Political

MNA Labor Relations Field Manager to run for Congress

DULUTH, Minn. – Chad McKenna has announced he will be running for Congress. Chad McKenna McKenna says he’ll be running for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District – the seat currently held by Pete Stauber. In a news release McKenna said. “I’m running for Congress because Pete Stauber has stopped working for us – his constituents… He seems more focused on appeasing…

Rice Lake Mayor Suzanne Herstad Resigns

  RICE LAKE, Minn. – Rice Lake Mayor Suzanne Herstad has resigned. In a news release, Mayor Herstad’s resignation letter was quoted saying, “Serving this remarkable community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together during my time in office, and I leave hopeful in a future of…

St. Louis County waiving permit fees for wildfire rebuilding

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Board has voted to temporarily waive the fees associated with land use and septic permits for those trying to Jenkins Creek fire in the distance. Camp House fire in the forefront. rebuild after the 2025 spring wildfires. They are waiving permit fees through January 4, 2026. It’s specifically for replacement of structures and…

Travelers may no longer be required to remove shoes before boarding a plane

  (AP) – For the first time in almost 20 years, travelers may no longer have to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the requirement, according to media reports. If implemented, it would put an end to a security screening mandate put in place almost 20 years ago,…

Tiffany, Stauber, and other members of Congress send letter to Canadian Ambassador about wildfire concerns

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) along with other members of Congress sent a letter to Canada’s Ambassador. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) Wisconsin It urged stronger forest management practices to mitigate wildfire risk after consecutive years of heavy smoke blowing south from Canada to Minnesota and Wisconsin. It read in part, “We know a key…

Rep. Pete Stauber statement on One Big Beautiful Bill Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 1. H.R. 1 is also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “In November, the American people elected President Trump and gave him the majorities in both the House and Senate with a clear mandate: to restore safety and unleash prosperity across our nation. Today,…

Rep. Tom Tiffany statement on One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Tom Tiffany (R) Wisconsin 7th Congressional District WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 1. H.R. 1 is also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “The top priorities going into this election were clear: secure the border and deliver relief to hardworking families. This bill keeps those promises by providing tax…

Minnesota Nurses Association comes to agreement with Twin Cities hospitals; Duluth strike still imminent

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has announced it has come to tentative agreements with Twin Cities-area hospitals. In their announcement they said, “Duluth prepares for action”. MNA agreed to the tentative terms with Allina Health, Children’s Minnesota, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners and North Memorial Health. The MNA is still working to get deals with Aspirus St. Luke’s…

President’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Would Cost St. Louis County At Least $16M, County Says

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis county leaders put out a warning to residents Wednesday to say President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” – if passed — would cost the county at least $16 million. As written now, the federal bill would shift Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs from the federal government to the states, according to the county. For…

Solvay Hospice House temporarily pausing care due to looming MNA strike

DULUTH, Minn. – Miller-Dwan Foundation and Essentia Health announced they will be temporarily pausing care at Solvay Hospice House beginning July 8. The announcement was made in response to the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) plan to begin an open-ended strike at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Solvay is owned by Miller-Dwan Foundation and care within Solvay is provided by…

Sign installed for Senator David J. Tomassoni Memorial Cross Range Expressway

DULUTH, Minn. – Signs are now up recognizing the “Senator David J. Tomassoni Memorial Cross Range Expressway”. The expressway is Highway 169 between Itasca County Road 69 in Marble and St. Louis County Road 7 in Mountain Iron. In 2024 the Minnesota State Legislature passed bills to designate the highway sections for the areas Tomassoni served. He was elected to…

Superior man sworn-in to run federal waterway agency

Mike McCoshen (left) and his wife Julie McCoshen (middle) as he was officially sworn in as 12th Administrator of the Great Lake St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation by USDOT Deputy Assistant Secretary Keith Washington (right) WASHINGTON & SUPERIOR, Wisc. – J.M. (Mike) McCoshen has been sworn in as the twelfth Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Great Lakes St….

