Audit finds Minnesota preschool programs – complex and fragmented’

Minnesota does a lot to prepare children for elementary school, but its often tough for families to find the right program, leaving some children without the head start they need to succeed. Those are the findings of an analysis of Minnesota's early learning programs released Thursday by the state Legislative Auditor, a government watchdog.

The Latest: Dems press Pruitt on key cause of climate change

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 26, 2018. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 26, 2018.

Soil and Water Stewardship Week is April 29-May 6

St. PAUL-In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesotans have a great love for their lakes, rivers, streams and the great outdoors. For over 70 years, Minnesota's soil and water conservation districts have been hard at work protecting the state's critical soil and water resources by working with landowners on programs and practices that support conservation, healthy working lands and clean water.

Progressives riled by secret tape of Steny Hoyer asking candidate to drop out of race

During a conversation that was secretly recorded, the House Democratic whip said he supported Jason Crow in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 6th congressional district "because a judgement was made very early on." Progressives riled by secret tape of Steny Hoyer asking candidate to drop out of race During a conversation that was secretly recorded, the House Democratic whip said he supported Jason Crow in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 6th congressional district "because a judgement was made very early on."

Trump lawyer Michael Cohen says he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right in Stormy Daniels case

Choose your news! Select the text alerts you want to receive: breaking news, prep sports scores, school closings, weather, and more. Michael Cohen, personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, exits from Federal Court in New York on April 16, 2018.

Q&A on the Democrats’ big idea: A job-creation program

All of a sudden, you can't turn around in progressive Washington policy circles without bumping into a jobs guarantee proposal. The most prominent version is a bill introduced this week by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., with heavy hitting Democratic co-sponsors including Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York , Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

The Latest: EPA chief says he did know about pay raises Source: AP

The Latest on Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt and his appearances on Capitol Hill : Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt concedes he did have some knowledge of big pay raises awarded to two close aides. At a hearing, Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko of New York pressed Pruitt on whether he knew about the raises for 30-year-old senior legal counsel Sarah Greenwalt and 26-year-old scheduling director Millian Hupp.

Ronny Jackson withdraws from consideration for VA chief

President Donald Trump's pick to lead Veterans Affairs, Ronny Jackson, withdrew Thursday in the wake of late-surfacing allegations about overprescribing drugs and poor leadership while serving as a top White House doctor, saying the "false allegations" against him have become a distraction. In a statement the White House issued from Jackson, he said he "did not expect to have to dignify baseless and anonymous attacks on my character and integrity."

EPA chief faces Capitol Hill grilling over ethical missteps

Lawmakers assailed Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday for the ethics and spending scandals that have prompted bipartisan calls for his ouster. On the defensive, the EPA chief blamed "half truths" and "twisted" allegations, an effort to undermine the Trump administration's anti-regulatory agenda.

Sessions: Pardons Granted by Bill Clinton Were ‘Stunning,…

Democrats, panicked that President Trump might pardon former associates who now find themselves in legal trouble, pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on that issue at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. "The President of the United States clearly has the constitutional power to pardon," Sessions said; and the president may do so without going through the Justice Department's pardon attorney.

John Kerry Joins TPG’s $2 Billion Rise Fund as Senior Adviser 2 hours ago

Rise Fund has enlisted former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as a senior adviser, bolstering its credibility as the fund sets out to prove that financial returns and social good can go hand-in-hand. Kerry said he will help identify investments and advise portfolio companies across Rise's various sectors, with a focus on renewable energy opportunities.

L’Italien rips ‘machines’ aiding Trahan, Koh

State Sen. Barbara L'Italien, with a blistering attack against her politically wired congressional rivals, is blasting their deep ties to powerhouses pols such as Mayor Marty Walsh and University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan. L'Italien -- one of 12 Democrats running for the 3rd Congressional District seat, anchored by Lowell -- accused, in an interview on Boston Herald Radio on Tuesday, the Boston mayor of playing a strong role in his former chief of staff Daniel Koh's $2.5 million fundraising haul.

Nation’s nastiest GOP primary playing out in Pence’s Indiana as rivals try to win over Trump voters

From left, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Luke Messer are locked in a bitter Republican primary in the Hoosier state to face the Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly. From left, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Luke Messer are locked in a bitter Republican primary in the Hoosier state to face the Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Dan Haar: Hockley, Barden should not run for Congress

Family members of two children killed in a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Mark Barden, left, who lost his son 7-year-old Daniel, and Nicole Hockley, who lost her 6-year-old son Dylan, listen to questions during a newsconference on a bill introduced that would expand gun background checks in New Hampshire in 2014.

Colorado congressman sues to get onto GOP primary ballot

Rep. Doug Lamborn filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday in a last-ditch bid to get his name back on the GOP primary ballot after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled he must be kicked off it because his campaign did not gather petitions correctly. Colorado law requires congressional candidates to gather signatures from 1,200 party members in their district.

Connecticut senators introduce federal legislation to help homeowners

To continue reading this premium story, you need to become a member. Click below to take advantage of an exclusive offer for new members: HARTFORD - Connecticut's Democratic U.S. senators are introducing federal legislation to help state homeowners with concrete foundations crumbling due to the presence of an iron sulfide.

Sessions defends Trump pardons of Joe Arpaio, Scooter Libby Source: AP

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's right to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Bush administration official I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Both of those pardons were issued by Trump and bypassed the involvement of the Justice Department and its pardon attorney, which historically reviews petitions for clemency.

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Although the Department of Homeland Security has consistently said 21 states' election systems had been targeted by Russian hackers, a DHS official acknowledged more states could have been affected. In an April 24 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Sen. Claire McCaskill pointed out that number reflects only the number of states that had sensors or tools in place to capture the scanning activity.