Category: Local

Virginia Bill Would Let All Criminals Ask for Release from Prison After 15 Years Regardless of Crime

Tom Pappert

A bill in the Virginia General Assembly, submitted by Delegate Rae Cousins (D-Richmond), would allow convicted criminals in the commonwealth to petition for their sentence to be terminated after serving 15 years, regardless of the crime they committed.

Cousin’s HB 855, according to the bill’s summary, “Provides a process for a person serving a sentence for any conviction or a combination of any convictions who remains incarcerated in a state or local correctional facility or secure facility” and meets criteria established in the law.

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New Report Shows Virginia Hospitals Provide $3.3 Billion in Community Support, Generate over $64 Billion in Economic Activity

Tom Pappert

Virginia hospitals and health systems provided $3.3 billion in community support for the Commonwealth in 2022, according to a new report by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) published on Wednesday. The report also revealed Virginia’s healthcare industry generated more than $64 billion in positive economic activity over the same period.

VHHA determined the dollar amount in community support by “reflecting the cost of uncompensated care, community wellness investment, taxes, and donations.”

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Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney Asks Virginia General Assembly to Approve $100 Million for Sewer Upgrades

Tom Pappert

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney reportedly wants the Virginia General Assembly to approve $100 million for the city’s sewer upgrades, plus additional revenue for new speeding cameras, and warned Virginians could see their utility rates “skyrocket” without additional state funding.

“We’re asking for more because we know if we are unable to find the needed amount, a lot of this burden will fall on the ratepayers,” Stoney claimed, according to 12 On Your Side. The outlet reported that Stoney warned “utility bills could skyrocket” without additional funding approved by Virginia lawmakers and Governor Glenn Youngkin (R).

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YoungkinWatch: Governor Ties Norfolk Sea Wall Funding to Completion of Delayed Casino in New Budget

Tom Pappert
Youngkin Casino

The budget Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) proposed on Wednesday includes nearly $95 million in funding for the Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, also known as the Norfolk Sea Wall, but tied $21 million of the funding to the completion of a long-delayed casino.

Youngkin’s budget includes $73.8 million for the project, a series of improvements that includes levees, storm surge barriers, pump stations, and other improvements to manage the flow of water during storms. However, the budget calls for an additional $21 million in funding that is “contingent upon the City applying revenues generated by a casino gaming establishment.”

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YoungkinWatch: Williamsburg Festival Denies Hanukkah Celebration Ever Scheduled After Governor Condemns Cancellation

Tom Pappert

A Williamsburg music and arts festival is denying it ever scheduled a menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah after Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) condemned the group’s purported decision to cancel it amid Israel’s defensive war against Hamas.

News broke on Sunday that the 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival in Williamsburg canceled a menorah lighting scheduled for its December 10 event, with The Virginia Gazette reporting that festival founder Shirley Vermillion “said 2nd Sundays are inclusive to different religions and cultures,” and reported that Vermillion stated the menorah lighting “seemed very inappropriate” due to what the outlet called “current events in Israel and Gaza.”

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Former Federal Prosecutor Sues Johnson City over Botched Serial Rapist Case

Neil W. McCabe

Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, reports attorney Kateri L. Dahl’s lawsuit against the Johnson City, Tennessee, police department and its Police Chief Karl Turner, in which the former special federal prosecutor claims Turner and his officers mishandled her investigation and attempt to bring to trial a serial rapist.

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The Star News Network’s Neil W. McCabe Interviews Visibly Nervous Attendees at Morgan Ortagus Ash Wednesday Fundraiser

Julie Carr
Morgan Ortagus

Reporter Neil W. McCabe of The Star News Network visits Republican candidate for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District, Morgan Ortagus’s fundraiser on the evening of Ash Wednesday with a few questions for notable attendees.

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School District in Washington State Holding Racially Segregated Superintendent Search Meetings for Parents

Susan Berry, PhD

A Washington school district plans to hold racially segregated meetings for parents and guardians who wish to participate in the search for a new superintendent.

