Big surplus, big stakes as Legislature reconvenes

Mild start to the week, cold blast ahead 

View in Browser | Listen Good morning, January swan song. Mixed sun & clouds today with a cool down around the corner this week. Find the latest on Updraft. Legislature reconvenes at noon today Lawmakers return to the Minnesota Capitol Monday with an overflowing state treasury and lots of ideas about what to do with a projected $7.7 billion budget surplus, even though it's not the traditional year to focus on the budget. COVID-19 hasn't been the economy killer that many feared. Some sectors thrived and pushed tax revenues far beyond expectations. Gov. Tim Walz says some people were left behind and need a boost. Overall, the DFL governor is bullish on the session and its potential results. More from MPR News reporter Tim Pugmire. The latest in Minnesota politics. Subscribe: Politics editor Mike Mulcahy's daily update in our Capitol View newsletter. Three ex-cops' trial in Floyd killing enters second week Testimony last week began with body camera footage showing police confronting Floyd and then taking him to the ground as bystanders begged for them to release him. It ended with testimony from a Minneapolis police inspector who said the three former officers didn't comply with their training or department policies. Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane are all charged with failing to provide medical treatment for the dying man. Thao and Kueng are also charged with failing to intervene as Chauvin used excessive force. "You'll hear that the medical aid that would have saved George Floyd's life was as simple as that, turning George Floyd on his side so his heart kept beating," prosecutor Samantha Trepel said at the beginning of the trial. Read more from MPR News reporter Jon Collins. What else we're watching: Buckle in for another roller coaster week of temperatures. We start the week mild with 20s and 30s Monday and the first half of Tuesday but another arctic blast is moving in Tuesday afternoon. Thankfully, unlike in Miami, we don't have falling iguanas to worry about. Home generator sales are booming with mass outages, climate change and COVID More extreme weather can mean extended blackouts, and it's especially disruptive for those working at home. Owners and experts offer guidance on what kind of generator to get and how to use it safely. 2 men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery reach plea deals in hate crimes case A federal hate crime trial for father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael is scheduled to begin in February. How a hyperactive cell in the brain might trigger Alzheimer's disease  Microglia are amoeba-like cells that scour the brain for injuries and invaders. But sometimes the usually helpful cells go into overdrive and damage the brain, researchers say. – Michael Olson, MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today! SPONSOR   Connect With Us MPRnews.org MPRnews on iOS MPRnews on Android Podcasts from MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe You received this email because you subscribed or it was sent to you by a friend. This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101