Political Archives - Page 24 of 61

Duluth 2021 Primary Election Results

August 11, 2021

Site Staff,

Below is the up to date results of the key races in Tuesday’s Duluth Primary Election Duluth Council Member at Large (Elect 2) – Four Advance Azrin Awal – 2,946 (24.13%) Ashlie Castaldo – 988 (8.09%) Dezuwon “Pez” Davila – 594 (4.86%) Scot Jenkins – 703 (5.76%) Joe Macor – 2,589 (21.20%) Timothy L. Meyer – 989 (8.10%) Nancy Stam…

One-On-One: Mayor Larson Explains Choosing Minneapolis Agency Over ‘Visit Duluth’ For Tourism Marketing

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

August 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – After 85 years as Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm, Visit Duluth will no longer have that title come 2022 — pending council’s approval — as Mayor Emily Larson continues to scrutinize how millions of dollars in tourism tax revenue is handed out every year. Larson made the big announcement Tuesday by saying her team has chosen Minneapolis-based…

Larson Chooses Minneapolis Agency Over ‘Visit Duluth’ For City’s Main Marketing Contract

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

August 10, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – After 85 years as Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm, Visit Duluth will no longer have that title come 2022, as Mayor Emily Larson continues to scrutinize how millions of dollars in tourism tax revenue is used every year. Mayor Larson made the announcement Tuesday saying her team has chosen Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners and its partner, Lawrence &…

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Announces Resignation

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Will Effectively Leave Office in Two Weeks

August 10, 2021

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has resigned over a barrage of sexual harassment allegations in a fall from grace a year after he was widely hailed nationally for his detailed daily briefings and leadership during the darkest days of COVID-19. The third-term Democratic governor is increasingly isolated as state Assembly members move toward impeachment and allies…

Wisconsin Governor Vetoes GOP Bills to Restrict Absentees

August 10, 2021

The Associated Press,

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed bills passed by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature that would have imposed new restrictions on absentee ballots in the key battleground state. The Democratic governor had been widely expected to turn back the bills, which his party had derided as voter suppression. Republicans argued…

City Prepares for Municipal Primary

August 9, 2021

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — As Duluth prepares for Tuesday’s municipal primary election, staff wants to remind residents to make sure they’re registered and get their votes in. There are 34 polling locations around the city to vote at tomorrow, and absentee ballots need to be turned in to city hall by 3:00 PM on Tuesday. The primary determines who will be…

County Attorney Mark Rubin Announces Retirement

August 9, 2021

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin has announced he will retire at the end of September following more than 42 years of public service. Rubin first joined the County Attorney’s Office as an intern in 1975. Rubin was elected County Attorney in 2010, and re-elected twice since. His current term runs through 2022. Because he is retiring prior…

Walz Supports Emergency Relief for Drought-Stricken Farms

August 5, 2021

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz and top state lawmakers say they will support an emergency financial relief package for farmers in Minnesota, where most of the state is in a severe or extreme drought. Walz says he would support an aid package in a special session next month. The governor got an earful at Farmfest in Redwood County…

City of Duluth to Require Masks in Public City Buildings, Fire Stations Close to Public

While the city plans to keep its buildings open to everyone, Duluth Fire stations are the exception. They are now closed to the public again, just days after reopening.

August 3, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- The City Of Duluth is bringing back its mask mandate for all city employees and the public inside all city-owned buildings — regardless of a person’s vaccination status. “Personally it is frustrating to be at this point,” Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said. “I know that many of us would like this to be over.” “Last week I didn’t…

Mayor Jim Paine Talks New Federal Infrastructure Deal

August 3, 2021

Lauren Akabori,

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Mayor Jim Paine of superior discussed a new federal infrastructure deal that is in the works, hoping to create more union jobs, fix roads, and overall boost the economy. It’s still being finalized in congress, but the infrastructure bill has the potential to make financial history for the state of Wisconsin. Again, this bill is good for the…

Biden to Announce New Eviction Ban Due to COVID Spread

August 3, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration will announce a new 60-day eviction moratorium that would protect areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives. That’s according to three people familiar with the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming announcement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a legal authority for a new and different moratorium…

Officer Dead After Burst of Violence Outside Pentagon

August 3, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) UPDATE: WASHINGTON (AP) — An officer died after being stabbed Tuesday during a burst of violence at a transit station outside the Pentagon, law enforcement officials said. A shooting resulted in the Pentagon being locked down for more than an hour. A Pentagon officer who was stabbed later died, according to officials who were not authorized to…

