Convening the 2021 Session, Protecting American Indian Women & Girls, Introducing New Senators

The 2021 session is underway, and both chambers are making concessions to address safety concerns.  On this week's program, highlights of the very unique and historic opening day.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force report was presented to the Legislature in December.  The report notes that while American Indian woman and girls make up just one percent of Minnesota’s population, they represent eight percent of all murdered women and girls.  Senator Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, was co-chair of the task force, and joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the group’s findings. 

Senator Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, beat incumbent Dan Hall by six percentage points in the November election to represent District 56, which includes most of Burnsville, part of Lakeville and Savage.  She talks with Shannon about her path to elected office and the issues for which she is advocating.