Political

Hillary Clinton Rules out 2020 Rematch With Donald Trump

Clinton Made the Announcement During an Interview Posted Monday

WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton says she won’t run for president in 2020, but vows she’s “not going anywhere.” The former secretary of state, senator and first lady ruled out another campaign during an interview posted Monday by New York TV station News12 . Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump, says, “I’m going to keep on working…

Walz Sets Goal: 100 Percent Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050

(video courtesy: Facebook/Governor Tim Walz) ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz has set an ambitious goal for Minnesota to get 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050. Walz said at a news conference Monday that his clean energy proposals would put Minnesota at the forefront of addressing climate change. The Democratic governor says his proposals build…

Trump, Kim Summit Collapses Over Sanctions Impasse

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — President Donald Trump has departed Vietnam after failing to reach an agreement during his second nuclear summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. The U.S. leader said he “walked away” from talks with Kim after it was clear the two sides remained at odds in talks over ending the North’s nuclear program. Trump says the North…

Duluth Council OKs $88K For External Review Of Police Dept.

DULUTH, Minn.- City councilors have unanimously approved Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken’s request to purchase an external evaluation of his department at a cost of roughly $88,000. The funds would come from the department’s already-approved operational budget for 2019. The assessment would be performed by a third party, and police say it would help them better allocate their limited resources…

Kal Randa Enters Race for St. Louis County Board

22-year-old University of Minnesota student joins three other candidates in race

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A fourth candidate has entered the race for the open seat on the St. Louis County Board. Kal Randa is a 22-year-old college student from Hermantown. He’s expecting to graduate soon from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a major in political science. He is president of the group, Minnesota Students for Liberty. Randa joins candidates Keith…

One-On-One: Senator Rarick Talks Broadband, Infrastructure & Recreational Marijuana

FOX 21's Brett Scott Talks With Newly Elected State Senator Jason Rarick (R)

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s newest state Senator, Jason Rarick, has now been on the job for a little over one week since being sworn into office Wednesday, February 6. “It was a long month of hard work with some nasty weather but we were all really excited when we saw the final results,” said Rarick. Senator Rarick recently came out…

One-On-One: Gov. Walz Talks Legalizing Marijuana, Mining & Infrastructure

FOX 21's Brett Scott Sits Down for a One-On-One Interview with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Nearly two months after being sworn into office, Minnesota’s 41st Governor, Tim Walz, is not holding back when it comes to environmental issues, recreational marijuana and infrastructure. “I’m a congressman from Southern Minnesota, I’m from Mankato, but I saw this as one Minnesota throughout my campaign,” said Governor Tim Walz. Walz is no stranger when it…

Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Republican tax Plan

Evers Will Unveil his Income tax Plans Next Week

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed an income tax cut bill in an early showdown with legislative Republicans who had moved to weaken the Democrat’s powers just weeks before he took office. Evers’ veto Wednesday came on a bill that his party had called a stunt by Republicans. The GOP doesn’t have enough votes to override the…

Minnesota Joins Lawsuit to Block Trump’s National Emergency

The Lawsuit was Filed by California's Attorney General

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota has joined with 15 other states in suing to block President Donald Trump’s declaration of an emergency to fund his proposed wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. Attorney General Keith Ellison says the plan to divert funds is illegal and unconstitutional. He says federal money designated for the Minnesota National Guard would be at…

Sen. Bernie Sanders Running for President in 2020

The Announcement Came Tuesday Morning

WASHINGTON – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s running for president in 2020. The 77-year-old self-described democratic socialist challenged Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary in 2016 and said on Tuesday that he planned to again seek the nomination. Sanders has reshaped Democratic politics and earned a loyal following with his passionate defense of liberal proposals including free college…

Trump declares national emergency to build border wall

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he expects legal challenges to his decision to declare a national emergency to erect barriers between the U.S. and Mexico but says he’ll be vindicated. Trump announced Friday that he has signed the appropriate paperwork to declare an emergency on the border so he can build a wall. In a sing-songy tone of voice,…

