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State government: What's open, what's closed
July 1, 2005

Rest areas along Minnesota highways are closed because of the partial government shutdown. (MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik)

St. Paul, Minn. — Highlights of state programs and offices that remained opened and closed during the state's unprecedented partial government shutdown, which began Friday.

WHAT STAYS OPEN:

-State Patrol troopers

-200 active road construction projects

-Basic school aid checks

-Unemployment and welfare benefits and disability payments

-MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance and General Assistance Medical Care insurance coverage

-Universities and colleges

-Prisons, courts, crime labs

-Tax collections

-Minnesota State Lottery

-Minnesota Zoo

-State Capitol, including public tours and a privately funded 100th birthday celebration over the July 4 weekend

-Legislative and executive branch offices, including House, Senate and governor

-Renewals of drivers licenses and vehicle tabs

-Birth and death certificates

-Highway ramp meters and MnPASS toll system on I-394

-Metro Transit and Greater Minnesota Transit services, for the first month of a shutdown

-Metro Mobility transit service for the disabled

-Support services for people with disabilities

-Payments to nursing homes, pharmacies, personal care attendants and private-duty nurses

-Emergency response to disease outbreaks

-HIV/AIDS case management services

-Ventilators and medical equipment delivery for sick children

-Investigations into complaints against health care workers and suspected rabies cases

-Inspections of food, nursing homes and buildings

-Enforcement of hunting and fishing regulations

-Monitoring of air quality, landfills, fish hatcheries and tree nurseries

-Road and traffic signal repairs

-Stillwater Lift Bridge

-Most professional license renewals

-State parks, including campsites, picnic areas and restrooms

-Employment services for dislocated workers

-Air and water quality permits

-Enforcement of minimum wage, prevailing wage and overtime laws

-Processing of low-interest loans for farmers

-Routine work site inspections


WHAT IS CLOSED OR PUT ON HOLD:

-All but eight highway rest areas

-New driver's licenses

-Traffic message boards

-Payments to hospitals, clinics, health plans and dentists

-Local grants to public health agencies

-New applications for MinnesotaCare in most counties

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)