By Cait Kelley and Brian Bakst, MPR News

“The weekend U.S. strike on Iran underscores just how much the issue set can and will change between now and November. It’s too early to say how the situation in the Middle East will play out. The early headline is that much of the country’s hardline leadership has been decapitated . It leaves Iran at a crossroads and the U.S. role there open to debate. Republicans largely celebrated the result of the strikes. House GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota called it ‘a bold, decisive act of strength by President Trump. The Ayatollah is responsible for killing hundreds of U.S. service members and slaughtering its own people. We pray that because of this leadership, the U.S. and the world will be a safer place.’ Many Democrats are demanding that there be a war powers vote in Congress. ‘Make no mistake, President Trump has unilaterally taken our nation to war. This military action was launched without Congressional approval and with no imminent threat posed by Iran to the United States,’ said Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota. With the GOP in charge of both chambers, a vote might not happen if the White House doesn’t want to put members on record. U.S. casualties or boots on the ground could shift public opinion. The Trump voters who wanted less entanglement on the global stage are important to watch here, too.”

By Soyoung Kim, FOX 9

Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes ‘unlawful’ and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war ‘illegal and unjustified.’”

By Feven Gerezgiher, MPR News

“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, called the military strikes ‘unlawful’ and said Trump should have gotten approval from Congress.

‘He started another war in the Middle East. He's put our service men and women's lives on the line,’ McCollum told MPR News. ‘State Department, embassy employees, as well as all the civilians that live in the countries now that the United States and Israel are dropping bombs on. This is unnecessary, it's wrong and we need to rein in this president's power.’

McCollum said she's demanding a full accounting of Trump's spending and use of service members and anticipates the president will request more military funding.”

By The Minnesota Star Tribune

“Rep. Betty McCollum

McCollum, a Democrat who represents St. Paul, called the strikes initiated without congressional approval ‘an affront to our Constitution and the American people.’”

By Yvette Higgins, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“‘We should finish the job and require the full cleanup of the site,’ U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul, said in an email to the Star Tribune.”

By Bill Hutchinson, Good Morning America

“In a statement released immediately after the State of the Union, Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., also mentioned the killings of Good and Pretti.

‘Here in Minnesota, we have seen what happens when President Trump gets his way and a Republican majority in Congress goes along,’ McCollum said. ‘We've seen the damage from masked, unidentifiable federal agents invading and occupying our communities to sow chaos, violence, and division. We've seen Minnesotans racially profiled and assaulted. We've seen the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.’”

By Education Minnesota

“‘Rep. McCollum has delivered for Minnesota’s educators and students year after year, fighting for improved funding for public schools, students with special education needs and higher education,’ said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota. ‘When Republicans tried to gut education funding, Betty held the line. That’s exactly the leadership our educators and students deserve.’”

By Blois Olson, morning take

“Via DFL Rep. Betty McCollum, VERBATIM: “Team USA made us proud as Americans – especially our fellow Minnesotans who led the nation to earn the most medals at this year’s games…Unfortunately, those who had the patience to listen to the President’s speech tonight had to endure more than 100 minutes of rambling self-aggrandizement and division…When it comes to the reality of the state of our union, we choose to believe our eyes rather than the lies.”

By Nick Lentz and Aki Nace, WCCO

Melissa Hortman's son attends

Colin Hortman, the son of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, attended with Rep. Kelly Morrison. Rep. Betty McCollum brought Colin Hortman's wife, Alina Bachman Hortman.

Melissa and her husband Mark Hortman were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home last June in what prosecutors called a politically motivated attack.

After their deaths, their children Colin and Sophie Hortman said their parents "touched so many lives" and ‘leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us.’"

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“To address the issue of political violence, Reps. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, and Kelly Morrison, D-3rd District, brought as a guest Colin Hortman, the son of the late Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, who were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home last June. Colin Hortman’s wife Alina was also invited.”

By Christopher Vondracek, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“[Omar] and McCollum, a House member who represents St. Paul and eastern suburbs, say it’s important for Trump to see how Operation Metro Surge, the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, has affected people.

‘President Trump surged into Minnesota hoping to make Minnesota be the poster child for the numbers of thousands of people he wanted detained every day,’ McCollum said. ‘It all went wrong for him. And the brutality was all recorded.’”

By KSTP

“Minnesota House Democrats held a press conference ahead of the State of the Union, criticizing President Trump’s economic policies and immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Reps. Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig addressed rising costs, Operation Metro Surge and broader national concerns before the president’s speech.”

By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“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. Colin Hortman’s parents were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home last June.”

By KSTP

“Kelly Morrison and Betty McCollum(D- 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts) are bringing Colin Hortman, the son of Melissa and Mark Hortman, and his wife, Alina.”

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.”

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.”

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.'“

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.”

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.”

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.”