Nation
April 12
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Reagan National Airport en route to his arraignment in federal court on Thursday, August 3, 2023. Doug Mills/

Donald Trump faces 4 criminal cases. Here's where they stand.

Jury selection is set to begin Monday for the New York criminal case against former President Donald Trump involving hush-money payments made to a porn actor. Never before has a former or current U.S. president faced a criminal case. Trump faces four. Here is a look at those criminal cases, what they involve and their next steps.
Politics
April 12
Kathy Ware calms son Kylen, 29, as he is secured to a stander as part of his physical therapy at their South St. Paul home. The stander helps Kylen, w

Assisted suicide in Minnesota? Critics point to Canada as cautionary tale.

Proposed medical aid in dying legislation promises to be an ongoing issue in Minnesota, where some in the disability community fear being devalued or coerced.
Politics
April 12
Harold Robinson and Angela Dawson admire their flowering marijuana plants at their home greenhouse in Rutledge last October. Dawson is sounding the al

Minnesota marijuana sales could be delayed or in short supply if planting doesn't start soon

Growers need time to get cannabis planted, harvested, tested and processed — preferably before retailers open.
Politics
April 11
Sen. Scott Dibble got a high-five from Sen. Zaynab Mohamed on the Senate floor before Dibble advocated for his renter-protection bill Thursday. Mohame

New protections for Minnesota renters moving forward in Legislature

Though the most ambitious affordable-housing construction policies fell short this session, legislators are looking to create new rights for tenants and new rules for landlords.
Local
April 11
Rep. Nathan Coulter, DFL-Bloomington, introduced one of the bills aimed at creating additional oversight.

Minnesota lawmakers seek new rules for online college programs

They're targeting companies that take a portion of tuition for helping recruit or run online programs. St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State already have such contracts.
Politics
April 11
A view of the Minnesota State Capitol on May 16, 2019.

Five things the Minnesota Legislature hopes to tackle before its session ends

Lawmakers are still debating whether to legalize sports betting and how to fine-tune the state's recreational marijuana law, among other things.
Politics
April 10
Gov. Tim Walz highlights Minnesota's new child tax credit, which was passed as part of a $3 billion tax cut and increase package passed last session.

What you need to know to receive Minnesota's $1,750 child tax credit this tax filing season

The state estimates more than 356,000 children have already benefited, with families receiving an average credit of $2,510.
North Metro
April 10
Teenagers attend open gym at Brooklyn Park's Zanewood Recreation Center in 2014. The city is seeking funding from the Legislature for several projects

Brooklyn Park will ask state for $29 million for fire station, community center projects

Brooklyn Park is also looking to expand the Zanewood Recreation Center.
Politics
April 9
Fans gather outside of Target Field as they wait for the gates to open for the Twins home opener against the Cleveland Guardians Thursday, April 4, 20

Push to convert stadium tax to pay for hospital improvements advances with bipartisan backing

Senate supports the change, but the bill has yet to have a hearing in the House
Business
April 9
Pulsar CEO Thomas Abraham-James stands in front of the company's Jetstream  #1 helium exploration facility in Babbitt on the Iron Range.

Legislators scramble to create tax, environmental plan for Minnesota's first helium operation

State and local officials fear Canadian-based Pulsar could move ahead with its northeastern Minnesota project and use gas from under state land without paying royalties.
Politics
April 9
Minnesota Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer was the target of a swatting incident in January.

Hoax 'swatting' calls could become a felony in Minnesota

Hoax emergency calls are a gross misdemeanor, but legislators want to make the act a felony when it's directed at elected officials, judges, prosecuting attorneys, correctional facility employees and police officers.
Politics
April 9
President Joe Biden has unveiled new proposals aimed at reducing student debt for millions.

Tell us: How have Biden's student loan relief proposals affected you?

Biden's latest proposal would reduce debt for millions of Americans. It comes months after his first attempt at widespread debt cancellation.
Politics
April 8
Justin Anfinson, left, watched as Cathy Dessert, Vice President of the Minnesota Harness Racing Inc., fed her horse Numbered Account a carrot at the M

Ban on historical horse racing advances swiftly after Racing Commission tried to legalize casino games

Horse industry supporters showed up at the Capitol with a live horse to plead for subsidies.
Politics
April 8
Minnesota state Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, caught COVID-19 before anyone in the state had died from the virus yet. Now, more than four years l

Minnesota DFL senator to shift to remote work as she battles long COVID

Sen. Lindsey Port said former leader Kari Dziedzic set an example last year of how to serve remotely while battling a cancer diagnosis.
Politics
April 6
Minnesota could shift from a points-based scoring system for awarding cannabis business licenses to a lottery.

Want to open a cannabis business in Minnesota? You might need some luck.

Minnesota could shift to a vetted lottery system for awarding cannabis business licenses. Not everyone's happy.
Politics
April 6
Mercedes Yarbrough picked up her children Meir, 2, and Matthew, 5, from daycare on Wednesday in St. Paul. Behind them, Rosalyn Smaller, who runs the d

Could Minnesota be among the first states to offer a basic income program?

No-strings-attached cash programs are popping up across the country. Minnesota has been home to five of the experiments. Now lawmakers are talking about $100 million to provide basic incomes to thousands.
Politics
April 5
FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., speaks during an executive session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pen

Ellison, Smith say 150-year-old act could be used to ban medicinal abortions

The Minnesota Democrats hit the alarm on the core election issue this year.
World
April 5
Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer toward Russian forces in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, March 27, 2024. What little munitions in Ukraine remain are

Dwindling ammunition stocks pose a grave threat to Ukraine

"Artillery decides battles," said Capt. Vladyslav Slominsky, the artillery commander along this section of the front. "Who has more wins." For now, that is Russia.
Politics
April 5
Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, winced as she inserted a used hard drive into the shredder at Global Ewaste Solutions on Wednesday.

Are your unused devices collecting dust? A bill aims to expand electronic recycling in Minnesota.

The proposal would expand a state law to cover all electronics and create a retail fee when purchasing a product to cover the costs of recycling them later.
Local
April 4
Leaders on the Minnesota Legislature's higher education committees say they've struck a deal to plug a funding gap that threatened the stability of fo

Minnesota lawmakers say they've struck a deal to help former foster kids pay for college next year

The state had promised the students free college, then said there wasn't enough money. Students who relied on the grants had urged lawmakers to act swiftly, saying their futures hung in the balance.

Minnesota Politics

Latest politics news from the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota Legislature, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.