Politics and Government

A senior Venezuelan official said the second of two meetings took place Feb. 11 -- four days after the envoy, Elliott Abrams, said the "time for dialogue with Maduro had long passed," and as the Trump administration publicly backed an effort to unseat the embattled Venezuelan president.

Norman Deschampe, who served as tribal chairman of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for 27 years, died Feb. 9. He's remembered for his dedication to improving the lives of tribal members -- particularly children.

Some Americans have floated an idea they see as poetic justice: Why not take some of the Mexican drug lord's billions in ill-gotten gains and make him pay for a border wall?

The Democratic Party's field of presidential hopefuls is split on a $333 billion government funding bill that includes nearly $1.4 billion in money for barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Rep. Ilhan Omar has attracted attention -- good and bad -- and her home state can expect more of during her time in Congress.

President Trump will support a border security funding compromise reached by a group of bipartisan lawmakers, averting a partial government shutdown early Saturday — but he also will declare a national emergency in order to build the wall he's pushed for along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Former police chief and state senator John Harrington is now in a new role as the public safety commissioner. How does he plan to handle of all of these new responsibilities?

The Senate on Thursday confirmed William Barr as attorney general, placing the veteran government official and lawyer atop the Justice Department as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Tax refunds so far have been smaller than last year's. Some taxpayers kept a bigger share of their income, but for others it reflects an overhaul that rewarded high earners the most.

Congress is preparing to vote on a bill that would avert another partial government shutdown. One person still feeling the effects of the last budget impasse is Shannon Berns, a consultant who works with one of Minnesota's Small Business Development Centers.