Mountain View
Minnesota Reformer
The Topline: The asymmetric fraying of America’s social fabric
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Auto insurance rate hikes; data that debunks a Minneapolis myth; education and social connection; the geography of octogenarianism. CBS News reports that Minnesota is one of […]
What’s IUI? What’s IVF? A look at the fertility treatments the Walz family is talking about
The broader scope of fertility treatments entered the spotlight this week after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen shared that they had children through a less commonly known procedure. Since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Gov. Walz as her running mate, he has discussed his family’s fertility journey during speeches in Pennsylvania, Nebraska […]
Inflation Reduction Act creates thousands of union jobs in Minnesota — and other labor news
Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on jobs two years on; what to make of the jobs numbers revision; Minnesota is No. 1 state for nurses; Kim’s will shutter shortly after union vote; and Canadian railway workers […]
More than half of violent crimes go unsolved in Minnesota
More violent crimes are going unsolved in Minnesota today than a decade ago, according to FBI data analyzed by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, a nonprofit working on criminal justice issues. “In 2022, the year for which we have the most recent data, Minnesota saw 57% of violent crimes go unsolved, 5 percentage […]
Deb Haaland brings the Turquoise Clan to the DNC stage
CHICAGO — Deb Haaland brought Indigeneity front and center at the Democratic National Convention on its final night in a speech that presented an argument for environmental protections. “Gu’wha’tzi,” Haaland said in the Keres language spoken by tribes in New Mexico, including Laguna Pueblo where she is from. After the traditional introduction that asked the […]
Gus Walz wins the night at the DNC
Sure, it was a good speech and all, especially since Gov. Tim Walz kept it less than 20 minutes. Walz accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president of the United States by introducing himself to the American public with a mix of biography and shots at the Republican ticket. But the star of the third […]
Harris campaign launches bilingual WhatsApp channel to draw Latino voters in swing states
CHICAGO — Latino lawmakers and organizers Wednesday stressed their voting bloc as key to delivering battleground states to Democrats in November, as the Harris campaign launched a bilingual WhatsApp channel to target Latino voters. “The Latino vote will be the deciding factor in this election,” actress and Democratic surrogate Eva Longoria said during a Hispanic […]
Inequality, complacency behind Minnesota’s lagging student achievement, experts say
As a former public school geography teacher, Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has long said education is one of his top priorities. Walz has earned the enthusiastic endorsements of teachers unions through vigorous support of policy goals like school funding increases, along with opposition to conservative-driven privatization efforts. He has committed to […]
Campaign urges Minnesota Latinos to vote
A new campaign aims to boost turnout among Minnesota’s Latino voters, a fast-growing population with increasing political power. Volunteers with COPAL, a group that organizes Latinos to work on Minnesota labor and political issues, hope to complete 100,000 phone calls to potential voters by Election Day. The campaign will provide voters information materials and answer questions […]
Walz’s record on transportation and planning: successes, but work to do
Attention fellow planning and transportation nerds: Gov. Tim Walz’s new national prominence means he could have a big impact on federal transportation, housing and land use policies. We know he loves maps. But what’s his record on key transportation and planning issues? A look at his record reveals progress, but critical gaps remain before we achieve […]
Democrats trying to reverse election losses in rural America urge focus on economy
CHICAGO — Democrats should focus on pocketbook issues to win back rural voters, speakers including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Rural Council meeting at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday. Beshear urged the group of rural Democrats to reject social issues and a left-right ideological framing. Most voters, he said, were not worried about […]
UAW’s Shawn Fain predicts working-class support for Harris-Walz ticket
CHICAGO — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain told reporters Tuesday that working-class people can see themselves in the new Democratic presidential ticket. “There’s a very distinct difference in these two people and where they stand with working-class people,” Fain said of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. […]
A look at how federal plans could make the costs of housing more affordable
As renters and would-be homeowners struggle with the high cost of housing, the Biden administration has announced policies to address this strain on household budgets. That includes $100 million in funding for a program to incentivize affordable housing production and streamlining loan application processes to expedite building more housing. Some of those proposals — such […]
St. Paul on the hook for $1.8 million electric fire truck after federal funding fell through
Minnesota’s first electric fire truck is expected to be ready for its first run in St. Paul next month, a shining $1.8 million rig that city leaders herald as a symbol of their efforts to protect the environment and workers’ health. “We’re excited to be the first in the state to invest in this state-of-the-art […]
Harris, DNC to face thousands of protesters ready to push their demands
CHICAGO – Visitors to Chicago this weekend were greeted with bright blue banners and smiling Democrats decked out in lanyards and wielding clipboards, welcoming them to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. But other welcome committees throughout the city bore different accouterments — Palestinian flags, keffiyeh scarves and signs castigating President Joe Biden and Vice President […]
The Topline: How much cancer do pesticides cause?
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: the link between pesticides and cancer; walking taco vs. taco in a bag; the health of Minnesota’s lakeshores; and new polling on Walz’s national favorability. A […]
Medicare drug price negotiations will lower costs, save lives
Last week, the Biden-Harris administration celebrated a huge milestone in making health care more affordable. For the first time, Medicare is allowed to use their purchasing power to negotiate drug prices. The first round of negotiated drug prices will lower costs for ten of the costliest and most popular medications that treat conditions like diabetes, […]
‘Business as usual’: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan steps into governor role while Walz away
MONTICELLO — Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Friday attended a celebration in Monticello to mark the start of construction on I-94 from Albertville to Monticello, and Gov. Tim Walz’s absence was palpable. “I want to be very clear — the governor is still the governor,” Flanagan said with a laugh to the crowd of lawmakers […]
Minnesota has highest median wage in Midwest — and other labor news
Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: Minnesota’s strong labor market; United Steelworkers support new studies for stalled mine; Sun Country flight attendants authorize strike; Harris adopts Trump’s no-tax-on-tips idea; Walz speaks at AFSCME convention; and Trump applauds firing striking workers, which is […]
The GOP’s losing message: America and Minnesota are terrible, no good places
Republicans are back on their heels now that they’re the ones supporting a candidate who seems to be losing his mind, insofar as there was anything there to begin with. They’re settling on a curious argument for people claiming to be patriots: America sucks. What with the childless cat ladies running things. (Former President Donald […]
Minnesota Reformer
4K+
Posts
26M+
Views
The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell. We’re in the halls of government tracking what elected officials are up to — and monitoring the powerful forces trying to influence them. But we’re also on the streets, at the bars and parks, on farms and in warehouses, telling you stories of the people being affected by the actions of government and big business. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. Minnesota Reformer retains editorial independence.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.