WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is doubling U.S. emergency spending to help communities prepare for hurricanes and other extreme weather events while launching a new effort at NASA to better understand and track the impacts of climate change. The $1 billion in federal spending being announced Monday is a small fraction of what the U.S. spends on weather-related disasters….
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s coronavirus vaccination rate has accelerated after several weeks of sluggish inoculation numbers. The state pace remained above 40,000 shots a day on Sunday, a level not previously seen for more than two weeks. Data shows a big increase in first vaccine doses which now average nearly 18,000 a day, up from about 10,000 a…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Just over two dozen potential cases of voter fraud out of more than three million ballots cast in the November presidential election have been identified by Wisconsin election officials and forwarded to local district attorneys for possible prosecution. That’s according to documents obtained Friday by The Associated Press under the state’s open records law. The 27…
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host George Floyd’s family at the White House Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of his death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday the president would mark the anniversary of Floyd’s death, but offered no further details on his plans. Floyd died…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooting in downtown Minneapolis killed two people and wounded eight others, police said early Saturday. The 10 people shot included five men and five women, the police department said in a series of tweets. Two of the men died and another man was at a hospital in critical condition, police said. The other seven wounded people…
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Attorneys say the November trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man accused of killing two people during a protest in Wisconsin last summer, could take up to two weeks. Rittenhouse’s attorneys and prosecutors confirmed with Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder during a status conference Friday that the trial will begin…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s jobs agency is trying to direct unemployed individuals to businesses that are having difficulty filling positions. Each week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is calling thousands of Minnesotans who are out of work to help them with their job search and point them to businesses that are ramping up hiring as…
(Antioch Police Department via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man accused of killing two people during a protest in Wisconsin over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, is expected to make his first in-person court appearance. Rittenhouse is set to appear at a status conference Friday morning in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Rittenhouse’s attorneys and prosecutors…
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Hamas have announced a cease-fire to end a bruising 11-day war that caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and brought life in much of Israel to a standstill. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced late Thursday that his Security Cabinet approved the Egyptian-mediated proposal. Hamas quickly followed suit and said it would honor the…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget committee have voted against buying body cameras for state Capitol police officers, rejecting a proposal from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The panel on Thursday voted 12-4, with all Republicans in support and Democrats against, to reject spending up to $100,000 over two years on between 35 to 50…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans have voted to reject more than $70 million in funding to combat homelessness, a move that Democrats called a missed opportunity to address a problem that worsened due to the pandemic. Gov. Tony Evers had proposed spending around $73 million over two years on a variety of initiatives designed to help homeless people, including…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New guidance from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration says people vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer be required to wear masks in the state Capitol and most other state facilities beginning on June 1. The updated guidance for state government follows advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who are fully vaccinated…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for the state and for three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd are making oral arguments Thursday before the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Prosecutors will seek to add an additional charge of aiding and abetting third-degree murder to the case. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng, and Tou Thao are already charged with…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 444,000, a new pandemic low and a sign that the job market keeps strengthening as consumers spend freely again, viral infections drop and business restrictions ease. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that applications declined 34,000 from a revised 478,000 a week earlier. The number…
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin juvenile court judge accused of possessing and distributing child pornography was taken into federal custody after making his initial appearance in court. The lawyer for Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Brett Blomme, charged in federal court with two counts of distributing child pornography, said in court Wednesday that Blomme decided on his own not to seek…
MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers has called a special session for the Legislature to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, a move Republicans have rejected for years. The Democratic governor on Wednesday called for the special session to begin on Tuesday. He says the bill lawmakers take up would use $850 million in federal stimulus money tied to expanding Medicaid…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Republicans say they want to end the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement because it hurts businesses that are struggling to fill vacancies as customers return amid loosened coronavirus restrictions. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Sen. Howard Marklein, chairman of the Legislature’s budget committee, called on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to support the bill they unveiled…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Those enrolled in Minnesota’s medical marijuana program are expected to have a more affordable option to the liquid, oil, and pills currently allowed under one of the nation’s most restrictive medical cannabis laws. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz was expected to sign the bill that passed the House and Senate this week to relax the program by including…
DETROIT (AP) — Kia is recalling more than 440,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. for a second time to fix a problem that can cause engine fires. And the automaker is telling owners to park them outdoors and away from structures because fires could happen when the engines aren’t running. The recall covers certain Optima sedans from 2013 through…
(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that the state will be using $100 million in federal coronavirus stimulus funding to award grants for expanding broadband internet access in Wisconsin. The federal funding is in addition to nearly $200 million in broadband expansion proposals Evers made in his state budget, which…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will take up Mississippi’s bid to enforce a 15-week ban on the procedure. The court’s order Monday sets up a showdown over abortion, probably in the fall, with a more conservative court ready to consider dramatically altering nearly 50 years of rulings…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A December trial date has been set for a former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter is scheduled to stand trial on Dec. 6, barring any future scheduling conflicts. The date was set during a Monday pretrial hearing, during which Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A top administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Justice alleges that Attorney General Josh Kaul’s administration is paying her less and treating her poorly because she’s a Black woman. Division of Law Enforcement Services Administrator Tina Virgil filed a complaint last month with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that she’s the second-lowest paid administrator…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The leaders of the Minnesota Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz have announced a $52 billion deal for the state’s next two-year budget Monday. But lawmakers will have to finish the work during a special session next month. And difficult negotiations still lie ahead on police accountability and some other issues that weren’t part of…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world in the coming six weeks. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the doses would come from existing U.S. production of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine stocks. It isn’t yet clear which countries will receive them. President Joe Biden will…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death is scheduled to appear in court via videoconference. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter has an omnibus hearing, also known as a pretrial hearing, Monday afternoon in Hennepin County. The hearing is to go over evidence and determine if there is probable cause…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The two top leaders of the Minnesota Legislature said they reached an agreement with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz early Monday on broad targets for the state’s next two-year budget but that lawmakers will have to reconvene for a special session in mid-June to finish the work. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Democratic House…
(AP Photo/Dawn Villella, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin wildlife officials are considering drafting new regulations that would prohibit hunting wolves at night and shorten the window for registering kills after hunters blew past their quota in February. The Trump administration removed wolves from the endangered species list in January. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was preparing to hold…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota House passed a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use after hours of debate Thursday night in a historic vote that marked the first time either chamber has voted on legalization. The legislation passed on a 72-61 vote after nearly five hours of debate on the House floor. The legislation made its way through a dozen…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge has rejected a second attempt by opponents of the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota to invalidate the mineral rights leases needed for the project. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said Thursday that new arguments and evidence raised by the opponents in the 2020 lawsuit would not have changed the outcome of…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota House will vote on a proposal to legalize marijuana use for adults and expunge minor marijuana convictions on Thursday — the first time either chamber has ever voted on legalization. The legislation, authored by Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, of Golden Valley, made its way through a dozen committees stops this legislative session before…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is easing indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places. That’s according to a person briefed on the announcement, expected later Thursday at the White House. The new guidance will still call for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like…
