Politics and Government News

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U of M remains committed to transfer land back to Fond Du Lac band despite legislative stall
The University of Minnesota says it remains committed to returning land to the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Ojibwe despite not receiving the necessary support from the state Legislature in the waning days of the session.
Defense rests without ex-President Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial
Donald Trump’s lawyers rested their defense Tuesday without the former president taking the witness stand in his New York hush money criminal trial, moving the case closer to the moment the jury will begin deciding his fate.
6 key facts about abortion laws and the 2024 election
State laws on abortion keep changing — with new bans taking effect in some places while new protections are enacted in others. And abortion will be on the ballot in at least four states.
Final South Dakota tribe bans governor
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is now banned from entering the lands of all nine tribes in South Dakota. Following a meeting on Tuesday, May 21, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe moved to ban the governor from the reservation in solidarity with the other eight Oceti Sakowin tribes in South Dakota.
Minnesota’s top elected officials hear calls for divestment at state board meeting
Protesters seeking to have the state of Minnesota end any investments in Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers had a chance to directly address the state’s top elected officials on Tuesday.
Job Interview: Barber who works at the Capitol has learned it’s best not to split hairs
State lawmakers may be heading home once the legislative session wraps up, but Ken Kirkpatrick still has his work cut out for him. He’s the former owner of Capitol Barbers, located on the Capitol campus.
Rochester City Council member expelled from meeting
Molly Dennis was asked to leave after repeatedly veering from topics on the agenda, marking another tense episode in an ongoing conflict between Dennis, the Rochester City Council and city staff. 
Donald Trump’s defense rests in the former president’s New York hush money trial
Donald Trump’s lawyers have rested their defense in the former president’s New York hush money trial, bringing the case one step closer to final arguments. The prosecution will get a chance to call rebuttal witnesses now that the defense witnesses have had their turn on the stand.
Researcher who studies rural Americans calls out damaging stereotypes about rural voters
Colby College government professor Nicholas Jacobs argues that rural voters are far more complex than some academics, liberal politicians and journalists give them credit for — and it’s a reason why rural voters increasingly gravitate toward conservative candidates.Â