Minnesota’s tax collections have exceeded expectations again. It’s been barely a month since state finance officials forecast a $7.7 billion budget surplus. Since that report, revenue has blown past estimates by another $833 million . But there is a catch: More than half of the latest excess is attributed to a quirk in payment timing for some business taxes. That could mean lower payments or higher refunds for those same taxpayers in the months ahead. Regardless, state lawmakers will have plenty of money to use when the Legislature reconvenes later this month. They also have a big pot of federal funds to wrangle over. Some leaders say they’ll be reluctant to allocate all of the projected surplus. They could point to a slight dip in future economic growth projections, effects of currently high COVID-19 case levels and inflation that is still as high as it has been in decades.

A longtime hydrologist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is suing his former employer, claiming he was retaliated against for raising concerns over management of the petroleum remediation program. MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn dug into Mark Toso’s lawsuit . It centers on policy changes made years ago that Toso warned had weakened efforts to prevent soil and groundwater contamination. Toso resigned last year and filed his lawsuit in November. In its own court filings, the MPCA denies the allegations that drinking water safety has been compromised or that Toso was punished for speaking up.

Congressional candidates are awaiting next month’s decision on new political boundaries but they’re not sitting idly. Businessman and tech start-up founder Mark Blaxill announced this morning that he’ll seek to challenge two-term Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips in the 3rd Congressional District. Blaxill previously served as treasurer of the Minnesota Republican Party. He’s been an active voice in health policy debates,  casting doubt over required vaccines for measles and writing about autism. Blaxill’s advocacy has drawn him widespread attention and criticism , which he said exposed him to “cancel culture.” In announcing his bid, Blaxill made clear he would chart a different course than is being taken during the pandemic. “We need a return to rational health policies based on a broad view of health, education and economic outcomes,” he said. “The American Dream can’t survive with more mandates.” Blaxill is trying to reclaim a seat Republicans long held but lost when Phillips won it for Democrats in 2018. Blaxill hasn’t always been tied into the Republican Party, having tried for a time to build a Canary Party focused solely on pushing back against the “medical establishment.” Retired Navy veteran Tom Weiler previously announced his bid for the Republican nomination to take on Phillips.

Speaking of Congress, top House Republican Kevin McCarthy warned that Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, will lose a prized seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee a year from now. That’s if Republicans take over and McCarthy becomes speaker. Republicans haven’t been shy about criticizing Omar over many things, but Democrats see it as retaliation for moves to punish GOP lawmakers over the years for conduct reasons.

Lots of ceremonial dirt turns and maybe some ribbon cuttings will punctuate the year as state and federal money feeds public works construction projects. The billions headed Minnesota’s way from the newly passed federal infrastructure law have politicians lining up to tout the good tidings. But, as the Duluth News Tribune reports , some of the touting is coming from lawmakers who opposed passage of the law. The paper focuses on efforts by 8th District Republican Rep. Pete Stauber to draw attention to area projects funded by a bill he voted against.

A high-ranking state economic development official will leave his post this month to join President Joe Biden’s administration, the Sahan Journal reports. Deputy Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Hamse Warfa  will be a senior advisor in the U.S. State Department. Starting at the end of this month, he’ll work in a division of the diplomatic agency focused on civilian security, democracy and human rights. The position doesn’t require Senate confirmation. When Warfa was appointed to his position in Minnesota almost three years ago, he became the most senior Somali American official in the executive branch.