Political

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…

Democrats Nominate Biden for Epic Challenge to Oust Trump

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Democrats have formally nominated Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential nominee. Party officials and activists gave the ex-vice president their overwhelming support during his party’s all-virtual national convention Tuesday. The moment marked a political high point for Biden, who’d sought the presidency twice before. Biden is drawing on a collection of the Democratic Party’s most experienced…

Pence to Visit Wisconsin Wednesday

JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence will visit Wisconsin Wednesday as the White House attempts to counter the headlines from the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Pence is due to arrive at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Janesville, with Air Force II touching down about 11 a.m. He’s scheduled to make remarks at an event in Darien….

Watch Live: Democratic National Convention Day Two

LOS ANGELES (Fox) – The Democratic National Convention (DNC) continues Tuesday, Aug. 18. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the convention is an all-virtual event. Tuesday evening there will be remarks from notable politicians and lawmakers including Sen. Chuck Schumer, former Secretary of State John Kerry, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former President Bill Clinton, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of presidential nominee…

President Trump Focuses On Farming, Iron Range Mining During Minnesota Campaign Stop

MANKATO, Minn. —  President Trump spent Monday afternoon campaigning in both Mankato, Minnesota and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as both states are key battlegrounds in the presidential election this year. His presence in the Midwest comes on the heels of the Democratic National Convention kicking off in a virtual setting Monday evening. During President Trump’s visit to Mankato, he came prepared to…

DFL Leader Responds to President Trump’s Mankato Visit

MANKATO, Minn.– The Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor party is responding to President Trump’s visit to the state today. One DFL senator has criticism on the president’s policies toward farmers. Assistant Minnesota Senate Minority Leader and District 19 Senator Nick Frentz says he’s glad to have any president come to the area to talk about key issues, including issues facing corn…

Watch Live: Trump Counters Biden With Law and Order Message in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Declaring it’s “crunch time” for the upcoming election, President Donald Trump zeroed in on Midwest battleground states on Monday with a tough, law and order message to counterprogram former Vice President Joe Biden’s show at the Democrats’ convention. Trump is in Minnesota and is headed later in the day to Wisconsin, the official host state for the…

Trump on the Road as Biden Prepares for Convention Show

WASHINGTON (AP) – Trump was visiting Minnesota and Wisconsin on Monday to launch a week of travel and political events aiming to blunt the customary polling “bounce” that a candidate gets during their convention week. The president trails in both public and private surveys less than three months before Election Day. On Tuesday, Trump will take on Biden over his immigration…

Pelosi Calls House Back Into Session to Vote on Postal Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back into session this week to vote on a bill prohibiting the U.S. Postal Service from changing its operations or level of service. Her decision comes amid growing concerns that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency during the coronavirus pandemic as states expand mail-in voting…

Trump Plans Campaign Stops Monday in Minnesota, Wisconsin

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump’s campaign on Friday announced details of his visits on Monday to Minnesota and Wisconsin. The campaign says Trump will highlight “Joe Biden’s failures on jobs and the economy” during his two airport events. Trump will stop at North Star Aviation in Mankato, Minnesota, at 2 p.m. Monday, followed by Basler Flight Service in Oshkosh,…

Mayor Larson: 29-Percent Voter Turnout In Duluth For Primary Election

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson says Tuesday’s primary election brought out a larger number of voters than a typical primary. Larson took to Facebook Wednesday to post a video saying more than 16,000 ballots were cast in Duluth, which is a 29-percent turnout from registered voters. She says a typical primary in Duluth usually sees between a 9…

Governor Walz Extends Peacetime Emergency Powers for Another 30 Days

ST. PAUL, Minn.– Earlier today, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced an extension of his emergency powers that he has held since the beginning of the pandemic in March. This comes as lawmakers are in St. Paul for a third special legislative session. The governor is extending his emergency powers through September 11, streamlining the handling of the pandemic through the…

