Political Archives - Page 47 of 62

A Look at Iran’s Nuclear Program Under 2015 Deal

Iran Denies Ever Seeking Atomic Weapons

May 8, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(AP) – President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he will withdraw the United States from a 2015 agreement with Iran and world powers under which Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. European countries and other proponents of the deal say it prevents Iran from quickly developing nuclear weapons. Critics of the deal, including…

World to Learn Fate of Iran Nuclear Pact Tuesday Afternoon

Trump Will Disclose his Decision at 2 p.m.

May 8, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is preparing to tell the world whether he plans to follow through on his threat to pull out of the landmark nuclear accord with Iran and almost surely ensure its collapse. There are no signs that European allies enlisted to “fix” the deal have persuaded him to preserve it. In…

City Leaders Discuss the Proposed Affordable Housing Work Act

Duluth city leaders speaking out Wednesday believe the proposed bill would affect over 900 households in Duluth.

May 7, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth city leaders gathered discussing how the Affordable Housing Work Act 2018 proposed bill could potentially affect the area if passed. The Trump administration’s making Affordable Housing Work Act 2018 proposal aims to increase the minimum rent paid by low–income households. It’s estimated over than two million people would be affected by the increase nationwide. The proposal still…

Pete Stauber Gets Republican Endorsement In 8th Dist.

May 6, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – 8th Congressional District candidate Pete Stauber has won the Republican endorsement. The announcement comes after the GOP district convention in Park Rapids, Minn., over the weekend. Stauber is a retired Duluth police officer and current St. Louis County Commissioner. The following statement was released to the media: “It is an honor to receive the endorsement of my…

Senate Approves tax Plan With Income tax cut

It Passed on a 34-32 Vote

May 3, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Senate has passed its plan to cut income taxes while matching new federal tax cuts. The bill passed Thursday would lower taxes on the first income bracket from 5.35 percent to 5.1 percent. It would also trigger future tax cuts when the state has a budget surplus and exempt estates worth up to…

Senate Poised to Vote on tax Plan With Income tax cut

A Final Vote is Expected Later Today

May 3, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Senate is preparing to vote on its plan to cut income tax rates while matching the federal tax overhaul. The Republican-controlled Senate’s proposal up for a vote Thursday would lower taxes on the first income bracket from 5.35 percent to 5.1 percent. It would also trigger future tax cuts when the state has…

GOP Lawmakers Offer gun Bills

Anderson Says They aim to Strengthen Current Laws

May 3, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Two Republican lawmakers from Minneapolis suburbs are proposing bills aimed at gun possession and ownership. One would give private sellers an incentive to verify a buyer has a legal right to own a gun before making a sale. The other involves several changes to the process by which guns can be taken from people after…

House GOP Proposes $825M in Public Construction

Much of the Bill's Money is for Repairs

May 3, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota House Republicans are proposing to spend $825 million on public works projects with a heavy focus on water infrastructure, roads and state building repairs. The House’s so-called bonding bill is roughly half the size of Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s $1.5 billion proposal. Republican legislative leaders had dismissed that plan as too large and promised…

Clinton Impeachment Lawyer to Represent Trump

Emmet Flood Joining Legal Team

May 2, 2018

The Associated Press,

(Marissa Rauch/Williams & Connolly LLP via AP)WASHINGTON (AP) – Veteran Washington, D.C., lawyer Emmet Flood, who represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment process, is joining the White House to represent President Donald Trump in the special counsel’s Russia investigation. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Wednesday that Flood would be joining the White House staff…

Charter Season Feeling Cramps With Seawall Reconstruction Delay

William A. Irvin Is 10 Feet Closer To Docks During Seawall Work

May 1, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – 12-hour work days, six days a week: That’s the new pace underway for the $6 million seawall reconstruction project in Duluth’s Minnesota Slip that the city says is scheduled to be completed by mid-June, with new bike lanes and sidewalks wrapping up in August. The delayed seawall project has the William A. Irvin pushed out about 10…

Following Explosion, UMD Researchers Interested in Black Carbon Levels in Lake Superior

