Social Issues

North Dakota county may become first in U.S. to bar new refugees
If commissioners vote Monday to bar refugees, as expected, Burleigh County — home to about 95,000 people and the capital city of Bismarck — could become the first local government to do so since President Trump issued an executive order making it possible.
Nearly 700,000 SNAP recipients could lose benefits under new Trump rule
The Trump administration has finalized a rule to limit food stamp benefits for single able-bodied adults who can't show that they work more than 20 hours a week, though legal challenges are possible.
 In a split vote, one Minnesota county says ‘yes’ to more refugees
After Trump signed an executive order requiring local and state governments to give consent to refugee resettlement efforts, officials in Kandiyohi County on Tuesday brought the matter to a vote. It was the first community in the state to sign off on such a resolution.
Wealthy donor promises college tuition to help spur growth in Kansas hometown
A retired businessman hoping to save his shrinking hometown launched a "Promise" program to pay college tuition for its students, but his plan might simply shift people around among dwindling towns.
Cases up sharply in Bloomington immigration court
Data shows a 70 percent jump in pending cases at the federal immigration court in Bloomington, mirroring a trend nationwide.