As afternoon radio host Jason Rantz reported at MYNorthwest Wednesday, the Issaquah School District’s (ISD) weekly bulletin for February 7 listed its “upcoming events,” including separate meetings for “Parents/Guardians of Color.”

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Norfolk Second Amendment Preservation Coalition Wins Court Case, Achieves 4K Signatures, Awaits City Council

Corinne Murdock

The Norfolk 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition achieved all necessary signatures required to have the city council review its petition. This followed last Friday’s court decision to award the coalition as much time necessary to gather signatures.

“We think a decision like this is too important to let seven partisan city council members decide,” Republican Party of Norfolk Chairman and Norfolk 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition Founder Robert “Bob” Brown said.

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Senator Rick Scott Headlines Runoff Event for Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler

Maggie Bean

“I’m here for one reason, for two individuals that respect, recognize, and reward hard work,” Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) announced when he took the stage at Black Diamond Grill in Cumming, on Friday afternoon.

Addressing an audience that filled the venue to capacity and overflowed onto the sidewalk, he continued: “They’ve been successful because they have common sense, and they care about everybody in this state.”

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Democratic Delegate Lee Carter Claims Police Are a Threat to Public Safety

Corinne Murdock

House Delegate Lee Carter (D-Manassas) stated multiple times in the last several days that “police are a threat to public safety in every community.” These assertions coincided with the ongoing riots over the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man that Philadelphia police shot for charging at officers with a knife.
Carter issued three tweets in a row, in each post repeating the same mantra that police threaten public safety.

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The 2020 National Constitution Bee Grand Champion Declared

Corinne Murdock

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee – This year’s annual National Constitution Bee Grand Champion was senior high school student Jackson Carter. He received the $10,000 educational scholarship from the Star News Education Foundation. Carter plans on attending the University of Alabama, where he hopes to double major in communications studies and economics.
The event took place at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Brentwood, Tennessee. 23 students ranging from eighth to twelfth grade arrived to compete. The Tennessee Star Report host and Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students co-author Michael Leahy served as the emcee.

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Fairfax County Public Schools Paid ‘Critical Race’ and ‘Antiracism’ Theorist Ibram Kendi $20,000 for One-Hour Virtual Presentation

Corinne Murdock

Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) paid critical race theorist Ibram X. Kendi $20,000 to give an hour-long virtual presentation. Kendi is the bestselling author of “How to Be Antiracist,” a book of circular definitions used to explain critical race theory.

The average teaching assistant earns $23,000 a year; the staff spent nearly that much for a 45-minute lecture and 15-minute Q&A. 

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Angie Craig Takes Cue From Smith and Skips Debate

Anthony Gockowski

Democratic congressional candidate Angie Craig talks a big game when it comes to showing up for Minnesota voters, but the press is beginning to agree that she’s hard to “pin down.” According to a recent press release, Craig’s final round of ads focuses on “her conversations with Second District families,”…

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Recording Shows Keith Ellison Suggesting That He Would Undermine Republican Legislature

Anthony Gockowski

A new recording released by Doug Wardlow’s campaign shows Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05) seemingly suggesting that he would use the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to undermine a Republican legislature. It is unclear exactly when and where the recording occurred, but it appears to be recent, since Ellison is discussing his…

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The Star Trib Has Only Endorsed One Republican Gubernatorial Candidate In 30 Years

Anthony Gockowski

The Star Tribune, Minnesota’s leading news source, has only endorsed one Republican for governor during the state’s last eight gubernatorial elections. Apart from its 1994 endorsement of Republican Arne Carlson, The Star Tribune has otherwise supported six Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party candidates, and one Independence Party candidate since 1990. In order,…

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DFL Chair Calls 2018 ‘Year of the Woman’ Just Days After Admitting He Doesn’t Believe Ellison’s Accuser

Anthony Gockowski

Ken Martin, chairman of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, touted his party’s record of supporting women in an interview that aired just days after he publicly declared that he does “not believe” Rep. Keith Ellison’s (D-MN-05) accuser. During a Wednesday press conference, Martin expressed his “support” for Ellison’s ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan,…

