Polar vortex: how cold will it be and what should the midwest expect?

Though the region is familiar with bitter winters, record low temperatures may be threatening, forecasters warn

Record low temperatures are descending on the American midwest. The region is long familiar with bitter winters, but this is an exceptional cold snap that forecasters warn could be life-threatening. The extreme chill comes after a snowstorm that hit the area overnight on Monday.

Related: Americans’ climate change concerns surge to record levels, poll shows

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Gov.-elect Tim Walz names first 5 commissioners

From the back left Jennifer Ho, Housing Finance Agency, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Department of Transportation, Alice Roberts-Davis, Department of Administration, Nora Slawik, Metropolitan Council, and Myron Frans, Department of Management, stood behind Governor-elect Tim Walz and Lt. Governor-elect Peggy Flanagan at the State Capitol in St. Paul Tuesday.

Tom Perez struggles to defend Democratsa #MeToo record amid Keith Ellison accusations

Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez ran into trouble Sunday after insisting that the party has "never hesitated to take action" on misconduct allegations against Democratic officials, including DNC deputy chair Keith Ellison . Mr. Perez defended the DNC's refusal to call for the resignation of Mr. Ellison over his ex-girlfriend's domestic-abuse accusation, arguing that the Democratic Party has a better record of dealing with such charges than does the GOP.

Health Care Budget Woes Await Minnesota’s Next Governor

In this Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, candidates for Minnesota governor, Democrat Tim Walz and Republican Jeff Johnson shake hands at the beginning of their first debate at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minn. While Democrat Tim Walz pushes for a public health care option and Republican Jeff Johnson aims to pare back parts of the Affordable Care Act, Minnesota's next governor will face a basic math question next year: How will the state keep paying for its programs? On the first year of the job, Walz or Johnson and a new Legislature will consider the fate of a 2 percent tax on medical providers that expires at the end of the year.

Southern Minnesota congressional candidates differ on Trump

Registration will allow you to post comments on StamfordAdvocate.com and create a StamfordAdvocate.com Subscriber Portal account for you to manage subscriptions and email preferences. FILE - This combination of June 10, 2018, file photos show Minnesota congressional candidates from left, Republican Jim Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan posing before a parade in Waterville, Minn.

At Rochester rally, Trump makes a case for Minnesota Republicans in November

In a wide-ranging speech in front of a capacity crowd at Mayo Civic Center, President Donald Trump touted his achievement along with Minnesota GOP hopefuls. The rally also drew a large group of protesters.

Voter’s Guide: Minnesota Supreme Court

Public office experience: Minnesota Supreme Court Minnesota Court of Appeals . What do you want to accomplish if elected? I would continue to work hard to ensure that all who appear before the Minnesota Supreme Court are heard with respect and treated fairly.

Who are big spenders in Minnesota’s 2018 election?

In what's shaping up to be the most closely watched election in recent memory, the majority of campaign spending likely won't come from the candidates seeking office or their political parties, but from outside special-interests groups. There are dozens of these organizations out there working to sway who becomes Minnesota's next governor and attorney general, who goes to Congress and which party controls the state Legislature.

Latvian National Sentenced to Prison for Scareware Hacking Scheme…

A Latvian man was sentenced today in Minneapolis for participating in a lucrative "scareware" hacking scheme that targeted visitors to the Minneapolis Star Tribune 's website. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald of the District of Minnesota and Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn of the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement.

Readers Write: Open-office space, governor’s race, St. Paul City Council, Minneapolis City Council

As a workplace designer, my media feeds and inbox were full of summaries like that of the recent Harvard Business School study on the impact of open-office plans . Many of the headlines had a doomsday tone, and our clients were reaching out to us, asking: "Have we got it all wrong?" As with many such headlines, the story is always more nuanced than it appears.

As Ellison departs Congress, Omar chases another first

In this June 5, 2018, file photo, State Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to a state legislature, files to run for the 5th district congressional seat that U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is vacating to run for Minnesota attorney general, at the Minnesota Secretary of State's office in St. Paul, Minn. The race has pitted Omar, a rising star in the Democratic Party, against older, more established Democrats, echoing similar races nationwide as a younger generation heads to Washington.

Mpls. mayor, council members condemn Pawlenty mailer with officers

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and several City Council members on Friday criticized a campaign mailer from Republican Tim Pawlenty that features several uniformed Minneapolis officers standing next to the candidate for governor in front of two squad cars. Frey said the mailer may have violated two city policies, calling it an unauthorized use of the Minneapolis police trademark and citing a prohibition on officers other than the union president or a designee appearing in a political advertisement.

Small grains harvest underway in region, but some worry dry weather could hurt soybeans and corn

Hard red spring wheat flows from a combine driven by Ben Tinkham to a grain cart driven by Reed Tinkham at Tinkham Farms near Fisher, Minn., Tuesday. Ben and Reed Tinkham farm with Brian Tinkham and were on the second day of wheat harvest.

Swanson stands by running mate, despite pressure from liberal groups

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lori Swanson stood by her running mate, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, on Friday despite pressure from liberal groups to dump him over his handling of a top aide accused of sexual harassment, and her campaign suggested that her political rivals had a hand in raising the allegations. The online news site MinnPost reported Thursday that Nolan's legislative director, Jim Swiderski, was allowed to leave quietly in 2015 rather than be fired over the alleged sexual harassment of several young female staffers.

As attorney general, Doug Wardlow would insist on ‘rule of law’

If Doug Wardlow becomes attorney general, a new sheriff will have arrived in town - one with an "R" on his badge for the first time since 1971. "If you want an attorney general who will protect consumers, be tough on crime, prosecute welfare fraud and keep Minnesota safe," the endorsed Republican attorney general candidate said in a recent Tweet, "vote for Doug Wardlow."

Samsung Phone Catches Fire and Burns Man During Dinner

Man Mowing Lawns In All 50 States Visits Minnesota For the second year in a row, Rodney Smith, Jr. is traveling to all 50 states to promote awareness for the youth to give back to the community. Tim Pawlenty Ad Blasts GOP Opponent Jeff Johnson Pawlenty's ad accuses Johnson of proposing property tax hikes, supporting a sales tax hike and of spending millions of dollars on Obamacare.