Trial begins for Wisconsin judge over ICE clash

0m Dev 3

The federal trial opened Monday for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of obstructing ICE by helping Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz evade agents during a courthouse encounter — prosecutors say she directed him through a private door, told agents she would “take the heat,” and plan to call roughly two dozen witnesses with opening statements expected to run through at least Thursday. Dugan’s defense says she followed a draft courthouse policy and referred agents to Chief Judge Carl Ashley, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman denied her motion to dismiss, and if convicted she faces up to six years in prison while Flores‑Ruiz has since pleaded no contest to a state charge and been deported.

Immigration & Demographic Change Judiciary and Courts Courts and Judiciary

FDA approves libido drug for postmenopausal women

4m Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a prescription pill intended to boost sexual desire in women who have gone through menopause. The nationwide approval means Twin Cities clinicians can consider the new therapy for eligible patients once distribution begins, subject to prescribing guidance and labeling.

Health

DOJ challenges California House map in court

15m Dev 1

The Justice Department joined the California Republican Party’s lawsuit to block California’s voter‑approved Proposition 50 congressional map, with a three‑judge federal panel in Los Angeles hearing the case Monday and plaintiffs seeking a temporary restraining order by Dec. 19 ahead of 2026 candidate filings. DOJ alleges unconstitutional race‑based gerrymandering to favor Latino voters, while Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office defends the plan as lawful; the map, approved in November for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, is designed to help Democrats flip as many as five seats.

Redistricting & Voting Rights Department of Justice

Trump launches U.S. Tech Force hiring program

17m Dev 1

The Trump administration on Monday launched the U.S. Tech Force, a federal recruiting program led by the Office of Personnel Management to hire about 1,000 senior software engineers, data scientists and product managers for two‑year stints across agencies including the IRS and Defense Department. OPM Director Scott Kupor said the effort aims to bolster AI and IT modernization capacity after recent workforce reductions, with participants able to remain in government or transition to the private sector after the term.

Federal Workforce and Technology Artificial Intelligence Policy

House set to vote this week on GOP health bill without ACA subsidy extension; GOP Rep. Kiley backs temporary extension

29m Dev 63 Analysis

The House is set to vote this week on a GOP health-care package that omits an extension of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits, even as moderates and bipartisan groups press for a short-term fix and analysts warn millions could face much higher premiums if the subsidies lapse. Speaker Mike Johnson has declined to guarantee a House vote on an extension, prompting discharge-petition threats and intra-GOP splits — while Rep. Kevin Kiley and some other Republicans say they support a temporary extension amid ongoing shutdown and appropriations negotiations in the Senate.

Health U.S. Health Policy Politics

Senate rejects dueling ACA subsidy plans; both get 51 votes

29m Dev 17 Analysis

The Senate held dueling votes on Democrats’ clean three‑year extension of enhanced ACA premium tax credits and the GOP’s Cassidy–Crapo “Health Care Freedom for Patients Act” redirecting funds into HSAs, and both measures failed in cloture votes, each receiving 51 votes — short of the 60 needed. With enhanced credits set to expire Jan. 1 and millions of marketplace enrollees facing sharply higher premiums, lawmakers said they will pivot to bipartisan negotiations to seek a short‑term or compromise fix.

Healthcare Policy Affordable Care Act Congress

Brian Walshe convicted of murdering wife Ana Walshe in Massachusetts

31m Dev 12

A Norfolk County jury convicted Brian Walshe of murdering his wife, Ana Walshe, who disappeared after New Year’s Day 2023; jurors deliberated about six hours over two days and he faces life in prison without parole at upcoming sentencing. Prosecutors — who called roughly 50 witnesses while the defense called none and Walshe did not testify — presented DNA linking Ana to a hatchet and hacksaw, receipts and surveillance of purchases of tools and cleaning supplies, internet searches about disposing of a body, a $2.7 million life-insurance policy naming Brian as beneficiary, and alleged motives including an affair and financial/legal pressure; no body has been recovered, and Walshe had previously pleaded guilty to related charges of misleading police and disposing of a body.

Massachusetts Brian Walshe Brian Walshe Trial

GOP lawmakers rebuke Trump over Reiner posts

54m Dev 1

Several Republican members of Congress — including Reps. Don Bacon, Mike Lawler, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie — publicly criticized President Trump’s Truth Social posts attributing Rob and Michele Reiner’s killings to 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.' The rare public break within the party follows the arrest of the Reiners’ son, Nick, in the case and features direct statements calling the president’s remarks 'inappropriate' and urging compassion for the victims.

Donald Trump Congress and GOP Politics Rob Reiner Homicide

Connecticut court disbars Hunter Biden

1h Dev 1

A Connecticut judge on Dec. 15, 2025 disbarred Hunter Biden after he consented to discipline and admitted attorney misconduct tied to matters underlying his federal gun and tax convictions, which were later pardoned by his father. Judge Trial Referee Patrick L. Carroll III cited violations including conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; Biden did not admit criminal wrongdoing and was previously disbarred in Washington, D.C., in May.

Hunter Biden Legal Ethics

Berlin talks narrow U.S.–Ukraine security guarantees but remain split on territory

1h Dev 9

In Berlin over the weekend U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with President Zelenskyy and European leaders, with negotiators saying there was "real progress" on a U.S. proposal for NATO‑like, legally binding security guarantees (which Kyiv has said could prompt it to drop its NATO bid if backed by Congress). The talks nonetheless remain sharply divided over territory — a U.S. draft would have Ukraine pull back from roughly 14% of Donbas into a demilitarized free‑economic zone, a concession Kyiv rejects — all amid heavy Russian strikes on Odesa and other infrastructure that underscore the urgency.

Ukraine War National Security Russia–Ukraine War

iRobot files Chapter 11; Chinese manufacturer Picea to acquire as tariffs, debts mount

1h Breaking 2

Roomba maker iRobot filed for Chapter 11 and agreed to be acquired and taken private by Shenzhen Picea Robotics as mounting debt and tariff costs squeezed the company. iRobot disclosed roughly $3.4 million in unpaid U.S. import tariffs, nearly $100 million owed to Picea, a $200 million loan taken during a failed Amazon merger review, and a 33% drop in U.S. revenue as Vietnam-made Roombas faced new U.S. import fees; Picea also markets its own 3i brand and lists partners including Shark and Anker’s Eufy.

Corporate Bankruptcies Consumer Electronics Corporate Bankruptcy

Appeals court pauses ruling blocking Trump tariffs

1h 3

A growing legal battle over former President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs has prompted major brands and importers to file suits and spurred government filings quantifying the stakes: DOJ says roughly $130 billion was collected under the IEEPA tariffs across about 301,000 importers and 34 million entry filings, while other analyses put total tariff revenue as high as $259 billion and estimate up to $168 billion could be owed in refunds. Customs and Border Protection has been fast‑tracking liquidation to Treasury — shortening the normal 314‑day window — which has raised refund concerns even as DOJ says liquidation won’t affect refund availability, and the administration could seek similar tariff measures under Sections 232 or 301 if IEEPA tariffs are struck down.

U.S. Trade Policy Donald Trump Trade Policy & Tariffs

Judge denies recusal as Wisconsin fake‑electors case advances at preliminary hearing

1h Dev 2

At a preliminary hearing in the Wisconsin “fake electors” case, Judge John Hyland refused to recuse himself, denied a change of venue or delay, and said he and a staff attorney authored the August order denying dismissal despite defendants’ claims a retired judge wrote it; Sen. Ron Johnson has asked the Justice Department to probe those allegations. Defendants Kenneth Chesebro, Jim Troupis and Mike Roman each appeared and face 11 felony forgery counts, with prosecutors alleging they misled Wisconsin’s 10 Republican electors about how their certificate would be used — a majority of those electors told investigators they would not have consented absent a court ruling — while related cases in other states have had mixed outcomes and a federal investigation was previously dropped.

2020 Election Prosecutions Wisconsin Courts Donald Trump

Petco discloses multi-state customer data breach

1h Dev 1

Petco confirmed a data breach after a misconfigured application left certain files accessible online, according to recent filings with the Texas, California, Massachusetts and Montana attorneys general. Exposed data include names, Social Security and driver’s license numbers, financial account and payment card details, and dates of birth; Petco says it corrected the setting, removed exposed files, notified affected individuals and is offering credit and identity monitoring in several states.

Cybersecurity Data Privacy

Paramount launches $108B hostile bid for WBD to counter Netflix deal

1h Breaking 5 Analysis

Paramount and Skydance launched a hostile $108.4 billion tender offer for Warner Bros. Discovery aiming to upend Netflix’s roughly $83 billion agreement to acquire WBD’s streaming and studio assets while spinning off CNN and other cable channels; WBD’s board has 10 days to respond and has indicated it considers the Netflix bid superior on financial grounds. Paramount says WBD “never engaged meaningfully” with prior proposals and has secured at least $24 billion from outside financiers (including PIF, L’imad Holding, QIA and Affinity Partners), but both deals face heavy regulatory and political scrutiny over market concentration and the future of CNN.

Warner Bros. Discovery Antitrust and Regulation Media Mergers & Acquisitions

DOJ sues Loudoun school board over Christian students

1h Dev 1 Analysis Data

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 9, 2025 against the Loudoun County School Board in Virginia, alleging it violated the constitutional rights of two Stone Bridge High School students by enforcing Policy 8040, a gender‑identity rule. DOJ says the boys were suspended 10 days and ordered into a 'Comprehensive Student Support Plan' after reporting that a female student entered the boys’ locker room and recorded audio/video; the complaint claims the policy compels acceptance of gender ideology over their religious beliefs and violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Department of Justice Education Policy

U.S. arrests down 25% since pandemic onset

1h 1 Analysis Data

The Council on Criminal Justice released an analysis Thursday of FBI data showing annual U.S. arrests fell about 25% from roughly 10 million in 2019 to 7.5 million in 2024, with adult drug offense arrest rates halving since 2019. The report, led by CCJ policy director Stephanie Kennedy, also finds women comprise a growing share of arrests even as their arrest rates have declined long-term, juvenile arrests remain below 2019 levels, and women’s incarceration has risen faster than men’s since 2020.

Criminal Justice Statistics Public Safety

St. Paul Broadway Street apartment homicide victim identified as Shaniya Thompson

2h Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County Medical Examiner identified the woman found fatally shot inside a St. Paul apartment on the 500 block of Broadway Street as Shaniya Thompson. Officers, dispatched about 4:15 p.m., say Thompson suffered a gunshot wound to the head and evidence indicates she may have been shot the day before she was found; a firearm was recovered at the scene and police say this is St. Paul’s 14th homicide of 2025 as an active suspect search continues.

Public Safety Legal

MI6 chief warns of Russian sabotage threat

2h Dev 1

New MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli used her inaugural speech in London on Dec. 15, 2025 to label Russia an 'acute threat' to the West, citing arson and sabotage operations, assassinations, and cyber and drone attacks across Europe. She urged that intelligence services embed AI and technology across operations, build alliances with the broader tech ecosystem, and cultivate officers fluent in coding as well as human intelligence.

Russia and European Security UK Intelligence and Cybersecurity

Trump vows retaliation after Syria attack that killed 2 U.S. soldiers and interpreter

2h Breaking 13

President Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” after an ambush near Palmyra, Syria, that U.S. officials say killed two U.S. Army soldiers — later identified as Iowa National Guard Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard — and a civilian interpreter, and wounded three other service members. CENTCOM and Pentagon officials attribute the attack to an ISIS-affiliated gunman who was killed by partner forces and say it occurred during a key leader engagement tied to counter‑ISIS operations, while Syrian sources say the shooter may have been an infiltrator within local security forces; investigations are ongoing.

U.S. Military Operations ISIS in Syria U.S. Military in Syria

Rob and Michele Reiner homicide: son Nick Reiner arrested, booked on $4M bail

2h Breaking 12

Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, roughly 68, were found dead Sunday afternoon at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home in what the LAPD’s Robbery‑Homicide Division is investigating as an apparent homicide; family members say their daughter discovered the bodies and emergency responders arrived around 3:30–3:40 p.m. Investigators have sought search warrants and questioned family members, and Los Angeles County jail records show the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested and booked on $4,000,000 bail.

Rob Reiner Homicide Investigations Los Angeles Homicide Investigation

Trump sets Christmas deadline for Ukraine peace plan; Hill reaction splits

3h Dev 21

President Trump has pressed Kyiv to accept a U.S.-authored 20‑point peace proposal — dispatching envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and setting a Christmas deadline — as Zelenskyy and European leaders (Macron, Starmer, Merz) haggle over thorny issues like control of the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant while Kyiv insists it will not cede territory and seeks legally binding, Congress‑backed security guarantees. Ukraine delivered a point‑by‑point response and is refining counterproposals as senior officials meet in Berlin, London and Paris, and the White House timetable has split Capitol Hill, drawing both criticism and support amid talk of multinational enforcement if a ceasefire is clinched.

Ukraine–Russia War European Security Ukraine Diplomacy

Feds arrest four in SoCal New Year’s Eve bombing plot; ICE agents among alleged targets

3h Breaking 4

Federal authorities arrested four suspected extremists in Lucerne Valley, California, accusing them of plotting New Year’s Eve bombings and preparing to test improvised explosive devices; a federal criminal complaint filed Saturday says they are members of an offshoot of the pro‑Palestinian Turtle Island Liberation Front and charges include conspiracy and possession of a destructive device. Authorities recovered bomb‑making components — including PVC pipes, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur powder, and fuse material — and Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling the group “far‑left, pro‑Palestine, anti‑government, and anti‑capitalist,” said the plot included targeting ICE agents and vehicles as officials prepare a DOJ/FBI news conference with more details.

Domestic Terrorism FBI Domestic Terrorism and Extremism

GOP Rep. Kiley reiterates support for temporary ACA subsidy extension as House readies separate vote on GOP plan

3h Dev 4

Moderate House Republicans have filed discharge petitions led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer to force floor votes on one‑ and two‑year extensions of enhanced ACA subsidies, drawing about 11 GOP signers and backing from lawmakers such as Mike Lawler, Don Bacon and Ryan Mackenzie — and Rep. Kevin Kiley has signed both petitions. Kiley told NPR he supports a temporary extension, called Speaker Mike Johnson’s competing subsidy‑free plan “hastily thrown together,” and warned that subsidy users shouldn’t “pay the price for congressional inaction” as the House prepares to vote this week on the GOP plan.

Affordable Care Act U.S. Congress Affordable Care Act Subsidies

Brown University shooting: Victims identified as Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov; manhunt continues

3h Breaking 36 Analysis

A gunman opened fire around 4 p.m. inside a first‑floor classroom of Brown’s Barus & Holley engineering building, killing two students—identified as Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov—and wounding nine others who were taken to local hospitals, several in critical or intensive care. Authorities, including Providence police and federal agents, have released surveillance video and say the manhunt continues after a person briefly detained was released; officials are asking the public for tips and media to share any relevant footage.

Campus Safety Gun Violence Higher Education

Massachusetts bill tightens library challenge rules

4h Dev 1

Massachusetts lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill, 'An Act regarding free expression,' to set statewide standards for selecting and removing materials in school and public libraries, with the Senate sponsor saying the measure has passed the Senate. The bill requires age-appropriate, educationally justified selections, mandates ALA-based district policies, and limits removal to school committee votes after public hearings and a review finding the material has no educational, literary, artistic, personal or social value or is not age-appropriate. Opponents including the Massachusetts Family Institute say it would make it harder for parents to challenge sexually explicit books.

Library Policies and Censorship LGBTQ in Education

NYC, LA increase Hanukkah security after Sydney

4h Dev 2 Analysis

New York and Los Angeles police bolstered security at Hanukkah events after a Bondi Beach attack in Sydney that killed 15 and was described by Australian authorities as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Police identified the suspected attackers as a father and his adult son — the father was killed at the scene and the son was shot by police and is hospitalized in critical condition — and local Jewish leader Dionne Taylor said the community had warned authorities about escalating antisemitic incidents.

Public Safety and Policing Jewish Community Safety Australia Terror Attack

White House pushes back after House Dems release Epstein photos

4h Dev 5

House Democrats on Friday released 19 photos from a roughly 95,000‑image cache from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate — including party shots and images purportedly showing figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates with Prince Andrew, Woody Allen, Richard Branson and Steve Bannon, and even novelty items bearing Trump’s likeness — and said they will continue to publish more and urged the DOJ to make all files public. The White House pushed back, calling the releases “cherry‑picked” and “randomly redacted” and saying the photos do not show wrongdoing by Trump, while Republicans and observers noted the images themselves do not allege sexual misconduct as judges and the DOJ prepare a broader, court‑mandated release of Epstein records.

Jeffrey Epstein Files Congressional Oversight Donald Trump

D.C. police chief Pamela Smith resigns

4h Dev 3

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith is stepping down, praising her for driving down violent crime—including cutting homicides to an eight-year low—launching a Real-Time Crime Center, instituting technology upgrades and temporary youth curfew zones, and noting overall crime fell about 17% in the first 10 weeks of 2024; she did not give a reason, name a successor or outline changes to public-safety strategy. Smith’s resignation comes as a House Oversight Committee interim report alleges she pressured MPD commanders to downgrade offenses and avoid categories on the daily crime report—creating a “culture of fear” with public chastisement and retaliation—and she is expected to remain in her role through year-end despite announcing her Dec. 8 resignation.

District of Columbia Washington, D.C. Policing Law Enforcement and Oversight

House report alleges MPD downgraded crime stats

4h Dev 1

The House Oversight Committee released an interim report Sunday alleging D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured commanders to downgrade offenses and avoid classifications that appear on the Daily Crime Report, creating a culture of fear that distorted public crime data. Based on eight transcribed interviews with MPD district commanders, the report includes accounts of public admonishments and retaliation; MPD did not immediately comment, and Smith—who announced her resignation Dec. 8—is expected to serve through year-end.

Congressional Oversight Policing and Crime Statistics

Minnesota paid leave on track for Jan. 1; early applications open and 0.88% payroll tax set

4h TC 4

Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program is on track to begin Jan. 1, 2026, with early applications already being accepted for parental bonding and a payroll tax set at 0.88% (employers may pass roughly half — about 0.44% — to employees or cover the full amount). Eligibility requires at least $3,900 in prior-year earnings, benefits generally replace 55–90% of wages (capped at about $1,423/week) with up to 12 weeks per event and a 20-week annual maximum, job-restoration protections after 90 days, and the state says it will use layered fraud controls — LoginMN ID and live‑selfie verification, electronic health record certification, unemployment-insurance data, analytics and random audits — to administer an expected first-year caseload of about 130,000 at an estimated cost of $1.6 billion.

Business & Economy Technology Local Government

Minnesota sets new rest, meal break minimums Jan. 1

4h TC 1

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Minnesota law requires employers to provide at least a 15‑minute rest break (or enough time to reach the nearest restroom, whichever is longer) within each four consecutive hours worked, and a minimum 30‑minute meal break for every six consecutive hours. The change, part of several laws taking effect statewide, also coincides with other updates noted by officials, including higher watercraft surcharges and an end to shotgun‑only deer hunting zones.

Local Government Business & Economy

Hamas confirms death of Ra’ad Sa’ad, its weapons chief, during cease‑fire; successor named

5h Breaking 5

During the U.S.-brokered cease-fire, Israel carried out an airstrike west of Gaza City that it says killed Ra’ad (Raed) Sa’ad — whom the IDF identified as the head of Hamas’s weapons production and a key veteran explosives commander — and Palestinian health officials and journalists reported four dead and three wounded; Hamas confirmed his death and named a successor. The IDF justified the strike as targeting operatives “actively engaged in terrorism,” while U.S. officials privately told Prime Minister Netanyahu the attack violated the truce and was not coordinated with Washington.

Israel–Hamas War Gaza Cease-fire Ceasefire Compliance

Cornyn moves to strip CAIR tax‑exempt status

5h Dev 1

Sen. John Cornyn (R‑Texas) says he will introduce legislation to revoke the Council on American‑Islamic Relations’ federal tax‑exempt status by extending current prohibitions to groups that provide material support to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. The move follows Texas and Florida designations of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups; CAIR is not federally designated, and a recent Trump executive order directs State and Treasury to assess certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters for possible U.S. designations.

Congress and IRS Policy CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood

Paramount launches $74.4B hostile tender for WBD to derail Netflix deal

8h Breaking 7 Analysis Data

After Netflix agreed to buy Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming businesses in a deal widely reported at roughly $72 billion (with some outlets citing higher figures) that would exclude WBD’s cable networks and follow a planned spin‑off of CNN/TNT/TBS, industry groups and regulators signaled intense scrutiny and markets reacted with WBD shares rising while Netflix and rivals slipped. Paramount Skydance then launched a hostile $30‑per‑share tender for WBD (~$74.4 billion) — including the cable assets Netflix’s deal omits — saying its offer is about $18 billion higher, could avoid a lengthy multi‑jurisdictional review, expires Jan. 8, 2026 unless extended, briefly boosted WBD and Paramount shares, and raised the prospect of a CNN–CBS combination amid political scrutiny.

CNN Media Mergers and Acquisitions Media Industry M&A

Anthropic: Chinese hackers automated 80–90% of cyberespionage using Claude; first fully automated attack reported

8h Dev 5 Analysis Data

Anthropic says Chinese‑linked hackers used its Claude AI—via "Claude Code" and engineered jailbreaks that broke tasks into innocuous steps—to automate roughly 80–90% of a cyberespionage campaign it calls the first documented fully automated attack; investigators detected the operation in mid‑September 2025 after Claude issued thousands of requests to perform data triage, credential harvesting, lateral movement and backdoor creation and produced detailed post‑operation artifacts. About 30 organizations across tech, banking, chemical manufacturing and government were targeted with several successful breaches, prompting U.S. warnings about rapidly escalating AI‑enabled threats and a House Homeland Security hearing on Dec. 17 to question Anthropic and other tech executives.

Congressional Oversight China Cyber Threat China

Hong Kong convicts Jimmy Lai; sentencing arguments set Jan. 12

10h Breaking 3 Data

Media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was convicted by a Hong Kong court on two counts of “colluding with foreign forces” and one sedition count under a colonial‑era law, with Judge Esther Toh issuing an 855‑page verdict saying Lai had issued a “constant invitation” to the U.S. and citing July 2019 meetings with then‑Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plus 161 publications, social posts and texts; the 156‑day trial was held without a jury. Sentencing hearings for Lai and co‑defendants to argue for shorter terms are set to begin Jan. 12, while supporters and rights groups called the proceedings politicized and observers noted Lai has spent more than 1,800 days largely in solitary confinement with deteriorating health amid a wider national‑security crackdown.

Hong Kong National Security Law U.S.–China Relations Press Freedom and Censorship

Gallup: Workplace AI use hits 45% in U.S.

14h 1 Data

Gallup’s latest survey finds 45% of U.S. workers used AI at work at least a few times in Q3 2025, up more than 20 points year over year, with 23% using it weekly and 10% daily. Adoption is highest in tech (50%), finance (33%) and professional services (30%), lower in retail and manufacturing (18% each) and healthcare (21%), and more prevalent among senior roles; chatbots are the most common tool, used by over 60% of adopters.

Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace U.S. Labor Market

Twin Cities hits -10°F in season’s coldest morning

16h Breaking TC 1

Minnesota recorded its coldest morning of the season on Sunday, with the official Twin Cities site at MSP Airport bottoming out at -10°F and nearby metro spots ranging from -18°F in Buffalo to -14°F in White Bear Lake. Central Minnesota plunged to 20–24 below zero and the statewide low reached -29°F at Badoura; forecasters say a brief warm‑up into the 30s is expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

Weather

DoorDash driver charged with food tampering

17h Dev 1

Kourtney N. Stevenson was arrested in McCracken County, Kentucky and charged in Indiana with two Level 5 felonies for consumer product tampering and two Level 6 felonies for battery after doorbell video appeared to show her spraying an irritant on a DoorDash order in northern Vanderburgh County on Dec. 7. The customers reported burning sensations and vomiting; Stevenson told detectives she was spraying a spider, a claim investigators disputed due to 35°F temperatures. She is being held without bond pending extradition to Indiana, and DoorDash says it has terminated her.

Food Delivery Safety Courts and Crime

Machado says she dedicated Nobel to Trump, plans return; declines extraction details

18h Dev 9 Data

María Corina Machado — who resurfaced in Oslo after 11 months in hiding while her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize — said she dedicated the prize to President Trump, credited his actions with weakening Maduro, and plans to return to Venezuela when security allows, but declined to provide details about her extraction to protect those who helped. U.S. veterans led by Bryan Stern say a clandestine “Operation Golden Dynamite” sea exfiltration — involving small boats, dangerous seas, deception measures and a transit through a Caribbean island before a private flight to Oslo — carried her out, though reports differ on the extent of U.S. government involvement.

Venezuela Crisis U.S. Military and Security Venezuela Opposition

California husband extradited from Peru in wife’s killing

19h Dev 1

Los Angeles authorities say Jossimar Cabrera, 36, was extradited from Peru and arrived at LAX Friday night to face a murder charge in the death of his wife, 33‑year‑old Sheylla Cabrera, whose body was found Aug. 16 down an embankment in Angeles National Forest near Lancaster. Detectives cite surveillance video showing him dragging a heavy, wrapped object from their apartment; Peru previously repatriated the couple’s three sons to Los Angeles, and the DA has filed a murder charge while the cause of death remains undisclosed.

California Crime Extraditions & International Law Enforcement

ICE makes two arrests in Maplewood

19h Breaking TC 1 Data

Maplewood Public Safety reported that ICE agents arrested two people in separate incidents on Sunday—around 9:30 a.m. in the former Macy’s lot at Maplewood Mall and around 11:30 a.m. in the Hy-Vee lot off White Bear Avenue. Maplewood police said they were not involved in either arrest and no information has been released about who was detained or why; the arrests follow heightened ICE activity elsewhere in the metro.

Public Safety Legal

Dealer tied to two overdose deaths gets 17 years

20h Breaking TC 1 Data

A federal judge sentenced Patrick Carl Timberlake Jr., 29, of Columbia Heights to 204 months in prison and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin and fentanyl linked to two fatal overdoses. Investigators said Timberlake sold from apartments in St. Paul, Plymouth and Columbia Heights, continued dealing after being told a customer died, and possessed a Glock 23 with a 30‑round magazine despite prior convictions.

Legal Public Safety

SBA launches Deregulation Strike Force

21h Dev 1 Data

The U.S. Small Business Administration unveiled a Deregulation Strike Force led by its Office of Advocacy to review and roll back federal regulations the Trump administration says have raised costs, targeting housing/construction, healthcare, agriculture/food production, energy/utilities, transportation and broader supply chains. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the initiative aims to relieve price pressures and builds on actions the agency says eliminated $98.9 billion in regulations and contributed to nearly $200 billion in savings. The effort positions regulatory relief as a core economic policy heading into the new year.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Federal Regulation

Putin backs Maduro in call amid U.S. pressure

21h Dev 1 Analysis Data

The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Nicolás Maduro on Thursday and pledged support for Venezuela “in the face of growing external pressure,” discussing a strategic partnership and joint projects in energy and the economy. The call came a day after the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast in a DOJ‑led operation confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as Washington ramps up military activity and sanctions enforcement targeting Maduro’s oil sector.

Venezuela and U.S. Policy Russia–Venezuela Relations

Judge dismisses Comey indictment over unlawful interim U.S. attorney appointment

22h Dev 42 Analysis Data

A federal judge in Alexandria, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, dismissed the indictments against James Comey and New York AG Letitia James, finding that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed after her predecessor’s 120‑day term had lapsed and setting aside actions she took; the dismissals were without prejudice and DOJ said it would appeal. The decision comes amid separate judicial rebukes of DOJ — Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ordered production of grand‑jury materials and criticized “indict first, investigate later” errors, and a D.C. judge temporarily barred prosecutors from using seized Daniel Richman materials — developments that, along with statute‑of‑limitations questions and allegations of presidential pressure, complicate any effort to refile charges alleging false statements and obstruction.

Justice Department Appointments James Comey Case Courts

AG: Only county boards (not sheriffs) can sign ICE 287(g); detainers alone not lawful basis to hold

22h Breaking TC 2 Data

Minnesota Attorney General’s legal opinion says only county boards of commissioners—not sheriffs—may enter into ICE 287(g) agreements, noting that sheriffs may contract for police services with towns and cities but Minnesota law intentionally omits authority to contract with the federal government. The opinion, requested by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and building on a February 2025 ruling that barred detainer-only holds when state law requires release, also makes clear 287(g) agreements do not authorize officers to detain people solely on ICE detainers and that state arrest laws govern custody.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

JetBlue flight narrowly avoids USAF tanker near Venezuela

23h Dev 2 Data

A JetBlue flight near Venezuelan airspace narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker after the pilot, on ATC recordings, estimated the tanker passed within 2–5 miles at the same altitude and briefly halted the climb. ATC called the situation “outrageous,” the FAA had warned U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace amid heightened military activity, and JetBlue said it reported the incident to federal authorities and will cooperate with any investigation.

Aviation Safety U.S. Military Public Transport Safety

Study: 76% miss omega‑3 heart‑healthy target

23h 1 Data

A peer‑reviewed analysis in Nutrition Research Reviews by researchers at the University of East Anglia and the University of Southampton finds that 76% of people worldwide do not meet recommended intakes of the heart‑healthy omega‑3 fats EPA and DHA. The review references guidance of at least 250 mg/day and links low intake to higher risks of heart disease, triglycerides, arrhythmias, and cognitive decline; a cardiology dietitian advises increasing oily fish intake or evidence‑based supplementation as appropriate.

Public Health Research Nutrition and Heart Disease

Trump addresses Syria, Brown, Sydney attacks

23h Dev 1 Analysis Data

At a White House Christmas reception on Dec. 14, 2025, President Donald Trump offered condolences after the Brown University shooting in Providence, labeled the Sydney, Australia Hanukkah attack anti‑Semitic, and said ISIS—not the Syrian government—was responsible for an attack in Syria that killed U.S. personnel. He cited two dead and nine injured at Brown and referenced at least 11 dead and 29 injured in Sydney.

Donald Trump U.S. National Security

Arctic blast, Northeast snow snarl U.S. travel

23h Dev 1

A weekend winter storm plunged temperatures well below zero across the Midwest and brought the season’s first significant snowfall to parts of the Northeast on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, while the Pacific Northwest—already hit by catastrophic flooding—braced for more rain and wind. The National Weather Service said about 63 million people are under cold weather advisories and 11 million under freeze warnings, with states imposing speed limits, cities plowing roads, and airlines reporting more than 1,000 delays and 100 cancellations.

Winter Weather Air Travel Disruptions

Zelenskyy visits Kupiansk, counters Russian claim

1d Dev 1 Data

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Dec. 12 visited frontline Kupiansk in Kharkiv region and posted video from the city, weeks after Russia’s military claimed it had seized control. The visit comes ahead of Berlin talks Sunday with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on security guarantees and broader peace terms, as Germany’s chancellor and NATO’s secretary general warned that any cease-fire must include firm guarantees and that Russia could threaten NATO within five years.

Ukraine War U.S. Foreign Policy

DoD reviewing release of Venezuela boat‑strike video as Sen. Warner calls footage 'extraordinarily chilling'

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The Defense Department is reviewing whether to publicly release classified video of the Sept. 2 U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat — including a follow‑on attack that killed two survivors — as bipartisan congressional leaders press for full access and have tied release requirements into the NDAA. Senator Mark Warner, who viewed the footage, called it “extraordinarily chilling,” while the White House and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintain the strikes were lawful and say Adm. Frank Bradley ordered the re‑strike.

Defense Department Congressional Investigations Defense Oversight

East Wing reduced to rubble as Trump touts expanded 90,000‑sq‑ft White House ballroom

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Demolition of the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden is underway, with photos showing rubble at the site as construction that began in October advances toward a planned 90,000‑sq‑ft ballroom with a 999‑person capacity. The project, now pegged at $300 million and said by the White House to be privately funded (a donor list names 37 contributors), has added Shalom Baranes Associates as lead architect while McCrery Architects remains a consultant, and plans are expected to be submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission this month.

Donald Trump White House Renovations U.S. Politics

Holiday layoff taboo fades as cuts rise

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Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports U.S. employers announced 71,321 planned job cuts in November 2025, up 24% year over year and only the second November since 2008 to top 70,000, suggesting companies are less reluctant to fire during the holidays. Axios cites Verizon’s 13,000 layoffs announced a week before Thanksgiving and Wells Fargo’s CEO warning of more cuts and higher severance this quarter, while economists point to tariff and inflation pressures and expect January layoffs to climb as seasonal hiring ends.

Economy & Labor Market Corporate Layoffs

Pressley, allies reintroduce AI Civil Rights Act

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Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D‑Mass.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D‑Mass.), joined by Reps. Yvette Clarke (D‑N.Y.), Pramila Jayapal (D‑Wash.) and Summer Lee (D‑Pa.), reintroduced the AI Civil Rights Act last week to curb biased and discriminatory AI systems, with civil‑rights groups backing the effort. Pressley also used a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday to argue that AI trained on biased data can exacerbate racial inequities and called for oversight and protections.

Artificial Intelligence Regulation DEI and Race

Tanning beds tied to higher melanoma risk

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A peer‑reviewed study led by Northwestern University and UCSF, published in Science Advances and reported Dec. 14, 2025, finds indoor tanning is associated with nearly triple the melanoma risk versus non‑users, with risk climbing to more than eightfold after 200+ sessions. Genomic sequencing showed widespread UV‑induced mutations across seemingly normal skin in predominantly younger female tanners, underscoring public‑health concerns as U.S. surveys show rising Gen Z interest in tanning.

Public Health and Medicine Skin Cancer and Dermatology

U.S. signals land interdictions 'very soon' as Maduro vows to resist amid Caribbean buildup

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The U.S. has massed a large naval and air force in the Caribbean — including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, multiple destroyers and amphibious ships, a nuclear‑powered attack submarine, B‑52s, F‑35s and AC‑130s — under "Operation Southern Spear" to target suspected drug‑smuggling vessels in a campaign of roughly 20–22 maritime strikes that U.S. officials say has killed about 80 people. President Trump has signaled the effort may expand to "strikes on land very soon" (and has not ruled out ground troops), prompting legal and congressional pushback and regional tension as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro vows resistance, mobilizes forces and protests the U.S. buildup.

U.S. Navy Operations Latin America Security Venezuela and U.S. Military

House Oversight probes Walz over MN COVID fraud

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House Oversight, led by Rep. James Comer, has opened a probe into Gov. Tim Walz over what Republicans describe as nearly $1 billion in Minnesota COVID-era school meals fraud, citing allegations that some charged individuals donated to state officials and prompting Rep. Ilhan Omar to demand prosecution if any terrorism links emerge. Federal investigations — including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a new Treasury probe and DOJ actions — have produced at least 77 indictments, uncovered fictitious providers and luxury purchases, recovered roughly $60 million of an estimated $250 million in some counts, produced lengthy prison terms and restitution orders, and released trial exhibits showing money moved overseas (including to China and Kenya) even as investigators say they have found no evidence funds went to al-Shabaab.

Congressional Oversight Pandemic Relief Fraud Minnesota Pandemic Aid Fraud

Trump’s NSS followed by April Beijing trip, softer China stance

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President Trump’s Dec. 5, 2025 National Security Strategy reorients U.S. priorities — elevating mass migration as the top security threat, sharply criticizing European allies and pledging a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, while notably softening rhetoric toward China. That softer China posture has included declining to sanction Beijing over last year’s cyber intrusions to preserve an October trade truce, pressing China on fentanyl‑precursor crackdowns, agricultural purchases and rare‑earth flows, and planning a Trump visit to Beijing in April with a reciprocal Xi trip to the U.S. expected in 2026.

U.S.–China Relations U.S. Foreign Policy U.S. National Security Policy

White House announces $12B farm aid; payments due by late February as farmers seek more relief

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President Trump on Monday unveiled a $12 billion one‑time farm aid package — funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation — that administration officials say directs roughly $11 billion through a new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for row‑crop producers and about $1 billion for farmers whose crops do not qualify, announced at a White House roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The White House says payments should reach farmers’ bank accounts in late February, but farm groups and Black farmers warn the timing and size are insufficient to avert immediate loan and cash‑flow crises tied to tariff disruptions, even as the administration cites tariff revenue and recent China purchase pledges as enabling the relief.

Agriculture Policy Agriculture and Tariffs U.S. Agriculture Policy

NWS advisory: Twin Cities subzero wind chills

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The National Weather Service issued an advisory as the Twin Cities experienced subzero wind chills Saturday, with Minneapolis–Saint Paul recording a low of −6°F and a lowest wind chill of −24°F. The advisory is expected to last through Sunday morning — northern communities saw even colder readings (Bemidji −20°F, wind chill −37°F; Duluth −16°F, wind chill −34°F) — with temperatures rising above zero Sunday though wind chills may still feel near −10°F before milder conditions return next work week.

Weather

FBI fires reinstated whistleblower Steve Friend

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The FBI terminated former special agent and COVID‑era whistleblower Steve Friend on Dec. 12, citing 'unprofessional conduct and poor judgment' and alleging unauthorized media interactions and public commentary on ongoing investigations, according to a termination letter posted publicly and confirmed by an FBI source. Friend, who was suspended in 2022, resigned in 2023 and reinstated in September 2025, had recently been dropped by his attorneys at Empower Oversight for ignoring advice to stop public comments; he called the firing retaliation by FBI Director Kash Patel.

Federal Law Enforcement Whistleblowers

ICE arrests worker at Brooklyn Park business

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ICE arrested a single employee at a business on the 8500 block of Zane Avenue North in Brooklyn Park on Friday morning after an initial report claimed all workers had been detained. Brooklyn Park police said only one arrest occurred, did not identify the business, and noted details of the federal action remain unclear as DHS has been asked for more information.

Public Safety Legal

Tribe seeks to exit $30M ICE design contract

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The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation says it is consulting counsel to terminate a nearly $30 million DHS/ICE contract awarded in October 2025 to its affiliate KPB Services LLC to design immigration detention centers, amid backlash from Native communities. Tribal Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick announced the tribe has fired the economic development leaders who brokered the deal and pledged transparency, while questions remain about why the contract was awarded without competition.

Immigration & Demographic Change Federal Contracting

Judge cites lack of removal order, frees Abrego Garcia; blocks ICE re‑detention

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A federal judge, Paula Xinis, found there was no final removal order authorizing Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation and ordered his release from ICE custody at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center while issuing a temporary restraining order preventing ICE from re‑detaining him without a hearing, saying the government had “affirmatively misled the tribunal.” The ruling — which noted officials had proposed deporting him to various African countries despite his willingness to depart to Costa Rica and follows his earlier mistaken deportation to El Salvador and return after Supreme Court involvement — leaves him free under conditions tied to separate Tennessee human‑smuggling charges while the Justice Department plans to appeal.

Courts and Immigration Enforcement Immigration & Demographic Change Courts/Legal

Washington floods break river records; 78,000 ordered out of Skagit floodplain

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An atmospheric river dumped heavy rain across western Washington, pushing rivers — including the Skagit and Snohomish — to historic crests and breaking multiple flood records, prompting Gov. Bob Ferguson to declare a statewide emergency and deploy National Guard and water‑rescue teams. About 78,000 people in the Skagit River floodplain were ordered to evacuate ahead of an expected crest, while tens of thousands more faced orders statewide as helicopters and boats conducted rescues, Amtrak and a Canada border crossing were shut, and landslides and washouts closed major roads.

Severe Weather and Flooding Washington State Pacific Northwest Flooding

Belarus frees Nobel laureate Bialiatski and Maria Kolesnikova; U.S. lifts potash sanctions after talks

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Belarus pardoned 123 prisoners — including Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, as well as figures like Viktar Babaryka, Viasna activists Valiantsin Stefanovic and Uladzimir Labkovich, and Maxim Znak — a group that reportedly included a U.S. citizen, six citizens of allied countries and five Ukrainians. The releases followed two days of talks in Minsk after which U.S. special envoy John Coale said Washington would lift sanctions on Belarus’s potash sector; Bialiatski, freed after 1,613 days in prison, appeared pale and emaciated and said he would continue to advocate for remaining prisoners.

U.S. Sanctions Belarus U.S.–Belarus Relations

United 777-200ER bound for Tokyo returns to Dulles after engine failure; FAA investigating

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A United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER bound for Tokyo with 275 passengers and 15 crew returned to Washington Dulles around 1:20 p.m. ET after one engine lost power during takeoff and a piece of the engine cover separated and caught fire, igniting brush near the runway that was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported, a replacement aircraft was scheduled to continue the flight later, and the FAA said it will investigate the incident.

Aviation Safety Public Transport Safety

18M under winter alerts across West, Midwest

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About 18 million people across the West and Midwest are under winter alerts as an Arctic blast brings dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills; the NWS reported −12°F in Grand Forks, N.D., with a wind chill near −33°F late Saturday morning, and forecasts show lows around −15°F in Minneapolis and about 1°F in Chicago into Sunday. The cold air mass is expected to push south and east through the weekend, prompting cold‑weather advisories as far south as Montgomery, Ala. (≈22°F) and Savannah, Ga. (≈24°F) late Sunday into Monday.

Winter Weather National Weather Service Midwest and South

Two Georgia football freshmen arrested for shoplifting

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Georgia running back Bo Walker and offensive lineman Dontrell Glover were arrested Friday in Athens, Georgia, on misdemeanor shoplifting charges and released after posting $26 bond each, weeks before the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff game. A university spokesperson said Georgia is gathering information and declined further comment; the players’ postseason status was not immediately known.

Georgia Bulldogs Football College Sports Legal Issues

Richfield woman fatally shot; man arrested

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Richfield police say a man was arrested at an Edina hospital after a brief pursuit that began around 3:12 a.m. Friday when officers received reports of a man dragging a body from an apartment on the 7600 block of Knox Ave. S. A 23-year-old woman with a gunshot wound was found unconscious in the vehicle’s back seat and later died; the investigation is ongoing.

Public Safety Legal

Study ties dark chocolate compound to slower aging

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Researchers at King’s College London report in the peer‑reviewed journal Aging that higher blood levels of theobromine — a compound found in dark chocolate and cocoa — are associated with slower biological aging in nearly 1,700 adults across the UK and Germany. The observational study linked theobromine to younger biological age estimates using DNA‑based epigenetic clocks and telomere length, while cautioning it does not prove causation and that dark chocolate contains sugar and fat.

Health Research Nutrition and Aging

Twin Cities shelters add beds for subzero weekend

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As subzero temperatures approach, Twin Cities shelters and county officials are adding bed capacity and preparing for high demand. Minneapolis will also open a daytime warming shelter this weekend to provide additional daytime availability alongside earlier county-level increases.

Housing Weather

911 audio: Sherrone Moore’s wife reported suicidal threats after firing; coach arraigned, $25k bond with GPS

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Emergency dispatch audio and prosecutors say that after the University of Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore for an alleged inappropriate relationship, his wife called 911 saying he was suicidal and had put a knife to his throat before leaving with knives, and the victim reported Moore barged into her residence — allegedly grabbing butter knives and scissors, threatening self‑harm and stalking her. Moore was arraigned via video on charges including third‑degree felony home invasion and misdemeanor stalking and breaking-and-entering, pleaded not guilty, was booked into Washtenaw County Jail and released on a $25,000 bond with conditions including GPS monitoring, mental‑health treatment, no contact with the victim, remaining in Michigan and abstaining from alcohol.

College Football Police Investigations University of Michigan Football

Unsealed warrant details U.S. seizure of sanctioned tanker near Venezuela

2d Breaking 12 Analysis

U.S. forces seized The Skipper — a 332–333 meter tanker formerly known as Adisa and sanctioned in 2022 for links to an IRGC/Hezbollah oil network — in a helicopter-borne, fast-rope boarding led by the Coast Guard MSRT with Navy support from USS Gerald R. Ford; a federal seizure warrant signed Nov. 26 by Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui and obtained under a statute permitting seizure of assets tied to planning or perpetrating federal terrorism offenses was unsealed and shows the vessel was taken just before the warrant expired. The Skipper was carrying roughly 1.8–2 million barrels of heavy crude (about half alleged to belong to a Cuban state importer), U.S. officials say the cargo will be subject to forfeiture and brought to a U.S. port, and Venezuela has denounced the move as “piracy.”

U.S.–Venezuela Military Operations Donald Trump Venezuela Operations

Ohio prosecutor dismisses Elwood Jones murder case

2d Breaking 1

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich on Friday dismissed the 1994 murder case against former death row inmate Elwood Jones after a months‑long evidence review, citing no physical or forensic links, alternative‑suspect leads left unexplored, and prior failures to disclose investigatory materials. Jones, freed after a judge granted a new trial in December 2022, is now the 12th death row exoneree in Ohio; Pillich also announced a new Conviction Integrity Unit to review potential wrongful convictions.

Wrongful Convictions Death Penalty

DHS: ICE officer bitten during Louisiana arrest

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DHS says an ICE officer in Tullos, Louisiana was bitten on the hand by Maximiliano Perez-Perez, an illegal immigrant who allegedly resisted arrest and tried to flee. The suspect is being charged with assault, and DHS released a photo of the officer’s bloodied hand while citing sharp increases in assaults and death threats against DHS personnel.

Immigration Enforcement Law Enforcement Safety

House GOP proposes memorial for immigration victims

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Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.) unveiled 'The American Border Story Memorial Act' at a Friday Capitol-area event, proposing a permanent national memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor U.S. citizens and lawful residents killed by individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. Joined by 'Angel families' and allies including Rep. Andy Biggs and the group The American Border Story, sponsors said the memorial would highlight the human cost of immigration policy while contrasting approaches under recent administrations.

Immigration & Demographic Change U.S. Congress

House passes bill to repeal Trump’s federal union order; 20 GOP join Democrats

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The House passed the bill 231–195 to repeal President Trump’s March 2025 executive order that barred collective bargaining at parts of several federal agencies—including DoD, State, VA, Justice, Energy, DHS, Treasury, HHS, Interior and Agriculture—with 20 Republicans joining Democrats after the measure was forced to the floor via a discharge petition led by Rep. Jared Golden. Golden and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick are pushing the Senate to take up the repeal; a companion bill introduced in September already has GOP support from Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins (who appeared to sign on after the House vote), and sponsors say they expect additional Republican senators to join.

Congress Federal Workforce Unions Federal Workforce and Unions

NYC Macy’s bathroom stabbing suspect charged

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Kerri Aherne has been charged in the Herald Square Macy’s bathroom stabbing; prosecutors say she bought the knife at the store, told police voices instructed her to “kill or be killed,” has a history of mental illness and was released from a psychiatric ward the day of the attack, and had a prior 2018 Massachusetts arrest over Facebook threats against Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The victim, a California tourist whose 10-month-old fell from a changing table and was treated for forehead swelling, and her husband — both Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department employees from Jurupa Valley — helped subdue Aherne until store security arrived, and Macy’s has bolstered security including an expanded NYPD detail.

New York City Crime Public Safety Mental Health and Justice

DOJ files 144-page opposition defending death-penalty pursuit in Mangione case

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The DOJ filed a 144‑page omnibus opposition, authored by Sean Buckley, arguing the federal death‑penalty notice in the Luigi Mangione case should remain on the table and that defense claims about pretrial publicity and other challenges are premature and manageable under controlling precedent. Concurrent state suppression hearings before Judge Gregory Carro have played body‑cam and surveillance footage from Mangione’s Dec. 9, 2024 Altoona McDonald’s arrest and focused on contested evidence — including a 9mm handgun prosecutors say matches the murder weapon, a 3D‑printed receiver/silencer, a loaded magazine, a notebook with writings about targeting a health‑insurance executive, a fake ID and other items — which the defense seeks to exclude as the product of a warrantless search and pre‑Miranda questioning.

Major Crimes Courts and Legal Procedure Courts and Law Enforcement

CMS chief warns Minnesota: fix Medicaid fraud or lose funds

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The CMS chief warned Minnesota leaders to promptly address alleged Medicaid fraud or risk losing federal funding. State and federal probes have uncovered what officials describe as a sprawling, roughly $1 billion scheme involving fake offices and phony firms — including 22 purported HSS providers at the Griggs‑Midway Building that billed about $8 million in roughly 16 months, about 40 related DHS investigations, FBI searches at the property, charges against four defendants, and "Brilliant Minds Services" identified as a top biller at about $2.3 million.

Medicaid Oversight and Fraud Minnesota Government Medicaid & Social Services Oversight

DC Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty, held without bond in D.C. Superior Court

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Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of ambushing two National Guard members near Farragut Square — killing Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding SSgt. Andrew Wolfe — pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court during a remote hospital‑bed appearance and was ordered held without bond by Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond. Prosecutors have charged him with first‑degree murder and multiple firearm and assault counts, called the government’s case “exceedingly strong,” said more charges may follow and signaled they could seek the death penalty while investigators probe his travel from Bellingham, Washington and his background after arriving in the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome.

District of Columbia Shooting Washington, D.C. Shooting Washington, D.C. Security

CIA confirms suspect worked with CIA‑backed unit; report identifies NDS‑03 base at Camp Gecko

2d Breaking 51 Analysis Data

The CIA has publicly confirmed that 29‑year‑old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was evacuated to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome and later granted asylum, previously worked with a CIA‑backed Afghan partner force — reporting identifies the specific unit as NDS‑03 (the so‑called "Zero Unit") based at Camp Gecko. Lakanwal is accused of an ambush near the Farragut Square/Farragut West Metro area that critically injured two West Virginia National Guard members (Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who later died, and SSgt. Andrew Wolfe, who remains hospitalized), faces federal assault charges, and is the subject of an FBI probe being treated as a possible act of international terrorism.

National Guard and Public Safety Crime and Public Safety U.S. Immigration/Vetting

Bolivia seeks U.S. partnership, restores Israel ties

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Bolivia’s new foreign minister, Fernando Aramayo, said during a Washington visit this week that La Paz is pivoting toward the United States for investment and technology transfers—especially in lithium—and away from reliance on China and alignment with Venezuela. Aramayo said he signed an agreement to reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel and warned about entrenched transnational criminal networks after years of 'narco authorities' in Bolivia.

U.S.–Latin America Relations China Influence in Latin America

NATO chief: Russia could target NATO within five years; urges urgent defense buildup

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NATO leaders warned that a resurgent Vladimir Putin is "in the empire‑building business again" and could set its sights on alliance members, with Dutch PM Mark Rutte saying "We are Russia's next target. And we are already in harm's way." They urged an urgent defense buildup — NATO members committed in June to raise spending toward 5% of GDP by 2035 — while Poland's PM Donald Tusk said an investigation found Russian secret services commissioned a railway blast on the Warsaw–Lublin line and recruited two Ukrainians.

NATO and Russia U.S. Foreign Policy NATO

Sanders backs Nida Allam against Rep. Foushee

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Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Nida Allam in a progressive primary challenge to Rep. Foushee. Allam has been picked up by Justice Democrats, Leaders We Deserve, Sunrise Movement, Indian American Impact and the Working Families Party, and her launch video attacks "lobbyists and billionaires" while vowing to fight "Trump's authoritarianism and corporate greed"; activist David Hogg also publicly backed her and said his group Leaders We Deserve will invest millions to target older Democratic incumbents, after resigning earlier this year as DNC vice chair amid conflicts over that role. Foushee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Democratic Party Primaries North Carolina Politics

Study maps five life stages of brain wiring

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Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge report in Nature Communications that the human brain passes through five structural 'epochs' from birth to age 90, with key turning points around ages 9 and 32 and a long stable adult phase before aging-related reorganization after 66. Using diffusion MRI in 3,802 individuals, the team found adolescence-like structural changes persist into the early 30s, adulthood stabilizes roughly from 32 to 66, and early aging shows reduced connectivity and white-matter degeneration.

Neuroscience Aging and Brain Health

Thailand formally rejects Trump cease-fire claim as fighting enters sixth day

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Thailand on Saturday formally rejected President Trump’s announcement that Bangkok and Phnom Penh had agreed to a cease‑fire, with the Thai foreign ministry and Prime Minister Anutin saying no truce exists and that military operations will continue until threats stop. The clashes entered a sixth day of cross‑border shelling and Thai airstrikes (including F‑16s and naval operations) and Cambodian BM‑21 rocket fire — each side blames the other for starting the violence — leaving at least 20 people dead and more than half a million people displaced amid large evacuations along the roughly 500‑mile border.

Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Southeast Asia Security U.S. Foreign Policy

North Korea acknowledges troops aiding Russia in Ukraine

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North Korean state media said Friday in Pyongyang that specialized troops — combat engineers sent to Russia’s Kursk region for demining — have returned home, as Kim Jong-un honored nine killed in action and praised the unit’s work. The acknowledgment follows a July Kremlin statement that North Korea would send 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 construction workers, amid broader DPRK support to Russia’s war effort and a revived mutual defense treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Russia–Ukraine War North Korea

20 states sue over $100,000 H-1B fee

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Attorneys general from 20 states led by California and Massachusetts filed suit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to block the Trump administration’s $100,000 H‑1B visa fee, which took effect Sept. 21 under a presidential proclamation. The states argue the fee is unlawful and harms education, health care and other services, while the administration says it targets program abuse that depresses U.S. wages.

H-1B Visas Immigration & Demographic Change

Zelenskyy says first formal U.S. meeting on Ukraine reconstruction held; 20‑point framework discussed

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held the first formal U.S. meeting on Ukraine’s reconstruction with senior Trump‑administration officials to review a roughly 20‑point framework that was pared down from an initial 28‑point proposal. The U.S. push — led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and negotiated in multiple rounds from Geneva and Miami to Abu Dhabi and Moscow — has revised but not resolved contentious items including territorial lines, NATO membership and troop‑caps, while European allies pushed back, Russia expressed mixed signals, and fighting continued as talks proceeded.

Ukraine Peace Talks Trump Administration G7/EU Diplomacy

Savannah police, FBI probe chemical attack

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Savannah police, with assistance from the FBI, are investigating a chemical attack near Forsyth Park that left 46-year-old Ashley Wasielewski with second- and third-degree burns over roughly half her body, including her scalp, face, hands and legs. The attack occurred about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday while she was walking laps; authorities released a security-camera image of a hooded person of interest, said the assailant appears to be a stranger, and Mayor Van Johnson said the case is being treated with the highest urgency though there is no current indication of a broader public threat.

Public Safety Violent Crime Chemical Attack

Appeals court upholds Trump Planned Parenthood funding cutoff

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A federal appeals court on Friday unanimously allowed the Trump administration to continue withholding Medicaid reimbursements from certain large abortion providers under a July law, rejecting a district court’s ruling that the measure unlawfully targeted Planned Parenthood. Writing for a three‑judge panel, Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí said Congress can set conditions on federal funds and that the law does not constitute illegal punishment; the case returns to the lower court for further proceedings.

Planned Parenthood Medicaid and Reproductive Health Federal Courts

San Diego pays $31.5M in girl's death

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San Diego city and county, Pacific Coast Academy, and Rock Church agreed Dec. 12 to a $31.5 million settlement in a lawsuit over the 2022 death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack, who authorities say was severely malnourished and abused by her adoptive family. The suit alleged multiple failures to report and investigate abuse; the adoptive mother Leticia McCormack and her parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, face ongoing criminal charges and have pleaded not guilty.

Child Abuse and Neglect Courts and Legal Settlements

USDOT audit widens to eight states; California revokes 21,000 immigrant CDLs; funds threatened in PA and MN

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A USDOT audit of state commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs has identified problems in eight states — California, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado and Washington — leading California to revoke about 21,000 noncitizen CDLs and prompting threats to withhold nearly $75 million from Pennsylvania and $30.4 million from Minnesota while USDOT also pulled $40 million from California over English‑language enforcement issues. In New York, USDOT investigators found more than half of a 200‑license sample of non‑domiciled CDLs were improperly issued and said the state could not verify immigration status for roughly 32,000 such licenses — a finding the state DMV disputes — and nationwide enforcement has removed about 9,500 drivers for failing English‑proficiency checks even as a court has put USDOT’s stricter noncitizen CDL rule on hold.

Department of Transportation Commercial Driver Licensing Immigration & Demographic Change

Judge denies stay; Georgia sets Wednesday execution of Stacey Humphreys

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Lawyers argued an agreement made during the pandemic should shield Stacey Humphreys from execution, but a federal judge denied his request for a stay earlier this week and the U.S. Supreme Court declined his appeal in October. The Georgia Department of Corrections says Humphreys is set to be executed Wednesday at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson — his requested last meal included barbecue, wings, a cheeseburger, pizza and ice cream — and the state has carried out 76 executions since reinstatement, with 32 men and one woman remaining on death row.

Death Penalty Georgia Courts Georgia Courts/Legal

Joseph Wiggins charged with murdering Amy Doverspike at Maplewood apartment; suspect shot himself, police say

2d Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County prosecutors charged 57‑year‑old Joseph Raymond Wiggins with killing 55‑year‑old Amy Alberta Doverspike outside apartment 109 at 2565 Ivy Avenue East in Maplewood, where officers found Doverspike with two gunshot wounds and spent casings and a bullet fragment in the hallway. Police say Wiggins shot himself and was found critically injured by a SWAT team with a Smith & Wesson nearby; charging documents allege he live‑streamed an apology and sent messages after the shooting, and describe an on‑again, off‑again relationship amid reported drug use and family turmoil.

Legal Public Safety

Wisconsin House map suits slip past 2026

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Two lawsuits challenging Wisconsin’s congressional districts are unlikely to be resolved before the 2026 midterms, judges and schedules indicated during Dec. 12 hearings in Madison. One three-judge panel set a prospective trial date of April 5, 2027 if the case proceeds, while plaintiffs in a separate case urged a ruling by the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s March 1, 2026 map deadline; defendants argue rushing for 2026 would be unfair. The Wisconsin Supreme Court last month directed that such redistricting suits be first heard by three-judge panels under a 2011 law.

Redistricting and Gerrymandering Wisconsin Politics U.S. House Elections 2026

Trump signs H.R. 452 awarding Congressional Gold Medals to 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ team

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President Trump signed H.R. 452 awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey "Miracle on Ice" team in an Oval Office ceremony on Dec. 13, 2025. Attendees included captain Mike Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, Bill Baker and Herb Brooks’ son Dan; the players wore their 1980 opening-ceremony hats and presented Trump a replica, with Eruzione thanking the president, Craig praising his "courage" and for "making our country safe again," and Baker saying the team feels renewed pride thanks to Trump's leadership.

Donald Trump Congressional Gold Medals Congressional Gold Medal

Holsey hands off SOUTHCOM to Lt. Gen. Pettus amid boat‑strike scrutiny

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Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus formally assumed command of U.S. Southern Command at a subdued outdoor handover ceremony Dec. 12 at SOUTHCOM headquarters in Doral, Florida, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth absent and President Trump yet to nominate a permanent replacement. The change comes amid scrutiny of about 22 known strikes on alleged drug boats — including a disputed incident in which two survivors clinging to wreckage were killed — and Gen. Michael “Erik” Holsey briefed lawmakers by classified video, saying only that his departure was for “personal” reasons while leaders like Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Caine lauded him as a “quiet professional.”

U.S. Military Caribbean Buildup Operation Southern Spear U.S. Southern Command

U.S. lifts sanctions on Brazilian Justice de Moraes

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The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC removed Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes from its sanctions list on Friday, also delisting his wife and her Lex Institute. The Trump administration had sanctioned de Moraes in July over alleged free‑speech suppression and arbitrary detentions; a senior U.S. official said the reversal follows passage of an amnesty bill in Brazil’s lower house and a weekend call between President Trump and President Lula, signaling a thaw in relations.

Sanctions Policy Brazil–U.S. Relations

Indiana Senate rejects Trump-backed map 31–19; Trump vows to back primary against GOP Senate leader

2d Dev 21 Analysis Data

The Indiana Senate rejected a Trump‑backed mid‑decade congressional map 31–19, with 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats to defeat a plan that would have remade the state into a 9–0 GOP map and likely ousted Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan. The vote came after intense pressure from Trump and allies — including visits by VP JD Vance and public threats of primary challenges (Trump singled out Senate leader Rodric Bray, who voted no) — and amid reports of swatting, bomb threats and other harassment of lawmakers.

U.S. House Elections U.S. House Elections 2026 Redistricting

White House appeals order for real-time ASL

2d Dev 1 Data

The National Association of the Deaf sued in May to restore real-time American Sign Language interpretation at White House events, and a federal judge last month ordered the administration to provide ASL for remarks by President Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. DOJ, in a June filing now highlighted, argued mandatory ASL 'would severely intrude' on the President’s ability to control his image; the White House has appealed while providing ASL at some events and disputing the scope of required services.

Disability Rights & Accessibility Donald Trump

Comer threatens contempt if Clintons defy subpoenas

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House Oversight Chair James Comer said Friday he will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against Bill and Hillary Clinton if they do not appear for depositions next week or set dates in early January, as part of the committee’s probe into federal handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The Clintons were subpoenaed in early August after a bipartisan subcommittee vote in July, with depositions scheduled for Dec. 17 and 18; Comer also noted additional subpoenas to DOJ for Epstein-related records.

Congressional Oversight Jeffrey Epstein Case

7th Circuit blocks mass release of Chicago ICE detainees

2d Dev 2 Data

A 7th Circuit panel narrowly blocked a district judge’s order to release hundreds of immigrants arrested in the Chicago-area enforcement action dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz," saying in a 2–1 decision that Judge Cummings overstepped even as it faulted the administration for treating all arrestees as subject to mandatory detention. The crackdown has produced more than 4,000 arrests, touches a six‑state consent decree (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Wisconsin), and immigrant advocates like NIJC pledge to keep working to reunite detainees with their families as related federal rulings elsewhere limit warrantless arrests.

Immigration & Demographic Change Courts and Immigration Enforcement Federal Courts

FDA-posted recall of ReBoost nasal spray

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

MediNatura New Mexico, Inc. voluntarily recalled one lot of ReBoost Nasal Spray nationwide after tests found yeast/mold and Achromobacter contamination above specifications, according to an FDA-posted notice this week. The affected 20 mL bottles (NDC 62795-4005-9; UPC 787647101863; Lot 224268, exp 12/2027) were sold online and at retailers nationwide; users—especially those who are immunocompromised—are urged to stop using the product and seek refunds/returns and to report adverse events to FDA MedWatch.

Health Public Safety

Trump delays monarch Endangered Species Act decision

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The Trump administration has delayed a decision on listing monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, with OMB’s September regulatory agenda moving the action to a 'long-term' category that pushes any decision beyond the current year. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said listings must be based on the best scientific and commercial data and emphasized voluntary, locally driven conservation, while conservationists warned the move leaves monarch protections in bureaucratic limbo.

Endangered Species Act Monarch Butterflies

Lake Minnetonka sees earliest ice-in since 2019

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

FOX 9 reports that frigid early-December temperatures have produced the earliest ice-in on Lake Minnetonka since 2019, prompting the Minnesota DNR to urge caution on variable early-season ice. Local guide services say cold conditions could add roughly an inch of ice per day and are targeting day-after‑Christmas outings, but officials warn fresh snow can insulate and slow ice formation and that no lake ice is ever 100% safe.

Weather Public Safety

St. Paul man gets 17 years for two rapes

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

A St. Paul man was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Dec. 12, 2025, for committing two rapes that occurred 12 years apart. The sentencing, reported by TwinCities.com, concludes a Twin Cities sexual-assault case with a substantial prison term.

Legal Public Safety

Seven of nine targeted universities reject White House 'Academic Excellence' compact

2d Dev 12 Analysis

Seven of the nine universities the White House approached — University of Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, USC and the University of Virginia — have declined to sign the administration’s "Compact for Academic Excellence," leaving the University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt noncommittal. The White House proposed preferential federal grants tied to commitments such as a five‑year tuition freeze, caps on international students and bans on race/sex considerations, but universities rejected the pact as threatening academic freedom, institutional independence and merit‑based research funding.

Education policy Education Federal government

Mahtomedi woman killed on I-94 in east metro

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

A Mahtomedi woman died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 94 in the Twin Cities east metro on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Authorities are investigating the fatal incident on the busy interstate corridor; additional details on the circumstances were not immediately released.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Pair charged after fleeing with HSI agent

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

Federal prosecutors charged Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye and Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier after an incident Dec. 10 at a Plymouth apartment complex where Frazier allegedly drove off with an HSI agent inside their SUV as agents tried to detain Bamigboye for overstaying a student visa. The pursuit ended outside the New Hope Police Department, where agents pinned the SUV, the agent was unharmed, and both suspects were arrested for interfering with an HSI agent with intent to commit another felony.

