Lawmakers to Meet in Special Session Today

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are in St. Paul for a climactic end to an overtime budget dispute.

A special session due to begin and end Friday occurs without the usual certainty that legislation on the docket will pass. Mystery surrounds an agriculture and natural resources budget bill that many Democrats oppose as weakening environmental protections.

Few problems are expected on an education plan that boosts school spending by $525 million. Four other bills are on the agenda.

Gov. Mark Dayton pleaded with fellow Democrats on Thursday to pass the budget to avoid a July 1 partial government shutdown.

The session has a historic feature: Lawmakers will convene outside the Capitol for the first time in 110 years because of a renovation project. They'll meet in makeshift chambers in an adjacent office building.