Politics and Government News

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Candidates, groups spend big in pricey final campaign push
The last complete look at the finances of Minnesota candidates, parties and outside groups shows almost $80 million spent — so far — with the final week of the campaign still ahead.
Roberts delays handover of Trump tax returns to House panel
Chief Justice John Roberts has put a temporary hold on the handover of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns to a congressional committee. Roberts’ order Tuesday gives the Supreme Court time to weigh the legal issues in Trump’s emergency appeal to the high court, filed Monday.
St. Paul police commander is mayor's choice to be city's next police chief
Axel Henry, leader of the St. Paul Police Department's narcotics, financial intelligence and human trafficking division, has worked with the department since 1998 and grew up in St. Paul.
Judge keeps North Dakota abortion ban from taking effect
A North Dakota judge says he'll keep the state’s ban on abortion from taking effect because there's a "substantial probability” that a constitutional challenge to the law will succeed in court. Judge Bruce Romanick’s Monday ruling means abortion is still legal in North Dakota.
How the Supreme Court has ruled in the past about affirmative action
Since its first major decision on the subject in 1978, the court has repeatedly upheld universities' ability to consider the race of applicants as one of many factors in admissions decisions.
You asked: Are absentee ballots counted before the rest of the votes?
The government does not count absentee ballots before the rest of the votes. However, they are run through a tabulator beginning Tuesday, Nov. 1. Imagine the tabulator is like a kid counting birthday presents before opening them.
Police: Pelosi suspect wanted to break speaker's knees
The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer told police he wanted to hold the Democratic leader hostage and “break her kneecaps” to show other members of Congress there were consequences for their actions, authorities said Monday.
Poll workers train for conflict: 'A little nervous? I am.'
America is getting ready to vote in the midterm election, and poll workers around the country are bracing for possible conflict in an era of polarization and misinformation. And that's especially acute in swing states like Wisconsin.