Recent content from Briana Bierschbach
Salary council recommends raises for top Minnesota officials. Gov. Tim Walz won't take the increase.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan also won't accept the proposed increase. The council has authority to raise salaries for top state lawmakers.
Minnesota government workers will return to the office on June 1. Here's what we know.
Gov. Tim Walz answered questions on the new policy Wednesday, addressing criticisms and the logistics of bringing tens of thousands of state workers back to the office.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz calls special election to replace former Sen. Justin Eichorn
The special election will be the third to be held during the 2025 legislative session.
Most Minnesota government workers ordered to return to office 50% of the time; unions 'fired up'
The change comes as other employers are starting to call workers back into the office following the pandemic. The federal government has ordered workers back five days a week.
Is Tim Walz as engaged at the Capitol as past governors? Republicans say he rarely meets with them.
GOP legislators question Walz's engagement as the former vice-presidential candidate has embarked on another national tour.
Gov. Tim Walz proposes additional spending cuts in revised budget plan
The updated two-year plan also adds one-time spending for law enforcement training and to respond to bird flu.
Minnesota Senate GOP will move to expel Sen. Justin Eichorn after underage prostitution arrest
A growing group of lawmakers called for Eichorn's resignation on Wednesday and said they'll try to vote to expel him if he doesn't step aside voluntarily.
Gov. Walz on Joe Rogan, why he lost in 2024 and how Democrats should respond to Trump
The two-term Democrat spent more than an hour answering questions from Democrats in a battleground district in Wisconsin Tuesday night.
Walz slams Musk in Wisconsin town hall as he keeps up national profile
The two-term Democrat and former vice presidential nominee has left the door open to a possible future national run.
Minnesota Supreme Court tosses out GOP recall petitions against DFLers for House boycott
The court found the petition didn't meet a "serious malfeasance or nonfeasance" standard in law.
Why the big turnout in the Minnesota House special election in the east metro?
Democrats say voters were fired up over the Trump administration, but Republicans also saw a boost after DFLers boycotted the start of session.
Gov. Tim Walz is going to Republican districts to hold town hall
The two-term Democrat is expected to head to Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio before returning to Minnesota for the meetings.
Walz slams Trump administration for federal education layoffs, fears future funding cuts
President Donald Trump has said he wants to eventually dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, which helps administer programs and distribute federal funds to schools across the country.
Trump administration eyes sale of historic Wellstone building, other federal offices in Minnesota
Elon Musk's cost-cutting effort is also looking to terminate the lease for the Indian Health Service office in Bemidji.
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] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Thursday, September 28, 2017
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Tracking the top issues at the Minnesota Legislature in 2025
From fraud to gas taxes, what's happening with the major bills up for debate at the State Capitol this year.
Minnesota rideshare drivers push law change to allow them to unionize
Effort follows years-long push at Capitol that culminated last year in a bill heralded as nation's strongest worker protections for rideshare workers.
'Five-alarm fire': Minnesota domestic violence groups are scrambling after federal funding pause
Groups say they're already looking to cut staff, give up office space and scale back services with no certainty when funding could resume.
AG Keith Ellison is leading the charge against Trump in Minnesota. Will lawsuits make a difference?
It's Ellison's second time responding to the Trump administration through legal action. He says the president's team is now more brazen in rebuffing the courts.
What's behind recent sparring between Emmer, Walz?
Back-and-forth could be new norm for Walz in second Trump administration.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announces run for U.S. Senate, Rep. Ilhan Omar considering
Others reportedly mulling a run include Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.
Lawmakers brace for possible Trump funding cuts in Minnesota, which already gives more than it gets
What you need to know about Minnesota's relationship with the federal government and what funding cuts could mean in the state.
Federal judge blocks Minnesota law to limit campaign donations from foreign corporate ownership
U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud ruled the law was too broad and could not take effect.
Minnesota House returns to work for first time in 2025
DFL, Republicans convene first House floor session of the year with power-sharing pact in place.
Democrats and Republicans reach deal to end Minnesota House stalemate
Three-week impasse ends with deal that makes Republican Lisa Demuth speaker of the House for two years, gives GOP temporary control of committees.
Gov. Tim Walz calls special election in seat critical to Minnesota House control
The March election could restore the chamber to a 67-67 tie.