Hortman family to Lie in State

MINNESOTA — Tuesday morning governor Tim Walz announced Melissa and Mark Hortman will Lie in State Friday, in Saint Paul. They will be joined by their golden retriever, Gilbert. They were assassinated in their home two weekends ago. Hortman will be the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to Lie in State in the capitol. The rotunda…

President Trump: Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours. The U.S. president said on Truth Social that the ceasefire would bring an “Official END” to the war, a major change in the hostilities that follows a U.S. strike over…

Iran launches missile attack on US base in Qatar

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran says missile barrage on Qatar was same number as bombs used by US on nuclear sites, signaling desire to de-escalate. Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. Witnesses reported seeing missiles in the skies, followed by explosions, but…

Minnesota cannabis tax rising to 15% in 2025 to support regulation rollout

  ST. PAUL, Minn. – Cannabis Taxes in Minnesota are on the rise. They’re sitting at 10-percent now, but will go up to 15-percent on July 1, 2025. The 10-percent rate was from July 1. 2023 to June 30. 2025. All sales and purchases of taxable cannabis products are subject to the new tax rate. RELATED: Minnesota issues first cannabis…

Minnesota issues first cannabis business license

Issued for Herb-Quest LLC ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has issued the first cannabis business license in the state of Minnesota. It is going to Herb-Quest, LLC. Herb-Quest is a microbusiness located in Brook Park in Pine County. Its initial primary business activity will be outdoor cultivation of cannabis plants. OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel…

President to have “Golden Share” in future of Nippon Steel & U.S. Steel partnership

CALGARY, Alberta & DULUTH, Minn. – President Donald Trump would have unique influence over the operations of U.S. Steel under the terms of the investment being made by Nippon Steel. Administration officials over the past few days provided additional insight into the so-called golden share arrangement that the federal government made as a condition for supporting the partnership. US Steel…

Man accused of lawmaker assassination to face federal charges

Courtesy: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office ST. PAUL, Minn. – The man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another will be facing federal charges. The Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Alvin M. Winston and BCA Superintendent Andrew Evans will be holding a news conference at in the late morning of Monday, June 16 to…

Man Suspected Of Shooting 2 Minnesota Lawmakers Caught

Courtesy: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office BELLE PLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another has been taken into custody, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested Sunday evening. Former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed…

Gov. Walz Issues Statement On Arrest Of Murder Suspect Vance Boelter

Gov. Tim Walz released the following statement Sunday night on the arrest of Vance Boelter following the “assassination” of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the “attempted assassination” of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, according to the governor’s office: “After a two-day manhunt in which hundreds of law enforcement officials left their families to run…

Shootings of MN Lawmakers turn homes into Crime Scenes

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Shootings at the residences of two Minnesota lawmakers turn the homes into crime scenes. The homes of DFL Rep. Melissa Hortman in Brooklyn Park and Sen. John Hoffman in Champlin were turned into crime scenes after what authorities are calling targeted political shootings early Friday morning. Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives,…

Search Continues for Suspect Connected to Shooting of 2 Minnesota Legislators

Senator John A. Hoffman and Rep. Melissa Hortman. This combo from photos provided by Minnesota Legislature shows from left, Senator John A. Hoffman and Rep. Melissa Hortman. (Minnesota Legislature via AP)Note: This is a developing news story. We will update as new information becomes available. BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — A man posing as a police officer shot and killed…

Statements Reacting to Fatal Shooting of Former Minnesota House Speaker

Melissa Hortman (from her MN Legislature webpage)DULUTH, Minn: – A number of Northland elected officials, Minnesota government leaders, and various organizations have been releasing statements following the shooting death of former Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband. This shooting is currently under investigation, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife,…

Signatures for ‘Right to Repair’ ballot initiative delivered to Duluth City Hall

CITY HALL – Duluth Tenants Union deliver signatures in support of their “Right to Repair” ballot initiative to the City Clerk. Nearly 6,000 signatures in support of the Duluth “Right to Repair” ballot initiative, were presented to the City Clerk’s office Thursday afternoon. The signatures were delivered by members of the Duluth Tenants Union, a group comprised of renters and…

