Aug. 11—WILLMAR — A Willmar man appeared Monday in Kandiyohi County District Court on multiple felony charges alleging he beat and sexually assaulted a woman in 2020. Elmer Alfonso Menendez Vega, 50, is charged with felony third-degree criminal sex conduct — force or coercion, felony threats of violence, felony false imprisonment — intentional restraint and two misdemeanors for domestic …

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blocked the quick confirmation of dozens of State Department nominees on Wednesday morning, guaranteeing that they will stay in limbo until next month when the Senate returns from its summer break.

The U.S. Senate gave the green light to a $1 trillion spending plan. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey are among its supporters.