NEWS

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morning take | Mood of Our State

By Blois Olson, morning take

TODAY: DFL Reps. Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar will host a press conference ahead of the State of the Union at 9:00 a.m. central.”

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Capitol View: A fractured union

By Dana Ferguson, Peter Cox, Cait Kelley and Nicole Ki, MPR News

A group of Minnesotans including the son of a slain Minnesota lawmaker, police chief and several people adversely affected by the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state are heading to Washington, D.C. for the State of the Union tonight. As is standard practice, Minnesota’s congressional delegation gave notice of the guests they’re inviting to the event. Lawmakers typically invite people from their home state or those with views that mirror their political philosophies. Sen. Tina Smith, Reps. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig are bringing school leaders and others adversely affected by recent federal immigration operations. Reps. Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison will host Colin Hortman, the son of the late DFL Leader Melissa Hortman. Colin's wife, Alina Bachman Hortman, will be there, too. Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Tom Emmer is bringing Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany and a local business owner. Rep. Brad Finstad is also bringing a police chief from his district. Rep. Pete Stauber invited YouTube influencer Nick Shirley who spotlighted fraud allegations in Minnesota. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, also a candidate for governor, will focus on tariffs with her guest choice. She’s bringing Sean Syverson, who owns a brewing business in Moorhead, about his added costs due to aluminum tariffs on Canadian imports.”

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Nick Shirley, Colin Hortman among guests of Minnesota politicians at State of the Union

By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune

Reps. Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison

The two Democrats will bring Colin Hortman, the son of the late House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and his wife, Alina Bachman Hortman. Colin Hortman’s parents were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home last June.

Hortman and his sister, Sophie, have remained politically active since their parents’ assassination and have been trying to raise awareness about the need for civility, a tradition they plan to honor by attending Trump’s State of the Union.'“

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Weir Road Project To Reduce Flooding Receives Federal Funding

By Pat Mack, Woodbury News Net

“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-St. Paul) announced the $1.35 million in funding. The city received $850,000 in an earlier earmark for design, potential property acquisition, permitting, public engagement and construction.”

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Trump's State of the Union: These Minnesotans are attending as guests

By FOX 9

Melissa Hortman's son to attend

McCollum, Morrison's guests: Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat who represents Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District, and Rep. Kelly Morrison, a Democrat who represents Minnesota's Third Congressional District, are bringing Colin Hortman, the son of slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman, and his wife Alina Bachman Hortman.”

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Hot Dish: Minnesota Dems preview SOTU guests

By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune

Melissa Hortman’s son and wife to attend. Reps. Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison will bring Colin Hortman, the son of the late House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and his wife, Alina Bachman Hortman.

Hortman and his sister, Sophie, have remained politically active since their parents’ assassination and have been trying to raise awareness about the need for civility, a tradition they plan to honor by attending Trump’s State of the Union.”

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morning take | SOTU Guests + MNLeg Preview

By Blois Olson, morning take

MORRISON/MCCOLLUM:Congresswoman Kelly Morrison will be accompanied by Colin Hortman, the eldest child of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, who were assassinated in a horrific act of politically motivated gun violence last June. Congresswoman Betty McCollum will be accompanied by Colin Hortman’s wife, Alina Bachman Hortman.'“

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D.C. Memo: Scotus upends Trump tariffs that have roiled Minnesota farmers and state’s trade with Canada

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“Meanwhile, Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, said she was glad the Supreme Court recognized it was the authority of Congress, not the White House, to impose tariffs.

‘Today, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Constitution and Article I, which gives Congress the authority to set tariffs, and stops President Trump’s illegal and reckless attempt to impose his own import taxes,’ McCollum said.”

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morning take | Session Preview

By Blois Olson, morning take

ISRAEL: via Rep. Betty McCollum advisory, VERBATIM: ‘Congresswoman Betty McCollum today re-introduced The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act. … The legislation would prohibit Israel’s government from using U.S. taxpayer dollars in the Occupied West Bank for the military detention, abuse, or ill treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or any assistance or support for unilateral annexation of Palestinian lands in violation of international humanitarian law.’”

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morning take | Sun, Session + Spicy Senate Hearing

By Blois Olson, morning take

MORE: via Rep. Betty McCollum advisory, VERBATIM: ‘On Thursday, Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced her support for legislation introduced by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro which would fund critical components of the Department of Homeland Security without providing additional funding for ICE or Customs and Border Protection.’ QUOTE: ‘Congress needs to fund FEMA, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and other functions of the Department of Homeland Security that keep Americans safe. But I refuse to vote for another penny for ICE and Border Patrol while they bring chaos to our state.’”

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Mayor Kaohly Her returns to St. Kate’s to break new ground in women’s leadership

By St. Catherine University

“The ceremony packed The O’Shaughnessy with over 1,300 St. Kate’s students, alumni, faculty, staff, as well as public figures Representative Betty McCollum ’87, Minnesota Senate majority leader Erin Murphy MAOL’05, Saint Paul Public Schools superintendent Stacie Stanley ’97, ’02, MAED’05, EdD, and Senator Amy Klobuchar.”

