Sen. Joni Ernst’s support is a huge boost to Hegseth’s prospects, all but assuring his confirmation as defense secretary barring unexpected twists in the GOP-led Senate.

Instead of spending Tuesday on the Minnesota House floor, the Rochester DFL delegation skipped day one of the session and toured the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility.

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary said nothing that would alienate the Republican senators on the Armed Services Committee.

Democrats repeatedly pressed Hegseth on the slate of allegations he faces.

For more than four hours, Hegseth faced questions about his ability to run the defence department, including its three million employees and massive budget.

Pete Hegseth is facing renewed allegations of sexual assault, misogyny, excessive alcohol consumption and financial misconduct.

Senate Democrats have been clamoring for amendment votes around the Laken Riley Act, and Republicans appear poised to relent.

Governor Walz’s party has lost control of the Minnesota Legislature and faces mounting criticism as a budget deficit looms.

Proportional representation could help restore American democracy.

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs laid out a vision for the new legislative session Monday that focuses on helping average Arizonans struggling with high costs of housing and child care by proposing a series of measures to boost new home construction, limit short-term rentals and set up a new public-private partnership designed to lower soaring child care costs.

The bureau did not interview an ex-wife of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary before the findings on his background check were presented to senators.

Officials are probing whether electrical equipment sparked the Los Angeles fires. Such infrastructure has ignited vast destruction in recent years.