Agency gives $80M boost to affordable housing

The renovation of Como by the Lake at 901 Como Blvd E. in St. Paul is one of the 57 projects to receive funding this year from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency on Wednesday announced $79.9 million in new loans, tax credits and grants to build and preserve affordable housing across the state.

Indiana election official clarifies registration fraud probe

Indiana's top elections official clarified Wednesday that many of the thousands of altered registration forms she flagged for potential voter fraud might just be residents rushing to correct their names or birth dates ahead of Election Day. Republican Secretary of State Connie Lawson told The Associated Press she wanted Indiana State Police to investigate to ensure there was no widespread fraud after her office found a heavier than usual number of changes to voter registration forms this election cycle.

Trump is taking Obamaa s half-brother to debate as guest

Donald Trump is bringing President Barack Obama's Kenyan-born half-brother, Malik, to Wednesday's third and final presidential debate, a campaign aide confirmed to CNN. Hillary Clinton will be joined at Wednesday's debate by two well-known billionaires who are backing her campaign, in what may be an attempt to rattle Republican nominee by subtly questioning his own net worth.

Alaska Gov. Walker’s approval takes a hit post PFD-veto, but he’s still above Legislature

Even after his partial veto of Alaskans' Permanent Fund dividends, residents still are giving Gov. Bill Walker better grades than the Alaska Legislature for their responses to the state's budget crisis, according to a new Alaska Dispatch News poll. Walker's ratings suffered after his veto sliced this year's dividends to $1,022 from $2,052: Fewer Alaskans gave him an A or B grade, and more gave him Ds and Fs.

Julia Chaknova: Consider cannabis when you vote

In November, Coloradans will choose from current Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, Republican Darryl Glenn, Libertarian Lily Tang Williams, and Green Party candidate, Arn Menconi. Michael Bennet's service in the United States Senate began after he was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter in 2009.

Pence visits firebombed office, defends ‘rigged’ claims

Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence is condemning the firebombing of a North Carolina Republican campaign office as an "act of political terrorism." The Indiana governor made a surprise stop Tuesday at the Orange County Republican headquarters, encouraging local GOP officials and volunteers as he stood among stacks of Donald Trump campaign signs left charred by a Molotov cocktail.

Walker says support for Trump hasn’t changed

Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday that his support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hasn't changed, despite the release of a 2005 video in which the New York billionaire boasted about forcing himself on women and allegations that Trump groped or sexually assaulted several women over the past few decades. Walker said Trump 's comments about women are inexcusable but that his support for him hasn't changed since he first made the case at the Republican national convention that electing Trump was better than a Hillary Clinton presidency.

Andrew Young, Hank Aaron join opponents of schools amendment

Civil rights veteran Andrew Young and Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Hank Aaron are urging people to vote against a constitutional amendment allowing the state to take over some Georgia schools. The proposal, backed by Gov. Nathan Deal, would allow an appointed superintendent to select up to 20 schools after three consecutive years of low performance and make them into charters, close them or overhaul management.

Portman, Strickland debate

Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and Democratic challenger Ted Strickland have sparred over their parties' presidential nominees in their second debate and traded jabs that they're each bending the truth to get an edge with voters. Portman and Strickland often spoke directly into the camera Monday night at a Columbus television station.

Kansas Gov. Brownback wary of tax hike but won’t rule it out

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback answers a question from a reporter during a news conference, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The Republican governor is not ruling out a tax increase to help balance the state's budget, though he thinks it would be harmful with the state facing what he calls a rural recession less Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback answers a question from a reporter during a news conference, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan.

Trump says his own party being ‘naive’ about voter fraud

Donald Trump lashed out Monday at Republicans who have tried to tone down his rhetoric about election fraud, calling his own party's leaders "so naive" and claiming without evidence that large-scale voter fraud is real. Trump's claims were part a Monday morning blast of tweets that took on his party, the women who've accused him of sexual misconduct, the media and Vice President Joe Biden.

Trump ratchets up – rigged election’ claims, which Pence downplays

Donald Trump and his surrogates amplified their argument over the weekend that the election is "rigged," leaving the Republican nominee more isolated as top members of the GOP - including his own running mate - declared their faith in the political system. "The election is absolutely being rigged by the dishonest and distorted media pushing Crooked Hillary - but also at many polling places - SAD" But Trump's own vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, disagreed during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," saying he will accept the Election Day results.

The Latest: Trump calls GOP leaders ‘naive’ on voter fraud

Donald Trump is calling Republican leaders "naive" for dismissing his claims of a rigged election and urging his supporters to "come together and win this election." There is no evidence voter fraud is a widespread problem in the United States.

Two federal unions cling to Trump, despite everything

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis on October 9. REUTERS/Rick Wilking Donald Trump, having disgraced the Republican Party, polluted the presidential campaign, shamed and embarrassed the nation, now wants to bring those talents to the federal government. If his racist, misogynistic, narcissistic campaign does win, two unions representing thousands of federal law enforcement officers will have been accomplices.

Why it Matters: Abortion

THE ISSUE: Persistent Republican-led efforts to restrict access to abortion and to curb government funding for Planned Parenthood have been hotly debated in Washington and in states, and will be shaped in some way by the next president. Democrat Hillary Clinton supports access to abortion and is an outspoken defender of Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in the U.S. and also offers other health services.