DFL residency case has thrown Minnesota legislative session into doubt. Could it have been avoided?
The DFL's decision to back Curtis Johnson for a suburban House seat has haunted the party since a judge ruled Johnson didn't live in the district, turning a tie into a 67-66 advantage for Republicans.
Tim Walz banks $1 million heading into possible third campaign for Minnesota governor
The Democrat has said he'll decide this summer if he will seek a historic third-term in the office.
Gov. Tim Walz endorses Richard Carlbom as next DFL Party chair
The state party will be electing a new chair to succeed Ken Martin, who was chosen to lead the Democratic National Committee.
As Minnesota House impasse continues, both sides open to future tiebreaker in chamber
Other states have used everything from a coin toss to siding with the governor's party in cases where there's a tie.
Minnesota House GOP sues to force Democrats back to the chamber
The legal challenge accuses Secretary of State Steve Simon of unlawfully blocking GOP motions in the chamber.
What could happen in Minnesota under a Trump federal funding freeze
By Wednesday afternoon, the Trump administration issued a one-page memo saying it was dropping plans for the funding pause for now.
Fresh off VP loss, Walz returns to Minnesota to face stark new political reality
The governor's tone has shifted as he confronts a narrowly divided Legislature, a projected deficit and a bitter feud in the state House.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz proposes sales tax changes, spending cuts in his budget
He must work with a divided Legislature to pass a two-year budget before this summer or risk a government shutdown.
Minnesota Democrats sue House Republicans over 'unlawful' session
Republicans maintain that their 67-66 edge in the House gives them authority to elect Lisa Demuth as House speaker.
Minnesota House Democrats boycott first day of session, but Republicans move forward anyway
Negotiations between House DFL and GOP leaders failed to reach a deal before the Legislature convened at noon Tuesday.
DFLer Brad Tabke's victory stands in Shakopee-area race, judge rules
The ruling deals a blow to a Republican candidate who contested Tabke's victory in court. But Aaron Paul can appeal the decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Minnesota House Democrats sworn into office early as they prepare to boycott start of session
In other weekend developments, Republicans and Democrats struck a power-sharing agreement in the state Senate.
DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell's lawyers seek to postpone burglary trial until late May
Defense attorneys filed a request to delay her trial until after the 2025 session with the Becker County judge Friday.
Boycott, special elections and quorums: What the heck is going on at the Minnesota Legislature?
Historic acrimony has cast doubt over whether any work will get done during the first month of session, which starts next week.
DFLer drops out of Minnesota Senate race after questions about residency
Early voting in the race begins on Thursday.
DFL candidate's residency challenged in Minneapolis Senate special election
The allegations against candidate Mohamed Jama are the latest legislative controversy over residency status.
Minnesota's November election: What you need to know to cast your ballot
State law allows voters to cast their ballot up to 46 days before the election, but many will choose to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5.
Minnesota judge elections: What you need to know about candidates running in state court races
Only nine out of 103 judicial races on the ballot this fall are contested.
Gaffes, misstatements or lies? Walz's inaccurate past statements draw scrutiny.
The Minnesota governor's words are being closely scrutinized now that he's on the national ticket.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has not said abortion in ninth month is 'absolutely fine'
Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris' vice presidential nominee from the debate stage Tuesday, but his claims are inaccurate and misleading.
Minnesota 2024 voter guide: Who's running, where they stand on the issues
Early voting begins today in Minnesota. We ask major party candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress about issues ranging from the economy to immigration.
Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show
The first-term GOP representative from Kettle River denied the allegations and said he's "worked to put this difficult chapter of my life behind me."
Minnesota intensifies review process for new automatic voter registration system
Republicans sent letters to the Department of Public Safety asking about the security of the new system.
Gov. Tim Walz returns to the Minnesota State Fair for the first time as vice presidential nominee
The governor's 30-minute State Fair appearance was tightly controlled as Walz balanced security with home state pride.
The races that could determine control of the Legislature
Here's what you should know about 15 key races in Minnesota's swing districts.
RFK Jr. dropped out of presidential race but he's still on Minnesota's November ballot
The campaign must petition the court to get off the ballot once it's set.