Pentagon on Lockdown After Gunshots Fired Near Metro

August 3, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gunshots were fired Tuesday morning near the entrance of the Pentagon, resulting in multiple injuries. The facility, the headquarters of the U.S. military, was placed on lockdown. The Arlington County Fire Department reported “multiple patients,” but it wasn’t immediately clear if they had been shot or the extent of the injuries. The incident occurred on a Metro…

Gov. Cuomo Sexually Harassed Multiple Women, Probe Finds

August 3, 2021

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) – An investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has found that he sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. State Attorney General Letitia James announced the findings Tuesday. The investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.”…

Graham 1st Vaccinated Senator to Test Positive for COVID-19

August 2, 2021

The Associated Press,

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Sen. Lindsey Graham has tested positive for the coronavirus. The South Carolina Republican is the first senator to disclose a breakthrough infection after being vaccinated. Graham said in a statement Monday afternoon that he “started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night” and went to the doctor Monday morning. Graham said he would quarantine for 10 days and…

Biden to Allow Eviction Moratorium to Expire Saturday

July 29, 2021

The Associated Press,

BOSTON (AP) – The Biden administration will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday. The end of the moratorium comes as advocates and some lawmakers call for it to be extended in the face of rising coronavirus cases and the sluggish pace of distributing rental assistance. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,…

Man Charged With Sending Threatening Emails to Dr. Fauci

July 28, 2021

The Associated Press,

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A man has been arrested and charged in federal court with sending emails that threatened to harm and kill Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, and their families, federal prosecutors in Maryland announced Tuesday. A criminal complaint filed Monday charges Thomas Patrick Connally Jr., 56, with threats against a federal official…

Wisconsin Assembly to Consider Override of Unemployment Veto

July 27, 2021

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – It’s shaping up to be a day full of partisan sniping but no real action in the Wisconsin Assembly. Republicans called the Assembly back into session Tuesday to vote on overriding Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of a bill that would have ended a federal $300 weekly unemployment supplemental payment. To succeed, Republicans will need Democrats…

Trump Inaugural Committee Head Accused of Being UAE Agent

July 20, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) NEW YORK (AP) – The chair of former President Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee was arrested Tuesday in California on charges alleging that he and others conspired to influence Trump’s foreign policy positions to benefit the United Arab Emirates. Tom Barrack was among three men charged in New York federal court with trying to influence…

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes Joins US Senate Race

July 20, 2021

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has joined the crowded Democratic field for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. The 34-year-old Barnes is vying to become the first Black U.S. senator in Wisconsin history. He is giving up a chance to run for a second term in 2022 as Gov. Tony Evers’…

Senate President Pro Tem Says He Has Lou Gehrig’s Disease

July 19, 2021

The Associated Press,

(courtesy: Fox 9) ST. PAUL, Minn. – Longtime state Sen. David Tomassoni has informed his constituents that he has Lou Gehring’s disease, also known as ALS. The motor neuron disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that destroys the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. The 68-year-old senator from Chisholm says he was diagnosed a while ago and felt the…

Klobuchar: Infrastructure Bill Could Include Voting Measures

July 18, 2021

The Associated Press,

ATLANTA (AP) — Congressional Democrats are exploring ways to include financial incentives for states to expand voting access as part of a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure bill, a key senator said Sunday. Democrats have been struggling to get their marquee election reform bill passed in an evenly split Senate, where Republicans remain unified in their opposition and rules require 60 votes to…

Minnesota Gov. Walz to Ban Conversion Therapy, Bypassing Legislature

July 15, 2021

KQDS Staff,

(FOX News) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sign an executive order Thursday bypassing the state legislature and banning the controversial practice of “gay conversion therapy.” Walz is expected to sign the order alongside Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan on Thursday morning in defiance of the Republican-held state senate, which doesn’t support the move, according to local media. “Our kids deserve…

Visit Duluth, DECC Among Finalists For City’s 2022 Destination Marketing Contract

July 14, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm since 1935, known as Visit Duluth, is a finalist for next year’s one-year contract, as Mayor Emily Larson looks to possibly go a different direction with a mission to “elevate the brand of Duluth,” according to the Request for Qualifications document put out by the city. The Mayor’s Office…

Penterman Wins Special Election for Wisconsin Assembly Seat

July 14, 2021

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican William Penterman is the apparent winner of a special election Tuesday to fill Wisconsin’s vacant 37th District Assembly seat. Unofficial results show Penterman received 3,742 votes. Democratic candidate Pete Adams received 3,063 votes and Independent Stephen Ratzlaff Jr. garnered 112 votes. Penterman, of Columbus, narrowly won the Republican primary by 16 votes. There were eight…

