ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton is speaking to hundreds of state legislators from the Midwest as they gather in St. Paul for a conference.

The Midwestern Legislative Conference wraps up its yearly gathering today. The conference kicked off Sunday with meetings focused on policies affecting Midwestern states including economic development, health care, education and agriculture.

Other speakers included historian Jon Meacham and polar explorer Ann Bancroft, a Minnesota native.

Minnesota state Rep. Alice Hausman of St. Paul is current chairwoman of the Midwestern Legislative Conference. Other states represented are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan also participate.