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Minnesota Sheriff Debunks Tim Walz’s Sanctuary State Arguments

Anthony Gockowski

A group of prominent Minnesota Republicans visited a local ICE detention center to vocalize their support for the country’s federal immigration laws, but the real star of the show was the local sheriff in attendance. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, along with Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow and Congressional…

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POLL: Most Minnesotans Approve of Kavanaugh Confirmation, Don’t Believe Allegations

Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows that most Minnesotans do not believe the accusations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and actually approve of his confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. According to an Oct. 24 MPR/Star Tribune poll, 49 percent of Minnesota respondents approve of Kavanaugh’s confirmation, compared to 43 percent…

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Ellison Vows to Take on Big Pharma After Industry Donates Big Bucks to His Campaigns

Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-03) is vowing to take on big pharma in his bid for Minnesota attorney general, but has received at least $100,000 in campaign donations from the pharmaceutical industry in his career. According to publicly available campaign-finance data, Ellison has taken $102,875 from the “pharmaceuticals and health products”…

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Ellison Accuser Considers ‘Walking Away’ From Democratic Party

Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05) accuser Karen Monahan suggested over the weekend that she will join the growing number of frustrated liberal voters in “walking away” from the Democratic Party. Monahan, who claims she has been smeared and threatened since coming forward with her allegations, shared a video on Twitter published…

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Klobuchar Will Campaign In Iowa With Days to Go Before Midterms

Anthony Gockowski

With just days to go before the midterm elections, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will spend the weekend campaigning for Democratic colleagues in Iowa. Such visits to the state, especially during an important reelection campaign, are often consider potential presidential feelers. Michael Avenatti, for instaNewnce, has made multiple visits to the…

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Ellison Accuser Blasts ‘Bullying’ From Dems In Media Blitz

Anthony Gockowski

With just nine days to go before the midterm elections, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05) accuser Karen Monahan is speaking out on several local and national news programs. Monahan sat down with KSTP’s Eric Chaloux Tuesday for an in-person interview broadcast live throughout the state. She opened up about her “fears”…

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Soros Family Drops Thousands On Minnesota Democrats

Anthony Gockowski

Billionaire political activist George Soros and his mega-rich son Alexander have dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars into Minnesota’s midterm elections. According to a recent report from MinnPost, the heir to the Soros fortune donated $100,000 to the People’s Lawyer PAC, an independent expenditure committee established to elect Keith Ellison…

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Dean Phillips Violates Own Campaign Pledge By Loaning Himself $1.3 Million

Anthony Gockowski

Democrat Dean Phillips has been railing against the corrupt influence of money in politics ever since announcing his bid for Congress, but on Thursday revealed that he was loaning his campaign $1.3 million. One of the pillars of Phillips’ campaign is his “Minnesota Way” pledge, which asks candidates to “reject…

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Tim Walz Flip-Flops On $15 Minimum Wage Proposal

Anthony Gockowski

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Walz spent Wednesday clarifying his stance on a $15 minimum wage hike, but in doing so seemed to only complicate his position on the issue. Speaking alongside a cohort of Minnesota mayors, Walz called his previous support of a statewide $15 minimum wage “aspirational” in response…

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In Campaign of ‘Truth’ and ‘Decency,’ Phillips’ Campaign Manager Blames Republicans for Bomb Threats

Anthony Gockowski

Democrat Dean Phillips’ campaign manger suggested that Republican rhetoric is to blame for the recent bomb threat targeted at prominent Democrats, such as President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. “I don’t know whether flipping the House is enough to put a stop to this madness, but just imagine what it…

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‘Hateful,’ ‘Bigoted,’ ‘Disgusting:’ Ilhan Omar Attacks Reporters In Response to Reports About Her Marriage

Anthony Gockowski

New evidence released Wednesday supports the claim that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minneapolis) married her brother in an alleged effort to help him obtain U.S. citizenship. The story has been circulating ever since 2016 when Omar won her historic bid to become the nation’s first Somali-American lawmaker, but she has dismissed…

