Those looking to work for the state of Minnesota will no longer need college degrees in most cases.
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Monday, Oct. 30, opening up about three-quarters of the state's jobs to people without bachelor's degrees.
The order says there are unnecessary barriers to state employment opportunities at a time when state agencies will be required to recruit and hire many additional employees in a tight labor market.
Some job postings state that a college degree is required, even if a degree is not necessarily needed to succeed in the job, the governor said. And many job postings do not have a mechanism to account for job-related lived experiences.
The order includes several benchmark deadlines, training and support to improve career advancement and professional development opportunities.
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The city and county are still in the early stages of crafting their budgets, so the extent of cuts remains unclear.
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The Forest Service said it hasn't increased its permit fees since 2008, and the additional revenue will support portage upkeep and seasonal staff.
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The Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference will host free, public evening sessions with Carl Phillips, Jennifer Foerster, Douglas Kearney, Toni Jensen and more.
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National Weather Service crews are surveying damage in the northern Brainerd lakes area following reports of a tornado. Heavy rainfall on the Iron Range caused flash flooding.
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Two thirds of the group, Levi Henry and Nick Novotny, joined "Headwaters" on June 6, 2025.
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Plus: The Minnesota Department of Transportation is accepting comments on bike infrastructure.
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Early reports indicate most of the damage was in the Merrifield area. Tornado sightings were also reported near Casino, Lake Shore and Nisswa, which may be the same twister.
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'Lotus' by Little Simz is KAXE's Album of the Week for June 16-22, 2025.
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An estimated 2,000 rallied in Brainerd, while an estimated 1,000 rallied in Bemidji and Grand Rapids, despite warnings about large gatherings in light of Rep. Hortman's assassination.
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University of Minnesota Twin Cities rising senior Dani Faher will spend two months covering Northern Minnesota with the KAXE News Team.