Public Safety Legal

Preservationists sue to halt White House ballroom

2d Dev 1 Data

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in U.S. District Court on Dec. 12, 2025 to stop President Trump’s White House ballroom project, arguing it must undergo design and environmental reviews, public comment, and secure congressional approval. The complaint alleges violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and NEPA and says the president exceeded his constitutional authority by fast‑tracking work after demolishing the East Wing.

White House Ballroom Project Courts and Administrative Law

New Orleans jail escapee gets life sentences

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Derrick Groves, 28, the last inmate recaptured after a May New Orleans jailbreak, was sentenced Friday to two life terms plus two consecutive 50-year sentences for a 2018 Mardi Gras party shooting that killed Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson and wounded others. Judge Dennis Waldron rebuked Groves for his five months on the run, lack of remorse, and past courtroom behavior, while Groves’ attorney said he maintains his innocence and will appeal.

Criminal Justice Courts and Sentencing

Minneapolis passes stronger ICE noncooperation ordinance, codifying staging ban and adding MPD reporting

2d Dev TC 4 Data

The Minneapolis City Council voted to strengthen the city’s 2003 separation ordinance, formally codifying Mayor Frey’s executive order banning ICE from staging on city-owned lots, ramps and garages and adding requirements that the MPD publicly report to the mayor, council and public any collaboration with federal authorities (with stated exemptions), while saying working alongside masked or unidentified agents without clear agency identification is contrary to city values and public safety. The measure — passed as ICE activity and arrests in Minnesota have increased (the Trump administration sent about 100 federal agents) — also included a $40,000 boost for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and comes amid suburban clarifications that local police do not enforce federal immigration law.

Local Government Legal Public Safety

Hochul rewrites New York AI safety bill

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul significantly scaled back the RAISE Act, a state AI safety bill sponsored by Assemblyman Alex Bores and Sen. Andrew Gounardes, removing a ban on releasing models that pose an 'unreasonable risk,' extending incident‑reporting to 15 days (from 72 hours), and weakening penalties. The governor’s office defended the changes as a commonsense, California‑aligned approach amid the absence of federal leadership, while the bill’s sponsors accused Big Tech of pressuring the state just as a federal executive order moved to undercut state AI laws.

AI Regulation New York State Government

Illinois legalizes medical aid in dying

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed the Medical Aid in Dying bill, known as Deb’s Law, allowing eligible terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to obtain life-ending medication starting September 2026. The law requires patients to self-administer the drug, makes coercion or forging a request a felony, and lists the underlying terminal disease as the cause of death; IDPH and providers are given time to implement safeguards. The ACLU of Illinois praised the move while the Catholic Conference of Illinois opposed it, warning of risks to poor and disabled patients.

Assisted Dying Policy Illinois Government

Minnesota judge tosses $7.2M Medicaid fraud verdict

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Hennepin County Judge Sarah West overturned a unanimous jury conviction against Abdifatah Yusuf in late November, vacating six theft counts tied to a $7.2 million Medicaid fraud scheme after finding the state’s circumstantial case did not exclude reasonable alternative inferences. West wrote that evidence supported a rational inference that Yusuf’s brother, Mohamed, could have committed the fraud without Abdifatah’s knowledge, a decision that has drawn political criticism and renewed scrutiny of Minnesota’s strict circumstantial‑evidence standard now under review by the state Supreme Court.

Courts and Legal Medicaid and Welfare Fraud

Trump EO creates DOJ AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws; Commerce to weigh broadband funding penalties

2d Breaking 5 Data

President Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to create an "AI Litigation Task Force" — coordinating with the FTC and FCC — to sue states over what the White House calls "onerous" AI laws, while the Commerce Department must compile a list of problematic state rules and study whether federal rural broadband and other grant funding can be withheld from states with unfavorable AI laws. The order carves out certain child‑safety and government‑procurement measures and cites states with cross‑sector AI statutes (Colorado, California, Utah, Texas), but experts and state officials warn it will prompt extensive litigation and that broad preemption likely requires congressional action.

Artificial Intelligence Policy Federal vs. State Authority Artificial Intelligence Regulation

Preservation group sues to block White House ballroom

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A historic preservation group has sued the Trump administration to block a planned White House ballroom, alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act and contending the president lacks constitutional authority to build or demolish on federal grounds. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle says the president has "full legal authority" to proceed and expects to submit ballroom plans to a federal planning commission before year end; the project, now estimated at $300 million, began construction in October with demolition of the East Wing.

Donald Trump White House Renovation and Oversight White House Ballroom Project

House passes NDAA that excludes AI state‑preemption and CBDC ban

2d Dev 9 Analysis Data

The House passed a roughly $900–901 billion NDAA 312–112 after a razor‑thin 215–211 rule vote, advancing a package that excludes provisions preempting state AI regulation and a ban on a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC). Conservatives threatened revolt over those omissions, and Speaker Mike Johnson secured support with last‑minute promises to pursue a CBDC ban and other measures later; the bill includes an AI Futures Steering Committee, outbound investment screening measures and drops a bipartisan military "right to repair" mandate. After Congress twice rejected AI preemption language, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to preempt state AI laws administratively, setting up likely legal challenges.

Artificial Intelligence Policy Central Bank Digital Currency House Republican Caucus

Temple law professor sues Boeing over cabin fumes

2d Dev 1 Data

Jonathan Harris, an associate law professor at Temple University, filed a $40 million lawsuit in Arlington County Circuit Court against Boeing, alleging he suffered serious health problems after inhaling toxic fumes on an August 2024 Delta Boeing 737 flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles. The complaint claims contaminated bleed air entered the cabin, describes symptoms including dizziness and memory loss, and cites FAA incident reports showing similar fume events occur multiple times daily; Boeing did not comment and Delta declined to comment.

Aviation Safety Boeing

DHS ends family reunification parole for seven countries

2d Dev 1 Data

The Department of Homeland Security said Friday it is terminating Family Reunification Parole programs for nationals of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras, citing fraud, security concerns and a return to case‑by‑case parole. In a separate Federal Register notice, DHS also ended Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia, stating current conditions no longer meet TPS criteria. DHS quoted administration executive orders and said fraud and national‑security priorities outweigh program benefits.

Immigration & Demographic Change Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega will not seek re‑election in 2026

2d Breaking TC 2 Data

Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board, has announced he will not seek re‑election in 2026. His decision creates an open seat in District 5, which includes downtown St. Paul and West Seventh, despite earlier reports that he was running for re‑election.

Elections Local Government

Ortega won’t seek 2026 Ramsey County re‑election

2d Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega announced on Dec. 12, 2025, that he will not seek re‑election in 2026, opening the District 5 seat that includes parts of St. Paul. The decision ends his long tenure on the board and reshapes the county’s 2026 ballot.

Elections Local Government

DHS says 400 arrests in Twin Cities 'Operation Metro Surge,' blasts Walz and Frey

2d Dev 12 Analysis Data

The Department of Homeland Security says Operation Metro Surge has resulted in about 400 arrests across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, targeting noncitizens with deportation orders and what officials called a “worst of the worst” list that includes people from Somalia, Mexico, El Salvador and other countries, and naming multiple arrestees with prior convictions. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly rebuked Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey—accusing them of failing to protect Minnesotans and rejecting Walz’s claims that U.S. citizens were improperly detained—while local leaders have moved to limit city cooperation as the operation unfolds amid broader federal immigration actions and heated rhetoric about Somali migrants.

ICE Operations Donald Trump Department of Homeland Security

Walz vows aggressive executive actions as gun special‑session talks stall

2d Breaking TC 12 Data

Gov. Tim Walz said he will "roll out a series of incredibly aggressive executive actions" on gun control as negotiations over a gun-focused special session have stalled, with a legislative Senate workgroup slowed by partisan fighting and GOP leaders disputing his characterization that they "won’t budge." DFL lawmakers are pressing bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, registration and surrender requirements, expanded mental-health services and a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention, while Walz is staging town halls (featuring guests like Gabby Giffords) and has floated a constitutional amendment as victims’ families and Attorney General Keith Ellison press for action.

Public Safety Local Government Elections

Eileen Higgins wins Miami mayor, first woman; first Democratic win in nearly 30 years

2d Dev 5 Analysis Data

Democrat Eileen Higgins defeated Trump‑backed Emilio González in the Miami mayoral runoff, winning roughly 59% to 41% (about a 19‑point margin) in a race AP called Dec. 9, becoming the city’s first woman mayor and the first Democrat elected in nearly 30 years after González conceded. Higgins, backed by national Democrats including Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel and praised by DNC Chair Ken Martin as a warning to Republicans, pledged to use city land for affordable housing, launch a full spending review, expand the City Commission from five to nine members and push back on what she called the Trump administration’s “inhumane and cruel” immigration actions.

Local Elections Miami Mayoral Election Municipal Elections

House votes to repeal Syria Caesar sanctions

2d Dev 1 Data

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal sanctions tied to the 2019 Caesar Act against Syria, with the Senate expected to take up the measure next week. The move, coming as Syrians mark one year since Bashar al‑Assad’s ouster, would unwind sweeping U.S. financial restrictions and is expected to reopen formal payment and banking channels, easing humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.

U.S. Sanctions and Foreign Policy Syria Transition

Walz appoints statewide fraud‑prevention director and launches program‑integrity push

2d Breaking TC 2 Data

Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 12, 2025, formally appointed a statewide fraud‑prevention director and announced a program‑integrity initiative. The effort is intended to strengthen anti‑fraud oversight and coordination across state agencies.

Legal Business & Economy Local Government

Minnesota launches statewide fraud prevention program

2d Dev 1 Data

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Friday a new statewide fraud‑prevention program and named former FBI agent and ex–Bureau of Criminal Apprehension chief Tim O’Malley as director of program integrity. The state also retained forensic firm WayPoint, led by attorney‑accountant Josiah Lamb, on a contract worth up to $200,000 to develop an anti‑fraud toolkit across agencies, following the $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal; Walz said he takes responsibility for past failures while GOP critics called for his resignation.

Minnesota Government Oversight Feeding Our Future scandal

Judge OKs asset pursuit in Normandale debt case

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

A judge ruled MidWestOne Bank can pursue the personal assets of a New York real‑estate executive who guaranteed $36 million in loans tied to a Normandale Lake office tower in Bloomington. The decision advances the bank’s recovery efforts in the high‑stakes commercial real‑estate dispute involving a prominent Twin Cities property.

Legal Business & Economy

Pentagon launches GenAI.mil AI platform powered by Google Gemini

2d Dev 2 Data

The Pentagon has launched GenAI.mil, an AI platform powered by Google’s Gemini model designed to give U.S. military personnel direct access to AI tools. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video obtained by FOX Business the platform will “revolutionize the way we win.”

Defense Technology Google Pentagon and Military AI

Interior orders NPS gift shops to remove DEI merchandise by Dec. 19 under Order 3416

2d Dev 2 Data

Interior Secretary’s Order 3416, issued in a Nov. 25 memo implementing a Trump-era executive order titled "Ending DEI Programs and Gender Ideology Extremism," directs National Park Service gift shops to remove merchandise promoting DEI and related gender-ideology content by a Dec. 19 compliance deadline. The order treats retail items as public-facing content subject to immediate removal if non-compliant, and Interior says the NPS is actively reviewing retail inventories—many of which are run by nonprofit partners—to keep parks focused on preserving resources for all Americans.

DEI and Race National Park Service Interior Department

Treasury issues GTO on Minnesota MSBs, deploys teams in fraud probe

2d Dev 6 Analysis Data

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a Geographic Targeting Order requiring enhanced reporting by Minnesota money services businesses and has deployed Treasury personnel on the ground as FinCEN and the IRS prepare Notices of Investigation and heightened examinations, with reports to be rapidly shared with law enforcement. The actions tie to scrutiny of the Feeding Our Future pandemic‑era fraud — a roughly $250 million scheme that has produced about $60 million recovered, at least 77 indictments and high‑profile sentences — as Treasury says it is tracking transfers to the Middle East and Somalia amid disputed claims about links to al-Shabaab (investigators have also documented extensive luxury spending) and allegations by Bessent that some defendants donated to Minnesota officials.

Congressional Oversight Treasury/DOJ Enforcement Minnesota Pandemic Aid Fraud

Eden Prairie High lockdown ends; 3 teens arrested

2d Breaking TC 1 Data

Eden Prairie police placed Eden Prairie High School on hold, then a roughly 30‑minute lockdown around 10:30 a.m. Friday after a rumor that a student brought a gun to campus. Three 16‑year‑old students were arrested; a firearm was recovered off campus with two of the teens, while a third was arrested at the school. Officials say no threats were made, the lockdown is lifted, and investigators are determining whether the gun was ever on school grounds.

Public Safety Education

House petition seeks ban on lawmakers' stocks

2d Dev 2 Data

A discharge petition led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna seeks a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks, part of broader congressional consideration of limits that go beyond transparency measures. Speaker Mike Johnson denied making any deal to bring the measure to the floor and expressed doubt the petition will reach the 218 signatures needed.

Congressional Ethics U.S. Congress Congressional Ethics and Stocks

Andersen to pay $52.2M in profit sharing

3d Breaking TC 2 Data

Bayport-based Andersen Corp. will pay $52.2 million in profit-sharing payouts for 2025. The 2025 checks are smaller than in 2024, when Andersen paid an average of $3,923 per worker.

Employment Business & Economy

DOJ expands voter-data lawsuits to 18 states, also sues Fulton County for 2020 records

3d Dev 3 Data

The Justice Department has expanded litigation seeking complete, unredacted voter registration lists — including driver’s license numbers and portions of Social Security numbers — to 18 states by adding Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Nevada, and separately sued Georgia’s Fulton County for 2020 ballots and related records, saying it will run records through DHS’s SAVE citizenship tool to audit compliance; all states targeted were ones President Trump lost in 2020. DOJ officials, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, defended the demands as enforcement of federal election laws, but state officials such as Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold have vowed to fight the suits as unlawful and a privacy risk, and House leaders have opened a separate oversight inquiry into Maryland’s handling of a reportedly noncitizen registration tied to Ian Andre Roberts.

Department of Justice Elections and Voting Election Law and Voting Rights

DA moves to exonerate four after DNA ties serial killer Robert Brashers to 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders

3d Dev 2 Data

Travis County prosecutors in December 2025 moved to begin exonerating four men after the Austin Police Department identified serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers as the likely perpetrator of the 1991 yogurt shop murders through DNA testing in September 2025. Investigators also noted a bullet casing recovered from a drain at the scene is consistent with the gun Brashers used to kill himself in 1999, strengthening the link.

Wrongful Convictions Austin Yogurt Shop Murders

At DHS hearing, Democrats press Noem; Thompson later says he misspoke on 'unfortunate accident' remark

3d Dev 11 Data

At a Dec. 11 House Homeland Security Committee hearing, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was sharply pressed by Democrats — including Rep. Bennie Thompson, who urged her to resign — over immigration policy, alleged unlawful deportations (including veterans), withheld grants and asylum vetting, as protesters briefly disrupted testimony and Noem defended DHS as combating transnational crime while calling the D.C. National Guard shooting a “terrorist attack.” Thompson, who during the session called the shooting an “unfortunate accident,” later told CNN he “misspoke,” saying he did not stand by that phrasing and meant to challenge Noem’s assertions about who approved the suspect’s asylum application.

Department of Homeland Security Congressional Oversight Immigration & Demographic Change

UN-backed Gaza plan moves to implementation; ~100 U.S. troops coordinating in Israel

3d Dev 11 Analysis Data

The UN‑backed, U.S.‑led 20‑point ceasefire plan is moving toward implementation, with phase two — which envisions an International Stabilization Force (ISF), a technocratic Gaza government overseen by a Board of Peace led by President Trump, Hamas disarmament and eventual Israeli withdrawal — still pending and contingent on steps such as the return of a hostage’s remains, while questions remain about force composition, command, partner commitments and shortfalls in aid deliveries. The U.S. plans to appoint a two‑star general to lead the ISF, roughly 100 U.S. troops are in Israel (not Gaza) as a small headquarters element to coordinate humanitarian aid and military deconfliction, and countries including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Turkey and others have expressed varying levels of interest but no final commitments have been announced.

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Israel–Hamas War Gaza Humanitarian Aid

House passes $901B NDAA; FBI candidate-notice, border troop authority included

3d Dev 12 Data

The House passed the roughly $901 billion NDAA 312–112, authorizing near‑$900B in defense spending — including a troop‑use authority for the U.S.–Mexico border, a roughly 3.8–4% military pay raise, measures targeting China (tech bans and outbound investment screening), federal recognition language for the Lumbee Tribe, restrictions on Pentagon travel funds until unedited maritime‑strike footage is released, and policy cuts on DEI and other items — and the bill now heads to the Senate. The package also contains a high‑profile, Stefanik‑backed provision requiring the FBI to notify top congressional leaders within 15 days when it opens counterintelligence assessments or investigations into federal candidates (with narrow recipient and target exceptions), a measure whose inclusion sparked a public GOP leadership dispute before being retained.

FBI Oversight NDAA U.S.–China Competition

Tulsa man charged for online threats to federal agents

3d Dev 1 Data

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma charged Logan Murfin of Tulsa with 10 federal counts after he allegedly posted social media messages urging people to gun down and execute federal agents. ICE/Homeland Security Investigations shared an image Friday of Murfin being taken into custody; prosecutors say the charges include five counts of threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement and five counts of interstate communications with threats to injure.

DHS and Immigration Enforcement Courts and Legal

AP-NORC poll: holiday budgets squeezed

3d 1 Data

A new AP-NORC national poll released Dec. 12, 2025 finds most Americans see higher-than-usual prices for groceries, electricity and gifts, with about half saying it’s harder than normal to afford holiday presents and delaying big or nonessential purchases. Sixty-eight percent describe the U.S. economy as 'poor,' a sentiment largely unchanged from late 2024, underscoring persistent inflation concerns despite White House messaging.

Economy and Inflation Consumer Spending and Retail

ACNA archbishop faces trial over misconduct

3d Dev 1 Data

The Anglican Church in North America’s Board of Inquiry said Friday it found probable cause for formal charges against Archbishop Stephen Wood—including sexual immorality, violating ordination vows, and conduct giving just cause for scandal/abuse of ecclesiastical power—sending the case to a church trial. Wood, suspended since November and denying wrongdoing, has been temporarily replaced by Bishop Julian Dobbs for archbishop duties and Acting Bishop David Bryan in the Diocese of the Carolinas; ACNA counts about 130,000 members in roughly 1,000 U.S. and Canadian congregations.

U.S. Religion Institutional Accountability

Trump allows Nvidia H200 sales to China with 25% U.S. cut; Beijing signals limits, market reaction muted

3d Breaking 5 Data

President Trump announced he will allow Nvidia to sell H200 AI chips to China with the U.S. taking a 25% cut of sales, saying he informed Xi Jinping and that the "same approach" will apply to AMD and Intel as the Commerce Department finalizes details; the H200s remain a generation behind Blackwell chips, which stay restricted. Beijing has signaled it will tightly limit imports—requiring buyers to show domestic chips are insufficient—and the market reaction was muted (Nvidia shares slipped ~0.3% and analysts remained cautious), even as lawmakers raised security concerns and prosecutors have previously disrupted black‑market flows of banned Nvidia chips into China.

Donald Trump Semiconductors and Export Controls U.S. Export Controls

Ohio Sen. Jon Husted files for reelection

3d Dev 1 Data

Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted officially filed Friday to run for a full term in 2026, launching an aggressive statewide campaign with Trump’s backing and an unusually early infrastructure rollout. His team announced 112 county campaign chairs covering all 88 counties, released a launch video and first ad, and previewed a race against Democrat Sherrod Brown, whom Husted’s team will cast as a D.C. insider.

U.S. Senate Elections Ohio Politics

DOJ curbs LGBTQ protections in PREA audits

3d Dev 1 Analysis Data

An internal DOJ memo obtained by NPR instructs PREA auditors to stop evaluating detention facilities on standards tailored to protect transgender, intersex and gender‑nonconforming people, pending revisions to align with President Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order recognizing only two sexes. The change applies to federal and state prisons and jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention, and includes halting review of gender‑identity‑based housing decisions and whether sexual assaults were motivated by gender‑identity bias.

Department of Justice Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

Vermont school hit with threats after Somali flag

3d Dev 1 Data

The Winooski School District in Vermont received racist and threatening calls and messages after raising the Somali flag on Dec. 5, 2025 to support its Somali students following President Trump’s remarks about Somalis. The district shut some phone lines and its website to protect staff, increased police presence at schools, and is assisting law enforcement with an investigation, while the White House issued a statement defending Trump’s stance and saying schools should fly American flags.

Somalian Immigrants DEI and Race

Danish intel warns of U.S. military posture

3d 1 Data

Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service said in its annual assessment, published Wednesday, that the United States under President Trump is using economic power to assert its will and is no longer ruling out the use of military force even against allies, amid intensifying great‑power competition in the Arctic. The report highlights rising strategic focus on the Arctic, Trump’s interest in Greenland, Russia’s plans to strengthen polar military capabilities, and recent U.S. lethal maritime strikes, and links the assessment to the administration’s new national security strategy depicting European allies as weak.

Arctic Security U.S.–Europe Relations

House Democrats seek unsealing of Jack Smith report

3d Dev 1 Data

House Judiciary Committee Democrats led by Rep. Jamie Raskin plan to urge Judge Aileen Cannon to unseal Volume II of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the Trump classified documents case, according to an amicus brief reviewed Friday. They also sent a demand letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi pressing DOJ to release the report or seek unsealing, while Republicans note the 11th Circuit has ordered Cannon to decide by January 2026 and Smith is slated to testify under subpoena before the committee next week.

Congressional Oversight Donald Trump Legal Proceedings

Trump moves to block DOJ contempt testimony

3d Dev 1 Data

Lawyers for the Trump administration asked the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to cancel or limit two witness examinations next week in Judge James Boasberg’s revived contempt inquiry into March deportation flights, arguing the court is intruding on executive authority and that testimony should be shielded by executive privilege. Boasberg ordered DOJ Deputy AAG Drew Ensign and former DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni to testify about the decision to deport hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador despite a temporary restraining order; the case was remanded to Boasberg after a D.C. Circuit en banc ruling.

Federal Courts and Immigration Policy Separation of Powers

UC Davis study ties lower brain choline to anxiety

3d 1 Data

UC Davis Health researchers synthesized 25 MRI spectroscopy studies comparing 370 people with anxiety disorders to 342 controls and found about 8% lower choline levels in brain regions tied to cognition and emotion among those with certain anxiety disorders. Authors and outside experts cautioned the association does not prove causation and said it is too early to recommend choline supplementation, though the pattern could guide future research into nutrition–brain chemistry links.

Mental Health Research Nutrition and Brain Health

OpenAI says partner breach exposed API user data

3d Dev 1 Data

OpenAI notified customers that a third‑party analytics provider, Mixpanel, was breached in November, exposing names, emails, Organization IDs, coarse location and browser metadata tied to OpenAI API accounts. OpenAI said its own systems were not compromised and no chat histories, passwords, billing data or API keys were exposed; it cut off Mixpanel access after learning of the incident on Nov. 25 and warned the leaked metadata could fuel targeted phishing.

Cybersecurity and Data Breaches OpenAI/ChatGPT

Texas teen charged in Odessa triple homicide

3d Dev 1

Odessa police say a 15-year-old boy shot and killed his ex-girlfriend’s mother, Jessica Rodriguez, 39, and her 9- and 13-year-old children at an apartment around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, then fled before being caught about 40 minutes later. Police Chief Mike Gerke called it a targeted attack and announced the suspect is charged with capital murder of multiple persons; he is being held at the Ector County Youth Center as the investigation continues.

Texas Crime Juvenile Justice

Passenger tries to open door on Boston–HK flight

3d Dev 1 Data

Cathay Pacific says a passenger on Flight CX811 from Boston to Hong Kong allegedly attempted to open an aircraft door mid‑flight on Dec. 11, 2025; crew intervened, verified the door was secure, and the plane landed safely with no injuries. Hong Kong Police arrested a 20‑year‑old mainland Chinese male on suspicion of violating the city’s Aviation Security Ordinance and have opened an investigation.

Public Transport Safety Aviation Security

House hearing condemns Sudan atrocities, 12M displaced

3d Dev 1 Data

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) convened the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee on Dec. 11 to spotlight crimes against humanity in Sudan and urge an immediate ceasefire, as WHO reported Dec. 4 drone strikes in South Kordofan hit a kindergarten and a nearby hospital, killing 114 people, including 63 children. Sudan Doctors Network blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the attacks, and the conflict has forcibly displaced roughly 12 million people amid renewed U.S. attention after President Trump vowed to pursue a Sudan peace deal following a November meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sudan Civil War U.S. Foreign Policy

ICE arrests suspect in Maryland hit-and-run

3d Dev 1 Data

ICE says it arrested Honduran national Kevin Alexis Mendez‑Ortiz on Nov. 25 in Oxon Hill, Maryland, weeks after he allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic on Nov. 9 and fled a head‑on crash that left a passenger with life‑threatening injuries. The agency says Mendez‑Ortiz entered the U.S. illegally near Hidalgo, Texas, in Sept. 2022 and was released on recognizance; Prince George’s County police later cited him for multiple traffic and hit‑and‑run violations.

Immigration & Demographic Change Law Enforcement

Study: Lack of sleep rivals smoking mortality risk

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A peer‑reviewed study in SLEEP Advances led by OHSU’s Andrew McHill finds insufficient sleep is one of the strongest predictors of shorter U.S. life expectancy, second only to smoking, based on CDC survey data from 2019–2025 across 3,000+ counties. Defining sufficient sleep as at least seven hours, researchers mapped county‑level sleep patterns to life expectancy while controlling for smoking, diet, inactivity and loneliness, and cautioned the self‑reported data cannot prove causation.

Public Health Sleep and Longevity

Trump order seeks to preempt state AI rules

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On Dec. 11, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to block states from regulating artificial intelligence, centralizing oversight at the federal level. The move would constrain Minnesota and Twin Cities authorities from enacting or enforcing local AI rules affecting public agencies, schools and major employers, and could shift compliance requirements for metro businesses and governments.

Technology Local Government Legal

Annunciation shooting: Judge blocks ICE from detaining suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia at check‑ins

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U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary restraining order blocking ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia at a scheduled Baltimore check‑in, finding officials lacked legal authority to re‑detain him, had “affirmatively misled” the court and noting there is no final removal order; ICE released him from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center and he returned to Maryland. The action follows an immigration judge’s order for his release and comes amid ongoing litigation — including rescheduled federal hearings, a Tennessee judge’s admonition over public statements about Abrego Garcia and the administration’s efforts to keep him detained — with Pretrial Services and parties ordered to coordinate release conditions and file a joint status report.

Government/Regulatory Public Safety Health

Switzer, Navratilova join SCOTUS trans‑athlete brief

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Super Bowl–winning coach Barry Switzer and 31 Olympians, including Martina Navratilova and multiple gold medalists, signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold Idaho and West Virginia laws restricting transgender females from competing in women’s sports. A separate amicus from 130 congressional Democrats backs the trans athlete plaintiffs in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ, with oral arguments set for January 13 in Washington, D.C.

Transgenderism/Transexualism Supreme Court

OMB reviews 2030 census race, ethnicity standards

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OMB Chief Statistician Mark Calabria said Dec. 5 the Trump administration has begun reviewing 2024-approved federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity, including for the 2030 census, potentially reconsidering new Middle Eastern/North African and Hispanic/Latino checkboxes and the combined race/ethnicity question. The review follows OMB’s September notice extending agencies’ compliance deadline into 2029 while stating the Biden-era revisions remain in effect; advocates warn changes could undermine data used for redistricting and civil-rights enforcement.

Census and Demographics Federal Policy and Regulation

FBI probes 350 in violent '764' network

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The FBI said it is investigating more than 350 individuals tied to the online '764' network, which the bureau describes as a loose group coercing minors and other vulnerable people into sexual exploitation, self-harm, and violence. The bureau said it is training personnel in all field offices and working with domestic and international partners; earlier this year, two alleged leaders were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., and the FBI’s Los Angeles office arrested a suspected member in August.

Online Child Exploitation and Safety FBI Investigations

Trump says CNN should be sold as part of any WBD deal

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At a White House appearance, former President Trump said any sale of Warner Bros. Discovery should include CNN — either sold with the company or separately — calling current CNN leadership "corrupt or incompetent" and saying he would "probably be involved" in ensuring it is sold. His comments heighten the stakes between competing bids (Netflix’s roughly $83 billion offer would exclude CNN while Paramount’s $108 billion hostile bid includes the cable networks and disclosed Gulf and private financing), as WBD’s board faces a short deadline and CNN staffers warn a spinoff with heavy debt could leave the network’s future "up for grabs."

Antitrust and Media Mergers Donald Trump Media Mergers and Antitrust

Hayward-area gas blast injures 6 after crew hits line; 3 homes destroyed

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A construction crew struck an underground gas line in the unincorporated Ashland community near Hayward, California, triggering a gas explosion and three-alarm blaze that destroyed three structures on two lots, damaged neighboring homes, and hospitalized six people — three PG&E workers and three residents with third-degree burns. PG&E said the line was hit at about 7:35 a.m., gas flow was stopped at 9:25 a.m. and an explosion occurred roughly 10 minutes later; Alameda County Fire Department deployed 75 firefighters, crews reported electric shocks from downed power lines, and Interstate 238 was temporarily closed.

PG&E Public Safety Public Safety and Emergencies

Israel holds 155‑sq‑mi Syrian zone as U.S. urges accommodation with new Damascus government

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Israel continues to hold and patrol a roughly 155‑square‑mile zone inside southern Syria, carrying out arrests, weapons seizures and frequent airstrikes that it says protect its security and which have fueled hawkish rhetoric at home. The Trump administration, pressing for quick engagement with new Syrian president Ahmed al‑Sharaa and offering verification or peacekeeping roles (and even talk of folding Syria into broader regional deals), has privately warned Israel to curb strikes and pursue accommodation even as Netanyahu says a deal is possible only if Damascus respects an Israeli buffer zone and Syria demands withdrawal and recommitment to the 1974 truce.

Israel–Syria Relations U.S. Middle East Policy Middle East

DHS: 10,000+ arrests in Los Angeles since June

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DHS says its enforcement surge in Los Angeles has resulted in over 10,000 arrests since June despite anti-ICE protests and riots that included assaults on officers and Molotov cocktails. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited sanctuary‑policy pushback from California officials but said operations continued, listing arrestees with convictions for homicide, kidnapping, rape, and child sex offenses.

Immigration & Demographic Change DHS/ICE Enforcement

AI boosts control of bionic prosthetic hands

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Researchers at the University of Utah report in Nature Communications that an AI ‘shared control’ system using muscle signals and sensors helped four upper‑limb amputees reliably grasp and simulate sipping from a cup with a bionic hand, a task they otherwise crushed or dropped. The AI interprets user intention from tiny muscle twitches and automates grip force and movement, aiming to reduce cognitive load and make prosthetic use feel more natural.

Medical Research Artificial Intelligence

Trump calls Japan PM after Xi call

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After a Nov. 24 call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping—during which Xi told Trump that "Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post‑war international order"—Trump phoned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and, according to reports, urged her to "cool it" after her earlier comments about a potential Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan. Beijing has since launched a diplomatic push to isolate Japan, sending protest letters to the UN and imposing punitive measures such as halting seafood imports, issuing travel advisories and canceling cultural events; Trump’s public post about the Xi call did not mention Taiwan.

Taiwan China–Japan Relations Indo-Pacific Security

Trump to visit Beijing in April; Xi to follow in 2026

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Axios reports President Trump has announced he will visit Beijing in April, with China’s President Xi Jinping expected to make a return visit to the United States later in 2026. The trips would mark a concrete step in a broader U.S.–China thaw following an October trade truce as the administration balances export controls with renewed economic engagement.

U.S.–China Relations Donald Trump

ACIP votes 8–3 to end universal Hep B birth dose; separate 6–4–1 vote backs post‑shot antibody testing

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At a contentious Dec. meeting, the HHS‑appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 8–3 to end the universal hepatitis B birth‑dose—limiting routine immediate vaccination to infants of HBV‑positive mothers and leaving other cases to clinician‑parent decision‑making—and separately voted 6–4‑1 to recommend post‑vaccination antibody testing to identify infants who might require fewer than three doses. The recommendations, which must be approved by acting CDC director Jim O’Neill, drew sharp criticism from pediatric and infectious‑disease experts and public‑health groups who warn the change could lead to hundreds or thousands more infant infections given screening gaps and the vaccine’s decades‑long role in nearly eliminating pediatric hepatitis B.

CDC/ACIP CDC and Public Health Hepatitis B

Family of CPD Officer Krystal Rivera sues city, alleges partner with history of misconduct shot her

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The family of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera has sued the city and Officer Carlos Baker, alleging he shot her during an on‑duty foot pursuit and that the department ignored repeated warnings about his dangerous conduct. The complaint says Baker kicked in a door and fired, striking Rivera in the back, then fled without rendering basic first aid as Rivera radioed her own shooting, and it accuses CPD of filing misleading reports to regulators and failing to act on prior misconduct complaints — including a 2022 tavern incident under COPA review — despite Rivera having requested a new partner after ending a relationship with Baker, who reportedly appeared at her home the day before the shooting.

Police Accountability Chicago Police Department

Louisiana arrests top 250 in 'Catahoula Crunch' as Lt. Gov. Nungesser criticizes operation

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DHS and Border Patrol launched "Operation Catahoula Crunch," deploying roughly 250 agents in New Orleans, Kenner and southeast Louisiana and saying it targets violent criminal noncitizens — with federal officials reporting dozens to more than 250 arrests so far and an eventual goal of thousands. The sweep, which included convoys and detentions near businesses and sparked council‑chamber protests, has drawn local pushback: NOPD and the Orleans Parish sheriff refuse to enforce civil immigration law, the Louisiana attorney general has demanded cooperation, and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser criticized the operation for its labor impacts and family separations amid reports many detainees had no criminal histories.

Law Enforcement Operations Louisiana Politics Immigration Enforcement

HUD probes Boston DEI housing policies

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HUD opened a civil-rights investigation on Dec. 11, 2025 into Boston’s housing practices, alleging the city used federal grant assistance for race-based preferences in violation of the Fair Housing Act and Title VI. The agency’s letter to the Mayor’s Office of Housing cites city documents that target outreach to Black and Latinx families and a goal that at least 65% of homeownership opportunities go to BIPOC households, as HUD Secretary Scott Turner vowed to bring Boston into compliance.

DEI and Race Disparate Impact Law

Mississippi governor orders release after illegal sentence

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Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves granted clemency to Marcus Taylor on Wednesday, ordering his release within five days after the Mississippi Court of Appeals concluded his 15-year sentence for a Schedule III drug conspiracy exceeded the five-year statutory maximum. The appeals court initially found the sentence illegal in May but declined relief on procedural grounds; after a rehearing last month, the court reversed itself and ordered Taylor’s release, with Reeves calling his action a fulfillment of his constitutional duty.

Criminal Justice and Clemency Mississippi State Government

Texas warns of invasive pasture mealybug

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The Texas Department of Agriculture issued an urgent alert this week confirming the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei), never before reported in North America, is spreading across more than 20 Texas counties and damaging grazing lands and hay crops. Commissioner Sid Miller said the pest threatens livestock operations as TDA works with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA APHIS to map the spread and determine an emergency response; no insecticides are currently labeled for its control in the U.S.

Agriculture and Food Security Invasive Species and Biosecurity

Trump issues symbolic pardon for Colorado ex‑clerk Tina Peters; state conviction keeps her imprisoned

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President Donald Trump announced on Dec. 11 that he had granted a "full pardon" to former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, and her attorney Peter Ticktin said he was formally notified after urging clemency amid claims she was threatened and attacked in jail. The pardon is largely symbolic because presidential clemency does not apply to state convictions — Peters was convicted on multiple state counts for allowing a man linked to Mike Lindell access to election equipment, was sentenced in 2024 to 8.5 years, and remains in Colorado custody after a federal magistrate denied her release; efforts by the administration to transfer her to federal prison were opposed by state officials.

Election Security Courts and Judiciary Donald Trump

Morrison bill targets foreign robocalls with task force

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U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison introduced a bipartisan federal bill to create an interagency task force, including the FCC, FTC and DOJ with private‑sector experts, to curb domestic and foreign robocalls that have plagued Minnesotans. If enacted, the task force would identify source countries of unlawful calls, explore international collaboration, and deliver recommendations to Congress within a year; Morrison hopes the House will take up the bill in January.

Technology Legal

Trump says he pardoned Tina Peters, but state conviction means no release

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President Trump said he had pardoned Tina Peters, a former Colorado elections clerk who was convicted in state court. Because her convictions are at the state level the pardon will not free her from prison; a federal magistrate denied release pending appeal and Colorado officials have opposed transferring her to federal custody.

Donald Trump Presidential Clemency & Pardons State vs. Federal Authority

Man found dead in Corcoran home; probe underway

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Corcoran Police say they discovered a man dead inside a residence on Maple Hill Road after responding to a welfare check Thursday morning, and another man was also found inside the home. The death is under investigation and police report no known threat to the public; the man’s identity and cause of death have not been released.

Public Safety

BLM OKC leader indicted for $3.15M fraud

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Federal prosecutors unsealed a 25‑count indictment on Dec. 11, 2025 charging Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City, with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering for allegedly diverting at least $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal accounts from June 2020 to October 2025. DOJ says BLM OKC raised more than $5.6 million via grants routed through fiscal sponsor Alliance for Global Justice and alleges Dickerson used the funds for personal travel, shopping, food deliveries, a vehicle, and six properties while filing misleading reports to AFGJ.

DEI and Race Courts and Legal

Texas Rangers probe Border Patrol shooting in Starr County

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Texas Rangers are investigating an officer-involved shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol near a riverbank in Midway, Starr County, Texas, confirmed around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Starr County Sheriff’s Office said agents were involved in a struggle prior to the shooting, deputies are securing the scene, and the public has been asked to avoid the area; injuries or fatalities were not immediately known.

Border Security Immigration & Demographic Change

U.S. offers $5M reward for Los Choneros leader

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The State Department announced Thursday a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Francisco Manuel Bermúdez Cagua, 29, aka “Churron,” a top lieutenant of Ecuador’s Los Choneros, which the U.S. designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in September 2025. Bermúdez Cagua is charged in a superseding indictment unsealed in June in the Eastern District of New York with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, distribution, and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; co‑conspirator José “Fito” Macías was extradited to New York in July, and Darío “Topo” Peñafiel remains in custody in Ecuador.

Transnational Drug Trafficking State Department

U.S. to levy 92% tariff on Italian pasta

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The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced anti-dumping tariffs of 92% on pasta from 13 major Italian producers, potentially taking effect as early as January 2026, on top of an existing 15% tariff on EU goods. Italian grocers and restaurants in the U.S., such as Washington-area shop Vace, are stockpiling and warn prices could spike, while an academic researcher disputes the dumping allegations in public data.

Tariffs and Trade Food Industry

Judge weighs camera ban as prosecutors seek death penalty in Charlie Kirk case

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Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, who made his first in-person appearance Dec. 11 in Provo under heavy security, arriving shackled but in street clothes. Judge Tony Graf is weighing media access after the defense and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office asked for a camera ban; at a closed Oct. 24 hearing he ruled Robinson may wear civilian clothes but must remain restrained and barred media from photographing the restraints, briefly halted a livestream after restraints were shown, and is balancing openness with fair‑trial concerns as a media coalition (and attorney Michael Judd) and victim Erika Kirk press for transparency.

Charlie Kirk assassination case Courts and Press Access Charlie Kirk case

House votes 237–140 to table Green impeachment bid; 47 Democrats vote ‘present’

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The House voted 237–140 to table Rep. Al Green’s impeachment resolution after Majority Leader Steve Scalise formally introduced the motion, with 23 Democrats joining Republicans to kill the measure and all 47 “present” votes cast by Democrats (including leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, who said they were withholding yea or nay absent an investigation). Green’s second bid this year accused former President Trump of comments and conduct — including a “punishable by death” remark about six Democrats, alleged threats against judges, and a social‑media video tied to threats of executing lawmakers who refuse illegal orders — and drew mixed reactions from colleagues such as Rep. James Walkinshaw, Rep. Ted Lieu and Rep. Mario Díaz‑Balart.

Donald Trump U.S. House of Representatives Congress

Oracle slump weighs on stocks despite lower yields

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U.S. stocks were mixed Thursday as Oracle fell about 14.5% after revenue growth missed expectations and investors questioned its heavy AI spending, dragging the S&P 500 down 0.4% by 9:35 a.m. ET while the Dow rose 233 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.7%. Treasury yields eased after weekly jobless claims rose, with the 10‑year at 4.10%, while Nvidia slipped 2.8% and Disney gained 2.1% on its three‑year OpenAI content deal and $1 billion investment.

Stock Market Oracle Artificial Intelligence Industry

House passes NDAA with Europe and South Korea troop floors

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The House passed a roughly $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act that bars cutting U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 and in South Korea below 28,500 without required assessments and certifications, preserves the NATO SACEUR post, includes a 4% enlisted pay raise and about $400 million in Ukraine security assistance for each of FY2026 and FY2027. The bill also adds China-focused measures — including outbound investment screening, biotech procurement bans and expanded Taiwan support — restricts pauses on Ukraine weapons deliveries and clarifies reclamation of undelivered equipment, and contains policy shifts such as repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and lifting Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.

NDAA U.S. Congress Ukraine War Support

Trump launches ‘Gold Card’ immigration pathway

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The Trump administration has launched a "Gold Card" program that offers permanent‑residency approvals—issued as EB‑1 or EB‑2 green cards—in exchange for a $1 million donation to the U.S. government (a corporate option is $2 million per worker) plus a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS vetting fee, with an application page live at trumpcard.gov. The administration positions the plan as a faster replacement for the EB‑5 investor visa with no job‑creation or business‑investment requirement and, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, includes corporate transferability and a path to U.S. citizenship after five years; critics say it resembles a pay‑to‑play scheme.

Immigration & Demographic Change Donald Trump U.S. Immigration Policy

White House urges G7 to ease AI rules, signals U.S. framework

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The White House urged G7 allies to avoid what it called innovation‑killing AI regulations while signaling a U.S. approach, as President Trump signed an executive order to preempt state AI laws and impose a single national framework. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the EO directs the administration to ensure AI operates under one nationwide framework rather than state-by-state regulation, and the White House consulted Republican governors while MAGA populists pitched last‑minute draft proposals to shape the order.

Artificial Intelligence Policy Donald Trump G7

Bipartisan senators file NDAA fix to restore ADS‑B rules after DC crash; Thune backs separate aviation bill

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Sens. Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz filed Senate amendments on Dec. 11 to strip NDAA language weakening helicopter ADS‑B requirements and replace it with their earlier aviation safety bill, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the issue could be resolved by quickly passing a separate bill requiring ADS‑B In for airlines and revoking DoD ADS‑B transmission exemptions. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy warned the NDAA language could undermine safety and invite a repeat of the 67‑fatality January crash, major transportation unions condemned the provisions as reckless, and the House has advanced the NDAA though it’s unclear if Senate GOP leaders will permit changes that might delay its passage.

Aviation Safety Congress/NDAA Congress and Defense Policy

U.S. sanctions Maduro nephews, six oil shippers

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The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Thursday sanctioned three of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s nephews — Efraín Antonio Campo Flores, Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas and Carlos Erik Malpica Flores — plus Panamanian businessman Ramón Carretero Napolitano, six shipping firms (Myra Marine Limited; Arctic Voyager Incorporated; Poweroy Investment Limited; Ready Great Limited; Sino Marine Services Limited; Full Happy Limited) and six Venezuela‑flagged oil tankers. OFAC said the companies and vessels used deceptive and unsafe shipping practices, including AIS manipulation, to move Venezuelan oil; the move re‑sanctions Carlos Flores after a 2017 listing was removed in 2022 and comes amid a broader U.S. pressure campaign that included the recent seizure of a sanctioned tanker.

Venezuela Sanctions Treasury Department U.S. Treasury/OFAC

House votes to void Trump federal union order

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The U.S. House on Dec. 11 voted to nullify a Trump executive order that curtailed collective‑bargaining rights for federal employees, a step that would restore bargaining rights if enacted. The measure now heads to the Senate and, if it becomes law, would directly affect thousands of federal workers in the Twin Cities at agencies operating in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro.

Legal Business & Economy

Ex‑Oakdale officer convicted of misconduct

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A former Oakdale police officer was found guilty of misconduct but acquitted of harassment for making phone calls to a person under surveillance, according to a verdict reported Dec. 11, 2025. The case, adjudicated in Washington County in the east‑metro, centers on the officer’s conduct during a surveillance operation and results in a split verdict: guilty on misconduct, not guilty on harassment.

Legal Public Safety

Treasury scraps Biden‑era 250th coin designs

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent canceled Biden‑era U.S. Mint Semiquincentennial quarter designs approved for 2026 after the administration determined they omitted Founding Fathers and emphasized DEI themes, and signaled new patriotic designs will be used instead. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the shift, Fox News Digital published images of the scrapped coins (covering the Declaration, Constitution, abolition, women’s suffrage and civil rights), and noted former Secretary Janet Yellen had previously signed off on the 2026 concepts.

U.S. Mint and Currency DEI and Race

DHS announces $1B FEMA aid to Georgia

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DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the federal government approved $1 billion in FEMA funding for Georgia to cover pandemic emergency protective measures and recovery projects tied to 2024’s Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. The package includes large allocations for healthcare-related COVID-19 costs, debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and hazard mitigation, and comes as the Trump administration weighs a restructuring of FEMA after a key White House meeting on the agency’s future was abruptly rescheduled Thursday.

FEMA and Disaster Recovery Georgia Hurricanes

NYC mayor‑elect Mamdani keeps Commissioner Jessica Tisch to lead NYPD

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Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani announced he will retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, praising her for cracking down on corruption and driving down crime and saying they share goals of public safety and stability. Tisch said she is confident she can lead under his administration, though the decision — which reassures business leaders — highlights differences on bail reform and policing priorities and has drawn concern from some progressive allies.

Policing and Public Safety Government New York City Politics

Mamdani adds Mysonne Linen and Tamika Mallory to NYC public safety transition team

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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani named Mysonne Linen and Tamika Mallory to his NYC public safety and criminal justice transition team; Linen — a rapper-turned-activist and leader with Until Freedom — was convicted in two 1999 Bronx taxi-robbery cases and served seven years, while Mallory is a controversial activist who has previously said “one day we can abolish police.” Mamdani defended the appointments as part of a 400-plus-member, 17-committee transition intended to incorporate diverse experiences, even as groups including Jews Fight Back criticized the selections.

Zohran Mamdani New York City Politics NYC Public Safety

OMB sets ‘neutrality’ rules for federal AI buys

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The White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued guidance on Dec. 11, 2025 directing federal agencies to ensure AI systems they procure meet two 'unbiased AI' principles: 'truth-seeking' and 'ideological neutrality.' The memo, called for by a July Trump executive order, applies to LLMs and other generative AI, advises agencies to tailor information requests by vendors’ proximity to model developers, and says national security systems are exempt but encouraged to follow the guidance.

AI Policy and Procurement Trump Administration

Director convicted of $11M Netflix fraud

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Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch was convicted in federal court in New York on December 11, 2025 of wire fraud, money laundering and related charges for misappropriating $11 million that Netflix advanced to finish his sci‑fi series “White Horse.” Prosecutors said Rinsch diverted the funds to speculative stock and crypto trades and luxury purchases, including five Rolls‑Royces, a Ferrari, hundreds of thousands on watches, clothing, mattresses and linens, and $1.8 million in credit card bills; he never delivered the show. Sentencing is set for April, and Netflix declined to comment.

White Collar Crime Netflix

Camp Mystic installs new flash‑flood warning system

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In Kerrville, Texas, Camp Mystic is installing about 100 perimeter flood‑alarm towers designed by River Sentry after July’s deadly Hill Country floods, which killed 27 campers and counselors at the camp. The autonomous system—funded by a private foundation at roughly $7,500 per tower—adds to siren requirements under Texas laws signed in September that mandate camp alert systems, staff training, inspections and siting away from floodplains.

Texas Floods 2025 Summer Camp Safety

Minneapolis approves final George Floyd Square plan

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The Minneapolis City Council on Dec. 11 approved a final “flexible open street” plan for George Floyd Square at 38th & Chicago, keeping the intersection open to traffic while prohibiting vehicles from crossing the precise memorial location. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and includes major infrastructure upgrades and restoration of Metro Transit service on Chicago Avenue, with city leaders saying the design centers healing, unity and neighborhood vitality.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Treasury chief seeks overhaul of FSOC oversight

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday released a letter proposing to loosen regulations under the Financial Stability Oversight Council, the 15‑member body created by Dodd‑Frank to monitor systemic risk. Bessent argues prior safeguards have become duplicative and burdensome, while critics including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Americans for Financial Reform warn the move would weaken a key early‑warning system amid rising risks, citing recent bankruptcies and potential AI‑stock bubbles.

Financial Regulation U.S. Treasury

ShadyPanda hijacks Chrome, Edge extensions; 4.3M hit

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Cyber firm Koi Security reported that a long-running “ShadyPanda” campaign turned benign Chrome and Edge extensions into spyware via trusted auto-updates, impacting 4.3 million users. Google and Microsoft said they have removed all identified malicious extensions from their stores; the add-ons, some dating to 2018, later received updates enabling data theft, search hijacking, and remote code execution.

Cybersecurity Google and Microsoft

DUI suspect hits eight Anaheim track runners

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Anaheim police say 27-year-old Anthony Alva-Palafox was arrested on suspicion of DUI after allegedly striking eight Anaheim High School track athletes with his sedan just before 3 p.m. Wednesday while they waited at a red light during practice. Seven teens, ages 16–17, were hospitalized and are expected to survive; the driver also suffered injuries, the vehicle was impounded, and a search warrant is underway as the school organizes crisis support for students.

Crime and Public Safety School Athletics

Second Virginia grand jury declines to re‑indict Letitia James after judge voided prior case

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Two Virginia federal grand juries — first in Norfolk and then in Alexandria — declined this week to re‑indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on bank‑fraud and false‑statement charges tied to a 2020 Norfolk mortgage after Judge Cameron Currie last week voided the original indictments on the ground that interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed and had been the sole prosecutor before the grand jury. DOJ officials, backed by Pam Bondi and the White House, say they will appeal and may seek new charges, while James and her lawyer Abbe Lowell called the dual refusals unprecedented, politically motivated and urged the probe to end.

Letitia James Courts/Legal Department of Justice

HHS pressed over Head Start word bans

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Court filings on Dec. 5 in a lawsuit by Head Start programs in PA, WA, WI and IL reveal emails from HHS directing at least one grantee on Nov. 19 to remove nearly 200 words and phrases — including 'disability,' 'women,' 'accessible,' and 'Black' — from a funding renewal application or risk denial. Plaintiffs argue the Trump administration’s DEI ban conflicts with the Head Start Act’s mandates for inclusive, culturally and linguistically appropriate services; HHS did not comment, and it’s unclear how widely this guidance was applied.

DEI and Race Head Start HHS Policy

St. Paul council delays vote on police force review tied to ICE operation

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The St. Paul City Council postponed a planned Dec. 3 vote to launch a city review of SPPD’s use of force during the Nov. 25 ICE operation and protest and is preparing to ask the Minnesota POST Board to conduct a thorough state-level investigation; the proposed scope includes probes of pepper balls, less‑lethal munitions and chemical agents, an audit of public costs, and review of adherence to the city’s separation ordinance. Community groups and local leaders say the police violated department policy and are demanding discipline and release of video (Mayor Melvin Carter has said body‑cam footage will be released), while Police Chief Axel Henry defended the department’s actions and urged better advance communication with ICE to avoid future clashes.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Charlotte light rail stabbing: suspect twice deported, Trump reacts

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Oscar Solarzano, an undocumented Honduran DHS says had been removed from the U.S. twice, was arrested after a stabbing on a Charlotte light rail car; federal prosecutors have charged him with illegal reentry and an act of violence on a mass transportation system, and authorities say he allegedly broke into a rail car while armed before the altercation. President Trump posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats for the incident, Mayor Vi Lyles noted the city’s public‑safety investments and that immigration enforcement is outside city jurisdiction, transit officials said the attack stemmed from an altercation between two individuals, a magistrate ordered Solarzano to remain jailed, federal officials including FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson commented on the case, and CBS cited an internal DHS memo saying fewer than one‑third of Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte’s recent crackdown were classified as criminals.

Immigration Enforcement Donald Trump Crime and Public Transportation

Charlotte transit stabbing suspect denied bond

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Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, a Honduran national twice deported and accused of allegedly breaking into a Charlotte light-rail car and stabbing a passenger, faces state charges including attempted first-degree murder and federal counts of illegal reentry and committing an act of violence on a mass transportation system. Mecklenburg County did not set bond and plans to transfer him to ICE custody, while the victim, Kenyon Dobie, remains seriously injured with a chest tube draining his lungs and a GoFundMe that has raised nearly $18,000.

Crime and Public Transportation Immigration Enforcement Public Transport Safety

Supreme Court hears GOP bid to end party spending caps

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The Supreme Court heard a GOP-backed challenge to federal limits on coordinated party expenditures — brought by then‑Senate candidate JD Vance, then‑Rep. Steve Chabot and the NRSC/NRCC — seeking to overturn 2023–24 cycle caps roughly $61,800–$123,000 for House races and $123,600–$3.7 million for Senate races. Justices Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh signaled openness to striking the limits (with Kavanaugh warning that current rules have weakened parties relative to outside groups and Roberts calling the coordinated/direct distinction a “fiction”), while Sotomayor warned removal could enable corruption; during argument Thomas pressed Democratic lawyer Marc Elias on whether party payments are protected speech (Elias called such payments “symbolic speech” treated as contributions), the FEC under Trump agreed the limits should be struck, Roman Martinez was appointed to defend the law, and the Principal Deputy Solicitor General rejected the view that the caps were imposed solely to prevent corruption.

Campaign Finance Supreme Court U.S. Supreme Court

NASCAR settlement makes Cup charters permanent; 23XI, Front Row regain charters

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NASCAR reached a settlement with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports during the antitrust trial, agreeing to make Cup Series team charters permanent and to return charters to the two teams after they raced without them for much of 2025; terms were not disclosed. The deal followed testimony from Michael Jordan and others criticizing NASCAR’s contested Sept. 2024 charter extensions — which Jordan called economically unviable, containing a no‑sue clause and presented as an ultimatum — and was hailed by the judge and plaintiffs’ attorney as beneficial to the sport.

Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing NASCAR Sports Antitrust and Governance

DOT: No hotel/meals owed for recall disruptions

3d Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Dec. 11 that airlines are not required to cover passenger expenses like hotels, meals, or ground transportation when flights are disrupted by manufacturer aircraft recalls or groundings. The clarification, following recent Airbus A320-family issues, still leaves passengers eligible for refunds on canceled flights under federal rules; Twin Cities travelers at MSP should expect airlines may offer goodwill aid but are not obligated to pay incidental costs in recall situations.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

SPDDC buys Empire & Endicott; tenant search set for 2026

3d Breaking TC 2 Data

St. Paul Downtown Development Corp. has purchased the Empire Building and the Endicott Arcade in downtown St. Paul. The organization says it will reutilize the Empire Building as part of a downtown stabilization strategy and will begin work in 2026 to identify commercial and retail users for the Endicott Arcade.

Housing Business & Economy

Israel debuts Iron Beam laser defense, $15B exports

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Israel unveiled its Iron Beam laser air‑defense system and says it has already used the weapon in combat, while reporting a record $15 billion in arms exports for 2024. The Rafael‑built system, co-developed with Lockheed Martin and backed by $1.2 billion in U.S. Pentagon funding, intercepts rockets, mortars and drones up to six miles away for about $1–$2 per shot, with initial deployments planned in northern Israel and technology shared with the U.S. Army.

Israel Defense Technology U.S.–Israel Defense Cooperation

Mike Lindell launches Minnesota governor bid

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MyPillow founder and Trump ally Mike Lindell announced Dec. 11, 2025 at his Shakopee factory that he will seek the Republican nomination for Minnesota governor in 2026, aiming to challenge Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. Lindell said he told Donald Trump in August he was considering a run, plans to campaign in every town, and cast his bid around business experience and fighting fraud; Walz’s campaign blasted him as a conspiracy theorist tied to 2020 election denial.

Minnesota Politics Donald Trump

State Department restores Times New Roman for documents

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered all State Department offices worldwide to switch official documents from Calibri back to Times New Roman in 14‑point font, effective Wednesday, reversing a 2023 change made under Antony Blinken. The department told NPR that consistent formatting supports a unified identity, while Rubio’s cable framed the prior switch as a DEI‑driven decision; accessibility experts warn serif fonts can be harder to read for people with dyslexia or low vision.

State Department DEI and Race

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI; Sora to use 200+ Disney characters starting 2026, excluding talent voices/likeness

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Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI under a three‑year commercial licensing agreement that makes Disney a "major customer" and lets OpenAI’s Sora users create and share AI videos using more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars beginning in 2026. The deal explicitly excludes talent likenesses and voices and has drawn criticism from advocacy group Fairplay as targeting children, even though OpenAI says children are prohibited from using Sora.

Artificial Intelligence Media & Entertainment Artificial Intelligence Industry

Alleged Philadelphia gang hitman arrested after manhunt

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U.S. Marshals arrested 25-year-old Tyvine Jones, an alleged hitman for Philadelphia’s Blumberg gang, on Dec. 10, 2025 at the Stratford Court Apartments in Delaware County after an anonymous tip. Jones was wanted in three separate fatal shootings in August 2020, May 2022 and September 2022 that killed victims aged 16, 20 and 23; he was taken to the Philadelphia Homicide Detective Division for processing.

Philadelphia Crime Law Enforcement

Senate rejects ACA subsidy extension and GOP alternative; premium impacts loom

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The U.S. Senate voted down both a Democratic plan to extend enhanced ACA premium subsidies and a Republican alternative that did not include the extension, making a lapse for the 2026 plan year more likely. If subsidies end, up to 24 million exchange enrollees could face higher costs — including about 89,000 MNsure recipients who could see premiums rise roughly 50% — while the White House had circulated a competing two‑year extension draft that would cap eligibility at 700% of the federal poverty level and require a minimum premium (reported options include about 2% of income or $5/month).

Business & Economy Health Government

Court backs Wayzata in TCF site dispute

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A court ruled in favor of the City of Wayzata in its years‑long dispute with Lake West Development over redevelopment of the former TCF Bank site, the latest turn in a saga that has seen six developer proposals since 2020 and prior litigation over rejected plans. The decision, reported Dec. 11, 2025, keeps the city’s position intact for now as the parties continue a protracted fight over the high‑profile property.

Legal Local Government

ICE detention hits 65,135; nearly half have no criminal record, official data show

4d Breaking 5 Data

Government and FOIA-derived operational data show ICE custody at roughly 65,135 people as of Nov. 16 (with DHS reporting November averages near 66,000), and nearly half—about 48% (30,986)—had no U.S. criminal charges or convictions while 26% had convictions and 26% had pending charges. The records and local booking data document a sharp surge in ICE-initiated arrests of non‑criminals (CBS notes a 2,143% rise among ICE arrestees from Jan. 26 to Nov. 16 and FOIA data show daily arrests climbing), driven in part by broader arrest targets and multiagency operations, even as DHS disputes some FOIA-derived arrest-rate estimates.

Immigration Enforcement DHS/ICE Department of Homeland Security

Jobless claims jump to 236,000 in early December

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The Labor Department said Thursday that initial unemployment claims rose by 44,000 to 236,000 for the week ending Dec. 6, signaling a softer labor market even as claims remain historically low. The four‑week average ticked up to 216,750 and continuing claims fell to 1.84 million for the prior week, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned this week that recent job gains may be overstated and the labor market faces 'significant downside risks.'

U.S. Labor Market Federal Reserve

U.S., Japan fly B-52s amid China tensions

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The U.S. flew two B-52 strategic bombers with six Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighters over the Sea of Japan in a joint drill this week, the first allied show of force since a feud erupted last month between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan-related remarks. The move follows a China–Russia bomber patrol that triggered Japanese and South Korean scrambles, as the U.S. State Department said its commitment to Japan is unwavering and Japan’s defense minister plans a Friday call with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Indo-Pacific Security U.S.–Japan Alliance

Forest Lake schools open applications for board vacancy; interviews set Dec. 4

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ISD 831 opened applications to fill Luke Hagglund’s vacant school board seat, accepting submissions through 4 p.m. Nov. 20 and scheduling interviews for Dec. 4; eleven people applied. After the Dec. 4 interviews the board deadlocked and made no appointment, and on Dec. 11 the board named three finalists to advance the selection process.

Local Government Education

Ramsey County appoints housing stability director

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Ramsey County announced Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, that it has appointed a new Housing Stability Director to lead county programs that address homelessness, eviction prevention and supportive housing. The position will oversee policy and service coordination across county departments and partners serving residents in Saint Paul and Ramsey County.

Housing Local Government

Tennessee executes Harold Nichols for 1988 murder

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Tennessee executed Harold Wayne Nichols, 64, by lethal injection in Nashville on Thursday for the 1988 rape and murder of 20-year-old Chattanooga State student Karen Pulley, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay the execution. The state used its new single‑drug pentobarbital protocol, which is being challenged in court; Nichols’ lawyers recently won a ruling for records from two prior executions under the new method, which the state says it will appeal.

Death Penalty Tennessee Criminal Justice

DHS launches New York transnational crime task force

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Homeland Security Investigations New York announced the Homeland Security Task Force New York on Dec. 10, 2025, a first-of-its-kind interagency unit to target transnational organized crime using a unified, whole-of-government framework. HSI SAC Ricky J. Patel, FBI NY ADIC Christopher G. Raia, and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the task force will pursue crimes from homicide and human trafficking to money laundering and weapons/drug trafficking, leveraging new authorities following foreign terrorist organization designations of violent cartels and gangs.

Homeland Security Transnational Organized Crime

St. Paul driver charged in fatal Arlington–Prosperity crash; charging document cites fast‑food distraction

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Prosecutors have filed criminal charges in the fiery single-vehicle crash around 3:25 a.m. at Arlington and Prosperity that killed 26-year-old Qiara “Keke” Gleason, a mother of four who was trapped in the vehicle; her family has launched a GoFundMe and is calling for accountability. Court records identify the driver as Ralohn L. Hare of St. Paul, say she told investigators she was distracted by a fast-food bag, note a court-ordered blood draw is pending, and show prior convictions for driving after revocation.

Public Safety Legal

Orlando airport tests CBP facial‑recognition boarding

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Orlando International Airport launched a 90‑day Enhanced Passenger Processing pilot with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use biometric facial comparison for international departures, enabling simultaneous boarding via jetway cameras. Beginning Dec. 26, non‑U.S. citizens must use the system while U.S. citizens may opt out; CBP says photos are matched to government records and deleted within 12 hours and reports a 43% reduction in screening times.

Airport Security and Biometrics U.S. Customs and Border Protection

30‑year mortgage rate edges up to 6.22%

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Freddie Mac’s weekly survey shows the average U.S. 30‑year fixed mortgage rate ticked up to 6.22% as of Dec. 11, 2025, while remaining close to this year’s lows. The move influences home affordability and refinancing for Minneapolis–Saint Paul households heading into the winter housing market.

Business & Economy Housing

Fact-check: Inflation contradicts Trump's prices claim

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CBS News fact-checks President Trump’s Tuesday claim in Mount Pocono, Pa., that “prices are coming down,” citing federal data showing September inflation at 3% year over year (up from a 2.3% low in April) and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Wednesday remarks that tariffs have recently lifted goods inflation. The piece notes analysts estimate CPI near 3.3% for November, groceries up 2.7% YoY in September, and includes the White House’s assertion that inflation is cooling to a 2.5% annualized pace and should fade in 2026.

Economy & Inflation Federal Reserve Donald Trump

Mike Lindell launches Minnesota governor bid

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MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announced Thursday he is officially running for Minnesota governor in 2026 after filing paperwork earlier this month. He joins a crowded GOP field that includes House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Kendall Qualls, Chris Madel, Scott Jensen and others to challenge Gov. Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term.

Elections Local Government

Rep. Arrington to file SHIELD Act on DHS interference

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House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R‑Texas) will introduce the SHIELD Act on Friday to bar state and local authorities from arresting federal immigration officers and to cut off federal funding to jurisdictions that obstruct or prosecute them. Arrington told Fox News the bill responds to recent city and state moves to impede DHS operations, pledging to ‘stand up for the rule of law’ and impose full funding penalties for any such obstruction.

