Public News Service

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature set aside $500,000 for local election offices to improve voting access for those with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, September 20, 2024

Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN

Early voting begins today in Minnesota and the state has implemented policy moves with the intent of making voting easier. Nonpartisan civic …

En 2023, la Legislatura de Minnesota reserv� $500,000 para las oficinas electorales locales con el fin de mejorar el acceso al voto para las personas con discapacidades. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, September 20, 2024

Se buscan voluntarios para la votación anticipada en MN

Hoy, (20/9) comienza la votación anticipada en Minnesota. El estado ha tomado medidas políticas para facilitar la votación. Voces no …

In breaking down Minnesota's Latino population by age, nearly 223,000 are working-age adults between 18 and 64 years old. (Adobe stock)

In MN, leadership, culture variation part of Hispanic Heritage Month

Over the weekend, Hispanic Heritage Month got underway. In Minnesota, people are recognizing the diversity within these populations, as well as …

Si desglosamos la poblaci�n latina de Minnesota por edad, casi 223,000 son adultos en edad laboral de entre 18 y 64 a�os. (Adobe stock)

En MN, liderazgo y variación cultural forman parte del Mes de la Herencia Hispana

El fin de semana comenzó el Mes de la Herencia Hispana. En Minnesota, la gente está reconociendo la diversidad de estas poblaciones…

Beyond additional support for K-12 schools, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill creating a free college tuition program for households earning annual incomes below $80,000. (Adobe Stock)

Former Walz colleagues bring education record into focus

The start of a new year of school in Minnesota has a new twist: intense focus from national media and voters across the U.S. With Gov. Tim Walz …

Adem�s de brindar apoyo adicional a las escuelas primarias y secundarias, el gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, firm� un proyecto de ley que crea un programa de inscripci�n universitaria gratuita para hogares con ingresos anuales inferiores a $80,000. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Ex colegas de Walz ponen en evidencia su historial educativo

El comienzo de un nuevo año escolar en Minnesota tiene un giro inesperado: la intensa atención de los medios nacionales y de los votantes de…

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, lower courts usually define a

MN livestock producers may take concerns to the polls

Concerns about consolidation in the meat industry could drive livestock producers to the polls. Just four companies process about 85% of American …

Seg�n el Pew Research Center, se proyecta que los latinos representen el 14,7% de todos los votantes elegibles en noviembre de 2024, un nuevo m�ximo. (Adobe Stock)

Organizadores latinos movilizan equipos de alcance electoral en MN

Los votantes de todo Minnesota participarán en las primarias hoy (13/Agosto). Al mismo tiempo, los organizadores a nivel comunitario están …

According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos are projected to account for 14.7% of all eligible voters in November 2024, a new high. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino organizers mobilize election outreach teams

Voters across Minnesota will be participating in today's primary. At the same time, community-level organizers are starting to engage with Latino …

As Minnesota governor, Tim Walz has helped push through a range of policies opponents and political observers describe as progressive. Some observers noted he appealed to voters while representing a largely conservative Congressional district prior to serving as governor. (Adobe Stock)

Assessing Walz pick in MN for tone, logistics

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. The timing comes amid conversations about …

Como gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz ha ayudado a impulsar una serie de pol�ticas que sus opositores y observadores pol�ticos describen como progresistas. Pero algunos observadores se�alan que llam� la atenci�n de los votantes mientras representaba a un distrito del Congreso mayoritariamente conservador antes de ocupar el cargo de gobernador. (Adobe Stock)

Evaluando la selección de Walz en MN de acuerdo a tono y asuntos logísticos

La candidata presidencial demócrata Kamala Harris presentó al gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, como su compañero de fórmula…

Authors of a new report examining election laws for each state say inconsistent federal funding has made operations harder for local election administrators. If states do not fill the funding gap, replacing aging voting equipment becomes more difficult. (Adobe Stock)

Automatic voter registration stands out in MN election-law analysis

This week, Minnesota leaders touted early numbers under a new automatic voter-registration law. The provision was among the highlights in a report …

The National Conference of State Legislatures says addressing prison gerrymandering has become one of the fastest-growing trends in enacting redistricting reforms. (Adobe Stock)

