Teams from the state and FEMA begin week three of assessing damage from flooding and severe storms that hit Minnesota since the third week of April. This week they’ll visit the Grand Portage Band Of Chippewa, and Aitkin, Cass, Cook, Lake, Lake of the Woods and Saint Louis counties — plus Koochiching County, still the […]
USDA low-interest loans available to farmers hit by storms, flooding
Low-interest loans from the federal government are now available to ag producers in 60 Minnesota counties who have physical structure or livestock damage from this spring’s severe storms and/or flooding. Dan Mahoney with the U-S-D-A Farm Service Agency in Saint Paul says, “Producers can borrow up to 100 percent of the actual physical structure that […]
MCCL endorses Republican Brad Finstad for U-S House in 1st District
The group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is endorsing Republican Brad Finstad in the August 9th special election for the First District U-S House seat formerly held by the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn. M-C-C-L’s Paul Stark says while Finstad was in the Minnesota House “he cast 63 different pro-life votes. That’s a perfect, 100-percent pro-life […]
MN exports now exceed pre-pandemic level
Minnesota’s first-quarter 2022 exports were 13 percent higher than first-quarter 2021, totaling 6.1 billion dollars. Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove says, “We are now exporting more goods per quarter than we were before the pandemic, so we’ve not only returned to that…[point] but we’ve exceeded it — but of course you always want […]
MN GOP leaders slam Republican challenger to endorsed candidate in attorney general primary election
Leaders of the Republican Party of Minnesota have issued a strong statement against a Republican who’s challenging the party’s endorsed candidate in the high-profile race for Minnesota attorney general. Former state Representative Doug Wardlow, who did not receive the G-O-P endorsement at the state convention in Rochester, has filed papers to run against endorsed candidate […]
Finstad files to run for 1st District U-S House in August special election
The race for the First District U-S House seat formerly held by the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn is officially underway, with special primary election winner, Republican Brad Finstad filing today (Tues) to run in the August 9th special election. Finstad says, “Providing jobs as small employer in southern Minnesota, I just feel like I have […]
Mental health advocates say MN Legislature approved about half of needed measures
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) Minnesota says the legislature passed about half of the needed mental health measures in its closing hours, and hopes for a special session to wrap up the rest. Sue Abderholden says there’s money to create “crisis stabilization” beds in residential mental health facilities and youth shelters, “For the kids […]
DFL lawmakers demand immediate action on anti-gun-violence measures
A group of Democratic Minnesota lawmakers is demanding immediate action on anti-gun-violence measures at the state and national levels, following the elementary school shootings in Texas. Representative Carlos Mariani from Saint Paul says says the Minnesota House passed universal background checks and a “red flag” bill, they did not pass the Senate, and it’s time […]
MN Legislature misses deadline to pass tax cuts and budget bills, Gov. Walz says he’ll call special session
Minnesota lawmakers missed their midnight deadline to pass agreed-on tax cuts, because of continuing disagreement over spending for health-and-human services, education and public safety. Governor Tim Walz says he’ll call a special session, but Senate Republicans are resistant. Majority Leader Jeremy Miller says the midnight deadline has come and gone, and although they’re happy to […]
Drought relief package headed to desk of Gov. Tim Walz
Eight million dollars in drought relief grants — part of an agriculture bill headed to the desk of Governor Tim Walz after the Minnesota House and Senate passed the compromise package this weekend. Republican Senator Torrey Westrom from Elbow Lake says, “Those that were impacted by the drought last summer and fall — livestock farmers, […]