 Lt. Governor Tina Smith presents 2015 Governor's International Trade Awards.
Barrett Petfood Innovations, which produces premium and exotic pet foods, received the 29th annual Governor's International Trade Award for Agricultural Commodities/Processed Food.
Lt. Governor Tina Smith and Minnesota Trade Office officials presented the award Thursday during a ceremony at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul.
Each year, the governor's office recognizes Minnesota companies that have built exceptional global markets and have shown growth in international business during the past three years, with the likelihood of continued growth. Barrett Petfood Innovations was one of five Minnesota companies to receive the award this year, and the first ever from the Brainerd lakes area.
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Pioneer Press | June 09, 2015
The education budget deal struck by the state's top lawmakers will mean fewer layoffs for educational and teaching assistants in St. Paul Public Schools.
The Legislature is expected to approve 2 percent increases in state per-student K-12 funding for each of the next two years. In St. Paul, where officials had been preparing for a 1 percent increase, an extra $5.2 million is being added to school budgets.
At Tuesday's school board meeting, Laurin Cathey, the district's human resources director, said principals were directed to spend the money on employees who were facing layoffs. Administrators said some of the 25 paraprofessionals to receive layoff notices figure to be the primary beneficiaries.
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Sure, being nice is a welcome trait in colleagues and supervisors. But niceness alone seems too simple an explanation for why Minnesota workplaces are happier than average. There’s more to life (and work), including smart leadership, a sense of purpose — oh, and good old pay and benefits.
In a survey by WorkplaceDynamics, the research firm that partners with the Star Tribune to compile the Top Workplaces list, Minnesota ranked first among 45 regions surveyed on workplace satisfaction. The survey focused on components of well-being, like relationships, positive feelings and a sense of meaning.
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Star Tribune | June 13, 2015
Sadly, for more than a decade the state has neglected the alarming achievement gaps suffered by students descended from Minnesota’s first citizens.
But thanks to strong advocacy from DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and state Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, Minnesota is now poised to make a historic investment in Indian education.
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Star Tribune | June 13, 2015
Dayton estimated 110,000 acres will be put into buffer strips, and he noted that just 20 percent of public ditches currently are required to have 16.5-foot buffers. “This will make it 100 percent,” he said.
The governor said the buffer bill will be one of his most important legacies
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Kare 11 | June 13, 2015
ST. PAUL, Minn. - A new memorial honoring Minnesota's military families has been installed on the state Capitol grounds.
The Minnesota Military Family Tribute was dedicated Saturday. Tribute spokeswoman Jenifer Skjerven says it's a way to honor and thank families for their sacrifices.
It includes a grouping of 87 large rocks known as "story stones" - one for each county in the state.
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CBS Minnesota | June 09, 2015
Gov. Dayton says railroad safety isn’t just a problem in St. Paul Park. It’s a regional issue. Dayton, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and other city officials met Tuesday to figure out a way to fix rail crossings safer for drivers.
They focused on the rail crossing on Hastings Avenue and First Street. A MnDOT study last year identified the St. Paul Park railroad crossing as dangerous. The railroad and city say a tragedy was averted in the accident just a few days ago, but they want to be proactive instead of reactive.
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