Matthew Alvarez

Saint Paul

Producer at MPR News (Saint Paul, MN)

Producer for @MPRnews | former talk show producer @IowaPublicRadio |@Transom_org Alum. 📻 Texan living in the Midwest

Articles

Klobuchar on the GOP‘s massive budget bill

1 week ago | mprnews.org | Cathy Wurzer |Matthew Alvarez

Create an account or log in to save stories. Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories. The next stop for President Donald Trump’s backed budget bill is the U.S. Senate. The Republican backed measure incudes tax cuts, more money for border security, and about $1 trillion less being spent on Medicaid and food assistance programs. U.S. Sen.
‘This is a dark day:’ Rep. Kelly Morrison slams newly-passed House budget bill

2 weeks ago | mprnews.org | Emily F. Reese |Gretchen Brown |Matthew Alvarez

Create an account or log in to save stories. Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories. The Republican-controlled U.S. House has passed a multi-trillion-dollar budget bill. Named the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and backed by President Donald Trump, it includes tax cuts, more money to border security and about $1 trillion less to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance.
Politics Friday: Walz weighs in as state lawmakers head into overtime

2 weeks ago | mprnews.org | Brian Bakst |Matthew Alvarez

The Minnesota Legislature is hanging around a bit longer. The yearly work was supposed to end Monday, May 19 but lawmakers adjourned with unfinished business. Now, they’re gearing up for a special session. Most of the budget is unresolved and the final points of agreement are still not in hand. So when might this be done and is a government shutdown a possibility? Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Gov.
Politics Friday: Is the Legislature on the doorstep of a special session?

3 weeks ago | mprnews.org | Brian Bakst |Matthew Alvarez

The end of the Minnesota Legislature’s session was supposed to be right around the corner — Monday, May 19 — but just like the choppy start of this year’s session, the ending is proving to be difficult. Back in January, a politically tied House got off to a delayed start now. Now, the possibility of a special session looms over the Capitol.
Politics Friday: Incomplete grade as lawmakers hammer out school aid deal

4 weeks ago | mprnews.org | Brian Bakst |Matthew Alvarez

Almost 40 percent of the state budget goes to preschool through high school education – around $25 billion over two years. For school districts, state dollars make up most of what gets spent on classroom costs, from teacher salaries to specialists to materials. So it’s no surprise that the education budget bill is always one of the last to come together.
Hennepin County promotes using salvaged goods for home renovations with Salvage Crawl

1 month ago | mprnews.org | Cathy Wurzer |Matthew Alvarez

Throughout May, Hennepin County is promoting local businesses that collect salvage and resell it at a fraction of its original cost. The hope is to get more people exposed to the idea of reusing the old materials to build for newer projects, and maybe save money throughout the process of building or renovating. “About 85 percent of the materials in a typical demolition could be kept out of the landfill,” said Olivia Cashman, the construction and demolition waste specialist with Hennepin County.
Paul Huttner remembers living through the worst tornado outbreak in Minnesota history

1 month ago | mprnews.org | Paul Huttner |Matthew Alvarez

May 6, 2025, marks 60 years since the biggest tornado outbreak in Twin Cities history. Sixty years ago, civil defense sirens blared for the first time during severe weather in Minnesota as a tornado swarm bearing six twisters tore across the west metro. The May 6, 1965, tornado outbreak was an Oklahoma-style outbreak in Minnesota. Four of the six violent twisters were rated F4 on the Fujita Scale with estimated winds at more than 200 mph.
Politics Friday: Slow so far, a big phase of Minnesota's marijuana market launch nears

1 month ago | mprnews.org | Brian Bakst |Matthew Alvarez

This month marks two years since Minnesota lawmakers passed the bill to legalize marijuana use and possession for adults 21 and older. Commercial sales have taken a bit of time to get going. Outside of Minnesota tribal communities and the medical cannabis program, the retail space is still taking shape. The initial licenses around cultivation, transportation, distribution and sales could be issued soon. Even then, it will take time for everything to shake out.
Politics Friday: Washington is top of mind for a pair of Minnesota's top leaders

1 month ago | mprnews.org | Brian Bakst |Matthew Alvarez

Gov. Tim Walz had his chance this week to assess the condition of Minnesota in a speech where he spent a lot of time focused on what the president is up to. Had November’s election ended differently, Peggy Flanagan would have been the one delivering the State of the State address at the Minnesota Capitol. Instead, the DFL lieutenant governor was seated beside Walz at this week’s speech. She’s running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. Flanagan has competition for the DFL nomination.
Can ‘habitual drunkenness’ get you kicked out of the Minnesota Legislature?

1 month ago | mprnews.org | Matthew Alvarez

Create an account or log in to save stories. Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories. As Minnesota Supreme Court justices in January considered whether Gov. Tim Walz had the power to speed up a special election to fill a pivotal state House seat, they took a deep dive into an obscure law. Statute details the process for preparing for special elections in cases of resignations.