The pardons will impact 6,500 nationwide and thousands more in Washington, D.C., a senior administration official said, but stressed there are no people currently incarcerated in federal prison for such convictions.
"I'm kind of terrified because the doctor told me we should catch it at an early stage, because if it gets worse it can take a bad toll on my health," Julio Rojas said.
Southwest of the Twin Cities an expensive battle is underway for one of the most coveted seats in Congress, which could tip the scale for who controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
A group of local musicians playing saxophone, trumpet, drums and more gather at the site of what once was a Speedway gas station across from where George Floyd was killed more than two years ago.
"We have a moral and ethical obligation to be able to respond to those crises should they arise," said Colleen Ronnei. "We shouldn't wait until someone loses their life to do it. We have an opportunity to do something really wonderful."