MinnPost

Democrats' last leverage over Iran war may be Pentagon budget "We have the power of the purse," said Rep. Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

The White House is expected to soon ask Congress for another $50 billion or so to continue the war with Iran.

Reps. Finstad, Craig spar over farm bill politics in House Ag. committee Rep. Brad Finstad, R-1st, accused Rep. Angie Craig, D-2nd, of playing politics with farm policy because she is seeking higher office.

Rep. Angie Craig, the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, panned the bill for failing to reverse some of the “big, beautiful” bill’s restrictions on the food stamp program and because of her opposition to other provisions.

More funding is needed to replace Minnesota's lead water lines - MinnPost State and federal funding for lead service line replacement will run out in 2027 if no action is taken.

Minnesota officials are racing to meet their self-imposed 2033 deadline for replacing all lead pipes in the state. The funding well might be drying up.

At least St. Paul is trying to build a better way to plow city streets - MinnPost A pilot project, based on one-sided street parking throughout winter, has its critics, but it’s a worthwhile attempt to address the challenge.

St. Paul's ongoing experiment with snow plowing is remarkable, radical... audacious.

In this week's Cityscape, @blindeke.bsky.social tips his hat to St. Paul Public Works. www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...

MN bill aims to withstand legal challenge over suing federal agents DFL State Rep. Jamie Long says careful language differentiates his proposal from a similar Illinois law that prompted a federal lawsuit.

DFL backers say a bill like the one they are proposing is critical in light of national efforts to hold federal officers accountable for violating the U.S. Constitution. minnpost.com/state-govern...

Walz, Ellison defend fraud-fighting efforts at U.S. House hearing House Republicans took aim at Minnesota’s Democrats in a hearing that was low on new facts but high on political theater.

“The people of Minnesota have been singled out and targeted for political retribution at an unparalleled scale,” Walz said in his opening remarks. www.minnpost.com/national/was...

The case for an eviction moratorium, rental aid in Minnesota - MinnPost Pandemic-era housing protections – including an eviction moratorium – are a guide for Minnesota policymakers as Operation Metro Surge slows.

Community Voices: The case for an eviction moratorium, rental aid in Minnesota www.minnpost.com/community-vo...

Minnesota’s lawmakers to vote on halting Trump’s military strikes on Iran While the attempt to rein in the president’s war-making power is expected to fail, lawmakers want the administration justify Operation Epic Fury.

Minnesota’s Republican members of Congress are going to double down this week on their support for President Donald Trump’s military assault on Iran, while Minnesota Democrats are going to try to curb the president’s war-making power. www.minnpost.com/national/was...

War in Iran isn't preemption — it's a gamble with the future - MinnPost The U.S. and Israel have chosen to start a war in Iran that could ignite the very conflagration they claim to be preventing.

Community Voices: ‘Epic Fury’ isn’t preemption — it’s a gamble with the future, writes Massoud Amin

Protesters demanded hotels ban ICE. Here's why that didn't work. - MinnPost Despite widespread opposition to Operation Metro Surge, local leaders have so far been stymied from limiting their hotel stays.

Spurred by calls from residents and complaints from hotel workers, the Minneapolis and St. Paul city councils took steps to make clear their displeasure with hotels housing ICE agents, but found themselves hamstrung to do much more. www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/0...

The Virginia and Rainy Lake Company stripped Minnesota's forests - MinnPost The company lived by a simple motto: Log the timber, mill it into lumber and “convert it into money as rapidly as possible.”

At its height, the company’s flagship sawmill at Virginia had occupied one square mile, with seven band saws running 24/7... via MNopedia

The Timberwolves did not dawdle in Denver. Instead, they thrived. In a consequential contest, the Wolves christened the crucial month of March with alacrity.

When the Minnesota Timberwolves dawdle, they die, writes Britt Robson. And they did not dawdle on Sunday.

What to make the of Minnesota's economic outlook in the age of Trump Despite positive numbers, Walz and lawmakers had a muted response Friday and said little new spending is on the way.

Officials cautioned that the state's economic outlook does not take into account funding that the Trump administration is attempting to take from Minnesota. www.minnpost.com/state-govern...

D.C. Memo: What to make of Trump's 'war on fraud?' - MinnPost Plus: Medicare under scrutiny; tariff refunds for Minnesotans unclear; a reader weighs in on the 1st District race; and more.

“This is a new threat,” state Medicaid Director John Connolly said. “Our concern is that this could go on for many quarters, which would be catastrophic.”

What are Republican legislators up to in St. Paul? - MinnPost The party is advancing reams of fraud legislation, while holding the line on ICE and guns.

Proposals reflect the GOP's unerring conviction that social services fraud under the watch of Gov. Tim Walz is the first, second and third most important issues that Minnesotans face today.

Threatened Twin Cities rent strike aims to win protections - MinnPost The tenant union-led effort says the action is needed to support immigrants in financial crises brought on by Operation Metro Surge.