Rep. Tom Tiffany Visits Superior, UWS

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Wisconsin State Representative Tom Tiffany is getting ready for November’s general election. Earlier today, he made a visit to UW-Superior to meet with university officials. The District 7 representative talked to the UWS administration about the challenges of educating students during the pandemic. Tiffany also met with other businesses around Superior. In his short time in congress, Tiffany…

Republican Candidates Rally Supporters in Hinckley

Rep. Pete Stauber, Jason Lewis among Republican candidates to speak at rally

HINCKLEY, Minn. – Republican candidates spoke to voters at a rally in Hinckley Tuesday. Rep. Pete Stauber and senate candidate Jason Lewis were among Republicans rallying supporters to vote in the upcoming general election. Despite recent statewide races having been won by Democrats, Minnesota Republicans believe they have the momentum needed to turn the state red this fall. Rep. Pete…

Evers, Baldwin Among Wisconsin Speakers at Democratic Convention

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin are among the Wisconsin officeholders who will speak during next week’s Democratic National Convention, which will be based out of Milwaukee. The four-day event to formally nominate Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for president has been scaled back to a nearly all virtual event due to the…

Virtual Roundtable Gives Insight On Joe Biden’s Plans For Manufacturing Industry

DULUTH, Minn. – Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tammy Baldwin for Minnesota and Wisconsin hosted a virtual roundtable discussion to speak on presidential candidate Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” initiative. It is a plan to help revitalize manufacturing in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and across the nation. In the discussion, both senators explained how this is Biden’s effort to create millions of new…

Safety Protocols Put In Place For Primary Elections

DULUTH, Minn. – In the midst of the uncertain times of the pandemic, the primary elections in Minnesota and Wisconsin must carry on. On Tuesday, voters will be heading to the polls for these elections. Duluth city officials are spreading the word on what to look out for as this year’s primary might look a little different. The city has…

Coronavirus Aid Talks on Brink of Collapse, Sides Still ‘Far Apart’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money are teetering on the brink of collapse after a marathon meeting in the Capitol generated lots of recriminations but little progress on the top issues confronting negotiators. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says: “There’s a handful of very big issues that we are still very far apart” on. Mnuchin says there…

What You Need to Know for Minnesota’s Primary Election on Tuesday

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota election officials have been scrambling for weeks to hold Tuesday’s primary election in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. From relaxed rules on absentee voting to changes on election night to new procedures at polling places, here’s what you need to know. HOW MANY VOTERS HAVE CHOSEN ABSENTEE BALLOTS? As of Friday, 545,259 Minnesotans had…

Voters Sue Walz to Block Face Masks at Minnesota Polls

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A group of voters sued Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other officials on Tuesday to try to block a requirement that voters wear face masks at the polling place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Members of the Minnesota Voters Alliance, backed by Republican lawmakers, argue that Walz’s mask mandate conflicts with a 1963 state law making…

Judge Extends Minnesota Vote-by-Mail Changes to November

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A judge on Monday extended changes in Minnesota’s absentee ballot rules to the November general election. Ramsey County Judge Sara Grewing approved the agreement allowing Minnesota voters to submit their mail-in or absentee ballots in the Nov. 3 general election without witness signatures, the Star Tribune reported. Election officials also will count ballots that arrive within seven…

Pro-Police, ‘Reconstruct Police’ Groups Both Protest Outside Superior Government Center

The two protests converged to speak out on what they see as two very different sides of a police badge. 

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Signs and flags, conversations and tensions filled the grounds of the Government Center as a group in support of Superior Police, and a group pushing to restructure their local law enforcement protested in the same space. “We believe that there’s a lot within SPD that needs to be changed,” said Waylon J of the Expose the Gap group….

Minnesota Faces Potential $4.7 Billion Budget Deficit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota faces a potential $4.7 billion deficit in its next two-year budget due to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Minnesota Management and Budget office said Friday that the pandemic has made economic conditions “extremely volatile” as a new planning estimate shows a continued deterioration of state finances. Minnesota has received more than $2…

Former GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Dies After Battle With Coronavirus

ATLANTA (AP) — Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain has died after battling the coronavirus. He was 74. A post on Cain’s Twitter account on Thursday announced the death. Cain had been ill with the virus for several weeks. It’s not clear when or where he was infected, but he was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending President Donald…

Senator Amy Klobuchar Introduces Bill To Save Independent Live Music Venues

About 90% of venue owners in the nation have reported they are at risk of closing without extra financial support.

