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Safety Warning For iPhone App

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There's a warning for that.

Video edited by David Born

Falcon Heights Mayor Peter Lindstrom is encouraging people in his city to use a new iPhone app called "See Click Fix". The concept is simple. If you see a pothole you can take a picture of it and send it to the city. The city administrator is notified directly. The geo-coding on the picture tells the city where the pothole is and they can go fix it. The app also creates a file on the city's website so people can see if the pothole has been reported, how long ago it was reported and if (or when) it was fixed.

So what's the problem?

Minnesota has a law against texting while driving, reflecting a growing concern over distracted driving. When speaking before a Minnesota Senate committee on Wednesday, Senator Ann Rest interrupted Mayor Lindstrom's description of the app to remind him that people should stop their car before pulling out their phone to take a picture. He quickly agreed.

Owls and Chinchillas and Skinks, Oh My!- MN Zoo at Capitol

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An armadillo, a chinchilla, a skink and a great horned owl visit Minnesota lawmakers as part of Minnesota Zoo day at the legislature.

Capitol Report-Vikings Stadium, Banking And High Speed Rail

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In this weeks program, Julie Bartkey sits down with Senator Linda Scheid, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, to discuss whether Minnesota's banking system is sound. Gambling on revenue for a new Viking stadium, Rep. Tom Hackbarth proposes a constitutional amendment that would add slots to existing race tracks, and Senator Ann Lynch details why she thinks Rochester is the best route for high speed rail.

Legislature Plots To Unallot Gov's Unallotment Powers

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Governor Tim Pawlenty has taken his power to cut budgets "too far" according to Minnesota Speaker of The House Margaret Anderson Kelliher. She made it very clear the legislature will react next session and trim those powers, bringing the 1930s era unallotment law more into line with what other states do.

The Speaker argued with Governor Pawlenty's Finance Commissioner Tom Hansen about who had done what to get Minnesota in such a budget mess. Anderson Kelliher accused Hansen of "trying to rewrite history for everyone in the room" by claiming the legislature had not passed a balanced budget. Hansen also called the way the budget was passed "untransparent".

That statement seems to contradict Governor Pawlenty's own rational for not having any public hearings about his budget cuts, otherwise known as unallotments. The Governor has said public hearings were not needed because the legislature had held many hours of hearings on the budget and all the facts were known.

Some Compromise, But Still No MN Budget Agreement

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DFL and GOP legislative leaders detail their meeting with Governor Tim Pawlenty. All parties have ruled out gambling as a source of revenue to solve the budget problem. The question is will the budget be cut by $1.2 billion or will the state raise the same amount in revenue?

Gov. Pawlenty's Borrowing "Addiction"

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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will meet with legislative leaders on Saturday to talk about a possible compromise on the state's budget. Earlier this week the Governor issued an ultimatum saying he would line item veto and unallot funds to have the budget more to his liking. What the Governor wants to do is borrow about 1 Billion dollars to pay for his budget. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and the DFL Majority is opposed to the idea because the state's constitution requires a balanced budget and the cost to borrow would be nearly $ 2 Billion.

FACT CHECK: Sen Day Says "Hogwash", But Cuts To Fire And Police Are Real

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Republican Senator Dick Day said it is "hogwash" that cities and counties will need to lay off firefighters and police because of Governor Pawlenty's proposed cuts to local government aid. Senator Day is wrong on that point. Cities such as Winona, Minnesota have already cut police and fire positions because of the Governor's unallotment of LGA funds late last year and plan to cut more positions should the state cut funds again.

Examples of police and fire layoffs because of LGA funding cuts:

Blue Earth now short two police officers because of LGA cuts - Fairmont Sentinel

MN City drops cops to save $$$- KARE 11

List of cities plans on how to deal with LGA cuts, many which include Fire/Police layoffs -thanklga.org

Senator Day , a Republican, says he will not be afraid to run in 2010 defending Republican Governor Pawlenty's cuts. The Governor has issued an ultimatum to the legislature saying he will line item veto the budget to shape it more to his liking.

MN GOP Hopes "Cooler Heads Prevail" On Budget And Gov's Vetos

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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has issued an ultimatum to the legislature saying he will line item veto the budget to shape it more to his liking. Minority Senator David Senjem said the Governor was showing leadership by issuing the ultimatum. But seemed to acknowledge that it may not have been the best action by indicating that "cooler heads need to prevail" on both sides of the budget negotiations.

DFL To Governor: This Is Not A Monarchy

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Minnesota's majority party on Friday reminded Governor Pawlenty that he is not a dictator and Minnesota is not a monarchy. Thursday the Governor issued an ultimatum saying he would line item veto spending bills to shape the budget close to the way he originally proposed.

Assistant Majority Leader Senator Tarryl Clark said the Governor is trying to "go it on his own" and make decisions about the budget away from the public with "lobbyists whispering in his ears".

Sen. Clark accused the Governor of trying to push the problems out past when his term ends leaving them for future administrations to solve. She predicts the Governor and Republicans will feel the pressure from hospitals, veterans and smaller communities that will need to lay off police and fire fighters.

Governor uses the "nuclear option" on Minnesota budget

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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty used what Democrats are calling "the nuclear option" in using line item vetos and unallotments to cut the state's budget. The Governor is making the cuts because he also vetoed the only revenue bill the legislature has sent him.

DFL leaders say the Governor is ignoring public input and will make the budget decisions with "unelected people whispering in his ear."