New MN law ends prison gerrymandering

Minnesota's legislative session wrapped up over the weekend with lawmakers banning so-called prison gerrymandering. The provision was part of an …

La Conferencia Nacional de Legislaturas Estatales afirma que abordar el gerrymandering carcelario se ha convertido en una de las tendencias de m�s r�pido crecimiento a la hora de promulgar reformas de redistribuci�n de distritos. (Adobe Stock)

Nueva ley de MN pone fin al gerrymandering en las cárceles

La sesión legislativa de Minnesota concluyó el fin de semana con la prohibición por parte de los legisladores del llamado gerrymanderin…

In a new poll commissioned by the Rural Democracy Initiative, nearly half of rural voters indicated they would vote for a culturally aligned rural Democrat over a Republican businessperson from an urban area on the East Coast. (Adobe Stock)

New poll shows rural voters aren't pigeonholed on key topics

Former President Donald Trump is expected to appear at a Minnesota fundraising event later this month. It comes amid new polling data in battleground …

In 2023, MnDOT says volunteers spent nearly one hundred thousand hours clearing little along state highways and rest areas in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota-Duluth)

MN appeals for roadside cleanup volunteers

Minnesota is closing in on the 35th anniversary of a volunteer program for clearing litter and debris along highways and rest areas. With spring in …

Pushback vs. pushback: MN parents respond to political forces in education

Minnesota's largest school district is at the center of a budget controversy tied to the recent wave of school board candidates fighting diversity pro…

Turnover of election officials has been lower in smaller jurisdictions over the past two decades. (Adobe Stock)

New data illustrates turnover trends among local election administrators

Local offices around the country that help administer elections have seen higher rates of turnover in the past two decades. Newly compiled data show …

Minnesota recently joined nearly two dozen other states that restore the voting rights of people who are formerly incarcerated, immediately upon their release. (Adobe Stock)

Voting rights restoration highlights Super Tuesday vote in MN

More than a dozen states hold presidential primaries on this Super Tuesday. Minnesota is among them, and the election is seen as a big opportunity …

Minnesota se uni� recientemente a casi dos docenas de estados que restablecen el derecho al voto de los ex reclusos inmediatamente despu�s de su liberaci�n. (Adobe Stock)

Restablecimiento del derecho al voto destaca en votación del Supermartes en MN

Más de una docena de estados celebran primarias presidenciales este Supermartes. Minnesota se encuentra entre ellos, y las elecciones se …

Minnesota is phasing in a host of election policy changes intended to make voting easier. Administrators also remind voters, especially older populations with physical limitations, that they still can take advantage of curbside voting. (Adobe Stock)

Voting-law changes benefit older Minnesotans

Minnesota's presidential primary is one month from today. As voters prepare to cast their ballot, administrators say new policies are in place in …

By some estimates, roughly 70 U.S. cities, including small to medium-sized municipalities, have endorsed non-binding resolutions calling for a ceasefire related to the war in Gaza. (Adobe Stock)

Smaller governments find voice in Gaza ceasefire resolutions

Dozens of U.S. municipalities have adopted resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Recent action by a smaller Minnesota city showed governments …

The Minnesota Secretary of State said roughly 200,000 residents who live in rural areas are now covered by a vote-by-mail-only policy for elections because their communities' cited hardships in keeping polling sites active. (Adobe Stock)

Primary season in MN: More rural areas switching to vote-by-mail only

Starting today, Minnesotans can take advantage of early voting ahead of the March 5 presidential primary and a growing number of rural residents will …

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated as a federal holiday in 1986, but since the mid-1990s, it has been recognized as a day of service. (Adobe Stock)

Service opportunities remain at heart of MLK Day

Today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Minnesota residents are reminded to seek out service opportunities to make their communities a better place to …

Uninsured people are more likely to support public health insurance programs, but are less likely to vote than people with health insurance, according to the American College of Physicians. Studies show this trend has contributed to a lack of Medicaid expansion in states that could benefit from it. (Adobe Stock)