(AP) — McDonald’s is raising pay at 650 company-owned stores in the U.S. as part of its push to hire thousands of new workers in a tight labor market. The fast-food giant followed Chipotle, which also announced pay hikes this week. Wages and benefits for U.S. workers have been growing quickly as vaccinations increase and employers try to meet growing…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Coronavirus vaccinations for 12- to 15-year-olds will begin Thursday in Wisconsin after an advisory committee for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the inoculations for younger children. “The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces that children 12-15 years old are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinations…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 473,000, a new pandemic low and the latest evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers ramp up spending and more businesses reopen. Applications declined 34,000 from a revised 507,000 a week earlier. The number of weekly jobless claims — a rough measure of the…
(Klobuchar Press Office via Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Klobuchar, longtime Minnesota newspaper reporter and columnist and father of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Klobuchar died Wednesday at the Emerald Crest care facility in Burnsville, a Twin Cities suburb, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He was 93. Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota…
NEW YORK — Federal health advisers are meeting to issue recommendations on how to vaccinate kids as young as 12 with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This week, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the expanded use of Pfizer’s shots, citing evidence the shots worked as well in those 12 to 15 years old as those 16 and older. Kids in…
NEW YORK (AP) — Ellen DeGeneres is calling time on her longtime-running talk show. Reports say the daytime host, who has seen a ratings hit after allegations of running a toxic workplace, has decided that her upcoming season will be the last. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” started airing in 2003 and has a mix of dancing, games and giveaways along…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has found aggravating factors in the death of George Floyd. The ruling made public Wednesday paves the way for a longer sentence for former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin. He was convicted in April on murder and manslaughter counts. He’s scheduled to be sentenced June 25. Under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he would have faced a…
(Garret Ellison | MLive) LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is threatening to go after Enbridge’s profits from a Great Lakes oil pipeline if it isn’t shut down. The Democratic governor issued the warning Tuesday in a letter to Enbridge, a Canadian oil transport company. Whitmer ordered the company last November to close the line by May 12….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge on Tuesday denied media requests to allow cameras at an upcoming hearing for a suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in Daunte Wright’s death. Kim Potter, 48, is charged with manslaughter in Wright’s death during a traffic stop April 11 in Brooklyn Center. The city’s police chief at the time said he believed Potter, who is white, mixed…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin will receive $700 million less than initially expected in federal coronavirus relief money and it will arrive in two payments a year apart. Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday called that news problematic. The state was informed Monday of the split in payments, and that it will receive $2.5 billion in…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Police in a St. Paul suburb are investigating the theft of coronavirus vaccines after a man recorded and posted videos on social media of him walking away with vials of what he said was “poison” and that he had plans to have the vaccines tested at a lab. Allina Health told police the man, who…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The national anthem would have to be played before all sporting events held at Wisconsin venues that received any public funding under a bill up for a vote Tuesday in the state Assembly. The sweeping proposal received bipartisan support in committee, even as a group representing parks and recreation areas across the state questioned whether it…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s state government will get about $200 million more than it was expecting under President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz expressed hope Monday that new guidelines over how states can spend the aid might help speed up the slow pace of negotiations over the state’s next budget. The legislative session is due to adjourn next Monday,…
(AP) – COVID-19 vaccines finally are headed for more kids as U.S. regulators on Monday expanded the use of Pfizer’s shot to those as young as 12, sparking a race to protect middle and high school students before they head back to class in the fall. Shots could begin as soon as a federal vaccine advisory committee issues recommendations for…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin lawmakers are poised to take their first votes on police reform measures since George Floyd died last year. The state Senate is set to vote Tuesday on five bipartisan bills. More divisive proposals, such as a ban on the use of chokeholds, remain in the works. One bill up Tuesday would require Milwaukee and Madison’s…
(AP) – This year’s graduating class of college seniors is poised for better prospects than were the 2020 graduates, who had the misfortune to graduate in the depths of the disastrous coronavirus recession. Though the competition will be stiff — this year’s graduates will have to compete, in many cases, with 2020 graduates who are still seeking their first full-time…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration says the government will protect gay and transgender people against sex discrimination in health care. That reverses a Trump-era policy that sought to narrow the scope of legal rights in sensitive situations involving medical care. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Monday that LGBTQ people should have the same access to health…
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A gunman opened fire at a birthday party in Colorado, slaying six adults before killing himself Sunday, police said. The shooting happened just after midnight in a mobile home park on the east side of Colorado Springs, police said. Officers arrived at a trailer to find six dead adults and a man with serious injuries…
