Political

Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Visits Duluth as Early Voting Begins

DULUTH, Minn.– Former Vice President Joe Biden made his way to the Duluth area today, marking his first stop in Minnesota as the Democratic presidential nominee. Joe Biden made his first campaign appearance to the battleground state of Minnesota, a region that could be a big factor on Election Day. The presidential hopeful flew into Duluth early Friday afternoon as…

Minnesota Begins Early Voting as Candidates Visit the State

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The battleground state of Minnesota began voting in the presidential election on Friday as polling stations opened in every county and local elections officials began mailing out absentee ballots. Dozens of voters lined up early in the morning outside the early voting center in Minneapolis, where officials said 44 people had voted in the first half-hour after…

Us Bans Wechat, Tiktok From App Stores Citing Security Risk

AP – The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it will ban Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores on Sunday and will saddle the apps with technical restrictions that could seriously limit their functionality in the U.S. The order, which cited national security and data privacy concerns, follows weeks of dealmaking over the video-sharing service TikTok. President Donald Trump…

Pres. Trump, Joe Biden to Each Visit Northern Minnesota Friday

DULUTH, Minn.– The national spotlight is ready to shine on northern Minnesota tomorrow as both presidential candidates plan to make appearances, with one of them in Duluth. President Donald Trump will be in Bemidji. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will be somewhere in the Duluth area not yet announced by the campaign. While the two candidates will hold their campaign…

Early Voting Begins On Friday In Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn- There are six weeks left until the general election, but early voting starts on Friday in Minnesota. As the global pandemic continues to create concerns, election officials for the City of Duluth are encouraging residents to vote by mail. The city has also implemented many safety protocols including frequent sanitizing practices, to still allow those who prefer to…

US Judge Blocks Postal Service Changes That Slowed Mail

SEATTLE (AP) — A U.S. judge on Thursday blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide. The judge called them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election. Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima, Washington, said he was issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction sought by 14 states that sued the Trump administration…

Pence Returns to Upper Midwest After Trump, Biden Visits

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence returns to the upper Midwest next week following visits this week by President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, the Trump campaign announced Thursday. Pence will start a bus tour next Thursday in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he will speak at the building materials company Midwest Manufacturing Inc. before traveling…

Joe Biden To Speak in Duluth Friday as President Trump Rallies in Bemidji

DULUTH, Minn. — Former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he’ll be speaking in Duluth on Friday. “In the afternoon, Vice President Biden will tour a union training center and deliver remarks,” a statement read in a short press release from the campaign. The location and time are “to be announced.” Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will…

Wisconsin Sees High COVID Infection Rate, Loss of FEMA Funding For PPE in Schools and Other Public Entities

MADISON, Wis. — Governor Tony Evers’ administration shared an update on Tuesday that Wisconsin is dealing with a high COVID-19 infection rate, while FEMA has pulled funding to help supply PPE to public entities like schools. During Tuesday’s update, the administration shared that Wisconsin hit a new record for the number of COVID-19 test results coming back positive in a…

Absentee Ballots In High Demand, Won’t Need to be Re-printed in Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — Absentee ballots, which are in high demand this election year, can continue to print the way they are in Wisconsin after Monday’s state Supreme Court ruling. The Wisconsin Supreme Court judges ruled that absentee ballots would not need to be re-printed to include Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins. Before this decision was made, the high court put…

Wisconsin Election Clerks Rush to Mail Ballots After Delay

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Election clerks in Wisconsin are rushing to mail absentee ballots less than 24 hours after the state Supreme Court lifted its temporary freeze on sending them while it considered a legal challenge. The Town of Greenville clerk who also serves as president of the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association says clerks across the state are “busy.” More…

Trump, Biden Face off on West Coast Wildfire, Climate Change

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — With the smell of California wildfires in the air, President Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role. He reiterated his unfounded claim that poor forest management is to blame for the fires roaring up-and-down the West Coast. The fires are threatening to become another front in Trump’s…