Medical community: Voting plays role in boosting health care access

Voting is not only good for democracy, it is also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Among the election changes Minnesota ushered in this year were protections for poll workers and election administrators. Other changes, such as automatic voter registration, take effect next year. (Adobe Stock)

MN counts local votes with some new election changes in place

Minnesota just carried out its first election after new voting policies were approved by the Legislature. It was an "off year" for bigger contested …

Entre los cambios electorales que Minnesota marc� el comienzo de este a�o se encuentran protecciones para los trabajadores y los administradores electorales. Otros cambios, como el registro autom�tico de votantes, entrar�n en vigor el pr�ximo a�o. (Adobe Stock)

MN cuenta sus votos, tras implementar cambios en el modelo de elecciones

Minnesota acaba de llevar a cabo su primera elección después de que la Legislatura aprobara nuevas políticas de votación…

Some pro-democracy groups contend former President Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in early 2021 to block election results from being certified. That argument is now among the legal questions being debated as Trump runs for president in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Arguments heard in MN case on Trump's eligibility for 2024 ballot

The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a high-profile case that involves efforts to keep former President Donald Trump off the state'…

Algunos grupos prodemocr�ticos sostienen que el expresidente Donald Trump anim� a sus seguidores a asaltar el Capitolio de Estados Unidos a principios de 2021 para impedir que se certificaran los resultados electorales. Ese argumento es ahora una de las cuestiones legales que se debaten mientras Trump se presenta a las elecciones presidenciales de 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Se escuchan argumentos en caso MN sobre elegibilidad de Trump para votación de 2024

El Tribunal Supremo de Minnesota escuchó ayer (jueves) los argumentos en un caso de alto perfil que implica los esfuerzos para mantener al expres…

Until recently, school boards were often free of politics. But pushback against COVID-19 measures, teachings about race and book-ban movements have made them a part of culture war debates in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns mount over 'extreme' school board candidates in MN

Nearly 100 school board elections are coming up in Minnesota this fall, with some gaining attention because of the candidates who are running…

Rather than focusing on their differences, University of Minnesota Extension educators say people from urban and rural areas should bridge community networks to help address the common challenges these geographic areas face. (Adobe Stock)

What Urban-Rural Divide? Experts Say It's More Like an 'Interdependency'

Political tension in the United States has fueled narratives that urban and rural areas are sharply divided. But what if it's more of a myth? The …

According to Ballotpedia, more than 100 bills were introduced in the Minnesota Legislature this year dealing with election policy. (Adobe Stock)

Election Policy Roundup: MN Outlier for 2023

Many state legislatures around the country have wrapped up their work for the year. As expected, election policy changes were adopted, and those …

Seg�n Ballotpedia, este a�o se presentaron m�s de 100 proyectos de ley en la Legislatura de Minnesota relacionados con la pol�tica electoral. (Adobe Stock)

Resumen de la política electoral: MN atípico para 2023

Muchas legislaturas estatales de todo el país han concluido su trabajo del año. Como se esperaba, se adoptaron cambios en la política …

In the fallout from the 2020 presidential election, statehouses around the country have re-examined election laws. In Republican-led states, tighter rules have been adopted, but in Minnesota, which now has a Democratic majority, expanding voting access has been a priority. (Adobe Stock)

MN House Advances Sweeping Election Policy Bill

Voting-rights advocates say democracy in the United States has been tested in the past few years. In response, the Minnesota House has passed a bill …

En la secuela de las elecciones presidenciales de 2020, las c�maras estatales de todo el pa�s han reexaminado las leyes electorales. En los estados liderados por los republicanos, se han adoptado normas m�s estrictas, pero en Minnesota, que ahora tiene mayor�a dem�crata, ampliar el acceso al voto ha sido una prioridad. (Adobe Stock)

Cámara de Representantes de MN aprueba amplio proyecto de ley electoral

Los defensores del derecho al voto afirman que la democracia en Estados Unidos se ha puesto a prueba en los últimos años. En respuesta…

Minnesota has always been among the states with high voter turnout, but Democratic leaders say democracy concerns on a larger scale are prompting them to pursue legislation to increase access to the polls. (Adobe Stock)

