No budget in sight on last day of Minn. session

ST. PAUL (AP) — The final day of the Minnesota legislative session has arrived but there’s no sign that Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP majorities are anywhere close to a deal on the state budget.

Lawmakers must adjourn their regular session by midnight Monday. If no two-year state budget is in place, that means Dayton must call a special session to finish the budget.

The state’s current two-year budget cycle ends on June 30, and lack of a budget by then would force a state government shutdown. The last partial state shutdown was in 2005 when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Senate Democrats failed to reach a budget agreement in time to head it off.

Dayton and Republicans are entrenched in a dispute over the governor’s desire to supplement the state budget with new revenue versus the GOP’s insistence that the state has enough money.

Suspected arsonist in court

The 46-year-old Lake Mills, Iowa, man charged with arson of a home and van in Lake Mills in April is expected to appear in Winnebago County District Court Tuesday for a plea change hearing.

Smit had previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree arson, both felonies, earlier this month, tied to the fire at 102 N. Fourth Ave. W. in Lake Mills on April 7.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Coin Collectors at hotel this week

The International Coin Collectors Association set up shop today at America’s Best Value Inn and will be at the West Main Street hotel through Thursday.

Numismatists seek coins of all kinds and sometimes pay top dollar for rare coins and bills. This is an opportunity for people to see what they can get for currency issued prior to 1965 and for gold items such as class rings, mismatched earrings, broken necklaces and vintage jewelry. Some people get paid on the spot.

ICCA experts make offers based on what collectors are willing to pay Then when people decide to sell, they get paid then and there and ICCA staff members send the items to the collectors at their expense.

Other items people find around their homes are Morgan silver dollars, blanket bills, pocket watches, Kruggerands and old pennies.

International Coin Collectors Association are at the hotel from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Tennis players look to extend season

Members of the Albert Lea boys’ tennis team will be competing in the Section 1AA individual tournament Thursday in Rochester. With the Tigers eliminated from the section team tournament, this is the last chance for individual players to extend their season.

Albert Lea baseball hopes for different result

The Albert Lea baseball team, on the heels of a Big Nine Conference championship, begins the Section 1AAA tournament on Saturday. The Tigers will likely host a first-round home game for the second consecutive season but will be hoping for a different result. Last year, the Tigers were ousted by Hastings in the opening game.