Pence Highlights Law and Order During Wisconsin Visit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is emphasizing President Donald Trump’s commitment to “law and order” during a campaign stop in swing-state Wisconsin on Monday. Pence spoke Monday at a hotel in Janesville, about 70 miles from Kenosha where sometimes violent protests erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Pence credited Trump with stopping the violence in…

Duluth’s 2020 Projected Budget Shortfall Falls To $12 Million; 2021 Deficit Projection Announced

DULUTH, Minn. – There is some good news for the city of Duluth’s budget crisis related to millions of dollars in lost revenue this year because of the pandemic. The projected 2020 budget shortfall that was once nearly $40 million in April and was decreased in June to $25 million is now projected to land around $11.88 million. Duluth Mayor…

Duluth Veterans Rally Against Trump

DULUTH, Minn.– The President has been accused of making comments calling soldiers who died in combat ‘losers and suckers’ which has drawn criticism across the country, including from veterans in Duluth. A group of veterans met outside City Hall in Duluth earlier today in response to the allegations made against Trump. Several veterans spoke during the gathering sharing their experiences…

Donald Trump Jr. Makes Pitch for Father on Duluth Stage

"They say we can't win Minnesota. I disagree, what about you?" he said at the podium at the DECC.

DULUTH, Minn.- To a DECC ballroom of 250 Trump supporters, Donald Trump Jr. used his “Make America Great Again” event to bolster his father’s first term in office while bashing his Democratic opponent Joe Biden. “They say we can’t win Minnesota. I disagree, what about you?” he said at the podium to an eruption of cheers. The eldest Trump son…

Protest Held in Response to Trump Jr’s Duluth Visit

DULUTH, Minn.– This isn’t the first time a Trump family member has visited Duluth to try to win over voters during the president’s re-election campaign. While each visit draws supporters, the events have also drawn protesters who want their message to be seen and heard. About 50 people gathered at Gichi-ode’ Akiing park in downtown Duluth to protest Donald Trump…

Watch: Donald Trump Jr. Hosts ‘Make America Great Again’ Event at DECC

DULUTH, Minn. – Donald Trump Jr. hosts a “Make America Great Again” event on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The rally will mark the Trump campaign’s second visit to Duluth in a matter of weeks. Vice President Mike Pence visited Duluth two weeks ago. Before that, President Trump also made a stop in Mankato as…

Kamala Harris, Mike Pence to Both Be in Wisconsin on Monday

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is scheduled to make her first campaign appearance in battleground Wisconsin on Labor Day in Milwaukee, while Vice President Mike Pence was headed to western Wisconsin. The dual appearances by Pence and Harris come just days after President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were in Kenosha two days…

Kanye West Lawsuit Over November Ballot Stays in State Court

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West’s lawsuit demanding election officials place him on Wisconsin’s presidential ballot in November will remain in state court. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach decided late Thursday to keep the matter in state court, rejecting the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s attempt to move it to federal court. Griesbach said the case should remain in state…

In Kenosha, Biden to Test His Promise to Unify the Nation

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden’s core pitch for the presidency faces its most intense test yet when he travels to Kenosha, Wisconsin. It’s a city wrenched by police and protest the violence that makes it a microcosm of the nation’s election-year reckoning with systemic racism. Biden believes he can use his trip Thursday as an opportunity for community leaders…

Biden Focuses on Schools and Pandemic, Then to Visit Kenosha

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden is traveling to Wisconsin on Thursday, two days after President Donald Trump, as the key swing state becomes the focal point for political debate over violence at protests. First, Biden is hammering Trump on Wednesday on pandemic school safety, trying to keep the election spotlight on the president’s handling of the outbreak and the…

House Panel Warns of Fraud, Abuse in Paycheck Protection Program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional investigators say they have identified possible fraud and abuse in the Trump administration’s coronavirus relief program. A report by a House subcommittee says a lack of government oversight and accountability for the $600 billion-plus program may have led to billions being misspent. Congressional investigators are also concerned that more than $1 billion went to companies that…

Superior Mayor’s 2021 Budget Proposes More Officer Training, Adding Social Worker to Police Dept.

