Minnesota RealEstateRama

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a real estate company, a realtor, and his accountant for participating in a long-running conspiracy to defraud companies, including financial institutions, in connection with foreclosed properties in the Minneapolis area and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced.

U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan today called on leaders of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee to hold a hearing to investigate the state of consumer protection practices within the airline industry.

Sen. Al Franken said he is disappointed that a job-creating provision to require the use of American-made iron and steel in major U.S. water infrastructure projects is on the chopping block next year instead of being made permanent.

A disaster recovery center will open this week in Steele County to help renters, homeowners and businesses in Minnesota affected by the severe storms and flooding of Sept. 21-2

The Minnesota Commerce Department honored Minneapolis among eight Minnesota communities for promoting energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy generation

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Franklin Lake in Otter Tail County. This is one of several recent confirmations across the state as lake property owners and lake service provider businesses check equipment for invasive species at the end of the season.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding lake property owners to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts, and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when closing cabins for winter. Several recent new zebra mussel confirmations were initially reported by people making end of season inspections of docks, boats and boat lifts.

The policy change allows the City to invest in mortgage backed securities where the underlying mortgages are for properties that are “naturally occurring affordable housing” (NOAH) properties in Minneapolis. Naturally occurring affordable housing generally refers to unsubsidized multifamily rental housing affordable to households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income ($51,480 for a family of four.)

The Minneapolis City Council approved $7.9 million in direct investment and $1.2 million in 10-year federal tax credits to create or preserve 686 units of affordable multifamily rental housing in 10 projects located throughout the city.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representatives Collin Peterson, Rick Nolan, and Tom Emmer, announced $14,644,054 to help Minnesota farmers lower energy costs and boost renewable energy. The support comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP helps farmers and rural business owners reduce their costs by providing grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

U.S Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Representatives Collin Peterson, John Kline, Betty McCollum, Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, and Tom Emmer, today urged the Administration to provide federal assistance to Minnesota communities impacted by the devastating flooding that caused extensive damage across much of the state. In a letter, the federal lawmakers urged the President to issue a Major Disaster Declaration to assist communities that are working hard to recover from significant flood damage. Earlier today, Governor Mark Dayton formally requested federal assistance to help communities rebuild and recover.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded the Minnesota Department of Labor a $1.5 million federal grant to fund the Minnesota Apprenticeship Expansion Initiative. The funds, provided through the ApprenticeshipUSA initiative, will be used to help meet the need for equitable, demand-driven career pathways in construction and other high-growth industries

Equestrian enthusiasts will soon be able to enjoy the horse trails to their fullest at Fort Ridgely State Park in Fairfax, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Contractors arrived last week to begin construction of a new bridge across Fort Ridgely Creek, which is expected to be completed by mid-November

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed U.S. Rep Rick Nolan’s bill, H.R. 6014, with unanimous support to reduce unnecessary cost burdens on State and Local governments and their airports from the Federal Government when conducting airport improvement and expansion projects. Currently, State and Local governments are being forced to pay an inordinate amount of money to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to complete a project that could be done at a lower cost by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

Sen. Al Franken said he pressed to pass a major water infrastructure bill in the Senate because it not only creates jobs, modernizes community water systems, and makes the nation's waterways more navigable, but it will also bolster investment in clean drinking water and in efforts to replace dangerous lead pipes