Senate Passes Border Security Plan

The House Will Take a Vote Thursday Night

WASHINGTON – The Senate has passed a bipartisan border security plan that would finance 55 additional miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, significantly less than President Donald Trump wanted. The vote came shortly after the White House announced he’ll sign the measure — and immediately announce he’ll use emergency powers to build additional miles without approval from Congress. The…

Senate Confirms William Barr as Attorney General

Barr Previously Served as AG From 1991-1993

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON – The Senate has confirmed William Barr as attorney general, placing the veteran government official and lawyer atop the Justice Department as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates Russian interference in the 2016 election. The Senate voted 54-45 to confirm Barr, who previously served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993. Barr will succeed Jeff Sessions, who was…

Klobuchar Raises $1M Within 48 Hours of Launching 2020 bid

She Kicked off her Candidacy Sunday

WASHINGTON — Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s campaign says the Democrat raised more than $1 million in the 48 hours after launching her presidential bid. Klobuchar kicked off her candidacy Sunday during a snowy rally in Minneapolis. Her campaign says the money was raised from “online and grassroots supporters.” She is one of the few Democrats running for the presidency who…

Amy Klobuchar Launches Presidential Bid During Snowy Minneapolis Rally

MINNEAPOLIS — (FOX 9) – U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar launched her presidential campaign Sunday afternoon during a snowy rally near downtown Minneapolis, joining a crowded field of Democrats seeking to challenge President Donald Trump. A light but steady snow fell during the event at Boom Island Park, partially obscuring the Minneapolis skyline behind the stage. Some supporters trekked to the…

Gary Anderson To Run for Second Term on Council

Current first district councilor announces he'll run for second term

DULUTH, Minn.- To cheers from his supporters at Vanilla Bean in Duluth, First District City Councilor Gary Anderson announced he will be running for council for a second 4-year-term. Anderson is currently the Vice President of the council. During his term has helped craft and vote on the Earn Sick and Safe Time Ordinance and changing the age to buy…

College Students on State of the Union

UMD College Democrats Watch and Critique

DULUTH, Minn.- Lots of people in the Northland had interest in President Trump’s State of the Union Speech, including some younger eyes. Students at a few of the political clubs in twin port colleges tell us they had private viewing parties to watch the big speech. According to one UMD College Democrat, President Trump should focus on topics he feels…

Republican Jason Rarick Wins MN 11th District State Senate Race

Rarick tops DFL candidate Stu Lourey

FINLAYSON, Minn. – Republican candidate, Jason Rarick, won the special election to represent Minnesota’s 11th District in the State Senate. When the final results were counted on Tuesday night, Rarick had 8,127 votes compared to DFL candidate Stu Lourey’s 7,171. Rarick is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives where he has served since 2015. He and his supporters…

Narrow Divide in Senate Raises Stakes in Special Election

Voters in northern Minnesota take part in a special Senate election Tuesday with a little more at stake than usual.

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Voters in northern Minnesota take part in a special Senate election Tuesday with a little more at stake than usual. Republicans had just a one-seat majority in the Senate before newly elected Gov. Tim Walz appointed Democrat Tony Lourey to his cabinet. Now the GOP is hoping to flip the seat Lourey vacated to give themselves a bit…

Elements Begin To Emerge of Walz Agenda For Rural Minn.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – New Gov. Tim Walz won’t release his first budget until Feb. 19 but some elements of his agenda for rural Minnesota are already emerging. Walz is Minnesota’s first governor from greater Minnesota since Rudy Perpich left office in 1991. The Democratic former congressman from Mankato has provided some glimpses recently about his plans for the…

US Leaving Arms Control Treaty With Russia

Russia Denies Violating the Treaty

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the U.S. is pulling out of a treaty with Russia that’s been a centerpiece of arms control since the Cold War. The American withdrawal had been expected for months. It follows years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the 1987 pact, which bans certain ground-launched cruise missiles….