April 30, 2018

William Seay,

DULUTH, Minn. — Less than a week since the refinery explosion in Superior, scientists from UMD’s Large Lakes Observatory are launching a research mission to study the waters of Lake Superior. Last Thursday, the Twin Ports watched as thick black smoke poured into the air from an explosion at Husky Energy’s Superior Refinery. The smoke plume was so massive it…

Welcome to the Partisan Fury, Michelle Wolf

Wolf is Facing Criticism and Praise After White House Correspondents Dinner

April 30, 2018

The Associated Press,

(Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK (AP) – White House Correspondents Association roaster Michelle Wolf joins a club with the likes of Kathy Griffin, Stormy Daniels and David Hogg – little-known or unknown figures who suddenly became surrogates for the hyper-partisan rhetorical warfare of the Trump era. President Donald Trump tweeted his disgust at Wolf’s routine Monday, she was a…

Critical Bill Matching State, Federal tax Codes Passes House

The Senate Plans to Release its own Proposal

April 30, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota House has passed a bill matching the state’s tax code with new federal tax cuts. The GOP-backed proposal that cleared the House Monday includes modest income tax rate cuts for more than two million Minnesotans and a slight increase to the standard deduction. But it would also cause slight tax increases for some…

Senate Votes to Nullify Minnesota Wild Rice Water Standard

The Governor has not Said Whether he Will Sign or Veto

April 30, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP) – The Minnesota Senate has voted 38-28 to nullify a water quality standard that’s meant to protect wild rice, a food central to the culture and diet of the region’s Ojibwe Indians. Senators voted Monday to add $500,000 for restoration work to the bill, which passed the House last week, so the legislation will have to go back to…

Prominent Trump Critic Painter Enters Minnesota Senate Race

Richard Painter Filed Paperwork Last Week

April 30, 2018

The Associated Press,

TwitterST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A former Republican White House lawyer and prominent critic of President Donald Trump is running for former Sen. Al Franken’s seat. And he’s running as a Democrat. Richard Painter filed paperwork with the FEC late last week. Painter served as chief White House ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush but has emerged as a…

Special Report: The Fight Against Distracted Driving

Throughout Distracted Driving Awareness Month, 83 Citations Were Given to Distracted Drivers in the Duluth District

April 29, 2018

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – According to the organization We Save Lives, millennials find distracted drivers scarier than public speaking, spiders, snakes and even death. It’s why local advocates and law enforcement are continuing to spread a strong message to drivers who chose to engage in other activities while behind the wheel. “When you’re driving, just concentrate on driving,” said Lt. Jason…

Aurora Mayor Announces DFL Candidacy for MN House 6B

April 29, 2018

Dan Hanger,

AURORA, Minn. (Press Release) — Aurora Mayor Dave Lislegard, an advocate for mining, healthy rural communities and “the Iron Range way of life,” hopes to bring his passion for jobs and a brighter economic future for the region to the Legislature in St. Paul. Lislegard, 45, has announced he will seek the DFL Party’s nomination for House 6B, a legislative…

City: Irvin Can Fit Through Slip Bridge; Seawall Construction Timeline Released

April 27, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth has released new details to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger involving an updated construction timeline on the delayed seawall project in Canal Park, and also when and where the William A. Irvin could eventually open for the season. But first, the Minnesota Slip Bridge in Canal Park, also known as the “Blue Bridge,” is…

Kim Jong Un Steps Across Korean Border, Makes History

Historic Summit for North and South Korea

April 27, 2018

The Associated Press,

(Korea Summit Press Pool via AP)GOYANG, South Korea (AP) — In a historic summit more striking for its extraordinary images than its substance, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in set aside a year that saw them seemingly on the verge of war, grasped hands and strode together Friday across the cracked concrete marking the…

Embattled VA Nominee Withdraws

Trump Says There Will be Consequences

April 26, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is praising Ronny Jackson, who has just announced he will withdraw from consideration as Veterans Affairs secretary. Trump says there will be consequences for the Democratic senator who led the charge against Jackson. In a phone interview with “Fox & Friends” Thursday, Trump says Jackson “would have done a…

Halted Duluth Seawall Project OK’d After Historic Preservation Concerns

April 25, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s multi-million dollar seawall reconstruction project has been given the green light to start work up again after questions were raised about the historical significance of the Minnesota Slip, according to the mayor’s office late Wednesday. This means the State Historical Preservation Office has completed its work and has concluded the seawall reconstruction will not cause adverse…

