OK, we have $9.25 billion. Now what?

As budget surplus grows, debate over what to do with it intensifies 

View in Browser | Listen Good morning, Expect some light wintry mix with around-average temperatures today. Highs in the 20s north, to mid 30s to lower 40s south. Find the latest on Updraft. Debate over what to do with Minn.'s $9.25 billion surplus intensifies Minnesota lawmakers found themselves swimming in surplus money Monday, as finance officials cautioned that events in Ukraine add uncertainty to a new forecast. DFL Gov. Tim Walz doubled down on plans he announced already for the budget surplus. Walz proposed tripling the amount of "Walz checks"— one-time direct payments he proposed earlier — to $500 for individual taxpayers and $1,000 for couples. Walz also suggested he is open to permanent tax cuts, especially for Minnesotans at the lower end of the income scale. Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, called the new surplus number "mind boggling," and said it strengthens the argument for permanent tax cuts.  DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman says the Legislature needs to focus on paid family leave, earned sick time, child care and pandemic bonuses to help workers and their families. Here's what members of the Minnesota Legislature say about their plans to utilize the big surplus money. [Continue Reading] Talks over cease-fire end fruitless; Russia shells Ukraine's No. 2 city  Russian forces shelled Ukraine's second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighborhood, and closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 17-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking. The country's embattled president said the stepped-up shelling was aimed at forcing him into concessions. A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the first talks on Monday held between the two sides since the invasion lasted nearly five hours and that the envoys "found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen." He said they agreed to continue the discussions in the coming days. Meanwhile, Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union — a largely symbolic move for now, but one that is unlikely to sit well with Putin, who has long accused the U.S. of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscow's orbit. Amid ever-growing international condemnation, Russia found itself increasingly isolated five days into its invasion, while also facing unexpectedly fierce resistance on the ground in Ukraine and economic havoc at home. [Continue Reading] What else we're watching: Educators' 'job is not valued,' says one member of Minneapolis Public Schools who voted yes for a strike. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers unions have identified raising educational support professional pay as a major demand as they prepare to strike. Classroom aides in both cities say they're working harder than ever, but still struggle to pay their bills. They plan to walk out as soon as March 8 if they cannot reach satisfactory contracts with their districts. Good news keeps coming in for the pandemic in Minnesota. Cases are dropping, tests results are coming back negative and hospitalizations are down. Counts are dropping in every age group and every racial or ethnic group and Minnesota's not alone, neighboring states are also seeing steep declines. President Biden is set to deliver his first State of the Union address tonight.  Top issues to expect are his response to concerns about rising inflation and fatigue about the pandemic as well as steps taken to threaten Russia's financial stability. Watch or listen to the State of the Union live on MPR News 📻. – Jiwon Choi, 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