Goodbye 18, Hello 21. Duluth’s Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products Rises

Ordinance Will Take Effect In 120 Days

DULUTH, Minn.- In a 6-2 vote Monday night, the Duluth city council voted in favor of raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. “I know people will say this is a complex issue. But the lives of our children–is simple,” said Tonya Sconier, principal at Denfeld High School, before the vote was made. About a…

Trump, Pelosi Agree on Feb. 5 for State of the Union Address

The House and Senate Still Must Pass

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to give his State of the Union speech on Feb. 5. Trump said in a letter to Pelosi on Monday that it is his “great honor” to accept her invitation to speak before a joint session of Congress next week. He writes, “We have a great…

Sanders Says Stone Arrest Unrelated to Trump

Stone was Arrested Friday

WASHINGTON -White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the arrest of former Donald Trump campaign adviser Roget Stone in the special counsel’s Russia probe has nothing to do with the president. Sanders’ comments came hours after Stone was arrested Friday during a pre-dawn raid at his Fort Lauderdale, Florida, home. Stone was charged in a seven-count indictment that includes…

Trump Says any Deal Must Have Wall Down Payment

The Senate Rejected 2 Proposals Thursday

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says President Donald Trump will not accept a short-term deal to reopen the government unless it includes “a large down payment” for his promised border wall. The statement from White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday came as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer were meeting to try…

Lourey, Lee vie in Democratic Primary for Senate Seat

Republicans Holds a two Seat Edge in Senate

(AP) – Democrats Stu Lourey and Michelle Lee are vying in a primary for an open state Senate seat. The District 11 seat opened when Lourey’s father, Tony Lourey, was named state Human Services commissioner earlier this month. Tuesday’s winner will face Rep. Jason Rarick, a Republican from Pine City, and Legal Marijuana Now candidate John Birrenbach of Pine City…

High Court Lets Military Implement Transgender Restrictions

Cases Will Continue to Move Through Lower Courts

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender people while court challenges continue. The high court on Tuesday reversed lower-court orders preventing the Pentagon from implementing its plans. But the high court for now declined to take up cases about the plan. The…

Kamala Harris Jumps Into Presidential Race

Harris is a Former California Attorney General

WASHINGTON – Sen. Kamala Harris is running for president. The California Democrat tells ABC’s “Good Morning America” that she’s entering the increasingly crowded field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. If successful, she’d be the country’s second African-American president and the first woman to hold the office. Harris is a daughter of immigrant parents who grew up in Oakland, California….

DFL-Endorsed Lee vs. Lourey In Tuesday’s Primary For Senate Dist. 11

DULUTH, Minn. – Former news personality Michelle Lee took a win Saturday for the DFL endorsement for Minnesota’s Dist. 11 Senate seat.   The primary is Tuesday, Jan. 22. Lee received 59.6 percent of the delegate votes on the first ballot at the convention held in Barnum on Saturday.  Sixty percent is needed for an endorsement. DFL candidate Stu Lourey immediately conceded…

Free Haircuts For Federal Workers

Dapper Jack's Treating Unpaid Workers Affected by Shutdown

DULUTH, Minn.- As businesses across the Northland continue to offer discounted or free services to unpaid federal workers during the shutdown, Dapper Jack’s barbershop on 47th Avenue East offered free haircuts to federal workers. If you’re wondering how many people really need it, the barber there says he had folks lined up before he even opened. He says the feeling after…

Evers Picks new Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent

Burrell is President of the National Black State Troopers Coalition

MADISON, Wis. – Gov. Tony Evers has picked the Wisconsin State Patrol’s next leader. Evers named patrol Maj. Anthony Burrell as superintendent on Friday. He will take over on Sunday. Burrell has served as a state trooper since 1990. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006, lieutenant in 2012 and captain of the patrol’s 11-county Northeast Region in 2015. He…

TSA Employees at Duluth International Airport are Still Working Without Pay

Operations are not affected by shutdown.