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Border czar Homan: ICE surge in Minnesota ready to end, federal officers to withdraw over next week

By Josh Skluzacek, KSTP

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.): ‘For months, the Trump administration has inflicted a reign of terror and chaos through Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the administration says that it ‘yielded the results they came for’ is a flashing red light warning to our entire nation. What are their results? Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead by federal agents. A 5-year-old boy was snatched from his own driveway — despite his family’s pending asylum case and no prior orders for deportation. A Saint Paul Hmong elder who is a U.S. citizen was dragged out of his home into the cold by masked agents in front of a frightened child because federal agents acted on erroneous information. A 23-year-old Saint Paul woman and U.S. citizen was taken from her car as she was warming it up in front of her house and detained for two days — shackled by her wrists and ankles, called a racial slur, and suffering a concussion and a seizure. Just days later, she was rearrested on baseless charges, then released. A Saint Paul man suffered eight skull fractures after being unlawfully arrested by federal agents. Just yesterday, federal agents forced a highspeed chase through Saint Paul’s Cathedral Hill neighborhood that resulted in injuries and extreme danger to residents. For months, Minnesotans’ constitutional rights have been violated. Thousands have been detained unlawfully. Children are afraid to go to school. Businesses are closing — some permanently. Local communities are facing mounting bills as their public safety budgets are stretched to the breaking point. The damage inflicted by this devastating surge in Minnesota is clear proof that President Trump’s immigration policy is nothing but a campaign of terror and retribution against Americans he doesn’t like, and it is being implemented by an inept, out of control, and cruel Department of Homeland Security. Minnesotans have suffered the reality of thousands of incompetent, undertrained, and unidentifiable federal agents who have been roaming our neighborhoods and acting with brutality and impunity. In the face of these extraordinary challenges, Minnesotans have responded admirably by caring for our neighbors and looking out for one another. It’s up to Congress and the courts to stop these operations. It’s up to Congress to fix the mess that Trump has created. No community in America should have to face the carnage and lasting damage inflicted on Minnesota communities by the Trump administration for years to come.’”

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Minnesota officials react as feds announce ICE surge is ending

By Aki Nace, WCCO

“Rep. Betty McCollum: Trump administration inflicted ‘a reign of terror’

Rep. Betty McCollum issued a statement Thursday morning:

‘For months, the Trump administration has inflicted a reign of terror and chaos through Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the administration says that it 'yielded the results they came for' is a flashing red light warning to our entire nation. What are their results?’ said McCollum.

She said that it's ‘up to Congress and the courts to fix the mess that Trump has created,’ and said no other community in the country should experience ‘the carnage and lasting damage’ that Minnesota has faced over the last few weeks.”

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morning take | Witt, Whipple and Mar-a-Lago

By Blois Olson, morning take

OVERSIGHT: Via Bring Me The News, DFL Rep. Kelly Morrison made another oversight visit to the Whipple Federal Building last week, this time unannounced. Fellow DFL Reps. Angie Craig and Betty McCollum accompanied her, but they were denied entry despite a recent judicial order allowing unannounced visits. VERBATIM: ‘Speaking to the media after the visit, Rep. Morrison – who is a physician – shared major concerns about the conditions facing those being held in the facility, as well as raising alarm over the lack of clear procedures to prevent an outbreak of measles. … It’s not clear why Craig and McCollum were denied entry.’

MORE: Rep. Betty McCollum released a statement questioning why the Whipple Federal Building denied entry to her and Rep. Angie Craig last week. STATEMENT: ‘As Members of Congress, it is not only our right, but our responsibility to ensure our constituents held in ICE detention facilities are being treated with the dignity and humanity they deserve. Still, we were denied entry. … This will not be the last time we show up to conduct our oversight duties.’”

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DHS again denies Minnesota members of Congress access to Whipple building

By Henry Redman, Minnesota Reformer

“According to McCollum, whose district encompasses St. Paul, officials told the two members of Congress they wouldn’t be allowed to see the full facility because of a cap of 13 visitors. She added that this ignores the law prohibiting Homeland Security from barring members of Congress from conducting oversight of federal detention centers.

‘Their little rule keeping the two of us out is also against the law, and we’re going to speak up, and we’re going to speak out and do everything we can to make sure that the next time we come back, we’re in there to do our duties of oversight,’ McCollum said.”

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Rep. Morrison calls for Whipple detention center to be ‘shut down’ as peers are denied access

By Kyle Brown and Richard Reeve, KSTP

“‘Minnesotans deserve to know the truth. This will not be the last time we show up to conduct our oversight duties,’ Craig and McCollum said in a joint statement. ‘We will continue to demand transparency on behalf of Minnesotans and fight this administration’s cruel and lawless immigration enforcement actions at every turn.’”

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Government must reach agreement on right to counsel for people at Minnesota ICE facility, judge says

By Steve Karnowski, Associated Press

“Craig and Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said they were turned away despite the court order when they tried to visit the facility overnight.

‘We have heard countless reports that detainees are being held in unlivable conditions at Whipple,’ the two representatives said in a statement. ‘We have every reason to believe that this administration is once again lying through their teeth and trying to hide what we all know to be true -- that they are ignoring due process and treating immigrants as political pawns, not people.’”

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