Former Kozy Owner Speaks Out About Lawsuit Against City

Eric Ringsred: City Not Doing Enough To Save Former Kozy Building

April 25, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The former Kozy building owner, Eric Ringsred spoke out to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Wednesday for the first time since filing a lawsuit against the city of Duluth last week claiming the city is not doing enough to preserve the historic structure that’s falling apart. The Kozy Bar and apartments on East First Street went up in…

Ronny Jackson Said to Have Crashed car While Drunk

Jackson Says he Never Wrecked a car

April 25, 2018

The Associated Press,

Photo: US NavyWASHINGTON (AP) – A summary of allegations against President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Veterans Affairs says he recklessly prescribed drugs, had his own private stock of controlled substances and got drunk and crashed a government car. The summary was released by Democrats as the White House rallied behind Dr. Ronny Jackson. Based on conversations…

Senators Delay VA Confirmation Hearing Amid new Allegations

The Hearing has Been Postponed Indefinitely

April 24, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)WASHINGTON (AP) – The leaders of a Senate panel say the confirmation hearing for Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s pick to be Veterans Affairs secretary, is being postponed indefinitely. Sen. Johnny Isakson, the Republican chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sen. Jon Tester, the top Democrat, cite “serious allegations” recently made against Jackson. They…

Former Kozy Building Owner Files Lawsuit Against City of Duluth, DEDA

April 23, 2018

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Eric Ringsred, the former owner of the condemned Kozy building in Duluth tells FOX 21 he has filed a lawsuit against the city with claims that the historical landmark building originally known as the Pastoret Terrace is not being preserved properly. Click here for the complaint that was provided to FOX 21 by Ringsred. The civil suit is…

GOP tax Bill Includes Small Income tax Rate cut

House Republicans are Proposing a Modest Income tax Rate cut

April 23, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – House Republicans are proposing a modest income tax rate cut as part of their effort to sync Minnesota’s tax code with federal breaks. The proposal released over the weekend is drastically different from Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s plan. The GOP’s plan would also increase the standard deduction $13,000 to $14,000 from and protect property tax…

Democratic Party Sues Russia, Trump Campaign and Wikileaks

The DNC Claims Conspiracy to win 2016 Presidential Election

April 20, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)NEW YORK (AP) – The Democratic National Committee has sued President Donald Trump’s campaign, his son, his son-in-law, the Russian Federation and WikiLeaks, saying they conspired to help Trump win the 2016 presidential election. The DNC filed the lawsuit Friday in federal court in Manhattan. It seeks unspecified damages and an order to prevent further interference with DNC…

Rudy Giuliani to Join Trump Legal Team in Russia Probe

Guiliani Fills the Void Left by Attorney John Dowd

April 19, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining the legal team defending President Donald Trump in the special counsel’s Russia investigation, a Trump attorney said Thursday. With the addition of Giuliani, Trump gains an experienced litigator and former U.S. attorney in Manhattan. Trump is looking to bring his involvement with special counsel Robert…

Ten Days old, she Makes Senate History in her Pink cap

New Rule Made Maile the First Newborn to Appear in Senate

April 19, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON (AP) — Tiny Maile Pearl made Senate history Thursday without making a sound. The tightly wrapped 10-day-old baby, brought to the well of the chamber by her mother, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, became the first newborn to appear there, just one day after the Senate approved a new rule permitting it. “It’s about time,” the Illinois Democrat and…

Trump Admin Starts Plan to Drill in Arctic Wildlife Refuge

A Longtime Republican Priority that Most Democrats Fiercely Oppose

April 19, 2018

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is moving toward oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. A notice being published Friday in the Federal Register starts a 60-day review to sell oil and gas leases in the remote region. Opening the refuge to oil and gas drilling is a longtime Republican priority that most Democrats fiercely oppose….

