senator Archives - KVRR Local News

State Lawmakers From Across U.s. Convene In Minnesota For Day Of Solidarity

State Lawmakers Convene in Minnesota for ‘Day of Solidarity’

Many met up in-person in St. Paul to address the media and the public, while still others who could not make the trip joined a Zoom webinar from their respective states.

January 29, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

ST. PAUL, MN (KVRR) – More than 40 lawmakers from states as far away geographically as Rhode Island and Oregon gathered in St. Paul in a show of support for their Minnesota brethren, stressing that the need to change the situation in the state went beyond political lines. “This is not a partisan issue. This about the American people. This…

Klobuchar, Smith Speak on Senate Floor Ahead of DHS Funding Vote

The Minnesota senators urged the Trump administration to withdraw ICE agents from the state and their colleagues to not pass any budget proposals until that measure is taken.

January 28, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) – Discussion continues in Washington over the future of Operation Metro Surge in the state of Minnesota. The U.S. Senate convened today, and both senators from Minnesota took the floor to urge the Trump administration to withdraw agents from the Twin Cities. Both Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith decried the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti…

Sen. Kevin Cramer Reacts to President Trump’s Tariffs

The Senator acknowledged that some of his Republican colleagues raised interesting points when it came to checks and balances at the federal level, but still supports the tariffs overall.

April 3, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The markets took quite the tumble March 3rd, as the three major composite indexes posted their worst single-day losses since 2020. This came on the heels of “Liberation Day,” or what Trump named his two-part tariff rollout. Which was made up in part of a reciprocal tariff program. Some economists take issue with the way these…

Protest Held in Broadway Square; Targeted at Sen. Cramer

Based off their interpretation of comments the Senator made during an interview, the protesters feel their voices are not being heard.

March 2, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

Some of the protesters that gathered in the wake of Sen. Kevin Cramer’s comments.FARGO, N.D. – Protesters filled Broadway Square in Fargo on Saturday to protest many actions of the Trump administration but primarily to send a message to one North Dakota congressman. Sen. Kevin Cramer gave an interview on February 20 and many people interpreted some of his comments…

Senator Kevin Cramer and the Senate banking committee work to cancel the release of 6$ billion to Iran.

October 17, 2023

KVRR Staff,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) – Senator Kevin Cramer, Senator John Hoeven and other Republicans have sponsored a bill which would permanently freeze payments sent to Iran. The six billion dollars has been intercepted and is being unofficially held in Qatar. The bill would make it so that the funds remain frozen and not accessible to the Iranian government. The efforts…

Sen. Amy Klobuchar talks about efforts to bring down the cost of prescription drugs

August 29, 2023

KVRR Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. (KVRR) – Sen. Amy Klobuchar along with Minnesota AARP Associate State Director Erin Parrish are highlighting efforts in bringing down the cost of prescription drugs. Medicare released a list of the first ten commonly used, costly drugs that were selected to be subject to negotiated prices beginning in 2026. Klobuchar’s legislation discussed the possibility of lifting a nearly…

Sen. Smith tours FM Flood Diversion Project

August 16, 2023

Aaron Walling,

HORACE, N.D. (KVRR) – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) made her way to the east side of North Dakota to tour the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion project. The senator along with Moorhead’s Mayor Shelly Carlson, got an inside look of what is being built south of Horace, ND. “I know what a huge difference this is going to make for the folks…

Hoeven wants HHS Sec. Becerra to end Covid-19 vaccine & mask mandates

February 24, 2023

Site Staff,

WASHINGTON (KVRR) – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven calls Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra pressuring him to end Covid-19 mandates saying they’re hurting rural hospitals and care facilities. The Biden administration plans to end its public health emergency in May. Hoeven also wants the federal government to end the Covid-19 vaccine mandates for federal employees and contractors and…

Cramer: Top secret briefings did nothing to change mind on Fufeng

December 30, 2022

KVRR Staff,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO/KNOX) – Sen. Kevin Cramer said a pair of top secret briefings regarding the proposed Fufeng project in Grand Forks did nothing to change his mind about the corn milling plant. Cramer, and Sen. John Hoeven, have expressed security concerns over the company’s ties to China and its close proximity to the Grand Forks Air Force Base….

Sen. Tina Smith & six of her colleagues ask Biden to release Leonard Peltier from prison

December 2, 2022

Site Staff,

WASHINGTON (KVRR) – Seven senators, including Minnesota’s Tina Smith, send President Biden a letter requesting commuting the sentence of Native activist Leonard Peltier. He was convicted of murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1975 and his trial was held in Fargo. “It would really be an awesome feeling to know that we get…