minnesota senate

Concordia students urge lawmakers to take action on gun safety

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Student activists are working to get the Minnesota legislature to advance what they say is critical and lifesaving gun safety legislation. Concordia College students are partnering with other organizations. Concordia College Student Government Association led a gun sense and safety rally on campus to kick off a week of action. They will then have students sign…

Native American imagery could be banned in Minnesota schools

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) — Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent schools from using Native American imagery as logos. Senator Mary Kunesh is behind Senate File 584 which would require schools to file requests to grant permission from the Tribal Nations Education Committee and Indian Affairs Council to continue using a nickname and logo. Schools can also…

Former MN Governors Speak Out Against Sanford Controlling U of M Medical Center

Fmr. Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) & Fmr. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Two former Minnesota governors join forces and speak out against South Dakota-based Sanford Health getting control of the University of Minnesota Medical School in the Fairview Health merger. Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tim Pawlenty voiced their concerns in front of the Senate Committee on Health…

Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate voted Thursday to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen catalytic converters, a crime that has skyrocketed across the country in recent years. Thefts of the pollution control devices from cars and trucks more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, and jumped dramatically again in 2021 to over 52,000,…

Republicans Reject Mask Mandate in Minnesota Senate Chamber, House Has One

State Sen. Mark Johnson/(R) East Grand Forks & State Sen. Ann Rest/(D) New HopeST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Senate Republicans reject a mask mandate for members and staff in the Senate chamber. The 36-31 vote encourages mask-wearing, but does not require them. All 34 Republicans and the chamber’s two independents favored the looser policy, while all 31 Democrats backed the…

Minnesota House Passes Red Flag, Background Check Bills

A few hundred gun control advocates rallied outside the House chambers.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9)–Two gun control bills are headed to the Minnesota Senate after close votes in the House Thursday night. On the floor, Minnesota lawmakers squared off over background checks and red flag laws. “They’re criminals,” said Kurt Daudt (R-Crown). “They’re not following the laws right now and they’re not going to follow them if you pass this….