SEN. TINA SMITH Archives - KVRR Local News

North Dakota, Minnesota Lawmakers Discuss Local Impact of Government Shutdown

Some nonprofit organizations may be unable to pay employees while federal funding is frozen.

October 1, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – “I’m also thinking about everybody else who’s going to pay the cost – literally – if hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans or people in North Dakota lose their health insurance,” said Sen. Tina Smith (D) of Minnesota. Smith is part of the Democratic contingent currently trying to hash out an agreement with Republican legislators to get…

Senators push for new National Guard hanger in Minnesota

August 20, 2025

Alison Voorhees,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) — Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are pushing for a new National Guard hangar. They visited the 133rd Airlift Wing in St. Paul to announce the next step in the process. Plans are in the works to design a C-130J Fuel Cell Maintenance Hangar. More than $5 million have already been approved for the…

First Milestone For Red River Diversion Project

Red River Diversion Project makes major milestone by rerouting river

August 7, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

HORACE, N.D. (KVRR) — After more than fifteen years of work, the Red River Valley Diversion Project made its step in marking the rerouting of the river. “What is happening here today is beyond impressive, moving our state’s largest metro area one giant step closer to a more secure and prosperous future,” said Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Armstrong and others noted…

Sen. Tina Smith given “clean bill of health” following hospital stay

July 17, 2025

Alison Voorhees,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — Sen. Tina Smith says she’s been given “a clean bill of health” and she’s ready to get back to work fighting for Minnesotans. The Minnesota Democrat was admitted to George Washington University Hospital. Last night, a post on X from her staff says she went to the Capitol physician who recommended she undergo a more thorough…

Senator Tina Smith hospitalized after not feeling well at Capitol

July 16, 2025

KVRR Staff,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FOX NEWS) — Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota was hospitalized Wednesday after she began feeling unwell while working at the Capitol, according to a statement from her staff. “While at work at the Capitol today, Sen. Smith started to not feel well,” read a post on X. “She went to the Capitol physician who recommended she undergo more thorough examination…

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith contemplates increased security after shooting of Democratic lawmakers

June 15, 2025

kvrr-apiuser,

Lawmakers on Sunday continued to reel from the shooting of two Democratic Minnesota state legislators in their homes that led to the death of one and her husband, contemplating a previously unthinkable world where democratically-elected representatives need full-time security details to protect them from the public. “I don’t want to think that I have to a personal security detail everywhere I go,…

Sen. Smith calls on Noem to resign after California Sen. Padilla is handcuffed during press conference

June 12, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) being handcuffed outside Secretary Noem’s press conference.WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR/CNN) — Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he had been attempting to ask a question when he was forcefully removed from a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles Thursday. “I was there peacefully. At one point I had a…

Democrat Melissa Lopez Franzen Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race in Minnesota

May 18, 2025

TJ Nelson,

EDINA, Minn. (KVRR) — Former Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Melissa Lopez Franzen has ended her campaign for U.S. Senate. In a statement, Franzen says she decided to end her run after thoughtful reflection and conversations with family, supporters, and community leaders. She served ten years in the state senate but left after new legislative maps were drawn in 2022. The…

Democrat Rep. Angie Craig Launches U.S. Senate Run in Minnesota

April 29, 2025

TJ Nelson,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) — Democrat Rep. Angie Craig announcing her run for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. She is seeking the seat being vacated by Sen. Tina Smith in 2026. Craig was elected to the U.S. House in 2018 in Minnesota’s 2nd District. Before that she worked in journalism and human resources. Fellow Democrats including former Sen. Al Franken and…

Low-income Heating and Cooling Assistance In Jeopardy Due to LIHEAP Agency Cuts

April 2, 2025

TJ Nelson, KVRR Staff,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR/FOX) — Every employee at a program that assists low-income households in paying heating and cooling bills has been let go as part of DOGE cuts, Department of Government Efficiency. Division of Energy Assistance ran the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. It helped nearly 6 million people each year across the country. In Minnesota, around 130,000…