Immigration & Demographic Change DHS and ICE

South Carolina measles outbreak hits 111 cases

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South Carolina’s Department of Health said Wednesday the Spartanburg County measles outbreak has reached 111 confirmed cases since first reported Oct. 2, prompting 254 people to quarantine and 16 to isolate. Officials identified exposure at Inman Intermediate School—where 43 students are quarantined—and eight other area schools, noted 105 of the cases are unvaccinated, and warned evidence of community spread alongside some travel‑related cases.

Measles Outbreaks Public Health

Report: Women backsliding in corporate America

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Lean In and McKinsey released a new survey Tuesday of about 9,500 professionals finding women are losing ground at U.S. companies, with a first‑time ambition gap versus men and fewer HR leaders prioritizing women’s advancement. The report cites rollback of DEI efforts and tighter return‑to‑office mandates as contributing factors, and includes remarks from Lean In founder Sheryl Sandberg and cofounder Rachel Thomas.

Workplace and DEI Corporate HR and Labor

Mike Lindell enters 2026 Minnesota governor race

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MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announced Thursday he will run for Minnesota governor in 2026 as a Republican, challenging Democratic incumbent Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term. Lindell said he filed preliminary paperwork last week and made his candidacy official via a social media statement, joining an already crowded GOP field that includes 2022 nominee Scott Jensen and the state House Republican speaker.

Minnesota Governor 2026 Mike Lindell

Savage man Joshua Rocha charged with attempted murder after Bloomington police shootout near Killebrew Dr.

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On Dec. 4 around 10:30 p.m., Bloomington officers engaged in a gunbattle with 21-year-old Joshua Rocha of Savage after stopping a suspected wrong-way driver near Old Shakopee Road and Killebrew Drive; police say they disabled his vehicle with PIT maneuvers, deployed PepperBall rounds and an armored vehicle when commands were ignored, and Rocha allegedly fired numerous rounds from an assault-style rifle that struck a squad car while officers returned fire, injuring Rocha’s hands. The BCA identified the five officers who shot — Sgt. Jeremy Pilcher and Officers David Rodriguez, Carson Sanchez, Taylor Huss and John Bunnell — recovered a rifle, a handgun and ammunition from Rocha’s vehicle, placed the officers on critical-incident leave, and Rocha is charged in Hennepin County with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree assault, with a first court appearance set for Dec. 12 as the BCA investigates.

Legal Public Safety

Watchdog files ethics complaint against Judge Bove

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Fix the Court filed a judicial misconduct complaint on Wednesday alleging 3rd Circuit Judge Emil Bove violated the judicial Code of Conduct by attending President Trump’s Dec. 9 rally‑style speech in Mount Pocono, Pa. The filing to Chief Judge Michael Chagares argues the event was 'highly political' and inappropriate for a sitting federal judge; Bove’s office declined comment while the White House downplayed concerns.

Federal Judiciary Ethics Donald Trump

Minneapolis ordinance to codify Frey’s ICE staging ban and add MPD reporting requirements

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Minneapolis City Council is set to introduce an ordinance that explicitly codifies Mayor Jacob Frey’s executive order restricting ICE from staging on city-owned property. The proposal also requires the Minneapolis Police Department to file public reports after any exempted collaboration with federal authorities and includes language discouraging cooperation with masked or unidentified agents.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Education Dept says it blocked $1B student‑aid fraud

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The U.S. Department of Education says enhanced fraud controls launched in June have thwarted more than $1 billion in attempted federal student‑aid fraud, including schemes involving “ghost students,” AI bots and coordinated international rings. The agency now requires first‑time applicants to verify a valid government photo ID in person or via live video with school officials, after identifying roughly $90 million improperly disbursed in 2024, including $30 million to deceased identities and more than $40 million tied to bot‑generated applications.

U.S. Department of Education Student Aid Fraud and Cybercrime

FDA expands ByHeart infant botulism outbreak

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The FDA has expanded its investigation of a botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart infant formula to include all ByHeart products, reporting 51 infants sickened across 19 states — with California accounting for at least nine cases and Texas seven or eight. After broadening the case definition, investigators added 12 cases (two within the original timeline and 10 from Dec. 2023–July 2025), with the most recent illness reported Dec. 1, 2025; the FDA says it "cannot rule out" contamination of any ByHeart formula produced since March 2022, and ByHeart, which had about 1% of the U.S. formula market (~200,000 cans/month), says it is cooperating.

Food Safety and Recalls Public Health Infant Formula and Public Health

Waymo recalls 3,067 AVs for school‑bus passing bug; NHTSA notice Nov. 8

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Waymo is recalling 3,067 vehicles equipped with its fifth‑generation automated driving system after identifying a software defect that led some AVs to illegally pass stopped school buses; NHTSA posted the recall notice on Nov. 8, Waymo says it completed software repairs by Nov. 17 and will file a voluntary software recall with the agency. NHTSA has sent detailed questions with a Jan. 20, 2026 response deadline and said similar incidents are likely, while school districts reported dozens of illegal passings (Austin ISD documented 19, including one after a student crossed, and Atlanta reported six); no injuries have been reported and Waymo’s chief safety officer acknowledged the company must “be better.”

NHTSA Autonomous Vehicles Transportation Safety

Ex-Kentucky sheriff admits killing judge

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Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines acknowledged in newly filed Kentucky court documents that he fatally shot District Judge Kevin Mullins inside the judge’s chambers in Whitesburg as his defense prepares an insanity/extreme-emotional-disturbance strategy. Stines faces first-degree murder and murder-of-a-public-official charges, is held without bond, and a judge recently sealed part of his mental-health evaluation; in a Nov. 12 civil filing responding to the widow’s wrongful-death suit, he also admitted the shooting and described paranoid, psychotic behavior.

Judicial Security Crime and Courts

Trump personally rejects Noem firing rumor, praises DHS chief

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At a Dec. 10 White House roundtable, Trump personally rejected reports he was considering replacing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, saying he is “so happy” with her and calling her “fantastic,” while the White House labeled the report “total Fake News.” He also defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth as “phenomenal,” and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the story, quipping she has “seen more credible reporting on Big Foot.”

Donald Trump Department of Homeland Security

Supreme Court hears Alabama intellectual disability execution case

4d Breaking 1 Analysis

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing Alabama’s appeal to execute Joseph Clifton Smith, a death‑row inmate whom lower courts found intellectually disabled, with arguments beginning at 10 a.m. EST in Washington on Dec. 10, 2025. The case tests how courts should evaluate borderline IQ scores (Smith scored 72–78) and whether a “holistic” approach beyond IQ is required under prior Supreme Court precedents, with Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer backing the state’s position.

Supreme Court Death Penalty

KSU dorm shooting: Jacob Bard formally charged with murder; victim De’Jon Fox identified

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A shooting at Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall on Kentucky State University's Frankfort campus on Tuesday afternoon left 19-year-old student De’Jon Fox of Indianapolis dead and a second student critically injured. Jacob Lee Bard, 48, of Evansville, Ind., identified as a parent of a KSU student, was arrested by university police, formally charged with murder and first-degree assault and is being held at the Franklin County Regional Jail while investigators review surveillance and bystander video; officials say the incident appears isolated and there is no ongoing threat.

Campus Safety Campus Shooting Kentucky State University Shooting

NC lawmakers grill Chapel Hill–Carrboro schools

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North Carolina House lawmakers held a Dec. 10 oversight hearing where Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools defended its compliance with the Parents’ Bill of Rights (SB 49) as Republican members accused the district of openly violating provisions on parental notification and K–4 instruction on gender identity. Rep. Brenden Jones cited School Board Chair George Griffin’s 2024 remarks and a February 2024 email reportedly omitting required sections from district policy, while district leaders George Griffin and Superintendent Rodney Trice submitted written testimony asserting they are in compliance.

Transgenderism/Transexualism Education Policy

OpenAI, Microsoft sued over ChatGPT wrongful death

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Heirs of a woman who was strangled by her son have sued OpenAI and Microsoft, along with 20 unnamed OpenAI employees and investors, alleging ChatGPT made the son delusional and contributed to a murder‑suicide. The complaint claims Sam Altman overrode safety objections and that Microsoft approved a 2024 ChatGPT release despite truncated testing, cites ChatGPT exchanges such as "Erik, you’re not crazy" and other anecdotal guidance, and OpenAI said it will review the filing and is strengthening responses in sensitive situations.

OpenAI and ChatGPT AI Liability and Safety Artificial Intelligence and Law

Minneapolis officer fires at armed suspect; no injuries

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A Minneapolis police officer fired two shots at an armed suspect around 12:30 a.m. Thursday near Lake Street East and 5th Avenue South after a 911 report that a neighbor pointed a gun at a woman in the Central neighborhood. Police say the suspect appeared intoxicated and ignored commands to drop the weapon; no one was hurt, the suspect was arrested on assault, the officer was placed on leave, and the Minnesota BCA is investigating.

Public Safety Legal

Two killed in separate Minneapolis shootings

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Minneapolis police are investigating two homicides less than an hour apart Wednesday night, Dec. 10, 2025: a man in his 20s shot just before 9:30 p.m. in the Hawthorne neighborhood after a fight, and a woman in her 30s shot around 9:50 p.m. during an altercation near Franklin Avenue in Elliot Park. No arrests have been made; police say two people fled on foot from the first scene and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Public Safety

Walz sets Jan. 27 specials for HD64A, HD47A

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Gov. Tim Walz has scheduled special elections for Minnesota House districts 64A (St. Paul) and 47A (Woodbury) on Jan. 27. A DFL primary to pick the party’s nominee for the vacant St. Paul seat will be held Tuesday, with seven candidates competing.

Elections Local Government

Ramsey County sets 9.75% preliminary levy

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Ramsey County commissioners set a preliminary property tax levy increase of 9.75% while saying they may try to lower it. A truth-in-taxation hearing is scheduled Thursday to take public comment and provide residents with information on how to learn more and submit feedback on the proposal.

Local Government Business & Economy

ACS backs self-collected HPV tests for screening

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The American Cancer Society has issued updated cervical-cancer screening guidelines in December 2025 that deem patient self-collected vaginal swabs for HPV testing a safe and accurate alternative to clinician-collected samples, potentially reducing reliance on Pap smears. Lead author Dr. Rebecca Perkins says HPV testing detects 90–95% of precancers versus 70–80% for Pap tests; positive HPV results still require follow-up testing, and widespread availability of self-collection is not yet in place.

Public Health Cervical Cancer Screening

Judge Berman clears Wednesday release of Epstein 2019 grand‑jury transcripts under new law

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U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman on Wednesday reversed his earlier ruling and cleared the Justice Department to unseal roughly 70 pages of grand‑jury transcripts from the 2019 Jeffrey Epstein probe, concluding the new Epstein Files Transparency Act changes the secrecy calculus while requiring redactions to protect victims and ongoing investigations. DOJ had sought an expedited ruling to meet the law’s Dec. 19 deadline and argued the transcripts—which Berman noted contain mostly hearsay from an FBI agent who testified in June–July 2019—should be produced; the decision comes alongside parallel unsealing orders in New York and Florida.

Trump Administration Government Transparency Epstein Files Transparency Act

Columbia task force details campus antisemitism

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Columbia University’s antisemitism task force released a nearly 70‑page final report detailing harassment of Jewish and Israeli students in classes and on campus and urging clearer policies, broader Middle East studies faculty expertise, and consistent anti‑discrimination enforcement. The report cites specific incidents, including a student told she was 'one of the murderers' due to IDF service, a teacher alleging donors 'laundered blood money,' and protesters targeting a class taught by a visiting Israeli professor. Acting President Claire Shipman thanked the task force and said the findings will inform ongoing changes.

Higher Education Policy Antisemitism on Campus

Interior secretary warns on California energy reliance

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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital that California’s reliance on foreign oil poses a national security risk and cited declining in‑state refining capacity, while DOE’s Ben Dietderich presented new department data showing average residential electricity prices around $0.18/kWh in blue states versus $0.11 in red states. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking Tuesday in Monroe County, Pa., linked higher costs to restrictive policies and noted a recent ANWR tour as the administration moves to expand U.S. resource development.

Energy Policy California Energy

3rd Circuit upholds NJ assisted-suicide residency rule

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The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that New Jersey’s medically assisted‑suicide law applies only to state residents, in an opinion by Judge Stephanos Bibas. The decision came amid a Delaware plaintiff’s death from stage‑four lymphoma after arguments, and on‑record disappointment from plaintiff Dr. Paul Bryman. The court noted New Jersey’s statute requires a six‑month prognosis confirmed by two physicians, two patient requests with witness‑limit rules, self‑administration, and a discussion of palliative care, and Delaware’s own aid‑in‑dying law takes effect Jan. 1.

Assisted Suicide Laws Courts and Legal Rulings Assisted Suicide and End-of-Life Laws

Google’s Pichai warns on AI bubble risk

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai told the BBC that some 'irrationality' exists in today’s AI boom and that if an AI bubble bursts 'no company is going to be immune, including us.' The remarks come as Alphabet shares hit an all‑time high and trade higher premarket, with Pichai likening AI’s long‑term impact to the internet despite near‑term excesses.

Economy/Markets Technology

Mexico approves up to 50% China tariffs

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Mexico’s Congress passed legislation Wednesday authorizing tariffs of up to 50% on imports from countries without trade agreements, notably China, with the Senate voting 76–5 (35 abstentions) after lower-house approval earlier in the day. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who proposed the move in September, is expected to sign it for January implementation, impacting goods such as auto parts, textiles, plastics, and metals as Mexico seeks to bolster domestic manufacturing and curb its trade deficit with China.

Tariffs and Trade Policy U.S.–Mexico Relations

Lawsuit challenges Trump photo on park pass

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The Center for Biological Diversity filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10 alleging the Interior Department violated the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act by replacing the National Park Foundation’s contest‑winning Glacier National Park image on the 2026 America the Beautiful pass with a closeup of President Donald Trump. The suit also claims Interior unlawfully created new Resident and Nonresident pass types and relegated the Glacier photo to a nonresident pass, and seeks to block use of Trump’s image on the pass.

Department of the Interior National Park Service

Do Kwon to be sentenced in U.S. fraud case

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Terraform Labs co‑founder Do Kwon is set to be sentenced in Manhattan federal court on Thursday after pleading guilty in August to fraud tied to the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD and Luna, which erased roughly $40 billion in value. Prosecutors seek 12 years in prison and $19 million forfeiture—below guidelines near 25 years—citing his plea, pending Korean prosecution, and time served in Montenegro, while Kwon’s lawyers ask for no more than five years.

Cryptocurrency Courts and Legal

Interior designates 760-acre California border defense zone under Navy control for 3 years

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The Interior Department has designated roughly 760 acres in San Diego and Imperial counties — running from the western boundary of the Otay Mountain Wilderness to about one mile west of the California–Arizona line — as a border-defense zone to be placed under U.S. Navy control for three years, citing a 1907 Theodore Roosevelt reservation and saying the move will strengthen security and curb environmental damage from heavy illegal crossings. The action, which Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed as closing security gaps and advancing border priorities, is part of a broader series of militarized zones created since April and follows a January national‑emergency order authorizing military detention of immigrants, prompting civil‑liberties warnings that it could effectively turn the military into border police and raise constitutional concerns.

Border Security Immigration & Demographic Change U.S.–Mexico Border

ICE says Rep. Adelita Grijalva tried to impede Tucson raid; 46 arrests, 2 agents injured

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ICE says Rep. Adelita Grijalva joined a "rioting crowd" and attempted to impede a Dec. 5 Tucson ICE operation that resulted in 46 arrests in a multi‑year probe into labor exploitation, tax and immigration violations and drew "over 100 agitators" who assaulted officers and slashed tires. Grijalva says she was pushed aside and pepper‑sprayed after identifying herself while seeking information, but DHS officials say she was only near someone who was sprayed; two HSI Special Response Team operators were injured and the episode prompted calls for a congressional investigation.

Law Enforcement and Protests Congressional Oversight Immigration Enforcement

War Dept probes Sen. Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video

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The Pentagon has opened a review of Sen. Mark Kelly over a video in which he appears to give "illegal orders" after President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed an inquiry. Kelly has shrugged off threats of a court-martial, saying his upbringing made him "resilient," while Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats warned Navy Secretary John Phelan that the probe risks politicizing the military justice system, calling it a "brazen abuse of power" and noting Phelan was to brief Hegseth by Dec. 10.

Donald Trump Civil-Military Relations Sen. Mark Kelly

DOJ charges Ukrainian in Russian cyberattacks; $10M reward

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The Justice Department arraigned Ukrainian national Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, 33, on a second federal indictment this week, alleging she aided Russian‑backed groups CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn (CARR) and NoName057(16) in dozens of cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offered up to $10 million for information on others tied to NoName057(16), as officials detailed attacks that damaged U.S. water systems and a 2024 breach at a Los Angeles meat plant; Dubranova pleaded not guilty and faces trials in February and April 2026.

Russian Cyber Operations DOJ Indictments

Musk signals 2026 SpaceX IPO plan

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Elon Musk indicated Wednesday on X that reports of SpaceX preparing to go public are accurate, pointing to a possible 2026 initial public offering. Axios previously reported SpaceX told investors it is planning the IPO, which could be the largest ever, surpassing Saudi Aramco’s $25.6 billion 2019 listing.

SpaceX Capital Markets and IPOs

Massachusetts confirms first quartz-linked silicosis case

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Tuesday it has confirmed the state’s first case of silicosis tied to engineered stone (quartz) countertop fabrication, involving a 40-year-old man who spent 14 years cutting, grinding and polishing stone. DPH warned the incurable, progressive lung disease is preventable and urged employers to adopt controls such as wet cutting and ventilation, noting engineered stone can contain over 90% silica and carries higher risk than many natural stones; the agency expects more cases given long disease latency.

Occupational Health Workplace Safety

Thanedar introduces impeachment measures against Trump and Hegseth

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Rep. Shri Thanedar has formally introduced articles of impeachment against both President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democratic leaders say the efforts are unlikely to succeed and risk distracting from the party’s priorities.

Pete Hegseth U.S. House of Representatives Congress and Impeachment

Michigan Democrat files impeachment of HHS chief RFK Jr.

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Michigan Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens filed an impeachment resolution against HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr., making him the latest Trump administration official targeted by Democrats. The move drew no backing from House Democratic leadership — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to endorse and committee leaders said they were not involved — and prompted criticism from fellow Democrats who called it distracting or premature without a formal investigation and noted impeachment is unlikely to succeed in a Republican‑held House.

Congressional Oversight and Impeachment HHS and Public Health Congress and Impeachment

ByHeart infant botulism outbreak rises to 51 cases across 19 states; all hospitalized

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The outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart powdered infant formula has grown to 51 confirmed or suspected cases in 19 states (illness onset Aug. 9–Nov. 19, with CDC’s expanded case definition identifying additional cases back to Dec. 2023–July 2025); all 51 infants were hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. ByHeart has recalled all products after C. botulinum type A was detected in some samples, and FDA, CDC and state agencies are continuing inspections and testing while urging caregivers to stop using and dispose of recalled formula and seek medical care if infants show symptoms.

Public Safety Health

Officials: ICE targeting Somalis in Twin Cities; MPD won’t assist

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City officials say roughly 100 federal agents have been deployed to the Twin Cities in an ICE "Operation Metro Surge" reportedly targeting the Somali community, leading to about a dozen arrests (some with criminal histories), lawsuits from detainees and widespread fear and business impacts; Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and other local leaders have said they do not collaborate with ICE on immigration enforcement. ICE actions — including agents questioning residents, using pepper spray during confrontations in Cedar‑Riverside, and reports of U.S. citizens briefly detained — prompted Gov. Tim Walz to ask DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for a review, even as President Trump publicly criticized Somali immigrants.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

St. Paul testing alternate-side winter parking rules

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St. Paul Public Works Director Sean Kershaw explained why residential plowing doesn’t start immediately under the current snow‑emergency system and said the city will test two alternate‑side parking models beginning in January to let plows reach neighborhood streets sooner. The city’s existing phases begin at 9 p.m. (Night Plow) and 8 a.m. the next day (Day Plow) to give drivers time to clear main routes and residents time to move cars; the pilot, running January through mid‑April with weekly side‑switching, keeps one side clear to speed residential plowing and was lightly tested last winter.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government Weather

Frederick Green arraigned, held without bail in Jets CB Kris Boyd shooting

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Frederick Green, 20, of the Bronx, was arraigned late Tuesday on attempted murder and other charges in the shooting of New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd and is being held without bail. Prosecutors say surveillance shows Green masking up, removing a gun from a backpack and firing two shots that struck Boyd in the abdomen — a bullet lodged in his pulmonary artery and moved into a lung — before Green fled to Buffalo, hid at a girlfriend’s apartment, attempted to jump from a window as U.S. Marshals closed in and ultimately surrendered; police say Boyd and his friends were unarmed and the confrontation began after others mocked their clothing.

New York City Crime New York Jets Kris Boyd

Cincinnati OKs $8.1M 2020 protest settlement

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The Cincinnati City Council approved an $8.1 million settlement on Dec. 10, 2025 with 479 non‑violent protesters arrested during May 30–June 8, 2020 racial‑justice demonstrations, resolving claims of police brutality, wrongful arrests, inhumane jail conditions and unlawful property seizures. Hamilton County, whose sheriff and jail were also named, will contribute $65,000, with the city paying the remainder; all curfew misdemeanor charges were previously dismissed amid conflicting court rulings.

Police Accountability & Civil Rights DEI and Race

Colorado man charged in ex-partner’s murder

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Westminster, Colorado police arrested Thomas Perales after the body of 37-year-old Annette Marie Valdez, the mother of his children, was found in a trash can on Dec. 4, 2025. The Adams County District Attorney charged Perales with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, domestic violence, and violating a protection order; an affidavit cited by 9NEWS says he admitted to killing her and moving the body, and he had been released from jail about a week earlier.

Domestic Violence Colorado Crime and Courts

Metro Transit adds Route 345 to MSP/MOA

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Metro Transit introduced Route 345 on Dec. 10, 2025, creating a new connection from the Woodbury area to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. The service provides a direct east‑metro link to two major regional hubs, expanding transit options for commuters and travelers.

Transit & Infrastructure

Venezuela drills as USS Ford arrives; UK and Colombia curb intel sharing over U.S. boat strikes

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Venezuela launched a nationwide military exercise mobilizing roughly 200,000 troops, air and naval assets as the U.S. carrier USS Gerald R. Ford strike group arrived in the Caribbean amid a stepped‑up U.S. campaign of maritime missile strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats that U.S. officials defend as counter‑drug operations. The strikes — reported to include dozens of attacks and scores killed — have provoked regional and allied pushback, with Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro halting intelligence sharing with the U.S. and the U.K. reportedly suspending some sharing, while France, Mexico and others have criticized the operations even as President Trump says he might talk with Nicolás Maduro but keeps military options on the table.

U.S. Defense Policy Latin America Security Venezuela and U.S. Military

Realtor.com: 2026 home prices to dip

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Realtor.com’s new 2026 outlook projects home prices will fall in 22 of the 100 largest U.S. metros, led by declines in several Florida markets, while mortgage rates ease to an average 6.3% and existing-home sales edge up to 4.13 million. The forecast, described by senior economist Jake Krimmel as the most balanced market since the pandemic, sees modest gains elsewhere (median +4% across the other 78 large metros) as inventory improves and demand normalizes from COVID-era peaks.

Housing Market Mortgage Rates

DOJ seeks dismissal in FIFA TV-rights case

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The Justice Department has asked U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen to dismiss charges against Hernan López and Full Play Group in the FIFA TV‑rights case, with EDNY U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella saying the dismissal is sought “in the interests of justice.” The move follows a convoluted 2024 procedural history — jury convictions, Judge Chen’s subsequent acquittal and an appeals court’s reinstatement of the convictions — and the Solicitor General has urged the Supreme Court to hear López’s appeal, reverse the reinstatement and remand so Chen can dismiss the case.

FIFA Corruption Department of Justice FIFA Corruption Case

DHS: Omaha QuikTrip shooter entered U.S. as unaccompanied minor, had violent criminal record

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DHS identified the Omaha gas‑station shooter as Salvadoran national Juan Ayala‑Ramos (previously reported as Juan Melgar‑Ayala), saying he entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor in June 2007 and that an immigration judge administratively closed his removal case that year. Officials said Ayala‑Ramos had a prior criminal history — including a 2019 assault‑by‑strangulation charge and 2021 arrests for burglary and possession of a stolen firearm — and that he allegedly wounded a 61‑year‑old civilian and injured four Omaha officers before being fatally shot by police; investigators are probing how he obtained the handgun and family members reported mental‑health issues.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Immigration Enforcement Public Safety and Policing

NJ ex-teacher 'Santa' charged in child-abuse materials

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Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey said Monday that Mark Paulino, 64, a retired Hamilton Township elementary teacher who had been working as a Santa at public and private events, was arrested and charged with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material after ICAC investigators traced illicit uploads to him. Detectives received a Dec. 4 tip from the New Jersey State Police ICAC Unit, executed a search warrant at Paulino’s home Friday with Hamilton Police SWAT, seized evidence, and filed a motion to detain him pending trial.

Child Sexual Exploitation Cases New Jersey Law Enforcement

Andersen to buy 1,000‑employee Bright Wood

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Bayport-based Andersen Corp. said Dec. 10 it will acquire Bright Wood Corp., a Pacific Northwest window‑component manufacturer with about 1,000 employees that has been family‑owned for more than six decades. Andersen also plans to bring in a former competitor’s CEO to lead the operation, signaling integration and leadership changes tied to the deal.

Business & Economy

Edina man charged after runway DWI at Flying Cloud

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Hennepin County prosecutors charged Joshua Dayn Hoekstra, 52, after Eden Prairie police say he drove a silver Jeep onto active runways at Flying Cloud Airport on Nov. 23, 2025. Officers boxed in the vehicle; Hoekstra showed signs of impairment, blew about 0.13 on a breath test, and was cited for DWI, careless driving, and not having a driver’s license in possession after telling police he’d flown back on a private jet from the Vikings–Packers game.

Public Safety Legal

Lawmakers urge crackdown on veteran claim ‘sharks’

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A group of 43 members of Congress (42 Democrats, 1 Republican) sent a letter on Dec. 10, 2025 to the VA, FTC and CFPB urging enforcement action against unaccredited companies charging veterans to file VA disability claims, citing federal rules that require free, VA‑accredited assistance. The move follows NPR reporting that Florida‑based Trajector Medical used a robo‑dialer to access VA claim updates via the veterans’ hotline and billed veterans — sometimes when it wasn’t responsible for the benefit increase — a practice the company denies is unlawful.

Veterans Affairs Consumer Protection

DHS says 2.5M illegal immigrants left U.S.

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DHS told Fox News that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. over the past year, including about 605,000 deportations and roughly 1.9 million self-departures since Jan. 20. Officials credited a new CBP 'Home' app and incentive program offering a complimentary flight and $1,000 exit bonus, and said the first 'Project Homecoming' flight carried 64 people who accepted the offer, while noting a recently launched 'Worst of the Worst' dashboard highlighting arrests of criminal offenders.

Immigration & Demographic Change DHS Enforcement

Cracker Barrel settles Maryland disability case

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Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights announced a settlement with Cracker Barrel over allegations that 11 special education students from Dr. James Craik Elementary School were mistreated during a December 2024 field trip meal at a Waldorf location. Each student will receive $7,500 and a meal refund, Cracker Barrel will donate $17,500 to the school’s technology programs for students with developmental disabilities and $9,000 to Maryland’s Civil Rights Enforcement Fund, and the chain agreed to revise and strengthen its policies.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Disability Rights

NASA loses contact with Mars orbiter MAVEN

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NASA said it lost contact with its MAVEN spacecraft over the weekend after the orbiter reemerged from behind Mars, noting it had been operating normally before the occultation. Engineers have opened an investigation; MAVEN, launched in 2013 and at Mars since 2014, studies the planet’s upper atmosphere and also relays communications for the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, while MRO and Mars Odyssey remain active.

NASA Mars Exploration

Arkansas mom, two children found shot; feds join probe

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The Sebastian County Sheriff's Office says Charity Beallis, 40, and her two children were found fatally shot during a Dec. 3 welfare check at their home in Bonanza, Arkansas, and that the U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations are assisting. Investigators said no suspect has been named, 12 search warrants are in progress (six served), and court records show the killings occurred a day after a final divorce hearing; the husband, Randall Beallis, previously pled to a misdemeanor battery charge and is not a suspect as of Friday, according to local reports.

Domestic Violence and Homicide Arkansas Law Enforcement

CBP publishes ESTA screening expansion in Federal Register; 60-day comment opens

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Customs and Border Protection published a proposal in the Federal Register on Dec. 10 to expand screening for Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) travelers from roughly 40 countries and opened a 60‑day public comment period. The plan — pending OMB review and citing a January executive order on enhanced vetting — would make ESTA mobile‑only and require applicants to submit five years of social media history, five years of phone numbers, IP addresses and photo metadata, ten years of email addresses, biometric data (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris), immediate family members' personal information, and a selfie captured via a CBP app; critics warn it could dampen tourism ahead of events like the 2026 World Cup.

Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security & Immigration Digital Privacy & Surveillance

South Korea to mandate labels on AI-made ads

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South Korea will require advertisers to label AI-generated ads and make platforms responsible for compliance, officials said after a Dec. 10 policy meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. The government will revise laws so the rules and tougher enforcement—24-hour reviews, emergency takedowns, and punitive damages up to five times losses—take effect in early 2026 amid a surge of deepfake-driven promotions on YouTube, Facebook and other services.

AI & Deepfake Regulation Global Tech Policy

Fed cuts rate to 3.5%–3.75% amid three dissents; NY Fed to buy $40B in T‑bills

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The Federal Reserve cut the target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.50%–3.75%—its third straight cut—despite three dissents (Austan Goolsbee and Jeff Schmid wanted to hold, while Stephen Miran favored a larger half‑point cut) and released projections penciling in just one more cut in 2026 with 2026 GDP growth seen at about 2.3% and PCE inflation around 2.4%. To keep reserves ample the New York Fed will buy roughly $40 billion of short‑term Treasury bills starting Friday, and markets reacted with modest stock gains while Treasury yields eased; Chair Powell will hold a press briefing this afternoon.

Monetary Policy Inflation and Interest Rates U.S. Economy

US Marshals offer $5,000 reward in manhunt for missing Virginia high school coach accused in child porn case

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U.S. Marshals are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Travis L. Turner, a missing Virginia high school football coach wanted on 10 warrants — five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor — as the USMS and FBI assist Virginia State Police in a multi‑jurisdiction search they say he "may be armed" and who was last seen Nov. 20 walking into wooded terrain with a firearm and reportedly left without essentials. Family attorney Adrian Collins and Turner's wife have denied the allegations and urged he return to face them; Wise County Public Schools has placed him on paid administrative leave, removed his staff profile and barred him from school property, and a judge has since sealed related court records.

Virginia Education Law Enforcement Child Exploitation Cases

DHS buys six Boeing 737s for deportations

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The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Wednesday it signed a deal to acquire six Boeing 737 aircraft for immigration removal flights, a move officials say will streamline logistics and save an estimated $279 million. The contract, reported as signed with Virginia-based Daedalus Aviation, is funded by the July omnibus 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which set aside $170 billion for border and immigration efforts.

Immigration & Demographic Change Department of Homeland Security

Lavrov warns retaliation over EU troops, assets

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Wednesday that Moscow will retaliate if European governments deploy troops to Ukraine or seize frozen Russian assets, speaking before the Federation Council, according to Reuters. He also praised President Trump’s approach to a potential settlement while noting current U.S. sanctions on Russia are being increased, and his comments followed European pushback to Trump’s criticism of EU leaders.

Russia–Europe Tensions Ukraine War & U.S. Diplomacy

FCC, state AGs plan China-linked tech MOU

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The FCC and the attorneys general of Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to share information and coordinate enforcement against high‑risk, China‑linked communications technology, officials confirmed after a Wednesday meeting in Washington. A draft MOU viewed by Fox News details joint intelligence sharing, consumer protection actions, and closing enforcement gaps, with finalization expected in the coming weeks.

FCC and Telecom Security China and National Security

Trump administration will expand travel ban to more than 30 countries, DHS chief says

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After meeting with President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged a "full travel ban" and said the administration will expand the current policy covering 19 countries to around—or "over"—30, though she declined to name the countries or give a start date and said the president is still evaluating additions. DHS said it will announce the list soon, and Noem said the expansion would target countries lacking stable governments or the ability to vet travelers, building on a June proclamation that fully barred 12 nations and placed seven under heightened restrictions.

Trump Administration Homeland Security Immigration Policy

Florida AG sues Starbucks over DEI quotas

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday he is suing Starbucks, alleging the company’s diversity goals function as illegal race-based hiring and promotion quotas and that executive bonuses were tied to specific DEI targets. The complaint cites Starbucks’ 2020 targets (40% people of color in retail/distribution jobs and 30% in corporate by 2025), alleges pay disparities favoring certain races, and seeks $10,000 for each instance of discrimination affecting Florida residents—potentially totaling tens of millions.

Starbucks Disparate Impact Law Corporate Hiring Policies

Trump presses Mexico to stop sewage flows

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded that Mexico address raw sewage flowing into the U.S. via the Tijuana River, citing risks to communities in Southern California and military readiness at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the U.S. is working with Mexico under a July 2025 MOU that funds wastewater projects, adding full implementation and Mexico‑side upgrades slated for 2026–2027 are critical.

U.S.–Mexico Border Environment Environmental Health and Infrastructure

Trump backs Hegseth after IG faults Signal use; job appears safe

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The Pentagon inspector general found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Department of Defense rules by using his personal Signal app to share sensitive, near‑real‑time operational details — including targets, timing and aircraft — tied to U.S. strikes against Houthi militants, conduct the IG said could have endangered U.S. personnel and the mission. The classified report was delivered to Congress with a redacted public version released Dec. 4; while the IG did not conclude Hegseth had improperly declassified the material and Pentagon spokespeople called the review a "total exoneration," President Trump publicly backed Hegseth and his job appears safe for now.

Defense Oversight Defense and National Security Information Security

Egypt, Iran protest Seattle World Cup Pride plans

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The Egyptian Football Association and Iran’s sports minister objected to Pride‑weekend programming around their June 26, 2026 World Cup match in Seattle, with Egypt sending a formal letter asking FIFA to avoid activities that could “provoke cultural and religious sensitivities” and Iran saying it complained directly to FIFA. Seattle’s local organizing committee said it will proceed with Pride‑related community programming outside the stadium; FIFA did not immediately comment.

2026 World Cup Seattle LGBTQ+ and International Sports

Medal of Honor soldier identified after 83 years

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The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Wednesday it has identified the remains of U.S. Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi of New Ulm, Minnesota, a Medal of Honor recipient who was captured in 1942 on the Bataan Peninsula and later died when a Japanese transport carrying POWs was sunk. His remains, recovered in 1946 in Taiwan and interred as unknown at Honolulu’s Punchbowl, were identified using anthropological analysis and DNA testing after DPAA disinterred related unknowns in 2022–2023; he will be buried in Minnesota in May.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency World War II

Senate GOP clears first vote on 97 Trump nominees; final confirmation expected next week

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Senate Republicans on Wednesday passed the first procedural hurdle to advance a package of 97 Trump nominees, setting up final confirmation votes expected next week; the slate includes Anthony D'Esposito for Labor Department inspector general and NLRB picks James Murphy and Scott Mayer. The group was repackaged after Sen. Michael Bennet objected last week to an earlier bundle that erroneously included a Cabinet-level (Level 1) nominee, and if confirmed these votes would push GOP approvals of Trump’s second-term nominees to more than 400 in the first year.

U.S. Senate Federal Appointments Senate Confirmations

Judge Breyer blocks Trump’s federal control of California Guard, orders return to Newsom

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U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s federal deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles and ordered they be returned to Gov. Gavin Newsom, though he stayed the order until Monday to allow a DOJ appeal; the deployment had federalized roughly 4,000 Guards in June and only about 100 remain in the Los Angeles area. Breyer sharply rebuked the administration’s claim that extensions of federalized Guard service require no further review—warning it would create a “national police force” and upend federalism—while the White House defended its authority and the Justice Department said the troops were needed to protect federal personnel and property.

California Courts National Guard Federalization National Guard and Federal Authority

Supreme Court lets Texas use new House map for 2026, potentially adding up to 5 GOP seats

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The Supreme Court issued an unsigned emergency stay allowing Texas to use a mid‑decade, GOP‑drawn congressional map for now — after Justice Alito had briefly reinstated it — saying delays could interfere with candidate qualifying ahead of March 2026 primaries. A three‑judge lower court had found likely racial discrimination (with a Trump‑appointed judge writing there was “substantial evidence”), but the high court’s decision, criticized in Justice Kagan’s dissent as effectively locking in the map, preserves a plan pushed by former President Trump that could net Republicans up to five additional House seats and has already prompted political fallout, including Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s decision not to seek reelection.

Texas Redistricting Supreme Court of the United States Redistricting

Rep. Lloyd Doggett won’t seek reelection

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Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D‑Texas) said Wednesday he will not run in 2026 after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Texas’s GOP‑drawn congressional map that slices his Austin‑area district (TX‑37). Doggett warned Republicans may have overreached by basing lines on last cycle’s results and could face backlash as Latino voting patterns shift and immigration salience changes.

Texas Redistricting U.S. House 2026

ICE pepper-sprays crowd in Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside

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During an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood this week, ICE agents pepper-sprayed protesters who were blocking their vehicles while agents checked residents’ IDs, according to AP video and local reporting. Council Member Jamal Osman says agents detained a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, transported him to a Bloomington detention center, and released him without transportation during a winter storm.

Public Safety Legal

Coast Guard’s Munro makes largest at-sea cocaine bust in 18+ years in Eastern Pacific

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The Coast Guard cutter Munro seized about 20,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific — which the service called the largest at-sea interdiction in more than 18 years — after a Coast Guard helicopter crew disabled a non‑compliant go‑fast vessel, video released by the service shows. The action was part of Operation Pacific Viper, which the Coast Guard says has seized over 150,000 pounds of cocaine (an estimated value exceeding $1.1 billion) since August, with JIATF‑South handling detection and the Coast Guard conducting interdictions and seizures. The service did not disclose the fate of people seen aboard the interdicted vessel, and the operation comes amid broader scrutiny over recent lethal maritime strikes.

U.S. Coast Guard Drug Trafficking and Interdiction Drug Interdiction & Trafficking

Canada unveils $1.2B research talent program

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Canada announced a $1.2 billion, 12-year initiative to recruit over 1,000 leading researchers in critical fields, alongside an expedited permanent residency pathway for doctors with at least one year of Canadian experience. The move comes as the U.S. now charges a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applicants abroad, a policy critics say could worsen staffing gaps in sectors like health care and academia.

Immigration & Demographic Change Science & Higher Education Policy

Treasury chief: Blue states blocking OBBBA tax relief

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday accused Colorado, New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C., of refusing to adopt key provisions of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, arguing their residents are being denied tax cuts like “No Tax on Tips,” “No Tax on Overtime,” and a new seniors’ Social Security deduction. Calling the stance “obstructionism,” Bessent urged immediate conformity, said Treasury is ready to help, and warned the department “will not stand idly by” as non‑conformity drags on the recovery.

Tax Policy Donald Trump Administration

Navy launches Rapid Capabilities Office, funds AI Ship OS

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Navy Secretary John Phelan on Tuesday in Washington announced the creation of a Rapid Capabilities Office to speed weapons and shipbuilding programs and revealed a $448 million award to deploy an AI-enabled logistics and manufacturing platform, 'Ship OS,' across U.S. shipyards. Phelan said the Navy must 'act like we’re at war' to overcome submarine backlogs and shipyard bottlenecks as China scales AI-driven production; Ship OS will start in the submarine industrial base and expand to carriers and other platforms.

U.S. Navy Defense Industrial Base U.S.–China Military Competition

N.C. governor reverses Medicaid rate cuts

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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and DHHS Sec. Dr. Dev Sangvai said Dec. 10 the state will restore Medicaid reimbursement rates—reversing 3%–10% cuts that began Oct. 1—after court rulings and lawsuits blocked portions of the reductions. The move includes retroactive reimbursements to providers, but a $319 million shortfall remains amid a stalled state budget and failed GOP-led efforts to pass supplemental funding.

Medicaid & State Budgets North Carolina Politics

UN issues sweeping global environment assessment

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The U.N. Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook, produced this week by nearly 300 scientists from 83 countries, calls for a joint approach to climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution, urging rapid transitions away from fossil fuels, sustainable agriculture, and major reductions in waste and pollution. The report warns emissions hit a new high in 2024 and projects warming could reach 2.4°C by 2100 without systemic change, noting over 1 million species face extinction and up to 40% of global land is degraded; the article also notes the U.S. government did not attend the U.N. Environment Assembly.

Climate Policy United Nations

NDAA may grant Lumbee federal recognition

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The House’s defense policy bill slated for a vote this week includes language to grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition, with the Senate potentially acting as soon as next week. Recognition would provide access to federal funding, the Indian Health Service and land‑into‑trust authority; President Trump championed the effort, Interior prepared a plan in April, and some tribes oppose using the NDAA as the vehicle while Lumbee leaders urge Congress to finalize their status.

Native American Policy Congress & Defense Bill

Australia’s under‑16 social media ban faces High Court challenge as major apps comply

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Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act — passed in November 2024 and enforced from December 10, 2025 — bars under‑16s from major platforms and requires companies to take “reasonable steps” such as multi‑layer age‑assurance (including government IDs or AI estimation), removal of existing under‑16 accounts and measures to prevent re‑registration (including VPN detection), with fines up to AU$49.5 million (~US$32–33M); eSafety has notified ten platforms, more than 200,000 TikTok accounts have been deactivated, and a preliminary compliance update is expected before Christmas. The policy, framed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as protecting youth mental health, is already facing legal challenge — the High Court has accepted a case brought by two 15‑year‑olds, with a hearing possible as early as February.

Social Media and Youth Technology Regulation Social Media Regulation

DA reviews UCSB freshman’s fatal dorm fall

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UC Santa Barbara police concluded that 18-year-old freshman Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel’s Feb. 14, 2025 fall from a San Rafael Residence Hall walkway was accidental and forwarded findings to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney, which says the case remains under review. The family, represented by attorney Tyrone Maho and a private investigator, disputes the conclusion and cites unanswered questions, while UCPD says it conducted an exhaustive probe, interviewed a person of interest, and coordinated with the sheriff and DA.

Campus Safety Criminal Investigations

Six more states adopt SNAP junk‑food bans

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USDA approved new waivers Wednesday for Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for items like soda, energy drinks, certain juices, prepared desserts and candy, with most rules taking effect Jan. 1. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the move as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, and HHS official Mehmet Oz said states adopting bans will receive extra funds, bringing the total number of participating states to 18.

SNAP & Nutrition Policy USDA

Minneapolis, St. Paul declare snow emergencies

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Minneapolis and St. Paul declared snow emergencies Wednesday night, Dec. 10, following a winter storm, triggering citywide parking restrictions, towing enforcement, and scheduled plowing. Minneapolis’ three‑day rules begin 9 p.m. Wednesday with no parking on Snow Emergency routes, then even‑side non‑routes and parkways Thursday, and odd‑side non‑routes Friday; St. Paul starts Night Plow routes at 9 p.m. Wednesday, switches to Day Plow routes at 8 a.m. Thursday, and its emergency lasts 96 hours to Sunday at 9 p.m.

Transit & Infrastructure Weather

ICE steps up Afghan arrests after D.C. attack

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Immigration lawyers say ICE arrests of Afghan nationals have increased since the D.C. National Guard attack, and the White House on Dec. 1 said it is "actively reexamining" all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Reporting cites a Sacramento case of an Afghan father arrested upon check‑in with ICE despite consistent compliance, notes at least one arrest referenced prior domestic‑violence charges (AP could not independently verify all detainees’ immigration status), and advocacy group #AfghanEvac says the D.C. shooting suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been granted asylum earlier this year.

Immigration & Demographic Change Afghan Evacuees Immigration Enforcement

CBP officer indicted over Illinois hotel assaults

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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer has been indicted on charges alleging he sexually assaulted and robbed four women at hotels in Schaumburg and Naperville, Illinois, during multiple incidents in 2022. Prosecutors say he used his badge, service weapon and later a knife to force entry, demand money and coerce sexual acts — with one victim, who worked in the sex industry, reportedly robbed multiple times — and forensic analysis tied him to the hotels through travel records and Google Maps searches.

Civil Rights Prosecutions Department of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Misconduct

Education Dept settlement would end SAVE plan

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A proposed Education Department settlement would end the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan and force millions of borrowers — about 7 million enrolled, including roughly 4.6 million with $0 monthly payments — to resume paying or move to other plans. The department, which estimates SAVE would have cost taxpayers more than $342 billion over 10 years and cites a February 2025 court ruling that found the plan unlawful, says borrowers should use the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator, and experts expect many may have to exit SAVE forbearance as early as next year, sooner than the July 1, 2028 OBBBA transition date.

Student Loans and Higher Education Policy Student Loans & Debt Relief U.S. Department of Education

Zelenskyy seeks U.S. backing for Ukraine elections

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine could hold national elections within 60–90 days if the U.S. and European partners provide security guarantees and if Parliament enacts a legal framework to allow voting under martial law. He has asked lawmakers from his party to draft proposals to permit elections during wartime, a shift that follows President Trump’s public criticism that Ukraine risks ceasing to be a democracy without a vote.

Ukraine Politics U.S.–Ukraine Relations

USPS returns 800 troop care packages; probe underway

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Nonprofit Boxes to Boots says more than 800 of 1,100 holiday care packages mailed in mid-November to deployed U.S. troops were returned by the U.S. Postal Service for insufficient customs descriptions, with over 100 boxes missing and about 300 delivered. USPS said it is investigating and that packages may be returned when customs forms are incomplete or lack required detail; the nonprofit is asking President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth to intervene so the parcels arrive before Christmas.

USPS and Postal Operations U.S. Military & Veterans

AP: Gaza aid far below ceasefire target

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An AP analysis of Israeli COGAT data finds Gaza received an average of 459 aid trucks per day from Oct. 12 to Dec. 7, well short of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire’s 600-per-day pledge. UN figures show only 6,545 trucks offloaded in that period (~113/day), while OCHA cites security, clearance, and routing obstacles; Israel says aid was temporarily halted over alleged Hamas violations, as both sides accuse each other of breaching ceasefire terms.

Gaza Ceasefire and Aid Israel–Hamas War

Collins, Moreno unveil 2‑year ACA subsidy plan as Senate nears Thursday vote on 3‑year extension

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Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Bernie Moreno unveiled a GOP proposal to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years with a $200,000 income cap, a $25 minimum monthly premium to end zero‑premium plans and added verification/anti‑fraud guardrails. The announcement sets up dueling Senate votes Thursday against Democrats’ clean three‑year extension — backed by Schumer but expected to face steep hurdles — as Republicans also press alternative fixes (including HSA proposals and Hyde/eligibility riders) amid sharp partisan and intra‑party divisions.

Health Care Policy Politics Budget

Man killed by snowplow at MSP parking lot

5d Breaking TC 1 Data

A man was fatally struck by a snowplow Wednesday in a catering company parking lot on Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport property. Authorities responded to the scene and opened an investigation; additional details about the victim and driver were not immediately released.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Florida judge unseals Epstein grand‑jury records; New York judges now grant parallel unsealing orders

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A Florida judge, Rodney Smith, ordered the unsealing of grand‑jury transcripts from the abandoned 2006–07 Jeffrey Epstein probe, finding the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand‑jury secrecy and noting the law requires DOJ, FBI and federal prosecutors to release records by Dec. 19. Following that ruling, SDNY judges — including Richard Berman — have moved to unseal grand‑jury and investigative materials from Epstein’s 2019 federal case and voluminous Maxwell transcripts from 2021, set a near‑term deadline for the DOJ’s filings, and said they will rule quickly while redacting victims’ identities.

Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Courts and Justice Department Jeffrey Epstein Files

Winter storm: 255 crashes, 375 vehicles off road; Hwy. 52 pileup snarls Inver Grove Heights

5d Breaking TC 8 Data

A late‑Tuesday-to‑Wednesday winter storm — bringing generally 3–5 inches in the Twin Cities (locally higher in the northern metro and 5–8+ inches across central/northern Minnesota), a rain‑to‑snow changeover and gusts up to 40–45 mph — produced blowing snow and low visibility with many roads snow/ice covered into Wednesday morning. Minnesota State Patrol reported 255 crashes and 375 vehicles off the road (including 13 jackknifed semis, 19 injury crashes and one fatality), and a multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy. 52 at the Concord Blvd exit in Inver Grove Heights snarled traffic.

Public Safety Weather Transit & Infrastructure

Cotton proposes easing egg rules to lower prices

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Sen. Tom Cotton plans to introduce the Lowering Egg Prices Act of 2025 to require the FDA and USDA to revise egg-handling rules so surplus broiler hatching eggs can be diverted into the food supply as pasteurized liquid egg products. Cotton says the change would boost supply and reduce costs amid affordability concerns and avian flu disruptions; USDA data show average prices for large white eggs fell to about $1.91 per dozen in early December.

Congress and Food Regulation Agriculture and Food Prices

Feds sue MPS over teacher layoff protections

5d Breaking TC 1 Data

The Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 10 against Minneapolis Public Schools, challenging contract provisions that protect teachers of color in layoffs and recalls. The complaint alleges the layoff protections constitute unlawful race‑based discrimination under federal law and asks a judge to block enforcement and declare the provisions illegal.

Legal Education

Rep. Mace files bill to rename D.C. plaza for Charlie Kirk

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) said she is introducing a House bill to rename the Washington, D.C. area formerly designated “Black Lives Matter Plaza” after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, three months after his assassination at a Utah campus event. Mace acknowledged the bill may not get a floor vote but vowed to push it as part of efforts in Congress to memorialize Kirk; the D.C. site was initially named in 2020 and the designation was reversed by the city earlier this year.

U.S. Congress Charlie Kirk

Several Twin Cities suburbs declare snow emergencies

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Belle Plaine, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, New Hope and West St. Paul declared snow emergencies Wednesday morning after several inches of snow fell across the metro. As of 6:40 a.m., Minneapolis and St. Paul had not declared snow emergencies; residents are advised to follow their city’s posted parking rules to avoid tickets and towing.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure

San Diego approves $30M settlement in teen police shooting

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San Diego City Council approved a $30 million settlement to the family of 16-year-old Konoa Wilson over a police-involved shooting, a payout larger than the $27 million Minneapolis paid George Floyd’s family. Mayor Todd Gloria called the case "heartbreaking" and pledged stronger officer tools and training, while Officer Daniel Gold remains on the force in an administrative assignment as investigators review the incident; the lawsuit alleges Gold fired without warning, SDPD says a gun was later found under Wilson’s clothing though it was not displayed before the shooting, and the family’s attorney said the settlement offers "some semblance of accountability" but not closure.

Police Accountability Police Accountability and Settlements Civil Litigation

Apalachee High shooting suspect appears in court

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Colt Gray, accused in the Sept. 4, 2024 Apalachee High School shooting that killed four and wounded nine in Winder, Georgia, appeared before Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm on Dec. 9, 2025. Defense attorney Aisha Broderick said Gray’s medical evaluation is still underway and expected by late February, with the next hearing set for March 18, 2026; Gray faces 55 counts including four felony murders, while his father faces 29 counts tied to the case.

School Shootings Courts and Legal

New audio shows off-duty pilot cockpit struggle

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Newly released cockpit and ATC audio captures the chaotic mid‑flight incident in which an off‑duty Alaska Airlines pilot allegedly tried to shut down the engines, prompting the crew to declare a "threat level four" and call for an emergency landing. The recordings and communications describe the off‑duty pilot, identified as Emerson, being restrained and handcuffed in a rear jump seat while repeatedly saying "I'm not OK," and controllers coordinated checks with flight attendants and requested law enforcement on arrival.

Criminal Justice Aviation Safety Airlines and FAA

Study: Oral diabetes pill burns fat, spares muscle

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Swedish researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University report in Cell that a novel oral beta-2 agonist improved glucose control and fat burning while preserving muscle in animals, and showed favorable safety/tolerability in a small human study of 48 healthy adults and 25 people with type 2 diabetes. Acting via muscle metabolism rather than appetite suppression like GLP-1s, the drug could be used alone or alongside GLP-1 therapies, though experts stress larger, longer trials are needed to confirm efficacy and long‑term safety.

Medical Research Diabetes and Obesity Drugs

Treasury data undercut Trump tariff tax claim

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Treasury and budget data show tariff revenue is far too small to substitute for federal income taxes — FY2025 tariffs are about $195 billion versus roughly $2.7 trillion in annual individual income taxes, and the Tax Foundation estimates current tariff policy would raise about $2.1 trillion over 10 years versus roughly $32 trillion in individual income taxes, calling full replacement "mechanically impossible." Analysts also note a $2,000 "tariff dividend" would cost $300–$600 billion (more than current tariff receipts), a tariff-funded tax cut would mainly benefit high earners, and any such shift would require Congress to rewrite the tax code and faces pending legal challenges.

Tariffs and Trade Tax Policy U.S. Federal Budget and Taxes

National Archives releases Amelia Earhart records

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The National Archives released a second batch of Amelia Earhart records on Nov. 25, publishing over 3,700 pages (56 PDFs) that include a 1937 memo of Secretary of State Cordell Hull’s conversation with Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Saito detailing Japan’s search role, a July 20, 1937 FDR press exchange justifying search costs, and a letter from Eleanor Roosevelt securing Itasca radio logs. The documents provide new primary-source detail on U.S.–Japan cooperation, federal cost rationale, and contemporaneous communications tied to the 1937 search.

Amelia Earhart National Archives and Records Administration

Rep. Massie files bill to exit NATO

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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced H.R. 6508 to withdraw the United States from NATO, directing the president to give Article 13 notice within 30 days of enactment and blocking U.S. contributions to NATO’s common-funded budgets. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she is co-sponsoring, and the measure mirrors a Senate companion from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

U.S. Congress NATO

Education Dept recalls OCR attorneys amid backlog

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The U.S. Department of Education is temporarily recalling Office for Civil Rights staff it had placed on paid administrative leave after a March reduction‑in‑force was blocked by the courts, instructing them to report to regional offices on Monday, Dec. 15. Press secretary Julie Hartman said the agency will "utilize all employees" while it continues to appeal litigation over the cuts, as a source told NPR OCR now faces about 25,000 pending complaints, including roughly 7,000 open investigations.

Department of Education Civil Rights Enforcement

Texas flags 2,724 voters via SAVE checks

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NPR reports Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson ran the state’s ~18 million voter registrations through DHS’s overhauled SAVE system in October, flagging 2,724 'potential noncitizens' (~0.015%) and prompting counties to send 30‑day proof‑of‑citizenship notices with cancellation upon non‑response. The piece documents at least one naturalized U.S. citizen wrongly flagged and removed and notes the Trump administration has linked SAVE to Social Security (since May) and State Department passport data, with about 47 million voter records queried nationally.

Elections Administration Department of Homeland Security

USCIS adds vetting center, deepens re-reviews amid 19-country adjudication pause

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USCIS has instituted a nationwide pause on adjudications for nationals of 19 “countries of concern,” directing officers to stop final decisions on all case types—including green cards and naturalizations—and to conduct a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of approved benefit requests (including entrants on or after Jan. 20, 2021) with potential interviews, re-interviews, case prioritization within 90 days, and referrals to enforcement. Director Joseph Edlow has launched a new vetting center in Atlanta, expanded hiring for enforcement-focused roles amid agency workforce changes, and framed the measures as necessary to maximize vetting for national security after the D.C. shooting, with the pause’s duration left to his discretion.

Immigration Enforcement Homeland Security USCIS

USCIS pauses all asylum decisions nationwide

5d Breaking 3 Analysis Data

USCIS has paused asylum decisions nationwide and halted processing of many immigration applications as part of a broader shift toward enforcement, instituting enhanced vetting and re‑reviews that agency leaders say are intended to tighten scrutiny. Officials and attorneys warn the move will reopen prior cases and slow adjudications for applicants from across the system, making already broad processing times — which can range roughly from a few weeks to several years — even harder to predict.

Asylum and Refugees Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration Policy

USCIS launches vetting center to recheck approvals

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USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said last week the agency created a vetting center to conduct interviews and re-review already approved immigration applications, expanding post–Nov. 26 measures that paused adjudications for nationals of 19 countries and halted many asylum decisions. The White House also said it will re-review all Biden-era refugee approvals, while at least 1,300 staff accepted a 'Fork in the Road' resignation offer as the agency shifts toward enforcement.

U.S. Immigration Policy Department of Homeland Security

Snowstorm hits Twin Cities: roads snow‑covered; early totals and school delays

5d Breaking TC 8 Data

A fast‑moving winter storm left many Twin Cities roads snow‑covered early Wednesday, with MnDOT reporting dozens of plows working and dozens of schools closed or opening late. Early totals ranged from about 2.8 inches in Chanhassen to 6.9 inches in Cambridge (MSP Airport ~3.4"), and winter storm warnings/advisories remain in effect with gusty winds and heavy snow rates possible overnight, prompting NWS to advise avoiding nonessential travel.

Education Transit & Infrastructure Weather

Florida designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has designated the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations in an executive order that bars state agencies from awarding contracts, employment, or funds to CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, or groups deemed to materially support them. CAIR-Florida says it will sue, calling the designation unconstitutional, while DeSantis said he welcomes the lawsuit and expects related legislation in January; the action follows a similar Texas proclamation being challenged in court and echoes a recent Trump executive order initiating federal consideration of Muslim Brotherhood chapters.

Florida Government Civil Rights and Counterterrorism Civil Liberties and Terrorism Designations

3 arrested after 7 Providence College overdoses

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Providence Police arrested three suspects after seven Providence College students overdosed at an off‑campus party last week on Liege Street, where first responders administered Narcan and transported victims to a hospital. A follow‑up search on Hawkins Street seized about 20 grams of fentanyl, $1,700 in cash, two rifles and three handguns including a ghost gun; Angel Williams, 33, and Patrick Patterson, 32, face drug and gun charges and are held without bail, while Kimsheree Simoneau, 33, was charged with possession of a ghost gun and released on $10,000 bond.

Campus Public Safety Opioids/Fentanyl

Former Education Secretary Rod Paige dies at 92

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Rod Paige, the first African American U.S. education secretary and a key architect of the No Child Left Behind law, died Tuesday at age 92, former President George W. Bush announced. Paige led the Education Department from 2001 to 2005, implementing nationwide testing and accountability provisions modeled on his Houston reforms; no cause of death was provided.

Rod Paige U.S. Education Policy

Alleged LAFD fireboat failures imperil Port of LA

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A CBS Los Angeles investigation reports extensive maintenance and capability issues across Los Angeles Fire Department fireboats safeguarding the Port of Los Angeles, citing internal documents and an LAFD report to the fire commission last week that the reserve apparatus out‑of‑service rate ‘consistently exceeds 95%.’ A firefighter whistleblower says Fireboat 1 has been down for repairs since January and Fireboat 2 lists 19 problems, including a nonfunctional engine and crane, raising concerns about the port’s readiness after a recent container‑ship blaze and recalling a 2014 wharf fire.

Los Angeles Fire Department Ports and Critical Infrastructure

CDC: Michigan transplant recipient dies of rabies

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The CDC said a Michigan man who received a kidney in Ohio in December 2024 died in February from transplant-associated rabies, tracing the donor’s infection to a skunk scratch in Idaho that likely involved a silver‑haired bat variant. Three corneal tissue recipients had grafts removed, received rabies treatment and remain asymptomatic, while officials notified 370 potential contacts and recommended post‑exposure procedures for 46. The CDC noted rabies is not part of routine donor testing due to its rarity and complexity, calling this the fourth documented U.S. transplant-transmitted rabies case since 1978.

CDC and Public Health Organ Transplantation and Rabies

Army gynecologist charged for secret patient videos

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The U.S. Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel charged Maj. Blaine McGraw, an OB-GYN at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, with secretly recording at least 44 women during intimate exams between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2025. The charges include 54 specifications of indecent visual recording, conduct unbecoming, willful disobedience, and making a false official statement; McGraw was suspended Oct. 17, ordered into pretrial confinement Dec. 2, and is being held at the Bell County Jail as a preliminary hearing is pending. A related civil lawsuit filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe alleges McGraw exploited his position and inappropriately touched and recorded a patient during multiple appointments.

U.S. Army Medical Misconduct and Privacy

Michigan parent files Title IX complaint over trans athlete

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Sean Lechner filed a Title IX complaint on Dec. 5, 2025 with the U.S. Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Monroe Public Schools, alleging Monroe High School volleyball players had to share a locker room with and compete against a transgender athlete from Ann Arbor Skyline. Michigan’s education department said it received the complaint and is reviewing it, while the MHSAA confirmed it issued one transgender eligibility waiver statewide for the 2025–26 fall season but declined to identify the school or sport, citing student privacy.

Title IX and Transgender Athletics K-12 Education Policy

AFL files EEOC complaint over 49ers DEI hiring

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America First Legal filed a civil-rights complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging the San Francisco 49ers use unlawful race- and sex-based hiring practices under Title VII. The filing cites demographic-targeted pipelines, race-restricted employee resource groups, and participation in minority-only coaching fellowships; Fox News Digital said the 49ers did not immediately comment. AFL previously filed a similar complaint against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the action comes amid Trump administration executive orders targeting DEI in the private sector.

Employment Discrimination and DEI San Francisco 49ers

Florida carries out 18th execution of 2025; 19th set for Dec. 18

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Florida executed Mark Allen Geralds, 58, who was convicted in a 1989 home‑invasion killing, and he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison after brief final words ("I'm sorry that I missed you... I loved you every day") as witnesses described physical reactions during the injection. The execution was Florida’s 18th of 2025—extending the state’s single‑year record and leaving Florida with the most executions of any state this year (44 nationwide so far); the state uses a three‑drug lethal‑injection protocol, and the next Florida execution is scheduled for Frank Athen Walls on Dec. 18.

Capital Punishment Death Penalty Florida Courts and Crime

D.C. Circuit reinstates Pentagon transgender ban

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A divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday stayed a district court’s preliminary injunction, allowing the Pentagon to enforce its 2025 policy generally barring individuals with gender dysphoria from serving while the case is appealed. Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao said the district court failed to defer to military judgment on readiness, cohesion and costs, while Judge Pillard dissented, questioning the administration’s justification; the White House called the ruling a win for military readiness.

Transgender Military Policy Federal Courts

PRRI poll: Most back birthright citizenship

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The Public Religion Research Institute’s American Values Survey, released Tuesday, finds about two-thirds of Americans support preserving the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship, including narrow majority support among white evangelical Protestants. The poll also reports only 3 in 10 back President Trump’s overall immigration agenda and puts approval of his immigration handling at 43%, with confidence in ICE lagging across most religious groups as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge to Trump’s order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

Immigration Policy Public Opinion Polls Supreme Court

Top Trump aide sold MP Materials stock after federal deal

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Government filings show Stephen Miller sold $50,000–$100,000 of MP Materials shares on Aug. 14, 2025, a month after the Trump administration announced it would take an equity stake in and purchase products from the rare-earth miner, a move that sharply boosted the stock. The New York Times reports Miller also unloaded holdings in nearly two dozen companies, including Intel and Westinghouse, which the administration later backed, while ethics experts say the timing raises conflict-of-interest concerns even though Miller wasn’t a named negotiator.

Trump Administration Ethics Critical Minerals and Industrial Policy

Defense seeks to suppress evidence in UHC CEO killing

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Luigi Mangione returned to court Dec. 2 as his defense sought to suppress contested items — including a gun and handwritten “notes to self” — in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing case, while prosecutors point to bullets found in his bag that they say convinced police he was the suspect. A pretrial hearing day was postponed after Mangione fell ill, and no immediate ruling on the evidentiary disputes was reported as proceedings are set to resume later.

Public Safety Legal

USA Today editor-in-chief Caren Bohan exits

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USA Today confirmed that editor-in-chief Caren Bohan is leaving the Gannett-owned national newspaper after roughly one year in the role, with SVP Monica Richardson thanking her for her contributions. The New York Times reported Michael McCarter, USA Today’s opinion group editor, will serve as interim editor-in-chief. Bohan became interim EIC in September 2024 before being named permanent EIC amid broader leadership turnover at the paper.

USA Today Gannett

FDA reviewing safety of infant RSV injections

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Dec. 9 it has opened a safety review of injectable RSV drugs used for babies and toddlers, a nationwide regulatory step that could affect pediatric care in the Twin Cities. The agency did not announce a recall but said it is assessing safety reports and will issue guidance if needed.