The budget makes use of the roughly $385,000 surplus from last year.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Superior Mayor Jim Paine announced his 2021 budget proposal Monday. Calling it the most ambitious budget of his administration, it includes the largest investment into police training in the city’s history, and adding a social worker to the department. According to Mayor Paine, excess funds of $385,468 from the year 2019 will help the city forward through the…

Rep. Pete Stauber Announces Iron Workers Local 512 Endorsement

Union members stood beside Stauber as the spoke about his support for the Line 3 pipeline project and mining in the Northland.

HERMANTOWN, Minn.-U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber announced he is being endorsed by the Iron Workers Local 512. Union members stood beside Stauber as he spoke about his support for the Line 3 pipeline project and mining in the Northland. He vowed to bring more jobs to the area if he continues to serve the 8th district. “We’re a mineral rich natural…

Iron Range Mayors Endorse U.S. Senate Candidate Jason Lewis

"Mining is the engine that runs our economy. We don't have a lot of adversity in the city of Virginia," said Larry Cuffe Jr., mayor of Virginia.

EVELETH, Minn. – More than five Iron Range mayors endorsed President Trump for re-election during Vice President Mike Pence’s visit on Friday. Some of those politicians sat down for a round table discussion with republican U. S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis to talk about key issues impacting the area. The Iron Range can be mostly known for its mining industry….

Wisconsin Republicans Take No Action on Policing Bills

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature took no action in a special session called by the state’s Democratic governor to pass a package of bills on policing policies. The brief session came just over a week after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back. Republicans started the session and recessed in both the…

Trump to Visit Kenosha Tuesday

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, amid fury over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the back. White House spokesman Judd Deere told reporters Saturday night that Trump will be meeting with law enforcement officers and “surveying” some of the damage from recent protests. The visit is certain…

Vice President Mike Pence Makes A Stop In Duluth

"We got a clear vision for our second term, more jobs, and better wages," said Vice President Mike Pence.

DULUTH, Minn. – One day after ending the Republican National Convention, Vice President Mike Pence makes his first appearance back on the campaign trail in Duluth. He is hoping to gain the support of Minnesotans as the administration makes an effort to build a stronger economy. Hundreds of supporters rallied together at the Clure Public Marine Terminal in Duluth, to…

Minnesota DFL Leaders, Residents Respond to Vice President Pence Visit

Vice President Mike Pence Spoke in Duluth Friday at Clure Public Marine Terminal

DULUTH, Minn. – The visit to the Northland by Vice President Mike Pence drew sharp criticism from DFL leaders across Minnesota including Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and many residents. Members of the DFL party in Minnesota seem to agree the Trump administration has lacked leadership, allowing the COVID-19 pandemic to spiral out of control across the United States, while leaders…

Jury Trials Are Slowly Starting To Return Across The State

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – The global pandemic put a pause on jury trials and in-person court proceedings in Minnesota. These trials are slowly beginning to resume across the state including in the Northland, as courts are taking precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. The last time there was an in-person hearing with a jury at the Lake County Courthouse was back…

Watch Live: Republican National Convention Day Four

WASHINGTON (AP) — With crises brewing beyond the White House gates, President Donald Trump is about to stand on the South Lawn to accept his party’s nomination for president. He is presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life that’s under siege from radical forces. Facing a fraught national moment, Trump is expected to paint an…

Private Wisconsin College Cancels Pence Commencement Speech

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A private Milwaukee college has canceled plans to have Vice President Mike Pence deliver a commencement address this weekend, citing unrest in nearby Kenosha where police shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, and two people were killed during protests that followed. Wisconsin Lutheran College said Thursday that “after further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in…