Harris and Walz 'politics of joy' theme traced back to another prominent Minnesotan
Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey later regretted using it at a pivotal moment in his political career.
Walz family clarifies they used another common infertility procedure to conceive, not IVF
First Lady Gwen Walz is opening up about their experience with intrauterine insemination to conceive their daughter Hope.
Minnesota's 'Miracle 2.0′ legislative session is getting a new spotlight in the presidential race
Democrats are pointing to it as a model for how to push long-sought priorities through the process despite narrow majorities. Republicans are using it to cast Walz as an extreme partisan.
A chameleon or pragmatist? Walz's political evolution in the spotlight in VP race
Opponents describe him as a political opportunist, but those who know him say he's pragmatic and knows how to evolve to the constituency he serves to meet the time.
Five takeaways from Minnesota's primary election
Incumbents fared well in their intra-party battles on Tuesday, while the grassroots wing of the Republican Party saw mixed results.
What to know to cast your ballot in Minnesota's primary election Tuesday
The results of Tuesday's primary will shape the candidate matchups that voters will choose from in November.
Fact check: Tim Walz did not redesign Minnesota's flag to look like Somalia's flag
A commission created by the Minnesota Legislature redesigned the flag last year and based the final flag design off a concept submitted by a resident.
Walz v. Vance: The veepstakes is going to be a rural-off.
Both vice presidential candidates were added to their tickets to help bring in working-class voters in Midwest and Rust Belt states. Their ability to win those votes will depend on who can be the most authentic messenger.
Harris picks Walz: 'We are going to build a great partnership'
After weeks of speculation, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join the Harris ticket as her vice presidential pick over other candidates, like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
What you should know about Gov. Tim Walz's record in office, as he joins presidential ticket
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about Walz's time in office.
Gov. Tim Walz appears at Minneapolis fundraiser for Kamala Harris ahead of her vice president announcement
The governor reportedly flew to Washington over the weekend for final interviews for vice president candidates.
How Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz became an unexpected contender for vice president
The governor's sudden ascent has surprised some, but those who know him well say his personal and political resume have positioned him for this moment.
X's AI chatbot 'Grok' spread misinformation about Minnesota's ballots. Does the tech giant care?
Secretary of State Steve Simon says the social media platform gave the equivalent of a "shoulder shrug" when secretaries of state brought the problem to their attention.
MyPillow landlord drops eviction after company pays overdue rent
The company was evicted from another warehouse in Shakopee in March after a half dozen default notices.
Gov. Tim Walz says virtual nomination process will create Democratic party unity
A DNC rules committee adopted a plan Wednesday to virtually vote on a nominee ahead of the party's convention in Chicago.
Secretary of State: Contrary to misinformation, presidential candidates not finalized in Minnesota
Both major parties still have time to submit the names of their nominees to the state ahead of the November election.
Is Kamala Harris vetting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for vice president? He's not saying.
The second-term DFL governor said it's been "a little weird" to see his name reported as a possible candidate.
Gov. Walz backs Kamala Harris, as vice presidential speculation grows
Walz, a two-term governor, is lower down on the list of possible running mates for Kamala Harris than governors of other battleground states.
With Biden out of race, big-name Minnesota Democrats move to Kamala Harris
Biden's stunning decision not to run for president saw Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, quickly line up behind Biden's favored successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. Gov. Tim Walz, who joined party leaders in lauding Biden, could get swept up in VP chatter.
Minnesota abortion providers prepare for influx of Iowans
The Iowa Supreme Court recently struck down a lower court injunction that clears the way for a law there that bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy.
GOP U.S. Senate hopefuls Royce White and Joe Fraser spar over conservative credentials, issues
Both are running in an August primary to take on DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar this fall.
DNC letter signed by Walz quiets concerns about push to nominate Biden before August
A roll vote on the Democratic Party's presidential nominee won't happen before Aug. 1.
Royce White campaign claims to reimburse 'non-authorized' charges on strip club, more
The GOP-endorsed Minnesota Senate candidate is facing an FEC complaint for that spending, which campaign finance experts have described as possibly criminal.
Why is Wisconsin a swing state while Minnesota isn't?
A mix of political history, shifting economies, turnout and state policies have set the two states on diverging paths.