  DULUTH, Minn.- The  TSA at the Duluth International Airport also continues to work without pay. Currently representatives at the airport say they have not experienced any operational disruptions with TSA The airport’s leadership say they are very grateful the employees come in everyday to continue to do their jobs. “Their morale, their attitude is the same from our standpoint,”…

Ignite Studio Helps Unpaid Government Workers

Fitness Studio Offers All Classes Free To Workers and Family

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s day 23 of the partial government shutdown, about 800,000 employees are either working without pay, or furloughed. Businesses are stepping forward to help those workers with the financial difficulties. Ignite Studio in Duluth is trying to help ease the worries of those affected by the shutdown by offering free classes so they can exercise–improving moods, boosting energy,…

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Visit Duluth

The newly sworn-in state executives spoke at the University of Minnesota Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (DFL) and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL) were at the University of Minnesota Duluth Thursday sharing their vision for moving Minnesota forward. Days after their inauguration, the Minnesota state executives spoke to students, supporters, and community members in Duluth. “We have a charge and we have an opportunity to find common ground and…

Michael Cohen to Testify Publicly Before Congress Next Month

Cohen Pleaded Guilty in Both Investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before Congress next month. Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee will be the first major public hearing for Democrats, who have promised greater scrutiny of Trump. Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and…

Evers Says he Will Order Change in ‘Stance’ in Lawsuit

MADISON, Wis. – Gov. Tony Evers says he will be sending a letter to Attorney General Josh Kaul this week calling for Wisconsin to “change our stance” in a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the federal health care law. Evers campaigned on withdrawing from the lawsuit, but after he won the lame-duck Republican Legislature changed the law to require legislative…

Final Candidates set for District 11 Senate Seat

Lee Will Face Lourey in January 22 DFL Primary

DULUTH, Minn. – Republican Party nominee Jason Rarick is advancing to the special election on February 5. Republican candidates Justin Kyrch, Matthias Shir and Carl Pederson dropped out of the race earlier this week. Former Duluth news personality and Democrat Michelle Lee has entered the race for the Minnesota District 11 state senate seat that represents Carlton and Pine Counties….

Democrat Hortman Elected House Speaker

Hortman was Elected House Speaker

(Twitter)ST. PAUL, Minn. -The 2019 Minnesota Legislature is in session. The House and its new Democratic majority were called to order around noon Tuesday, while the Senate, where Republicans hold a two-vote majority, convened soon afterward. The opening day floor sessions were devoted to formalities and organizational matters, including the election of Democrat Melissa Hortman as House speaker. Dozens of…

2019 Edition of the Minnesota Legislature Convenes at Noon

Dem Leaders Will Unveil First 10 Bills Wednesday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Democrats will take control of the Minnesota House when the 2019 Legislature convenes at noon. Democrats gained 18 seats in the November elections to win the House with a 75-59 majority. Senate Republicans hold a narrow two-seat majority going into the session. Their leaders plan a news conference Tuesday morning to unveil their first five bills…

Trump to Take his Case to Build Wall to Prime-Time Audience

The Speech Will Take Place at 9:00 p.m. ET Tuesday

WASHINGTON – With no breakthrough in sight, President Donald Trump is set to argue in a prime-time address that a “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border requires the wall he’s demanding before ending the partial government shutdown. Trump’s speech on Tuesday night will be followed by his visit Thursday to the southern border. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted…

Minnesota Remembers Longtime Political Leader Tom Rukavina

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota is remembering the life of longtime Minnesota politician and Northland leader Tom Rukavina who particularly always fought hard for Iron Range workers. The 68-year-old from Virginia died Monday after a battle with leukemia. Rukavina, who was known for his passion and feistiness at times, served on the Minnesota House of Representatives for 26 years. He most…

Walz Calls for Education, Health Care Investment

Walz Spoke at the Fitzgerald Therater in St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. -New Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is using his inaugural address to stress the need for better education and health care for everyone. Walz spoke at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul after taking the oath as Minnesota’s 41st governor since statehood. Walz told the crowd of dignitaries and supporters that disparities in the state’s educational system are…

Evers Calls for Rejection of ‘Tired Politics’

Evers Gave Inauguration Speech Monday

(AP Photo/Andy Manis)MADISON, Wis. – Newly sworn-in Gov. Tony Evers is calling for a rejection of “the tired politics of the past” in his first speech as Wisconsin governor, saying “we’ve become content with division.” Evers delivered his inauguration speech Monday at a packed Capitol rotunda ceremony attended by five former governors and other dignitaries. Evers says the people of…