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DFL Chairman Ken Martin’s Hypocrisy on Full Display During Wednesday Press Conference

Anthony Gockowski

Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin admitted at a Wednesday press conference that he does “not believe” Rep. Keith Ellison’s (D-MN-05) accuser. Ellison was accused of domestic abused by ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan just days before his August primary, but has repeatedly denied the accusations, and a DFL investigation into the…

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Ryan, Trump Step In for Paulsen In Final Weeks

Anthony Gockowski

House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump both made last-ditch efforts to bolster Rep. Erik Paulsen’s (R-MN-03) campaign in its final weeks against Democratic challenger Dean Phillips. Phillips’ energized campaign has attacked Paulsen left and right for being a “rubber-stamp” politician who doesn’t make himself available to his constituents,…

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Poll: GOP’s Wardlow Leads Minnesota Attorney General Race As Embattled Ellison Falters

Anthony Gockowski

A surprising new poll shows Republican Doug Wardlow now leading Democrat Keith Ellison in the race for Minnesota’s attorney general. According to the new MPR News and Star Tribune poll, 43 percent of voters said they plan to support Wardlow in the midterms, while 36 percent plan to vote for…

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Does Anybody Know Where Tina Smith Was Sunday Night?

Anthony Gockowski

Republican Karin Housley debated an empty podium Sunday night after Democratic opponent Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) declined to participate due to a “complicated schedule.” But nobody seems to know what scheduling conflicts in particular prevented Smith from attending, and Smith herself didn’t elaborate beyond saying that she has “just a…

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Three Big Lies From Keith Ellison During Sunday Night’s Debate

Anthony Gockowski

Sunday night’s Minnesota attorney general debate was a verbal “street-brawl” from start to finish, as one reporter put it, but at least three glaring lies spouted by Democrat Keith Ellison went unchecked by the moderators. The first came when Republican Doug Wardlow attacked Ellison for his past support of abolishing…

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DFL-Controlled Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Has History of ‘Political Subterfuge’

Anthony Gockowski

Leaked recordings showing that Republican Doug Wardlow plans to fire a number of Democrats if elected to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office struck a blow to his campaign’s momentum this week. But similar tactics employed by his Democratic predecessors, both locally and nationally, have been mostly left out of the…

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Karin Housley Attacks Dem Opponent for Not Showing Up to Sunday Night Debate

Anthony Gockowski

During Sunday’s night of debates, Republican Karin Housley repeatedly criticized Democratic opponent Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) for declining the opportunity to debate due to a “complicated schedule.” KSTP’s moderators began the live interview by questioning Housley, who appeared on the stage unopposed, about her 2009 remarks comparing Michelle Obama to…

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Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar Floated As Potential 2020 Democrat Presidential Nominee

Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) name is being floated as a potential presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 2020 election. Democrats are predicting that as many as 30 candidates could compete for the nomination, and Klobuchar’s name is consistently listed among them. The Minnesota Democrat would likely struggle in…

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POLL: Housley, Johnson Within Three Points, Dems Less Favorable Than Republicans

Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows that Republican Karin Housley is within three points of incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) who is running in her first election since replacing Al Franken. According to Change Research, 43 percent of likely voters support Housley in the special election while 46 percent said they support…

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Ilhan Omar Dismisses Allegations Surrounding Campaign As Islamophobic Smears

Anthony Gockowski
Ilhan Omar

Significant concerns have been raised against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minneapolis) and her alleged campaign finance-violations, but the Minnesota lawmaker is dismissing the accusations as Islamophobic smears. The Minnesota Sun has offered extensive coverage of Omar’s finance troubles, which are now being investigated by the Campaign Finance Board (CFB). A recent…

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Ellison Silent After Opponent Asks Him to Condemn Farrakhan Remarks

Anthony Gockowski
Ellison, Wardlow

Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow is calling on Democratic opponent Keith Ellison to condemn the recent comments made by known anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. “I’m not anti-Semite. I’m anti-termite,” Farrakhan said during a recent speech. His comments quickly spread on social media after Twitter announced that Farrakhan was not in…

