MINNESOTA-Although the closing down of state governments is quite rare, it happened this morning in the state of Minnesota. As of today if you are in the state of Minnesota, you will not be able to use rest stops along their highways, visit their state parks or go to their zoos as the gates are shuttered and the doors are locked.

Other casualties of the shutdown include licensing for teachers and businesses, construction on the roads, and 23,000 state workers are out of work until the stalemate is resolved. This is the second time in 6 years that this has happened to this state. The last shut-down was in 2005 when the government was shut down for eight days during Tim Pawlenty’s tenure as governor.

The current governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, ran on a platform of raising the taxes on Minnesota’s rich. State Republicans are not going along with his plan. Leaders in that state have been meeting throughout the week to come up with a compromise to stave off the shut-down, but have found no resolution.

The shut down has not affected some of the state’s services however. State Troopers will continue to patrol, state universities will remain open as will treatment centers, prisons,and nursing homes. The shut down comes at a busy time of the year for the state as tourists and travelers are out for the busy Independence Day weekend.