Watch Live: Republican National Convention Day Three

WASHINGTON (AP) —A speaker who had been expected to deliver remarks on the third night of the Republican National Convention has been unexpectedly removed from the program hours before airtime. Another speaker’s appearance is up in the air. The campaign confirmed that Robert Unanue, the president and CEO of Goya Foods, will not be speaking Wednesday night, citing a “logistical…

Watch Live: Republican National Convention Day Two

WASHINGTON (AP) — The people closest to President Donald Trump — his family — are starring on the second night of the Republican National Convention as the GOP works to reintroduce the president to American voters in the midst of the campaign and pandemic. Tuesday’s program is designed around the theme of “Land of Opportunity.” Beyond the president’s family, the…

WHAT TO WATCH: Melania, Pompeo and Trump on Day 2 of GOP convention

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tuesday’s program at the Republican National Convention is likely to wade into familiar waters, with a lineup expected to speak on divisive issues like abortion and “cancel culture.” What to watch at the convention Tuesday: TRUMP Trump appeared frequently during the first day of his party’s convention. While he is expected to make an appearance during prime-time…

First Quarter of School Year Now Distance Learning for Duluth Middle, H.S. Students

DULUTH — The Duluth School District announced Monday that middle and high school students will fully use a distance learning model for the first quarter of the school year. Supt. John Magas said the change through Nov. 6 will allow the district to safely handle state-mandated childcare service for around 1,000 kids who have at least one parent who is…

Watch Live: Republican National Convention Day One

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Republicans this week will renominate President Donald Trump and highlight four years of his administration and promises he delivered on. While Democrats held an entirely virtual convention last week to nominate Joe Biden, the Republicans are holding a pared-down version of an in-person gathering on Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The rest of the convention runs…

Republicans Nominate Trump; He Questions Election Integrity

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump has turned a surprise opening-day appearance at his party’s scaled-down national political convention into an opportunity to cast doubt on the integrity of the fall election. That was just moments after delegates nominated him for a second term. Trump vigorously contended that he’s done such a great job as president that the only…

Top Trump Aide Kellyanne Conway to Leave White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of President Donald Trump’s most influential and longest-serving advisers, Kellyanne Conway, says she will be leaving the White House at the end of the month. Conway was Trump’s campaign manager during the stretch run of the 2016 race, and she was the first woman to successfully steer a White House bid. She then became a senior…

GOP Delegates Open Convention to Renominate Trump for 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Republicans are gathered to formally nominate President Donald Trump for reelection at a scaled-down convention kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina. Monday begins a weeklong effort to convince the American people that Trump deserves a second term. Despite the ongoing pandemic, delegates are holding an in-person meeting and roll-call vote at the Charlotte Convention Center. Many of…

Rallies Outside Post Offices in Duluth Deliver Thanks, Support for Postal Workers

The rallies come as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is accused of making changes that could slow the delivery of mail-in ballots for this year's General Election.

DULUTH, Minn.- Various community groups gathered by two post offices in Duluth Friday, to picket in support of local postal workers as the future of the United States Post Office hangs in contention in Washington. “I feel like the Post Office, the USPS is an essential Public Service,” said Jon Phipps, a recent UMD Grad from West Duluth. Signs and…

Ex-Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Charged in Border Wall Scheme

NEW YORK (AP) — Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme “We Build The Wall.” The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court. Federal prosecutors alleged that Bannon and three others “orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands…

Watch Live: Democratic National Convention Day Three

Harris Prepares to Make History With VP Acceptance Speech

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Kamala Harris is poised to make history as the first Black woman to accept a spot on a major party’s presidential ticket. It’s a moment intended to galvanize Democratic voters heading into the fall campaign against President Donald Trump. The stakes on Wednesday night are high as Harris tries to unite the party behind its presidential…