Duluth City Councilor Mike Mayou to resign

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth City Councilor Mike Mayou has announced he will step down from the Duluth City Council at the end of June 2025. The resignation is pending the successful closing of his family’s home sale and  purchase of a new home. Mayou previously announced that he would not be running for re-election in November. In his announcement Mayou…

Zachary Moder Announces Campain for City Council At-Large

  DULUTH, Minn. — Zachary Moder has announced his campaign for Duluth City Council At-Large. Moder has been an entrepreneur, actor, musician, and served in the National Guard. His priorities are focusing on actually affordable housing, revitalizing Downtown Duluth, and growth for the creative community. “I’m not a politician. I’m just a person in Duluth. I’m a resident, just like…

Duluth City Council at Large Candidate: Asher Estrin-Haire

DULUTH, Minn. – A local business owner is making another run for Duluth city council at large. Asher Estrin-Haire, the owner of Stitchcraf Quilt Factory in Lakeside, is making his second run for Duluth City Council. Estrin-Haire is running for one of the two ‘at-large’ seats that are up for election in November. The small business owner said he would…

Mayor’s State of City Address: Superior Aiming to Continue Growth and Address Old Issues

SUPERIOR, Wis. – At Superior’s ‘State of the City’ address, Mayor Paine said he is hoping to continue the city’s growth but wants to address lingering issues. Superior Mayor Jim Paine spoke to members of the public on Thursday for his annual ‘State of the City’ address. Mayor Paine highlighted the addition of new businesses and community involvement in planning…

Senator Tammy Baldwin Continues “Hands Off Medicaid” Tour in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — As US Senator Tammy Baldwin continues her “Hands Off Medicaid Tour,” she made a stop in Superior to talk with community members who could be affected. Senator Baldwin is pushing back against the plan to slash Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, which is backed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. Medicaid, widely known…

Duluth’s New Homeless ‘Safe Bay’ At Vineyard Church Closed — At Least For Now

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s new Safe Bay location for homeless to sleep in their vehicles overnight has been shut down — at least temporarily — after only being operational for about a week. City and CHUM officials told FOX 21 on Sunday that an attorney for nearby neighbors of the Safe Bay location in the church’s back parking lot has…

Bi-Partisan Lawmakers Visit Canada’s Prime Minister to Strengthen Relations

Klobuchar meeting with Prime Minister Carney and Senate delegation, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Kevin Cramer, and Peter Welch. Photo: The Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, Lars Hagberg. OTTAWA, Can. — Minnesota Senator (D) Amy Klobuchar and other U.S. Senators from both Democrat and Republic parties met with Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday…

Gov. Evers Takes Tour Ahead of Pothole Filling

ASHLAND, Wis. — Governor Evers is on his annual “Pothole Patrol” across Wisconsin. Evers’ is looking to invest $100 million towards the Local Roads Improvement supplement program. Throughout the state THERE ARE plans for millions of additional dollars towards rural roads, bridge projects, and modernizing infrastructure. On Tuesday, the governor stopped in Ashland, where crews are already at work on…

David Clanaugh Announces Candidacy for Duluth City Council District 4

  DULUTH, Minn. — David Clanaugh Announced his candidacy for the district 4 seat of Duluth City Council. His goals are community driven, believing that district representatives need to really know the neighborhoods they represent. Those goals are grounded in his experience. He has had many positions in community supportive roles such as Executive Director for the regional Habitat For…

Minnesota State Leaders Survey Damage From Wildfires

BRIMSON, Minn. –Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith visited the Camp House fire zone to take in the carnage firsthand. The group first visited the Incident Command Center at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Two Harbors, and met with teams responding to the fires. Governor Walz thanked the crews and volunteers, and shared his…

Walz Contrasts Minnesota’s Bipartisan Budget Breakthrough With Washington’s Deep Divisions

  ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz and leaders of the Minnesota Legislature announced a hard-fought budget deal Thursday, contrasting the bipartisan cooperation that produced the agreement with the deep divisions that have tied Washington in knots. The Democratic governor and former vice presidential candidate noted that he was sharply critical of President Donald Trump’s administration, and what…

Rumors of a Federal Pardon for Derek Chauvin

MINNESOTA — The five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder is coming later this month on May 25th. And with that, there are concerns President Donald Trump might issue his convicted killer — Derek Chauvin — a pardon. Trump has not given any public indication he would pardon the former Minneapolis police officer. But rumors persist. Chauvin is currently in federal…

Mayor: Duluth’s Local Government Aid Could Be Cut By $1.1M

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert is concerned, but not surprised, more Local Government Aid (LGA) could be cut from the city. On Wednesday, Reinert said the Minnesota Legislature’s Senate Committee on Taxes released its omnibus tax bill, which includes a 3.1 percent cut to Duluth’s LGA, or $1.1 million out of the city’s general fund budgets. Mayor Reinert…

Rosie Loeffler-Kemp Seeks Re-Election to Duluth School Board

DULUTH, Minn. — Rosie Loeffler-Kemp has announced her bid for re-election to the Duluth School Board in District 1. Highlighting over 30 years of community involvement and nonprofit leadership, she emphasized her commitment to strong public schools and collaborative leadership. “It is an honor and privilege to serve on the Duluth School Board. I will continue to build on our…

City Council Approves Outside Investigation Into Internal Issues With Superior Police Dept.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Urgent internal struggles within the Superior Police Department will officially be handled by an outside consultant for no more than $50,000 after the city council unanimously approved the measure at tonight’s city council meeting. Last month, Mayor Jim Paine told the Public Safety Committee there are a number of cultural issues, interpersonal conflicts and potential personnel concerns…

Keri Heintzeman Takes Oath of Office

ST. PAUL – Keri Heintzeman was was sworn in May 6, 2025 as the newest member of the Minnesota Senate. She won a special election on April 29 to represent District 6 after Senator Justin Eichorn resigned. He district includes parts of Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca counties. In a news release the now Senator Keri Heintzeman said, “I’m deeply grateful to…

Gov. Evers Says He’s Not Afraid After Trump Official Suggests Possible Arrest

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Friday that every American should be concerned about “chilling” suggestions from President Donald Trump’s top border adviser that he could be arrested over guidance the Democrat issued to state employees about what to do if confronted by federal immigration agents. “I’m not afraid,” Evers said in the extraordinary video posted on…

Dozens Gather at Federal Courthouse for ‘May Day’ Protest

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens come out for ‘May Day’ protest against Trump administration’s policies. Thursday’s protest outside of the Duluth Federal Courthouse, was one of many anti-Trump protests held across the nation on ‘May Day.’ The protests come amid drastic changes instituted by President Donald Trump during his first 100 days (back) in office, such as cuts to the federal…

Bill Extending Unemployment Benefits for Laid Off Miners Amended to Jobs Bill on Senate Floor

ST. PAUL, Minn — A bill to extend unemployment benefits for laid off miners is one step closer to approval. Senator Hauschild’s Bill was successfully Amended to Jobs Bill during Senate Floor Debate. Iron Range Senators Hauschild and Farnsworth brought the bill forward. If passed over six hundred laid off steelworkers would be eligible for the extended benefits. “When our…

Angie Craig Launches Senate Bid

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Rep. Angie Craig on Tuesday became the latest Minnesota Democrat to enter the increasingly competitive race for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by the retiring Sen. Tina Smith. In her launch video, Craig vows to “break through the chaos” and fight back against “a president trampling our rights and freedoms as he profits for personal…

Elon Musk’s X Sues To Overturn Minnesota Political Deepfakes Ban

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — X Corp., the social media platform owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, is challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota ban on using deepfakes to influence elections and harm candidates, saying it violates First Amendment speech protections. The company’s federal lawsuit filed this week also contends that the 2023 state law is preempted by a 1996 federal statute…