Diaz-Canel Replaces Raul Castro as Cuba’s President

The Government is in the Hands of Someone Outside the Castro Family for the First Time in Nearly six Decades

April 19, 2018

The Associated Press,

(Irene Perez/Cubadebate via AP)HAVANA (AP) – President Mario Diaz-Canel has made his first speech as Cuba’s new head of state with a pledge to continue the socialist revolution led by his predecessors Fidel and Raul Castro. Diaz-Canel says in the nationally televised speech before the National Assembly that his first thoughts upon taking office are for the “historic generation” that…

Phifer Exits Race for 8th Congressional District

Phifer Says she Will not Endorse a Candidate at This Time

April 18, 2018

Site Staff,

ISANTI, Minn. – Leah Phifer has decided to not move her candidacy forward into a DFL primary election. Phifer announced today, “My goal, since first declaring my candidacy in October 2017, has always been to win the DFL endorsement, bring new voices to the table and strengthen the party. A divisive primary season would only serve to weaken the party…

Dayton Appoints Democratic Rep. Thissen to Supreme Court

Thissen Replaces Justice David Stras

April 17, 2018

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed Democratic state Rep. Paul Thissen to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Tuesday’s announcement means Dayton has appointed five of the high court’s seven members. Thissen replaces Justice David Stras, a Republican judge who was confirmed to the federal bench earlier this year. Thissen will hop from one branch of government to…

8th Congressional District Candidate Calls for Code of Fair Campaign Practices

8th Congressional District Candidate Michelle Lee asks fellow candidates to sign the code.

April 16, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

DULUTH, Minn.- Despite receiving no endorsement at the DFL Convention this past weekend 8th Congressional District Candidate Michelle Lee announced she’s moving onto phase two of her campaign. On Monday Lee says there’s an opportunity gap in the district, which needs to be addressed through reform and change. Meanwhile, Lee is asking fellow democratic candidates to abide by the code…

No Candidate Endorsed By DFL in 8th District Congressional Race

After Ten Ballots, all Five DFL Candidates Failed to Reach Sixty Percent of the Vote

April 14, 2018

Mariah Janos,

DULUTH, Minn.- No DFL endorsement was given to any of the five congressional candidates at the endorsement convention Saturday in Duluth. The race will now come down to a primary election on August 14th. After ten ballots were counted, no candidate reached sixty percent of the vote needed for the endorsement. On the tenth ballot, Leah Phifer was leading the…

Trump says US Prepared to Sustain Syria Strikes

Trump says America does not seek "an indefinite presence” in Syria

April 13, 2018

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) – President Donald Trump says he is “prepared to sustain” strikes against Syria until the use of chemical agents stops. The United States, along with assurance from France and the United Kingdom, launched a response Friday against the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad days after his government allegedly used chemical weapons on its citizens. But Trump…

CD8 DFL Endorsing Convention to be Held Tomorrow

The Convention Will be Held at the Holiday Inn & Suites Downtown Duluth

April 13, 2018

Kelly Tekler,

DULUTH, Minn. – The 2018 Eighth Congressional District DFL Endorsing Convention will be held on Saturday with registration opening at 9 a.m. The convention is held to offer the Party’s endorsement of certain candidates for U.S. Congress. The convention will take place at the Holiday Inn & Suites in downtown Duluth. The candidates that are running for the CD8 DFL…

Judge Says Michael Cohen Must Appear at Hearing

Prosecutors say Cohen Barely Practiced law so Most of the Documents Aren’t off Limits

April 13, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) NEW YORK (AP) – A federal judge is ordering President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer to appear next week for arguments over the government’s raid on the lawyer’s New York City home and office. At a hearing on Friday, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood told an attorney for Michael Cohen that his client needed to be there…

Kremlin Spokesman Warns Against Syria Strike

President Trump Tweeted Thursday That it may Come "Very Soon or not so Soon at all!"

April 12, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo | Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) – The Kremlin spokesman is warning the U.S. and its allies against any steps that could destabilize the situation in Syria. Asked about possible U.S. strikes on Syria, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that “it’s necessary to avoid any steps that may fuel tensions in Syria.” He added that it…

Another top Official Leaves National Security Council

Waddell's Departure Date has not yet Been Determined

April 12, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) – Another top National Security Council staffer is leaving the White House as new National Security Adviser John Bolton makes his mark. Deputy national security adviser Ricky Waddell will be exiting the administration, said two administration officials with knowledge of the decision who were not authorized to speak publicly. Waddell’s departure date has not yet…

