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St. Louis County Commissioner Frank Jewell has been reappointed by Governor Mark Dayton to serve on the Minnesota Clean Water Council. Jewell is one of two county commissioners in the state to serve on the Council, and has done so since 2011. His re-appointment is for another four-year term

Today, the first component of one of Governor Mark Dayton’s major legislative priorities will take effect in Minnesota. Beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2015, funding to begin the implementation of the water quality buffer initiative becomes available to local Soil and Water Districts across Minnesota. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts will begin hiring staff to provide technical assistance for Minnesotans as they implement new buffers, and help eligible landowners enroll in federal funding programs

In this week’s correspondence corner, Adam in Plymouth writes in to Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) with a question about investing in transportation and infrastructure. Paulsen also responds to a call from Lynn in Deephaven who wants to know what Congress is doing to improve our nation’s cybersecurity.

“Our infrastructure is facing a crisis of epic proportion. It is imperative for the security of our nation, the safety of our people and the health of our job-creating economy that Congress move ahead with a long-term bipartisan funding plan for the Highway Trust Fund without further delay,” Nolan told the House Ways & Means Committee.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after the Supreme Court affirmed the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling that courts can continue to recognize the disparate impact theory of liability in Fair Housing Act cases.

In an effort to curb alcohol-related boating accidents and deaths, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and other public safety agencies around the state will ramp up patrols for intoxicated boaters June 26-28.

Four artists have been selected to create designs for Nicollet Mall artworks as part of the mall redesign project. The artists will work with the mall’s design team to create and integrate new works of art to complement the mall’s current uses and its future look. Their draft design concepts will be presented to the City this fall

The annual list of potential timber harvest sites on state-administered forest land is now available for public review, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Comments will be accepted until July 17.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment during a public review period, June 22 to July 22, on an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for a scour repair project on Lock and Dam 1, located on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) again pressed the Obama Administration to invest in rural water projects like the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System in southwest Minnesota. He said that states and local communities have put in their fair share of funds to complete the project and it's time for the federal government to step up to its commitments

This integration with Nextdoor will enable the City of Minneapolis, including the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minneapolis Fire Department, and other City departments to use Nextdoor to build stronger, safer communities with the help of Minneapolis residents. Specifically, the Minneapolis Police Department and Nextdoor neighborhoods will be able to work together to increase safety and strengthen virtual neighborhood watch

SolarCity aims to tap a potentially big new market: renters. The No. 1 U.S. residential solar installer announced that it will develop a series of community solar installations — that it refers to as "solar gardens" — to enable apartment dwellers, schools and others with shaded roofs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to purchase renewable energy without installing solar panels on their properties.

Seven properties that have been tax forfeited and under the care of the St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department for years are once again privately owned following today’s land auction. The sale brought in a total of $285,000 and, more importantly, returned those properties to the property tax rolls.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) relaesed the following statement today after voting against the appropriations bill to fund the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Trnsportation.

With St. Louis County investing $119 million to improve 420 miles of roads and bridges over the next two years, motorists should expect to see a lot of orange cones. Even more important, motorists should remember to slow down, pay attention and take extra care when traveling near or through a work zone