ST. PAUL — Minnesota lawmakers are calling for more transparency and a public hearing on the Stillwater prison’s closure, as hundreds of inmates have already been transferred.

Stillwater’s closure was announced on May 15 as part of a budget deal , but it quickly drew pushback from lawmakers, correctional staff and unions who said there was no notice or public discussion of the decision.

On Friday, Aug. 8, five Republican senators — Warren Limmer, Michael Kreun, Karin Housley, Jeff Howe and Torrey Westrom — sent a letter to the Judiciary committee chairs asking to schedule a public hearing on the closure.

“Prior to the announcement of Stillwater’s closure, there were no committee hearings to discuss the closure, so it was a shock to hear it was placed in the final budget bill witho

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