‘Raise Our Standards Tour’ Held on Park Point with Community Resistance

July 13, 2021

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn.– Tuesday evening on Park Point, The Center of the American Experiment held an event at the Lafayette Park Community Center, after being denied at four Duluth locations in one month because of pressure from some in the community. The is the 17th stop in Minnesota for the “Raise Our Standards Tour” focusing on the state’s draft social studies…

Biden Says U.S. War in Afghanistan Will End August 31

July 8, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday said the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31, saying “speed is safety” as the United States seeks to end the nearly 20-year war. “We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” Biden said in a speech to update his administration’s ongoing efforts to wind down the U.S….

Evers Signs Gop-Written State Budget With $2B Tax Cut

July 8, 2021

The Associated Press,

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Tony Evers has signed the Republican-written state budget, enacting a spending plan that includes a $2 billion income tax cut. Evers, a Democrat who is running for reelection next year, signed the budget Thursday. However, he kept the income tax cut intact. Evers opted to go along with the GOP-written budget with some changes…

Community Crisis Intervention, City Hall Ventilation Among Proposed COVID Relief Spending Discussed by Duluth Council

More than a dozen citizens spoke out in support of what they call a community crisis response team independent of law enforcement.

July 6, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council discussed accepting almost $60 million of federal funding for recovery from the pandemic and Mayor Emily Larson’s recommendations for how to spend that money. Council unanimously tabled the resolution, to further discuss the Mayor’s following suggestions to allocate the money: Affordable Housing: $20,678,130 Job Training and Workforce Services: $550,000 Utility Infrastructure and Broadband: $13,850,000…

Pentagon Cancels Disputed JEDI Cloud Contract With Microsoft

July 6, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon said it has canceled a cloud-computing contract with Microsoft that could eventually have been worth $10 billion. It will instead pursue a deal with both Microsoft and Amazon and possibly other cloud service providers. The Pentagon said in a statement that the JEDI Cloud contract, which has long been delayed, “no longer meets the requirements…

Minnesota Pollution Regulator Resigns Before Senate Vote

July 6, 2021

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has resigned after it became apparent that the Republican-controlled state Senate was prepared to oust her. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz says Laura Bishop resigned Tuesday “in order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition” at the agency she had led since 2019. The governor accused Senate Republicans of using…

Another Candidate Joins Minnesota AG Race to Unseat Ellison

July 6, 2021

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minneapolis criminal defense lawyer who described pandemic restrictions and lawsuits against businesses that violated state public health guidelines as “intrusive state government” announced her bid on Sunday to unseat Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Attorney Lynne Torgerson announced on Sunday that she will run for attorney general in 2022, citing “destructive government lockdowns, lawsuits by (Ellison)…

Visit Duluth’s Future Uncertain As Mayor Larson Reevaluates City’s Tourism Marketing Vision, Dollars

The city has typically given Visit Duluth $2 million in tourism tax revenue every year.

July 1, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth, the city’s main tourism marketing arm since 1935, could be no more when its contract is up with the city at the end of the year. This comes after Mayor Emily Larson and her administration opened the job up through a new application process for a one-year contract through 2022. The “request for qualifications,” as…

Minnesota Lawmakers Avoid Partial Shutdown as Final Budget Passes

The Final Budget Bill Was Sent to Gov. Tim Walz's Desk Late Tuesday

July 1, 2021

Site Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota lawmakers averted a partial government shutdown at midnight Wednesday by sending the final budget bill to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk. The Senate unanimously approved the $21 billion K-12 education funding agreement, the last must-pass bill before the midnight deadline. Walz has now signed eight budget bills into law and has four others on his desk….

Minnesota Lawmakers Avoid Government Shutdown As Final Budget Passes

June 30, 2021

Site Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota lawmakers averted a partial government shutdown at midnight Wednesday by sending the final budget bill to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk. The Senate unanimously approved the $21 billion K-12 education funding agreement, the last must-pass bill before the midnight deadline. Walz has now signed eight budget bills into law and has four others on his desk….