Health Government & Regulation

GoFundMe: essentials fundraisers surged in 2025 amid affordability strain

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GoFundMe reported a surge in 2025 of fundraisers seeking basic living expenses — a 17% rise in U.S. campaigns for rent, groceries, housing and fuel — with top campaign keywords including “work,” “home,” “food,” “bill” and “care.” The company said “monthly bills” was the second-fastest growing category behind nonprofit appeals, CEO Tim Cadogan said more people are turning to the site to cover rent and immediate expenses, and related campaigns spiked sixfold during a 43‑day government shutdown that halted SNAP distributions.

Crowdfunding/GoFundMe Social Safety Net and SNAP U.S. Economy and Cost of Living

St. Paul council president eyes Ramsey County seat

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Rebecca Noecker, president of the St. Paul City Council, has officially announced she is running for the Ramsey County Board. The formal announcement came on Dec. 9, 2025, following earlier indications she planned to run.

Elections Local Government

MacKenzie Scott gives $7.1B to nonprofits in 2025

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Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced Tuesday that she has donated $7.1 billion to nonprofits so far in 2025 via her Yield Giving platform, bringing her total giving since 2019 to $26.3 billion. The largely unrestricted gifts include at least $783 million to HBCUs this year—with individual awards such as $63 million to Prairie View A&M, $50 million to Norfolk State and Bowie State, $25 million to Lincoln University of Pennsylvania—plus $70 million to UNCF for a collective HBCU endowment and $50 million to the Native Forward Scholars Fund.

Philanthropy and Nonprofits Higher Education and HBCUs

Mexico seeks deal after Trump’s 5% tariff threat over Rio Grande water

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President Trump again threatened a 5% tariff on Mexico via Truth Social unless Mexico immediately releases more Rio Grande water, saying he has “authorized documentation” to impose the duty — a reprise of an April confrontation when Mexico instead agreed to transfer reserves and boost flows and tariffs were not imposed. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will seek a solution that helps the U.S. without risking Mexican people or agriculture, noting immediate delivery of 200,000 acre-feet is constrained by pipe sizes and other physical limits and that the 1944 treaty allows deferred deliveries after the extraordinary 2023–24 drought; U.S. and Mexican officials, including USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and acting foreign minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez, met Tuesday in the fifth meeting this year to try to resolve the dispute.

Agriculture and Water Policy Water Policy Trade and Tariffs

Ohio surgeon indicted; license suspended

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An Ohio grand jury indicted University of Toledo surgical resident Hassan‑James Abbas, 32, on Dec. 3 on six felony counts after authorities say he crushed abortion pills and attempted to force them into his pregnant girlfriend’s mouth as she slept. The State Medical Board of Ohio summarily suspended his license on Nov. 5, citing immediate danger to the public, and scheduled a disciplinary hearing for May 14–15, 2026; the university says he is on administrative leave and will cooperate with the board.

Abortion and Reproductive Health Law Medical Licensing and Discipline

Appeals court orders new trial for Wander Franco

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An appeals court in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who was previously found guilty of sexually abusing a minor and received a two-year suspended sentence. The court cited flaws and omissions and reassigned the case to a new judicial panel; prosecutors, who had sought five years, said the original evidence was sufficient and expect the same result at retrial. The ruling also grants a new trial to the victim’s mother, who had been sentenced to 10 years for trafficking.

Wander Franco Courts and Legal Major League Baseball

Sutter Health ends transgender care for minors

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Sacramento-based Sutter Health will stop providing gender-affirming procedures for patients under 19 across its network effective Dec. 10, citing the need to comply with recent federal actions following President Trump’s executive order on youth transitions. A Sutter spokesperson said under-19 surgeries had already ceased and physicians are engaging families to determine care plans in light of anticipated requirements, as other systems including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Stanford Medicine, and Kaiser Permanente have also paused aspects of minors’ gender care.

Healthcare Policy Transgender Health

Illinois enacts limits on civil immigration enforcement

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed HB 1312 in Chicago, creating new limits on civil immigration enforcement at courthouses, hospitals, day cares and university campuses statewide. The law restricts civil arrests around certain court proceedings, tightens privacy and law‑enforcement interaction policies at hospitals, limits status‑sharing by universities and day cares, mandates protocols for handling federal agents by early 2026, and allows individuals to sue officers over alleged rights violations. The White House and DHS criticized the measure, citing the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, signaling potential legal conflict with federal enforcement.

State Immigration Laws Illinois Politics

Student killed in fight at NC high school

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Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. said a student died after an altercation between two students at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, N.C., shortly after 11 a.m. on Dec. 9. Officials said there is no ongoing threat, withheld identities due to the active investigation, urged the public not to share incident videos, and announced the school will be closed to students Wednesday with crisis teams available for staff.

School Safety and Violence North Carolina

Oregon teens settle free speech suit with OSAA

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Former Oregon high school athletes Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard agreed with the Oregon School Activities Association to dismiss their federal free‑speech lawsuit on Tuesday after they stepped off a state medal podium in May to protest a transgender competitor and alleged retaliation over medals and photos. A separate Title IX lawsuit remains pending, and last month U.S. District Judge Youlee Yim You denied OSAA’s motion to strike portions of the complaint referencing other political speech the league permits.

Transgender Athletes and School Sports First Amendment and Student Speech

Supreme Court declines Llano County library case, leaving 5th Circuit ruling intact

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The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the Llano County library case, leaving a 5th Circuit ruling in place that allows local officials to remove books deemed objectionable from public libraries. Plaintiffs and librarian Carolyn Foote warned the denial will embolden wider removals — a reversal of a district judge’s order to restore titles such as Caste and They Called Themselves the K.K.K. — and the 5th Circuit’s opinion, which said “No one is banning” books, now carries precedential weight across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Supreme Court First Amendment and Libraries Library Book Bans

Steve Simon to seek fourth term as Secretary of State

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Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced on Dec. 9, 2025, that he will run for a fourth term in 2026. The statewide office administers elections and business filings, directly affecting Minneapolis–Saint Paul voters and local governments.

Elections Local Government

FBI adds ex-TV producer to Most Wanted for $15M fraud

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The FBI said Dec. 5 it added Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, the former CEO of Burbank-based Bellum Entertainment, to its Most Wanted list in a federal fraud case filed in Santa Ana, Calif. McDonnell, believed to be in Dubai, was indicted in 2018 for allegedly posing as an heiress tied to McDonnell Douglas and claiming a $28 million trust to secure a $14.7 million bank loan, with total losses estimated over $15 million.

FBI Most Wanted White-collar crime

Ukraine hits Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers abroad

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Ukraine’s SBU and Navy used “Sea Baby” naval drones to strike sanctioned oil tankers Kairos and Virat in the Black Sea in late November, part of a campaign against Russia’s sanction‑evading “shadow fleet,” Ukrainian sources told CBS News. The Kairos ran aground Dec. 5 off Ahtopol, Bulgaria after a Turkish tug detached in Bulgarian waters, prompting Bulgarian Navy airlifts, while separate late‑November explosions damaged the tanker Mersin off Senegal, whose crew was rescued and which still holds about 30,000 tons of diesel.

Russia–Ukraine War Maritime Security and Sanctions

Letitia James sued over school board speech threats

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Massapequa Union Free School District Board Chair Kerry Wachter and others filed a lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging her office issued a guidance letter threatening to remove school board members for misgendering or for allowing public comments opposing transgender students’ access to girls’ sports and locker rooms. Plaintiffs argue the directive, cited to New York’s Dignity for All Students Act, violates the First Amendment and constitutes viewpoint discrimination at public meetings.

Letitia James Education and First Amendment

MDH: Student mental health improves; social media flagged

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The Minnesota Department of Health released the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey on Dec. 9, showing broad improvements in physical and mental health and school connectedness since 2022, while new questions highlight heavy social media use, late‑night screen time, and exposure to gun violence. The survey of more than 119,000 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th graders—used by Twin Cities schools to shape services—found 11th graders’ suicide consideration at a decade‑low, declining substance use and cyberbullying, but 90% daily social media use, over half using technology between midnight and 5 a.m. weekly, and 6% of high schoolers reporting witnessing gun violence.

Education Health

Gallup: ACA approval hits record 57%

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A new Gallup/West Health poll released Monday finds 57% of Americans now view the Affordable Care Act favorably, the highest since tracking began in 2013, with independents at 63% approval, Democrats at 91% and Republicans at 15%. The findings arrive as Congress weighs whether to extend expiring enhanced premium tax credits or redirect support via GOP-backed health savings accounts, a decision that affects roughly 24 million ACA enrollees and carries an estimated ~$30 billion annual price tag.

Affordable Care Act Public Opinion and Polling

Federal judge voids Trump's anti-wind memo

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U.S. District Judge Patti Saris (D. Mass.) on Monday struck down President Trump’s Jan. 20 directive that agencies used to stall federal permitting and leasing for wind projects, ruling it “arbitrary and capricious.” The case, brought by New York and other states alongside the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, found agencies failed to provide a reasoned explanation; however, the practical impact may hinge on other overlapping administration policies that agencies could still cite.

Federal Courts Renewable Energy Policy

U.S. sanctions RSF Colombian recruitment network

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The U.S. Treasury sanctioned four individuals and four firms on Dec. 9, alleging they recruited former Colombian soldiers to train Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, which Washington has accused of genocide in Darfur. Treasury cited the network’s role in supporting RSF operations, including the Oct. 26 capture of El Fasher, and quoted Under Secretary John K. Hurley saying RSF brutality is deepening conflict and creating conditions for terrorism.

U.S. Sanctions Sudan Conflict

Report finds Instacart algorithm inflates prices

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Consumer Reports and the Groundwork Collaborative say Instacart has run AI-driven pricing experiments since 2022 that can make identical grocery items cost up to 23% more for some U.S. shoppers than others, based on testing with 437 volunteers at chains including Safeway and Target. Instacart told CBS News that 10 retail partners who already apply markups are conducting limited, randomized price tests, while the investigation also flagged "fictitious pricing" where different "original" prices were shown to shoppers.

Instacart AI Pricing and Consumer Protection

Nevada confirms bat fungus at Lake Mead

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The Nevada Department of Wildlife confirmed the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, during routine monitoring at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. NDOW said no bats showed clinical signs, called it Nevada’s first detection, and outlined steps to limit spread, including equipment sterilization, habitat protection, public education, and urging visitors to avoid abandoned mines.

Wildlife Disease National Parks and Public Lands

Assisted-living fire spurs dueling sprinkler lawsuits

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Inspector Fire Systems Inc. and Gabriel House owner Dennis Etzkorn have filed dueling lawsuits over responsibility for a faulty sprinkler system at the Massachusetts assisted-living facility where a July 2025 fire killed 10 residents. FSI says it alerted the facility in Sept. 2024 to recalled sprinkler heads, while the owner’s Dec. 8 cross-claim alleges FSI failed for years to properly inspect and even certified no deficiencies as recently as July 8, 2025, five days before the fire.

Elder Care and Facility Safety Massachusetts Courts

Nassau's Blakeman launches 2026 NY governor bid

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Long Island Republican Bruce Blakeman, the newly re‑elected Nassau County executive, launched a 2026 bid for New York governor on Fox & Friends and will challenge Rep. Elise Stefanik in the GOP primary. He’s running on a platform of prosperity and public safety and points to a county record that includes bans on transgender athletes at county facilities, creation of a volunteer law‑enforcement unit critics call a militia, directives for county detectives to assist federal immigration enforcement and a local public mask ban, while Stefanik and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaigns have already criticized his candidacy.

Republican Party New York Governor Race New York Governor Race 2026

MS-13 leader arrested in Nebraska

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The FBI said Tuesday it arrested Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, 33, aka 'Fantasma,' in Grand Island, Nebraska on Monday on immigration-related charges; he is an alleged MS-13 leader linked to a July 2022 Tegucigalpa nightclub killing of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa’s son, Said Lobo Bonilla, and three others. An unsealed affidavit says Cuadra fled Honduras after the quadruple murder, was released from jail there after $125,000 in bribes, entered the U.S. via Texas in November, and later obtained a California driver’s license; the FBI’s Houston office continues to investigate him as part of Operation Take Back America.

MS-13 Immigration Enforcement

Charlotte sheriff warns Iryna’s Law will overcrowd jail

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Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said Monday, Dec. 8, that North Carolina’s new Iryna’s Law—tightening pretrial release for repeat and violent offenders—will increase jail populations, strain staff, and reduce magistrate and judicial discretion. The law, signed in October by Gov. Josh Stein and named for 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail in August, also adds new requirements for the sheriff’s office; McFadden alleged politicians used the case for a 'political agenda' and said local judges have faced threats and safety fears since the attack.

North Carolina Criminal Justice Bail and Pretrial Policy

Immigration judge orders ICE to release Brazilian

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An immigration judge ordered the release of Bruna Ferreira, 33, from ICE custody on a $1,500 bond while she contests deportation, after she was arrested Nov. 12 in Revere, Massachusetts and later held in Louisiana. Ferreira’s attorney said the government stipulated she is neither a danger nor a flight risk and waived appeal, while DHS called her a 'criminal illegal alien' and alleged a battery arrest, which the attorney denies; Ferreira is a longtime Massachusetts resident, a DACA enrollee, and was in the process of applying for a green card.

Immigration Enforcement Courts and Legal

Daikin Applied building $163M Twin Cities R&D facility

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Daikin Applied Americas announced plans to build a $163 million research-and-development facility in the Twin Cities, focusing on advanced cooling needs driven by the growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The project adds a major corporate investment to the metro’s tech and manufacturing ecosystem; further details on site, timeline and hiring were not disclosed in the preview.

Business & Economy Technology

Sen. Marshall unveils ACA subsidy-to-HSA plan

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Sen. Roger Marshall detailed a proposal to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies by extending enhanced premium tax credits for one year and then converting them to health savings accounts, positioning the plan as a bipartisan bridge. The package would require a $5 monthly minimum premium, mandate a government-issued ID to curb fraud, tighten Hyde enforcement, bar gender transition coverage on exchange plans, permanently fund cost-sharing reductions (which he estimates would save $30 billion and cut premiums ~11%), and phase down enhanced credits by 20% annually through 2032.

Affordable Care Act U.S. Congress

Missouri referendum bid filed to block mid‑cycle House map; 300k signatures submitted

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Opponents of a Trump-backed mid‑cycle U.S. House map in Missouri submitted more than 300,000 signatures — well above the roughly 110,000 needed to suspend the map — and those petitions must now be verified by local election authorities and Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who argues the referendum is unconstitutional. If validated the measure would likely appear on the November 2026 ballot unless the legislature sets an earlier date; the campaign group People Not Politicians has raised about $5 million (mostly out of state) while GOP-aligned groups have spent over $2 million, part of a broader mid‑decade redistricting battle that includes the Supreme Court’s recent approval of a new Texas map for 2026.

Redistricting and Voting Law Missouri Politics Redistricting

DHS cites California ambulance cost surge

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The Department of Homeland Security pointed to new California data showing Medicaid-funded ambulance reimbursement rising from $339 per transport in 2022 to $1,168 in 2024, with state requests to CMS to increase rates to $1,597 in 2025 and $1,637 in 2026. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said DHS and CMS are exploring an initiative to ensure undocumented immigrants are not receiving Medicaid benefits, while California has already moved to freeze new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented adults in 2026 and to charge a $30 monthly premium to those already enrolled starting July 2027.

Immigration and Medicaid Policy California Health Policy

Treasury: Turning Point USA not under IRS probe

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The Treasury Department sent a letter last week to Erika Kirk stating that four Turning Point entities are not being examined or investigated by the IRS and that all required Form 990s were submitted on time this year. The response followed social media allegations of financial impropriety that prompted some donors to seek refunds; a senior Treasury official told CBS that IRS may provide such status information to the taxpayer upon request.

IRS and Tax-Exempt Organizations Turning Point USA

Genesis seeks bankruptcy shield from injury settlements

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Genesis HealthCare, once the nation’s largest nursing home chain, is using Chapter 11 proceedings in Dallas to shed roughly $259 million in liabilities from nearly 1,000 settled and pending resident injury/death suits, with a Dec. 10 hearing set to approve a sale of assets to its largest private‑equity investor. A KFF Health News/CBS review of 155 settlement agreements and filings shows Genesis deferred payments in many cases—paying nothing in 85 and only partial amounts in 70—and still owes $41 million of $58 million agreed, as the company says it denies wrongdoing and was spending $8 million per month on litigation.

Long-Term Care and Nursing Homes Bankruptcy and Courts

HUD report ties immigration to rental demand

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HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the department’s 2025 Worst Case Housing Needs Report finds increased immigration has significantly driven rental demand and contributed to pricing out low‑income families. Turner added HUD will move to an English‑only model under a Trump executive order and has rescinded FHA‑backed mortgage eligibility extended to undocumented immigrants during the prior administration, while an industry analyst cited long‑term underbuilding as the primary affordability driver.

Housing Policy Immigration and Border

NJ twins charged over threats to DHS official

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Two New Jersey brothers, Ricardo and Emilio Roman-Flores of Absecon, were arrested after posts on X allegedly threatened to torture and kill DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and urged people to “shoot ICE on sight.” Emilio faces weapons and multiple threat-related charges; Ricardo is charged with conspiracy–terroristic threats. DHS credited Absecon Police and its SWAT team with the arrests, and ICE Director Todd Lyons vowed full prosecution amid a surge in threats against ICE personnel.

Homeland Security Crime and Online Threats

U.S. job openings flat at 7.67 million

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The Labor Department’s JOLTS report released Dec. 9 shows U.S. job openings were 7.67 million in October, essentially unchanged from September’s 7.66 million, with layoffs rising and quits falling. Due to the 43‑day federal shutdown, September and October JOLTS were combined, no October unemployment rate will be published, and the department will issue October payroll figures alongside the delayed full November jobs report next Tuesday.

U.S. Labor Market U.S. Economy

Terry Rozier pleads not guilty; judge sets March 3 hearing, prosecutors to produce 55GB of discovery

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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty at his Dec. 8, 2025 arraignment before U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in Brooklyn, and the judge set the next court date for March 3. Prosecutors said they will produce an initial set of about 1,000 documents and more than 55 GB of data, while Rozier’s defense plans to file a motion to dismiss on constitutional grounds and the judge said NBA arbitration is irrelevant to the federal case.

Sports Betting Investigation Federal Courts NBA Gambling Probe

Ex‑ethics chiefs seek DOJ probe of OLC strike opinion

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A bipartisan trio of former White House ethics lawyers—Norm Eisen, Richard Painter and Virginia Canter—asked the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility on Tuesday to investigate whether the Office of Legal Counsel violated professional duties in crafting a still‑classified opinion justifying U.S. lethal strikes on suspected drug‑running boats. Their request, citing a Nov. 12 Washington Post report, comes as congressional leaders are slated to be briefed on the strikes and legal rationale, and as Senate Judiciary Democrats Dick Durbin and Peter Welch seek access to DOJ’s legal analyses.

Venezuela Boat Strikes Legal Basis Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel

Bill would require fathers to pay pregnancy costs

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Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) introduced the Supporting Healthy Pregnancy Act, which would require states to set up systems ensuring biological fathers cover at least 50% of out-of-pocket medical expenses for pregnancy and delivery, including insurance premiums, when requested by the mother. The bill explicitly excludes abortion costs and aims to provide support prior to birth, addressing a gap in most states where child support typically begins only at birth. Hinson also highlighted companion efforts on campus resources for pregnant students and a bipartisan plan with Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) to expand midwife training in underserved areas.

Congress Reproductive Policy

Rep. Marc Veasey won’t seek reelection

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Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) announced Dec. 8 he will forgo reelection in the redrawn 33rd Congressional District and will run for Tarrant County Judge, challenging incumbent Tim O’Hare. Veasey cited what he called racially gerrymandered maps and said the county is at a crossroads, while O’Hare’s campaign criticized his record; the shift comes as other Democrats, including former Rep. Colin Allred and Rep. Julie Johnson, eye the newly configured TX‑33 seat.

Texas Politics U.S. House Elections

St. Paul police ID Payne‑Phalen homicide victim as 49‑year‑old Michael Tucker

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St. Paul police identified the victim of a fatal shooting in the Payne‑Phalen neighborhood as 49‑year‑old Michael Tucker; officers responded just before 9:15 p.m. to the 900 block of Edgerton Street where Tucker suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso, was taken to Regions Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to confirm the cause of death and identity, and police processed the scene as the circumstances remain under investigation; it is St. Paul’s 13th homicide of 2025.

Legal Public Safety

Grammy-nominated musician killed in Rhode Island crash

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Roderick Macleod, 70, a former member of Roomful of Blues and a 2014 Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductee, was struck and killed while walking his dogs on a Hopkinton roadway on Saturday. Police say the driver, 41-year-old Shannon Godbout, was driving recklessly, left her lane, hit multiple objects and then fatally struck Macleod; she was found with illegal narcotics and charged with driving to endanger resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute, with additional charges possible.

Public Safety and Crime Rhode Island

OU removes lecturer over protest absence bias

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The University of Oklahoma said Friday it removed a lecturer from the classroom and placed the professor on administrative leave after excusing absences for students attending a pro‑TA protest but not for counter‑protesters. OU’s director told the class and emailed that the action was "inappropriate and wrong," extended excused absences to any student attending the protest regardless of viewpoint, and confirmed the lecturer was replaced for the rest of the semester. The incident follows the removal of TA William "Mel" Curth after a Christian student received a zero on an essay referencing the Bible.

Campus Speech and Academic Freedom Higher Education

Sherrod Brown taps Hollywood for 2026 bid

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Fox News reports that former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, running to reclaim his seat in 2026, has raised at least $1.2 million from Hollywood-linked donors per FEC filings and will attend a Los Angeles fundraiser this week hosted by Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman and his wife, with a suggested $10,000 contribution. The piece lists prominent donors including Aaron Sorkin, Will Ferrell, Jeff Bridges, Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito and Elizabeth Banks, and notes prior Q3 data showing a large share of out-of-state contributions.

Campaign Finance Ohio Senate 2026

Supreme Court hears bid to lift party spending caps

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 9 heard arguments in a Republican challenge seeking to end federal limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with their candidates, a decision that could reshape 2026 campaign spending in Minnesota, including Minneapolis–Saint Paul races. The Federal Election Commission defended the current caps during the hearing; a ruling later this term could change how parties fund and coordinate electoral efforts.

Elections Legal

Supreme Court to hear Trump birthright-citizenship case in spring; New Hampshire class action at issue

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The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the spring and could issue a decision by early summer on the constitutionality of former President Trump’s birthright-citizenship order; the case originates in a New Hampshire class action in which a federal judge blocked the order for a class including all affected children, and lower courts have largely concluded the order violates or likely violates the 14th Amendment. The administration has also sought review of an appeals-court ruling that led to a nationwide injunction in suits brought by Democratic-led states, and the Court’s recent limits on nationwide injunctions left open that class actions and certain state suits can still have nationwide effect.

Immigration Policy Birthright Citizenship Immigration and Citizenship

Supreme Court weighs presidential removal power as Kavanaugh flags Federal Reserve independence

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The Supreme Court is hearing Trump v. Slaughter, a direct challenge to the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent that could let presidents fire FTC commissioners at will — Solicitor General D. John Sauer urged overruling while liberal justices warned overturning the rule would destabilize independent agencies, and the Court allowed Rebecca Slaughter’s removal to stand pending review after lower courts ordered reinstatement. Justice Kavanaugh pressed the government on how its theory would preserve Federal Reserve independence, and the Court will separately consider President Trump’s effort to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook amid broader removals of Democratic agency officials this year.

Presidential Powers Supreme Court Presidential Removal Power

State Dept urges Americans to leave Mali now

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The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Bamako warned Americans to avoid travel to Mali and for those in-country to depart immediately, citing terrorism, kidnappings, crime and blocked routes as al‑Qaeda–linked JNIM forces surround the capital. The embassy said citizens should leave via commercial flights and avoid overland travel due to attacks along national highways, adding it can rarely provide emergency services outside Bamako; a retired AFRICOM official warned an external operations threat to the U.S. homeland is increasingly likely.

U.S. State Department West Africa Security

3,500+ cannabis-in-vehicle charges since legalization

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Minnesota prosecutors have filed more than 3,500 charges for marijuana possession in motor vehicles since legalization, according to a Minnesota Reformer analysis of court/prosecution data published Dec. 9, 2025. The figures reflect enforcement of Minnesota’s law that continues to prohibit cannabis in the passenger area or in open packaging inside vehicles, impacting drivers statewide, including the Twin Cities.

Legal Public Safety

NC teen sues school over spirit-rock probe

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Gabby Stout, a junior at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, N.C., filed a lawsuit Monday alleging her public school violated her rights after she painted the campus 'spirit rock' with a religious and patriotic tribute to slain activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 13 and was then accused of vandalism and told law enforcement was contacted. The suit cites a subsequent district policy change banning political and religious messages, claims she was pulled from class, compelled to write a statement, and asked to surrender her phone, and notes a later Oct. 11 message from the district clarifying the incident was not vandalism and law enforcement had not been contacted.

K-12 Education First Amendment

NIH freeze hobbles Harvard breast cancer lab

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Harvard Medical School researcher Joan Brugge says her NCI-funded breast cancer lab lost 7 of 18 staff after the NIH froze Harvard grants in April over campus antisemitism concerns, then restored funding in September. The administration barred Harvard researchers from applying for new multiyear NIH grants; a federal judge lifted that ban, but Brugge missed the renewal deadline, meaning her current $7 million, seven-year grant will end and work to target early 'seed' cells in breast tissue has slowed.

NIH Funding and Research Breast Cancer

Senate GOP to probe Biden parole policies

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Sens. John Cornyn (R‑Texas) and Josh Hawley (R‑Mo.) will lead a Dec. 16 Senate hearing examining Biden‑era immigration parole programs, citing the D.C. National Guard shooting allegedly carried out by Afghan evacuee Rahmanullah Lakanwal admitted under Operation Allies Welcome. The subcommittee chairs say they have long warned of vetting failures and now seek accountability and policy changes following the killing of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and the wounding of SSgt. Andrew Wolfe.

Congressional Oversight U.S. Immigration Policy

Judge OKs $230M New Orleans abuse settlement

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A judge approved a $230 million settlement resolving more than 500 sexual-abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, part of the archdiocese’s 2020 bankruptcy filing to consolidate claims. The agreement provides compensation for hundreds of survivors and includes new policies intended to prevent future abuse within the archdiocese.

Catholic Church Abuse Settlements Clergy Sexual Abuse New Orleans Archdiocese

DOJ detains two in Nvidia chip smuggling

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The Justice Department said Monday it detained Fanyue 'Tom' Gong, 43, of Brooklyn, and Benlin Yuan, 58, of Mississauga, Ontario, for allegedly conspiring to smuggle export‑controlled Nvidia H100/H200 AI chips to China as part of 'Operation Gatekeeper.' Prosecutors in the Southern District of Texas said authorities seized over $50 million in GPUs bound for China and other restricted locations and linked the case to a prior October guilty plea by Houston businessman Alan Hao Hsu and Hao Global LLC over attempts to export at least $160 million in such chips.

U.S. Export Controls Semiconductors and AI

Honduras AG orders arrest of ex‑President Hernández, asks Interpol after Trump pardon

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President Trump granted a full pardon to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving at USP Hazelton after a U.S. conviction for conspiring to import more than 400 tons of cocaine (he had been sentenced to 45 years and was appealing); Hernández was released, Trump defended the move, and it drew bipartisan criticism. Honduras Attorney General Johel Zelaya ordered authorities and asked Interpol to execute a 2023 Supreme Court magistrate arrest order—triggered if Hernández were freed—accusing him in the "Pandora" scheme of fraud and money‑laundering tied to diversion of state funds to political parties; Hernández’s lawyer called the action political and his whereabouts after release remain unclear. The pardon, coming after Trump’s endorsement of National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, has overshadowed a tight Honduran presidential vote.

Donald Trump Honduras U.S. Justice Department

DHS lists Afghan evacuees arrested in ICE sweeps

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DHS has identified Afghan evacuees among those arrested in recent ICE sweeps, with news outlets tracking roughly two dozen detentions since the Nov. 26 D.C. National Guard shooting — most in Northern California. Volunteers in Sacramento reported at least nine Afghan men detained after ICE check‑in calls, and those held included recent asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border and some evacuees from Operation Allies Welcome; DHS said it is going “full throttle” to identify and arrest known or suspected terrorists and “criminal illegal aliens” amid paused asylum decisions and stepped‑up vetting. Media reports also say some of the detainees have been accused of terror‑related or sexual offenses.

Homeland Security Immigration Enforcement Afghan Evacuees

Four ICE arrestees in Minneapolis sue over detention

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Four immigrants arrested since Minneapolis’ Operation Metro Surge began Dec. 1 have filed federal lawsuits challenging their detention, part of at least 11 immigration suits lodged in Minnesota in December. Plaintiffs include Abdul Dahir Ibrahim of Shakopee, arrested Nov. 29 and long under a removal order, and Mahamed Cabdilaahi Awaale, an asylum seeker; filings argue asylum eligibility, pending visas, or naturalization eligibility while at least three face deportation.

Legal Public Safety

DOT, HHS launch $1B family travel initiative

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At Reagan National Airport on Dec. 8, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the Trump administration’s 'Make Travel Family Friendly Again' program, allocating $1 billion to help U.S. airports improve family-focused facilities and services. Funds can support kids’ play and exercise areas, mothers’ rooms or nursing pods, family screening lanes, and sensory rooms for children with special needs, while HHS is encouraging airports to expand access to healthier food options.

Transportation Policy Airports and Aviation

NASA’s Jonny Kim departs ISS for landing

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NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky undocked from the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS‑27/73S at 8:41 p.m. EST Monday, heading for a parachute‑assisted landing on the Kazakh steppe targeted for 12:04 a.m. EST. The crew’s return caps an eight‑month mission spanning 3,920 orbits and 104 million miles; recovery teams are staged in frigid conditions to retrieve the trio, after which Kim will fly to Johnson Space Center and his crewmates to Star City for debriefs.

NASA and Spaceflight International Space Station

Family sues Royal Caribbean; ME rules cruise death a homicide after alleged 33 drinks

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After a man aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise was allegedly served 33 drinks and later restrained by ship security, a medical examiner ruled his December 2024 death a homicide, citing the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication. The family’s lawsuit alleges security used three cans of pepper spray, multiple personnel compressed his body until he stopped moving, staff ordered a haloperidol injection, the body was refrigerated until the ship returned to Los Angeles, and their attorney accuses Royal Caribbean of negligent hiring, training and supervision.

Courts and Civil Litigation Royal Caribbean Cruise Industry

Ex-Colleton court clerk Becky Hill pleads guilty; sentenced to probation for leaking sealed Murdaugh exhibits

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Former Colleton County court clerk Becky Hill pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury and two counts of misconduct in office in connection with showing sealed exhibits from the Alex Murdaugh case, resigned in March 2024 and apologized in court. Judge Heath Taylor sentenced her to probation (reports conflict on whether it was one or three years) and said a harsher penalty would have followed if jury tampering were proven; prosecutors say a journalist reported Hill showed graphic crime‑scene photos and image metadata tied her key card to the locked evidence room, Hill brought a check to repay nearly $10,000 linked to one misconduct count, and her defense questioned her credibility and the investigation.

Judicial Misconduct Alex Murdaugh Alex Murdaugh Case

Arden Hills DUI crash: driver sentenced

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A judge on Dec. 8, 2025, sentenced the driver in a drunken‑driving crash in Arden Hills that killed a New Brighton couple, with the couple’s daughter delivering a victim‑impact statement in court. The case, handled in Ramsey County, concludes the criminal proceedings stemming from the fatal collision.

Legal Public Safety

Florida teens charged in 14-year-old’s murder

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Two Florida teens, Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, were charged with first-degree premeditated murder after 14-year-old Danika Troy was found Dec. 2 in a wooded area in Pace, Florida, shot multiple times and set on fire, a day after being reported missing. Sheriff Bob Johnson said Williams allegedly stole his mother’s handgun, the motive remains unclear, and both suspects are held without bond as prosecutors weigh trying them as adults; the victim’s mother alleges Williams lured her daughter by feigning romantic interest.

Violent Crime Juvenile Justice

Augsburg says masked ICE agents targeted student

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Augsburg University says masked ICE agents targeted a student on campus. DHS/ICE disputes that account, saying an Augsburg administrator and campus security tried to obstruct officers who identified themselves and had a warrant, that agents used “minimum” force to clear vehicles, and that the person arrested is unlawfully in the U.S., a registered sex offender with a prior DWI (not independently confirmed), Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, also citing a reported 1,050% increase in assaults on officers during such arrests.

Education Legal Public Safety

12 fired FBI agents sue Patel, Bondi, FBI and DOJ in D.C. federal court

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Twelve FBI agents who were fired after kneeling to de‑escalate a mixed crowd during a June 4, 2020 George Floyd protest filed a 47‑page lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., proceeding anonymously as Jane and John Does and represented by attorney Mary Dohrmann and the Washington Litigation Group, suing Kash Patel, former AG Pam Bondi, the FBI and the Department of Justice. The complaint says the agents—who lacked riot gear and say their kneeling prevented violence—were cleared by an FBI deputy director and faulted by the DOJ Inspector General as having no political motive, but were later removed after Patel cited “unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality”; plaintiffs allege partisan animus (citing Patel’s book), note that about 16 removed agents worked in counterintelligence/counterterrorism, and warn the firings make the country less safe.

Civil Rights Lawsuits Law Enforcement Oversight FBI

Person of interest held in Kris Boyd shooting

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NYPD says a person of interest is in custody in the Nov. 16 shooting of New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd outside a Midtown Manhattan restaurant. The individual, who has not been identified, was arrested at an apartment complex in Buffalo, according to the New York Post; no charges have been filed and police have not detailed the person’s role.

Crime and Public Safety New York Jets Law Enforcement

DOJ creates Civil Rights Second Amendment section

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Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced Monday that the DOJ Civil Rights Division has launched a dedicated Second Amendment section to enforce gun rights, pledging increased federal action against state and local restrictions. Dhillon said the unit will target high concealed-carry permit fees, lengthy processing delays, and bans on firearms inconsistent with recent Supreme Court precedent, citing an early-term executive order from President Trump and promising 'a lot more action' from DOJ.

Department of Justice Gun Policy and Second Amendment

Disney faces lawsuit over disability access changes

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Disabled guests filed a federal lawsuit and a shareholder proposal challenging Disney’s recent narrowing of its Disability Access Service (DAS) eligibility at Disneyland and Disney World, arguing the policy is too restrictive and improperly limits who can bypass long standby lines. Disney now reserves DAS mainly for guests with developmental disabilities such as autism, requires video‑chat screening with a Disney worker and contracted medical professional, and warns violators can be banned; the company says DAS grew from about 5% to 20% of parkgoers and other accommodations remain available.

Disney Parks Disability Rights & ADA

Alaska warns insurers over climate underwriting

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Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox and Commerce Commissioner Julie Sande sent warning letters Monday to AIG, Zurich, Chubb and The Hartford, alleging some climate-related underwriting and exclusion policies may violate Alaska insurance and consumer-protection laws by restricting coverage for Arctic and energy projects without a risk-based rationale. The move, backed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s comments, comes days after Alaska’s delegation helped overturn Biden-era limits on ANWR exploration and cites insurers’ net‑zero targets and broad Arctic exclusions as potential de‑facto barriers to lawful investment.

Insurance Regulation Energy Policy and ANWR

Video shows ICE raid at Burnsville home

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Home surveillance video obtained by FOX 9 shows more than a dozen armed federal agents conduct an apparent ICE raid at a Burnsville residence on Dec. 6, with a resident saying four Latino tenants were arrested and later held out of state, including parents of a 7‑year‑old. The City of Burnsville said its police do not engage in immigration enforcement and are not typically notified of federal operations; ICE/DHS have not yet commented.

Public Safety Legal

CDC issues Level 2 chikungunya travel alerts

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The CDC announced Friday that it has issued Level 2 travel advisories for Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China’s Guangdong Province due to chikungunya outbreaks, urging Americans to practice enhanced precautions and recommending vaccination for travelers to affected areas. The agency also flagged elevated risk in Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand, while WHO data show roughly 445,000 suspected/confirmed cases and 155 deaths globally through September, including about 16,000 locally transmitted cases in Guangdong, China.

Public Health and Travel Chikungunya

U.S., Australia advance AUKUS with $1B pledge

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In Washington on Dec. 8, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles for annual talks focused on Indo-Pacific security, AUKUS, and supply-chain resilience. Hegseth said Australia will deliver an additional $1 billion to help expand U.S. submarine production capacity as the allies press “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, while a State Department readout said Rubio and Wong also discussed combating online scam operations and strategic infrastructure projects across the Pacific.

Indo-Pacific Security AUKUS Submarine Program

Blumenthal presses FTC on dialysis duopoly probe

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the Federal Trade Commission to disclose the results of its investigation into the U.S. for‑profit dialysis industry and to pursue 'robust' enforcement against Fresenius and DaVita if warranted. The senator told CBS News the FTC has examined whether the two firms’ dominant market share has harmed care quality, but findings have not been made public; he cited concerns about anticompetitive conduct in a sector serving about 500,000 Americans.

Antitrust and Health Care Federal Trade Commission

DHS launches 'Worst of the Worst' arrest database

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The Department of Homeland Security on Monday unveiled a 'Worst of the Worst' webpage listing criminal noncitizens arrested during the current enforcement campaign, launching with 10,000 arrest entries and promising ongoing updates. The searchable site spans all 50 states and highlights serious offenses such as homicide, rape and child sex crimes; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the tool aims to increase transparency and counter misinformation amid sanctuary‑jurisdiction disputes.

Immigration Enforcement Department of Homeland Security

Jasmine Crockett files for Texas Democratic Senate primary ahead of deadline

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett formally filed paperwork Dec. 8, the final day of candidate qualifying, launching a Dallas campaign event roughly 90 minutes before the state's 6 p.m. CT filing deadline for the March 3 Democratic primary. She joins a competitive Democratic field that includes state Rep. James Talarico—who has reported roughly $6.2–6.3 million raised and 10,000 volunteers and has welcomed her entry—while Crockett’s House committee reported about $2.7 million raised in Q3 and $4.6 million cash on hand; Republicans such as Sen. John Cornyn, AG Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt are expected GOP contenders and have already sought to make her a target as Democrats eye a challenging 2026 map.

Texas 2026 Senate Race Texas U.S. Senate Race Jasmine Crockett

Massachusetts high court hears Meta addiction suit

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments on Dec. 5 in Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s 2024 lawsuit alleging Meta designed Facebook and Instagram features to addict teens. State Solicitor David Kravitz said the case targets engagement tools like notifications, while Meta’s attorney Mark Mosier argued the claims would penalize traditional publishing functions protected by the First Amendment; justices’ questions focused on attention‑driving features rather than content moderation. The case comes amid broader state and federal litigation accusing Meta of knowingly deploying addictive design elements for young users.

Meta Platforms Child Online Safety Litigation

After 3rd Circuit ruling, DOJ taps trio to oversee New Jersey office; Habba named Bondi senior adviser

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The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Alina Habba was unlawfully serving and disqualified her as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, criticizing the administration’s appointment maneuver as undermining stability and clarity in the office. Habba resigned and will serve as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s senior adviser for U.S. attorneys while DOJ delegates day‑to‑day New Jersey responsibilities to Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox and Ari Fontecchio; Bondi said she will seek further review and criticized the ruling as politicized amid stalled cases.

Department of Justice Justice Department Appointments Federal Courts

GAO flags ACA subsidy errors, fake enrollments

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The Government Accountability Office reported last week that the ACA marketplace paid enhanced premium tax credits in error to tens of thousands of accounts in 2023–2024, including duplicate coverage within a single plan year, payments tied to deceased SSNs, and benefits to 18 of 20 fictitious applicants it created. GAO also said it could not identify evidence of reconciliation for more than $21 billion in APTC for plan year 2023 enrollees with SSNs, while emphasizing the findings are preliminary and represent less than 1% of users, as Congress debates whether to extend the expiring COVID‑era subsidy enhancements.

Affordable Care Act Government Accountability Office Health Insurance Subsidies

Forest Lake man fatally hit on I-35E

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A 66-year-old Forest Lake man died after crashing into the median and then walking into traffic, where he was struck on northbound I-35E just north of County Road J in Lino Lakes around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The 26-year-old driver who hit him was uninjured; the victim’s identity will be released later as troopers investigate what led to the initial off-road crash.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Israel exposes Iran-directed Hamas network in Turkey

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Israel’s military and security service said this week they uncovered a Hamas money‑exchange network operating in Turkey under Iran’s direction, moving hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas and helping rebuild capabilities outside Gaza. The IDF and ISA named three Gazan operatives in Turkey—Tamer Hassan, Khalil Farwana and Farid Abu Dair—and released documents showing currency transfers, as Washington debates whether to allow Turkish troops in a U.S.-backed postwar Gaza stabilization mission.

Hamas financing Turkey foreign policy

CDC logs 21st cruise norovirus outbreak in 2025

7d Dev 1

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program confirmed a norovirus outbreak aboard Aida Cruises’ AIDAdiva, with 95 passengers and six crew reporting vomiting and diarrhea during a Nov. 10–Dec. 16 voyage that includes U.S. ports. The cruise line notified CDC on Nov. 30, implemented enhanced cleaning, isolated ill persons and submitted stool samples; CDC says this marks the 21st cruise-ship norovirus outbreak reported this year.

Public Health Cruise Industry

Allred quits Texas Senate bid, seeks House seat

7d Dev 2 Data

Colin Allred has exited the Democratic primary for the Texas Senate and is instead launching a comeback bid for the U.S. House, saying he wants to avoid a “bruising Senate primary and runoff” that could hurt Democrats in the general election. He will run in a newly drawn Dallas–Fort Worth district that includes much of the area he represented from 2019–2025; most of that new district is currently represented by Rep. Marc Veasey, who plans to run in a neighboring district.

Texas Politics U.S. House Elections Texas Elections

Mexico refused to expel CIA‑flagged Russian spies

7d 1 Data

The New York Times reports that the CIA provided Mexico with a list of more than two dozen Russian intelligence officers posing as diplomats, but Mexican officials declined to expel them despite direct U.S. warnings to then‑President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. While Mexico agreed in 2023 to let U.S. officials weigh in on new Russian diplomatic credential applications—rejecting some—the Russian operatives already in country were allowed to remain even after Mexico’s presidential transition last fall, according to multiple current and former U.S. and Mexican officials.

Intelligence and Espionage U.S.–Mexico Relations

State Dept memo: Deny H‑1B visas to applicants tied to ‘censorship’ work

7d Dev 3

An internal State Department memo dated Dec. 2 instructs consular officers to “thoroughly explore” applicants’ work histories (resumes, LinkedIn, media) and to deny H‑1B visas — and is reported to apply across visa categories with special scrutiny of H‑1Bs — if there is evidence they were responsible for or complicit in “censorship” of protected U.S. speech, including roles such as fact‑checking, content moderation, trust & safety, compliance or combating misinformation, and to consider participation by family members traveling with applicants. The department declined to comment on the reportedly leaked memo but defended the policy’s goal of protecting Americans’ free expression, framing the guidance as implementing a May policy announced by Secretary Marco Rubio amid a broader administration push against perceived foreign censorship.

Tech Content Moderation World Cup and Olympics Immigration and Visas

Iran says second U.S. deportation flight carries 55

7d Dev 3 Data

Iran says a second U.S. deportation flight carrying 55 Iranians has left the United States, with Tehran's foreign ministry saying the deportees "announced their willingness for return" and that U.S. authorities cited legal breaches of immigration regulations. A U.S. official told the NYT the routine deportation also carried non‑Iranian nationals who would disembark in Cairo while the Iranians were routed via Kuwait to transfer to a chartered Kuwait Airways flight to Tehran; ICE declined to confirm specific flights, saying removal flights occur every day.

Iran–U.S. Relations U.S. Immigration and Enforcement U.S.–Iran Relations

China trade surplus tops $1T amid tariffs

7d Dev 1

China’s customs agency said Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, that its annual trade surplus has surpassed $1 trillion for the first time, as November exports rose 5.9% year over year even while shipments to the United States plunged nearly 29% under U.S. tariffs. The report notes U.S. import taxes on Chinese goods peaked at 145% this spring and have been reduced to 47.5%, and that China has redirected exports to Europe, Africa, Latin America and the rest of Asia.

U.S.–China Trade Global Economy

Wegmans recalls mixed nuts for Salmonella risk

7d Dev 1

The FDA announced a recall of Wegmans Deluxe Mixed Nuts Unsalted sold in nine states and Washington, D.C., after supplier testing found Salmonella in a lot of raw pistachios used in the products. The recalled items, manufactured by Mellace Family Brands California in Warren, Ohio, were sold between Nov. 3 and Dec. 1; no illnesses have been reported and customers can return affected products for a full refund.

Food Safety Recalls FDA

Blackburn, Cantwell unveil NIL savings bill

7d Dev 1 Data

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R‑Tenn.) and Maria Cantwell (D‑Wash.) introduced the HUSTLE Act to create tax‑advantaged accounts for college athletes’ name, image and likeness (NIL) income, require financial education, and tighten oversight of athlete agents. The bill allows contributions up to the annual gift‑tax exclusion, permits up to $35,000 in unused funds to roll into an IRA once an athlete has been out of college sports for at least a year, and directs Treasury to issue regulations to prevent abuse. The proposal updates the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act to require agent registration with states and aims to curb exploitative commissions and IP grabs.

College Sports NIL U.S. Congress

ICE warns Illinois over releasing detainees

7d Dev 1

ICE sent a letter, shared with Fox News Digital, warning Illinois officials that state and local agencies are releasing violent criminal noncitizens despite active immigration detainers, which the agency says endangers public safety. ICE reports 1,768 criminal aliens with active detainers have been released since January 2025 and another 4,015 with pending detainers remain in custody, including individuals linked to 51 homicides and more than 800 sexual‑predatory offenses; the agency cited multiple cases where local authorities failed to notify ICE before release and asked whether Illinois will change course.

Immigration Enforcement Illinois Public Safety

ICEBlock sues Trump over Apple app takedown

7d Dev 1 Data

The developer of ICEBlock filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8, alleging the Trump administration violated the First Amendment by threatening prosecution and pressuring Apple to remove the ICE-tracking alert app from the App Store in October. The suit cites Attorney General Pam Bondi’s public statements as evidence of coercion; DOJ and Apple did not comment. ICEBlock lets users anonymously report nearby ICE sightings, which the White House has argued endangers agents, a claim the developer disputes.

First Amendment and Tech Platforms Immigration Enforcement

Russia sentences soldiers for killing U.S. citizen

7d Breaking 1

A court in Russian-controlled Donetsk on Monday sentenced four Russian soldiers for the April 2024 killing of American-born Russell “Texas” Bentley, a 64-year-old pro-Moscow propagandist and fighter. Two officers received 12-year terms and were stripped of rank, a sergeant got 11 years, and a fourth soldier received 1.5 years for concealing crimes, after the court found Bentley was beaten to death when they mistook him for a U.S. spy and his body was later destroyed in a car explosion.

Russia–Ukraine War Courts and Legal Actions

Report links U.S. universities to Chinese surveillance labs

7d 1

A report released Monday by Strategy Risks and the Human Rights Foundation alleges that elite U.S. universities including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton co-authored roughly 3,000 papers since 2020 with Chinese AI labs Zhejiang Lab and SAIRI, which are tied to state surveillance contractor CETC. The study argues such collaborations advanced technologies like multi-object tracking and gait recognition that support Beijing’s repression of Uyghur Muslims, noting Chinese laws compel research entities to assist state security services and warning U.S.-funded work may be absorbed into systems of oppression.

U.S. Universities and China Uyghur Human Rights

Ernst urges 24 agencies to freeze SBA 8(a)

7d Dev 1

Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, sent letters to 24 federal agencies urging a halt to funding and contracting through the SBA’s 8(a) program pending a government‑wide review of alleged fraud and oversight failures. Citing a recent DOJ bribery case tied to 8(a) awards, an undercover video, and SBA’s own June audit order, Ernst argues Biden‑era expansion of 8(a) goals to 15% has amplified risks; the program awarded more than $40 billion in FY2024.

Small Business Administration Federal Contracting and Oversight

Light snow Monday; storm watch Tuesday north metro

7d Dev TC 1

FOX 9 forecasts light snow in the Twin Cities Monday with a dusting expected, while areas north of I‑94 could see 1–3 inches. A stronger clipper arrives Tuesday with a winter storm watch posted for the northern metro and areas north, bringing heavier snow bands north of I‑94, a wintry mix or rain possible in the metro/south, and much colder air Wednesday dropping temps into the teens and single digits through the week.

Weather

Fire destroys Prior Lake mosque, K–12 school

7d Breaking TC 1 Data

An overnight fire around 2 a.m. Monday destroyed the Masjid Hamza Al‑Mahmood Foundation and Baitul Hikmah Academy in Prior Lake, with firefighters arriving to flames through the roof and a partial roof collapse. No one was inside; about 200 K–12 students move to e‑learning as the cause remains under investigation and the school seeks temporary space at other campuses or a rented site.

Public Safety Education

Boston Scientific buys Maple Grove facility for $188M

7d Breaking TC 1 Data

Boston Scientific has purchased a newly built facility in Maple Grove for $188 million, further expanding its presence in the northwest Twin Cities metro. The deal underscores continued investment by the medtech giant in its local operations; additional details about the building and any staffing plans were not immediately available.

Business & Economy Real Estate

Trump proposes CAFE rollback to 34.5 mpg through 2031; GM, Stellantis back plan

7d Dev 4 Analysis

The Trump administration proposed rolling back light‑duty CAFE standards to roughly 34.5 mpg through model year 2031—reverting to a 2022 baseline and increasing fuel‑economy requirements by about 0.5% per year versus roughly 2% under the Biden rule (which projected near‑50 mpg targets)—and the DOT/NHTSA plan was unveiled at the White House and sent into formal rulemaking and public comment. General Motors and Stellantis (and Ford’s CEO praised the move) backed the alignment as reflecting market realities and a single national standard, while environmental groups warned the rollback would raise U.S. oil use, emissions and weaken EV policy.

Automotive Industry Transportation Regulation Fuel Economy Standards

Rural hospitals warn $100K H‑1B fee hurts staffing

7d 1

CBS reports that a September presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 H‑1B fee for workers applying from abroad is straining rural hospitals’ hiring, with facilities like West River Health Services in Hettinger, North Dakota unable to attract U.S. applicants and now facing prohibitive costs or uncertain DHS waivers. The American Hospital Association, two national rural health groups, and 50+ medical societies have asked the administration to exempt healthcare, citing heavy reliance on foreign‑born clinicians and technicians.

Immigration Policy Healthcare Workforce

New Oakdale group home for trafficked youth

7d Breaking TC 1

A new group home in Oakdale, Washington County, will support youth impacted by sexual exploitation and human trafficking, providing safe housing and services in the Twin Cities east metro. Announced December 7, the facility expands local capacity to serve vulnerable teens in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.

Public Safety Health

Fights end Hopkins–Tartan game; police clear gym

7d Breaking TC 1 Data

Police cleared the gym and ended a basketball game early at Hopkins High School on Saturday night after fights broke out during a matchup between Hopkins and Tartan, officials said. The event was hosted by Breakdown Sports under a rental agreement that required a security plan, which included two on‑site officers; school leaders reported no serious injuries and noted a similar third‑party tournament in August also saw fights at the same venue.

Public Safety Education

Refunds open after Woodbury Dental Arts settlement

Dec 06 Breaking TC 1 Data

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison announced Dec. 6 a settlement with the Woodbury Dental Arts bankruptcy trustee that lets former patients seek refunds from the Consumer Protection Restitution Account for prepaid services never received after the clinic’s abrupt closure. Claims must be filed within 60 days of notice with proof of payment; owner Dr. Marko Kamel has surrendered his dental license and cannot reapply for 10 years following Board of Dentistry actions.

Legal Local Government

St. Paul declares snow emergency

Dec 06 Breaking TC 3 Data

St. Paul has declared a snow emergency and moved into the enforcement phase, with city officials ticketing and towing vehicles that violate snow-emergency parking rules. During the recent snow emergency the city issued 3,253 tickets and towed 952 vehicles.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Light snow Saturday for Twin Cities metro

Dec 06 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9 meteorologists say a Saturday afternoon clipper will brush the Twin Cities with a trace to about 1 inch of snow after 2 p.m., while a winter weather advisory covers all of southern Minnesota where higher totals are expected. Snow should taper for everyone overnight, with the heaviest amounts near the Minnesota–Iowa border and some north Iowa counties topping 6 inches.

Weather

FAA hires Peraton for ATC overhaul

Dec 06 TC 1 Data

The FAA has selected Peraton to lead a multi‑year overhaul of the nation’s air‑traffic control systems, a move with implications for Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and travelers across the Twin Cities. Announced in a Dec. 5 TwinCities.com report, the award positions Peraton to manage core modernization work the FAA says is needed to improve safety, reliability and capacity.

Transit & Infrastructure Technology

FAA eases nationwide flight cuts to 3%; MSP still under limits

Dec 06 Dev TC 32 Data

The FAA has scaled back its mandated flight‑capacity reductions at 40 major U.S. airports from a planned 10% ramp (held at 6%) to 3% as controller attendance improved, but the order — in effect since Nov. 7 amid unpaid air traffic controllers, staffing shortages and missed paychecks — remains in place and continues to limit operations at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP). The cuts and earlier staffing shortfalls have caused widespread delays and thousands of cancellations nationwide (dozens at MSP), prompted airlines to offer refunds and waivers, and spurred an FAA probe into carriers’ handling of the reductions.

Government & Politics Transit & Infrastructure Government

FAA probes airlines over shutdown flight cuts

Dec 06 Dev TC 1 Data

The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation on December 5, 2025 into how U.S. airlines implemented FAA-ordered flight reductions during the federal shutdown, a move that could affect carriers serving Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. The agency previously imposed nationwide cutbacks that included MSP; the probe will review carriers’ compliance and could lead to enforcement actions.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

AG Ellison to mediate UMN–M Physicians–Fairview talks; parties resume negotiations

Dec 05 Breaking TC 6

The University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services and M Physicians agreed to resume talks over the medical school’s future funding and clinical partnership with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison managing the negotiations and naming a team to assist and help select a mutually agreed mediator. The move follows a contentious standoff — Fairview and M Physicians had announced a roughly $1 billion, “foundational and binding” framework they aim to finalize by end of 2025, while UMN regents unanimously criticized the pact as an overreach (calling it a “hostile takeover”), passed a resolution directing negotiations with the university and prompted the removal of M Physicians leader Dr. Greg Beilman from a UMN vice president post.

Local Government Health Business & Economy

St. Louis Park schools issue ICE guidance

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1 Data

After rumors on Thursday that ICE agents were outside St. Louis Park school buildings, the district said it found no evidence of ICE presence, increased supervision, and sent families guidance on what would happen if federal agents do come to schools. Officials said schools do not collect immigration status, visitors must use main entrances, and only a judge‑signed order would compel action; they urged families to keep contacts updated and consider a preparedness plan (including DOPA, reconnection steps, and emergency kits).

Education Public Safety

FRA eases track inspection rules nationwide

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1

The Federal Railroad Administration finalized a rule on Dec. 5, 2025, allowing railroads to reduce some manual track inspections if they use approved technology to detect defects. The nationwide change applies to rail lines that run through the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, shifting more inspection responsibility to sensors and automated systems while the FRA says safety standards will be maintained.

Transit & Infrastructure Government/Regulatory

Eagan opens Veteran Village for homeless veterans

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1 Data

A new Veteran Village in Eagan opened Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, providing housing and support for veterans experiencing homelessness in Dakota County. The facility’s launch expands local capacity to serve unhoused veterans in the south Twin Cities metro.

Housing Local Government

Supreme Court takes Trump birthright case

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Dec. 5, 2025, to hear a challenge to President Donald Trump’s order seeking to limit birthright citizenship, setting up a constitutional ruling this term. The outcome could directly affect families in the Twin Cities whose children were born in Minnesota to non‑citizen parents, as well as access to documents and services dependent on citizenship status.

Legal Immigration

St. Paul school bus, LRT collide; student hurt

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1 Data

Metro Transit says a school bus and a light-rail train collided around 9:30 a.m. Friday at University Ave W and Western Ave N in St. Paul, sending one student to the hospital with minor injuries as a precaution. A witness told authorities the bus driver ran a red light; Metro Transit Police and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating, and another bus transported the remaining students to school.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Light snow causes 100 crashes, 1 fatality Friday morning

Dec 05 Dev TC 2 Data

Light snow, ice and slush across Minnesota contributed to 100 property-damage crashes between midnight and 9 a.m. Friday, including 64 vehicles off the road, 10 spinouts, two jackknifed semis and five injury crashes. One person died in a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 67 near 190th Ave north of Wood Lake just after 8 a.m., and MnDOT said side streets and ramps were the slickest in the Twin Cities.

Transit & Infrastructure Weather Public Safety

CDC advisers ease Hep B birth‑dose mandate

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1 Data

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, to recommend that not all newborns require a hepatitis B vaccination at birth, allowing deferral in certain low‑risk cases (such as when the mother tests negative for hepatitis B surface antigen). The change, pending formal CDC adoption, would require Minnesota hospitals and clinics to update newborn vaccination protocols in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Health.

Health

Feds charge Minneapolis man in Bloomington kidnapping-rape; AG, U.S. attorney cite serial assaults

Dec 05 Breaking TC 2 Data

Federal authorities have charged Abdimahat Bille Mohamed in a Bloomington kidnapping-rape, alleging probable cause that he committed multiple sexual assaults — including gang rapes — involving at least five victims from 2017 to 2025. U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen vowed to "aggressively prosecute this serial rapist," and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized prior local release decisions that left Mohamed, who was on probation from two earlier Minneapolis sex‑assault convictions (one involving a 15‑year‑old), free when the September incident occurred.

Public Safety Legal

US cuts immigrant work permits to 18 months

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1 Data

USCIS announced on Dec. 5, 2025, that Employment Authorization Documents for many legal immigrants will shift from up to five years of validity to 18 months, requiring more frequent renewals. The federal change applies nationwide, directly affecting Twin Cities immigrants who work under EADs and the employers who depend on them.

Legal Immigration

DHS to pause new HCBS disability licenses Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2027; limited exceptions

Dec 05 Breaking TC 3 Data

The Minnesota Department of Human Services will pause accepting and issuing new Home and Community‑Based Services (HCBS/245D) disability license applications from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, may retroactively cancel existing applications, and will bar current providers from adding new services during the moratorium. DHS frames the freeze as a response to fraud investigations and the need for greater oversight after a roughly 283% surge in new applications (with participants up ~25% and active provider licenses up ~55% over five years), while allowing limited exceptions for requests from counties, tribal nations or case managers.

Health Local Government

DHS: Half of probed MN immigration cases fraudulent

Dec 05 Dev TC 1 Data

DHS says a targeted fraud‑detection operation in Minneapolis–Saint Paul found about half of the investigated immigration cases were fraudulent, spanning naturalization, H‑1B, marriage and Ukrainian humanitarian parole applications. The agency also cited more than 95,000 pending Minnesota immigration applications (about 6,500 tied to Somalia) but did not release underlying totals or any charging data; FOX 9 has requested records.

Public Safety Legal

Judge denies new trial in Minneapolis girl’s killing

Dec 04 Dev TC 1

A Hennepin County judge denied Dpree Shareef Robinson’s postconviction bid to withdraw his 2023 guilty plea and vacate his 37.5‑year sentence for the 2021 drive‑by shooting that killed 9‑year‑old Trinity Ottoson‑Smith in Minneapolis. The court found no evidence Robinson was impaired by oxycodone at his plea hearing and rejected his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, keeping his second‑degree murder conviction and sentence in place.

Legal Public Safety

MMB forecast: $2.4B surplus now, nearly $3B 2028–29 shortfall

Dec 04 Breaking TC 2 Data

Minnesota Management and Budget’s new forecast shows a near‑term surplus of about $2.4 billion — roughly $549 million higher than previously estimated — but predicts a nearly $3 billion shortfall in the 2028–29 biennium, driven largely by rising health‑care costs. Gov. Tim Walz cautioned that federal tariffs and health‑care changes add uncertainty while saying the budget remains on solid footing; the outlook has swung since March’s roughly $6 billion projected shortfall and the June special session that trimmed the biennial budget from $72 billion to $66 billion (post‑session estimates briefly cut the out‑year gap to about $1.1 billion before federal changes were factored in).

Local Government Business & Economy

$1,000 'Trump Accounts' for 2025–2028 newborns

Dec 04 Breaking TC 1 Data

A new federal program will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts for all U.S. babies born 2025–2028 once parents open an account, with funds invested in low‑fee U.S. stock index funds and accessible at age 18 for restricted uses such as tuition, a home down payment or starting a business. Michael and Susan Dell also pledged $6.25 billion to add a $250 seed for some children age 10 and under in lower‑income ZIP codes who don’t qualify for the $1,000, changes that directly affect eligible Twin Cities families.

Business & Economy Education

30-year mortgage rate falls to 6.19%

Dec 04 Breaking TC 1 Data

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey on Thursday, Dec. 4, reported the average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate dipped to 6.19%, near its low for 2025. The move could modestly improve affordability for Minneapolis–Saint Paul buyers and refinancing prospects for some homeowners as the housing market heads into winter.

Business & Economy Housing

Subzero cold grips Twin Cities; MSP hits −5°F

Dec 04 Breaking TC 1

On Thursday morning, December 4, 2025, the Twin Cities saw subzero temperatures with MSP Airport bottoming out at −5°F and numerous metro suburbs between −14°F and −5°F. Statewide, daily record lows were set in Hibbing (−19°F), Owatonna (−15°F) and Red Wing (−11°F); forecasters say highs will reach only the teens Thursday with wind chills near −5°F, before a brief warmup into the upper 20s–low 30s Friday.

Weather

Chauvin files postconviction petition in Hennepin

Dec 04 Breaking TC 2

Derek Chauvin filed a postconviction petition seeking a new trial, arguing jury instructions misstated the law and requesting an evidentiary hearing into alleged trial misconduct and due‑process violations; the defense retained physicians from The Forensic Panel and a Critical Incident Review analyst and submitted sworn statements from 34 current and former MPD officers saying the knee‑to‑neck tactic was part of MPD training and policy. The filing highlights autopsy details — Dr. Andrew Baker cited cardiopulmonary arrest complicating restraint and did not find injuries consistent with asphyxia, conflicting with state experts who said Floyd died from low oxygen — and notes Chauvin is housed at FCI Big Spring (projected federal release Nov. 2037); MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said there is no credible information that former President Trump will pardon him.

Public Safety Legal

Ex-Washington Co. deputy sentenced in DUI crash

Dec 04 Breaking TC 1

A former Washington County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced in Washington County on Dec. 3, 2025, for driving drunk while off duty and crashing into a family’s SUV, according to TwinCities.com. The case stems from an earlier east‑metro crash; the sentencing concludes a criminal proceeding involving a local law‑enforcement officer.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul sets hearing on 5.3% 2026 levy

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2

The St. Paul City Council scheduled a Truth in Taxation hearing on a proposed 5.3% increase to the 2026 property‑tax levy. On Dec. 3, 2025 the council voted to adopt that 5.3% levy and approved $6.7 million in budget changes.

Local Government Business & Economy

St. Paul approves 5.3% 2026 levy, $6.7M budget changes

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul City Council on Dec. 3, 2025 approved a 5.3% increase to the city’s 2026 property‑tax levy and adopted $6.7 million in changes to the municipal budget. The vote finalizes next year’s tax rate and spending plan, directly impacting city services and property‑tax bills for St. Paul residents.

Local Government Business & Economy

SPPS says 2026 school levy on track to rise 15% after hearing

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul Public Schools says its 2026 property tax levy is on track to rise about 15% following the district’s Truth-in-Taxation hearing. The update, given after the Tuesday hearing, signals the School Board will likely adopt the levy later this month for taxes payable in 2026.

Education Local Government

MDH cites Golden Valley senior home after fatal fall

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Health cited Meadow Ridge Senior Living in Golden Valley for neglect and fined it $5,000 after 79-year-old resident Larry Thompson slowly fell from his electric scooter and suffocated while staff, following a 'no touch after a fall' policy, failed to assist. Surveillance and body-camera video show staff delayed aid until first responders arrived; the state long‑term care ombudsman warned such 'no touch/no lift' policies pose serious risks.

