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by high gas priices may doom the chances of iinnesota adopting low -carbon fuell standards The proposal for what's known as a low -carbon fuel standard has become one of Democrats' key plans for reducing carboy emissions in Minnesota's transportation sector, the state's largest source of climate pollution. The policy would require fuel suppliers to make their product cleaner over time, and — unlike other major climate change plans backed by DFLers — has drawn interest from some Republicans and agriculture industry groups. But, as prices have risen at the pump, so too has GOP opposition. Republicans have argued the proposal would cause ga: prices to rise, though by just how much and when is a topic of debate. Dulluth traiin serviice iin the hands of state Ilawmalkers Those who've dreamed of riding a train from the Twin Cities to Duluth are closer than ever to seeing that happen, thanks tc the new federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. It could mean the restoration of regular passenger rail service along that corridor for the first time since 1985. The law passed by Congress and signed late last year by President Biden set aside $66 billion for rail projects, with $16 billion of that dedicated to intercity links like the proposed Northern Lights Express in Minnesota. That greatly increases the odds the Northern Lights Express will get the green light for federal funding to cover 80% of the $435 million project. The remaining 20% local match, which equates to $85 million, would need to come from the Minnesota Legislature. Rondo advocates push baclk against GOP efforts to halt state funding for 11.94 Iland bridge DFL lawmakers and advocates for a proposed land bridge in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood are pushing back against stat legislation advanced by Republicans to prohibit the spending of money already approved for the project. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill granting $6.2 million to ReConnect Rondo, the nonprofit leading the effort to build a five -block cap over Interstate 94 in the historically Black neighborhood that was torn apart by the highway's construction. The money was allocated for predevelopment work. Republican lawmakers recently introduced an effort to ban the state transportation commissioner from spending that mone or other grants, such as those from the federal government or Metropolitan Council, saying the funding request was not properly vetted during last year's session and should not be considered a transportation matter. 4