The Minnesota State Fire Chief's Association is pushing a new mandate that would require sprinklers in all new homes built in the state. The Minnesota Home Builders Association opposes the mandate, suggesting it could add as much as $15,000 to the cost of new home construction.

The logo was designed by 17-year-old Jacob Bartels of Roseville and will adorn the hull of the $2 billion USS Minnesota.

The lawsuit aims to help the utility garner more credit for their efforts in atmospheric pollution reduction

Sen. Al Franken will attend the dedication in Woodbury Saturday. The city now has more than 50 Habitat homes, twice as many as any other suburb. St. Paul and Minneapolis each have more than 250 Habitat homes.

The utility company spent more than $2.3 million on lobbying, followed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce which was also over $2 million.

The recommendation is 63 percent lower than Xcel Energy's original request. A spokeswoman told the Pioneer Press residential customers would see their monthly bill increase by about $2. If the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission agrees with the judge, customers would receive a refund of about $24.

Fourteen utility companies have submitted reports on the costs of complying with the state's call for more renewable energy. Of those, eight say it has had no impact or has actually saved customers a little money. Six say it has raised costs for their customers. The state wants a quarter of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.