Gov. Walz Emergency Powers to End Thursday

June 30, 2021

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Legislature has reconvened to finish its remaining work on a $52 billion, two-year budget. Education and tax bills need passage before the current budget expires Wednesday night. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol after working into the early hours Wednesday to pass a bill that ends Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers effective Thursday. The Democratic governor…

Family: Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Dies at 88

June 30, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Rumsfeld, the two-time defense secretary and a one-time presidential candidate whose reputation as a skilled bureaucrat and visionary of a modern U.S. military was soiled by the long and costly Iraq war, died Tuesday, his family said in a statement. He was 88. Regarded by former colleagues as equally smart and combative, patriotic and politically cunning,…

Charges Expected Thursday for Trump’s Company, Top Executive

June 30, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP) – Donald Trump’s company and his longtime finance chief are expected to be charged Thursday with tax-related crimes stemming from a New York investigation into the former president’s business dealings. That’s according to people familiar with the matter who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The charges against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer,…

Minnesota Legislature Prepares to Finish off Work on Budget

June 30, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Legislature reconvenes Wednesday to finish its remaining work on a $52 billion, two-year budget after working into the early hours to pass a bill that ends Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers effective Thursday. The emergency powers language was added early Wednesday to a state government and elections budget bill shortly after the…

Minnesota Lawmakers Pass Modest Police Accountability Bill

June 30, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Senate has joined the state House in approving a modest set of police accountability measures as part of a broader public safety budget bill. The Senate approved it 45-21 early Wednesday following a 75-59 vote Tuesday night in the Minnesota House. The approval comes on the heels of last week’s sentencing of…

City of Duluth Reveals COVID Relief Fund Recommendations

June 29, 2021

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn.– Mayor Emily Larson and members of the City Administration announced their recommendations today on how the city should spend the $58 million dollars it received from the American Rescue Plan. The City of Duluth has now received half of the $58 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan, and today Mayor Larson proposed a way to invest that…

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Biden Selling Big Infrastructure Deal

June 29, 2021

The Associated Press,

LA CROSSE, Wisc. (AP) – President Joe Biden is in Wisconsin, looking to sell voters on the economic benefits of the $973 billion infrastructure package. He hopes the trip will boost the bipartisan agreement that is held together in large part by the promise of millions of new jobs. White House officials issued an internal memo that highlights how the…

‘We Have a Deal’: Biden Announces Infrastructure Agreement

June 24, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has announced that “we have a deal” – a bipartisan agreement on a $953 billion infrastructure plan. The agreement, reached in a meeting Thursday at the White House, means a breakthrough after arduous negotiations on the president’s top legislative priority. Biden invited members of the bipartisan group to discuss the pared-down plan that has…

New York Court Suspends Rudy Giuliani’s Law License

June 24, 2021

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) – An appeals court has suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in New York because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the presidential race. An attorney disciplinary committee said in its motion to suspend Giuliani’s license that there was “uncontroverted evidence” that Giuliani had made false statements to…

Minnesota House Passes $7 Billion Transportation Budget Bill

June 23, 2021

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Another piece of Minnesota’s budget picture fell into place when the House passed a $7 billion transportation funding bill. The bill includes money for two new bus rapid transit lines for the Twin Cities. It preserves the Northstar commuter rail line. It includes money for a second daily Amtrak train between St. Paul and Chicago….

Harris to Visit US-Mexico Border Area Regarding Migration

June 23, 2021

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) WASHINGTON (AP) – Vice President Kamala Harris is set to make her first visit to the U.S. Mexico border since taking office. The visit to El Paso is planned for Friday and it comes after she’s received criticism from members of both parties for failing to go there despite taking on a leading role in the…

Biden Urges Shots for Young Adults as Variant Concern Grows

June 22, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government is stepping up efforts to get younger Americans vaccinated for COVID-19 amid growing concern about the spread of a new variant that threatens to set the country back in the months ahead. The push is underway as the delta variant has come to represent more than 20% of coronavirus infections in the U.S. in…

Wisconsin Republicans to Send Election Bills to Governor

June 22, 2021

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Assembly plans to send bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that would limit opportunities for absentee voting, make it more difficult for the elderly and disabled to cast absentee ballots, and prohibit officials from filling in missing information on the envelopes of returned absentee ballots. Evers is expected to veto all of the Republican-backed…

Minnesota Lawmakers to Hand out Nearly $1B in Tax Cuts

June 21, 2021

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Legislature is on track to hand out serious tax relief to thousands of businesses and unemployed workers this year. The final tax bill agreed to by lawmakers late last week features nearly $1 billion in tax cuts over the next four years. The bill includes about $650 million in tax relief on federal emergency loans…

Biden Promotes Milestone of 300M Vaccine Shots in 150 Days

June 18, 2021

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is marking another milestone in his quest to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. Biden announced Friday that 300 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered in the 150 days since he took office on Jan. 20. Biden is crediting scientists, companies, the American people and his whole-of-government effort. The president noted that 65%…