Minnesota Senate approves record $1.9 billion infrastructure package: The Minnesota Legislature cleared the largest public works infrastructure package in state history Thursday, overwhelmingly passing a long-delayed bill authorizing nearly $1.9 billion in public borrowing to pay for roads, wastewater treatment and a slew of major construction projects. The Senate’s approval of what’s known as a bonding bill marked the end of months of contentious negotiations over a measure supporters say will provide an infusion of cash and jobs into state and local economies devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state House passed the bill by a wide margin on Wednesday.

Season's first snowstorm could bring up to 5 inches to Iron Range: The first snowstorm of the season could have residents of northern Minnesota reaching for their shovels and public works crews sending out the plows.

WHO study finds remdesivir didn't help COVID-19 patients: A large study led by the World Health Organization suggests that the antiviral drug remdesivir did not help hospitalized COVID-19 patients, in contrast to an earlier study that made the medicine a standard of care in the United States and many other countries.

Transit officials consider future of Minnesota's Northstar rail line: Ridership on Northstar, a commuter train that connects downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake while running through the Twin Cities’ northern suburbs, has plunged about 95% since the COVID-19 outbreak. As the Metropolitan Council considers harsh budget realities for public transportation next year, the fate of Northstar has come into sharper focus.

Gov. Walz isn't on the ballot this year? Think again. As the state's top elected executive, and a face of the state's response to COVID-19, the 56-year-old governor carries a much higher profile than most voters' state House and Senate candidates. That has made Walz and his record an election-year issue in the 201 legislative races for control of the State Capitol.

Trump, Biden go at it — from a distance — in dueling town halls: President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation. Coming just two and a half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and a national, if divided, audience. But it seemed unlikely to have produced a needed moment for a president running out of time or opportunities to appeal beyond his core base. The Associated Press fact-checks claims made by both presidential candidates last night.

Minnesota campaign watchdog nixes GOP complaint against DFLer Erin Murphy: The state’s campaign finance agency has dismissed a GOP complaint contending that a prominent DFL Senate candidate sought to fund campaign workers for other Minnesota Senate races.

Twitter CEO says it was wrong to block links to Biden story: Twitter was wrong to block weblinks to an unverified political story published by the New York Post that cited purported emails from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's son that were reportedly discovered by President Donald Trump's allies, CEO Jack Dorsey said on Friday, as the company responded to criticism over its handling of the story that had prompted cries of censorship from the right. NBC News reports that "federal investigators are examining whether the emails allegedly describing activities by Joe Biden and his son Hunter and found on a laptop at a Delaware repair shop are linked to a foreign intelligence operation." U.S. intelligence agencies warned the White House last year that President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who provided the unverified emails to the New York Post, was the target of an influence operation by Russian intelligence, according to four former officials familiar with the matter.

There are 18 days until Election Day! Early voting is underway in Minnesota for the 2020 general election. Check out our guide to the candidates running for major offices and where they stand on the issues, as well as key races in the battle for the state Legislature. Got questions about how to register, how to request an absentee ballot, or how to find your polling place? Here's what you need to know about how to vote in Minnesota. Are you voting for the first time this year? Here are answers to some basic questions young voters may have. What happens after you seal, sign and send in your vote? Here’s a look at how no-excuse absentee ballots are processed and counted. Sign up for our Morning Hot Dish politics newsletter to get the latest campaign and election news. Having any problems voting in Minnesota? We want to hear about it.