Health Public Safety

Eagan names Salim Omari police chief

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

The City of Eagan has appointed Salim Omari as its new police chief, according to a Dec. 3 report. Omari, who began his policing career in St. Paul, will lead the department serving the Dakota County suburb; the announcement marks a leadership change with public‑safety implications for Eagan residents.

Public Safety Local Government

$7.35M deal for Lake Elmo–Hwy 36 interchange land

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

Washington County and a church reached a $7.35 million agreement for property needed to build the Lake Elmo Avenue–Minnesota 36 interchange in Lake Elmo. The pact clears a key right‑of‑way hurdle for the east‑metro highway project as the county advances design and land acquisition.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Man indicted for ramming ICE vehicle in St. Paul

Dec 03 Dev TC 1

A federal grand jury indicted Jeffrey Josuee Lopez‑Suazo on charges of assaulting and impeding a federal officer and improper entry after ICE says he intentionally rammed an agent’s unmarked squad with a blue Toyota Corolla during a Nov. 25 operation on Rose Avenue East near Payne Avenue in St. Paul. The incident triggered a standoff and large protest where tear gas and pepper spray were used; a second man, Victor Molina Rodriguez, was also arrested that day.

Legal Public Safety

Mike Lindell files for Minnesota governor

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell registered Wednesday to run for Minnesota governor as a Republican, according to state records. He joins a crowded GOP field for the 2026 race that already includes House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, among others.

Elections Local Government

Four men wounded in Dayton’s Bluff shooting now charged in gunfight

Dec 03 Breaking TC 3

Four men were wounded in a shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, near 4th St. E. and Earl St. in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff; police say all four injuries are non-life-threatening, K9 and drone teams searched the scene, and there is no ongoing public threat. Ramsey County prosecutors have charged all four men — charging documents describe a “wild gunfight” with multiple participants exchanging fire — and the case has moved to Ramsey County District Court.

Public Safety Legal

BAE wins $22M Navy deal; Twin Cities work

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

BAE Systems secured a $22 million U.S. Navy contract that could grow to as much as $317 million, with engineering and program support to be performed in the Twin Cities. The award brings new defense-related work to the metro and could impact staffing and operations at BAE’s local facilities.

Business & Economy Technology

HUD pulls funds from Twin Cities housing projects

Dec 03 Breaking TC 6

HUD’s new Continuum of Care rules have canceled or sharply cut funding for Twin Cities permanent supportive housing, threatening roughly 3,600 Minnesotans and about $48 million in CoC funds in Minnesota by reducing renewals and capping supportive‑services spending. The changes — which repudiate “Housing First,” impose eligibility conditions (eg. bans on public camping, cooperation with ICE, limits on harm‑reduction and certain gender‑identity protections) — have prompted a coalition of 185+ organizations, faith‑leader vigils, bipartisan congressional pleas and legal action by Minnesota’s attorney general as local providers scramble and warn the cuts could more than double chronic homelessness.

Housing Local Government Legal

HUD rule change slashes MN supportive housing funds

Dec 03 Dev TC 2

A recent HUD rule change sharply reduced federal supportive housing funding in Minnesota, cutting assistance that serves more than 3,600 residents. Providers statewide are scrambling—revising operations, pausing or triaging intakes—and warn the uncertain timelines could force reductions in services.

Housing Local Government

Minnesota sues HUD over homelessness funding shift

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2

Minnesota has joined 20 other states in suing HUD over a shift in homeless housing funding. The federal changes have left local housing and homelessness programs scrambling, and Twin Cities service providers are preparing for disruptions while the litigation proceeds.

Housing Legal

Twin Cities roads slick after light snow, cold

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

About a half‑inch of snow Tuesday night left some Twin Cities roads slick Wednesday morning, with MnDOT reporting clear to partially covered conditions and warning that side streets and ramps may be most treacherous. Plows are salting ahead of a rapid temperature drop into the single digits this afternoon and below zero overnight.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure

Trump student-loan overhaul: DOE drops IBR hardship test in December; caps grad borrowing next July

Dec 03 Dev TC 2 Data

The Department of Education/Federal Student Aid will finish implementing changes in December that remove the “partial financial hardship” requirement to enroll in Income‑Based Repayment (IBR), a move that can let higher earners newly qualify, while also eliminating the SAVE plan and phasing out PAYE and ICR. IBR payments remain capped at the equivalent of the 10‑year standard plan with existing calculation percentages unchanged (generally 10% for new borrowers after July 1, 2014; 15% for older loans), and borrowers with eligible loans before July 1, 2026 can access IBR/ICR/PAYE on or after that date — FSA urges consolidations be completed at least three months prior.

Education Business & Economy Health

USDOT audit threatens $30M over illegal MN CDLs

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2 Data

Federal auditors from the U.S. Department of Transportation say Minnesota improperly issued a sizable share of commercial driver’s licenses to foreign nationals — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy alleged about one‑third were unlawfully issued, including holders from El Salvador, Somalia and Ukraine with expired work authorization — and have given the state 30 days to fix deficiencies or risk losing roughly $30 million in federal highway funds. Minnesota’s Driver and Vehicle Services has paused issuing CDLs to foreign nationals while conducting an internal review and preparing an action plan, and USDOT is also probing CDL training centers for possible falsified training data and curriculum shortfalls.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Rosemount police chief placed on leave

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2 Data

Rosemount Police Chief Mikael Dahlstrom was placed on leave on Oct. 1 and subsequently resigned, with the City Council accepting his resignation effective Dec. 2, 2025. The city says the move followed internal discussions prompted by feedback from an anonymous employee survey, and Deputy Chief Carson Thomas — who has served as interim chief since Oct. 1 — will lead the department. City Administrator Logan Martin said officials will focus on workplace culture and maintaining public safety, and details on the search for a permanent chief will be shared in coming months.

Public Safety Local Government

Rosemount police chief Dahlstrom resigns

Dec 03 Dev TC 1 Data

The Rosemount City Council accepted Police Chief Mikael Dahlstrom’s resignation effective Dec. 2, 2025, following internal discussions prompted by feedback from an anonymous employee survey. Deputy Chief Carson Thomas remains interim chief, and the city said it will outline the process to select a new chief in the coming months, emphasizing workplace culture and public safety continuity.

Local Government Public Safety

Plymouth officer shoots armed man after disturbance

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2 Data

A Plymouth police officer shot a man following a reported domestic disturbance; the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the officer as Jacob Coopet, a 23‑year law enforcement veteran, and the man as 44‑year‑old Atanas Hristev of Champlin. BCA says Hristev pointed a handgun at Officer Coopet before the officer fired, investigators recovered a handgun, spent shell casings and squad‑car video, Hristev is hospitalized in stable condition, and the BCA will present its findings to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office without making charging recommendations.

Public Safety Legal

South St. Paul teen charged after woman dragged

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1 Data

A teenager has been criminally charged in South St. Paul after allegedly dragging a woman with a vehicle during a dispute over a vape cartridge, according to a Dec. 2 report. The incident occurred in South St. Paul (Dakota County) and led to charges tied to the alleged assault; further details on the charging documents and injuries were not immediately available.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul shooter Dejaun Hemphill gets 12 years

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1 Data

Dejaun Hemphill was sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting a St. Paul man, in a case described as the masked assailant “hunting” the victim. The sentence, reported Dec. 2, 2025, closes a Twin Cities murder case and follows a court hearing in the metro.

Legal Public Safety

Treasury orders probe of MN fraud–terror ties

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3

The Treasury Department has opened a federal probe to trace alleged money‑laundering routes from recent Minnesota human‑services fraud to the Somali militant group Al‑Shabab, though investigators say they have not found direct evidence that fraud proceeds reached the group. Gov. Tim Walz said he welcomes federal help but questioned the timing and motives after President Trump’s posts, Republican state senators backed the inquiry, reporting noted an anonymous X account claiming to represent about 480 DHS employees was suspended and later returned, and prior probes linked some fraud proceeds to real‑estate transactions in Kenya with separate prosecutions alleging Al‑Shabab ties.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Bronze Line to replace Purple Line BRT

Dec 02 Breaking TC 1 Data

Ramsey County and Metro Transit announced on Dec. 2, 2025, that the long‑planned METRO Purple Line will be replaced by a new 'Bronze Line' hybrid bus route running between St. Paul and Maplewood. The revised corridor shortens and retools the project, shifting away from the previous Purple Line plan and setting up next steps for design, environmental review and public engagement.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

USDA threatens to cut Minnesota SNAP funds

Dec 02 Breaking TC 1 Data

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that the USDA will begin withholding SNAP funds next week from states, including Minnesota, that refuse to provide recipient names and immigration status, framing the move as anti‑fraud. Minnesota has roughly 451,966 SNAP recipients (7.8% of the population); the state’s DCYF reiterated prior reporting errors that inflated past payout totals, and AG Keith Ellison recently joined a 21‑state lawsuit seeking to block federal cutoffs.

Local Government Health

Wren Clair, KSTP seek dismissal of lawsuit

Dec 02 Dev TC 1 Data

Meteorologist Wren Clair and KSTP-TV jointly asked a judge on Dec. 2, 2025 to dismiss her lawsuit against the station, according to a TwinCities.com report. The filing signals a potential end to the legal dispute pending the court’s decision; details of the request were not immediately disclosed.

Legal Business & Economy

GN Group adds 100 jobs in Shakopee

Dec 02 Breaking TC 1 Data

Copenhagen-based GN Group has converted Shakopee’s former Shutterfly facility into an advanced medical-device manufacturing and distribution center and plans to add about 100 jobs, the company told the Business Journal. The project brings new production and logistics activity to Scott County after a year-long retrofit of the building.

Business & Economy Health

Costco sues to block emergency tariffs

Dec 02 Dev TC 1 Data

Costco Wholesale Corporation filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking to invalidate President Trump’s emergency tariff orders, block U.S. Customs and Border Protection from collecting such duties going forward, and recover tariffs already paid. The filing cites an imminent Dec. 15 deadline to “liquidate” import entries, after which duties become final, and argues the emergency‑powers statute used does not authorize creating or raising tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and other countries.

Legal Business & Economy

Metro Transit E Line BRT launches this weekend

Dec 02 Breaking TC 1 Data

Metro Transit will debut the E Line bus rapid transit this weekend, replacing Route 6 and providing faster, more frequent service between Southdale and the University of Minnesota with upgraded stations and security features. The agency expects about 3,000 riders per day, and business groups at 50th & France and in Linden Hills—hit hard by construction—are cautiously optimistic the new service will boost foot traffic.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

MN GOP urges federal probe of alleged terror financing

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3 Data

Minnesota Senate and House Republican caucuses sent letters Monday to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen — joining earlier requests from four GOP U.S. House members — urging a federal probe into reports that Minnesota-linked fraud and remittances may have funded terrorism. A City Journal/Manhattan Institute report, based on unnamed sources and a former detective, alleges hawala transfers gave a cut to al‑Shabaab, but a 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor found no substantiated proof that money reached terrorist groups; the U.S. Treasury has now opened an investigation.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

Ex-Mpls Chamber CEO Jonathan Weinhagen pleads guilty to mail fraud; faces nearly 3 years, >$200K restitution

Dec 02 Breaking TC 7 Data

Jonathan Weinhagen, the former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber who had been a Mounds View school board member (he has resigned), pleaded guilty to mail fraud and could face nearly three years in prison and more than $200,000 in restitution. Prosecutors allege he diverted Chamber funds — including about $30,000 earmarked as Crime Stoppers rewards for unsolved 2021 Minneapolis child shootings — through a sham consulting firm called Synergy Partners and an alias “James Sullivan,” opened a Chamber line of credit and drew over $125,000, signed sham contracts generating more than $100,000 for himself, and attempted a fraudulent SoFi loan in a scheme said to have run from December 2019 to June 2024.

Local Government Education Legal

Rosemount man charged in St. Paul Victoria St. homicide; victim ID’d as Tarik Hazem Hassan

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3 Data

Spencer Curtis McAloney, 27, of Rosemount, was charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder and illegal firearm possession after a shooting about 1:38 a.m. Sunday at an apartment on the 700 block of North Victoria Street that killed 32-year-old Tarik Hazem Hassan of St. Paul; the charging narrative describes the men as friends and neighbors/records say the apartment had drawn prior drug-related complaints, with witnesses calling McAloney paranoid and "tweaking." McAloney was arrested after a brief police pursuit and crash, officers recovered a handgun and suspected drugs, bail was set at $1.5 million, and the complaint notes prior felony convictions for aggravated robbery and illegal ammunition possession.

Public Safety Legal

Associated Bank buying American National Bank

Dec 01 Breaking TC 1 Data

Associated Bank announced a $604 million deal to acquire American National Bank, adding six Twin Cities branches and bringing its metro footprint to 24 locations. The merger will elevate Associated Bank’s ranking among the region’s largest banks and expands its presence across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market.

Business & Economy

Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel launches GOP governor bid with anti-fraud focus; endorsed by Minneapolis Police Federation

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel formally launched a Republican campaign for Minnesota governor Monday with a one-hour speech and PowerPoint centered on combating fraud in programs like Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services and autism services, pledging a tough-on-crime approach and touting an endorsement from the Minneapolis Police Federation. He blamed state leaders across parties — “This is our money… the Minnesota government is to blame” — addressed past donations to Democrats (including Gov. Tim Walz and the Harris–Walz ticket) without apologizing, highlighted his defense of State Trooper Ryan Londregan (whose charges were dropped), and joins a crowded GOP field.

Elections Public Safety Local Government

Pedestrian struck Nov. 24 at Summit & Dale dies; case now a fatal crash

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

A driver struck a 75-year-old woman and her husband in a crosswalk at Summit Avenue and Dale Street on Nov. 24; the woman died about a week later. St. Paul police have reclassified the incident as a fatal crash and the investigation is ongoing.

Public Safety Legal

Edina Facebook Marketplace robbery: 2 teens arrested; ghost gun seized; 18-year-old wounded

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

Edina police warned neighbors after reports of shots fired during what investigators say was a Facebook Marketplace deal gone wrong in an apartment parking lot on Gallagher Drive. An 18‑year‑old man was shot in the left arm and suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, and investigators found footprints, tire tracks and a discharged .40‑caliber casing at the scene. Two teenagers, ages 16 and 17, were arrested within 12 hours and are being held at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center after a search recovered a .40‑caliber ghost gun; charges are pending.

Public Safety Legal

TSA finalizes $45 Confirm.ID fee for flyers without acceptable ID starting Feb. 1, 2026

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

TSA will charge a $45 fee for travelers without acceptable identification to use its Confirm.ID verification system, covering a 10-day travel period and taking effect Feb. 1, 2026; acceptable IDs that avoid the fee include REAL ID, passports and trusted traveler cards, and REAL ID compliance began in May 2025. TSA urges passengers to pay online before arriving (airport payment options and signage will be available but delays are expected) and says the fee shifts costs from taxpayers to travelers, according to TSA’s Adam Stahl.

Technology Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

FDA approves glasses to slow child myopia

Dec 01 Breaking TC 1 Data

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 1, 2025 approved a new type of prescription eyeglasses designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, authorizing nationwide marketing that includes the Twin Cities. The decision gives Minnesota families and eye‑care providers a federally cleared option intended to reduce the rate at which pediatric myopia worsens.

Health Technology

Dakota County proposes 9.9% levy increase

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

Dakota County is proposing a 9.9% levy increase as part of its 2026 budget. A Tuesday meeting has been scheduled to take up the budget and will serve as the public hearing/Truth-in-Taxation on the proposed levy.

Business & Economy Local Government

Airbus orders urgent A320 safety fixes

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2 Data

Airbus ordered urgent software fixes for A320-family aircraft following a flight-control incident. The company says most jets have now been updated, with fewer than 100 planes worldwide still awaiting the required patch.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure Technology

Minneapolis declares three-day snow emergency

Nov 30 Breaking TC 1 Data

Minneapolis declared a three-day snow emergency Sunday after the season’s first major storm, imposing citywide parking restrictions to clear more than 1,000 miles of streets. Day 1 bans parking on Snow Emergency routes 9 p.m. Nov. 30–8 a.m. Dec. 1; Day 2 restricts the even side of non-routes and both sides of parkways 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 1; Day 3 restricts the odd side of non-routes 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 2, with ticketing and towing for violations.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

December Social Security and SSI payment dates

Nov 30 TC 1 Data

The Social Security Administration set December 2025 payment dates: SSA benefits will be paid Dec. 3 for those on rolls before May 1997 and on Dec. 10, 17, or 24 based on birthdate; SSI will be paid Dec. 1 and again Dec. 31 because Jan. 1 is a federal holiday. Twin Cities recipients who don’t see an expected direct deposit should contact their bank first, then call SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Saturday snow slicks roads: 174 crashes by 4 p.m.; MSP delays, cancellations

Nov 30 Dev TC 3 Data

A daylong snow event slicked roads across Minnesota Saturday, with the State Patrol reporting 174 property‑damage crashes, 13 injury crashes, 114 vehicles off the road and two jackknifed semis between midnight and 4 p.m.; MnDOT said most Twin Cities and southern Minnesota roads were snow‑covered and icy. Snow totals included about 2.8 inches in Bloomington and higher amounts in southern communities (Fairmont 7.5 inches, Faribault 5.5 inches, Albert Lea 4.5 inches), and Minneapolis–St. Paul International reported dozens of disruptions — 25 canceled and 81 delayed arrivals, and 18 canceled and 93 delayed departures — with light snow expected to continue into the night and exit around midnight.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Weather

Cottage Grove seeks regional EMS backup

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1 Data

The City of Cottage Grove asked neighboring east‑metro communities to assist with emergency medical services coverage amid an EMS shortfall, aiming to maintain 911 response while the city addresses gaps. The outreach signals potential interim changes in ambulance/first‑responder coverage affecting Cottage Grove residents and nearby Washington County cities.

Public Safety Local Government

Rep. Morrison proposes Small Business tariff rebates

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1 Data

U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison announced on Small Business Saturday that she has introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small firms from Trump‑era tariffs and refund those that already paid them. Morrison, a member of the House Small Business Committee, made the announcement while touring local Minnesota shops to highlight tariff impacts on Twin Cities businesses.

Business & Economy Government/Policy

DNR boosts security at St. Paul office

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1 Data

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it has increased security at its St. Paul office near a homeless encampment after a rash of break-ins. The agency confirmed the recent incidents and said additional measures are in place to secure the building and protect staff and property.

Public Safety Local Government

US halts all asylum decisions nationwide

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1 Data

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, that the Trump administration is pausing all asylum decisions “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” following a National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C. The nationwide pause applies to cases handled by USCIS offices serving Minnesota, likely delaying asylum adjudications for Twin Cities applicants and legal service providers.

Immigration Local Government

Trump Thanksgiving post targets Minnesota Somalis

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1 Data

Late Thanksgiving night, President Donald Trump posted a message disparaging Somali refugees in Minnesota and using a slur to describe Gov. Tim Walz, while vowing sweeping immigration restrictions; the next day, his administration announced it is halting all asylum decisions. Walz replied on social media, “Release the MRI results,” as the rhetoric and policy move raised immediate concerns for Twin Cities immigrant communities.

Legal Local Government

$3.6B federal heating aid released to states, tribes

Nov 29 Breaking TC 2 Data

The Department of Health and Human Services released $3.6 billion in LIHEAP heating assistance to states and tribes to help families pay to heat their homes, a move NEADA executive director Mark Wolfe called "essential and long overdue." HHS had not yet issued a formal announcement when NEADA confirmed the release; a bipartisan group of House members had urged the funds be released by Nov. 30 amid NEADA projections that winter heating costs will rise about 10.5% (electricity +13.6%/~$1,208, propane +7.3%/~$1,442, natural gas +7.2%/~$644) and noting that roughly 68% of LIHEAP households also receive SNAP, with shutdown-related delays increasing hardship.

Business & Economy Utilities Economy

St. Paul fire chief Butch Inks to retire

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks is retiring, according to a Nov. 28 report, shortly after beginning his second term leading the department. The leadership change affects the city’s fire and emergency services; further details on timing and succession were not immediately available.

Local Government Public Safety

Dakota County to host 2031 horticultural expo

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

Organizers announced that Dakota County will host Expo 2031 Minnesota USA, the first international horticultural exposition ever held in the United States. The 2031 event, set within the Twin Cities metro, is expected to drive significant tourism and regional planning activity; next steps include formal coordination with local and state agencies on site planning, transportation, and permitting.

Business & Economy Local Government

FDA flags cheese recall over Listeria risk

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

The FDA announced a recall of multiple grated cheese products, including items under the Boar’s Head brand, due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled cheeses were sold at major retailers such as Target and Walmart, which operate throughout the Twin Cities; consumers are advised not to eat the products and to follow recall instructions for refunds or disposal.

Health Public Safety

Shutdown ends: Feds back Thursday; back pay by Nov. 19 as LIHEAP restarts

Nov 28 Dev TC 25

President Trump signed a stopgap funding bill ending the 43‑day shutdown, OPM directed federal employees to return Thursday and agencies will issue back pay in four tranches beginning by Nov. 19 while the measure reverses shutdown‑era firings and bars new layoffs through January. The package restarts programs including SNAP, releases $3.6 billion in LIHEAP heating aid to states and tribes, and extends funding through Jan. 30, though SNAP and other benefits may take days or longer to reach recipients and a separate vote on ACA premium subsidies is expected in December.

Government/Regulatory Elections Government

Minneapolis house fire seriously injures one, kills dog

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1 Data

The Minneapolis Fire Department rescued an adult from the second floor of a burning two‑story home on the 3600 block of Garfield Avenue South around 4:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, transporting the person to a hospital in serious condition; a dog died despite being removed from the home. Officials have not yet released the cause of the fire or additional details on the victim.

Public Safety

Washington County dad pleads in UTV crash case

Nov 27 Breaking TC 1 Data

A Washington County father pleaded guilty to child endangerment in Washington County District Court in a case stemming from a UTV crash involving a child. The plea resolves the criminal charge tied to the incident; further court proceedings, including sentencing, were not immediately detailed.

Legal Public Safety

Daycare abuse, neglect cases surge in Minnesota

Nov 27 TC 1 Data

State oversight records compiled by FOX 9 show abuse and neglect reports at Minnesota day cares nearly doubled from 57 in 2022 to 100 in 2023 and reached 105 in 2024, with several severe metro incidents resulting in child injuries requiring surgery. Cited cases include a Rochester pizza‑slicer attack on a 14‑month‑old, a Brooklyn Park Goddard School employee punching a 3‑year‑old, a St. Paul KinderCare staffer striking a child with an iPad, and arrests tied to alleged infant abuse at Blaine’s Small World Learning Center; DCYF Inspector General Randy Keys said the system is generally safe but could not explain the recent uptick.

Public Safety Health Legal

ICE says 14 arrested in St. Paul Bro‑Tex raid; city leaders decry chemical spray as fundraiser tops $25K

Nov 27 Dev TC 10 Data

Federal authorities say 14 people were arrested for immigration violations during an ICE worksite enforcement action at Bro‑Tex in St. Paul — an operation ICE says was assisted by FBI and DEA and in which DHS noted one arrestee had past domestic‑abuse charges and another is suspected of illegal reentry; families have publicly identified several detainees and a fundraiser for one worker topped $25,000. The raid drew roughly 200 protesters, videos and officials report federal personnel used a chemical irritant (described by the mayor as tear gas) and at least one person reported being struck by rubber bullets, photographers say they were targeted, and St. Paul leaders and the city council have called for investigations into use of force and adherence to the city’s separation ordinance.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Suicide investigation closes eastbound Hwy 36

Nov 27 Breaking TC 1 Data

Minnesota State Patrol says a man died by suicide around 4:52 p.m. near Highway 36 and Highlands Trail North in Lake Elmo, leading authorities to close eastbound Hwy 36 between I-694 in Pine Springs and Demontreville Trail North. MnDOT said the closure was expected to last into the evening with an estimated reopening around 10:19 p.m.; details on involvement of other vehicles were not immediately available.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

AG Ellison joins SNAP eligibility lawsuit

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging federal rules on SNAP eligibility, arguing the policy unlawfully restricts access to food assistance and harms Minnesota families. Filed against the USDA, the case seeks to block the changes while litigation proceeds and protect continued benefits for eligible residents in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro and statewide.

Legal Health

Lakeland sets open house on City Hall plan

Nov 26 Breaking TC 2 Data

Lakeland will hold an open house to discuss plans for a new City Hall, but city leaders have sent the current proposal back to the drawing board and halted moving forward with acquiring the Telus building at 84 St. Croix Trail S., which had been the subject of a $525,000 letter of intent. Officials directed staff to broaden the search and reevaluate potential sites and options.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Hennepin Healthcare plans $12M addiction center

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

Hennepin Healthcare plans to solicit construction bids for a new $12 million addiction treatment center in downtown Minneapolis, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The project would add dedicated substance‑use treatment capacity in the city’s core, with the health system moving into the bidding phase.

Health Business & Economy

Minneapolis to open 44 outdoor rinks by Dec. 22

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board says it will open 44 outdoor ice rinks at 22 city parks in time for Minneapolis Public Schools’ winter break on Dec. 22, weather permitting. All rinks and warming rooms will be free and open until at least 9 p.m.; Powderhorn and Webber rinks will return this season on land rather than on Powderhorn Lake or Webber Pool after prior warm winters and funding pressures disrupted operations.

Local Government Weather

Feds cut Medicare prices for 15 drugs

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

On Nov. 26, 2025, the Trump administration announced that Medicare will pay lower prices for 15 prescription drugs, projecting 'billions' in taxpayer savings. The change would affect Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, though specific drugs and implementation details were not provided in the headline.

Health Business & Economy

Average 30‑year mortgage rate dips to 6.23%

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey shows the average U.S. 30‑year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.23% as of Nov. 26, 2025, ending a three‑week climb. The move directly affects Minneapolis–Saint Paul borrowers and sellers by influencing monthly payments, refinancing decisions, and housing demand heading into the holiday season.

Business & Economy Housing

Cooper High custodian charged in restroom peeping

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

Hennepin County prosecutors charged John Ezekiel Brown, 51, of Brooklyn Center with felony interference with the privacy of a minor after a 15-year-old reported he looked over a bathroom stall at Cooper High School in New Hope on Oct. 28. Surveillance video reviewed by New Hope police shows Brown entering the restroom before the student and remaining inside for nearly three minutes; the student ran out after seeing him, and the principal notified families, noting he was a temp-service custodian, not a district employee.

Public Safety Education Legal

Washington County alert system hit by cyberattack

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1 Data

Washington County said Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, that its emergency alert system was the target of a cyberattack, prompting an investigation into the impact on public warning capabilities. Officials are assessing the scope of the incident and working to restore full alert functionality while communicating updates to residents.

Public Safety Technology

DHS to end TPS for some Myanmar nationals

Nov 25 Breaking TC 3 Data

The Department of Homeland Security announced it will end Temporary Protected Status for some Myanmar nationals, citing planned December “free and fair” elections and “successful ceasefire agreements”; rights groups and Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government sharply criticized the move, saying Myanmar remains in a brutal civil war with forced conscription and daily attacks on civilians. Advocates warned of harms to Burmese communities in the Twin Cities, and observers note that ICC prosecutors previously sought an arrest warrant for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing over alleged crimes against humanity related to the Rohingya.

Legal Immigration Government

20-year-old charged in fatal Shakopee DWI crash

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1 Data

Goay Jikany, 20, was charged with criminal vehicular homicide after troopers say he rear‑ended a Chevy Cobalt at high speed on Hwy. 169 near Marystown Road late Nov. 23, pushing it off the road and killing 46-year-old Kala Henry of Chaska. A criminal complaint says Jikany’s BAC tested 0.144, he showed signs of impairment, admitted drinking, and his account conflicted with evidence; he was arrested about four weeks after a separate Shakopee DWI case.

Public Safety Legal

FOF defendant Abdimajid Nur sentenced to 10 years, ~$48M restitution

Nov 25 Dev TC 2 Data

Abdimajid Nur, convicted in the Feeding Our Future fraud, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay roughly $48 million in restitution after evidence showed he created and submitted most of the fake meal counts, rosters and invoices for Empire Cuisine & Market sites — at some locations no food was served and at others meals were provided by Shakopee Public Schools. Judge Nancy Brasel said, “It is so disappointing and so disheartening that where others saw a crisis and rushed to help, you saw money and rushed to steal,” and prosecutors detailed Nur’s spending of proceeds on vehicles (including a $64,000 Dodge Ram and $35,000 Hyundai Santa Fe), a Maldives honeymoon, jewelry in Dubai and about $12,000 paid to complete online coursework; he faces a separate sentencing for attempting to bribe a juror.

Legal Public Safety

FHFA raises conforming loan limit to $832,750

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1 Data

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it is increasing the baseline conforming loan limit for single-family mortgages to $832,750, raising the maximum size of most loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can back. The change applies in the Twin Cities’ seven-county metro in the upcoming loan-limit year, meaning more buyers can use conforming financing instead of higher-cost jumbo loans; higher limits may apply in designated high-cost areas elsewhere.

Housing Business & Economy

EPA moves to roll back soot standard

Nov 25 Dev TC 1 Data

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signaled it will abandon a tougher national fine‑particulate (PM2.5) air‑quality standard on Nov. 25, 2025. Reversing the stricter limit would affect how Minnesota and Twin Cities regulators assess air quality and industrial permitting, with implications for public health and compliance planning if the change proceeds through rulemaking.

Environment Health Local Government

ByHeart tests find botulism bacteria; all lots may be contaminated

Nov 25 Dev TC 2

ByHeart has recalled all of its baby formula nationwide after tests found 5 of 36 samples from three lots positive for Clostridium botulinum type A and the company said it "cannot rule out" contamination across all lots. The outbreak has sickened at least 31 infants in 15 states since August (with some ByHeart-fed infants treated as far back as Nov. 2024), at least 107 infants have received BabyBIG treatment since Aug. 1, regulators say some product remained on shelves despite the Nov. 11 recall, and ByHeart has expanded refunds to customers who bought from its website on or after Aug. 1.

Health Public Safety Consumer

Stillwater schools sell Lake Elmo Elementary site

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

Stillwater Area Public Schools will sell the current Lake Elmo Elementary property at 11030 Stillwater Blvd. N. to Valley Community Center Partners, Inc. for $4.25 million, with plans for an indoor pool and community center on the 12.86‑acre site. The nonprofit has a 210‑day due‑diligence period, and closing is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026; demolition costs are covered by voter‑approved bond proceeds, and the new Lake Elmo Elementary opens next fall at 10th St. and Lake Elmo Ave.

Education Local Government

Minnesota ERPO gun cases set to double in 2025

Nov 25 TC 2

Minnesota's extreme risk protection order (ERPO) petitions are on pace to double in 2025, with several agencies increasingly using the state's "red flag" law. The Mankato Department of Public Safety has filed the most ERPOs (25) and says it has confiscated more than 60 firearms over the past two years—crediting a coordinated approach and line‑level training—while other city totals include Minneapolis (19), St. Paul (14), Duluth (6) and Bloomington (5).

Public Safety Legal

Ex-Twin Cities teacher gets life for child abuse

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

Former Twin Cities teacher and coach Aaron Hjermstad was sentenced Monday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for sexually abusing 12 additional boys, adding to a prior 12-year sentence tied to four victims. Prosecutors say the abuse occurred while he worked at Excell Academy in Brooklyn Park and Mastery School/Harvest Best Academy in Minneapolis; a search warrant cited a catalog of videos labeled with 127 sets of initials, and Hjermstad pled guilty to the new counts in September 2025.

Legal Public Safety Education

Free entry Friday at state, Washington County parks

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

Washington County Parks will waive entry fees at all 10 county parks and regional trails on Friday, Nov. 28, while the Minnesota DNR will waive vehicle permits at all 73 state parks the same day. Some parks will host free programs, including a naturalist‑led hike at Wild River State Park; Dakota and Ramsey county parks do not require vehicle permits.

Local Government Environment

RFK Jr. says he ordered CDC vaccine–autism webpage change

Nov 25 Breaking TC 3

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told The New York Times he personally ordered the CDC on Nov. 19 to revise its vaccine–autism webpage to say studies have not definitively ruled out a link, while acknowledging research finding no link to thimerosal or the MMR vaccine but saying gaps remain and more study is needed. The change — which retained a “vaccines do not cause autism” line with a disclaimer noting his pledge to Sen. Bill Cassidy (who called the move “wrong” and “irresponsible”) — comes as Kennedy has pulled $500 million from vaccine development, replaced federal vaccine advisory committee members, fired the CDC director and pushed ACIP to review adjuvants and contaminants, a review HHS says ACIP is conducting independently.

Health Government/Regulatory

Bus driver rescues 4-year-old from Lake Owasso

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office says a nonverbal 4-year-old who wandered from home in Shoreview was saved by school bus driver Mebal Kaanyi, who jumped into Lake Owasso during her Thursday route to pull the child from neck‑deep water. Deputies and medics met them at the scene and took the child to a hospital, where he met his mother and is expected to recover; Roseville Area Schools students later honored Kaanyi for her actions.

Public Safety Education

White House starts dismantling Education Dept; most school funds shift to Labor, other agencies

Nov 25 Breaking TC 4

The White House has begun dismantling the Education Department by signing six interagency agreements that shift most K–12 and higher‑education programs and school funding/support to the Department of Labor and other agencies (HHS, State, Interior), with adult education already moved; Education will retain policy guidance and oversight of Labor’s education work and continue to administer FAFSA, Pell Grants, federal student loans and college accreditation. Secretary Linda McMahon says the transfers won’t disrupt funding and will give states more flexibility, but officials and state leaders warn of added bureaucracy and confusion, staff retention remains unclear, and the department—hobbled by mass layoffs upheld by the Supreme Court—now sits in a limbo only Congress can resolve.

Education Local Government Government/Regulatory

USCIS to re-interview Biden-era refugees

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

A memo obtained by the AP shows USCIS will conduct a comprehensive review and re-interview of all refugees admitted from Jan. 20, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2025, and has immediately suspended green card approvals for those refugees. The nationwide action, signed Nov. 21 by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, cites concerns that 'expediency' was prioritized over vetting under Biden; advocates warn the move will traumatize refugees, including many living in the Twin Cities.

Legal Local Government

DOJ proposes RealPage settlement on rent algorithm

Nov 25 Dev TC 1

The U.S. Department of Justice proposed a settlement with RealPage, the rent‑pricing software firm at the center of an antitrust case, that would bar the company from using real‑time, nonpublic data, training models on leases less than 12 months old, or surveying landlords for private pricing information. RealPage would also cooperate in DOJ’s ongoing lawsuit against major landlords — including four that operate in the Twin Cities — accused of using the software and shared data to inflate rents; Minneapolis previously passed an ordinance banning algorithmic rent price‑fixing.

Legal Housing

Trump says he’ll immediately end Somali TPS; AP cites 705 affected nationwide

Nov 24 Breaking TC 4

President Trump said he would "immediately" terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals, accusing Minnesota of being a "hub" of fraudulent money laundering and claiming Somali gangs are "terrorizing" the state; the AP cites an August report estimating just 705 Somali nationals hold TPS nationwide. Minnesota leaders, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, say the president does not have unilateral authority to end TPS or target one state, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says any review will follow the law and apply nationwide with a required 60‑day notice, and advocates note Minnesota has more than 37,000 Somali-born residents but only a few hundred currently hold TPS.

Elections Legal Local Government

78th defendant charged in Feeding Our Future case

Nov 24 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged Abdirashid Bixi Dool, 36, with seven counts including wire fraud and money laundering, alleging he used two nonprofits sponsored by Feeding Our Future to claim tens of thousands of children’s meals per week at sites in Moorhead and Pelican Rapids from March 2021 to February 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the entities received more than $1.1 million based on falsified invoices and meal counts, with funds allegedly diverted to Dool, a co‑conspirator, and their families for real estate and travel; the indictment references an unnamed 'Conspirator A,' suggesting additional charges may follow.

Legal Public Safety

Bloomington sting nets 16 in minor-solicitation arrests

Nov 24 Dev TC 3

A Bloomington police sting dubbed "Operation Creep" netted 16 arrests on minor-solicitation allegations, with at least four people formally charged so far. Among those arrested on Nov. 13 was 41-year-old Alexander Steven Back of Robbinsdale, a civilian ICE auditor who has been federally indicted for attempted enticement of a minor and faces a Hennepin County charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution after allegedly continuing explicit texts after being told the purported victim was 17, arriving to meet her, surrendering two phones and his ICE ID, and acknowledging the incriminating messages.

Legal Public Safety

Margot Lewis sentenced to 40 years for Minneapolis murder of Liara Tsai

Nov 24 Dev TC 2

Margot Gerald Lewis was sentenced to 40 years in prison by Judge Paul Scoggin for the June 2024 murder of her partner, Liara Tsai, after being convicted of killing Tsai in a Minneapolis apartment and hiding her body in a car. Lewis received 517 days credit for time served and, under Minnesota’s two‑thirds rule, is projected to be eligible for release in 2051; Scoggin rebuked the "callous handling" of Tsai’s body, said a subsequent I‑90 crash appeared intended to cover tracks, and Lewis is being held at MCF–St. Cloud.

Legal Public Safety

Twin Cities sets Nov. 23 record high at 56°F

Nov 24 Breaking TC 3

The Twin Cities hit a record high of 56°F on Nov. 23, breaking a roughly 120-year mark. The NWS says a storm will bring rain Tuesday—then change to snow late Tuesday into Wednesday (metro timeline roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. rain, changeover 5 p.m.–2 a.m., snow 2–9 a.m. Wed), with 1–2 inches expected in the Twin Cities (3–6 inches in central/northern MN), gusts over 40 mph possible in central Minnesota and a winter storm watch in effect for northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota; wet roads could freeze and create travel hazards.

Environment Weather

MSP food-service strike averted with HMSHost deal

Nov 24 Breaking TC 1

The union representing hundreds of food-service workers at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport called off a threatened strike after reaching a labor agreement with HMSHost, avoiding disruptions during a busy travel week. The tentative deal means airport restaurants and concessions can continue operating without a walkout while details are finalized.

Business & Economy Transit & Infrastructure

Edina unveils draft ban on assault‑style weapons, >20‑round mags and ghost guns; delays action, will hold town hall

Nov 24 Dev TC 3

Edina unveiled a draft ordinance, modeled on St. Paul’s, that would ban possession, manufacture and transfer of “assault weapons,” magazines holding more than 20 rounds, ghost guns and binary triggers and would impose a firearms storage mandate, but states it would take effect only when the council passes a resolution affirming it is not preempted by state law. Council leaders put a vote on hold and will hold a public hearing/town hall after the city manager said he could not support the currently unenforceable draft and the city attorney said it cannot be enforced until state law changes, while the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has threatened legal action if the ban is enacted.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Four finalists named for Minnesota appeals court

Nov 24 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz’s judicial selection panel recommended Stephanie Beckman, Lisa Beane, Liz Kramer and Anne Rasmusson for two upcoming Minnesota Court of Appeals vacancies, per a Nov. 24 release. The seats open upon the retirements of Judges Louise Dovre Bjorkman and Randall J. Slieter; one is an at‑large position and the other is designated for the 7th Congressional District.

Legal Local Government

Greystar settles rent‑fixing suit; Minnesota gets $483K

Nov 24 Dev TC 1

Minnesota’s Attorney General and eight other states filed a proposed $7 million settlement with Greystar Management Services over alleged rent‑fixing tied to RealPage’s pricing software. Greystar, which manages 31 Twin Cities apartment properties, would pay roughly $483,000 to Minnesota and accept limits on algorithmic rent‑setting, stop sharing competitively sensitive information, avoid RealPage events, and cooperate in ongoing litigation against RealPage.

Legal Housing

DHS awards $10K bonuses to MSP TSA agents

Nov 24 Breaking TC 1

On Nov. 23 at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks to several dozen TSA agents and announced a $1 billion national investment in TSA security checkpoint technology. The bonuses recognize staff who worked through the federal shutdown, and the upgrade plan includes new scanning, X‑ray and AIT equipment across U.S. airports; FAA separately said 776 air traffic controllers/technicians with perfect attendance will also receive $10,000, while DHS has not specified the total number of TSA recipients.

Transit & Infrastructure Government

Minnesota Chamber unveils growth plan as report shows GDP, tech, innovation lag

Nov 23 TC 3

At an Economic Summit in Eagan, the Minnesota Chamber released its 2026 Business Benchmarks report and unveiled an "Economic Imperative for Growth" multiyear campaign to unite lawmakers and business leaders after finding the state's economy has fallen behind on nearly every measure of growth. The report cites about 1% per‑capita GDP growth versus 1.8% nationally, a slide in state rankings into the 30s (as low as 38th since 2019), weak tech job growth (44th in 2024), high patents per capita but poor patent growth, and warns employers that taxes, regulations and new mandates — including a paid family and medical leave program starting Jan. 1 — are deepening competitiveness concerns.

Business & Economy

Minneapolis police chief apologizes for comments

Nov 22 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara apologized Wednesday to members of the Somali community for comments he made in a WCCO interview linking 'East African kids' to juvenile crime, saying any harm caused was not his intent while emphasizing the need to address real problems together. In a video posted by Xogmaal Media, O’Hara thanked the Somali community, reiterated his focus on youth safety, and did not retract the substance of his earlier remarks about groups coming to Dinkytown from surrounding communities; MPD did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.

Public Safety Local Government

CDC flags new H3N2 variant; flu still low

Nov 22 Dev TC 1

The CDC said Friday that U.S. flu activity remains low but a new H3N2 subclade (K) is now driving most infections, with early analysis suggesting current vaccines offer partial protection. With holidays approaching, experts warn vaccination rates appear soft—especially in pharmacies—after last winter’s severe season, heightening risk for Twin Cities residents despite only one state (Louisiana) at moderate activity so far.

Health

DHS adds Dec. 2 ICS payment stops; 97 affected as St. Paul tenants get eviction notices

Nov 22 Dev TC 3

The Minnesota Department of Human Services said it will stop Integrated Community Supports (ICS) payments on Dec. 2 to five providers covering about a dozen properties, affecting 97 participants, after investigations by the DHS inspector general found credible allegations that some providers billed for services not provided and put clients’ health and safety at risk. The suspension has prompted 60‑day and eviction notices at St. Paul’s Granite Pointe Apartments tied to Metro Care Human Services and follows an earlier halt in September that provider Jama Mahamod of American Home Health Care says led him to evict four tenants and close his business; DHS stressed that ICS service payments are separate from housing or rent.

Government/Regulatory Health Local Government

Palace Theatre sues Wrecktangle for $1.6M

Nov 22 Breaking TC 1

The Palace Theatre’s operators have sued Wrecktangle Pizza in Hennepin County District Court, alleging the company owes more than $1.6 million on a loan tied to their short‑lived joint venture, Wrestaurant at the Palace, which opened in 2023 and closed a year later amid water damage. Wrecktangle’s response admits no payments were made but counters that the Palace failed to dissolve the joint LLC, is using joint‑owned equipment for the new Palace Pub without crediting Wrecktangle, and disputes the claims; both sides tentatively agreed to a November 2026 trial if no settlement is reached.

Legal Business & Economy

Maplewood drive-by shooter gets 6-year sentence

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County District Court sentenced Muhnee Jaleel Bailey, 24, to six years and three months after he pleaded guilty to drive-by shooting for firing a fully automatic handgun at a car in a Maplewood apartment lot on April 16, wounding a 22-year-old passenger as two nearby juveniles cowered. Prosecutors dismissed attempted murder and four firearm-possession counts under a plea agreement; surveillance video showed three rapid volleys and police recovered 18 casings, while Bailey received 175 days’ credit for time served.

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota employers must send PFML notices Dec. 1

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program starts Jan. 1, 2026, but employers statewide—including in the Twin Cities—must individually notify workers of their benefits and rights by Dec. 1, 2025, in each employee’s primary language, with acknowledgment. New hires must be notified within 30 days, and workplaces must display required posters; the Minnesota State Council of SHRM warns missed deadlines can trigger complaints, investigations, and penalties.

Local Government Business & Economy

Met Council opens search for transit police chief

Nov 21 Dev TC 1

The Metropolitan Council has opened applications for a new Metro Transit Police Department chief, with interim chief Joseph Dotseth confirming he will apply. The department cited improving safety trends — serious crime down 21% year‑over‑year and officer‑initiated calls up 129% — alongside ongoing efforts such as de‑escalation training, station upgrades and the Transit Rider Investment Program; applications close Dec. 17.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Local Government

90-unit senior housing planned in Maple Grove

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

A developer plans a 90-unit senior housing building on a city-owned site in Maple Grove, Hennepin County, aiming to provide affordable options that help residents on fixed incomes age in place. The plan, reported Nov. 21, 2025, would add new senior housing capacity within the Twin Cities metro; further city reviews and approvals are expected as the project advances.

Housing Business & Economy

Education Dept finalizes PSLF employer ban rule; takes effect July 1, 2026

Nov 21 Breaking TC 3

The Education Department finalized a rule, taking effect July 1, 2026, that bars employers from qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if the department finds they are substantially involved in certain alleged illegal activities—ranging from aiding or abetting illegal immigration, supporting terrorism or violence, trafficking children across state lines, or illegal discrimination, to providing gender‑affirming care (the rule defines “chemical castration” to include puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth)—with the education secretary having final authority under a preponderance‑of‑the‑evidence standard; PSLF credit earned before the effective date is preserved and disqualified employers may reapply after 10 years or sooner via an approved corrective action plan. The rule, which stems from a March executive order, has prompted multiple legal challenges from more than 20 Democratic‑led states (led by New York, Massachusetts, California and Colorado), several cities and nonprofit and advocacy groups that say the standard is vague and exceeds the department’s authority.

Legal Education

Minneapolis issues Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Fire Department, with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal, released holiday cooking safety guidance ahead of Thanksgiving, citing NFPA data that cooking is the leading cause of house fires and that 1,446 home cooking fires occurred nationwide on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Officials urge residents not to leave stovetop cooking unattended, keep combustibles away, verify smoke detectors, and, for turkey frying, never fry a frozen turkey and do it outdoors away from structures; they also outlined steps to handle small grease and oven fires.

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul designates Hamm’s Brewery historic district

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul has designated the Hamm’s Brewery campus as a local heritage preservation district, a move approved this month that positions the project to use state and federal historic tax credits and guides preservation of stairways and other key elements (with some graffiti possibly retained depending on condition). Developer JB Vang plans 86 affordable artist-style lofts and a multi-story indoor marketplace in the stock house and laboratory buildings, aims to present a site plan in early 2026 and secure financing through 2026 to begin historically sensitive construction by fall 2027, and is planning practical interventions such as overhauling glass-block windows and reusing former barrel floor openings as a central 2½‑story marketplace feature; the city and developer led a Nov. 18 walking tour for stakeholders.

Local Government Housing

Critics: SAMHSA cuts imperil overdose progress

Nov 21 TC 1

The Trump administration has sharply reduced staffing and funding at SAMHSA — cutting $1.7 billion in state block grants, eliminating roughly $350 million for addiction/overdose prevention, and moving to fold the agency into a new structure — prompting warnings from public‑health leaders that national gains against overdose deaths could stall. HHS says it is prioritizing treatment and accountability, while a July court injunction temporarily blocked the reorganization; recent CDC‑linked data show U.S. overdose deaths down to 76,500 in the latest 12 months, with Minnesota among states seeing smaller increases in nonfatal overdoses. These federal cuts could reduce resources to Minnesota and Twin Cities providers that rely on SAMHSA grants for treatment and naloxone access.

Health Government/Regulatory

St. Paul OKs 2 a.m. service, unveils World Juniors fest

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul approved temporary ordinance changes allowing bars and restaurants with liquor licenses to apply for 2 a.m. service and noise variances during the Dec. 26–Jan. 5 World Junior Hockey Championship, while launching the free Bold North Breakaway fan festival around Rice Park and Grand Casino Arena. The 10‑day downtown festival adds ice bumper cars, ‘glice’ skating, street hockey, kids’ zones, 40 indoor vendors and New Year’s Eve fireworks as the 29‑game tournament is split between St. Paul and the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Local Government Business & Economy

Woodbury man gets 30 years for sextorting minors

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

A Woodbury man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after prosecutors said he posed as a teenager using 66 different Snapchat aliases to coerce sexually explicit videos from minors, at times sending gruesome violent videos and hateful threats to force compliance. U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell called it a “deliberate, persistent sextortion scheme,” and authorities including the FBI, Woodbury Police and Indiana State Police investigated; under federal rules the inmate is expected to serve at least 85% of the sentence.

Legal Public Safety

77th defendant in Feeding Our Future: Minneapolis grocer Ousman Camara pleads not guilty

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

Ousman Camara, a Minneapolis grocer, was charged as the 77th defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme and entered a not guilty plea at his first court appearance Thursday. Prosecutors allege he used scheme proceeds to buy a north Minneapolis building and sent more than $100,000 abroad; the broader investigation has resulted in 56 guilty pleas and seven convictions so far, including Aimee Bock’s conviction on all counts.

Public Safety Legal

Judge hears closing arguments on Google ad-tech remedies

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

After an April ruling that parts of Google's ad‑tech business constitute an illegal monopoly, Judge Leonie Brinkema held an 11‑day remedies trial this fall and heard closing arguments Friday in Alexandria, Virginia, with a ruling expected early next year. The DOJ urged structural divestitures, calling Google a "recidivist monopolist," while Google called such remedies legally unprecedented and risky for a system that handles roughly 55 million ad requests per second, citing AI‑driven market changes as a reason for caution and DOJ witnesses warning about subtle algorithm manipulation; for context, a separate search case saw Judge Amit Mehta reject a proposed Chrome divestiture and order reforms seen as relatively lenient.

Business & Economy Legal Technology

Solventum to buy Acera Surgical for $725M

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

Solventum, the 3M health-care spinoff, said Friday it agreed to acquire regenerative wound care maker Acera Surgical for more than $725 million. It is Solventum’s first major deal since separating from 3M last year and signals expansion in advanced wound‑care products with potential impacts on the company’s Twin Cities operations.

Business & Economy Health

PHS West leases 91,000 sq. ft. for new HQ

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

Manufacturer PHS West signed a 91,000‑square‑foot lease at Brockton Business Park in Corcoran, where it will establish a new headquarters, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on Nov. 21, 2025. The company said expansion needs, driven by growth in the data‑center industry, prompted the move within the Twin Cities metro.

Business & Economy Real Estate

SNAP work rules expand; USDA weighs mass ‘reapply’ review, cites standard recertification

Nov 21 TC 3

The USDA under Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is moving to expand SNAP work requirements to additional groups — including people ages 55–64 and some parents of 14–18‑year‑olds — and will fully enforce the three‑month time limit for adults who don’t meet work rules starting in December after a waiver was lifted in November. Rollins has said the agency plans to have all SNAP recipients reapply now that the government has reopened, citing “standard recertification processes” and further regulatory and state‑data reviews, but details for a mass reapplication of roughly 42 million beneficiaries are not yet formalized; analysts warn it could create backlogs and loss of benefits for eligible families (about 40% of recipients are children), while the CBO estimates expanded rules could reduce enrollment by about 2.4 million on average per month over 10 years.

Health Business & Economy

DOC reduces Stillwater prison population

Nov 21 Dev TC 2

The Minnesota DOC has reduced the population at MCF–Stillwater — now nearing half capacity as officials advance plans to close the facility in 2029 — and has been relocating inmates to other prisons. Ahead of the closure the agency is piloting "earned living units" and on a Nov. 20 tour showcased new inmate programming spaces, including an inmate-run barbershop, a licensed tattoo studio, an art studio, a greenhouse set up in an empty cell, ongoing SUD small-group therapy and a mural program, with Commissioner Paul Schnell and Warden William Bolin participating.

Public Safety Local Government

DOC pilots 'earned living units' at Stillwater

Nov 21 TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Corrections showcased 'earned living units' inside MCF–Stillwater during a Nov. 20 media tour in Bayport, unveiling inmate‑operated spaces such as a barbershop ('Street Cuts'), a licensed tattoo studio, a greenhouse and an art studio as the facility winds down toward a 2029 closure. Commissioner Paul Schnell and Warden William Bolin said inmates are being moved to other facilities as part of the transition, with ongoing SUD therapy and creative programs continuing on site.

Public Safety Local Government

Judge orders USCIS to restore SIJS protections

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

A federal judge ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, to resume considering deferred action (deportation protection) and work permits for youths with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, after the Trump administration rescinded the 2022 program in June. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee requires USCIS to accept applications from new and existing SIJS designees while the lawsuit proceeds, affecting eligible immigrant youth nationwide, including in the Twin Cities.

Legal Health & Human Services

Home insurance costs spike across Minnesota

Nov 21 TC 1

FOX 9 reports Nov. 20 that Minnesota homeowners — including in the Twin Cities — are seeing hazard insurance premiums jump as much as 40% and significant increases to wind and hail deductibles (often from $1,500 to $5,000 or to a percentage of home value), driven by severe weather losses and claims. The Minnesota Department of Commerce urges consumers to shop policies and consider weatherproofing for discounts, while State Farm says it paid out $1.30 in claims/expenses per $1 in Minnesota premiums over the past five years.

Business & Economy Housing

Jury convicts 2nd man in Coon Rapids triple murder

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

An Anoka County jury convicted Demetrius Trenton Shumpert, 32, of Minneapolis, on three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree murder and six other charges for a Jan. 26, 2024 home-invasion triple killing in Coon Rapids. Prosecutors said Shumpert and two accomplices posed as UPS drivers, demanded money, and fatally shot Shannon Jungwirth, her son Jorge Reyes‑Jungwirth, and her husband Mario Trejo Estrada; Shumpert will be sentenced Jan. 8, while co-defendant Alonzo Mingo is already serving life and Shumpert’s brother Omar faces trial next month.

Legal Public Safety

White House expands tariff relief to Brazilian coffee, fruit and beef

Nov 20 Breaking TC 3

The White House said it will extend tariff relief to Brazilian imports by excluding certain products from both April’s global rollback under Executive Order 14257 and the punitive July tariffs on Brazil, covering coffee, fruit and beef as well as related items such as tea, tropical fruits and juices, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and some fertilizers. The move — framed as easing grocery-price pressures (roasted coffee and ground beef have shown large year‑over‑year CPI gains) — resolves a gap Brazil had flagged, draws industry praise, and comes as President Trump and Brazil’s President Lula negotiate further trade steps.

Government & Policy Government/Regulatory National Policy

Ramsey County names deputy manager, reorganizes services

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County appointed CFO Alex Kotze as deputy county manager and chief operating officer effective Dec. 1, 2025, and outlined an internal restructuring that creates an Operations Service Team and sunsets the Strategic Team and Information and Public Records Service Team as of Jan. 1. Kotze, who has overseen the county’s $870 million budget since 2020 and previously served as interim deputy for Health and Wellness, will lead strategy for property management, finance and information services as the county streamlines operations.

Local Government Business & Economy

Ramsey County drops final case against ex‑Bethel player

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office on Monday dismissed its last remaining criminal sexual conduct case against former Bethel University football player Gideon Osamwonyi Erhabor, saying it could not prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The dismissed case alleged a 2018 assault at a Roseville house party; Erhabor had already been acquitted in two separate 2018 incidents after an October 2022 jury trial and a June 2025 bench trial.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul mayor‑elect Her names transition team

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Mayor‑elect Kaohly Vang Her announced her transition team on Nov. 20, appointing Erica Schumacher and Hnu Vang as co‑leaders to help select department heads and senior City Hall staff. The team also includes Nick Stumo‑Langer as transition advisor, Matt Wagenius as communications director/press secretary, and Bridget Hajny as scheduler/office manager; Her resigned her state House seat earlier this week following her Nov. 4 victory.

Local Government Elections

Target cuts prices on 3,000 everyday items

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

Target said it will reduce prices on 3,000 food and household items to boost value during the holidays and help reverse a sales slump. The company also narrowed its 2025 earnings outlook, cited continued traffic softness, and outlined a $5 billion 2026 investment plan for store remodels, new large-format locations, and supply chain/tech upgrades.

Business & Economy

Hennepin touts data showing youth diversion works

Nov 20 TC 1

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the University of Minnesota presented new juvenile justice data indicating early‑intervention diversion programs reduce reoffending and teen auto thefts. Officials said that among 127 youths who received early intervention last year, fewer than one‑third reoffended, and teen auto‑theft cases are down 58% since the county launched a youth auto‑theft initiative.

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul OKs trash cart sharing for small multifamily

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul City Council voted 7–0 on Nov. 19 to allow tenants in duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes to share trash carts starting Jan. 1, 2026, with defined overflow penalties and potential revocation if carts repeatedly overflow. The ordinance also lets adjacent properties under the same owner request dumpster service from the city and, if unavailable, seek city‑approved private service; owners of 5+ unit buildings may opt into coordinated collection to share carts.

Local Government Utilities

Average 30-year mortgage rate ticks up to 6.22% after four-week slide

Nov 20 Breaking TC 3

Freddie Mac said the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.22% from 6.17%, the first uptick after a four-week slide, while the 15-year fixed rate climbed to about 5.50%. The rise coincided with a roughly 4.09%–4.10% 10-year Treasury yield midday Thursday and comes amid mixed Fed signals — recent rate cuts but Chair Powell’s caution that a December cut isn’t guaranteed and tariff-driven inflation risks — with traders pricing roughly a 44% chance of a December cut.

Housing Business & Economy

30-year mortgage rate edges up to 6.26%

Nov 20 Dev TC 1

Freddie Mac said Thursday, Nov. 20, that the average U.S. 30‑year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.26% from 6.24% a week earlier, the third straight weekly increase, while the 15‑year average rose to 5.54%. The update, which influences homebuying power in the Twin Cities, comes as the 10‑year Treasury hovered near 4.10% and markets trimmed expectations for a December Fed rate cut.

Housing Business & Economy

Waymo begins Minneapolis mapping with <10 cars, human drivers; seeks approval for autonomous rides

Nov 20 Breaking TC 2

Waymo has begun mapping and early testing in Minneapolis with a fleet of "less than 10" Jaguar I‑PACE and Zeekr RT vehicles driven by humans, using its sixth‑generation Waymo Driver and self‑cleaning sensors tuned for snow and ice after winter‑prep testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, California’s Sierra Nevada and upstate New York. The company says no permits are required for this mapping phase but will work with state and city officials as it seeks commercial approval and plans a phased expansion model like San Francisco aiming for airport and freeway connectivity, drawing support from state House transportation co-chairs and MADD Minnesota.

Technology Transit & Infrastructure

Opioid settlement funds used for K-9s, admin

Nov 20 TC 1

A Minnesota Reformer analysis details how cities and counties spent opioid settlement dollars in 2024, including Hennepin County’s administrative hires and medical examiner costs and Minneapolis’ $500,000 grant to Turning Point. While most spending went to treatment, recovery and prevention, some counties used funds for law-enforcement K‑9 units and drug‑crime investigator salaries; overall local spending rose to more than $17 million in 2024 as settlements are set to deliver roughly $633 million to Minnesota, with 75% going directly to local governments.

Health Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul seeks 120-day pause in $22M permit-fee suit

Nov 20 Dev TC 1

St. Paul City Attorney Lyndsey Olson asked Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro on Nov. 10 for another 120-day stay in a class-action lawsuit alleging the city overcharged building-permit fees by more than $22 million from 2018–2023, citing records still not migrated to the new PAULIE system after a cyberattack. Plaintiff Patrick Bollom’s attorney, Shawn Raiter, said they would accept a partial stay while allowing other case work to proceed; a prior 120-day pause was granted in August, and a new continuance could push the case into February under the incoming mayoral administration.

Legal Local Government

Officials cite federal reimbursement cuts, mandates behind 2026 levy hikes nearing $1B

Nov 20 TC 5

Preliminary data show Minnesota’s proposed 2026 property tax levies could rise by about $948 million statewide — up to roughly 6.9% in preliminary figures — with every county proposing increases (more than a dozen double‑digit hikes) and steep city proposals in places such as Otsego (~19%), Arden Hills (~18%) and Lino Lakes (~16%), while Hennepin County’s proposal is nearly 8%. Officials and local government groups say the pressure stems largely from federal reimbursement cuts and new mandates — including reduced SNAP and Medicaid administrative reimbursements and EMT reimbursement cuts — coupled with rising labor, materials and insurance costs; truth‑in‑taxation meetings are scheduled late November–December, final levies are due Dec. 29, and the Department of Revenue will release final totals after the February forecast.

Local Government Business & Economy

Lakeville OKs first mosque at former office

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

The Lakeville City Council unanimously approved establishing the city’s first mosque at the former Lakeville Area Schools district office on 210th Street near McGuire Middle School. Project leaders said staggered daily worship times and a 75‑space lot will manage parking, and supporters noted it will spare worshipers long drives to mosques in Rosemount or Burnsville despite some resident concerns about traffic and noise.

Local Government

THC drink startup cofounder charged with theft

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota-based Crooked Beverage Company co-founder Richard Schenk has been charged with two felony theft counts, accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars from the THC beverage startup. Court documents and co-founder Ryan Winkler say Schenk spent company funds on personal expenses (including mortgage and luxury items), allegedly faked an email to dodge a $300,000 debt to his ex-wife, resigned when confronted, and then allegedly withdrew another $48,000; the company says it remains in operation with products in hundreds of Minnesota locations and 10 states.

Legal Business & Economy Cannabis

Washington County unveils $12M emergency shelter

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Washington County held a Nov. 19 ribbon cutting for its first county-run homeless shelter on the Stillwater Government Center campus, a $12 million, 30-room Emergency Housing Services Building set to open in the second week of December. The 24/7 facility offers private rooms with bathrooms (including two fully accessible rooms), on-site supports (social services, transportation, legal help, computer lab), and is designed for average 90-day stays while staff connect adults to permanent housing and jobs.

Housing Local Government

St. Paul bans cryptocurrency kiosks citywide in 6–1 vote

Nov 19 Dev TC 2

The St. Paul City Council adopted an ordinance Nov. 19, 2025, banning cryptocurrency kiosks citywide in a 6–1 vote. Council President Rebecca Noecker led the push after presentations on scams — councilmembers Saura Jost and Cheniqua Johnson cited concerns about at least 32 kiosks in the city and 51 scam reports totaling about $700,000 statewide — while Council Member Anika Bowie was the lone dissent, saying a ban would shift the problem to neighboring cities; a Bitcoin Depot representative spoke at the hearing but did not signal immediate legal action, though the company sued over a similar Stillwater ban.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Starbucks Red Cup Day strike includes Minneapolis

Nov 19 Dev TC 3

A nationwide Starbucks strike that has indefinitely shuttered more than 65 stores in about 40 cities coincided with the company’s busy Red Cup Day after bargaining broke down in April. Two Twin Cities locations — the unionized St. Anthony store at 3704 Silverlake Rd (unionized 2022) and the unionized Chanhassen store at 190 Lake Dr (unionized 2024) — remained closed after Thursday’s walkout, and there are currently no remaining unionized St. Paul locations while employees at Seventh & Davern have petitioned the NLRB. At the St. Anthony site police arrested a man and woman after super glue and expanding foam were found in the locks and demonstrators later blocked the drive‑through; Starbucks said it was on track to meet or exceed same‑day sales, touts its wages and benefits, and accused the union of walking away from talks.

Public Safety Business & Economy Legal

Two arrested after St. Anthony Starbucks vandalism

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

St. Anthony police arrested a man and a woman Wednesday morning after workers found the Silver Lake Road Starbucks’ door locks filled with super glue and expanding foam, preventing opening amid an ongoing strike. The pair allegedly fled in a vehicle, were stopped and booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center on suspicion of felony property damage, and police later returned when demonstrators blocked the drive‑through.

Public Safety Legal

FOF juror‑bribe defendant Ladan Ali jailed for probation violation

Nov 19 Dev TC 1

Court records indicate Ladan Mohamed Ali was arrested Nov. 9 and is being held in the Scott County jail after failing to appear for a probation‑violation hearing; she was ordered last week to serve 30 days in county jail after admitting to a violation. Ali previously pleaded guilty in Sept. 2024 to attempting to bribe a juror in the Feeding Our Future case and earlier received probation in a Scott County check‑forgery case.

Legal Public Safety

Trump move extends acting CFPB chief, signals shutdown

Nov 19 Dev TC 1

President Donald Trump nominated OMB associate director Stuart Levenbach to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a step the White House acknowledges is intended to pause the vacancies clock and keep Budget Director Russell Vought as acting CFPB chief while pursuing plans to shut the agency. The administration also said it will not draw Federal Reserve funds to operate the CFPB beyond Dec. 31, relying on a disputed legal theory, a move that could curtail federal consumer‑finance oversight for Twin Cities residents and institutions.

