NEWS

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DHS cut funding to mass shooting prevention programs in Minnesota before killings

By Audrey Ash and Curt Devine, CNN

“The cancelation of that grant ‘limits our state law enforcement from access to vital federal counterterrorism partners and resources and leaves Minnesota communities more vulnerable to violent attacks,’ said Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum, one of six Democratic lawmakers who sent a letter to DHS earlier this month imploring the agency to reinstate the grant to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.”

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Hot Dish: Kids killed in Annunciation shooting ID'd

By Allison Kite, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said she has supported an assault weapons ban throughout her time in Congress. ‘Semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines were designed to inflict maximum carnage on the battlefield. They do not belong in our communities,’ she said.”

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Walz, Trump order flags half-staff after Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

By Alex Derosier, Pioneer Press

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

“‘My heart goes out to our neighbors in Minneapolis impacted by the horrific violence at Annunciation Catholic School this morning. I’m grateful for the swift response by first responders. All Minnesotans join as one in supporting the children, teachers, and their families,’ she said in a post on X, later adding: ‘It’s devastating to learn that innocent children were fired on as they sat in pews during mass. My heart breaks for the two children who were killed and for the 17 other victims injured. These children, teachers, and their families need our prayers and our full support.’”

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Trump, other political leaders react to Annunciation shooting

By Krystal Frasier, WCCO

"My heart goes out to our neighbors in Minneapolis impacted by the horrific violence at Annunciation Catholic School this morning," said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. "I'm grateful for the swift response by first responders. All Minnesotans join as one in supporting the children, teachers, and their families."

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morning take | Mayor's Races Heat Up

By Blois Olson, morning take

NONPROFITS: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) introduced a bipartisan resolution on Friday to designate August 17th as National Nonprofit Day, recognizing the 1.3 million nonprofit organizations and 12 million nonprofit employees in the U.S. who serve local, national, and international needs.”

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morning take | Rep. Kaela Berg Eyeing CD2 Run

By Blois Olson, morning take

TERRORISM: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: ‘Five weeks after Minnesota was shaken by the targeted political violence against DFL elected officials, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant. The TVTP grant is specifically intended to detect and prevent violent acts such as those perpetrated against Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. … Congresswoman Betty McCollum led a letter to Secretary Noem requesting the immediate reinstatement of the TVTP grant. The letter was co-signed by all six of Minnesota’s Congressional Democrats.’”

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morning take | Special Elections, Minneapolis Staff Interfere with Law Enforcement

By Blois Olson, morning take

DC: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: ‘President Donald Trump announced Monday, Aug. 11, that he plans to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and take federal control over the Metropolitan police department. Trump said the move to invoke the D.C. Home Rule Act is in response to crime and homelessness. … Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th, said in a statement Monday that the federal takeover is a ‘dangerous escalation towards authoritarianism.’ … Rep. Pete Stauber, R-8th, said on X that he is grateful for Trump’s ‘strong leadership and commitment to public safety.’ … Democratic Sen. Tina Smith echoed McCollum, calling the deployment a ‘distraction’ from the ‘economic calamity of his trade war’ and the potential release of the Epstein files. … Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-6th, said on X Monday that Washington, D.C. sees 25 million American visitors per year, including Minnesotans, [and] ‘our nation’s capital must be made safe again.’”

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Capitol View for Aug. 8

By Dana Ferguson, Clay Masters, Peter Cox and Brian Bakst, MPR News

“Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum held a listening session in St. Paul Thursday to discuss federal funding cuts to public media. Leaders at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it would shut down after six decades. McCollum says she's worried about targeted cuts to arts and humanities. ‘These nonprofits and these media stations had every right to rely on and plan their budget around,’ McCollum said after the hearing. ‘For some of them, they're on such a shoestring that we might start losing, you know, really important community radio stations in October, in two months.’ Public media officials testified about how the cuts will affect their stations and networks. Sixteen media organizations in the state, including MPR News' parent company, are set to lose more than $17 million in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting cuts. ‘Funding from CPB is nearly 10 percent of Twin Cities Public Television’s annual revenue,’ Neils Knutson said at the listening session. ‘As a result of this funding loss, TPT made the extremely difficult decision to reduce its overall workforce, resulting in layoffs of staff throughout the organization.’ Last month, Congress voted to rescind more than $9 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting and international development.”

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Sholom’s East Campus Hosts Congresswoman Betty McCollum

By LeadingAge Minnesota

“This week, Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District Representative, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, stopped by Sholom’s east campus in St. Paul for a resident town hall. Staff and residents celebrated the 30th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, a landmark law enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.”

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morning take | Moriarty Not Running for Hennepin County Attorney

By Blois Olson, morning take

TODAY: via a Rep. Betty McCollum advisory, VERBATIM: ‘Congresswoman Betty McCollum will host a listening session on Thursday, August 7 at 11:00 AM CT to hear from Minnesota nonprofit leaders and public media providers about how they are being impacted by cuts to federal funding.’”

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morning take | New Laws and New Twins Team

By Blois Olson, morning take

STUDENT LOANS: via a Rep. Ilhan Omar press release, VERBATIM: ‘Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) led a letter with nearly 50 House Democrats calling on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to immediately reverse the Department of Education’s decision to resume charging interest for nearly 8 million borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, beginning August 1. … In the letter, the lawmakers emphasize that no court has deemed the SAVE plan illegal, nor required the Department to resume charging interest. Despite this, the Trump Administration is moving forward with the change, falsely claiming legal obligation and attempting to deflect accountability. … The letter was signed by Representatives [including] Betty McCollum.’”

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Marines Will Begin Withdrawing From Los Angeles

By Shawn Hubler and Eric Schmitt, The New York Times

“‘The president’s decision to call the National Guard troops to Los Angeles was premature, and the decision to deploy active-duty Marines as well is downright escalatory,’ Representative Betty McCollum, Democrat of Minnesota, told Mr. Hegseth.”

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FAA investigating SkyWest jet's near miss with B-52 bomber over North Dakota

By David Shepardson and Phil Stewart, Reuters

“‘The incident in Minot raises serious questions about passenger safety,’ McCollum said. ‘Given the Department of Defense training that takes place in the surrounding area, Minot International Airport must also immediately receive and install radar technology to have a full accounting of all local air traffic.’”

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morning take: Pratt Running in CD2

By Blois Olson, Morning Take

BWCAW: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: ‘Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.)…Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding answers on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to overturn the 225,504-acre federal mineral withdrawal in the Rainy River Watershed on the Superior National Forest. [They argue] this move would blindside local communities, ignore scientific consensus, and put the profits of mining interests ahead of Minnesota’s clean water.’”

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D.C. Memo: Dems rake in Senate campaign cash

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“On Thursday, Smith and 45 House Democrats, including Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-5th District; and Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-3rd District, wrote to President Donald Trump, asking him to abandon the attempt to clawback funds.”

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