  MINNESOTA – Independent live music and entertainment venues across the nation are continuing to feel the devastating effects of the global pandemic. As a result, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Texas Senator John Cornyn are introducing a bill to help keep those venues from going under. About 90% of venue owners in the nation have reported they are at…

Congressman Pete Stauber Speaks on Legislative Session While Attending Trump Visit

DULUTH, Minn. – Eighth district Congressman Pete Stauber was also in attendance… for the signing of the Pledge to America’s Workers at Duluth Pack. Congress is back in legislative session this week after closing for the weekend. As some of the C.A.R.E.S. Act funding is set to expire, Congressman Stauber says they are taking on a variety of issues. “There’s…

Ivanka Trump Visits Duluth

Nearly 500 companies have signed the Pledge to Americas Workers.

DULUTH, Minn. – Senior Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and U.S. Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt made a visit to Duluth on Monday. They toured the local manufacturing company Duluth Pack. A big part of the visit was company leaders signing what’s being called the Pledge to America’s Workers, a Trump administration initiative designed to provide more workforce opportunities….

Trump Calls off Florida Segment of GOP National Convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has canceled segments of the Republican National Convention scheduled for Florida next month, citing a “flare-up” of the coronavirus. Convention events will still be held in North Carolina. “To have a big convention is not the right time,” Trump said of Jacksonville. Trump moved parts of the GOP convention to…

Minnesota Governor to Sign Police Accountability Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign a police accountability bill into law Thursday that includes a ban on neck restraints like the one that was used on George Floyd before his death in Minneapolis. The bill, passed by the Legislature earlier this week, also bans chokeholds and so-called warrior-style training, which critics say promotes excessive force….

Gov. Walz Says Mask Mandate Will Help Keep Businesses Open, Infection Rate Down

As of Saturday masks will be required in all indoor public spaces.

MINNESOTA- On Wednesday, Minnesota joined over two dozen other states in requiring masks to be worn in all indoor public places statewide. That new Executive Order by Governor Tim Walz goes into effect Saturday morning. You can find the full executive order here. “This is a small sacrifice for a potentially big gain,” Gov. Walz said. “The upside of the…

Minnesota Governor Prepares to Announce Masking Decision

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce a statewide face mask mandate on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The governor has scheduled a news conference with health officials and business owners to announce his “next steps in the state’s response to COVID-19.” His spokesman said it will be an announcement…

Mayor Larson Responds to Criticism Over Ordinance to Remove ‘Chief’ From CAO Title

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson responded Tuesday after Duluth city councilors voiced their frustrations at Monday night’s council meeting involving an ordinance to remove the word “chief” from the Chief Administrative Officer title that failed to pass.  If passed, the new title would have been City Administrator. “I really think the title should have been changed. And you know,…

Cloquet City Council Passes Mask Mandate; Votes to Take Effect August 1st

While some councilors supported the language of the ordinance, others thought enforcement would be an issue.

CLOQUET, Minn.- A mask mandate for indoor public places was passed by the Cloquet City Council Monday evening, taking effect August 1st. Unlike Duluth, the vote was not unanimous — the council, it seems, as divided as they said the community is on the issue. The Council passed the ordinance 5-2, the only change being making it effective August 1st….

Wisconsin Lawmakers Launch “Vote Safe” Initiative

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Lawmakers gathered to raise awareness about voting safely in state for the upcoming presidential election. Both the current, and former attorney general of Wisconsin were on the virtual call Tuesday morning. Although they did not disclose how they would go about making in-person voting safe, the goal of the initiative is to bring a better understanding…

Duluth City Councilors Point Fingers As Vote To Remove ‘Chief’ From Job Title Fails

  DULUTH, Minn. –  Built-up emotions and frustrations poured out from city councilors during Monday night’s council meeting involving an ordinance that called for the removal of the word “chief” from the Chief Administrative Officer title. The ordinance was pushed publicly by Mayor Emily Larson in June who said the word “chief” is offensive to the Indigenous community and removing…