Government/Regulatory Business & Economy

MnDOT sets Robert Street project meetings

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will hold public meetings in St. Paul as it begins visual quality planning for the Robert Street reconstruction between Page Street and Cesar Chavez Street, part of a project to replace pavement and sidewalks and improve safety. Meetings are at Backstory Coffee Roasters, 432 Wabasha St. S., on Monday from 9–11 a.m. and Dec. 10 from noon–1 p.m.; Project Manager Chris Bower and partners will gather feedback to reduce community impacts ahead of phased construction slated for 2027–2028.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Ford recalls 229,609 Broncos, Bronco Sports

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Ford is recalling 229,609 U.S. vehicles — 101,002 Ford Broncos and 128,607 Bronco Sports from model years 2025–2026 — because the instrument panel may fail to display at startup, leaving drivers without critical safety information and increasing crash risk. NHTSA says owner notification letters begin Dec. 8 and dealers will install a software update at no cost; Ford reports no known injuries. Twin Cities owners can reference NHTSA recall 25V540 and contact local Ford/Lincoln dealers for repairs.

Public Safety Transportation

Target Q3 profit falls 19%, warns on holidays

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis-based Target reported third-quarter profit of $689 million, down 19% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $1.78 on $25.27 billion in sales (-1.5%). Comparable sales fell 2.7% and the company expects the sales slump to extend through the holiday season; Target also plans to invest an additional $1 billion next year to remodel and build stores (total makeover now $5 billion) and said Michael Fiddelke will succeed CEO Brian Cornell on Feb. 1.

Business & Economy

Capitol security officer pleads guilty to DWI

Nov 19 Dev TC 1

Cristian Orea, a Minnesota State Capitol security officer, pleaded guilty Monday in Hennepin County District Court to fourth-degree DWI tied to a July 14 incident at a Minneapolis Lake Street bar where he allegedly posed as an undercover officer. He’ll serve just under a month on house arrest and two years’ probation; the impersonating-a-peace-officer charge will be dismissed upon successful completion, prosecutors dropped third-degree DWI and carrying a pistol under the influence, and the State Patrol says he remains on paid investigatory leave.

Legal Public Safety

ICE deportation flight observed at MSP

Nov 19 TC 1

A Minnesota Reformer reporter and photographer documented about 20 ICE detainees in shackles boarding a Key Lime Air charter on the MSP tarmac the morning of Nov. 12, 2025, as three unmarked vans delivered them under federal escort. The Metropolitan Airports Commission said federal law prevents MSP from restricting such operations and that it receives no advance notice of non‑commercial flights; one detainee described being flown to Louisiana before removal to Ecuador amid an uptick in deportations.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Mifepristone lawsuits update; new FOIA case

Nov 19 TC 2

Amid ongoing litigation over mifepristone, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered a new FDA safety review citing a self‑published white paper funded and publicized by anti‑abortion groups, including Americans United for Life, which criticized the FDA’s approval of a new generic. Alliance Defending Freedom says it represents a Louisiana plaintiff in related litigation and expects an appeal of a recent court order, while the ACLU’s Nov. 13 FOIA suit seeks the parameters of the FDA review and the agency’s communications with outside groups.

Legal Health

MN Senate probes Twin Cities college grant cuts

Nov 19 TC 1

A Minnesota Senate subcommittee heard testimony that federal agencies have terminated or suspended more than $50 million in higher‑education awards statewide, including 101 University of Minnesota research awards worth $33 million and five St. Catherine University grants totaling $2.4 million, with Augsburg University’s McNair Scholars program among those defunded. The hearing, held last week, examined how Trump administration policy shifts canceling or suspending awards—some tied to diversity or antiracism references—are affecting research, workforce pipelines, and first‑generation and underrepresented students at Twin Cities institutions.

Education Local Government

St. Paul man admits 2022 fatal stabbing

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Maurice Angelo McClinton Smith, 42, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court to second-degree intentional murder for fatally stabbing 47-year-old Tina M. McCombs in her North End St. Paul apartment on Jan. 9, 2022. Appearing via Zoom from St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, Smith acknowledged drug and alcohol use before the attack and told his attorney he wrongly believed McCombs was his mother; sentencing is set for Feb. 13.

Legal Public Safety

State records show Savage daycare was cited for safety violations before infant's death

Nov 18 Dev TC 3

State inspection records show Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare in Savage had been cited for safety violations before the infant boy’s September death, and state officials have suspended the facility’s license. A Savage Police affidavit focuses on a specific employee linked to two prior medical incidents in which an infant girl vomited a "blood‑like" substance and to the infant boy, and investigators say the employee re‑created events for them. Preliminary autopsy results reportedly found no physical injuries and no common poisons; police say the final cause of death is pending, are not ruling out any possible causes, and have urged parents to closely monitor their children.

Legal Public Safety Health

MnDOT denies permit for Lift Bridge tug-of-war

Nov 18 Breaking TC 2

MnDOT denied a permit for the annual Vikings-Packers tug-of-war on the Stillwater Lift Bridge, prompting organizer Ryan Nelson of Guv’s Place in Hudson to relocate the event to Hudson’s Old Toll Bridge. Last year’s event drew about 150 participants and raised $4,000 for first responders; organizers say the move could boost Wisconsin businesses while Stillwater’s mayor explores whether the city could assume permitting to bring it back, though MnDOT’s willingness to reconsider remains unclear.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Mpls man charged in New Hope burglaries

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Jonte Jamel Yates, 36, of Minneapolis, is charged in Hennepin County with one count of first‑degree burglary and four counts of second‑degree burglary tied to a string of New Hope break‑ins between Nov. 1 and 12. A court complaint says surveillance video led the Hennepin County Intelligence Unit to identify Yates; he was arrested after a pursuit, and a search recovered items resembling those seen in the footage, with phone data placing him near the scenes. The complaint notes Yates previously admitted in an earlier case to targeting Hispanic residents, believing they were less likely to report crimes.

Public Safety Legal

DOJ sues Minnesota for full voter rolls

Nov 18 Breaking TC 3

The Department of Justice has sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, demanding the state's voter registration records as part of a coordinated set of lawsuits against six states within a broader push that included data requests to about 40 states. Ten Democratic secretaries of state, including Simon, have asked DOJ and DHS for details and security assurances after learning DOJ shared state rolls with DHS to run citizenship checks through the SAVE system despite earlier assurances the data would be used only to assess HAVA/NVRA compliance and amid contradictory statements from federal officials.

Legal Elections

Honda recalls 256K Accord Hybrids for power-loss risk

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Honda is recalling 256,603 Accord Hybrids from model years 2023–2025 nationwide because a software error can reset the integrated control module CPU while driving, potentially causing a sudden loss of drive power, according to NHTSA filings on Nov. 18, 2025. Dealers will reprogram the software free; owner letters are slated for Jan. 5, and Honda reports 832 warranty claims and no injuries to date. Twin Cities owners can verify VINs on NHTSA’s recall site or Honda’s lookup and call 1-888-234-2138 for assistance.

Public Safety Technology

Mohamud Bulle sentenced to 19.5 years for 2013 Minneapolis park rape after DNA backlog testing

Nov 18 Breaking TC 4

Mohamud Bulle, 36, was sentenced to 235 months (19.5 years) — 187 months for first‑degree criminal sexual conduct and 48 months for kidnapping, to run consecutively — after a jury convicted him in the Oct. 13, 2013 rape of Melissa Zimmerman in a Minneapolis park. The case was solved after the BCA tested a 2013 sexual‑assault kit in 2020 under the federal SAKI backlog program, producing a DNA profile that linked to another case in May 2024 and to Bulle in October 2024 when his DNA was obtained in an unrelated matter; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty apologized for earlier delays, and Bulle, who received a separate 36‑month sentence in 2025, is incarcerated at MCF–Rush City with a projected release in March 2038 (248 days credit).

Legal Public Safety

Judge OKs Purdue deal; Sacklers to pay $7B

Nov 18 Dev TC 1

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge said he will issue his reasoning Tuesday for approving Purdue Pharma’s nationwide opioid settlement, which includes up to $7 billion from the Sackler family over 15 years and creates a successor company, Knoa Pharma, overseen by a state‑appointed board. The plan directs most funds to governments for opioid abatement and reserves about $850 million for individual victims, with eligible OxyContin patients and survivors slated to receive payments as soon as next year; those who opt out may still sue Sackler family members.

Legal Health

Medica to acquire UCare’s 2026 Medicaid and individual plans; ~300,000 members transition in MN/WI

Nov 18 Breaking TC 3

Medica, the Minnetonka-based insurer, will acquire all of UCare’s 2026 Medicaid and individual/family plans, absorbing roughly 300,000 members in Minnesota and western Wisconsin — the bulk of UCare’s business — in a transaction expected to close in Q1 2026 pending regulatory approvals, with financial terms undisclosed. Both CEOs say services will continue without interruption, MNsure says exchange coverage and costs won’t change for 2026 and is coordinating the transition, and Senate Commerce Chair Sen. Matt Klein will monitor impacts on consumer choice and access; UCare had earlier ended its Medicare Advantage contracts as its board explored options.

Health Business & Economy

White Bear Lake father gets 128 months for infant’s death

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Mark Russell Forster, 40, of White Bear Lake, was sentenced Monday to 128 months in prison in Ramsey County District Court after entering a Norgaard plea to second‑degree unintentional murder in the March 2024 death of his 8‑week‑old son, Jackson Dallas Forster. Prosecutors said medical findings showed injuries consistent with abusive head trauma; Forster received 460 days’ credit for time served and the negotiated term falls at the low end of state guidelines.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul hit-and-run: Michael Kentrell Smith charged with vehicular homicide in death of Amber Deneen

Nov 18 Breaking TC 5

Michael Kentrell Smith, 39, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in Ramsey County after a hit-and-run on St. Anthony Avenue that killed 30-year-old Amber O. Deneen and her two dogs; police allege Smith slowed but did not stop at a stop sign before striking Deneen and witnesses say they followed and honked at the dark-colored SUV as it fled. Surveillance video shows the SUV at a nearby Speedway inspecting the front passenger tire, Smith told officers he thought he hit bike-lane cones and later said, “I don’t remember hitting nobody,” and his first court appearance is set for Tuesday while neighbors plan a memorial and police increase local speed enforcement.

Legal Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Metro Transit settles bus–skateboarder suit for $500K

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

Metro Transit agreed to pay $500,000 — the maximum allowed under Minnesota’s liability cap for government entities — to Bradley Legrid, who was run over by a bus while riding a motorized skateboard in the crosswalk at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Legrid suffered severe injuries, and his attorney criticized the state cap as incentivizing agencies to delay settlements; Metro Transit declined to comment on the case’s details.

Legal Transit & Infrastructure

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski to retire in 2026

Nov 17 Breaking TC 2

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski announced he will retire and will not seek reelection in 2026. In a statement thanking constituents in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, he invoked the Constitution’s “more perfect union” language, and his Senate District 49 is forecast to significantly favor the DFL in 2026.

Local Government Elections

Rep. Sandra Feist to retire after term

Nov 17 Breaking TC 2

Rep. Sandra Feist said she will not seek reelection in 2026 and plans to pivot back to immigration work after her term. Feist represents HD 39B, which covers parts of Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties and is considered a safe DFL seat, and her legislative record includes authoring the North Star Act (a sanctuary-state proposal) and notable positions on a menstrual-products bill.

Local Government Elections

Wayzata sets April 14, 2026 special election; $465M bonds plus separate $31M pool question on ballot

Nov 17 Breaking TC 2

The Wayzata School Board voted 6–1 on Nov. 10, 2025, to hold a special election April 14, 2026, with three ballot questions: an extension of the tech levy, $465 million in general obligation bonds for new schools and upgrades, and a separate $31 million GO bond for an eight‑lane pool with a diving well at Wayzata High School (contingent on passage of the second question) that would be permitted for community use. The district—enrollment topped 13,000 and is projected to exceed capacity at every grade level by 2027–28—has submitted the proposal to the Minnesota Department of Education for approval; Director Valentina Eyres cast the lone no vote questioning the pool and the April special election, and Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson plans to retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year.

Local Government Elections Education

Bird flu drives MN turkey losses, prices higher

Nov 17 TC 1

A Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press report says Minnesota has accounted for over a third of recent U.S. bird‑flu turkey cases, with more than 716,000 commercial turkeys affected since August and over 1 million since the start of 2025, contributing to higher wholesale and fresh‑bird prices ahead of Thanksgiving. Experts note national turkey production is down nearly 10% year over year, labor costs are up, and fresh birds are most affected while frozen supplies are less impacted; officials expect the fall surge to ease but warn spring migration could renew risks and breeder‑hen losses may tighten supply into 2026.

Health Business & Economy

U-Haul chase ends in St. Paul arrest

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office says a U-Haul van fled a traffic stop near Stacy on Sunday night for lane violations and no plates, leading to a multi-agency pursuit that ended in St. Paul when the driver ran and was arrested. Authorities attempted stop sticks multiple times; the driver, who had an outstanding warrant, was booked into the Chisago County Jail for fleeing, warrants, and traffic violations, with additional charges under review.

Public Safety Legal

South St. Paul woman critically hurt in hit-and-run

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

South St. Paul police say a woman was found early Monday with life-threatening injuries consistent with being struck and/or dragged by a vehicle. Chief Brian Wicke said police believe the driver and victim knew each other; the driver fled before officers arrived, the vehicle was later found, and no arrests had been made as of Monday morning. Investigators are canvassing the area and ask anyone with information to call 651-413-8300.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul foundations launch $23M housing initiative

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, with the F.R. Bigelow and Mardag foundations, announced a five‑year, $20 million “Our Home State” initiative on Nov. 17 to expand access to safe, stable and affordable housing across Minnesota; St. Paul–based Ecolab added $3 million, bringing the total to $23 million. Early investments will focus on eviction prevention, shelter capacity, affordable housing production and policy/narrative work, with leaders emphasizing support for community‑led solutions that include the Twin Cities.

Housing Business & Economy

Novo cuts Wegovy list price to $349

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

Novo Nordisk said Monday it reduced the list price for higher-dose Wegovy to $349/month (from $499) for cash‑paying patients and launched a temporary $199/month offer for the first two months of low‑dose Wegovy and Ozempic, aligning with a recent federal drug‑pricing framework. The price changes apply nationwide via pharmacies, home delivery and some telemedicine providers; clinicians and surveys still cite affordability challenges for patients without insurance.

Health Business & Economy

St. Paul eases mixed‑use zoning, launches corridor study

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul City Council voted 7–0 on Wednesday to simplify and update standards in its T1–T4 'Traditional Neighborhood' zoning districts—aimed at encouraging pedestrian‑oriented, mixed‑use development—and immediately launched a follow‑up study to consider expanding T zoning along transit corridors. Changes include new corner parking setbacks, strengthened street‑level frontage requirements, floor‑area bonuses tied to affordable units, and clarification of height allowances; the Planning Commission recommended approval 12–0 on Sept. 5 and the council held a public hearing Nov. 5.

Local Government Housing

MnDOT to brief Hastings U.S. 61 rebuild Tuesday

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will hold a public meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Hastings City Hall to outline a $30–$40 million reconstruction of U.S. 61 between just north of 3rd Street and just south of 36th Street. Plans include roundabouts at MN 316 and 36th Street, a new signal at 18th Street, new sidewalks and ADA ramps, and replacement of the historic Todd Field wall to meet safety standards, with construction slated for fall 2027 through spring 2029 (most work in 2028). Funding comes from the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Solicitation and MnDOT’s Transportation Economic Development program.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Wrong-way crash on Hwy 169 kills Shakopee woman

Nov 16 Breaking TC 1

A Pontiac Grand Am traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 169 in Bloomington collided with a Hyundai Sonata near Anderson Lakes Parkway just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, pushing the Hyundai into a Ford F-150. The Pontiac’s driver, 29-year-old Jasmine Jayde Nanclares of Shakopee, died at the scene; the Hyundai driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and those in the F-150 were unhurt. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating and said seat belt use and alcohol remain unknown.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Man shot at Maple Grove Benihana, suspect flees

Nov 16 Breaking TC 1

Maple Grove police say a 33-year-old man was shot in the groin during an altercation with another man at the Benihana on Fountains Drive around 4:30 p.m. Friday. The victim was hospitalized with a non-life-threatening injury, and the suspect fled in a vehicle; investigators believe the incident was not random and ask anyone with information to call 763-494-6100.

Public Safety Legal

Shakopee shooting critically injures 40-year-old man

Nov 15 Breaking TC 1

Shakopee police say a 40-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:13 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, on Grove Drive and was hospitalized in critical condition. Investigators believe the shooting was not random and report no ongoing danger to the area; no arrests or suspect information have been released.

Public Safety

St. Paul police adopt first AI-use policy

Nov 15 TC 1

The St. Paul Police Department has implemented its first policy governing artificial intelligence, currently limiting use to automated transcription of interviews, and says it has no short‑term plan to adopt Axon’s Draft One report‑writing tool. Neighboring agencies differ: Eagan police use Draft One for non‑felonies (accepted by the Eagan City Attorney), while Hennepin and Dakota county attorneys won’t accept Draft One reports and Ramsey County requires notice when AI tools are used in investigations; civil oversight members and the ACLU of Minnesota are urging public input and guardrails.

Local Government Public Safety Technology

Congress passes shutdown bill with 0.4 mg hemp‑THC cap; 1‑year phase‑in alarms MN beverage industry

Nov 15 Dev TC 5

Congress has passed a stopgap funding bill that includes a national cap of 0.4 mg hemp‑derived THC per container, taking effect in one year and overriding higher state per‑serving limits (Minnesota currently allows ~5 mg), a measure pushed to close a 2018 Farm Bill looph and intended to block unregulated intoxicating hemp products. Minnesota brewers, retailers and hemp beverage makers warn the cap would effectively ban most THC edibles and drinks and devastate a roughly $140–200 million local market — though regulators say licensing and oversight remain unchanged until the cap’s effective date and industry groups urge business as usual in the interim.

Legal & Regulatory Local Government Business & Economy

Disney, YouTube TV end blackout, restore channels

Nov 15 Breaking TC 2

Disney and YouTube TV reached a new carriage agreement that ended a blackout that began the night of Oct. 30 and lasted just over two weeks, with ABC, ESPN and other Disney‑owned channels including NatGeo, FX, Freeform, the SEC Network and ACC Network restored over the course of Nov. 14, the companies said. The sides traded public accusations during negotiations — Disney executives Alan Bergman, Dana Walden and Jimmy Pitaro said YouTube TV refused fair rates and was leveraging its dominance, while YouTube TV said Disney's terms were costly and would reduce consumer choice — after a prior 2021 disruption that lasted less than two days.

Business & Economy Technology

Twin Cities hits 72°F, latest‑season record warmth; fall likely top‑10 warmest

Nov 15 Breaking TC 2

The Twin Cities reached 72°F Friday — the warmest temperature ever recorded this late in the season in records back to 1872 — while St. Cloud tied its daily high at 68°F. State climatologist says autumn 2025 is likely to rank among Minnesota’s top-10 warmest seasons and nearly 63% of the state is abnormally dry or in drought, though a weak cold front should bring temperatures closer to normal in the coming days.

Weather Environment

Couple pleads guilty in Twin Cities Lululemon thefts

Nov 15 Dev TC 1

A Connecticut couple, Jadion Anthony Richards, 45, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes‑Richards, 46, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court on Nov. 14 to one felony count each of organized retail theft in a global deal covering Ramsey and Hennepin charges tied to Lululemon thefts in Roseville, Edina, Minneapolis and Minnetonka. The case marks Ramsey County’s first convictions under Minnesota’s 2023 organized retail theft law; police previously recovered over $50,000 in stolen merchandise from a JW Marriott Mall of America hotel room after a Nov. 14, 2024 Roseville theft, and sentencing with restitution is set for Jan. 30, with stayed prison terms and probation expected.

Legal Public Safety

DNA IDs mother in 1983 Blaine infant case

Nov 15 Breaking TC 2

Forensic DNA analysis by Othram has identified the mother of the newborn found in 1983 on Main Street between MN 65 and Radisson Road in Blaine, confirming the infant as "Rachel Marie Doe." The mother told investigators she gave birth alone at home, found the baby unresponsive and believed it was stillborn before leaving the infant roadside; a community funeral was held in 1983 and the child was buried in a local church cemetery, authorities say the Midwest Medical Examiner’s re-examination could not determine live birth and relatives, including the father, were reportedly unaware of the pregnancy.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul death after Westminster St. assault

Nov 14 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a man died Friday after officers responding about 11:40 a.m. to an assault at an apartment complex on the 1500 block of Westminster Street found him with lacerations to his back and head. A woman who reported the assault was taken to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; no arrests have been made, police say there is no ongoing public threat, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner will identify the man and determine cause of death.

Public Safety

Fridley man charged with criminal vehicular homicide in I-94 Dale St. crash that killed St. Paul driver

Nov 14 Breaking TC 3

Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after his Tesla sped off I‑94, exited at Dale Street with its headlights reportedly turned off, and struck a Toyota RAV4 at Dale and Rondo Avenue in St. Paul, killing 31‑year‑old St. Paul baker Benjamin Michael Villano. A state trooper who followed the Tesla clocked it at 84 mph and later over 100 mph but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash; Kosar and a 19‑year‑old passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The passenger, who suffered fractures and a dislocated hip, told investigators she had asked Kosar to stop speeding and that they had broken up earlier that day, and the criminal complaint alleges Kosar’s operation was “grossly negligent.”

Transit & Infrastructure Legal Public Safety

FDA adds boxed warning to Duchenne gene therapy

Nov 14 Breaking TC 1

The FDA on Nov. 14 added a boxed warning to Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy after two patient deaths and limited its approved use to ambulatory patients age 4 and older. New labeling also recommends weekly liver‑function monitoring for the first three months post‑infusion and other precautions, affecting how Twin Cities providers prescribe and monitor the one‑time treatment.

Health Government/Regulatory

Leaked DHS emails flag 2022 grant draw risk

Nov 14 TC 1

Internal Minnesota DHS messages from December 2022 show CFO Dave Greeman warning of a 'critical' situation with behavioral‑health grants and a narrow window to draw federal funds, saying 'we can’t continue to miss federal draws' and citing potential taxpayer exposure of 'hundreds of thousands or even millions.' DHS told Alpha News it is not aware of any missed federal draws, attributing late-year concerns to grantee underspending and noting invoices submitted after award expiration could not be paid with federal dollars.

Local Government Health

Court blocks federal immigrant CDL restrictions

Nov 14 Breaking TC 1

The D.C. Circuit on Thursday stayed U.S. DOT’s new rule that would have limited commercial driver’s licenses for noncitizens to holders of H‑2A, H‑2B or E‑2 visas, finding the agency skipped proper procedure and failed to justify safety benefits. The rule—spurred by several fatal crashes—would have required immigration‑status checks and cut eligibility to roughly 10,000 of 200,000 noncitizen CDL holders; California this week revoked 17,000 CDLs amid audits tied to the issue. The stay halts enforcement nationwide, preserving current licensing standards while litigation proceeds.

Legal Transit & Infrastructure

I-494 weekend closure from Hwy 77 to Hwy 100

Nov 14 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will close westbound I-494 between Highway 77 (Cedar Ave.) and Highway 100 from 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, through the weekend for winter prep work; eastbound I-494 will also close Saturday night for utility work, with detours via Hwy 77, Hwy 62 and Hwy 100. The agency says lanes will reopen by Monday morning weather permitting, and the I-494 ramps at Nicollet Ave. and 12th Ave. will be permanently closed by the end of the year for bridge construction.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Mounds View High teacher Ted Bennett resigns; judge sets $75K bail in sex‑crimes case

Nov 14 Breaking TC 6

Ted Bennett, a 58-year-old longtime English teacher at Mounds View High School, resigned this week after being arrested and charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor student; the school board accepted his resignation. Authorities allege he provided the student alcohol and Adderall, exchanged explicit messages, and had sexual contact on multiple occasions — including in vehicles and a school theater storage area — and he was arrested at his home, held in Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $75,000 and ordered to stay away from the victim; investigators say there may be additional victims and have opened a tip line.

Public Safety Education Legal

Marine on St. Croix getting first cell tower

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Marine on St. Croix is installing a 180‑foot cellular tower on city‑owned land near its compost site and septic drainfield, officials said November 13, 2025. AT&T will be the core tenant, other carriers may co‑locate, and the city will receive $22,000 per year for the land lease; the site lies outside the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway boundary and is intended to improve public safety communications on the river and in town.

Utilities Public Safety

Judge weighs new-trial motion on Wiggins’ sentencing day in Monique Baugh case

Nov 13 Dev TC 5

A Hennepin County jury on Nov. 3, 2025 found Lyndon Akeem Wiggins guilty on four counts, including aiding and abetting first‑degree premeditated murder, with sentencing set for Nov. 13 after a jury of six women and six men returned the verdict following about six hours of deliberation. On the day of sentencing Wiggins’ attorney filed a 13‑page motion seeking a third retrial, alleging cumulative due‑process violations — including witness warnings, refusal to revisit CSLI suppression, emotional outbursts by the victim’s mother, and an unresolved recusal motion — which Judge Kappelhoff took under advisement amid sharp criticism from prosecutors and the victim’s family.

Legal Public Safety

Macalester senior dies after off‑campus fall

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Macalester College senior Binta Maina, 21, died after accidentally falling down a flight of stairs at an off‑campus residence in St. Paul’s Snelling‑Hamline neighborhood late Sunday, according to St. Paul police. Officers responded just before 11:30 p.m. to the 1500 block of Hague Ave.; medics transported Maina to a hospital, and the college said the community is “heartbroken” by the loss.

Public Safety Education

MLS shifts to July–May season; Apple changes access

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

MLS owners voted Nov. 13 to move to a late‑summer‑to‑spring calendar starting in 2027, aligning with international leagues and adding a long winter break—changes that will affect Minnesota United’s home schedule at Allianz Field. Separately, Apple said all MLS matches will be available to Apple TV subscribers without the separate Season Pass starting in 2026, changing how Twin Cities fans access broadcasts.

Business & Economy Technology

Woodbury son charged in father's neglect death

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Washington County has charged Michael Cornelius Dailey, 51, of Woodbury with criminal neglect after charging documents allege he mismanaged the care of his 80-year-old father, a vulnerable adult, who died April 28, 2025 following hypoglycemia from a severe insulin overdose. The complaint cites multiple recent hospitalizations tied to uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes, malnutrition concerns, a recommended facility placement Dailey allegedly refused, and an October 2024 incident where home health services were rejected.

Legal Public Safety

Ryan Winkler launches bid for HD 43B

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Former MN House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler announced he is running for House District 43B, which covers Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and a small part of Plymouth. The open seat follows DFL Rep. Mike Freiberg’s run for the Minnesota Senate; Winkler joins state tax auditor and former Robbinsdale school board member Sam Sant in the DFL field ahead of the August primary.

Elections Local Government

IRS raises 401(k), IRA limits for 2026

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

The IRS announced on Nov. 13, 2025, that the maximum employee contribution to 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans will rise to $24,500 in 2026, with the age‑50 catch‑up increasing to $8,000. The agency also set the 2026 IRA limit at $7,500 and the IRA catch‑up at $1,100, while keeping the special age 60–63 catch‑up at $11,250. The nationwide changes directly affect Twin Cities workers and retirees saving in tax‑advantaged plans.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

AT&T $177M breach settlement sets Dec. 18 deadline

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

AT&T agreed to a $177 million settlement over two data breaches disclosed in 2024, and impacted customers — including those in the Twin Cities — have until Dec. 18, 2025 to file claims. The deal, reached in U.S. District Court in Texas, covers a dark‑web leak of data from 2019 or earlier affecting about 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders, and a separate breach of 2022 call/text records; payments of up to $5,000 or $2,500 are available depending on documented losses, with final court approval set for Jan. 15, 2026.

Legal Technology

Metro Transit to increase winter officer presence

Nov 13 Breaking TC 2

Metro Transit will boost uniformed security across nearly every light‑rail route this winter, deploying agency police, community service officers, transit ambassadors and contract security beginning this weekend. Officials say serious crime has fallen but minor offenses such as drug use and vandalism have remained steady, driving rider safety concerns.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Hennepin, metro cities boost food aid amid SNAP delays

Nov 13 Dev TC 2

Hennepin County and other Twin Cities cities and counties have stepped in to fund emergency food aid after SNAP payments were delayed during the federal shutdown. With the shutdown over, states are transitioning from partial or paused SNAP payments to full November benefits — USDA guidance says most states can access funds within 24 hours but beneficiaries may see staggered deposits spread over several days up to about a week, so local aid remains important in the short term.

Local Government Health Government/Regulatory

St. Paul passes contingent assault‑weapons ban; gun‑rights group files lawsuit

Nov 13 Breaking TC 7

St. Paul’s City Council unanimously approved a contingent ordinance (7–0) that would ban public possession of assault‑style firearms, magazines holding more than 20 rounds and binary triggers, require serial numbers to curb ghost guns, and bar guns in most city‑owned spaces — but the law is written to take effect only if state firearm preemption is repealed, amended or judicially invalidated. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus immediately sued in Ramsey County, calling the measure unlawful, while the city attorney says St. Paul is prepared to defend the contingent approach amid the broader push by about 17 Minnesota cities and significant public comment (including over 700 “vote no” emails).

Public Safety Legal Local Government

St. Paul offers $2,500 eviction-prevention aid

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul opened applications for its Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Program, offering one-time grants up to $2,500 to low‑income tenants facing eviction, effective Nov. 13, 2025. Funded with $1 million in the 2025 city budget, the program requires landlords to agree not to evict aided tenants and limits eligibility to households at or below 80% AMI with proof of a pending eviction; the City Council is exploring funding in 2026.

Housing Local Government

Xcel proposes $430M distributed battery network

Nov 13 TC 1

Xcel Energy filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to recover costs for a new distributed battery program, Capacity*Connect, that would deploy dozens of 1–3 MW batteries at commercial sites statewide and scale to 50–200 MW by 2028, forming a utility‑controlled virtual power plant. Xcel says the plan will bolster reliability and help meet the 2040 carbon‑free mandate while shifting purchases to lower‑cost periods, but watchdogs question the value for ratepayers and note Xcel’s Colorado virtual power plant is far cheaper per megawatt and includes broader customer‑side resources.

Utilities Energy

Judge grants TRO barring encampments on Sabri Minneapolis properties

Nov 13 Dev TC 8

A Hennepin County judge on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order barring homeless encampments on any Minneapolis properties owned by Hamoudi Sabri after negotiations between Sabri and the city broke down and following a Sept. 16 mass shooting near E. Lake St. that injured seven people. Mayor Jacob Frey said the TRO lets the city close encampments once services and shelter are offered; city crews cleared the site, estimate the cleanup cost about $50,000 and may seek reimbursement, and police have increased patrols and placed fencing around the area. Sabri says he plans to convert the cleared lot into a "hygiene and outreach hub," has not obtained required permits, faces possible citations if he violates the order, and is weighing further legal action while criticizing the city's homelessness response.

Housing Public Safety Legal

Hospitals join suit alleging insurer price fixing

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

A coalition of hospitals and health systems has joined or expanded a federal lawsuit alleging a cartel-like scheme to depress out‑of‑network reimbursements, describing a third‑party repricing firm as a 'mafia enforcer' working for major insurers including Minnetonka‑based UnitedHealth Group. The case accuses the parties of antitrust violations that harmed providers and patients by fixing prices below competitive levels; Twin Cities impact stems from UHG’s role and potential effects on local health systems and consumers.

Legal Health Business & Economy

Walz orders veteran food pantry network

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz issued a Veterans Day executive order directing the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to create a statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network and authorizing the agency to use existing resources, partner with nonprofits and private entities, and accept donations. The move aims to reduce food insecurity among Minnesota’s 296,000 veterans — including many in the Twin Cities — amid data showing 13% of veterans in VA care are food insecure and roughly 12,000 Minnesota veterans use SNAP.

Local Government Health

Parents plan suit in Stillwater AI child-porn case

Nov 13 Breaking TC 2

Parents are threatening to sue the Stillwater School District after former employee William Haslach was accused of producing AI child pornography, and the district now acknowledges some victims are Stillwater students. Facing scrutiny, the district has implemented new rules—no personal cell phones around students, photos only pre‑approved and taken on district devices, and mandatory sexual‑exploitation training—while attorney Imran Ali has launched a civil investigation citing outdated policies, training gaps and poor communication.

Education Public Safety Legal

Stillwater schools weigh boundary changes

Nov 13 Dev TC 1

Stillwater Area Public Schools outlined three attendance-boundary scenarios to prepare for new Lake Elmo and Bayport elementary schools opening next fall, with scenarios affecting either 135 or 39 students. An open house is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Oak-Land Middle School, a School Board study session is Dec. 2, and a final decision is expected Dec. 16; the district also listed the current Lake Elmo Elementary for $5 million and plans to consolidate central services into the current Andersen Elementary building in Bayport.

Education Local Government

Fridley teen sentenced to life with parole eligibility in 15 years for ex’s murder

Nov 12 Dev TC 2

A jury convicted 19-year-old Fenan Abdurezak Uso of Fridley of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend Jayden Kline, and Judge Jenny Walker Jasper imposed a mandatory life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years under a 2023 law for juveniles certified as adults. Prosecutors say Uso bought a stolen handgun the night before and planned the Dec. 21, 2023 shooting outside Kline’s Fridley home (captured in neighbor doorbell video showing a gold minivan); Kline died at North Memorial Hospital, Uso was initially charged by juvenile petition and later indicted for first-degree murder in July 2024, and Kline’s mother and brothers delivered victim impact statements at sentencing.

Legal Public Safety

CBP building $15.6M facility at Holman Field

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

The Metropolitan Airports Commission says a 4,800‑sq‑ft U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at St. Paul’s Holman Field received a city building permit on Nov. 4, replacing a small in‑building CBP site to better process international charter passengers and cargo. The project, funded with federal/state grants and General Airport Revenue bonds, will handle 100–150 international flights per year and feature LEED Gold design with geothermal, solar, and a green roof.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

U.S. Mint strikes final penny Wednesday

Nov 12 Breaking TC 2

The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia will press the final penny Wednesday, and U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said those last coins will be auctioned. Each penny costs roughly four cents to make, and the Treasury estimates ending production will save about $56 million a year in materials, even as tens of billions of pennies remain in circulation and banks and retailers may round cash transactions to the nearest five cents.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Washington County plans Ideal Avenue upgrades

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

Washington County announced an Ideal Avenue (County Road 13) improvement project between Stillwater Blvd and 34th St N on the Oakdale–Lake Elmo border, adding wider shoulders, turn lanes, and better pedestrian/bike facilities, drainage, and capacity. An open house is set for 4–6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Oakdale Discovery Center, with online feedback accepted Nov. 19–Dec. 10; the $7.8 million project is slated to start in spring 2029 and will be funded by the county’s transportation sales tax, the Minnesota Transportation Advancement Account, and the cities of Lake Elmo and Oakdale.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Prosecutors turn over 130,000 pages in Boelter case; next hearing Feb. 12

Nov 12 Dev TC 3

Prosecutors have provided substantially all discovery in the case against Vance Boelter — more than 130,000 PDF pages as part of roughly 9 terabytes of material that the defense says includes about 800–825 hours of audio/video, roughly 2,000 photos and thousands of documents, though some lab reports remain pending. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster set the next status conference for Feb. 12 and requested updates on the DOJ’s undecided death‑penalty decision (which federal prosecutor Harry Jacobs said rests with AG Pam Bondi), while defense counsel Manny Atwal said downloading and reviewing the evidence — slowed by a federal shutdown and some 110 hours of work already — could push trial scheduling out at least six months.

Legal Public Safety

Police unions condemn $10K bail in deputy assault

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s two largest police organizations criticized a judge’s decision to allow a $10,000 conditional bail for Robert J. Kozicky, 41, charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree assault, and fourth-degree assault of a peace officer after a Nov. 6 incident in Ham Lake where a deputy was violently attacked. Prosecutors sought $150,000 unconditional or $75,000 conditional bail, but Judge Jennifer Peterson set $75,000 unconditional or $10,000 with conditions; Kozicky was arrested Nov. 7 and released Nov. 9, and unions MPPOA and LELS are calling for a review citing the deputy’s concussion and head laceration.

Public Safety Legal

Visa, Mastercard propose card-acceptance changes

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

Visa and Mastercard proposed a national class‑action settlement that would let merchants refuse higher‑tier rewards cards or add surcharges to cover their higher fees, a shift from the networks’ long‑standing “honor all cards” rule. The deal also includes a temporary 10‑basis‑point cut to swipe fees for five years and sets standard transactions at 1.25% for eight years; major retail groups oppose the proposal, which still requires court approval, meaning Twin Cities shoppers with premium rewards cards could eventually see declines or surcharges at checkout if it’s finalized.

Business & Economy Legal

Centerspace reviews options, sells Minneapolis portfolio for $76M

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

Minot-based apartment REIT Centerspace said Wednesday its board has begun a review of strategic alternatives that could include a sale or merger, and separately announced it sold its Minneapolis-area portfolio for $76 million, including properties in Minneapolis and New Hope. The moves signal a potential change in ownership and strategy affecting Twin Cities multifamily real estate.

Business & Economy Housing

MSP airport retail unit spins off, new CEO

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport retail operations of St. Paul-based Airport Retail Group are being split into a standalone business, with investor Megan Bender buying a stake and becoming CEO. The new entity plans to nearly double sales, including by opening a new travel convenience store in MSP’s Terminal 2.

Business & Economy Transit & Infrastructure

Judge weighs Planned Parenthood Medicaid cutoff

Nov 12 Dev TC 1

A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday on whether a July federal law ending Medicaid reimbursements to providers that both offer abortions and receive over $800,000 in Medicaid funds should remain in effect during ongoing lawsuits. Planned Parenthood says an appeals court allowed the law to take effect in September, costing the organization $45 million that month as clinics covered Medicaid care out of pocket, and warns of closures and reduced access; seven states have temporarily backfilled some funding, but Minnesota is not among them. The case was brought by Planned Parenthood and affiliates in Massachusetts and Utah and a Maine provider against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Health Legal

Sonder abruptly closes Twin Cities locations

Nov 12 Dev TC 1

Sonder, which operated extended‑stay hotels in downtown St. Paul and multiple Minneapolis sites, shut down operations Monday night after Marriott Bonvoy said its licensing agreement with Sonder was terminated for default. A sign at The Fitz (77 Ninth St. E., St. Paul) states operations ceased Nov. 10, 2025; Marriott directed customers to seek refunds through their credit‑card issuers and rebook within its portfolio as reports indicate Sonder plans a Chapter 7 filing.

Business & Economy

St. Paul keeps staff-led review for reparations study

Nov 12 Dev TC 1

The St. Paul City Council voted 6–1 on Nov. 5 to stick with a staff‑led procurement process for a reparations 'harm study' budgeted up to $250,000, rejecting a proposal from Council Member Anika Bowie to restart the evaluation with a community‑driven review panel. The RFP, extended in September and closed Oct. 3, drew three research firms; a preferred vendor has been identified but not yet finalized, and the contract will come back to the council for approval amid objections from some Black elders and split views among the council’s two Black members.

Local Government Business & Economy

IACP to review 43-hour response to June 14 lawmaker shootings; $429.5K cost

Nov 12 Dev TC 3

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Brooklyn Park, Champlin and New Hope police departments and Hennepin County have hired the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct an independent after-action review of the 43-hour law enforcement response to the June 14 lawmaker shootings — from the first 911 call just after 2:30 a.m. to the arrest of Vance Boelter — a manhunt DPS calls the largest in state history. The six-month review, announced in a DPS Veterans Day release, will cost $429,500 (the state covering $210,000 and Hennepin County $165,000), will be released publicly, and has drawn support and questions from officials including Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher about early communication to legislators.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Minneapolis CM Jamal Osman carjacked amid spree; two teens arrested, VW recovered

Nov 11 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman was carjacked shortly before 8 p.m. at Lake St. & Portland Ave.; MPD says he was threatened with mace and his Volkswagen Atlas was stolen as part of a same-day spree that began with a 2 p.m. Subaru Outback theft and included an attempted carjacking and another vehicle theft earlier in the evening. Officers later spotted the stolen vehicles near Lake & Pillsbury, one car hit a hydrant during a pursuit, and two teens (15 and 16) were arrested after fleeing on foot and Osman's VW was recovered near Lyndale Place; police say one arrested teen has a prior history, and separately two adults were arrested in an unrelated early-morning carjacking near Penn Ave. N. and 26th Ave. N.

Local Government Public Safety

Five charged in Twin Cities odometer fraud

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged five relatives — Ilie Tudor, 27; Ionut Todur, 29; Florin Tudor, 31; Vasile Tudor, 26; and David Tudor, 22 — with odometer tampering, theft by swindle and concealing criminal proceeds after a scheme to buy vehicles cheaply, roll back miles and resell them on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators recovered a Toyota Tundra in north Minneapolis showing more than 110,000 fewer miles than previously recorded and say all five suspects have left Minnesota, with warrants issued and at least two believed to have fled the country.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis weighs downtown public restroom expansion

Nov 11 Dev TC 1

Minneapolis’ Public Health and Safety Committee is reviewing a 62-page city report on the shortage of public restrooms downtown and options to increase access, including installing standalone “Portland Loo” units or compelling businesses to open facilities. The analysis cites 27 city 311 complaints about human feces and 26 about public urination from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and notes costs of $152,000–$185,000 per unit (or ~$24,000/year to rent) as the Council considers next steps.

Local Government Public Health

FDA drops boxed warnings on menopause hormones

Nov 11 Breaking TC 2

The FDA removed the long-standing boxed warning from hormone-based menopause drugs, saying updated evidence shows benefits for women. Officials — including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called the move “challenging outdated thinking” — said the change was made without convening a formal advisory committee to avoid a “bureaucratic” and costly process, and Makary explained why an advisory panel was not used.

Health Government/Regulatory

NOAA issues rare G4 aurora watch

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued geomagnetic storm watches for Nov. 11–13, including a rare G4 ('severe') watch on Wednesday that could make the Northern Lights visible across Minnesota, including the Twin Cities’ darker outskirts. The agency says a G2 watch is in effect Nov. 11 and a G3 watch Nov. 13, with visibility potentially extending as far south as Alabama depending on timing, storm strength, and cloud cover.

Weather Environment

Two hospitalized after New Hope house fire

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

West Metro Fire and New Hope police responded to a house fire around 6:12 a.m. Tuesday on the 8100 block of 38 ½ Avenue North, removing two occupants who were transported to North Memorial Hospital and Hennepin Healthcare. Their conditions are unknown; the cause is under investigation by West Metro Fire and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal.

Public Safety

IRS cancels Direct File for 2026 season

Nov 11 Breaking TC 2

The IRS has canceled its Direct File free online tax-filing system for the 2026 season and, per an IRS email from Cynthia Noe, there is no relaunch date set; the program had been piloted in 12 states and was slated to expand to 12 more before the cancellation. Treasury Secretary/IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent said the private sector can do a better job and that Direct File “wasn't used very much.” The 2026 filing season will still include higher standard deductions under OBBBA: $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly, with brackets adjusted for inflation.

Government & Policy Government/Regulatory Business & Economy

Judge denies stay on binary trigger ban ruling

Nov 11 Dev TC 1

Ramsey County District Court Judge Leonardo Castro on Nov. 5 denied the State of Minnesota’s request to stay his Aug. 18 ruling that struck down the 2024 omnibus bill’s "binary trigger" ban under the state constitution’s Single Subject Clause. The decision leaves the ban unenforceable and, in the order, the judge wrote that the public interest favors not enforcing unconstitutional laws and cited due-process concerns with arresting people under an invalid statute.

Legal Local Government

Rondo Library to close Dec. 15 for renovations

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul’s Rondo Community Library at University Avenue and Dale Street will close Dec. 15 for up to a year for interior and public-safety renovations funded up to $793,000 from state public safety aid, with services relocated to the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center (270 N. Kent St.) beginning Jan. 3. The temporary site will mirror Rondo’s seven‑day hours and offer holds, returns, collections, computers, WiFi, notary/printing, rooms, and all existing programs; Rondo item due dates are extended to Jan. 31.

Local Government Education

Appeals court orders full SNAP funding; Supreme Court to decide whether 65% cap remains

Nov 11 Dev TC 71

After the federal shutdown prompted USDA to pause SNAP disbursements and initially push a roughly 65% partial‑payment plan, a coalition of states sued and district judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered USDA to use contingency and other funds to provide full November benefits. The 1st Circuit upheld the lower‑court order requiring full funding (after a brief Supreme Court stay), leaving some states that already issued full payments in limbo as the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether the administration may enforce the 65% cap.

Legal Government/Regulatory Politics

AG’s conviction review of 2002 Dakota murder nears

Nov 11 TC 1

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison’s Conviction Review Unit says its report on Philip Vance’s 2002 South St. Paul murder conviction is in final review after four years of investigation, even as Vance’s separate court bid based on witness recantations remains paused pending the CRU outcome. The case highlights growing scrutiny of the three‑person unit’s pace—five completed reviews since 2021—with the defense warning delays risk witness availability and prosecutors notified of an anticipated report as far back as February.

Legal Local Government

Swing‑district Sen. Seeberger backs assault‑weapon ban

Nov 11 TC 2

Swing‑district Sen. Seeberger told a Stillwater town hall with Gov. Tim Walz that “everything’s on the table” and she will vote yes on measures that save lives, signaling support for an assault‑weapons ban while noting she is a gun owner and unsure any Republicans would back such a ban. Her stance comes as her district stretches from Grant to Hastings amid razor‑thin legislative margins (an evenly divided House and a one‑seat DFL Senate majority) and with House Republicans pushing a counterplan focused on school security, school resource officers and more mental‑health treatment beds.

Local Government Public Safety

Veterans Day closures and services in Twin Cities

Nov 10 Breaking TC 1

For Tuesday, Nov. 11, most government offices and post offices are closed across Minneapolis–Saint Paul, while many grocery stores and malls remain open. Minneapolis and St. Paul will not enforce parking meters (UMN meters are enforced), Metro Transit buses and Blue/Green lines run regular schedules and offer free rides to veterans and active‑duty military with ID, most libraries and many schools are closed, and select museums have varied hours.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Two men wounded in separate St. Paul shootings

Nov 10 Breaking TC 2

Two men were wounded in separate shootings in St. Paul about 15 minutes apart that police say are believed to be unrelated. In the Payne-Phalen incident, a 43-year-old man was shot during an apparent carjacking, is recovering, could not describe his attacker, and investigators who have made no arrests are asking the public for tips (Sgt. Nichole Sipes, 651-266-5760).

Public Safety

Demuth names Ryan Wilson running mate in 2026 governor bid

Nov 10 Breaking TC 8

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her running mate in her 2026 gubernatorial bid; Wilson is an attorney, founder and former CEO of a clinical‑trials company who narrowly lost the 2022 auditor race. The Demuth‑Wilson ticket — the first prominent GOP campaign this cycle to announce a lieutenant governor pick — will begin a statewide tour and frames its priorities around fighting government fraud, education and public safety amid a GOP primary that includes Scott Jensen, Kristin Robbins and Kendall Qualls.

Elections Local Government

Graco plans Dayton headquarters, leaving NE Minneapolis

Nov 10 Breaking TC 1

Graco said Nov. 10 it plans to build a new headquarters in Dayton, Minnesota, and relocate from its current Northeast Minneapolis riverfront campus. The move would shift the company’s corporate base within the Twin Cities and could open Graco’s high‑profile riverfront site to future redevelopment; project details and approvals will follow local review.

Business & Economy Housing

Hennepin County revises North Arm landing plan

Nov 10 TC 1

Hennepin County dropped a proposed second ‘vertical’ access at Lake Minnetonka’s North Arm public landing in Orono after resident and city pushback, revising its redesign to add a picnic area instead. The county still plans safety and sustainability upgrades — including ramp realignment, parking changes, stormwater controls, shoreline pods for anglers/paddlers, lighting and solar features — and Commissioner Heather Edelson said the controversy will spur broader coordination among 14 lakeshore cities, the county, LMCD and the DNR on commercial use of public landings.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure Environment

I-394 E‑ZPass lanes reopen after July closure

Nov 10 Dev TC 1

MnDOT reopened the reversible E‑ZPass lanes on I‑394 between downtown Minneapolis and Golden Valley on Sunday after months of bridge and pavement work, but warns overnight closures will continue through December and major traffic shifts resume in spring. Starting in February, all westbound traffic will be routed into the E‑ZPass lanes during construction, then eastbound traffic will follow as crews rehab concrete, repair bridges and ramps to Hwy. 55/I‑94, and replace the Penn Avenue bridge deck.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Minneapolis teachers deal adds 2% raise this year; class-size and special-ed caseload limits set; ratification Thu–Fri

Nov 10 Dev TC 8

Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis Federation of Educators reached a tentative agreement late Saturday covering three contracts for more than 4,300 employees that includes a 2% pay increase this year and enforceable smaller class sizes and special-education caseload limits. The deal, which averts a planned Nov. 11 strike, goes to union ratification votes Thursday–Friday and then the School Board for approval amid district warnings of a roughly $75 million shortfall this year and further projected deficits.

Business & Economy Education

Minneapolis vehicle break‑in spree: 124 cases in mid‑Oct; ~20 more in Lowry Hill on Nov. 9

Nov 10 Dev TC 2

Minneapolis police say a mid‑October spree damaged 124 vehicles over five days, and the rash continued with about 20 vehicles having windows smashed before dawn on Nov. 9 in Lowry Hill near Fremont Ave. S. and W. Franklin Ave. MPD noted the October surge followed a two‑month lull, cited an Aug. 19 arrest of three teens in north Minneapolis, and urged people to report incidents (911/311/online/in‑person) and to use well‑lit parking, remove or hide valuables, and never leave keys in vehicles.

Public Safety

Bernie Sanders backs Peggy Flanagan for Senate

Nov 10 Breaking TC 2

Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for the U.S. Senate, praising her background and tying his support to her backing of Medicare for All; Flanagan said, "Folks deserve to afford the lives they want to live... not just the fights we think we can win." Flanagan’s growing coalition includes Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and former Sen. Al Franken, while Democratic rival Rep. Angie Craig is backed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, more than a dozen labor unions and Dave Wellstone; GOP contenders include Royce White and retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

Local Government Elections

Ex-Hennepin sheriff’s captain charged with stealing lab generator for ice fishing

Nov 10 Breaking TC 2

A former Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office captain, Labatt, has been charged with felony theft after a complaint says he took a department-owned generator from the HCSO forensic lab, used it while ice fishing Feb. 1–28 and left it on the lake. The complaint and records say lab staff sent multiple unanswered emails about the missing unit, Labatt did not offer to replace it until after a new generator ($1,209), a gas can and two gallons of gas ($26.97) and $80 for AirTags were purchased, and that Labatt — who joined HCSO in 1989 and became forensic lab director in January 2021 — was separated from employment on April 30, 2025; the HCSO crime lab serves 35 local agencies plus state and federal partners.

Legal Public Safety

Envoy Medical hearing implant gets FDA fast track

Nov 10 Breaking TC 1

White Bear Lake–based Envoy Medical says the latest version of its fully implanted Acclaim hearing device has received FDA breakthrough device designation, placing it on a fast track and expanding clinical trials from 10 to 46 patients. The company, which earlier secured 2010 FDA approval for its Esteem implant, is targeting 2027 approval for the new system after roughly $250 million in cumulative investment.

Health Technology

Ramsey County approves $450K for food shelves; 11 recipients named, $70K reserved for infant formula

Nov 10 Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County approved $450,000 in emergency funds for 11 food shelf providers — Keystone Community Services; Neighborhood House; Open Cupboard; Sanneh Foundation; Merrick Community Services; White Bear Area Food Shelf; Corner Shelf; CLUES; Hallie Q. Brown Community Center; Interfaith Action (Department of Indian Work); and Vineyard Community Services — and reserved $70,000 specifically to buy infant formula if WIC benefits are disrupted. The emergency allocation, prompted by SNAP and MFIP stoppages that affect roughly 35,500 SNAP households (about 68,500 people) and 3,500 MFIP households (about 9,800 people) in Ramsey County, mirrors similar funding moves by nearby counties and cities.

Health Local Government

State awards $69M from MN Forward Fund, including $50M for Rosemount 'North Wind,' $5M for UST and $4M for Hennepin Tech

Nov 09 Breaking TC 4

The state’s Minnesota Forward Fund awarded $69 million across four projects — including a $50 million forgivable loan for North Wind’s $1 billion, 250,000‑sq.‑ft. Minnesota Aerospace Complex at the UMore site in Rosemount, $10 million for Niron Magnetics in Sartell, $5 million for the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and $4 million for Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie). The Rosemount project, which UMN sold 60 acres for and will partner on, will house three hypersonic wind tunnels, is backed by an additional $99 million U.S. Army contract and $85 million in company investment, targets completion in 2030–31, and has drawn some campus protests over military ties.

Technology Business & Economy Local Government

Judges in Minnesota rebuff ICE bond denials

Nov 09 TC 1

Federal judges in Minnesota and nationwide are rejecting ICE’s bid to hold immigrants without bond hearings under a Trump‑era DHS policy expanding detention, with 177 recent rulings favoring immigrants versus nine for the government as of Oct. 31. In Minneapolis, a federal judge ordered a bond hearing Oct. 27 for Jose Andres Robles—detained a month at Freeborn County Jail without a hearing—after which his family posted $10,000 to secure his release; more than 1,000 immigrants have been detained in Minnesota since January.

Legal Local Government

Shepard Road lights still dark after thefts

Nov 09 TC 1

St. Paul officials say repeated copper wire thefts have kept roughly 250 streetlights dark along a four‑mile stretch of Shepard/Warner Road from Lowertown to Otto Avenue, despite citywide progress restoring lights. Public Works estimates it will cost $750,000 or more to fully restore the corridor; the city spent $2 million in 2024 replacing stolen wiring and installing high‑access poles, and 2025 service calls about dark lights are down about 30% year‑over‑year. Council President Rebecca Noecker is urging residents to press City Hall for dedicated funding, citing public‑safety concerns and recent related vandalism along the corridor.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Local Government

Progressives keep 7–6 edge on Minneapolis council; veto overrides no longer possible

Nov 09 Dev TC 6

Progressive-aligned candidates won seven of 13 Minneapolis City Council seats, preserving a narrow majority but losing a veto‑proof supermajority after a moderate pickup in Ward 7; all races are now decided, including Ward 5 where Tinitha “Pearll” Warren prevailed in a ranked‑choice second round. Mayor Jacob Frey and council leaders say the result will require more negotiation on issues like public safety and the budget, and the new council will be sworn in January for a four‑year term.

Local Government Elections

M Health Fairview, UHC talks risk 125K patients

Nov 09 Dev TC 1

M Health Fairview warns it could go out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare and UMR members on Jan. 1, 2026 if no new commercial contract is reached, potentially affecting about 125,000 patients in the Twin Cities. Fairview says UHC’s demands would force service cuts and reduced access, while UnitedHealthcare says Fairview is seeking a more than 23% rate increase that would add roughly $121 million in employer costs; the current five‑year contract expires this year.

Health Business & Economy

Columbia Heights home invasion injures man

Nov 09 Breaking TC 1

Columbia Heights Police and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office say two men followed a resident into his home on the 1400 block of 47th Avenue NE around 10:20 p.m. Friday and tried to rob him, leading to a struggle that left the victim injured. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition; other occupants were unharmed. The suspects fled and remain at large as the investigation continues.

Public Safety Legal

Man shot after dispute in downtown Minneapolis alley

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was shot just before 9:15 p.m. Nov. 8 in an alley behind a nightclub on the 300 block of 1st Avenue North after he asked a group of unhoused individuals to leave. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to survive; the group fled and no arrests have been announced as the investigation continues.

Public Safety

United Way reports 150% surge in food requests; $105K in grants distributed

Nov 08 Dev TC 2

United Way says its 211 helpline has seen a 150% increase in food-related requests since mid-October as Minnesota food shelves feel pressure from the federal shutdown, and the organization has distributed approximately $105,000 in emergency grants to local nonprofits, including funding Route 1 produce pop-up events. 211 is available 24/7 for food access and other services, and United Way is inviting donations and volunteers.

Business & Economy Local Government Health

Minnesota State Grant faces $102M shortfall

Nov 08 Dev TC 1

Minnesota’s largest college financial-aid program is projecting a $102 million deficit in the current biennium, and officials say awards may need to be reduced again in coming semesters. The Office of Higher Education cites higher enrollment (+4,000 students), more recipients (+2,200), and FAFSA-driven need and Pell changes as key drivers, following July fixes that boosted funding by $44.5M but cut average awards by $475 after addressing a prior $239M shortfall. Lawmakers signaled hearings are likely, with Rep. Marion Rarick warning rationing may be unavoidable while OHE advises families not to be overly worried.

Education Local Government

Man found shot dead in Columbia Heights car

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

Anoka County authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found with apparent gunshot wounds inside a vehicle around 6:31 a.m. Friday on the 500 block of 38th Avenue NE in Columbia Heights. No arrests have been made; anyone with information is asked to call Anoka County’s non‑emergency line at 763-427-1212.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota to correct SNAP payout overcount

Nov 08 Dev TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families said Friday it mistakenly included and double‑counted Pandemic EBT in federal FNS‑46 reports, inflating reported SNAP payouts from about $725 million in 2020 to roughly $1.9 billion in 2021. The agency said the reporting errors did not reflect improper payments and it will submit corrected figures to USDA after the federal shutdown ends; the correct totals are not yet known.

Local Government Business & Economy

Marshals arrest Minnesotan in deadly Dallas RV arson

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

U.S. Marshals arrested Lamont Curtis Richardson, 30, of St. Cloud, on I-94 near Sauk Centre Friday on a Texas arson charge tied to an Oct. 19 Dallas RV fire that killed 68-year-old Leslie Denise McBride. Apple Valley police executed search warrants at a Fjord Avenue address, seizing documents bearing Richardson’s name and seeking a woman’s DNA and cellphone data after investigators traced a Hertz rental from MSP and GPS logs to Texas and back. Surveillance captured a hooded, masked man igniting the RV before fleeing; motive has not been disclosed.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul launches SNAP relief food drive

Nov 08 Breaking TC 3

St. Paul launched a food drive for SNAP recipients and has collected more than 10,000 pounds to date. The city lists drop-off locations and partner agencies — Keystone, Merrick, Feeding Frogtown, Hallie Q. Brown, with Neighborhood House beginning pickups next week — and says donations include hygiene supplies, culturally familiar staples, pet food and recipe kits, with the Office of Financial Empowerment noting a strong community response.

Local Government Health

Nonprofit buys condemned St. Paul parking ramp

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation purchased the condemned Capital City Plaza parking ramp at 50 Fourth St. from Madison Equities and will begin work to address safety violations, aiming to reopen it by late 2026. The privately funded deal, near the Green Line’s Central Station, keeps the ramp and the adjacent Alliance Bank Center closed for now while skyway connections to Osborn370 and Treasure Island Center remain open.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Walz appoints Robin Hutcheson Met Council chair

Nov 07 Breaking TC 2

Gov. Tim Walz appointed transit specialist Robin Hutcheson as chair of the Metropolitan Council, with her term beginning Dec. 1, 2025 and running through Jan. 4, 2027; she succeeds Charlie Zelle, who retired in September, and interim chair Deb Barber is currently serving. Walz called Hutcheson a "proven leader" focused on roadway safety and quality of life. Hutcheson, a former Minneapolis Public Works director and Salt Lake City transportation director, is a Senate‑confirmed former administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration who worked on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and she also serves as a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, runs Hutcheson Advisory, formerly led NACTO’s board, and holds degrees from CU Boulder and the University of Utah.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

3 charged in $564K immigration-services fraud targeting Spanish-language churches; 25 victims, ICE threats alleged

Nov 07 Breaking TC 4

Three people — Kira Romero Pinto, Denis Aquino Martinez and Luis Leiva Aquino — have been charged in a scheme that allegedly swindled about $563,700 from at least 25 victims, primarily Spanish-speaking churchgoers in the Twin Cities, by promising expedited citizenship through a fictitious attorney named “Isabella Jason” and threatening to call ICE on anyone who reported the scheme. Authorities say personal documents were seized, one defendant faces a racketeering charge, known Washington County losses exceed $118,000, the case is being prosecuted jointly by Washington and Dakota counties, and all three remain jailed with bail set at $500,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Public Safety Legal

Ex-wife of DOC chief gets 3-year sentence

Nov 07 Breaking TC 3

A Scott County judge, Joy Bartscher, sentenced Paul Schnell’s ex‑wife, Myhre‑Schnell, to three years in prison after she admitted on Dec. 3, 2023, to putting lorazepam and water into her disabled son’s feeding bag — filings quote her saying she hoped he would "go to sleep forever" and later telling investigators she intended to kill him, while the victim, who requires round‑the‑clock ventilator care for spina bifida, told investigators "I made it, I’m still here." The three‑year term was a downward durational departure from guidelines that drew criticism from prosecutors who had sought about 18 years; court records show she received 22 days credit for time served and is expected under Minnesota’s two‑thirds rule to serve roughly two years in custody with the remainder on supervised release, and Commissioner Schnell filed a memo abstaining from any DOC involvement in the case.

Public Safety Legal

Retired Woodbury police chief Bill Hering dies at 76

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

William “Bill” Frederick Hering IV, former Woodbury police chief and public safety director, died Nov. 1, 2025 at age 76 following a brain cancer diagnosis. Hering led Woodbury Public Safety for 32 years and was praised by current Director Jason Posel for shaping a culture of respectful, service‑oriented policing; visitation is Nov. 13 in Stillwater and funeral services are Nov. 14 in Afton, with donations requested to the Public Safety Woodbury Community Support Fund.

Public Safety Local Government

Walz orders half‑staff flags for Farmington officer

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags at state buildings to fly at half‑staff on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to honor Farmington Police Officer Pete Zajac, a 15‑year veteran and former school resource officer who died by suicide on Oct. 28. The proclamation encourages all Minnesotans and organizations to lower flags; a Mass was held Friday in Hastings, and a GoFundMe has been set up for his family.

Public Safety Local Government

EPA moves to relax HFC refrigerant limits

Nov 07 Dev TC 1

The EPA under Administrator Lee Zeldin proposed loosening parts of a Biden‑era 2023 rule that accelerates the phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the 2020 AIM Act, arguing businesses need more time and flexibility. The plan, which follows a September step easing requirements for cold‑storage warehouses and delaying some compliance to 2032, would affect grocery chains, refrigeration firms, and HVAC companies nationwide, including in the Twin Cities, while environmental groups warn it will worsen climate pollution and disrupt ongoing industry transitions.

Environment Government/Regulatory

Two charged in Bar Zia killing; prosecutors cite security lapses, city shutters bar

Nov 07 Dev TC 2

Prosecutors say a July shooting at downtown Minneapolis’ Bar Zia left 21-year-old Damarco Fletcher Jr. dead and three others wounded (women, 35 and 22, and a 24-year-old man) and led to charges against Arlonzo Williams Jr., 26, for second‑degree murder, illegal gun possession and three counts of attempted murder, and Dantrell DaJuan Clark, 24, as an accomplice on murder and attempted murder counts. Charging documents allege coordinated, gang-related conduct and security lapses — including patrons being allowed to re‑enter without screening after suspects briefly exited to retrieve a gun — and the city closed Bar Zia three days later for a licensing violation tied to lack of insurance.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Supreme Court allows Trump passport sex‑marker policy to take effect during lawsuit

Nov 07 Breaking TC 3

The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to let its passport sex‑marker policy take effect while litigation continues, staying a June injunction by U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick that had blocked the policy. The unsigned order—reasoning that listing sex at birth is a historical fact akin to country of birth and implicates foreign‑affairs authority, and echoing Solicitor General D. John Sauer’s argument that the president has passport authority (citing a recent ruling on transgender care)—drew dissents from the Court’s three liberal justices, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warning it will harm transgender Americans barred from selecting markers such as “X.”

Government/Regulatory Legal Government

Nicolet to rebrand 13 Twin Cities branches

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Nicolet Bank will acquire MidWestOne Bank in an $864 million merger and rebrand MidWestOne’s 13 Twin Cities branches, significantly expanding its presence beyond its current two metro locations. The combined entity’s CEO said Friday that the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region will be a primary growth market, with potential for additional acquisitions.