Trump Pick for Number Two job at EPA Clears Hurdle

Andrew Wheeler is a Former Coal Industry Lobbyist

April 12, 2018

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans have cleared a procedural hurdle to confirm a former coal industry lobbyist as the No. 2 official at the Environmental Protection Agency. If confirmed as deputy administrator, Andrew Wheeler would be next in line to lead if embattled administrator Scott Pruitt is forced out or resigns. The Senate voted 53-45 Thursday to limit debate on Wheeler’s…

Trump Says ‘Missiles Coming’ Against Syria, ‘new and smart’

Trump did not Detail What a Strike Would Look Like, or Whether These Would be U.S. Missiles

April 11, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON (AP) – After Russia warned the United States against military strikes in Syria, President Donald Trump says missiles “will be coming.” Trump says on Twitter Wednesday: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’” Russian lawmakers have warned that Moscow…

House Speaker Ryan Won’t run for Re-Election

Ryan Will Serve out his Term and Retire in January

April 11, 2018

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan will not run for re-election, his office announced Wednesday, injecting another layer of uncertainty as Republicans face worries over losing their majority in the fall. Ryan’s plans have been the source of much speculation and will set off a scramble among his lieutenants to take the helm. A self-styled budget guru, Ryan…

Superior Receives First State of the City Address in Years

Mayor Jim Paine informed the community of his achievements and future plans.

April 10, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

SUPERIOR, Wis.- For the first time since 2010 Superior receives State of the City Address. On Tuesday, Mayor Paine presented to the community his achievements over the past year and his future plans. Paine says it’s an honor to serve as Mayor and feels the public should be informed. Afterward, the packed crowd responded with applause. Mayor Paine says next…

Trump Nominates State Judge as US Attorney for Minnesota

The Nomination Must Still be Confirmed by the U.S. Senate

April 10, 2018

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – President Donald Trump has formally nominated a Minnesota judge to be the state’s next U.S. Attorney. Erica MacDonald has been a judge in Dakota County since 2009. Before that, she was an assistant U.S. attorney in Minnesota for eight years, focusing on cases dealing with violent crimes, drugs, human trafficking and child pornography. MacDonald’s nomination to the…

Day After Bolton Takes Over, Homeland Security Aide is out

His Exit is the Latest in a Wave of Departures in Recent Months

April 10, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s homeland security adviser is resigning in the latest White House departure. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Tuesday that Thomas Bossert would be leaving his post. She said that Trump was “grateful for Tom’s commitment to the safety and security of our great country.” Bossert was…

Federal Agents Seize Documents From Trump Lawyer

Cohen is Trump's Longtime Personal Lawyer

April 9, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal agents carrying court-authorized search warrants have seized documents from President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen. That’s according to a statement from Cohen’s attorney, Stephen Ryan. He says the search warrants were executed by the office of the U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York but they are “in part” related…

Trump Condemns ‘Heinous’ gas Attack in Syria

Trump Vows to Find who is Responsible for the Attack

April 9, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP)WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has condemned the “heinous” suspected poison gas attack in Syria and said he’ll make a decision on the U.S. response within 24 to 48 hours. Speaking in the White House Cabinet Room Monday, Trump vowed to find out who is responsible for the attack that reportedly killed at least 40 people. Trump said during…

China Vows ‘Counterattack’ on Trump Tariffs

Trump has Instructed the U.S. Trade Representative to Consider an Additional $100 Billion in Tariffs on Chinese Goods.

April 6, 2018

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Andy Wong)WASHINGTON (AP) – China’s government says it will “counterattack with great strength” if President Donald Trump goes ahead with plans to raise U.S. tariffs on an additional $100 billion worth of Chinese goods. A Commerce Ministry spokesman said Friday that negotiations were impossible after Trump responded to Beijing’s protests about his earlier plan to raise duties on $50…

10 Commandments Plaque Relocated To Commissioner’s Office in Hibbing Courthouse

Although the plaque is in a less-visible location, the Freedom From Religion Foundation remains in opposition.

April 5, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

HIBBING, Minn.- A plaque of the 10 Commandments hung in the County Courthouse for 60 years, but a month ago it was taken down. This happened after a local resident reported it to an advocacy group — Freedom From Religion Foundation — that threatened to sue the county for a violation of church and state if it was not taken…