By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent 

With the biggest project of local note wrapped up, Scott County appeared to be in the clear as legislators prepared to leave St. Paul this month.

By Shannon Fiecke

It almost seemed too good to be true when a provision allowing consideration of commuter rail on the Dan Patch Line sailed through the state Legislature this session.

Given the substantial support for the provision, neighboring state senators Kevin Dahle and Claire Robling were not happy when the proposal was pulled from a transportation policy bill this week.

Prior Lake officials have received word that the bonding bill approved by Gov. Tim Pawlenty includes $1 million in state funding for the second phase of the Scott County Public Safety Training Center.

The center, already partially built with local and state funding and ready to begin operations, wasn't part of the governor's bonding proposal. It was only included in the Senate's bonding legislation but still made it into the final bill agreed to by the House and Senate. The center is located at the historic Mudbaden site in Sand Creek Township.

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman will make an early morning campaign stop Friday, March 28 in Shakopee.

The visit is part of Coleman’s four-day kickoff for his reelection campaign.

The Republican senator, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination, will appear at Perkins Restaurant, 1205 First Ave. E., at 7 a.m.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent 

While stuck in traffic as he commutes from Northfield to Eden Prairie, Kevin Allin daydreams about trains. He imagines riding to work in a train along the Dan Patch Line instead of in a car.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

While Minnesotans may soon have to pay an additional quarter-cent sales tax while shopping in much of the metropolitan area, there’s a good chance shoppers won’t be paying extra in Scott County.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Former Prior-Lake Savage Area School Board member Sue Bruns won the DFL endorsement for state representative on Saturday over previous candidate Doug Zila.

State Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, and Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, have re-introduced their bill authorizing a racino, a racetrack with slot machines, which they say would generate at least $100 million every year in revenue to the state.

Day said a racino would put at least $100 million, possibly even $200 million, into the state coffers each year.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent 

Area residents can expect a few rematches in state representative races across Scott County this election season.

ZilaTwo Prior Lake residents have announced they will seek the DFL party’s endorsement for the District 35A House seat, which includes Prior Lake and Shakopee.