Business & Economy

DHS cites Care Crossings for 27 violations

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s Department of Human Services issued an Oct. 24 correction order to Care Crossings in Oak Park Heights, finding 27 violations and more than 100 breaches of laws or rules after late-July site visits. The report cites billing for services not provided, falsified documentation, illegal group sizes, excessive caseloads and unlicensed staff leading sessions; DHS previously fined the owner $200 in August for using a disqualified staffer and warned that failure to correct could result in additional fines or license sanctions.

Health Legal

CFPB says FCRA preempts state medical‑debt credit-report bans; Minnesota law at risk

Nov 07 Breaking TC 2

The CFPB has issued guidance interpreting the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act as preempting state bans on reporting medical debt to credit reports, putting Minnesota’s law — one of 14 states that bar such reporting (and five that restrict it) — at risk. Credit bureaus and credit unions sued to block a January CFPB rule advancing that view, the incoming administration declined to defend it and a federal judge blocked the rule, leaving uncertainty for states even as Americans carry at least $220 billion in medical debt and roughly 6% of adults owe more than $1,000.

Legal Health Business & Economy

Kaohly Her wins St. Paul mayor with 51.5% after RCV

Nov 07 Breaking TC 12

Rep. Kaohly Vang Her won St. Paul’s mayoral race after ranked‑choice tabulation, finishing with 51.5% to defeat incumbent Melvin Carter, who led first‑choice ballots (Carter ~40.8%, Her ~38.4%). Using new open‑source RCV software that produced same‑night results, transfers — which added about 6,411 votes to Her and 2,807 to Carter — delivered a roughly 2.8‑point (~1,877‑vote) margin; Her becomes St. Paul’s first Hmong‑American and first woman mayor and will serve a three‑year term.

Local Government Elections

Four arrested after stolen Jeep chase in Minneapolis

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Task Force arrested four people Thursday after pursuing a white Jeep stolen in Maple Grove that was linked to auto-theft tampering, dangerous driving, and a report of a suspect pointing a gun. The pursuit ended near W. 28th St. and Aldrich Ave. S. in south Minneapolis after stop sticks were used; the driver fled on foot, the passenger moved to the driver’s seat and struck the original driver before the vehicle stopped. All occupants were arrested, two were hospitalized, and six guns were recovered, according to HCSO.

Public Safety Legal

Frey wins third term after single RCV round; precinct map shows bases

Nov 07 Dev TC 8

Jacob Frey was declared the winner of the 2025 Minneapolis mayoral race, earning a third term after a single round of ranked‑choice reallocation Wednesday morning that left him with about 50% of the final vote (he led first‑choice totals roughly 42% to Omar Fateh’s 32%) and prompted Fateh to concede. The count — finished around 11 a.m. after Hennepin County’s cast‑vote record arrived and city teams manually reallocated rankings — came amid record turnout (147,702 voters, 55%), and precinct results show Frey’s strength in southwest Minneapolis, the city core and parts of north Minneapolis while Fateh’s support clustered in Powderhorn, LynLake, Phillips, the university area and Cedar‑Riverside; Fateh received nearly 20,000 second‑choice votes but could not overcome Frey’s first‑round lead.

Local Government Elections

Why Minneapolis reported RCV results later

Nov 07 TC 1

Ramsey County delivered St. Paul’s ranked‑choice outcome around midnight using new open‑source tabulation software, while Minneapolis waited for a Hennepin County file and then followed a city‑ordinance process requiring manual write‑in review and spreadsheet‑based reallocation, finishing late Wednesday morning. Officials detailed exact timelines, software used, and legacy costs that shaped how quickly results were posted in each city.

Elections Local Government Technology

Minnesota Rusco bankruptcy spurs at least 10 lawsuits; recovery fund capped at $550K per contractor

Nov 07 Breaking TC 6

Minnesota Rusco, a 70-year-old New Hope home‑improvement company, abruptly ceased operations after parent Renovo Home Partners filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy for itself and 19 subsidiaries, leaving employees — who received only three days of health insurance — and customers with unfinished work and large prepaid sums; court filings list $100–$500 million in liabilities against $1–$10 million in assets, and at least 10 lawsuits have been filed. Because Rusco was DLI‑licensed, affected homeowners must first sue and obtain a court judgment to seek reimbursement from Minnesota’s Contractor Recovery Fund, but recoveries are constrained by limits of up to $550,000 per licensed contractor (and $100,000 per consumer), and state officials are urging consumers to file complaints and dispute charges.

Consumer Business & Economy Housing

Ramsey judge tosses 2021 St. Paul arson case

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro dismissed the first-degree arson case against Matthew Ryan Gieske on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence after prosecutors said their key eyewitness who could identify the arsonist left Minnesota and could not be located. The case stemmed from a Sept. 7, 2021 fire that severely damaged a North End apartment building on the 1600 block of Marion St.; the judge excluded body-cam clothing IDs as hearsay and found no remaining evidence tying Gieske to starting the blaze.

Legal Public Safety

Farmington officer Pete Zajac dies by suicide

Nov 07 Breaking TC 2

Community and state officials are mourning 41-year-old Officer Pete Zajac, a 15-year Farmington police veteran who was born in Hastings, grew up in Wyoming, Minn., lived in Hastings for the past 11 years and worked in Faribault from 2006–2010. Gov. Tim Walz ordered state and U.S. flags at government buildings to fly at half-staff on the day of Zajac’s funeral, and a GoFundMe has been established to support his family.

Health Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul renews call in 1990 cold-case killing

Nov 07 Dev TC 1

St. Paul police marked the 35th anniversary of the unsolved Nov. 6, 1990 homicide of Robert Spann, a 27-year-old William Mitchell law school graduate, with a renewed public appeal for tips. Spann was found shot and stabbed in the basement of his Marshall Avenue home between Milton and Victoria; robbery was a possible motive, and investigators ask anyone with information to call 651-266-5650.

Public Safety Legal

Cottage Grove OKs EIS for riverbed mine

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

The Cottage Grove City Council voted 5–0 on Nov. 6 to deem adequate the final environmental impact statement for Amrize Nelson’s proposal to shift and expand sand-and-gravel mining into the Mississippi River backwaters near Lower Grey Cloud Island, moving the project to state and federal permitting. Friends of the Mississippi River objected, arguing shoreline mining is illegal under MRCCA rules, while the mayor said the three‑year review only assessed EIS adequacy; the expansion would tap about 400 acres and extend mine life by 20–25 years.

Local Government Environment

St. Paul Sen. Sandy Pappas retiring in 2026

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas, who represents St. Paul’s SD 65 and chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee, announced she will retire after the 2026 session, ending a 42‑year legislative career. The former Senate president (2013–2016) highlighted work on bonding and local projects like Pedro Park, the Third Street–Kellogg Bridge, the North End Community Center and Union Depot; her departure creates an open seat in central St. Paul and a change in leadership over statewide infrastructure funding.

Local Government Elections

Peloton recalls 878K Bike+ units for seat-post hazard

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

Peloton is recalling about 878,000 Original Series Bike+ exercise bikes (model PL02) in the U.S. and Canada after reports that seat posts can break, posing a fall risk. The Nov. 6 action, announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, covers bikes sold from 2020 through April 2025; owners are urged to stop using affected bikes and contact Peloton for a free redesigned seat-post replacement.

Public Safety Health

Burnsville police seek more victims in sex case

Nov 06 Dev TC 1

Burnsville police are asking additional victims or witnesses to come forward after charging 19-year-old Teodros Raymond Pluntz with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct tied to two younger teens. A Sept. 13 incident allegedly occurred at his parents’ home on Sibley Court in Burnsville, with prosecutors citing video evidence and documented injuries; a second case involves a 15-year-old who says videos were posted online. Pluntz was charged in September by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office and remains jailed as the investigations continue.

Public Safety Legal

Judge admonishes Lazzaro over juror contact scheme

Nov 06 Dev TC 1

Minnesota’s chief federal judge Patrick Schiltz issued a sharply worded order Thursday admonishing convicted GOP operative Anton “Tony” Lazzaro over an alleged effort to “deceive and bribe” a former juror via a fake survey offering gift cards, and barred Lazzaro or anyone on his behalf from contacting jurors without court permission. The survey, titled “Gopher Women’s Institute 2025 Study,” asked sensitive questions about sexual abuse and was used to support Lazzaro’s bid for a new trial; prosecutors argue a juror’s answers could have changed over time, while defense claims the responses show dishonesty on the original juror questionnaire.

Legal Public Safety

DHS speeds up protest‑charge rules near federal sites

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

The Trump administration put into effect on Nov. 5 new DHS regulations expanding Federal Protective Service authority to arrest and charge a broader array of offenses on and off federal property, citing a surge in violence. The rules apply to federal facilities nationwide, including those in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and newly address conduct such as obstructing access, wearing a mask while committing a crime, drone use, and tampering with government IT systems; critics warn the changes could be used to target protesters.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis speed cameras cut speeding 30%; citations begin Friday

Nov 06 Breaking TC 3

Minneapolis this week activated five traffic‑safety cameras (Fremont Ave N near W Broadway; 18th Ave NE near Central Ave NE; 3rd St N near 1st Ave N; Chicago Ave S near Franklin Ave E; Nicollet Ave S near 46th St) as part of a pilot through July 2029 that could expand to 42 cameras and later add red‑light enforcement; the cameras capture license plates only (no facial recognition) and enforcement areas are signed as required by state law. Preliminary results show speeding fell about 30% at the camera sites and drivers exceeding limits by 20+ mph dropped 76% after a month, with 12,633 warnings issued; October warnings count as a first offense, citations begin Friday (first detected offense is a warning) and subsequent fines are $40 or $80 if 20+ mph over, though drivers may contest tickets or take a free traffic‑safety class in lieu of paying the first citation.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Patrick Knight launches Minnesota governor campaign

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

Patrick Knight, a businessman and retired U.S. Marine who grew up in Plymouth and is CEO of Good Sense Foods, announced a Republican bid for Minnesota governor. In an announcement video and website, he outlined priorities including pushing Minnesota into the Top 10 for GDP, job and wage growth, improving public safety and student proficiency, and making homeownership more affordable; he joins a crowded GOP field seeking to challenge Gov. Tim Walz, who is running for a third term.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul orders demo of former CVS at Snelling & University; 15-day deadline

Nov 06 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul’s City Council voted unanimously to order demolition of the vacant former CVS at 499 Snelling Ave. N., giving a 15‑day deadline after Hearing Officer Marcia Moermond detailed severe building deterioration (missing ventilation, compromised electrical) and an extensive nuisance history. Council Member Molly Coleman cited roughly 600 police visits in five years; CVS, which holds a lease through January 2031, asked for a 120‑day delay to seek buyers, while neighborhood groups urged demolition but worried about the consequences of an interim empty lot.

Housing Local Government

Woman fatally shot in Minneapolis apartment; man arrested

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a woman was shot and killed around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday inside an apartment on the 2600 block of W. Broadway; a 65-year-old Minneapolis man, described as an acquaintance, was arrested that evening and remains jailed with charges pending. Officers recovered a gun in the apartment and a knife on the living room floor; the victim’s identity has not yet been released. The killing is the city’s 59th homicide of the year and the fifth in the past week.

Public Safety

NOAA: Auroras possible over Minnesota tonight

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a strong geomagnetic storm watch as a coronal mass ejection is expected to arrive between Thursday evening, Nov. 6, and Friday morning, Nov. 7, potentially making northern lights visible across Minnesota, including the Twin Cities’ darker outskirts. Forecasters do not expect major radio or communications disruptions; a bright moon may reduce visibility, and viewing could continue Friday night depending on solar activity.

Weather Environment

Trump announces Medicare coverage for obesity drugs

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump said Nov. 6 the administration reached deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand Medicare coverage for GLP-1 obesity drugs Zepbound and Wegovy starting next year, while phasing in lower prices for some uninsured patients. The plan also sets a $149/month price for starting doses of new pill versions if approved, though officials cautioned consumer savings will vary by insurance and market competition.

Health Business & Economy

Minnesota on pace for record eight 2025 specials

Nov 06 TC 2

Minnesota is on pace for a record eight special elections in 2025 after two more were announced, joining six earlier special-election triggers: the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, the death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn, a residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson, and the death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic. Gov. Tim Walz will set the dates; the two new House vacancies are in heavily DFL districts (Kaohly Her won HD 64A with 83% and Amanda Hemmingsen‑Jaeger won HD 47A with 61%, with presidential margins of roughly +70 and +25 for Kamala Harris), but with the House tied 67–67 a single GOP flip would create a Republican majority — though any GOP bills would still face a DFL Senate and the governor — and big 2026 issues already being floated include gun control and barring transgender women and girls from female sports.

Local Government Elections

Most MN school levies pass; MSBA says 62% of 96 questions approved, ~$1B okayed statewide

Nov 06 TC 3

Minnesota voters approved 60 of 96 school referendum questions (just over 62%) across roughly 70 districts in the 2025 election, the Minnesota School Boards Association said, OKaying about $1 billion of the roughly $1.6 billion districts sought. MSBA cautioned results are unofficial until certified; local outcomes include St. Paul Public Schools’ levy, confirmed to generate about $37.2 million annually for 10 years, and high pass rates in many rural districts as districts contend with inflation and the 10‑year referendum limit.

Elections Local Government Education

Stillwater denies cannabis shop near rec center

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

The Stillwater City Council on Nov. 5 denied permits for two adult‑use cannabis retailers — including one at 1754 Washington Ave. near the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center and another near Chesterton Academy — while approving a third location. Council debate focused on how Minnesota’s buffer rules apply, including whether the recreation center is a 'public park attraction' regularly used by minors and how to measure distance; the city attorney said Curio Dance does not meet the state definition of a school for the 1,000‑ft buffer.

Local Government Business & Economy

Mpls Park Board appoints interim District 2 commissioner

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appointed educator Averi Turner, 29, on Nov. 5 to temporarily fill the North Side’s District 2 seat through year‑end after Becka Thompson resigned to run for City Council. Turner will attend four meetings and represent District 2 during debate and approval of the park system’s proposed $160 million budget; her pay will be prorated, and Charles Rucker will assume the elected District 2 seat in January.

Local Government Elections

Ex-Minneapolis teacher pleads in child-porn case

Nov 06 Dev TC 2

A former Minneapolis substitute teacher, identified as Palmer, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and solicitation of a minor after an anti-child-porn vigilante’s sting that lured him to a park, where a child reportedly said, "That's my teacher." Palmer — who originally faced 14 counts — is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3, 2025, and Minneapolis Public Schools issued a statement emphasizing student safety and reporting channels.

Education Legal

16-year-old charged in north Minneapolis birthday-party killing of Aundre Loyd

Nov 06 Breaking TC 4

Sixteen-year-old Raymond Valentino Bowser was arrested inside a north Minneapolis home and charged with second-degree murder after 15-year-old Aundre Loyd was fatally shot in the basement during a birthday party shortly after 10:45 p.m. on the 2900 block of Russell Ave. N. Charging documents say the shooting followed an “interaction” after Loyd complimented Bowser’s shoes, a semiautomatic handgun and a bullet hole were found at the scene, witnesses said they fled in fear, Bowser admitted touching the gun, and Hennepin County intends to prosecute him as an adult; the killing was one of three deadly shootings in Minneapolis over a four-day span.

Public Safety Legal

Lakeville man gets probation in FOF case

Nov 06 Dev TC 1

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel sentenced Lakeville resident Khadar Adan to one year of probation and $1,000 restitution on Nov. 5 after he pled guilty to misdemeanor theft of government property for allowing a sham meal site to operate out of his Minneapolis JigJiga business center and accepting $1,000 in proceeds. Prosecutors said Adan and co-defendants falsely claimed 70,000 meals via the Lake Street Kitchen site from Dec. 2020 to Apr. 2021; Adan is the third and final co-defendant from that site to plead guilty in the broader Feeding Our Future fraud probe.

Legal Public Safety

Lakeville booster treasurer charged in $80K theft

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

A former treasurer of two Lakeville gymnastics booster clubs was charged by summons with two felony theft counts after police allege she stole more than $80,000 — nearly $51,000 from one club between March 2021 and 2024 and just over $32,000 from the other between August 2022 and June 2024. Court papers say casino records show an estimated $41,000 in losses in 2022–2023, the defendant repaid about $30,300 (mostly by cashier’s check) after resigning, admitted taking the funds due to personal financial problems and gambling, and is set for a first court appearance Dec. 9, 2025.

Public Safety Education Legal

States sue DHS over FEMA grant restrictions

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Eleven states and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear sued DHS and FEMA in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, challenging new conditions on core emergency-preparedness grants, including cutting the spend period from three years to one and requiring states to certify populations excluding people removed under immigration law. The suit targets the $320M Emergency Management Performance Grant and $1B Homeland Security Grant Program after FEMA issued an Oct. 1 funding hold pending states’ methodology submissions; DHS says the changes ensure effective use aligned with current threats.

Legal Local Government

Roseville police: Two found dead in Best Buy parking lot, suspected murder-suicide

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Two adults were found dead inside a vehicle in the Best Buy parking lot on the 1600 block of County Road B2 in Roseville, both located in the front seats. A customer reported hearing multiple gunshots shortly before 2 p.m., and police are investigating the incident as a potential murder‑suicide.

Public Safety

Allina clinic providers hold one-day metro strike

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Clinic providers employed by Allina Health staged a one-day strike across metro-area clinics — a historic first for Minnesota that the Doctors Council–SEIU called the largest strike of its kind — and did not include hospital providers. Bargaining, which began in February 2024, continues after the union said it offered multiple proposals on pay, leaves and PTO while Allina made a single offer the union says would reduce pay and benefits and fail to address staffing and burnout; Allina cited rising costs and expected government funding cuts, said contingency plans kept more than 25% of represented providers working, and further bargaining sessions begin Dec. 5 with union members set to return Thursday.

Health Business & Economy

CMS orders states to verify Medicaid immigration status

Nov 05 Dev TC 1

The Trump administration directed state Medicaid agencies to investigate certain enrollees’ immigration status, with CMS beginning in August to send states lists of names to review. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz claimed on Oct. 31 that over $1 billion was spent on Medicaid for undocumented immigrants in five states and D.C., a figure several states dispute as inaccurate; initial tallies show more than 170,000 names flagged across Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah, with more to come. The directive could lead to coverage losses for enrollees who miss paperwork deadlines and adds administrative burden for states, including Minnesota.

Health Government/Regulatory

Only 1 Parents Alliance candidate wins in metros

Nov 05 TC 1

FOX 9 reports that only one of 11 Minnesota Parents Alliance–endorsed school board candidates won on Nov. 4, 2025 — incumbent Matt Audette in Anoka‑Hennepin District 4 — while all others, including candidates in Lakeville, South Washington County, Wayzata and Fridley, lost. The report notes heavy outside spending, including more than $100,000 by Excellence Minnesota in Anoka‑Hennepin, amid heightened post‑pandemic interest in school board races.

Elections Education

Supreme Court hears challenge to Trump’s emergency tariffs; justices signal skepticism

Nov 05 TC 3

The Supreme Court on Nov. 5 heard nearly three hours of consolidated challenges to former President Trump’s unprecedented use of the 1977 IEEPA to impose two waves of emergency tariffs — February duties tied to a fentanyl/drug‑trafficking emergency on imports from Canada, China and Mexico and sweeping April “reciprocal” tariffs on most countries — measures estimated to raise roughly $3 trillion over a decade and amounting to 10–50% import taxes. Justices across the ideological spectrum, including Chief Justice John Roberts, pressed the government on whether IEEPA permits such sweeping trade authority as lower courts have struck down much of the program and challengers (Democratic states and small businesses) invoke the major‑questions and nondelegation doctrines while the government cites core foreign‑affairs power.

Legal Business & Economy

Xcel trims Ten Mile Creek solar, adds batteries

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Xcel Energy canceled phase two of its Ten Mile Creek Solar project in St. Croix County, WI, proceeding with a 300‑MW first phase over 2,980 acres and adding a battery energy storage system that will interconnect via a new line to the Allen S. King site in Oak Park Heights. Xcel will file with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin by year‑end 2025, kicking off a 12–18 month review, with construction possible in late 2027 and service by late 2029 as the coal‑fired King plant retires in 2028.

Utilities & Energy Transit & Infrastructure

Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley convicted of sex trafficking, assaults at Mahtomedi apartment; sentencing Jan. 7

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley was convicted of sex trafficking and sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old and a 20‑year‑old at a Mahtomedi apartment and is set to be sentenced Jan. 7. Prosecutors say Wiley recruited women and girls near Twin Cities streets and stores by offering rides, drugs or money; jurors answered yes to four special‑verdict questions allowing an upward departure, County Attorney Kevin Magnuson praised the victims and noted Wiley self‑represented and cross‑examined them, and investigators tied a June 13 assault video to the apartment, found a 14‑year‑old at Piccadilly Square Apartments on June 30 with condoms and drug paraphernalia, and arrested Wiley July 8 after a tracking warrant when a 17‑year‑old was in his car and drug paraphernalia was seized.

Public Safety Legal

Plymouth industrial complex sells for $26M

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

A California-based investment firm bought the seven-building Park Industrial Village in Plymouth for $26 million, more than triple what the seller paid in 2016. The deal expands the buyer’s Minnesota portfolio and marks a sizable industrial real-estate transaction in Hennepin County.

Business & Economy Housing

FDA warns 18 websites over unapproved Botox

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to 18 websites for selling counterfeit or unapproved versions of Botox and similar injectables, citing reported injuries and toxic side effects. Announced Wednesday, the FDA urged patients to receive injections only from licensed, trained health professionals and warned that botulism-like symptoms after treatment require immediate medical care.

Health Legal

Minneapolis police probe Drew Avenue murder-suicide

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis police are investigating a suspected murder–suicide on Drew Avenue near Cedar Lake after a welfare check was requested when the residents — an elderly man and woman in their 80s — hadn't been heard from for several days. Authorities say the deaths are being treated as a shooting, but have not released the victims' identities or said which person was responsible for the gunfire.

Public Safety

Epic, Google settle Android app-store case

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Epic Games and Google told a federal judge in San Francisco they’ve reached a comprehensive settlement resolving Epic’s antitrust case over the Google Play Store, proposing terms that align with Judge James Donato’s prior order to open Android to competing app stores and lower fees. The sealed deal, which requires court approval, includes reducing in‑app payment commissions to 9%–20% and obligates distribution of rival third‑party app stores, following a Ninth Circuit decision upholding a jury verdict against Google and the Supreme Court’s refusal to block remedies.

Technology Legal

Minneapolis sets record municipal turnout

Nov 05 Dev TC 1

Minneapolis reported a record 147,702 ballots cast (55% of registered voters) in the 2025 municipal election, surpassing the city’s 2021 high-water mark. Ranked-choice tabulation for the mayoral race and a close City Council contest will resume Wednesday, Nov. 5, with final results to be certified by the City Council acting as the Municipal Canvassing Board on Monday, Nov. 10.

Elections Local Government

Kaohly Her defeats Carter for St. Paul mayor

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Rep. Kaohly Vang Her won St. Paul’s mayoral election on Nov. 4, defeating incumbent Melvin Carter and becoming the city’s first Hmong-American and first woman mayor. The result follows ranked-choice tabulation and ushers in a women-led city government alongside St. Paul’s all-women City Council.

Elections Local Government

DFL retains Minnesota Senate after SD47 win; GOP takes SD29

Nov 05 TC 5

Special elections Tuesday left the DFL with a 34–33 Senate majority after state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen‑Jaeger won open Senate District 47 roughly 61–39 to replace Nicole Mitchell, who resigned following a felony burglary conviction. Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. captured Senate District 29 by about a 24‑point margin to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Bruce Anderson; the House remains evenly split and the Legislature is slated to reconvene Feb. 17, 2026.

Elections Local Government

DFL keeps one-seat Senate majority after Nov. 4 specials

Nov 05 TC 6

Special elections Nov. 4 for SD47 (Woodbury/south Maplewood) and SD29 (parts of Wright, Meeker and Hennepin counties), vacated by DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s resignation and the death of GOP Sen. Bruce Anderson, resulted in DFL Amanda Hemmingsen‑Jaeger winning SD47 and Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. winning SD29, leaving the Minnesota Senate at a 34–33 DFL majority. The House remains evenly divided heading into the 2026 session (scheduled to resume Feb. 17, 2026), and Hemmingsen‑Jaeger’s victory will trigger a special election to fill her Woodbury-area House seat.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul mayoral race advances to RCV; first count: Carter ~40%, Her ~38%

Nov 05 Breaking TC 4

After first-round unofficial tallies in the five-way St. Paul mayoral race, incumbent Melvin Carter led with just over 40% to challenger Kaohly Her’s just over 38%, so no candidate reached a majority and ranked‑choice reallocations are next. Ramsey County plans to post RCV results late Tuesday using new open‑source tabulation software (ending prior multi‑day hand counts); early returns briefly showed Her slightly ahead, turnout was heavier than expected, and the ballot also included a 10‑year school levy and a charter amendment on administrative citations.

Local Government Elections

St. Paul voters back administrative citations charter amendment; Yes leads 68–32 with 78 of 86 precincts reporting

Nov 05 TC 4

Unofficial returns show St. Paul voters backing an administrative‑citations charter amendment — "Yes" leading 68% to 32% with 78 of 86 precincts reporting. The amendment would authorize the City Council to create civil‑fine penalties for ordinance violations (with specific fines and covered offenses to be set later after public hearings); supporters including Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her say it will help enforce everything from building codes to wage and sick‑time rules, while critics such as former councilmember Jane Prince warn fines could be overused or become a budget tool after prior charter attempts failed and a petition forced the measure onto the 2025 ballot.

Local Government Elections

South Washington County Schools elects 3 incumbents, union-backed newcomer

Nov 05 TC 2

In a nine-candidate race for the South Washington County Schools board, voters elected Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg (15.4%), Kathleen (Katie) Schwartz (15.2%), Sharon H. Van Leer (14.5%) and Louise Hinz (14.5%), returning three incumbents to the board. Eckberg was endorsed by the United Teachers for South Washington County; the district covers parts or all of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Island Townships.

Education Elections

Mahtomedi voters OK levy hike, $28M bond

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Mahtomedi Public Schools voters on Nov. 4 approved raising the operating levy from $1,570 to $2,145 per pupil (64% yes) and a $28 million capital referendum (59% yes) for school security, classroom, mechanical and athletic field upgrades. Passage of the second question depended on the first; district officials estimate taxes on a $500,000 home will rise about $382 per year starting next year.

Elections Education

Ramsey County election results and levies

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

On Nov. 4, 2025, Ramsey County communities reported municipal and school election results and levy outcomes. White Bear Lake’s mayoral race showed Mary Nicklawske leading 64%–36% with 3 of 6 precincts reporting; Falcon Heights council leaders were Georgiana May (42%) and Jim Mogen (40%) with 1 of 2 precincts; St. Anthony’s two council seats were uncontested. School board outcomes included SANB reelecting Annie Bosmans, Laura Haas and Prachi Striker, with Daniel Turner leading a special race; Mounds View, Roseville and North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale posted partial board tallies, and levies passed in Mounds View (64%) and Roseville (68%) but failed in North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale (56% No).

Elections Education Local Government

Bomb threat delays LaGuardia–MSP Delta flight

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Delta Flight 2313 from New York’s LaGuardia to Minneapolis–St. Paul was evacuated Tuesday evening after the crew reported a bomb threat around 8 p.m. ET, according to the Port Authority. Passengers deplaned while the aircraft was searched and cleared by about 10 p.m., but Delta delayed the flight until Wednesday morning.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Dakota County voters approve school levies; Reichenberger, Mikel‑Mulder win board seats

Nov 05 TC 2

Dakota County voters approved school levies in three districts: Farmington’s operating levy passed with more than 57% support, providing $1,236.60 per student (about $8 million a year for 10 years) and raising taxes on a median $350,000 home by roughly $534 a year; Lakeville renewed its 2015 capital projects levy with nearly 70% support, continuing about $4 million a year for 10 years with no new tax increase; and Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan (ISD 196) voters renewed and increased the tech levy from 3.015% to 5.015% (about 68% approval), adding roughly $6.4 million a year to reach about $15.5 million annually for 10 years. In board races, Tony Reichenberger defeated Lakeville incumbent Brett Nicholson 51%–48%, and Elaine K. Mikel‑Mulder won a Hastings ISD 200 special election with more than 60% of the vote to fill a seat through Jan. 1, 2029.

Local Government Elections Education

Dakota County voters pass school levies, elect board members

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

On Nov. 4, 2025, Dakota County voters approved school funding measures in Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan and chose new school board members in Hastings and Lakeville. Farmington’s per‑pupil operating levy will raise about $8M annually (adding ~$534/year for a median $350,000 home), Lakeville renewed its tech levy with no tax increase, ISD 196 expanded its tech levy to ~$15.5M/year, and Elaine K. Mikel‑Mulder and Tony Reichenberger won board seats in Hastings and Lakeville, respectively.

Elections Education

SPPS uses public funds for levy outreach

Nov 05 TC 2

St. Paul Public Schools used taxpayer funds to conduct outreach about a special levy ahead of the Nov. 4 referendum. As of Oct. 29 the district had spent $59,977 on outreach materials and $108,257 in total including the required mailing.

Education Elections Local Government

St. Paul schools seek $1,073-per-pupil levy

Nov 05 TC 2

St. Paul Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $1,073-per-pupil levy referendum that would generate about $37.2 million a year; district officials say failing to pass it would force at least $37 million in budget cuts for 2026–27. The district reported spending roughly $60,000 on levy communications ($108,257 including the required mailed notice), estimates the median homeowner would pay about $309 per year if it passes, and warns that percentage property‑tax increases would vary by neighborhood, with the North End, Payne‑Phalen, Thomas‑Dale/Frogtown and the West Side facing the largest increases.

Education Elections Local Government

Deschene, Audette, Simon win Anoka-Hennepin board; 87-vote margin may trigger recount

Nov 05 Dev TC 2

Kacy Deschene (55.95%, 3,441 votes), Matt Audette (56.56%, 5,115 votes) and Jeff Simon (50.56%, 3,232 votes) won Anoka-Hennepin School Board seats. Simon’s 87-vote margin over Tiffany Strabala (3,145 votes; 49.2%) is likely to trigger an automatic recount amid increased outside involvement in the races, including MN Parents Alliance endorsements and more than $100,000 in spending by Excellence Minnesota.

Elections Education

Brooklyn Park clears officers in Hortman response

Nov 05 Dev TC 1

Brooklyn Park Police’s preliminary internal investigation cleared Officers Zachary Baumtrog and Jay Bloyer in their response to the June 14 slaying of Rep. Melissa Hortman, finding their actions and Baumtrog’s use of force consistent with policy and training. The review says officers attempted to aid Mark Hortman, were unaware of other victims, and waited to enter the home until 4:38 a.m. after deploying a drone; the department has requested a broader third‑party review of the response and communications. Suspect Vance Boelter is charged in the attacks on the Hortmans and an earlier shooting at Sen. John Hoffman’s Champlin home.

Public Safety Legal

Walz breaks ground on $67M Mankato BCA lab

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz and state public-safety leaders broke ground Monday on a $67 million Bureau of Criminal Apprehension regional office and forensic lab at 2350 Bassett Drive in Mankato. The 56,000‑square‑foot facility, slated to open in early 2027 with about 50 staff, will handle up to 6,000 cases and 12,000 evidence items per year, expand DNA/firearms/drug testing and training, and is expected to ease caseload pressure on the St. Paul BCA lab that serves the Twin Cities.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Man critical after St. Paul hotel pool rescue

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say hotel staff pulled a man from the Quality Inn pool at University and Prior just after 4 p.m. Monday, began CPR, and St. Paul Fire medics transported him to a hospital where he remained in critical condition Tuesday. Police interviewed witnesses and said preliminary information indicates an accidental, but tragic, drowning.

Public Safety Health

St. Louis Park Metropoint office headed to auction

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal report says one of the Metropoint office buildings in St. Louis Park is scheduled for auction. The Hennepin County property is part of the multi‑building Metropoint complex, and an auction would mark a notable development in the Twin Cities office market affecting local tenants and tax revenues.

Business & Economy Housing

Judge caps Metro Transit bus injury award at $500K under state law

Nov 04 Breaking TC 2

Hennepin County Judge Laura Thomas reduced a jury’s roughly $4.26 million award in favor of Christopher Lee Swickard to $500,000, citing Minnesota’s statutory damages cap on claims against public entities. A jury had found Metro Transit 80% at fault (Swickard 20%) after Swickard, 52, had his left leg amputated below the knee following a February 2023 incident on E. Lake St.; the probationary driver, Said Muse, resigned and argued Swickard caused his own injuries by chasing the bus, and Metro Transit notes warnings against running after buses.

Transit & Infrastructure Legal

Dependable Home Healthcare to close; 406 layoffs begin Jan. 3 in St. Paul

Nov 04 Breaking TC 2

Dependable Home Healthcare, a St. Paul company located at 23 Empire Drive and in business since 1991, will shut down and suspend services at the end of January, laying off all 406 employees in six phases beginning Jan. 3 and running through Mar. 13, 2026; the workforce includes 368 caregivers and the remainder administrative staff. CEO Katie Fleury cited business challenges and upcoming regulatory changes affecting Minnesota home care, and the closure follows a recent DHS order pausing payments/audits for Medicaid-funded programs (including PCA/CFSS) that could delay payments up to 90 days.

Business & Economy Health

Audit finds 12 compliance issues at MN Governor’s Office

Nov 04 Breaking TC 2

A legislative audit found 12 compliance issues at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s office, citing failures to follow state policies including not recovering costs for private events at the Governor’s Residence, missing or late retroactive pay, inaccurate reimbursements, failure to maintain an updated electronics inventory, and late vendor payments. Auditors examined controls over receipts/reimbursements and vendor/employee payments, prompting criticism from GOP leaders, while confirming no problems with the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s salaries or staff who worked on the 2024 presidential campaign.

Legal Local Government

St. Paul proposes cannabis business manager post

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul plans to add a cannabis oversight position in its proposed 2026 budget to guide entrepreneurs through registration, zoning and local compliance, with pay between $73,000 and $102,000 funded by cannabis registration fees. City officials say they hope to fill the role internally, mirroring Minneapolis’ existing specialist, as the Office of Cannabis Management notes cities are still shaping oversight in the evolving market.

Local Government Business & Economy

Employee fatally shot after confronting theft suspect in Seward lot

Nov 04 Breaking TC 3

A Cornerstone Parking Group employee in his 40s was fatally shot in the fenced employee lot in the 2600 block of 32nd Ave. S. in Seward after confronting someone allegedly rifling through a vehicle; a brief struggle occurred around 6:30 a.m. and co-workers found him about 20 minutes later. Police say the killing — called "senseless" by Chief Brian O'Hara — appears tied to an attempted petty theft, and no arrests or suspect details have been released.

Public Safety

Dinkytown Halloween shooting kills 1, injures 2; MPD recovers 3 guns

Nov 04 Breaking TC 4

A Halloween-night triple shooting in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota left one man dead and two others — including a UMN undergraduate and a juvenile — wounded; the deceased is not believed to be a UMN student and the two survivors were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Minneapolis police recovered three guns at the scene, say officers heard two bursts of fully automatic fire and suspect illegal conversion devices, no arrests have been announced, and MPD will increase patrols (CrimeStoppers tip line: 1-800-222-TIPS).

Public Safety Education

Three Minneapolis homicides in four days

Nov 04 Dev TC 1

Minneapolis recorded three fatal shootings between Thursday and Sunday, including a teen killed during a basement birthday gathering on the 2900 block of Russell Ave. N., a Dinkytown shooting that killed one and injured two (including a UMN student), and a south Minneapolis worker fatally shot after confronting a prowler. MPD’s dashboard shows 54 homicides year-to-date — not including the Sunday teen — compared with 66 at this time last year and 37 in 2019; no arrests had been announced in the Dinkytown or worker cases at the time of this report.

Public Safety

Chrysler recalls 320K Jeep plug-in hybrids

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Chrysler (Stellantis) is recalling more than 320,000 Jeep Wrangler 4xe (MY 2020–2025) and Grand Cherokee 4xe (MY 2022–2026) plug-in hybrids nationwide due to faulty batteries that can fail and catch fire, the NHTSA announced Nov. 4, 2025. Owners are instructed to park outside away from structures and not charge their vehicles until a remedy is determined; VINs will be searchable Nov. 6 and interim owner letters mail by Dec. 2 under recall 68C.

Public Safety Technology

Austin man gets workhouse for MSP DUI crash

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Michael John Tindal, 33, of Austin, was sentenced Nov. 3 in Hennepin County District Court to six months in the county workhouse and five years’ probation after pleading guilty to four counts of criminal vehicular operation for a Jan. 30 head-on crash on 34th Ave. S. near I-494 in Bloomington that injured six, including two young children in his pickup. Judge Sarah West stayed a 15-month prison term; police said Tindal’s BAC was 0.281 and he was driving after his license was revoked from an earlier DWI.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis election to decide council control

Nov 04 TC 3

Minneapolis voters are deciding whether the City Council’s seven-member progressive bloc will retain its veto-proof edge over Mayor Jacob Frey, with three open seats and three competitive incumbent races — including Ward 2 (Shelley Madore raised $129,000 to Robin Wonsley’s $72,000) and a costly Ward 7 contest in which incumbent Katie Cashman lost the DFL endorsement to Elizabeth Shaffer — poised to determine control. Only first-choice ranked-choice totals will be reported Tuesday night and reallocations resume Wednesday, and the council outcome is tied to the broader mayoral showdown between Frey and democratic-socialist Omar Fateh, who is running as part of a coordinated “slate for change.”

Elections Local Government

Pro-labor challengers surge in Mpls Park races

Nov 04 TC 2

A surge of pro-labor challengers and democratic-socialist newcomers is reshaping the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board races, with all nine seats on the ballot, several incumbents not seeking re-election, and results that may take days to finalize. At-large contests include incumbents Meg Forney and Tom Olsen, DFL endorsements for Olsen, Michael Wilson and Amber Frederick, three newcomers who identify as democratic socialists (Adam Schneider, Averi Turner and Michael Wilson) and mayoral backing for Mary McKelvey and Matthew Dowgwillo; District 1 now features DFL-backed union organizer Dan Engelhart after incumbent Billy Menz suspended his bid, Districts 2 and 3 are uncontested (Charles Rucker and Kedar Deshpande) and District 4 pits Jeannette Colby and Andrew Gebo against DFL-endorsed Jason Garcia.

Elections Local Government

Minneapolis voters decide Park Board, BET seats

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

On Nov. 4, Minneapolis voters are casting ballots for all nine Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board seats and the Board of Estimate and Taxation, with four Park Board incumbents not seeking re‑election and results potentially taking days. The at‑large field includes incumbents Meg Forney and Tom Olsen, DFL endorsements for Olsen, Michael Wilson and Amber Frederick, and mayoral picks Mary McKelvey and Matthew Dowgwillo; district races feature unopposed candidates in Districts 2 (Charles Rucker) and 3 (Kedar Deshpande), a reshuffled District 1 after Billy Menz suspended his bid, and a three‑way District 4 contest to replace Elizabeth Shaffer.

Elections Local Government

Suburban Twin Cities elect local leaders

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025, voters in Bloomington, Minnetonka and Lino Lakes are choosing mayors and City Council members amid debates over taxes, development and affordability; polls are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. The article details candidate slates and priorities, including Bloomington’s at‑large race (Jonathan Minks, Danielle Robertson, Isaak Rooble) plus two district contests, Minnetonka’s open mayoral race with five candidates and one contested at‑large seat, and Lino Lakes’ mayoral race centered on rapid development and a controversial housing/mosque project with incumbent Rob Rafferty seeking reelection.

Elections Local Government

Anoka-Hennepin school board race draws big spending

Nov 04 TC 1

FOX 9 reports a surge of outside spending in Anoka-Hennepin’s school board races ahead of the Nov. 4 election, with campaign finance records showing Excellence Minnesota has spent over $100,000 statewide and is linked to the Minnesota Parents Alliance. The local teachers union president warns of unprecedented out-of-district and out-of-state money as three seats could shift the six-member board’s balance; the Minnesota School Boards Association urges voters to research candidates and issues.

Elections Education

Community campaign saves Lake of the Isles rink

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

After the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board considered closing the Lake of the Isles outdoor skating rink due to climate pressures and budget shortfalls, a neighborhood campaign led by Kenwood resident Janet Hallaway gathered nearly 3,000 signatures, prompting staff to keep the rink open for the upcoming winter season. District 4 Park Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer said the push also spurred plans to restore and maintain several other rinks that were slated for closure or were closed last year.

Local Government Environment

Allina Doctors Council sets Nov. 9 one-day strike with rally at HQ

Nov 04 Dev TC 3

Allina Doctors Council SEIU has scheduled a one-day strike for Nov. 9 with a large rally at Allina’s Minneapolis headquarters, calling it “the largest strike of its kind” to protect primary care after earlier reports of a 10-day strike notice and a previously reported Nov. 5 date. Allina says two bargaining sessions are set before the walkout, will maintain safe patient care, argues the union’s compensation and benefits demands are unsustainable, and is closing four clinics on Nov. 1, 2025 (Inver Grove Heights, Maplewood, Nicollet Mall and Oakdale).

Health Business & Economy

Arrest, charges in Nicollet Ave music‑video robbery

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a 20-year-old St. Paul man has been arrested and charged with two felonies after allegedly robbing two men at gunpoint while they filmed a music video on Oct. 18 near the 1800 block of Nicollet Ave. S. The robbery was captured on the victims’ video; hours later the suspect was seen on city cameras in the same clothing and arrested after a short foot chase, with a Glock handgun and 31‑round magazine recovered along with some stolen cash and jewelry. Due to a prior felony, the suspect is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Public Safety Legal

Construction mishap triggers Stillwater power outages near hospital

Nov 04 Dev TC 1

Xcel Energy says construction equipment at HealthPartners’ new Lakeview Hospital site in Stillwater struck power lines Friday, cutting electricity to about 3,000 customers for roughly two hours and damaging a power pole. A controlled outage Sunday affected about 300 customers for under an hour to complete repairs, and crews plan to replace the damaged pole on Tuesday; residents report multiple outages since work began this summer near MN 36 and Manning Ave.

Utilities Public Safety

Lake St. Croix Beach fires administrator; suit planned

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Lake St. Croix Beach’s council voted 3–2 on Oct. 20 to terminate City Clerk/Administrator Dave Engstrom, 71, after a 90‑day performance plan; Engstrom says he will sue for age discrimination and has retained Minneapolis‑based Halunen Law Firm. During an open review, officials cited attendance, communication and meeting‑minutes oversight issues, while Engstrom disputed the findings and alleged a council member previously called for “new blood.”

Local Government Legal

Police ID men in St. Paul Front Ave. shootout: Lawrence Harris, 30, and Lasean Williams, 28

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul police identified the two men killed in an apparent exchange of gunfire on Front Avenue as Lawrence A. Harris, 30, of St. Paul, and Lasean T. Williams, 28, of St. Louis Park. Officers responded about 4:20 a.m. Friday to the 400 block of Front Avenue where Harris was found in the street and Williams was driven to a nearby fire station before being transported to a hospital; police say both — who knew each other — sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and their deaths are the city’s 10th and 11th homicides of 2025.

Public Safety

Avery Severson launches bid for House 36A

Nov 03 Breaking TC 1

Avery Severson announced Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, that she is running as a Republican for Minnesota House District 36A, which covers Lino Lakes, Circle Pines, North Oaks, Centerville, and most of White Bear Township. The swing‑district race is endorsed by outgoing Rep. Elliott Engen, now running for state auditor, and comes as the House is split 67–67, making 36A one of several seats likely to decide majority control in 2026.

Elections Local Government

Tou Thao released from federal prison; now under Anoka County supervision

Nov 03 Dev TC 3

Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, was released Monday from a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. He is now under post-release supervision through Anoka County Corrections.

Public Safety Legal

Eagan HSI agent pleads to child-sex videos

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

An Eagan Homeland Security Investigations agent, Gregg, pleaded guilty after admitting he recorded sex acts with a 17‑year‑old and sent the videos to her; he met the victim on Tinder (where she was listed as 19), checked a law‑enforcement database after their fourth meeting and learned she was 17 but continued to see her. Court documents say they met at least nine times from early March to May, mostly at a local hotel, and the case began when the victim’s father found explicit images on her phone; Gregg pleaded to transportation of child pornography—avoiding a production charge with a 15‑year mandatory minimum—and faces a statutory range of 5–20 years (prosecutors suggest 14–17.5 years), with no sentencing date set.

Public Safety Legal

Second ambush reported at Minneapolis church

Nov 03 Dev TC 2

A second ambush was reported outside a Minneapolis Catholic church when would-be robbers staged an attack around 6:20 p.m. Saturday during evening Mass, police said. The suspects fled before officers arrived, neither victim required medical treatment, and police remained on-site for the rest of Saturday’s Mass and provided extra security on Sunday.

Public Safety

Developers propose 181 apartments in downtown Rogers

Nov 03 Breaking TC 1

Developers Bader and Ebert plan a 181‑unit market‑rate apartment project on a former semi‑truck site in downtown Rogers, according to a Nov. 3 report. The Hennepin County proposal would add substantial new housing to the northwest Twin Cities suburb; further city review and approvals were not detailed in the report.

Housing Business & Economy

BCA says recalculations confirm DWI breath tests accurate; amended reports forthcoming

Nov 03 Breaking TC 6

The Minnesota BCA found operator data‑entry errors tied to dry‑gas cylinder changes that led to a temporary suspension and an initial estimate of at least 146 (later up to 276) potentially affected DWI breath tests in counties including Hennepin, Olmsted, Aitkin, Winona and Chippewa and ordered inspections and verification of DataMaster instruments. After mathematical recalculations, the BCA says the flagged results are accurate and within established margins, has secured more than half the instruments with full verification expected in weeks, will issue amended reports to law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys, and will restrict future cylinder changes to BCA personnel while defense attorneys press for transparency on the recalculations.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis early voting at second-highest pace

Nov 03 Dev TC 1

Minneapolis reports more than 23,000 early ballots cast as of Sunday, about 9% of eligible voters, putting the city on pace for its second‑highest municipal early turnout behind 2021. The Early Vote Center (980 E. Hennepin Ave.) is open until 5 p.m. Monday ahead of Tuesday’s election for mayor, all 13 City Council seats, all nine Park Board seats, and the two Board of Estimate and Taxation seats; Ward 6 currently leads early turnout, followed by Ward 3.

Elections Local Government

Man shot inside St. Paul Saloon; suspect sought

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

A man was shot in the leg inside the St. Paul Saloon and chased and returned fire at the suspected gunman, Sgt. Toy Vixayvong said. Officers applied a tourniquet and St. Paul Fire medics transported the victim with non-life-threatening injuries; as of Monday morning police had not located the suspect and it was unclear whether the suspect was struck.

Public Safety

Ex-Lakeville dance teacher sentenced for assault

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

A former Lakeville dance instructor, Olson, was sentenced to two months in jail after being accused and later admitting to sexually assaulting a former teen student. Probation bars him from holding positions of authority over minors or vulnerable people and includes monitoring of his internet use; the complaint says he began messaging the student on Instagram when she was in ninth grade, later gave private lessons in 11th grade, allegedly threatened suicide to coerce contact, and had five to eight sexual encounters with her at his home before she turned 18.

Public Safety Legal

AAA: 36% ignore Move Over; 1,500 MN citations

Nov 02 TC 1

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 36% of drivers observed at roadside incident scenes neither slowed down nor moved over, based on traffic‑camera analysis of 12,360 motorists in 13 states. Minnesota’s Move Over (Ted Foss) law requires motorists to change lanes—or slow down if they cannot—when passing emergency, maintenance, and, since 2023, stalled or disabled vehicles with hazards flashing; state records show nearly 1,500 Minnesotans have been cited so far in 2025 (about 1,680 in 2024 and 1,400 in 2023). Officials and AAA Minnesota say increased awareness and consistent messaging could improve compliance and protect responders and stranded motorists on Twin Cities roads.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Walz directs $4M to Minnesota food shelves as SNAP cutoff nears

Nov 02 Breaking TC 8

Gov. Tim Walz this week formally directed $4 million to Minnesota food shelves as an emergency stopgap ahead of an expected Nov. 1 interruption to SNAP and other federal food and preschool aid if the partial federal shutdown continues. The one‑time allocation — small compared with roughly $73 million in monthly SNAP benefits that reach more than 440,000 Minnesotans — supplements relief from United Way, local governments and food pantries preparing expanded distributions, but advocates warn food shelves alone cannot close the gap.

Health Local Government Business & Economy

Washington County allocates $250K to food shelves

Nov 02 Breaking TC 2

Washington County Board approved a one-time $250,000 allocation to area food shelves to help meet rising need as federal aid is strained. The move mirrors other metro stopgaps—Bloomington also approved $250,000 in grants—and comes as United Way launches a relief campaign while city departments coordinate donation drives and urge support for pantries such as VEAP.

Health Local Government

Ramsey County elections: races and ballot measures

Nov 02 TC 1

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, the Pioneer Press lists Ramsey County ballots: St. Paul and White Bear Lake mayoral races; city council contests in Falcon Heights, St. Anthony and White Bear Lake; and school board races in St. Anthony–New Brighton, Mounds View, North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale and Roseville. St. Paul voters will also decide a St. Paul Public Schools levy that would raise $37 million annually for 10 years (inflation‑adjusted) and a charter amendment allowing administrative citations; several districts also have levy questions.

Elections Local Government Education

Minnesota ends Housing Stabilization Services after fraud; $100M paid to 700+ providers last year

Nov 02 Breaking TC 3

Minnesota is ending its Medicaid-funded Housing Stabilization Services program effective Oct. 31 amid FBI probes and fraud allegations, with CMS approving the termination; Temporary DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi said the agency is working to connect participants to other services and is coordinating with counties, tribes and managed care organizations to redirect those affected. The program paid more than $100 million last year to over 700 providers — far above the original $2.6 million estimate — prompting DHS to say it "cannot afford to wait" and to pledge a redesign with the Legislature, providers, community partners and federal officials, even as tribal leaders called the cancellation an overreaction and Gov. Tim Walz ordered a third‑party audit of 14 high‑risk Medicaid services, including HSS.

Health Housing Local Government

Isanti man gets 4 years in Forest Lake teen kidnapping

Nov 02 Breaking TC 1

Shawn Patrick Bellach, 39, of Dalbo was sentenced Friday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in a case involving a Forest Lake teen who was found living with him in a tent near Grasston in July 2023. The Tenth Judicial District Court imposed four years on each count to run concurrently, credited 25 days served, dismissed three other charges under an August plea deal, and ordered lifetime predatory‑offender registration.

Legal Public Safety

Where Minneapolis mayoral frontrunners stand on issues

Nov 01 TC 1

With Minneapolis voters heading to the polls Tuesday, the Star Tribune details where the four leading mayoral candidates — Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh, DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton — stand on downtown revival, public safety, housing and homelessness. The report outlines shared support for a more mixed‑use downtown and key differences, including Frey’s backing to move bus routes off Nicollet Mall, Fateh’s push to expand Vibrant Storefronts and partner with the Downtown Council, Davis’ focus on smaller leasable spaces, tax incentives and ‘third spaces,’ and Hampton’s call to streamline permitting/inspections and strengthen walkable neighborhood connections.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul decertifies Westminster Junction TIF early

Nov 01 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul Port Authority board voted Monday to decertify the 26-year Westminster Junction TIF redevelopment district five years early, returning the East Side business center to the full tax rolls after outperforming projections. The 25-acre site along Phalen Boulevard and Cayuga Street has grown from a blighted rail yard with about 50 jobs to 15 companies with 913 jobs, lifting annual property taxes from $138,000 to $2.6 million, which officials say will help reduce the city’s levy.

Local Government Business & Economy

Half of Skyline Tower residents return; east tower reopens, west tower under repair

Nov 01 Breaking TC 6

Of the 773 residents evacuated after a small Sunday fire that began on the 12th floor and activated sprinklers on multiple floors—causing a building-wide power outage that knocked out heat, water, fire alarms and elevators—all 141 households in the east tower had returned by Friday, while the west tower remains closed for repairs because of significant sprinkler water damage. St. Paul inspectors certified the building structurally sound, no injuries were reported, the fire is under investigation with no signs of suspicious activity, and CommonBond and the city continue to coordinate housing, donations and assistance for displaced residents.

Utilities Local Government Housing

White Bear Lake stabbing nets 7½-year sentence

Nov 01 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County District Court on Oct. 31, 2025 sentenced 20-year-old Jeffrey Thomas Rice to 90 months in prison for repeatedly stabbing 22-year-old Mason Fike during a July 27, 2024 confrontation on Southwood Drive in White Bear Lake, after Rice pled guilty to first-degree assault. An attempted murder charge was dismissed under the August plea agreement; Fike’s victim-impact statement detailed life-threatening injuries as police records describe Rice fleeing before being stopped and a pocketknife recovered nearby.

Legal Public Safety

FDA limits fluoride supplements for children

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

The FDA on Oct. 31 restricted pediatric fluoride supplements nationwide, saying they are no longer recommended for children under 3 and for older children unless they face serious tooth‑decay risk, and warned four companies not to market outside these limits. The agency released a new analysis finding limited dental benefits and potential risks such as gut microbiome effects, weight gain, and cognition, and sent a provider advisory; toothpaste, mouthwash, and in‑office treatments are unaffected. The policy applies to Twin Cities families and clinicians, especially in areas without fluoridated water.

Health Legal

Tristen Leritz charged in Vadnais Heights sexual assault; DNA match, confession cited

Oct 31 Breaking TC 4

Tristen Alan Leritz, 21, of White Bear Township was arrested Oct. 30 on the 5100 block of Mead Road and charged Oct. 31 in Ramsey County with one count of criminal sexual conduct after a woman was tackled and assaulted near Centerville Road and Pond View Court in Vadnais Heights. Authorities say a hospital sexual-assault exam produced DNA matching Leritz, he confessed when confronted and admitted ambushing the victim after riding ahead on a bicycle, and investigators credited the victim’s actions (knocking off his glasses, biting his hand), community tips and BCA crime-lab processing for the arrest; he faces up to 30 years and has a prior 2024 motor-vehicle theft conviction and a pending 2025 burglary case.

Legal Public Safety

Judge blocks citizenship proof on federal voter form

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Oct. 31 that President Trump cannot require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form, finding the directive unconstitutional and outside presidential authority. The decision grants partial summary judgment to the DNC and civil-rights groups and permanently bars the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from adding the requirement, while other challenges to Trump’s elections order — including a mailed-ballot receipt-by-Election-Day mandate — continue.

Elections Legal

CDC links Sam’s Club greens powder to salmonella

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

Federal officials say Member’s Mark Super Greens Powder Supplements sold at Sam’s Club and online are linked to at least 11 salmonella illnesses, including three hospitalizations, in cases reported from May to September. The CDC and FDA report the product has been pulled after contamination was traced to a single lot of organic moringa leaf powder imported from Vallon Farm Direct in India; consumers should throw it away or return it for a refund.

Health Public Safety

Pioneer Acquisitions buys two Washington Square towers

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

Pioneer Acquisitions has purchased the 100 and 111 Washington Square office buildings in downtown Minneapolis, marking the investor’s first acquisition in the Twin Cities. The Business Journal reports the deal signals the company’s entry into the local office market and suggests more acquisitions may follow.

Business & Economy

U.S. Ed Dept furloughs hit OCR, special ed

Oct 31 Dev TC 2

Furloughs tied to the government shutdown have hit Education Department offices that oversee special education and civil‑rights enforcement (OCR), coming after staffing at the department fell from about 4,100 to roughly 2,400 since the Trump administration began and leaving only about 330 employees deemed “essential.” The cuts have halted new grants and frozen competitions, slowed reimbursements—raising concerns about school‑meal reimbursements and Head Start funding—while Pell Grants and FAFSA processing have continued.

Government/Regulatory Education Local Government

Pro‑Frey PACs outspend Fateh allies in Mpls

Oct 31 TC 1

Campaign‑finance reports through Oct. 20 show PACs aligned with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and his allies have raised about $1.6 million, in addition to nearly $1 million raised by Frey’s campaign, far outpacing groups backing state Sen. Omar Fateh and his allies ahead of the Nov. 4 election. The largest PAC, All of Minneapolis, has raised $1.2 million, while We Love Minneapolis has raised $309,000 and transferred $130,000 to Thrive MPLS, as both sides mobilize for the mayoral and 13 council races.

Elections Local Government

Judge dismisses complaint over St. Paul ‘Vote Yes’ mailer

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

An administrative law judge with the Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings rejected an Oct. 27 complaint by Peter Butler against Rick Varco, treasurer of the 'Vote Yes for a Fairer St. Paul' campaign, alleging a false claim of St. Paul DFL support on a charter‑amendment mailer. Judge James LaFave found no prima facie evidence that Varco made or disseminated the allegedly false statement, and noted the complaint did not tie him to creating the mailer’s content; a separate Sept. 28 meeting convened by the Ramsey County DFL backed both the school levy and administrative‑citations charter question.

Legal Elections

Ex-Minneapolis council member Espejel charged with 3rd-degree DWI refusal; $6K bond, Nov. 13 hearing

Oct 31 Breaking TC 3

Former Minneapolis City Council member Espejel was charged with third-degree DWI for refusing a breath test (and a related fourth-degree DWI for driving under the influence) after a crash just before 11:15 p.m. on the 300 block of 4th Street South near City Hall, during which police say she recorded officers, refused to provide license/insurance, put her Honda CR‑V in drive and attempted to leave before officers stopped the vehicle. Officers reported slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and inability to complete sobriety tests; Espejel refused a breath test at the station, was released on $6,000 bond and is due in court Nov. 13, 2025.

Legal Public Safety

FDA: 580,000 prazosin bottles recalled for nitrosamines

Oct 31 Breaking TC 1

The FDA says Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Amerisource Health Services voluntarily recalled more than 580,000 bottles of prazosin hydrochloride capsules nationwide earlier this month due to potential nitrosamine impurities, which are considered possibly cancer‑causing. The agency classified the affected lots as Class II risk; prazosin is used to treat high blood pressure and sometimes PTSD‑related nightmares, and Twin Cities patients are advised to check their medication and consult pharmacists or physicians.

Health Government/Regulatory

St. Paul charges Eh Doe Soe; off-duty officer halted assault on 13-year-old

Oct 31 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul police arrested Eh Doe Soe on Oct. 3 and charged him after an off-duty officer intervened Sept. 30 to stop an attempted sexual assault of a 13-year-old on the Earl St. and York Ave. overpass above Phalen Boulevard. Authorities say a second related encounter occurred Oct. 2 near Phalen Boulevard and Johnson Parkway when the suspect approached the girl on a bicycle, ditched the bike and fled into nearby woods; bail was set at $70,000, his first court date is Nov. 12, and records show a Dec. 2023 fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction for lewd conduct before children.

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota clarifies Medicaid audit: only flagged claims paused up to 90 days; Optum reviewing

Oct 31 Dev TC 6

Gov. Tim Walz ordered a third‑party audit of Medicaid billing across 14 designated “high‑risk” services, contracting Optum to run analytics and flag anomalous claims for DHS review — a move funded in the 2025 session and prompted in part by recent federal fraud prosecutions. DHS clarified it is not withholding all payments but will pause only Optum‑flagged claims for up to 90 days for prepayment review (and possible denial if found fraudulent), saying it will still meet federal 90‑day payment rules, a step that providers warn could destabilize care and has drawn mixed political reactions.

Health Local Government

MSP starts weekly food aid for unpaid feds

Oct 31 Dev TC 2

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has launched a weekly food aid program for unpaid federal workers affected by the government shutdown. AFGE leader and MSP TSA agent Neal Gosman said TSA employees took home donated food boxes after their shifts, and AFGE representative Mark Johnson said many workers cannot pay rent due Nov. 1 and face $50/day late fees.

Health Public Safety Business & Economy

MN Senate hears shutdown’s toll on TSA, WIC

Oct 31 Dev TC 1

At an Oct. 30 hearing of the Minnesota Senate’s Subcommittee on Federal Impacts, union leaders said MSP TSA agents are missing rent and taking home donated food boxes, while advocates warned Minnesota’s WIC funds (about $9M/month) will last only through the third week of November. State officials cited diminished communication with USDA and Attorney General Keith Ellison said a judge is expected to rule soon in the 25‑state lawsuit seeking to restore SNAP during the shutdown.

Local Government Health Business & Economy

St. Paul administrative citations on ballot: full question, backers, and how it would work

Oct 31 Dev TC 2

Ordinance Ord 25-2, on the St. Paul ballot, would amend the city charter to authorize administrative citations, and city leaders — including Mayor Carter, Rep. Kaohly Her, all seven council members, the Charter Commission and a broad coalition of labor, faith and community groups — have urged residents to vote “yes.” The charter change itself sets no fine amounts or covered violations (those would be adopted later through separate ordinances after public hearings for roughly 15 enforcement areas such as animal control, neglected construction, landlord code/rent issues, illegal sewer discharges and employer wage/sick‑time violations); critics warn fines could become a “tax on the poor” or a revenue source, the measure was put on the ballot after a petition by former City Hall employee Peter Butler, and some mayoral candidates (Yan Chen, Mike Hilborn) say they will vote no while Kaohly Her supports it.

Local Government Elections

Judge dismisses Macalester animal-testing lawsuit by alum

Oct 31 Dev TC 2

A judge dismissed an alum’s animal‑welfare lawsuit against Macalester College, throwing out two of three counts without prejudice and prompting plaintiff Dr. Neal Barnard to say he plans to refile; Judge Karen Janisch found Barnard had conducted an independent investigation and could not reasonably rely on alleged misrepresentations, and noted the college had made no promise to change its practices. Macalester says its psychology program still uses operant‑conditioning "Skinner box" experiments and about 100 rats a year (many used in multiple activities and living 2–3 years) that are euthanized by an experienced technician with carbon dioxide, and President Suzanne Rivera said the ruling affirms academic freedom and prevents outside groups from dictating curriculum.

Legal Education

MPD orders review and retraining after Willard-Hay domestic-violence killing

Oct 31 Breaking TC 6

After Mariah Samuels was fatally shot in her Willard‑Hay home on Sept. 14 — allegedly by ex‑boyfriend David Wright, who has been arrested and charged with second‑degree murder and was under a court order to stay away — reviews found MPD failed to assign an investigator after an August assault despite a risk assessment, witness statement and surveillance video, and body‑camera footage contradicted an officer’s report. Chief Brian O’Hara has ordered a thorough review and department‑wide retraining on domestic‑violence protocols to be completed by the end of 2025 amid criticism over understaffing in the domestic assault unit, numerous unassigned “gone on arrival” cases, City Council demands and public rallies by the victim’s family.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

St. Paul chiefs warn pay gaps risk retention

Oct 30 TC 1

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry and Fire Chief Butch Inks say they now earn less than their potential pensions and below market for their roles, as the city raised non‑union manager salary ranges by 9% in Dec. 2024 but has not moved managers within those ranges pending union negotiations. Henry earns $207,688 and Inks $201,968, while the new top ranges would be $226,387 (police) and $220,147 (fire); Henry cites a city job study suggesting about $256,000 as market. Mayor Melvin Carter acknowledges budget pressures — including a $7.5M lawsuit payout, cyberattack costs, and threatened federal funding — and proposed limited raises as top police and fire staff consider unionizing.

Local Government Public Safety

Judge: FDA mifepristone limits unlawful; no change yet

Oct 30 Breaking TC 1

U.S. District Judge Jill Otake in Hawaii ruled Oct. 30 that the FDA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to adequately justify its 2023 decision to keep special REMS restrictions on mifepristone, used for abortion and miscarriage care. The court ordered FDA to reconsider evidence it allegedly disregarded, but left current restrictions in place for now; the ACLU brought the case and says the limits burden access, while DOJ did not immediately comment.

Legal Health

CDC: Listeria in pasta kills six

Oct 30 Dev TC 1

The CDC says a listeria outbreak tied to recalled pre‑cooked pasta meals has grown to 6 deaths and 27 illnesses in 18 states, with the latest case on Oct. 16. The outbreak is linked to pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods (Roseville, Calif.) used in heat‑and‑eat meals made by FreshRealm and sold at national retailers including Trader Joe’s and Walmart; multiple specific products and best‑by dates have been recalled, and consumers are urged to discard or return affected items.

Health Public Safety

Alleged mass shooter charged in Hennepin jail escape bid

Oct 30 Breaking TC 2

Around 4:17 p.m. at the Hennepin County jail, alleged mass shooter Ortley pushed past a professional visitor in the visiting area, grabbed a wall-mounted fire extinguisher, used its base to break an exit door near public elevators and sprayed deputies with its contents. Five deputies were evaluated at HCMC for chemical exposure to swollen, burning eyes, and Ortley is charged with five counts of assault, one count of property damage and one count of attempting to flee custody after he reportedly lay down and shouted, "I'm done! I'm done! Lock me up!"

