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…
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…
(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…
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)ST. PAUL, Minn. – Tim Walz is preparing to take the oath to become Minnesota’s 41st governor since statehood. The Democratic former congressman from Mankato says he’s ready to hit the ground running after Monday’s ceremonies at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. He’s already named all but one of his state agency heads. Minnesota’s other constitutional officers…
CLOQUET, Minn.- In this Cloquet house, dinner is becoming limited to a few options. “We have leftover Hamburger Helper, there’s pork chops. There’s hotdogs, mommy bought plenty of hotdogs,” the mother tells her children. “It’s pasta dishes, it’s things that you can get dirt cheap,” said Andrea Hawkins. “Y’know, it’s like living on a college kid’s income all over again.”…
DULUTH, Minn.- With the government shutdown entering its third week, effects are already being seen in the Northland. The shutdown hasn’t reached SNAP benefit recipients just yet, but that safety only lasts this month. President Trump’s recent declaration that he is prepared to keep the shutdown going for months, or even years, spells out danger for SNAP Food Stamp recipients…
(photo: Twitter)ST. PAUL, Minn. – The son of a Minnesota state senator appointed to incoming Gov. Tim Walz’s administration says he’ll run for his father’s seat. Stu Lourey, who has worked as an aide to Sens. Al Franken and Tina Smith, declared his interest in the seat after his father Tony was named Human Services commissioner on Thursday. Both Loureys…
(AP)WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court is siding with the Trump administration in a case about the Pentagon’s policy of restricting military service by transgender people. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that a lower-court judge was wrong to block the Pentagon from implementing its preferred policy. The unsigned ruling will…
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON — The House has elected Nancy Pelosi as its speaker as Democrats take command of the chamber for the new Congress. The near party-line majority vote makes her the country’s most powerful Democrat as the party begins two more years of confronting President Donald Trump. Except now, Pelosi’s Democrats will be able to set the House’s legislative…
DULUTH, Minn. — With the partial Government Shutdown still underway the affects are being felt here in the Northland, even by local Meteorologists as they forecast this winter weather. First things first says Fox 21’s Meteorologist Brittney Merlot, “As a Meteorologist an important reading we need this time of year is the water temperature. It helps us determine lake effect…
DULUTH, Minn.- The New Year will bring some big changes for businesses, including an increase in the Minnesota minimum wage. Starting in January, the minimum wage will increase to $9.86 for large employers, and $8.04 for small employers. This will be the 4th year the wage has increased, but only the second where it has increased based on inflation, going…
WASHINGTON – Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan is bemoaning America’s “broken politics.” He’s also using a farewell speech to say that Washington’s failure to overhaul costly federal benefit programs is “our greatest unfinished business.” The Wisconsin Republican is ending his two-decade House career. He says in prepared remarks that the country’s problems are solvable “if our politics will allow it.”…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Trump Administration has officially banned bump stocks in the U.S. It’s an equipment which allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like automatic firearms. Meanwhile, the owner of Superior Shooters Supply in Superior tells us this ban really doesn’t affect her business. She’s never sold bump stocks, and said they are barely effective, hurt accuracy, and are limited…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth City Council passed a TIF increment financing package for developers, who plan to build a luxury apartment complex downtown. $6.2 million of the $70.4 million cost will come through public financing. A packed city hall Monday night illustrates the urgency presented by this issue. The developers for the high rise presented their plans for the construction. The…
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov-elect Tim Walz is preparing to announce his first round of state agency heads who will serve in his administration. Walz and Lt. Gov.-elect Peggy Flanagan have called a news conference for Tuesday to announce the first out of 23 new commissioners. Walz’s transition team received over 500 applications for the leadership positions….