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Letter Condemning Paulsen Attack Ads Written By Wealthy Dem Donors

Anthony Gockowski

A group of local business owners recently condemned Rep. Erik Paulsen’s (R-MN-03) attack ads in an open letter, but records show that almost all of the signatories are donors of his opponent. The letter, peddled by The Star Tribune and promoted by nearly every major Minnesota news outlet, rebuked the…

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Radinovich Campaign Manager Quits With Just Weeks To Go

Anthony Gockowski

Democrat Joe Radinovich’s campaign manager quit Wednesday after polls showed his Republican opponent leading by 15 points. As The Minnesota Sun reported Wednesday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee canceled $1.2 million in ads in Radinovich’s district, and diverted those funds to other Democratic candidates across Minnesota. On top of that,…

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Single-Payer Advocate Keith Ellison Stopped Paying for Ex-Wife’s Insurance Against Court Orders

Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Keith Ellison’s (D-MN-05) newly released divorce files show that he dropped his ex-wife from his health insurance coverage against court orders. Before resigning from Congress to run for Minnesota attorney general, Ellison was a loyal advocate for single-payer health care plans, and was even the lead House sponsor of…

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Both of Minnesota’s Democrat Senators Refuse to Participate In Televised Debate

Anthony Gockowski

Both of Minnesota’s U.S. Senators are refusing to participate in any further televised debates but are still leading their opponents in the polls. 5 Eyewitness News invited Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) to participate in Sunday’s debates, which will also include the gubernatorial and attorney general…

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Minnesota Republican Allegedly Assaulted In ‘Politically Motivated’ Attack

Anthony Gockowski

A Republican running for the Minnesota House claims that he suffered a concussion after being assaulted in what he believes was a “politically motivated” attack. Shane Mekeland, running for District 15B, posted on Facebook Sunday that he was “assaulted in Benton County” after engaging in a politically-charged discussion while visiting…

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DCCC Ditches Radinovich As He Tanks In the Polls

Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows Republican Pete Stauber with a massive 15-point lead over Democrat Joe Radinovich in the race for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. According to a New York Times and Sienna College poll, Stauber leads Radinovich 49 percent to 34 percent, marking a drastic surge in the polls for…

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Another Minnesota Republican Allegedly Assaulted Over the Weekend

Anthony Gockowski

Another Minnesota Republican claims that she was attacked while on the campaign trail after she attempted to prevent the alleged assailant from destroying her campaign signs. Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), who is seeking reelection in District 44A, spotted a man damaging Republican campaign signs near her home, and proceeded to…

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Ellison Petition Denied, Divorce Records Will Be Released Today

Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05) and his ex-wife petitioned Minnesota’s Court of Appeals to block the release of their divorce records, but the motion was denied Tuesday afternoon. On Friday, Hennepin County Family Court Referee Jason Hutchinson wrote in an order that the files would be unsealed for the public on…

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Minnesota Ranked As the Least Tax-Friendly State In the Country

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota was recently ranked as the least tax-friendly state in the country, beating out both California and New York for the top spot on the list. According to Kiplinger, a D.C.-based financial outlet, Minnesota’s “income tax rate of 5.35 percent” earned it the title of “least tax-friendly” state on the…

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Minnesota Democratic Staffer Calls for Execution of Republicans

Anthony Gockowski

A Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party staffer recently called for the execution of Republicans after Election Day, saying they should be brought “to the guillotines.” William Davis, the DFL’s deputy communications director, made the comments on Facebook over the weekend in response to a friend’s post that encouraged Democrats to “take” their…

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DNC’s 2016 Infighting Now Coming Back to Bite Ellison

Anthony Gockowski

Republican Doug Wardlow is now attacking Democratic opponent Keith Ellison over a tax-evasion scandal dating back to the mid-90’s and early 2000’s. But in a twist of fate, Ellison’s tax troubles were most recently brought to light by President Barack Obama’s allies who sought to prevent Ellison from taking the…

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