SEN. TINA SMITH Archives - KVRR Local News

From the NFL sidelines to a Minnesota US Senate race: Michele Tafoya’s new play

January 21, 2026

KVRR Staff,

FILE – NBC Sports reporter Michele Tafoya is seen before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, hoping to win the Republican nomination for the Minnesota…

Former NBA star and U.S. Senate candidate in MN to address ND GOP State Convention

January 7, 2026

TJ Nelson,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A former NBA star and current candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota is headed to the North Dakota GOP State Convention. Royce White will speak to delegates during the opening night social on March 27 in Minot. White is a regular guest on the War Room and InfoWars and curator of the “Please, Call Me Crazy”…

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…