Melissa Hortman

Based on the provided articles, Melissa Hortman is likely the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. While neither article explicitly mentions her, the second article discusses the opening day of Minnesota's 2026 legislative session and the Democrats' agenda regarding federal immigration enforcement. Given the context of the article focusing on Minnesota's legislature and the legislative session, it's reasonable to infer that Melissa Hortman, as Speaker, would be involved in these legislative matters. Therefore, she is newsworthy due to her position of power within the Minnesota state government and her potential influence on the direction of legislative action, particularly concerning immigration policy. Her current relevance stems from her role in shaping and guiding the legislative agenda during this session.