MN Part of Push to Expand Access to Voting

State legislatures across the country have reconvened, with many expected to take up election policy, including Minnesota. At the state Capitol…

Minnesota siempre ha estado entre los estados con una alta participaci�n electoral, pero los l�deres dem�cratas dicen que las preocupaciones por la democracia en mayor escala los est�n impulsando a buscar legislaci�n para aumentar el acceso a las urnas. (Adobe Stock)

MN Medida impulsa ampliación del acceso al voto

Las legislaturas estatales de todo el país se han vuelto a reunir y se espera que muchas legislen sobre ley electoral. Eso incluye Minnesota…

Despite longstanding political narratives, the American Election Eve Poll showed small-town and rural support for issues such as abortion, health care and climate-change solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping It Local: MN Dems Look to Build on Rural Organizing Success

Democrats have struggled to turn "red" rural areas "blue" across the U.S. for years, but in states such as Minnesota, organizers feel involving more …

Surveys show that most Americans recognize our deep political divisions are not good for the nation. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Using the Holidays to Find Common Ground Over Politics

The holidays can be stressful, and our deeply divided political times can make it harder to see family, but efforts across the country are happening …

Mientras los habitantes de Minnesota emiten sus votos, est�n decidiendo una serie de carreras clave, incluyendo el gobernador y el fiscal general del estado. (Adobe Stock)

MN SoS: La entrega de boletas es ahora la mejor apuesta para el voto en ausencia

Hasta ahora, se han aceptado más de 375 mil papeletas en la ventana de votación anticipada de Minnesota antes de las elecciones del pró…

As Minnesotans cast their ballots, they're deciding a number of key races, including governor and state attorney general. (Adobe Stock)

MN SoS: Drop Off is Now Best Bet for Absentee Ballots

So far, more than 375,000 ballots have been accepted in Minnesota's early-voting window ahead of next Tuesday's election. If you still have …

Organizers leading voter outreach efforts within Minnesota's Latino community feel younger generations will drive participation for the midterm election. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Effort Works to Connect with MN's Latino Voters

Across the U.S. a record number of Latinos voted in the 2020 election. In Minnesota, grassroots efforts have ramped up to avoid any participation …

White Earth Tribal and Community College is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy weei.com)

Tribal Colleges Hope Voters Show Support at the Polls

Minnesota is home to three tribal colleges. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout for the midterms…

In 2020, there was a 14% increase in the average student voting rate for U.S. college campuses when compared with 2016. (Adobe Stock)

Calls Grow Louder for Election Day Holiday on College Campuses

To keep college students engaged with the voting process, creating an Election Day holiday for campuses is being floated. At least one Minnesota …

En 2020, hubo un aumento del 14 % en la tasa promedio de votaci�n de los estudiantes en los campus universitarios de EE. UU. en comparaci�n con 2016. (Adobe Stock)

Peticiones crecen por día feriado para elecciones en campus universitarios

Para mantener a los estudiantes universitarios comprometidos con el proceso de votación, se propone un feriado el día de las elecciones …

Minnesota and around the United States have seen a resurgence in union activity, and labor leaders hope their demands get more attention from candidates in this year's midterm elections. (Adobe Stock)

MN Unions on AG Race: Maintain Worker Protections

Public safety has been a major focal point in Minnesota's attorney general race and labor leaders hope issues such as worker protections are not overl…

Beyond crime and safety, a survey of East Metro residents of the Twin Cities area found that education and economic impacts from COVID-19 were considered significant issues. (Adobe Stock)

MN Survey Shows Declining Trust in Key Institutions

The midterm elections are near - meaning candidates, political analysts and the media want to know more about what voters are thinking. Those behind …

M�s all� del crimen y la seguridad, una encuesta a los residentes de East Metro del �rea de Twin Cities encontr� que la educaci�n y los impactos econ�micos del COVID-19 se consideraban problemas importantes. (Adobe Stock)

En MN encuesta muestra declive en confianza en instituciones clave

Las elecciones intermedias están cerca, lo que significa que los candidatos, los analistas políticos y los medios quieren saber más …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

2024Talks - September 20, 2024

The Yonder Report - September 19, 2024

MN: Civic Engagement & Voting