Trump tweets endorsement for

congressional candidate Hughes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — President Donald Trump is endorsing Minnesota congressional candidate Dave Hughes.

Trump tweeted Saturday that Hughes “will help us accomplish our America First policies.”

Hughes is trying to unseat 14-term Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District.

Hughes is a retired Air Force officer. He gave Peterson a scare in 2016, losing the election by just 5 percentage points in a race few expected to be close.

Hennepin County sees progress

after child protection reforms

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An overhaul of Hennepin County’s child protection system is showing positive results, but officials said the county still faces challenges.

Hennepin County Human Services Director Jodi Wentland told Minnesota Public Radio News that there have been fewer staff turnovers and more timely responses to child abuse reports since the county reformed the child protection system.

The county made reforms to focus on the well-being of the child after a 2015 study identified systemic issues, included overloaded case workers.

The county now places more kids removed from their homes with family members instead of emergency shelters, Wentland said. Research has found that children are more likely to be emotionally healthy and less likely to act out when they’re placed with someone they know and trust, she said.

But the number of children in foster care or other out-of-home placements has climbed 11 percent from 2016 to 2017. It’s on pace to exceed that number this year.