Minnesota Senate GOP Leader Says Deal Near on Policing Bill

(AP Photo/Jim Mone) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The top Republican in the Minnesota Senate says legislative leaders have a tentative agreement on the outlines of a police accountability bill. But chances appear dimmer for a $1.9 billion public construction projects package that has yet to win the necessary GOP support in the Democratic-controlled House. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the…

Minnesota House GOP: No Deal on Bonding or Policing Bills

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota House Republican leaders said Monday they won’t provide the votes needed to pass a $1.9 billion public construction projects bill, and that they won’t back a package of police accountability measures either. House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, of Crown, made the comments at a news conference as lawmakers returned to the Capitol to…

Some Cloquet Business Owners Ready for Mask Mandate Ahead of Council Vote Tuesday

While city officials' views on the ordinance are divided, these business owners say it's a good idea.

CLOQUET, Minn.- Coming up Tuesday two Northland cities, Cloquet and Superior, will vote on a mask mandate for indoor public places. In Cloquet, some business owners say it’s a good idea if it means continuing their operations as safely as possible. “I think it’s good for the community overall, just to keep the spread of the Coronavirus,” said Cindy Peterson,…

Justice Ginsburg Says Cancer has Returned, but Won’t Retire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Friday she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer, but has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court. The 87-year-old Ginsburg, who has had four earlier bouts with cancer, said her treatment so far has succeeded in reducing lesions on her liver and she will continue chemotherapy sessions every two…

Pence Returning to Wisconsin for Stops in Ripon, Onalaska

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence planned to speak at Ripon College on Friday before touring a dairy farm near La Crosse. President Donald Trump’s campaign announced the planned visit on Wednesday. Pence was last in Wisconsin in June for a school choice round table and a faith-based event, both in Waukesha County. Ripon touts itself as the birthplace of…

Trump Administration Rescinds Rule on Foreign Students

BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration has rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the decision as a court hearing was getting underway on a challenge to the rule by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute…

Mayor Larson Drops ‘Chief’ From CFO Title, Renames Position To Be Less Offensive

Chief Administrative Officer title can't be changed without unanimous council vote because it's in the city charter.

DULUTH — Mayor Emily Larson has dropped the word “chief” from one of the city’s top positions — calling that word “offensive” to the indigenous community. The “Chief Financial Officer” title is now known as the “Finance Director.” Mayor Larson was able to make that change on her own because the position is not listed in the city’s charter, which…

Duluth Becomes First City in Northland to Approve Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Places

Duluth City Council voted unanimously to require masks indoors in public, with penalties for businesses and individuals that don't comply.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth is now the first city in the Northland to require masks in all public indoor spaces to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, after City Council voted unanimously to pass the historic ordinance Monday night, effective immediately. Face coverings will now be required in such places as retail spaces, DTA buses, the Skywalk, and in apartment building…

Duluth City Council Unanimously Passes Ordinance Requiring Masks Indoors Citywide

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council has unanimously passed a resolution requiring masks in indoor public places in the city, effective immediately, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings will now be required in such places as retail spaces, DTA buses, the Skywalk, at restaurants and bars when not eating or drinking, and in apartment building common areas such…

MN Senate GOP Leader Says Deal Close on Bonding, tax Bills

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Legislative leaders have agreed on most details of a public construction package and a tax bill, the Minnesota Senate’s top Republican said Monday, while discussions are continuing on whether a compromise is possible on police accountability in response to the death of George Floyd. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said at a news conference that his chamber…

Sen. Simonson Previews Upcoming Special Legislative Session

Bonding bill among proposals state lawmakers could vote on

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota lawmakers will return for another special legislative session starting on Monday, June 13. Sen. Erik Simonson (DFL-Duluth) tells us one likely focus of the session will be on a state bonding bill. The proposed bill includes millions of dollars in funding for Duluth seawall reconstruction, renovations at the Duluth Depot, and many other projects across the…