The U.S. House is expected to vote Thursday on legislation to eliminate a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices, included in President Obama's health-reform law. The bill is proposed by Minnesota Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen. The Business Journal notes the tax, set to go into effect next year, would impact large companies like Fridley-based Medtronic Inc. and Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical Inc.

Some lawmakers want to give school districts the option of an early start. But such proposals always run into resistance from tourism industry lobbyists, who argue the early start time would cut short summer vacation and hurt business revenue.

Last week's snowfall helped firefighters, but was not enough to extinguish several blazes burning in northwestern Minnesota. The largest is a fire near Red Lake that has burned more than 38 square miles and is about 30 percent contained.

Congressman Keith Ellison’s Republican opponent calls the 5th District Representative ‘militantly anti-American. Minnesota Public Report reports Chris Fields claims Ellison "attacked the Pledge of Allegiance, voted countless times to throw our troops serving in harm's way to the wolves and teamed up with Barney Frank to destroy the banking industry." Ellison's campaign calls Fields’ email ‘divisive’ and ‘toxic’.

PolyMet Mining says tests using reverse osmosis have succeeded in removing sulfates from water. The development could be a key step in removing a top environmental objection to the company's proposed copper mine near Hoyt Lakes.