For many families, K-12 open enrollment policies allow students to attend public schools outside of the districts or zones in which they reside, offering more flexibility, opportunity, and choice in…
According to newly released US Census Bureau data, in 2024, 9.3 percent of Minnesotans were in poverty. This is the same rate as in 2023 and 2021. Among the 50…
A new brief published by the policy firm ILO Group suggests that school superintendent turnover continues at historic levels. The 2025 update of the ILO Group’s Superintendent Research Project studied…
The Department of the Interior released its 2025 draft critical minerals list last month, which expands the list from 50 minerals to 54. The U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list…
Twenty-two-year-old arrested for the murder of Charlie Kirk Following a joint press conference and other reporting, we know that last evening, about 33 hours after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot…
When asked to estimate how much their state spends per public school student, parents and other adults guessed $5,000 and $6,000, respectively, both significantly under the average across all states…
Census Bureau data show that, between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2024, Minnesota’s population grew by 1.4%, a rate slower than in 31 other states, as Figure 1 shows.…
Today, the Supreme Court rightsized the scope of National Environmental Policy Act reviews by an 8-0 decision. It could well be a landmark ruling for lower courts because it decides…
Last week, the White House issued four executive orders designed to revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry. With Minnesota’s 1994 moratorium on new nuclear power plants, the state will be left…
If first-term North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong wanted to make an impression right out of the gate, his controversial vetoes of school choice legislation and a bill protecting minors from…
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published last month an article warning that planned retirements of coal-fired electric-generating capacity are expected to increase in 2025. The EIA reports that electricity…
On Wednesday, electric vehicle maker Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it plans to “wind down operations.” The company is also seeking approval to hold an auction…
In 2018, Center of the American Experiment released a report evaluating how environmentally responsible mining would boost Minnesota’s economy. With the help of economist John Phelan and Debra Struhsacker, a…
A new peer-reviewed study finds significant overlap between vulnerable species and solar energy potential in the Southwest. The paper may be read in full here. The Southwest, including large swaths…
More exciting news on the permitting front! The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County. It’s a case that has significant implications…
Last month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its final environmental analysis of changes to greater sage grouse management. The final environmental impact statement (EIS) prohibits wind, solar, and transmission projects…
The U.S. Department of Education has failed its audit for the third year in a row due to accounting errors, reports the department's Office of Inspector General.
Last January, I wrote a post titled “12 things for state legislators to do.” None of them got done, but, as an eternal optimist, here, slightly amended, is my list…
The EPA is going to charge oil and natural gas companies for methane emissions under a new rule finalized Tuesday, November 12. The final rule will be published in the…
Open enrollment policies allow students to access public schools outside of their resident public schools, which can be a great help for families whose assigned neighborhood public schools aren’t the…
In August, the state of Utah filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging federal control over more than a third of the land within its borders. The lawsuit…
A North Dakota judge has temporarily blocked a new Bureau of Land Management rule that would restrict natural gas venting and flaring. The injunction would block enforcement of the rule…
The modern coach-style tour bus parked in front of a south metro suburban hotel gave little hint as to the epic journey it had just completed. The blue and white…
Gov. Walz is fond of touting the “fact” that Minnesota is one of the top five states for business. It isn’t. This alleged “fact” comes from a ranking complied by…