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Two years ago, Minnesota was freed from the much loathed shackles of No Child Left Behind, the federal education benchmark law that many believed took a punitive approach to struggling schools. Now, it's time for the state to renew its waiver and it's already received preliminary approval from the U.S. Department of Education, state education officials announced Wednesday. In fact, federal education officials have indicated the current waiver passes muster and won't require the Minnesota Department of Education to do much more than notify them of planned changes. Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said that the department is intending to hold schools to a higher threshold of accountability under a new waiver. Under the original waiver, schools needed more than 40 students in one subgroup (minority student, English language learners, students living in poverty) to be held accountable for meeting established targets. Revisions to the waiver would reduce the minimum to 20 … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Education clears the way for Minnesota to renew its waiver for No Child Left Behind

Newly released figures show that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Highway Trust Fund could run out of money as soon as August. On Tuesday, data posted on the department's website showed that there was $8.3 million in the account, which is used to pay for many U.S. road and bridge projects. The account had a balance of $1.6 billion in October, the beginning of the fiscal year. Another $9.7 billion was transferred into the account from the General Fund. But expenses have outpaced revenue and are projected to do so as the heavy construction season begins. The account's balance has dropped $3.7 billion since the transfer occurred. The Highway Trust Fund gets its revenue from gas taxes of 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel and related excise taxes. The tax has not been raised in nearly 20 years not kept pace with inflation. Without money, the department would not be able to reimburse states for construction projects. Late last year at the … [Read more...] about U.S DOT might run out of money in August

Edina High School is the best in Minnesota, according to U.S. News and World Report. On Tuesday, the publication released its 2014 rankings of American high schools, identifying the best based on Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate exams and other criteria. In Minnesota, Mahtomedi and Houston High Schools were ranked second and third. Nationally, Edina High School ranked 197th. Just a few weeks ago, the West Metro high school was designated the most challenging high school in Minnesota by the Washington Post which used a similar ranking system. Minnesota, however, did not fare well compared to other states in terms of the number of stellar high schools. Overall, it ranked 33rd. Maine had the most schools that earned gold medals, the top-prize in the publication's ranking system. A school in Dallas for gifted and talented students was named the best high school in the country. The state ranking, however, certainly doesn't mean Minnesota students are bombing the AP … [Read more...] about Edina High School named best in Minnesota, according to U.S. News and World Report

The song surely won't go down as one of Weezer's greatest hits, but frontman and rabid soccer fan Rivers Cuomo is all heart on "Represent,'' his song cheering on the U.S. Soccer Team.  The video, released today on the U.S. Soccer site before the match with Algeria, starts off with dramatic footage from the U.S. nailbiter of a win over Costa Rica last year. Cuomo then intones: ''U.S. Soccer ... 2010 ... Represent.'' If the lyrics are heavy on the cheese factor, they at least carry a message of good sportsmanship.The chorus: "It matters how you play the game/It matters that you can take the pain/You don't want to lie, cheat and steal your way to the top ...'' On guitar licks alone, it puts Prince's "Purple and Gold'' for the Vikings to shame. Cuomo shouldn't kick "Buddy Holly'' or "The Sweater Song" off the set list, but maybe his ode to soccer joy will have a place at the band's Basilica Block Party gig … [Read more...] about Weezer lets the love show for U.S. Soccer

Dean Barkley, during the 2008 Senate campaign The other day I noticed a familiar name in the daily roster of lawsuits filed in Hennepin County. Dean Barkley was the plaintiff. The defendant: a 2005 GMC Envoy SUV.  Barkley served two months as a U.S. Senator in late 2002 after Gov. Jesse Ventura appointed him to serve out the term of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. Barkley most recently ran for Minnesota Supreme Court in 2012. Now why would Barkley be suing a motor vehicle?  That's how it works in the world of criminal forfeitures, in which the government confiscates cars, cash, jewelry, guns and other valuables that they contend have been used in crimes. To get their property back, people have to file a lawsuit and persuade a judge that their property did nothing wrong. Since the Metro Gang Strike Force scandal five years ago gave a bad name to police taking people's stuff, the Legislature has restricted the power of forfeiture. This session, the … [Read more...] about Former U.S. Sen. Barkley fights in court for his police-seized SUV