The St. Paul City Council will host its annual Truth in Taxation hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday in downtown council chambers at 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.

The council will discuss the fiscal impact of the mayor’s 2026 budget proposal, including a proposed 5.3% increase to the city tax levy. The budget, which was unveiled by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter in August, will be finalized in December. Carter’s proposal would trim hours at some rec centers and freeze hiring for dozens of open city positions, while adding spending for housing initiatives, including $5 million for office-to-residential housing conversions and $1 million for emergency rental assistance.

The $887 million spending plan for the coming year would levy $232.5 million on city property owners, supporting a general fund budget of $404.9 million. For the median St. Paul home with a value of $289,000, the city’s new levy would add an estimated $107 to property taxes next year, with wide variation from neighborhood to neighborhood and between property types.

Declining commercial and apartment values are shifting more property tax burden to homeowners this year, according to Ramsey County’s tax office, with properties in Frogtown, Payne-Phalen, the North End and the West Side likely to see some of the largest percentage increases.

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Ramsey County and the St. Paul School District have proposed their own levies. On Nov. 4, city voters approved a 10-year special school district tax levy equivalent to about $1,000 per student, or $37.2 million, which will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Ramsey County’s Truth in Taxation public hearing is at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the downtown council chambers on the third floor at 15 W. Kellogg Blvd. in St. Paul. St. Paul Public Schools will hold their Truth in Taxation hearing from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the district administration building at 360 Colborne Street South in St. Paul.

The McKnight Foundation announced Monday it is distributing $1 million in grants to help Minnesota families this holiday season.

With proposed cuts by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address homelessness and the recent lapse in federal SNAP benefits, which 440,000 Minnesotans rely on to supplement their grocery purchases, the foundation said it aims to provide support to families who are struggling to afford food, rent and energy.

The money will be distributed through 14 organizations statewide. Six Minnesota Initiative Foundations will receive $100,000 each for grocery and gas gift cards, vehicle maintenance and heating assistance.

Eight organizations in the Twin Cities will receive $50,000 each for emergency housing, food and holiday assistance. These organizations include CLUES, Sabathani Community Center, Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, People Serving People, Pillsbury United Communities, Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants, Merrick Community Services and the Little Earth Residents Association.

“In times like these, the strength of our community is measured by how we show up for one another,” said Scott Redd, president and CEO of Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis. “Every act of giving — whether it’s a warm meal, a donated coat, a financial contribution or simply checking in on a neighbor — helps someone feel seen, supported and valued.”

The McKnight Foundation’s mission is to advance climate solutions in the Midwest, build a more equitable Minnesota and support the arts, neuroscience and crop research in Minnesota.

For more information, go to mcknight.org/grants

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By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department.

The rulings from U.S. District Cameron McGowan Currie amount to a stunning rebuke of the Trump administration’s efforts to target Trump’s political opponents as well as its legal maneuvering to hastily install a loyalist prosecutor willing to file the cases.

The orders make Lindsey Halligan the latest Trump administration prosecutor to be disqualified because of the manner in which they were appointed.

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The Washington County Department of Public Works.already has snow plows named Plowabunga, Taylor Drift, Sir Plows a lot and Land of 10,000 Flakes out working every winter.

But with 26 snow plows in its fleet, department officials have decided to hold another “Name a Snowplow” contest this winter. This marks the third year the county has held a naming contest; more than 2,400 people voted in last year’s contest.

Residents are again invited to help name two snowplows; name suggestions can be submitted until Dec. 19.

County staff will review the submissions and bring forward the top ideas for voting from the public in January 2026, when two winners will be selected. Any submissions that include profanity or other inappropriate language will not be considered, Washington County officials said.

Submissions will be gathered through Survey Monkey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCNameAPlow.

Entries also can be submitted in person at the Washington County Public Works North Shop, 11660 Myeron Road N., Stillwater, MN 55082, as well as at branches of the Washington County Library system.

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