands.
“The got an amazing fan base, and they fan base not that nice,” she said smiling. “But I love it, because who don’t want to play in this type of environment?”
Kayla McBride added 17 points.
“We needed Courtney Williams and Mac to compete, compete, compete,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Courtney’s first five minutes were forgettable and then she played the remainder of the game exactly as we needed her to do. She provided the compete for us. The rookie needed her.”
That first-year player would be Miles, who scored just seven points on 1 of 10 shooting, the first time in her young career not reaching double digits. But Miles recorded a three-point play early in the fourth quarter and drained a pair of free throws with 15.4 seconds left for a 79-75 lead.
The star point guard then blocked a 3-point try by Cecilia Zandalasini at the other end before Ola Kosu iced the game with two free throws.
“Us and them are the two best defensive teams in the league, so what she saw was actual defense,” Reeve said. “She saw physicality, she saw aggressive trapping. … Liv needed a game like this. This was a tremendous growth point for her when things don’t go your way, how do you show up? What she showed is that she’ll show up on the defensive end with kind of a game-sealing block, rebounding the basketball, closing out with free throws. She didn’t quit. … Maybe her numbers weren’t gaudy, but the impact she had on the game still was tremendous.”
The Lynx (13-3), who open a home-and-home series with Washington Sunday at Target Center, made 21 of 23 free throws, including eight of nine in the fourth quarter. The Valkyries (10-6) made just three of eight in the fourth quarter and 11 of 17 overall.
Down by 12 with under a minute to play before the half, McBride scored on a cutting layup, and after a Golden State miss, made two free throws. She then forced a Golden State turnover that led to Coffey getting fouled on a 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left. With all three free throws falling, the Lynx were only down 46-41 after two quarters.
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