Minnesota enters 2026 with major new laws in effect, including paid family and medical leave, clearer worker break requirements, a minimum wage increase, new protections for vulnerable adults, and changes to voting, water use, boating fees, and hunting rules.
Dana Ferguson
Before joining MPR News, Dana covered Minnesota politics and state government for Forum News Service. She has also reported on state legislatures in South Dakota for the Argus Leader and in Wisconsin for The Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
Dana has made appearances on MSNBC, C-SPAN, ABC News Live and NPR for her political coverage and insight. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including multiple awards from the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists, a third-place award at the National Headliner Awards for abortion coverage and was named Outstanding Young Journalist by the South Dakota Newspaper Association in 2018.
Dana received a bachelor’s degree in communication and Spanish from DePauw University, where she was a member of the Media Fellows Program. She grew up in St. Louis Park.