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council approved a new budget for the city Monday night. The budget is expected to be $3 million bigger than 2018’s. Councilors said the amount of cuts in this budget are minimal at best. Changes include adding $280,000 for park maintenance. At the council meeting they also had the first reading of an amendment that…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Gov.-elect Tony Evers says he’s not optimistic that outgoing governor Scott Walker will veto bills approved by the Republican-dominated Legislature that would limit the new governor’s power. Evers told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that he spoke by telephone with Walker and appealed to him to veto the legislation, but says Walker was noncommittal. Walker…
DULUTH, Minn.- Hot off his election victory against Republican Jeff Johnson, DFL Governor Elect Tim Walz and his running mate Peggy Flanagan made a stop in Duluth for a listening session. And Duluth surprised the event organizers, who had to switch locations from City Hall to the DECC to accommodate the numbers. After visiting the Silver Bay Veterans Home and…
DULUTH, Minn.- Joy, reverence, and nostalgia fill the small room of the St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us!” The room unifies in one voice, booming what many call the black national anthem: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. All the people, and all the libations, to…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Twenty months as Superior mayor has come and gone for Jim Paine but he believes his work is far from over which is why he has decided to run for re–election. Mayor Paine kicked off his campaign in a bit of an unconventional space, the Superior–Carnegie library located on Hammond ave. But he chose this location for good…
HOUSTON (CNN)- According to his spokesperson, former President George H.W. Bush has died in Houston Friday night. The 41st President was born into privilege and a tradition of service. Bush was a son of a senator, celebrated World War II combat pilot, student athlete, Texas oilman, Republican congressman, national party chairman, pioneering diplomat and spy chief. After his own 1980…
DULUTH, Minn.-The American Indian Community Housing Organization or AICHO is releasing their 2019 calendar, with creations from some unlikely artists. Much of the calendar is made up of photos taken by kids from “In Progress,” a program for indigenous youth from the Twin Cities. Over the last year, the children were given access to high end cameras and took pictures…
DULUTH, Minn. – It was about a month ago when Duluth Mayor Emily Larson announced the resignation of Heather Rand — the city’s Director of Business and Economic Development. At the time, Larson said the city would be looking for Rand’s replacement. But just weeks later – almost 30 days to the day on Tuesday – Larson announced that Rand’s…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth joined the nation in honoring lives lost in the transgender community. A crowd gathered downtown at the Minnesota Power Plaza on Tuesday night, as part of the 19th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance. They shared poems, words of encouragement, and raised awareness about violence that transgender and non-gender conforming people can face. “The connection that we…
DULUTH, Minn.-Many voters lined up to cast ballots for the 2018 elections. Some may have questioned how accurate the voting machines are during the election process. St. Louis County conducted a post-election review to check the ballots from the general election. Every general election six precincts are randomly selected for a hand recount by the County Canvassing Board. This verification…
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, an appointee of President Donald Trump, announced his decision following a hearing in Washington. The judge said Acosta’s credentials would be returned immediately and reactivated to allow him access to…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Lakeside neighborhood had been dry of alcohol sales for more than 100 years. But alcohol may soon flow there once more. After lifting the ban on liquor in 2016, multiple liquor stores could pop up there in the near future. Whether or not alcohol can be sold off sale in that neighborhood, comes down to the city council’s…
DULUTH, Minn. – More than two dozen Northlanders spent this Veterans Day in Washington, D.C. The group of men, women and veterans are from Duluth, Ely, Virginia, Hibbing and Wyoming. The trip was organized by the owners of the Boat Club Restaurant. Co-owner Jeff Anderson is a veteran of the Army National Guard. The group took a visit of places…
DULUTH, Minn.- Anti-Trump protesters took to the steps outside the St. Louis County Courthouse. The group was not happy about President Trump’s firing of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Overall, the protesters were making their voices heard because they say the Trump Administration is not above the law. Thursday night’s cold weather didn’t stop more than a dozen men and…
DULUTH, Minn. – There were some surprises and significant changes in the 2018 midterm elections. UWS Assistant Professor of Political Science, Alisa Von Hagel tells us the results showed some democratic momentum but it was not as wide spread as some thought. Von Hagel believes one very significant local election was the Wisconsin gubernatorial race where Democrat Tony Evers beat…
PROCTOR, Minn.-Pete Stauber, Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, declared victory Tuesday night in a speech to his constituents at Blackwoods restaurant in Proctor. In his speech, he thanked his family, especially his wife, for supporting him along the way, while also apologizing for missing some of his sons hockey and volleyball games: “But that’s what you have to do, when you want…
BAXTER, Minn.- Despite falling behind in votes, DFL Candidate for Minnesota’s 8th District, Joe Radinovich, announces in a speech that he is not conceding the race. As of 11:30pm, Radinovich’s 83,111 votes trail behind Stauber’s 106,026. The DFL Candidate said in his speech that there still many more precincts to go, and that he will continue fighting for working families….
SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The race is on to the polls! The main concern for Wisconsin polling places are to keep the lines short to increase voter turnout. Superior election officials are dividing the tasks of election registrations at breakneck speed as numerous volunteers are helping out. The Chief Inspector in Douglas County Pamela Brokaw said, “It’s been very busy, there’s been…
DULUTH, Minn. — Students at U.M.D. are trying to make the voting process for many first time voters, go smoothly! The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group set up a table right in Kirby Student Center, with one intention, to inform as many students as possible on where and how to vote. With laptops to register to vote on the spot,…
DULUTH, Minn. — It’s finally election day and Minnesotans wasted no time in hitting the polls early! The Secretary of State says more than 600,000 ballots have already been cast in Minnesota through the absentee process, putting Minnesota on pace to have the highest voter participation rate in the country. But that didn’t stop many Northlanders’ from voting the old…
DULUTH, Minn. – Election Day 2018. On Tuesday, November 6, millions of Americans are heading out to the polls to determine the winners of key races from coast to coast. Locally, Minnesotans and Wisconsinites have a jam packed ballot. Both Governor seats are up for grabs, and many House and Senate seats are also in the headlines. Dr. Cindy Rugeley,…
CHISHOLM, Minn. – The fifth and final debate between congressional candidates vying for Minnesota’s 8th District was Tuesday in Chisholm. Republican Pete Stauber, DFL candidate Joe Radinovich, and independent candidate Ray “Skip” Sandman debated at the Minnesota Discovery Center. The candidates did not hold back during their final chance to go head-to-head before next Tuesday’s election. Pete Stauber and Joe…
DULUTH, Minn.- The fate of Commissioner Pete Stauber’s emails rests in the hands of a St. Louis County Judge, who won’t make a decision about whether they should be released until next week. The Minnesota DFL is suing St. Louis County, to try and get those emails between Stauber and the National Republican Congressional Committee made public. This comes after…
DULUTH, Minn.- After two tabled votes, and three community meetings involving the topic, the Duluth City Council voted 6 to 2 in favor of purchasing roughly $83,000 of riot gear for Police Officers. Counselors Gary Anderson and Joel Sipress voted against the purchase. Em Westerlund was out of town for work. Westerlund missed a city council meeting like no other….
photo: TwitterST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Republican Minnesota Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow says he’d fire all Democratic attorneys working in the office and replace them with Republicans if he wins. Minnesota Public Radio News reported Wardlow’s remarks during a private fundraiser hosted this week. The radio station obtained a recording of the remarks from a Democratic-Farmer-Labor staffer attending the…
DULUTH, Minn. – A new bill is awaiting the President’s signature that would help local law enforcement fight the opioid epidemic. It’s called the Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances (SALTS) Act. It passed the senate last week. The bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL-Minn.) would allow law enforcement to pursue drug charges even if the specific…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Brett Kavanaugh has taken the oaths of office to become the 114th Supreme Court justice, just a couple of hours after the Senate voted 50-48 to confirm him. The quick swearing in enables Kavanaugh to begin work immediately in advance of arguments at the court Tuesday in two cases involving prison sentences for repeat offenders. The court…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate has confirmed Brett Kavanaugh as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, putting a second nominee from President Donald Trump on the highest court in the land. Kavanaugh was confirmed 50-48 Saturday during a historic roll call vote in the Senate chamber. The two-vote margin is one of the narrowest ever for a Supreme Court…
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)WASHINGTON (AP) – The remaining undecided Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin, says he will support Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The West Virginia senator announced his decision moments after the remaining undecided Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she would vote to confirm the nominee. Kavanaugh is now set to have the votes needed to be confirmed….
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON (AP) — A deeply divided Senate pushed Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination past a key procedural hurdle Friday, setting up a likely final showdown this weekend in a battle that’s seen claims of long-ago sexual assault by the nominee threaten President Donald Trump’s effort to tip the court rightward for decades. The Senate voted 51-49 to…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The impassioned fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court has led to heightened security at the Capitol, with some senators using police escorts to shield them from protesters. Capitol police have arrested dozens of protesters in recent days and stepped up their presence in Capitol hallways. Some Republican senators have expressed unease over protesters who…
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Former President Barack Obama is endorsing Democrat Tony Evers in his bid to deny Republican Gov. Scott Walker a third term. Obama also announced a slew of other endorsements, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Randy Bryce, a Democrat running to replace House Speaker Paul Ryan. President Donald Trump has endorsed Walker,…
(Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP, File)ST. PAUL, Minn. – A lawyer investigating a woman’s claim that she was physically abused by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison has concluded the allegation is unsubstantiated. The Associated Press on Monday obtained a draft of the report by Susan Ellingstad, an attorney hired by Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party to investigate the allegation. Ellison’s ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan,…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Land of 10,000 Lakes had some representation on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live this past weekend. The show’s cold open parodied the Senate Judiciary Meeting of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, featuring celebrities portraying all the politicians who voiced questions or remarks. Among these politicians was Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL). Portrayed by SNL alum Rachel…
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Republican leaders have agreed to delay a final vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to allow time for an investigation by the FBI of the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican, says, “There’s going to be a supplemental background investigation,” which would delay a…
