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Deep Dive: How the Attorney General’s Office Impacts Affordability, Housing, and Healthcare

At a recent campaign rally for Attorney General Keith Ellison, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Ellison talked about several key issues impacting voters this season. Following are excerpts of the discussion, including Ellison's talking points about the economics of daily living, healthcare, housing, and other details related to how affordability is tied up in government policy and enforcement.
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DEEP DIVE: Addressing Long-Time Issues of Fraud (updated 10-14-2026)

Fraud is historically pervasive around the country. This deep dive starts with a case involving Minnesota immigrants in the 1920s, and ends with modern-day legislation and support so the attorney general's office can increase its staff to levels comparable to other states in being able to convict more people of fraud. The office has convicted 350 people of fraud since 2019, including those involving personal-care agencies, housing services, and autism treatment programs.
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Trina Swanson Explains Why She Can Win Pete Stauber’s Congressional Seat

"I went to a farmer's home in Aiken County recently. This man had voted for Trump and Pete Stauber every single time. We had an hour-and-a half–long conversation. He explained all the things he's dismayed about. I explained who I was and why I was running and what I was going to support. I left with a $3,500 check."
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Anne Mavity: How to Get Housing in All Corners

“We need to make it easy to build,” she says. She cites the 12-month streamlined rebuilding process after the 35W bridge collapse as evidence that it is possible for the state to waive its labyrinth of guidelines safely and to great effect. Mavity points out that half of other states are ahead of Minnesota in addressing the regulations issue.
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DEEP DIVE: The Farmington Push for Responsible Hyper-Scale Data Centers

At a recent public meeting hosted by the Minnesota Women’s Press, about 50 residents, legislators, and advocates invited by the Coalition for Responsible Data Centers gathered to discuss the rapid growth of hyper-scale data centers. The conversation centered on a proposed facility in Farmington — a project that could use as much as 2.93 million gallons of water per day — as well as implications statewide for taxpayers and neighborhoods if corporate needs are not regulated.
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The Public Health Mission of Open Cupboard

With looming cuts to safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, it’s more urgent than ever. We’re eager to support other communities in building food access models that center people, health, and dignity.
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Rukia Abdi: How Community Energy Futures Is Powering the Current Generation

  Q: What does Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF)…
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How Research Is Helping to Solve a Problem in the Steel Industry

Trees and other biomass — which absorb CO2 — can be processed at the end of their life span into an engineered biocarbon for steelmaking.
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Voices of Energy, Land, and Justice

Those of us who live in urban and suburban places cannot expect rural people to shoulder the burden of hosting energy infrastructure while shutting them out of the discussion and providing no protections or benefits in return.
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Energy as Commons: The Northland Solar Commons

The legal agreement between Heliene and the Bois Forte community beneficiaries represents the guiding principles of solar commoning: reciprocity, mutual aid, regenerative economics, and reparative justice.
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EXPLAINER: What Minnesotans should learn about data centers

Farmington residents in lawsuit against city for approving large data center without transparency and community input.
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COMMENTARY: Why are local energy consumers subsidizing data centers?

The truth is, these data centers will create very few permanent jobs, but will create staggering costs for electricity ratepayers and everyone else across our state.
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Two Recent Interviews With Publisher About New Directions for Our Media Platforms

On June 20, I was asked to join radio host Mike McIntee on an AM950 radio show to talk about independent journalism and the new direction of Minnesota Women's Press into statewide discussions about stories and stories about discussions. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.
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Navigating the Divide: Cooperation in the Age of Division

"In this age of fear, cooperation is more necessary — and more revolutionary — than ever. My hope is that we continue to build cooperatives that are authentically by us and for us, spaces where everyone can thrive, not merely survive."
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Why I Have Built My Life Around Co-op Culture

The act of cooperation predates capitalism. Communities have always worked together to raise each other’s kids, harvest shared food, and trade. Living in community, sharing resources, and interdependence are traditional values.
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