A newly formed Twin Cities tenant union demanding protections for renters impacted by Operation Metro Surge is gearing up for a March 1 rent strike and trying to convince thousands of Minnesotans to join them.

Surviving unconstitutional ICE detention - MinnPost In this year so far, Minnesota had more habeas corpus petitions per capita than any other state.

Although Operation Metro Surge is winding down, the legal tailwind it created is not. Hundreds of people who were detained in Minnesota are still fighting their detention, and many more who have been released are still in the midst of deportation proceedings. www.minnpost.com/public-safet...

In defense of much-maligned tax increment financing - MinnPost There are some key questions to ask to determine if tax increment financing is right for a city and its taxpayers.

In this country, where most cities have little agency to raise and spend funding for one-off projects, tax increment financing has been effective across the urban spectrum, writes Bill Lindeke in this week's Cityscape.

Finstad faces a serious challenge in tough election year for GOPers Teacher Jake Johnson, a Democrat who may get help from his national party, has brought new energy to his challenge of Finstad.

Running as a centrist Democrat, Jake Johnson has the backing of politically powerful teachers unions and has caught the attention of the national Democratic Party.

MN nonprofits race to distribute millions to tenants facing eviction State lawmakers are considering a bill to expand which nonprofits can issue eviction-blocking letters assuring landlords that rent is coming.

One proposal in the Legislature would create a potentially important buffer, expanding the type of nonprofits that are allowed to write eviction-blocking letters assuring landlords that money is on the way. www.minnpost.com/state-govern...

Want to support democracy? Visit your local Twin Cities art gallery - MinnPost A new report champions an old concept – ‘third spaces’ – as worthy of greater investment in the Twin Cities.

While the need for 'third spaces' has hardly diminished, many of them in the Twin Cities are fighting to survive, writes @sheilaregan.bsky.social www.minnpost.com/artscape/202...

Walz resuscitates push for assault weapons ban, but has enough changed? An assault rifle ban did not advance out of committee Tuesday. But the governor has expanded his gun reform package and public opinion has shifted.

Referencing the parents of Minneapolis’s Annunciation Catholic School and Church, Walz said, “They need to be here to make people uncomfortable. I have to make sure that I am doing everything possible to give them what they want to see.”
www.minnpost.com/state-govern...

Trump blasts ‘fraud' in Minnesota in SOTU address Minnesota’s Democrats had their own messages, with Sen. Tina Smith and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey headlining counter-events in Washington.

Trump also said he had a new job for Vice President JD Vance — the leader of a “war on fraud.” www.minnpost.com/national/was...

For Somalis in St. Cloud, ICE eroded years of hard-earned trust Aggressive tactics by the agency created ‘fear, uncertainty, and emotional stress’ that will be hard to undo, a local activist says.

When a local city leader says you’re welcome, but the most powerful elected official in the country is using federal agents to push the opposite, which message carries more weight?

The plus/minus experience of the Anthony Edwards superstardom Edwards courts team failure by taking plays off on defense, contributing to inexplicable losses and close calls to inferior competition.

Ant courts team failure by taking plays off on defense in situations when it feels like he can get away with it. But that gnaws at the fiber of teamwork, writes @brittrobson.bsky.social. www.minnpost.com/sports/2026/...

Today's biggest fraud is the U.S. tax system - MinnPost Tax policy once helped build a strong economy, but the current tax code makes Medicaid fraud and Feeding Our Future look like pocket change.

Community Voices: Today’s biggest fraud is the U.S. tax system

How the Citizens Alliance tried, failed to beat down labor unions - MinnPost In 1903 the Citizens Alliance organized with the goal of an 'open shop,' that is, the banishment of unions from all city workplaces.

From its founding in 1903 until the mid-1930s, the Citizens Alliance of Minneapolis fought organized labor with vigor, determination, imagination and money... via MNopedia

We have no idea what tear gas does to kids' health - MinnPost Chemical irritants can cause chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath. For kids, there’s more potential for serious side effects.

“How is it, then, that it’s OK to use unregulated chemicals on a broad range of civilian populations, especially when these chemicals are banned in war?” via @19thnews.org

www.minnpost.com/health/2026/...

The regrettable failure of Northstar commuter rail - MinnPost Other countries are efficiently building regional rail. Minnesota shouldn’t reject future lines because this commuter rail didn’t work out.

Other countries are efficiently building regional rail. Minnesota shouldn’t reject future lines because Northstar didn’t work out, writes Bill Lindeke in this week's Cityscape.

Minnesota AG’s evidence portal draws nearly 1,500 submissions The evidence portal launched to gather photos and video that could be used to hold federal agents accountable for constitutional violations.

The Attorney General’s office and the Minnesota ACLU are in the midst of several legal cases that challenge federal agents’ actions, requiring the evidence the public portals could help gather.