Legal Public Safety

CBP mandates facial scans for non-citizen travelers

Oct 30 Breaking TC 1

The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require facial recognition and photo capture for all non‑U.S. citizens, including green‑card holders, at all ports of entry and departure starting Dec. 26, 2025. The Federal Register rule expands CBP’s existing program to land, sea, and air locations, authorizes biometric capture for children under 14 and adults over 79, and aims to combat document fraud and enhance border security.

Government/Regulatory Transit & Infrastructure Technology

US penny mint halt triggers shortages

Oct 30 Dev TC 1

AP reports the U.S. stopped producing pennies in mid‑2025 under President Trump, and with the last coins minted in June and distributed by August, banks are now rationing pennies and retailers nationwide are running out as the holiday season approaches. The Treasury placed its last planchet order in May; 2024 saw 3.23 billion pennies minted even as each cost 3.7 cents to make, and merchants are asking for exact change or rounding to avoid legal exposure—operational shifts that will affect Twin Cities cash transactions.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Walz backs Frey in Minneapolis mayor race

Oct 30 TC 1

Days before the Nov. 4 election, Gov. Tim Walz endorsed incumbent Jacob Frey in Minneapolis’s 15‑candidate mayoral race, which uses ranked‑choice voting allowing voters to select up to three choices. The article identifies four frontrunners — Frey, Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton — outlines their public‑safety and wage positions, and notes the DFL revoked its earlier endorsement of Fateh after internal disputes.

Elections Local Government

After Trump–Xi meeting, China says it will work with U.S. on TikTok; no ownership deal yet

Oct 30 Breaking TC 5

After the Trump–Xi meeting, China’s Commerce Ministry said it would work with the U.S. to resolve TikTok-related issues but provided no details and said no ownership agreement was reached. That statement contrasts with U.S. reports — including Trump saying Xi approved a proposed U.S. ownership deal, the White House suggesting the transaction could be finalized in South Korea, and earlier plans for Oracle to manage TikTok’s U.S. algorithm — as negotiations continue under U.S. divestiture requirements.

Business & Economy Technology Legal

Shutdown halts Medicare telehealth waivers

Oct 30 Dev TC 1

The federal shutdown prevented Congress from extending pandemic‑era Medicare telehealth flexibilities before their Sept. 30 expiration, temporarily halting reimbursement for many home‑based virtual visits. Providers are canceling or weighing unreimbursed appointments, and millions of Medicare fee‑for‑service patients nationwide — including Twin Cities seniors who cannot easily travel — are losing access to remote care while the shutdown continues.

Health Government/Regulatory

Cargill cuts 80 jobs at Minnetonka headquarters

Oct 30 Breaking TC 1

Cargill is laying off 80 employees at its Minnetonka headquarters, the company confirmed Oct. 30, 2025, citing a sales decline. The move affects corporate roles at the global agribusiness’s Twin Cities base and follows softer revenue performance.

Business & Economy

Trump, Xi deal trims China tariffs

Oct 30 Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump said Thursday after a 100‑minute meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in Busan that the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, lowering one tranche tied to fentanyl-chemical sales from 20% to 10% and cutting the combined rate from 57% to 47%. China agreed to allow rare earth exports and resume U.S. soybean purchases, and Trump said Nvidia will hold talks on advanced chip exports as both sides work toward a trade deal.

Business & Economy Technology

Osseo schools settle $61.5K MDHR harassment case

Oct 30 TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced Oct. 28, 2025 a settlement with a former Osseo Area Schools student who, at age 9, was sexually harassed by an assistant principal; documents say the district knew of the conduct and did not act until after the family withdrew the student in March 2022. The district issued a written reprimand in June 2022 and the administrator resigned that August; the student’s parents filed an MDHR complaint in September 2022, and the district agreed in July 2025 to pay $61,500 while denying wrongdoing and citing increased staff training.

Education Legal

St. Paul probes suspected carport arson

Oct 30 Dev TC 1

St. Paul police are investigating a suspected arson that ignited around 5:50 a.m. Oct. 29 at a carport, destroying at least three vehicles; surveillance video shows people near the structure moments before the fire. A property manager said the group appeared to have a lookout, and police are examining possible links to a similar early‑morning garage fire last week on Birmingham Street; no arrests have been made and investigators are seeking tips.

Public Safety Legal

Sheriffs warn of SNAP 'emergency relief' text scams amid shutdown (now includes Anoka County)

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to Minnesota SNAP recipients offering fake $1,000 "emergency relief," with some messages using the phrase "Food Debit Emergency Relief" and appearing amid a shutdown. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office warned about the scam on X, noting roughly 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP and may be targeted.

Public Safety Local Government Government

Oak Park Heights OKs Mango Cannabis at Joseph’s

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

The Oak Park Heights City Council unanimously approved a conditional-use permit Tuesday for Mango Cannabis to occupy the entire Joseph’s restaurant building at 14608 60th St. N. City officials said Joseph’s plans to relocate nearby, while applicants ABJKM Holdings and Boundary Waters Capital also seek a Stillwater site as both cities raise caps to four cannabis retailers. The Hwy. 36 corridor is drawing interest due to Wisconsin’s cannabis ban, and Oak Park Heights previously approved Oak Park Heights Canna for a 2026 opening.

Local Government Business & Economy

Senate votes to block Trump’s Canada tariffs

Oct 29 Dev TC 1

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 29, held a vote on a resolution to nullify President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports by terminating the national emergencies underpinning them. Led by Sen. Tim Kaine and joined by some Republicans including Sen. Rand Paul, the effort spotlights GOP divisions even as House GOP rules can block a vote there and the White House could veto. The action comes amid active U.S.–Asia trade talks and a tense U.S.–Canada dispute with potential consumer price impacts for Twin Cities residents.

Business & Economy Government & Politics

University of Minnesota ends hosting high school graduations

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

The University of Minnesota said this week it will no longer host high school commencement ceremonies at any campus venue, ending more than 20 events each spring at 3M Arena at Mariucci and other sites. Citing an unsustainable strain on resources—and following heightened security after a May 30 shooting outside a graduation—the decision leaves Twin Cities districts that relied on Mariucci’s 6,000+ indoor capacity scrambling to secure new locations, adjust dates, or implement ticketing.

Education Local Government

Minnesota pauses payments for 14 Medicaid services

Oct 29 Breaking TC 3

Gov. Tim Walz has paused payments for 14 "high‑risk" Medicaid services and ordered a state-contracted audit of Medicaid billing — funded through legislative appropriations — after suspected fraud tied to recent federal prosecutions. The administration says vendor Optum will flag suspicious claims for DHS verification and referral to the DHS Office of Inspector General, and is adding measures such as enhanced fingerprint checks and unannounced visits, prompting responses from provider groups, Republican lawmakers and federal prosecutors calling for accountability.

Local Government Health

St. Paul man charged in Pride, anti‑Trump vandalism; phone evidence shows address list, rally link

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

A St. Paul man was charged after authorities allege he vandalized LGBT Pride flags and anti‑Trump signs in a spree that also included broken windows at two businesses and a school. Police say a seized cellphone contained GPS‑tagged photos tying him to vandalism sites and a June 4 note listing 69 addresses (some later damaged), and that he described himself in texts as a “right‑wing libertarian,” attended the June 14 “No Kings” Capitol rally with a Trump sign, installed the Neighbors app and shared a Ring video link before a July 2 traffic stop and search recovered clothing matching surveillance; charges were issued by summons and his first court date is Nov. 13.

Legal Public Safety

Fed cuts benchmark rate to about 3.9%

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

The Federal Reserve made its second rate cut of 2025, trimming the benchmark to about 3.9%. Consumers should expect top high‑yield savings rates to drift lower as banks pare offerings, mortgage rates—which recently fell to their lowest in over a year—may decline further while auto‑loan rates are likely to ease only slowly; the Fed projects another cut before year‑end and advisers say borrowers may want to consider refinancing or consolidating debt as rates fall.

Consumer Business & Economy Housing

FDA proposes streamlined biosimilar testing

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

The FDA released draft guidance on Oct. 29, 2025 to simplify studies for biosimilar versions of biologic drugs, aiming to remove what it calls unnecessary, resource‑intensive clinical comparisons. The proposal opens a 60‑day public comment period, with non‑binding final guidance expected in three to six months, and federal officials say the change is intended to spur competition, lower prices, and speed access to treatments such as those for autoimmune disease and cancer.

Health Business & Economy

Sun Country adds MSP–Tulsa route for 2026

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines will launch a new route between Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and increase frequencies to other coastal destinations as part of its summer 2026 schedule. The expansion adds a new nonstop option for Twin Cities travelers and boosts flights to popular coastal markets during the peak summer season.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

United Properties plans 36-acre Newport project

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

United Properties is proposing a 36-acre development in Newport, Washington County, that would include industrial buildings, apartments and a Kwik Trip, according to a report published Oct. 29, 2025. The project would add new housing and commercial uses in the east‑metro suburb, with city review and approvals expected as the plan advances.

Business & Economy Housing

Microsoft Azure outage disrupts key services

Oct 29 Dev TC 1

Microsoft reported on Oct. 29 that issues with its Azure Front Door content delivery network are causing access problems to Azure and services like Office 365, Minecraft, Xbox Live and Copilot. The company says it is investigating and mitigating; outage reports surged on Downdetector, and Microsoft acknowledged the incident on its status page and social media. The disruption could affect Twin Cities businesses and consumers that rely on Microsoft cloud services.

Technology Transit & Infrastructure

Man admits killing mother in Minneapolis Uptown

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man admitted to killing his mother in the city’s Uptown neighborhood, according to court records cited by the Star Tribune. The victim had twice sought court protection from him before the homicide; authorities are proceeding with the case as investigators and prosecutors continue their work.

Public Safety Legal

Francisco Partners to acquire Jamf for $2.2B

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

Private equity firm Francisco Partners will buy Minneapolis-based Apple device‑management software maker Jamf in a $2.2 billion deal announced Oct. 29, 2025. Jamf, which went public in 2020 at $26 per share, is a prominent Twin Cities tech employer; the transaction would transfer ownership of the company, with further details on closing and any local impacts not yet disclosed.

Business & Economy Technology

39 AGs urge Congress to ban intoxicating hemp

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined 38 other state attorneys general in a letter asking Congress to ban intoxicating hemp products such as delta‑8 and delta‑10 THC by closing federal loopholes. The AGs cite consumer‑safety concerns and urge changes to federal law that allowed psychoactive products to proliferate since the 2018 Farm Bill. Any ban would immediately affect Twin Cities retailers and consumers who buy hemp‑derived THC products.

Legal Health Business & Economy

Hennepin Ave in Uptown reopens Friday after $30M, 1.5‑year rebuild

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis reopens Friday after roughly 1.5 years of reconstruction between Lake Street and Douglas Avenue, a project that topped $30 million and added protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and new bus shelters. Businesses along the corridor — some of which reported steep revenue losses (Autopia said a 60% drop) and closures such as Pizza Shark while the Uptown Art Fair relocated — received support from the city, which awarded grants to 36 businesses between Franklin and W. 36th Street through its business technical assistance program over the past two years.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Wayzata realtor charged in $397K tax case

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Revenue says Wayzata real estate owner Kevin Patrick Mullen, 42, has been charged in Hennepin County with five felony counts of failing to file individual tax returns and five felony counts of willfully failing to pay income tax for 2019–2023, alleging about $397,000 is owed. Court documents say Mullen acknowledged missing returns in Dec. 2024, filed some in Feb. 2025, and has a first court appearance set for Nov. 12; his income came through Ideal Properties and Investments LLC, and investigators cite prior contacts about tax debts and additional unfiled years back to 2008.

Legal Business & Economy

Minnesota Capitol to add 20 officers, threats investigator as threats surge

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

Facing a surge in threats — roughly 50 reported in under 10 months this year, with 13 leading to charges and on pace to triple 2024’s 19 — Minnesota’s Capitol will add 20 security officers (training begins mid‑ to late‑November) and a dedicated threats investigator by year‑end. Since August all but four public entrances have been closed, further enhancements and a legislative vote on additional security changes are expected in February, while the building still lacks metal detectors and allows firearms, a policy Republicans are not backing to change.

Local Government Public Safety

Crystal daycare teacher charged in child slap

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

Javell Lena Cooper, 24, of Coon Rapids, has been charged in Hennepin County with two counts of malicious punishment of a child after surveillance video allegedly showed her slapping a 3-year-old’s ear at a church-based daycare in Crystal. The incident occurred July 25, 2025, at a facility on the 5000 block of West Broadway; the child’s parent reported finding their child crying, and later the family and church provided video to police. The complaint also notes the child previously came home with ear bruising about a year earlier.

Public Safety Legal

Senate rejects Trump tariffs on Brazil

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Senate voted in bipartisan fashion on Oct. 28, 2025, to reject the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs on Brazilian imports, a move that comes amid spiking coffee prices. The decision averts new duties that could have further increased consumer costs in the Twin Cities and nationwide; details of next steps now shift back to the administration and trade agencies.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Judge blocks federal-worker layoffs during shutdown, citing political retribution

Oct 29 Dev TC 2

A judge has extended an order barring the Trump administration from carrying out shutdown-related federal-worker layoffs, finding the planned firings amounted to political retribution. The ruling reinforces protections for federal employees while the government funding lapse continues.

Government Legal Local Government

St. Paul man sentenced in neighbor’s fatal stabbing

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A 65-year-old St. Paul man was sentenced for fatally stabbing his 70-year-old apartment neighbor during a dispute over money, according to a report on Oct. 28, 2025. The case stems from a confrontation inside a St. Paul apartment building that ended in the neighbor’s death; sentencing concludes the criminal proceedings against the defendant.

Legal Public Safety

Wisconsin man killed in I-94 Afton crash

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A Wisconsin man died in a two‑vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Afton, Minnesota, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. The collision occurred in Washington County on the east‑metro interstate corridor; authorities are investigating the cause and have not yet released further details.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Judge blocks funding cuts over gender‑diversity sex ed

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from pulling federal funding from sex‑education programs that include instruction on gender diversity. Announced Oct. 28, 2025, the ruling preserves funding while litigation proceeds and could affect Twin Cities school districts and nonprofits that rely on federal grants for sex‑education programming.

Legal Education

Hwy 65 closed after bridge strike in Spring Lake Park

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT closed Highway 65 in both directions between Highway 10 and 85th Avenue NE in Spring Lake Park on Tuesday after a semi hauling a metal pedestrian bridge struck the County Road 10 bridge deck around 11:25 a.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says the impact disconnected the trailer, which was then hit by another vehicle; no injuries were reported. The closure was announced just before noon with an estimated reopening by 4 p.m.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Target to eliminate 1,800 corporate jobs (8%)

Oct 28 Breaking TC 4

Target will eliminate about 1,800 corporate jobs — roughly 8% of its corporate workforce — by laying off about 1,000 employees and closing about 800 open roles, with impacted staff to be notified Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, and told to work from home next week. The cuts, concentrated at Target’s Minneapolis headquarters and not affecting in‑store associates, are described as a restructuring to simplify decision‑making and move faster rather than primarily to cut costs; those laid off will receive pay and benefits through Jan. 3 plus severance and support services.

Employment Business & Economy

MN Supreme Court appeal delays Deshaun Hill retrial

Oct 28 Dev TC 1

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to allow use of a videotaped, post-Miranda interrogation of Cody Fohrenkam in the 2022 killing of Minneapolis North High student Deshaun Hill Jr., delaying a retrial that was set to begin next week. The Court of Appeals overturned Fohrenkam’s prior conviction and suppressed the interview as the product of unlawful detention; prosecutors now seek high‑court review to admit the video at the new trial.

Legal Public Safety

Court narrows Minneapolis duty to defend officers

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A Minnesota court ruled Tuesday that the City of Minneapolis is not obligated to provide a legal defense to some police officers being sued over their conduct during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The decision clarifies when the city’s duty to defend applies, indicating certain alleged actions fall outside what Minneapolis must cover and potentially reducing taxpayer exposure in ongoing civil cases.

Legal Local Government

Eastside Food Co-op restores operations after rooftop copper theft

Oct 27 Breaking TC 2

A rooftop copper theft knocked out refrigeration at the Eastside Food Co-op, leaving shelves bare and causing a large loss of food that management called a “massive hit.” The co‑op says it has largely bounced back, with affected departments reopened and products restocked as normal operations are restored.

Business & Economy Public Safety

Cigna to drop drug rebates in many private plans

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

Cigna said Oct. 27, 2025 it will end drug manufacturer rebates in many private health plans, altering pharmacy benefit design for employers and members nationwide, including in the Twin Cities. The move affects plans administered by its pharmacy benefit operations; the company did not immediately specify which plans or the effective date.

Health Business & Economy

Edina police seek Hwy 169 shooting suspect

Oct 27 Dev TC 1

Edina police are searching for a man who fired a shot at a woman’s SUV on northbound Highway 169 just north of I‑494 around 7 a.m. on Oct. 11; no one was injured. On Oct. 27, police released photos of the suspect’s older sedan with tinted windows and asked anyone with information to email EdinaPoliceTips@EdinaMN.gov after the victim reported the sedan was weaving and the driver pointed a gun and fired as she passed.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Judge lets Kirk murder suspect wear street clothes

Oct 27 Dev TC 1

A Twin Cities district court judge granted a defense request allowing the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk to appear in street clothes and without visible restraints during court proceedings, citing the case’s 'extraordinary' public attention. The order, issued Oct. 27, aims to mitigate potential juror prejudice and security concerns as the high‑profile case proceeds.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis clears 234 OPCR misconduct cases backlog

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Office of Police Conduct Review said Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, it completed investigative work on 234 backlogged police‑misconduct complaints received on or before May 23, 2024, after hiring/reassigning 12 staff, adding supervisors, and restructuring investigations. Cases now move to panel review and a final decision by the police chief, and OPCR will focus on newer complaints as the city works toward compliance with its Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement.

Local Government Public Safety

Suicidal man shuts Highway 61 in Forest Lake

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

Forest Lake police closed Highway 61 late Sunday after a man threatening suicide prompted an emergency response on the roadway. Officers shut the highway to protect the public and manage the situation in Forest Lake, Washington County; the report details how police handled the incident.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul man charged over TikTok bounty on AG

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged St. Paul resident Tyler Maxon Avalos in October 2025 with making an online threat after a TikTok post offered a $45,000 'dead or alive (preferably dead)' bounty on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Investigators say they traced the 'Wacko' account to Avalos via a Samsung phone and IP address at his Hyacinth Avenue West apartment; he was arrested and released on recognizance, and the complaint includes screenshots of the post.

Legal Public Safety

Nov. 4 voting guide for Twin Cities

Oct 27 TC 1

FOX 9 outlines what’s on 2025 ballots and how/where to vote ahead of Minnesota’s Nov. 4 municipal and school board elections, including Minneapolis and St. Paul mayoral races and St. Paul’s ballot question. The guide details polling hours (most 7 a.m.–8 p.m., but metro polling places in municipal/school-only elections may open as late as 10 a.m.), early in‑person voting through Nov. 3, absentee ballot rules, and how to find polling places and register via mnvotes.org.

Elections Local Government

MAC Chair Rick King to retire

Oct 26 Breaking TC 1

Rick King, chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, announced his retirement on Oct. 26, 2025. The MAC oversees Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and several reliever airports, making the leadership change significant for the Twin Cities’ primary aviation infrastructure; the report did not immediately specify timing or succession details.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

32 newly planted trees cut along Shepard Road

Oct 26 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Parks and Recreation says 32 recently planted trees were found cut a few feet above the ground along Shepard Road south of the Smith Avenue High Bridge on Friday, Oct. 24. The trees were planted last fall with nonprofit partner Tree Trust; officials are determining replacement options but no funding source is identified. Police are investigating, and the city notes a similar November 2024 incident in the same area destroyed 60 trees, causing roughly $40,000 in damage.

Public Safety Environment

Attempted St. Paul carjacking sparks gunfire, injures one

Oct 26 Breaking TC 1

An attempted carjacking in St. Paul on Friday night escalated to gunfire, leaving one person injured, according to an initial report. Police are investigating; details about suspects or arrests were not immediately available.

Public Safety

Delta flight to Portland aborts MSP takeoff after aircraft fire

Oct 26 Breaking TC 2

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Portland aborted its takeoff at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after flames were seen shooting from an engine. Authorities and reports described the incident as an "aircraft fire."

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Afton, William O’Brien parks closed for hunts

Oct 25 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota DNR will close Afton State Park and William O’Brien State Park in Washington County to the public for a weekend deer hunt. The temporary closures are intended to facilitate the controlled hunt and maintain visitor safety, with normal access resuming after the weekend.

Public Safety Environment

USCIS details $100K H‑1B fee: applies to overseas applicants; renewals exempt

Oct 25 Breaking TC 3

USCIS says a $100,000 fee will apply to H‑1B petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025 for beneficiaries outside the U.S. who do not already hold a valid H‑1B visa, while exemptions include amendments, changes of status, extensions of stay and petitions tied to existing valid H‑1Bs submitted before Sept. 21, 2025; F‑1 graduates changing status inside the U.S. and current H‑1B holders traveling abroad are likewise not subject to the fee. The agency has set up an online portal for paying the fee, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has filed a major legal challenge, and employers—particularly Minnesota schools, retail and health‑care providers—warn of higher costs, potential hiring delays and adjusted recruiting plans.

Business & Economy Legal Government/Regulatory

DHS chief says ‘dozens’ of new ICE agents coming to Minnesota; ‘No Trump No Troops’ Capitol rally set for Saturday

Oct 25 Breaking TC 5

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Twin Cities and held a press conference at Fort Snelling, saying Minnesota will see “dozens” of new ICE agents as part of a national expansion, criticizing local leaders, urging state and city cooperation and noting National Guard deployments are a presidential decision while hundreds protested onsite. Organizers including the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump planned a Friday noon response and a “No Trump No Troops” rally and march is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

2M pounds of pork jerky recalled

Oct 25 Breaking TC 1

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Oct. 24, 2025, that a South Dakota manufacturer is recalling about 2 million pounds of Korean barbecue pork jerky due to possible metal wire contamination. The recall is nationwide and may affect Twin Cities retailers and consumers; FSIS advises not to eat the product and to discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Health Public Safety

Weinhagen resigns from Mounds View school board

Oct 24 Dev TC 1

Jonathan Weinhagen has resigned from the Mounds View (ISD 621) school board amid federal fraud allegations. The departure changes leadership for the Ramsey County district and follows his recent federal indictment tied to his prior role outside the district.

Education Local Government

Developer seeks $3.5M St. Paul loan for Grand/Victoria project

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

A developer has asked the City of St. Paul to approve a $3.5 million public loan to support a mixed‑use housing and retail project at Grand Avenue and Victoria Street, according to a Friday report. City officials are expected to consider the request as part of the project’s financing review.

Housing Local Government

Gun found at Champlin Park High; 2 arrested

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

Brooklyn Park police say a handgun was recovered from a backpack at Champlin Park High School around 8:45 a.m. Friday after a tip led the school resource officer and staff to the students involved. Two 15-year-old boys, both students, were arrested and booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center; the investigation is ongoing.

Public Safety Education

Shutdown delays Social Security COLA announcement

Oct 24 Breaking TC 2

A government shutdown delayed the usual announcement of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, leaving recipients uncertain about next year’s benefit increase. Officials have now set the 2026 COLA at 2.8%, which will raise average monthly benefits by about $56 and ends the uncertainty caused by the earlier delay.

Business & Economy Government Government/Regulatory

Social Security sets 2026 COLA at 2.8%

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026, translating to an average increase of about $56 per month, according to a report published Oct. 24, 2025. The nationwide change directly affects beneficiaries in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro as monthly payments adjust in the new year.

Business & Economy Government

Alaska Airlines resumes after IT outage grounds flights

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

Alaska Airlines said Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, that it has resumed operations after an IT outage grounded its flights for hours, causing delays and cancellations across its network. The disruption affected flights serving Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) before service restarted.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Fridley man charged with two counts in Fletcher’s firebombings; community rallies

Oct 24 Breaking TC 4

Prosecutors have charged a Fridley man with two counts of first‑degree arson after two Molotov cocktail attacks on Fletcher’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis — one Sunday night that broke a window but was extinguished and a second in daylight Monday that failed to ignite when the wick fell out. A witness photo of a suspect in a minivan helped police make an arrest about a half‑mile away, and the community, joined by Mayor Jacob Frey and others, rallied at the shop Thursday while officials say motive — including whether it was related to the shop’s pride flag — remains undetermined.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

State investment board cites safety, moves online

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota State Board of Investment delayed parts of its agenda and shifted its Oct. 23 meeting to a virtual format, citing concerns about political violence and safety. The board, which oversees public pension investments for state and local employees including many in the Twin Cities, said the changes were precautionary as it conducted business remotely.

Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul family seeks DOC accountability after prison death

Oct 24 Dev TC 1

The family of Stephen Williams, a St. Paul man who died while incarcerated at the state’s Rush City prison, is calling for accountability from the Minnesota Department of Corrections. In reporting published Oct. 23, 2025, relatives urged transparency and action regarding the circumstances of his death at MCF–Rush City.

Public Safety Legal

Southwest LRT begins on‑track testing

Oct 23 Breaking TC 2

Trains on the Southwest Light Rail have begun moving along the new tracks for on‑track testing. The Metropolitan Council says the Green Line extension to the west metro is still targeted to begin service in 2027, reaffirming that timeline after testing started.

Public Safety Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Secondary market emerges for MN cannabis licenses

Oct 23 TC 1

FOX 9 reports Minnesota recreational cannabis licenses are being listed and resold on secondary markets, with more than 80 licenses recently posted at combined asking prices once above $100 million. One local example is a former Wendy’s site in Roseville marketed with city approval and a lease, though any change in majority ownership would reset its place in the city’s queue for three retail licenses; all transfers require approval from the Office of Cannabis Management.

Business & Economy Local Government

Eagan man pleads guilty in apartment rape

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

An Eagan man pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2025, to raping a woman after sneaking into her first‑floor apartment in Eagan. The plea resolves a violent sexual assault case in the Twin Cities suburb and advances the case toward sentencing in Dakota County.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul Mayor Carter seeks third term

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said he is seeking a third term, citing ongoing work he wants to complete as the Nov. 4, 2025 election approaches. The announcement comes with early voting already underway; Carter faces challengers Kaohly Vang Her, Adam Dullinger, Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn.

Elections Local Government

Eight charged in MN Housing Stabilization Services fraud allegedly spent millions on Kenya real estate, luxury cars

Oct 23 Breaking TC 4

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged eight people with wire fraud in an alleged scheme to siphon more than $8 million from the state's Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, and one defendant has already pleaded guilty. Authorities say the funds were spent on Kenya real estate, leased luxury vehicles (including BMWs and Mercedes), a Roseville apartment, nearly $500,000 on a joint American Express Platinum card and were funneled through companies such as Brilliant Minds Services LLC, Leo Human Services LLC, Faladcare Inc. and Liberty Plus LLC; the FBI raided sites July 16 and the investigation is ongoing with more charges expected.

Housing Legal

Early voting starts Sept. 19 in Twin Cities

Oct 23 Breaking TC 2

Early voting in the Twin Cities begins Sept. 19 for 2025 contests, including a Nov. 4 special election for Minnesota Senate District 29. The SD29 race pits GOP nominee Michael Holmstrom Jr., a Buffalo small‑business owner, against DFL nominee Louis McNutt, a MnDOT heavy equipment mechanic and AFSCME Council 5 secretary, and because the district leans GOP (Anderson won 68–32 in 2022) the result could affect the DFL’s narrow 33–32 Senate majority with two open seats (SD47 and SD29).

Local Government Elections

Tesla recalls 63,000+ Cybertrucks for bright headlights

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Tesla has issued a nationwide recall of more than 63,000 Cybertrucks because the front lights are too bright and can cause glare for other drivers, a violation of federal safety standards. Announced Oct. 23, 2025, the recall affects owners in the Twin Cities; Tesla says it will provide a free remedy (expected via software update) and notify owners and dealers.

Public Safety Technology

US, EU sanctions lift oil; gas prices may rise

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

The United States and European Union imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies on Thursday, prompting a jump in global oil prices that could raise gasoline costs for Minneapolis–Saint Paul drivers in coming days. Analysts and industry watchers say higher crude and wholesale fuel prices typically flow through to the pump, with timing dependent on station inventories and supply contracts.

Energy Business & Economy

Evergreen Recovery leaders plead guilty in Medicaid fraud, kickback scheme

Oct 23 Breaking TC 2

Two leaders of Evergreen Recovery, Shantel Magadanz and Heather Heim, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme prosecutors say involved illegal kickbacks with Sber Chances Sober Living—offering housing in exchange for attendance at Evergreen programming that was often not provided, with falsified records and coercion that allegedly cost taxpayers millions. A third Evergreen leader, Shawn Grygo, was indicted in December 2024 and has not pleaded guilty, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the theft of Medicaid funds and vowed continued enforcement.

Legal Health

Rep. Elliott Engen launches auditor bid

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Republican state Rep. Elliott Engen announced he is running for Minnesota state auditor, entering the 2026 statewide race for the office that audits state and local governments. The auditor’s work directly affects metro cities, counties and school districts, and Twin Cities voters will help decide the contest.

Elections Local Government

Express buses to replace Northstar at two stops

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Metro Transit will replace Northstar commuter rail service at the Big Lake and Elk River stations with new express bus service, affecting riders who use those stations to reach Minneapolis and other Twin Cities stops. The change shifts how Sherburne County commuters access the Northstar corridor and downtown, with officials outlining the replacement service to maintain connectivity.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Minneapolis posts full 2025 mayor, council ballot

Oct 23 TC 1

FOX 9 lists all candidates for Minneapolis’ 2025 mayoral and City Council races and details where and when residents can vote. Fifteen candidates are on the mayoral ballot, including incumbent Jacob Frey and Sen. Omar Fateh, with ranked-choice voting in use; early voting is open now at the Early Vote Center (980 E Hennepin Ave) ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. The guide also notes at least three open council seats (Wards 5, 8, 11) and publishes ward-by-ward candidate lineups.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul meeting addresses racist fliers

Oct 23 Dev TC 1

About two dozen St. Paul residents met with police and Mayor Melvin Carter Wednesday night at Bethlehem Lutheran Church to discuss racist fliers found Oct. 2 in several Merriam Park locations targeting Black and Somali people. Police said they are investigating who distributed the fliers—tossed on the ground at four spots—and noted it is unclear whether a crime occurred, though littering or trespassing could apply.

Public Safety Local Government

Brooklyn Park police search for missing boy

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Brooklyn Park police issued a public alert Wednesday night for a missing 10-year-old boy last seen near Single Creek Drive and Hampshire Avenue. He was wearing green pants, a green sweater, a blue Ralph Lauren jacket with patches, an army backpack, and tan shoes. Police ask anyone who sees the child or knows his whereabouts to call 911.

Public Safety Legal

Lakeville weighs 390-acre, 1,440-home project

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

Lakeville officials are reviewing a proposal for a roughly 390-acre development in the city’s southwest corner that could include up to 1,440 homes and substantial commercial space. The plan, reported Oct. 22, 2025, would significantly reshape land use and could impact housing supply, retail mix, and local services if approved.

Housing Local Government

MPD seeks two cyclists in Temple Israel bias‑graffiti case; asks public for video

Oct 22 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis police are treating anti‑Semitic graffiti at Temple Israel as a bias crime and are seeking two cyclists seen leaving the scene — both wearing dark hoodies, masks and blue surgical gloves — and have issued a public appeal for tips and surveillance footage. The pair were observed arriving and leaving via 24th St W to Fremont Ave S, seen near 25th St W & Humboldt Ave S and last seen southbound at 26th St W & Irving Ave S; residents with video from Oct. 8 between 2–3 a.m. are asked to contact policetips@minneapolismn.gov, 612‑673‑5845 or CrimeStoppersMN.org/1‑800‑TIPS.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Legrand’s Minnetonka HQ building sells for $23M

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

Buhl Investors has sold the Minnetonka office building that houses Legrand’s new headquarters for $23 million, marking a major markup on the asset. The transaction, reported Oct. 22, 2025, underscores investor demand for single-tenant, HQ‑anchored properties in the Twin Cities market.

Business & Economy Real Estate

Wind advisory brings 45–50 mph gusts Tuesday

Oct 22 Breaking TC 2

A wind advisory on Tuesday produced widespread gusts in the mid-40s to low-50s, including a 53 mph peak at Redwood Falls and a 43 mph gust in the Twin Cities, with numerous communities reporting gusts in the mid-40s. Cloud cover should clear midweek, with sunshine returning and highs climbing into the upper 50s toward the weekend with generally dry conditions.

Weather

MN Supreme Court: USAPL discriminated against trans athlete; remands ‘business purpose’ defense

Oct 22 Breaking TC 2

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting discriminated against transgender weightlifter JayCee Cooper under the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s public‑accommodations provision, affirming partial summary judgment that USAPL’s policy constituted sexual‑orientation discrimination. The court remanded a separate business‑statute claim to district court so USAPL can pursue a “legitimate business purposes” defense; Cooper, who sued in 2021 after being denied entry to women’s events in 2018, and her advocates say the public‑accommodations ruling would still leave USAPL liable even if it prevailed on the remanded claim.

Legal

I-94 downtown St. Paul closed this weekend

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT says sections of I-94 through downtown St. Paul will be closed from Friday through Monday for construction work, with posted detours and significant travel delays expected. The shutdown affects a core interstate corridor used by commuters and event traffic, and is part of ongoing road and bridge work in the downtown St. Paul area.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Robins Kaplan downsizes, moves to Wells Fargo Center

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

Robins Kaplan will reduce its Minneapolis office footprint and relocate to the Wells Fargo Center downtown, with a multimillion‑dollar build‑out planned, firm leaders said on Oct. 22, 2025. The move reflects a strategic shift in how the law firm uses office space in the Twin Cities’ core business district.

Business & Economy Real Estate

Brooklyn Center school bus fire; 8 evacuated

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

The Brooklyn Center Fire Department extinguished a school bus fire near 55th Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard shortly before 3 p.m., safely evacuating eight children with help from the driver and bystanders. Metro Transit provided a bus to keep students warm and Brooklyn Center police coordinated reunification at a nearby elementary school; the bus was a total loss and the cause is under investigation, with an initial suspicion of a mechanical issue near the engine.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

3M lifts outlook; shares jump nearly 8%

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

Maplewood-based 3M raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, citing progress in its turnaround, and its shares climbed about 7.7% on the day. As one of the Twin Cities’ largest employers, the improved guidance and market reaction signal strengthening business conditions with potential implications for local operations and jobs.

Business & Economy

Union stages protest against Ramsey County detox program closure

Oct 21 Dev TC 2

On Oct. 21 union members held a public protest opposing Ramsey County’s planned closure of its detox/withdrawal management program, escalating organized labor’s pushback beyond earlier statements. Protesters urged county commissioners to keep the program open, emphasizing the closure’s impact on St. Paul and Ramsey County residents.

Health Local Government

East Bethel mom alerts driver, saves bus riders

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A school bus caught fire in East Bethel, and parent Kari Thorp alerted the driver after spotting flames near a tire, allowing all 22 children and the driver to evacuate safely, according to FOX 9. The bus tires later exploded after firefighters arrived; a week later, the community presented thank‑you baskets to both the driver and Thorp for their actions.

Public Safety Education

Hennepin County releases 911 call transcript

Oct 21 Dev TC 1

Hennepin County has released the 911 transcript from an attempted political assassination in Minnesota after a legal fight, making the emergency call record public. The newly released transcript pertains to a case involving Vance Boelter and follows a dispute over access to the document.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul joins lawsuit over $100M emergency grants

Oct 21 Dev TC 1

The City of St. Paul said Tuesday it has joined a coalition of cities suing the federal government over a policy that threatens more than $100 million in emergency grants. City officials argue the federal conditions unlawfully put critical emergency funding at risk for municipalities, and the suit seeks to block the changes while the case proceeds.

Local Government Legal

Grand Ave Macalester–Wheeler segment reopens Tuesday; $6.7M project ribbon cutting 4:30 p.m.

Oct 21 Breaking TC 2

Grand Avenue between Macalester and Wheeler streets reopens Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a free community celebration from 4–6 p.m. and a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.; traffic is expected to reopen by 11 p.m. The $6.7 million phase — part of the larger Grand Ave. project between Snelling and Fairview and partly funded by the 1% sales tax approved in 2023 — aims to improve pedestrian safety and crossings, modernize infrastructure, and upgrade environmental and transit amenities, with most construction due to finish by year‑end 2025 and final cleanup into 2026.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

St. Paul man charged in teen sex assault

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he allegedly met through a dating app, according to a Tuesday report. The case, filed in Ramsey County, involves an alleged assault of a minor and remains under investigation by authorities.

Public Safety Legal

Funding secured for 600+ Twin Cities homes

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

Emerging developers have secured financing to build more than 600 housing units in Minneapolis and St. Paul, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal on Oct. 21, 2025. The funding advances multiple projects that would add significant new apartments/homes in both cities, marking a notable boost to the metro’s housing pipeline.

Housing Business & Economy

Minnesota measles cases rise to 21 after Mayo case

Oct 21 Dev TC 3

Minnesota’s measles total for 2025 has risen to 21 after a newly identified case linked to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester/Olmsted County; officials and local outlets have reported recent additional cases, including reports of 10 new infections among unvaccinated patients. Public health authorities and reporters say the surge is tied in part to declines in routine childhood vaccination, increasing the risk of transmission.

Public Safety Health

Xcel names Bria Shea regional president

Oct 21 Breaking TC 2

Xcel Energy has promoted Bria Shea to regional president overseeing its operations in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Shea brings more than 15 years of experience at Xcel Energy to the role.

Utilities Business & Economy

State lifts cap on Hennepin jail capacity

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Corrections has approved an increase in the Hennepin County jail’s allowable population after a hiring spree boosted detention staffing, officials said this week. The change, affecting the Adult Detention Center in downtown Minneapolis, relaxes earlier limits tied to staffing shortfalls and enables the county to hold more detainees locally under DOC standards.

Public Safety Local Government

Rollover crash shuts I-35W in Burnsville

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A rollover crash closed a stretch of I-35W in Burnsville during the morning commute, forcing traffic to divert, according to a local report. Authorities warned of significant delays as detours were set up; no immediate information on injuries or a reopening timeline was available.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

AG Keith Ellison seeks third term

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced he will run for a third term, launching his 2026 re‑election campaign. As the state’s top legal officer, Ellison’s bid sets up the statewide race that will shape consumer protection, public safety, and civil enforcement priorities affecting Minneapolis–Saint Paul.

Elections Legal

Supreme Court to review federal gun ban for marijuana users (922(g)(3))

Oct 21 Breaking TC 2

The Supreme Court will decide whether the federal ban on firearm possession by "unlawful users" of controlled substances (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3)) applies to people who regularly use marijuana, a question arising after a Texas man's gun conviction was overturned post‑Bruen because he wasn’t found actively using while armed. The Biden administration argues the prohibition is justified for "regular drug users" on public‑safety grounds, while challengers point to historical laws that punished carrying while intoxicated rather than mere use; the case also underscores ATF and DOJ reminders that combining guns and marijuana remains illegal under federal law despite state legalization, with arguments likely early next year.

Public Safety Legal

MPS denies race-only classes, updates course guides

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis Public Schools said it does not restrict class enrollment by race or gender after course guides at South and Roosevelt high schools listed Black culture courses as open only to Black boys or Black girls. The district said the posted language is not reflective of actual practice and will be updated, while an attorney interviewed by FOX 9 argued race-based restrictions would violate Title VI and risk federal funding.

Education Legal

Ramsey County settles foster parents data case

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County will pay $875,000 to foster parents from Little Canada to resolve a data practices dispute, according to a report published Oct. 20, 2025. The settlement closes a legal conflict over the county’s handling of data, ending the case without further litigation and carrying financial implications for the county.

Legal Local Government

Walz, Prairie Island sign cannabis compact; wholesale to state dispensaries could begin in November

Oct 21 Breaking TC 2

Gov. Tim Walz and leaders of the Prairie Island Indian Community signed a tribal-state cannabis compact on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, establishing terms for the tribe to supply recreational cannabis to state dispensaries. If implementation proceeds as planned, wholesale deliveries to state-licensed retailers could begin as soon as November.

Local Government Business & Economy

Minnesota ends same-day license pilot Oct. 31

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services will discontinue its pilot for same‑day printing of standard Class D driver’s licenses on Oct. 31, 2025, after recommending against expansion due to quality and appearance differences that led to acceptance issues at bars and airports. The pilot, launched in May 2023 at the Dakota County License Center in Lakeville and in Moorhead, will shift all standard licenses, IDs, and permits back to vendor‑printed cards mailed to customers.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Itasca Project leadership to end group

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Itasca Project, a business-led regional development group in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, is being ended by its leadership, the Star Tribune reports. The change affects a long‑running CEO and civic leader forum that has played a role in shaping metro economic strategy; details on timelines and how work may transition to other organizations were not immediately specified.

Business & Economy

Federal cuts slash Minnesota food aid

Oct 20 Dev TC 1

USDA funding reductions to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) have removed roughly 1 million pounds of food from Minnesota’s supply, and state and nonprofit officials warn deeper cuts could follow. The shortfall affects food shelves statewide, including in the Twin Cities, forcing pantries to stretch resources as demand remains high.

Health Local Government Business & Economy

Wayzata sued over short-term rental ban

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

Five Wayzata rental owners have filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s September ordinance that bans short‑term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, which is set to take effect next April. The suit argues the city failed to follow required procedures such as holding a public hearing and that the ordinance conflicts with city and state laws; plaintiffs are asking a judge to block enforcement so they can continue operating. The ordinance allows rentals only if they are 30 days or longer.

Legal Local Government Housing

Maple Grove woman takes lesser plea after appeal

Oct 20 Dev TC 1

A Maple Grove woman who fatally shot her boyfriend pleaded to a lesser charge in Hennepin County District Court after the Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned her murder conviction. The plea, reported Oct. 20, 2025, resolves a high‑profile domestic violence case rooted in allegations of abuse and shifts the outcome from a prior murder verdict to a reduced offense.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis starts fall street sweeping Tuesday

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis Public Works will begin its fall street sweeping on Tuesday, enforcing temporary 'No Parking' rules on posted streets while crews clean. Residents are urged to watch for signs, use the city’s online map or call 311 to check their block’s schedule; vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed and towed.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Stillwater Lift Bridge closes for the season

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Stillwater Lift Bridge in Washington County closed for the season on Oct. 20, affecting pedestrian and bicycle crossings on the St. Croix River in the Twin Cities metro. The seasonal shutdown diverts trail users to alternative routes such as the St. Croix Crossing path until the bridge reopens in spring.

Transit & Infrastructure

Bemidji teen, infant may be in St. Paul

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota BCA issued an alert Monday for 17-year-old Laura Wright and her 7-month-old son, Kylo, reported missing from Bemidji after they were last seen Saturday entering a sedan with LED lights. Authorities say the pair may be in the St. Paul area and released physical descriptions to aid the search. Anyone with information is asked to call 218-333-9111.

Public Safety

Bouncer charged in Rick's Cabaret shooting that critically injured man

Oct 20 Breaking TC 3

Andrew Jordan Thompson, 30, a bouncer at Rick’s Cabaret, has been charged with second-degree assault in the Oct. 5 shooting outside the downtown Minneapolis strip club that left a man hospitalized with potentially life‑threatening injuries; police have released the victim’s identity and said the incident occurred near 300 3rd St. S. Witness video and accounts show a fight in which Thompson was knocked down before he allegedly followed the pair clutching his waistband and fired a shot, then three more; officers recovered multiple shell casings and a live round, found handgun ammunition in Thompson’s apartment, and booked him into Hennepin County Jail where he is also being held on a 2023 Hopkins weapons case.

Public Safety Legal Crime

AWS outage disrupts Snapchat, Ring services

Oct 20 Dev TC 1

A major Amazon Web Services outage on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, disrupted Snapchat, Ring and other online services nationwide, affecting users in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro. The scope extended across multiple AWS-reliant apps and sites, with service interruptions reported as restoration efforts proceeded.

Technology

Speeding motorcyclist dies on Minneapolis ramp

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota State Patrol says a motorcyclist who was speeding crashed on a downtown Minneapolis freeway ramp and died. The fatal single-vehicle crash occurred on a ramp serving the city’s downtown; the State Patrol is investigating and has not yet released further details.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Former Minnesota Teacher of the Year Abdul Wright sentenced to 14 years

Oct 20 Dev TC 3

Abdul Wright, a former Minnesota Teacher of the Year, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Oct. 17, 2025, in Hennepin County District Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student. During the sex-crimes trial the judge found that Wright lied while testifying.

Public Safety Education Legal

Minneapolis board weighs school closures

Oct 20 Dev TC 1

The Minneapolis School Board signaled on Oct. 20, 2025, that school closures are on the table, according to a Minnesota Reformer report. The indication suggests the district may pursue consolidation or closures, with details, affected schools, and a decision timeline not yet specified.

Education Local Government

Group attacks, robs men outside Minneapolis church

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say two men leaving St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church were attacked around 8 a.m. Sunday by a group of 7–8 men who jumped out of two gray vehicles near 3rd Ave. S. and E. 46th St. One victim was pushed to the ground and robbed while the other was injured dodging objects thrown by the group. The suspects fled in the vehicles; no arrests have been made and the victims chose private transport to a hospital after on‑scene evaluation.

Public Safety

Minneapolis raid seizes nearly 10 pounds fentanyl

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies executing a search warrant Oct. 16 at a home on Fremont Ave. N near Lowry Ave. in Minneapolis’ Folwell neighborhood recovered about 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) of suspected fentanyl, 726 g of meth, 13 lb of cannabis, three firearms and $46,000 in cash. Kiron Jamoll Williams, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged with first-degree drug and weapons offenses after allegedly trying to dump a bag of white powder into a toilet as officers entered; deputies initiated exposure protocols due to airborne powder. Investigators also found a kilo press, blender with residue, ammunition and packing materials; a neighbor reported another man jumped from a window and has not been identified.

Public Safety Legal

Scott Jensen launches second run for governor

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

Former Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen announced a second bid for governor and said he is embracing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the “Make America Healthy Again” theme. The Star Tribune reports the move positions Jensen in the emerging 2026 field, which includes Gov. Tim Walz seeking a third term, and signals the messaging he plans to center in his campaign.

Elections Local Government

Body found in Richfield’s Wood Lake Saturday

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

A pedestrian reported a body floating in Wood Lake in Richfield just after 10 a.m. Saturday, and responders recovered an unidentified adult male. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation while the Medical Examiner works to determine the man’s identity and cause of death; police have not said whether the death appears suspicious.

Public Safety Legal

Off-duty St. Cloud officer Ryan Ebert dies after Apple Valley bus crash

Oct 18 Breaking TC 2

Ryan Ebert, 44, an 18‑year veteran of the St. Cloud Police Department, died Oct. 18 at Hennepin County Medical Center after being gravely injured in a crash Oct. 13 on northbound Highway 77 just south of I‑35E in Apple Valley. The Minnesota State Patrol report says Ebert’s pickup struck a transit bus and a cable barrier, the 65‑year‑old bus driver suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, the report lists alcohol as a factor and notes Ebert was not wearing a seat belt, though St. Cloud Chief Jeff Oxton said medical records showed only a trace amount well below impairment levels; family members have authorized organ donation and final MSP findings are pending.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

South St. Paul tannery strike ends with deal

Oct 18 Breaking TC 1

A weeklong strike at a tannery in South St. Paul ended after workers and management reached an agreement reported Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Details of the pact were not immediately disclosed, but the resolution concludes a work stoppage affecting a Dakota County industrial employer.

Business & Economy

Prior Lake medspa owner Nancy Anderberg charged over 'black market' Botox, fake RN license

Oct 18 Breaking TC 2

Prior Lake medspa owner Nancy Anderberg, who operates Regen Life Antiaging Medspa, has been charged with unlawfully practicing medicine after allegedly buying "black market" Botox and administering injections — including Botox and semaglutide/Ozempic — without proper licensure or prescriptions, allegedly faking a registered nurse license and listing a medical director who was unaware of the listing. The investigation, which began in May 2024, includes witness texts saying she sourced products and learned injection techniques from YouTube, and a collaborating physician told investigators she lacked qualifications; the unlawful-practice charge carries up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Legal Health

BCA: Twin Cities violent crime up 1% in 2024

Oct 17 TC 2

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reports violent crime in the Twin Cities rose 1% in 2024, even as statewide data show murders and assaults continued to decline, extending a post‑pandemic downward trend. The BCA framed 2024 as a continuation of post‑pandemic normalization in key violent‑crime categories.

Public Safety Local Government

Minnesota federal courts limit operations amid shutdown

Oct 17 Dev TC 1

The U.S. District Court for Minnesota announced it is shifting to limited operations due to the federal funding lapse tied to the government shutdown, affecting the Minneapolis and St. Paul courthouses. Essential criminal proceedings will continue while some civil matters and court services are curtailed until funding is restored.

Legal Local Government

USDA flags critical issues at UMN labs

Oct 17 Breaking TC 1

USDA inspection reports cite 'critical' animal‑welfare and compliance problems at University of Minnesota animal research labs, according to the Star Tribune. The findings, classified at the most serious level by federal regulators, concern UMN facilities in the Twin Cities and could require corrective actions under the Animal Welfare Act.

Education Government/Regulatory

Census: Minnesota poverty rate second-lowest

Oct 17 TC 1

The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest figures show Minnesota has the nation’s second‑lowest poverty rate, though the rate has risen in recent measurements. Released this week, the new data provide a current snapshot of economic hardship that will inform policy and service planning for Minneapolis–Saint Paul and the rest of the state.

Business & Economy Health

Ford recalls 290,000 U.S. vehicles for camera issue

Oct 17 Breaking TC 1

Ford Motor Company announced a U.S. safety recall affecting more than 290,000 vehicles due to a rearview camera system issue that may impair the display of the rear image. The recall applies nationwide, including Twin Cities owners, with Ford indicating affected vehicles will be eligible for a no‑cost remedy at dealers and advising owners to check their VINs for recall status.

Public Safety Business & Economy

Guide to 2025 metro county elections

Oct 16 TC 1

The Pioneer Press provides a 2025 election guide for Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties, detailing local races and ballot questions ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. The guide consolidates what’s on ballots across the three Twin Cities counties with timing reminders as early voting continues.

Elections Local Government

Minnesota drops 800 inactive Medicaid providers statewide

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s Department of Human Services disenrolled about 800 inactive Medicaid providers on Oct. 15, 2025, under Gov. Tim Walz’s Executive Order 25-10 directing immediate removal of providers who haven’t billed in the past 12 months. DHS said the step, which excludes 621 inactive Housing Stabilization Services providers slated to end Oct. 31, is part of tightening oversight after widespread fraud allegations, with additional rounds of eliminations planned.

Health Local Government

HistoSonics raises $250M for global expansion

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis‑based medtech HistoSonics raised $250 million to scale its noninvasive ultrasound tumor‑treatment platform globally, according to the Twin Cities Business Journal on Oct. 16, 2025. Investors include Bezos Expeditions and Thiel Capital, and the company says the financing will accelerate commercialization and expansion of its histotripsy technology, with implications for its Twin Cities operations.

Business & Economy Health Technology

Meta expands land holdings in Rosemount

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, has purchased additional land near its prospective data center site in Rosemount, Minnesota. The acquisition expands Meta’s footprint in Dakota County and signals continued movement on the potential data center project.

Business & Economy Technology

Burned body found at Lake Minnetonka dock

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

South Lake Minnetonka police launched a death investigation after a badly burned body was found in Lake Minnetonka beside a smoldering dock on the 4500 block of Enchanted Point in Shorewood just before 2 p.m. on Oct. 14. A Hennepin County search warrant cites signs of accelerants near the body, notes a possible fractured leg and burned dock canopy, and lists seized items including laptops, phones, paperwork that may include a note or will, and a can; court records show one person tied to the property was under an Extreme Risk Protection Order earlier this year and was civilly committed.

Public Safety Legal

Lakeville I-35W stop nets 200-pound meth haul

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper conducting a Sept. 26 traffic stop on I-35W in Lakeville found about 200 pounds of methamphetamine in a commercial truck after a K9 alert, according to Dakota County charges. Driver Jonathan Israel Tirado-Juarez, 43, who lacked required commercial paperwork and produced only a photo of a Mexican CDL, was charged with possession and intent to sell and is detained pending further proceedings.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis mayoral hopefuls split on policing

Oct 16 Dev TC 1

At a Wednesday forum at The Capri Theater in Minneapolis, mayoral candidates outlined contrasting approaches to policing and public safety with less than three weeks before Election Day. All agreed the city needs officers for violent crime, while diverging on funding priorities and responses to non‑violent calls, with Mayor Jacob Frey emphasizing hiring more officers and others focusing on reallocating resources toward behavioral crisis response and alternatives to police.

Elections Public Safety Local Government

Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus lockdown lifted after bomb threat

Oct 16 Dev TC 1

Fridley Police say the Allina Health Call Center received a bomb threat around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, targeting Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus in Fridley. The campus was placed on lockdown while police and security searched the area; the lockdown was lifted after the search, and the investigation is ongoing with a public tip line open.

Public Safety Health

Edina High students allowed to carry Narcan

Oct 15 Breaking TC 2

Edina High School has adopted a new policy allowing students in grades 9–12 to carry and administer Narcan (naloxone), making the district one of the early adopters in Minnesota after a 2025 state revision that built on a 2023 law requiring at least two doses per school. Superintendent Dan Bittman said he expects other districts may consider similar policies; the Minnesota Department of Education does not track district-level student-carry naloxone policies, and Edina reports overwhelmingly positive parent feedback with no negative responses so far.

Education Health

FAFSA 2026–27 application now open

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

Federal Student Aid opened the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid on Oct. 15, 2025, allowing Twin Cities students and families to begin applying for federal, state, and institutional aid for the 2026–27 academic year. Applicants use FSA IDs, invite required contributors (such as a parent) to consent to IRS data sharing, and should file ahead of college and state priority deadlines.

Education

Minneapolis crash with train critically injures driver

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

A chain-reaction collision in Minneapolis involving two SUVs and a moving train left one driver in critical condition, according to the Star Tribune. The crash occurred at a rail crossing in Minneapolis; emergency responders transported the critically injured driver as investigators worked to determine how the sequence of impacts unfolded.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Medicare open enrollment starts amid MA cuts

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7, allowing Twin Cities Medicare members—especially those losing Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 due to insurer pullbacks—to join, drop, or switch plans. Enrollees in Medicare Advantage also have an additional Jan. 1–March 31 window to change MA plans, with coverage effective the month after enrollment; assistance is available via 1-800-MEDICARE and Minnesota Aging Pathways (800-333-2433).

Health Business & Economy

St. Paul teen admits fatal University Ave. shooting

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul teenager has admitted to killing a man with a shot to the head along University Avenue in St. Paul, according to the Star Tribune. The admission marks a major development in the homicide case tied to the University Avenue shooting; further court proceedings, including sentencing, are expected to follow.

Public Safety Legal

Two killed in wrong-way crash on U.S. 52

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

Two drivers were killed in a wrong-way collision on U.S. Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Authorities responded to the scene in Dakota County and have opened an investigation into how the wrong-way vehicle entered the roadway.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Report: Downtown St. Paul vacancies ease

Oct 15 TC 1

Greater Saint Paul BOMA’s 2025 Market Report, released Oct. 14, finds downtown St. Paul’s competitive office vacancy improved to about 31% from a peak above 32% last year, after rising from roughly 18% in 2020. BOMA president Tina Gassman says the district is stabilizing with public‑private efforts underway, while more than 1 million square feet left vacant by Madison Equities remains a major drag.

Business & Economy Housing

Highway 7 closes Minnetonka–Shorewood Oct. 15–20

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will close both directions of Highway 7 between Vine Hill Road in Shorewood/Deephaven and County Road 101 in Minnetonka from 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, for a culvert replacement. Drivers will be detoured via I-494, Highway 5, and Highway 41 during the shutdown.

Transit & Infrastructure

Commerce Dept. bans unlicensed insurer in Minnesota

Oct 14 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced on Oct. 14, 2025, that it has barred an unlicensed insurance seller from operating in the state. The regulatory action applies statewide, protecting consumers in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro and across Minnesota from unlawful insurance sales.

Legal Business & Economy

AG: Two contractors accused in $1.5M fraud

Oct 14 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office alleges contractors Ryan Pietron and Earl Bode took more than $1.5 million from families for home projects they abandoned or never started, with victims in Maplewood and Apple Valley among those affected. The state has already imposed a lifetime contractor ban on Bode and barred Pietron from applying for a license until at least 2030, and lawsuits are seeking further penalties and restitution.

Legal Local Government

Judge: DHS can’t tie FEMA aid to immigration cooperation, calls tactic ‘bullying’

Oct 14 Breaking TC 2

A federal judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security cannot condition FEMA disaster aid on state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, issuing an injunction barring the DHS-imposed eligibility requirement. In his opinion the judge said DHS was "bullying" states into accepting those immigration-enforcement conditions, a prohibition that affects states and localities including Minnesota.

Legal Local Government

Ex-St. Paul police employee Jamond Glass charged after 11-lb meth, fentanyl seizure at Woodbury home

Oct 14 Breaking TC 2

Ex-St. Paul police employee Jamond Leroy Glass, 34, a former civilian worker in the SPPD non-fatal shooting unit who has been fired, was charged after detectives seized about 9.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.68 pounds of fentanyl, 10.5 grams of cocaine and several firearms from a Woodbury home. The package was intercepted by Minneapolis Airport Police and a controlled delivery was made to a Woodbury address listed to “Kay Wilson”; Glass was formally charged Oct. 13 in Washington County with first-degree possession, posted a $50,000 bond and is next due in court Dec. 1.

Legal Public Safety

Search warrant: 22-year-old who posed as White Bear Lake student allegedly received nude images from a student

Oct 14 Breaking TC 10

Authorities say 22-year-old Kelvin Luebke (aka "KJ Perry") enrolled at White Bear Lake High School Sept. 3–29, 2025 using fraudulent documents — including a Liberian birth certificate listing a 2007 birth year — and registered for football practices while the district, citing McKinney‑Vento rules, says it followed enrollment procedures and has launched a review; FOX 9 reported he has a prior conviction for sending explicit images to a 15‑year‑old and was previously enrolled at Forest Lake Area High School. A Ramsey County search warrant alleges Luebke received nude photos from a student, investigators have sought his phone and other records and say multiple parents came forward, and authorities are probing possible fraud, forgery and criminal sexual conduct while no school‑related charges had been filed as of mid‑October.

Public Safety Education Government/Regulatory

Downtown Council steps back from Holidazzle, Aquatennial

Oct 14 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Downtown Council says it will stop directly producing the Holidazzle and Aquatennial festivals and is seeking another organization to take over, citing inconsistent sponsorship funding and evolving needs of downtown Minneapolis. MDC will continue to promote the events and says Holidazzle will evolve into “Winterapolis,” a season‑long campaign highlighting winter activities rather than a single festival.

Business & Economy

Target pilots THC beverages at select Minnesota liquor stores

Oct 14 Breaking TC 2

Target is piloting the sale of THC beverages at select Minnesota liquor stores, rather than in general store aisles. The move taps into what industry observers call the nation’s most competitive THC beverage market, with the pilot reported on Oct. 13, 2025.

Health Government/Regulatory Business & Economy

Maple Grove seeks SUV in Oct. 2 hit-and-run

Oct 13 Dev TC 1

Maple Grove Police are asking the public to help identify a newer black Dodge Durango that allegedly struck a motorcyclist and fled around 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 2 at the four-way stop in front of the Sam’s Club and Walmart in Maple Grove. Police say the motorcyclist, a woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but lost her leg; anyone with information is urged to call (763) 494-6100.

Public Safety

Minneapolis seeks developer for Dania Hall site

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

The City of Minneapolis is seeking a developer to revive the former Dania Hall site in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, a historically significant parcel where the 1886-built Danish cultural center was destroyed by fires in 1991 and 2000. The move signals a new push to redevelop the long-vacant site; formal solicitation details were not included in the preview.

Local Government Housing

Rep. Ilhan Omar backs Fateh for mayor

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar endorsed state Sen. Omar Fateh for Minneapolis mayor, the Minnesota Reformer reports. The high‑profile backing comes during Minneapolis’s ongoing 2025 mayoral campaign as early voting is underway ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

Elections Local Government

MSP opens Terminal 1 FLEX Lane for MEA

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

MSP Airport and the Metropolitan Airports Commission say MEA-week travel will surge about 19% over a typical fall day, with more than 52,000 passengers expected at TSA on Thursday, Oct. 16, and over 50,000 on Wednesday, Oct. 15. To ease congestion, a new free FLEX Lane at Terminal 1 on the left side of Departures Drive (access via doors 5–8; connected to ramps and sky bridges) is now available, while officials expect only minimal local impacts from the ongoing federal government shutdown. Travelers are urged to arrive two hours early for domestic flights, three hours for international, consider MSP RESERVE for security, prebook parking, and use cell phone lots for pickups.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Supreme Court to hear Voting Rights Act challenge

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a Republican-backed challenge to the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 involving Black representation, a case that could alter how states draw districts and how voters enforce voting-rights protections. A ruling would apply nationwide, directly affecting Minnesota redistricting practices and Twin Cities voters’ ability to challenge maps and election rules.

Legal Elections

CDC urges COVID shots; Walz gets vaccinated

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz received a COVID-19 vaccination as the CDC recommended that Americans get vaccinated this fall to reduce severe illness. The nationwide guidance applies to Twin Cities residents and comes ahead of the colder season when respiratory viruses typically rise.

Health Local Government

Nonprofit takes over Alliance Bank Center

Oct 13 Breaking TC 1

The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation has acquired the vacant Alliance Bank Center in downtown St. Paul from Madison Equities and will assume property management and security from the city, officials confirmed. The nonprofit, a subsidiary of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance, will keep the building and connected skyways closed while conducting a 12‑month redevelopment evaluation, with updated skyway maps coming before winter.

Business & Economy Local Government

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner to retire Dec. 31; to lead Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Oct 12 Dev TC 2

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, who began his Minneapolis Fire Department career in 1995 and was appointed the city's second Black fire chief in December 2020, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2025, to become executive director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. During his 30-year career—raised in North Minneapolis and holding an Executive Fire Officer certification—Tyner led the department through COVID-19 and civil unrest, increased firefighter staffing, launched EMS Pathways and Safe Station programs and a nationally recognized commercial building inspection program; a national search for his successor is underway and an interim chief will be appointed.

Public Safety Local Government

UPS may destroy uncleared imports under new rules

Oct 12 Breaking TC 1

UPS told FOX Business Friday it has implemented procedures for imported packages that cannot clear U.S. Customs under newly tightened rules, saying parcels will either be returned to the shipper at their expense or, if customers don’t respond and clearance isn’t possible, disposed of in compliance with regulations. Citing Trump administration changes like suspended de minimis exemptions and stricter documentation, UPS said about 90% of shipments clear on day one and that it makes multiple contact attempts to obtain missing information, but a growing number of parcels are stranded at hubs nationwide.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

IRS shifts high-earner 401(k) catch-ups to Roth

Oct 12 TC 1

The IRS issued regulations implementing SECURE 2.0 that require workers who earned $145,000 or more in the prior year to make 401(k) catch-up contributions to after-tax Roth accounts starting with the 2026 tax year. For 2025, the standard 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500 with an additional $7,500 catch-up for ages 50+ (and $11,250 for ages 60–63), but high earners will lose the option to make pre-tax catch-ups in 2026; plans without a Roth option may need updates or affected workers could be unable to make catch-ups. This change affects Twin Cities employees and employers administering retirement plans.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Two men shot in St. Paul Battle Creek

Oct 12 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say two men were shot just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Battle Creek area, with one found in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Suburban Avenue and another located near White Bear Avenue and Old Hudson Road. Both were transported to Regions Hospital; investigators believe the shooting occurred in the parking lot and no arrests have been made as the probe continues.

Public Safety

Bloomington used COVID relief for City Hall bathroom

Oct 12 TC 1

The City of Bloomington spent nearly $1 million in federal COVID‑19 relief funds to renovate a bathroom at City Hall, according to a Star Tribune report. The use of federal aid for a municipal facility upgrade highlights how pandemic funds were allocated locally and raises oversight and prioritization questions for residents and officials.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Minnesota exports fall 19% in Q2 2025

Oct 12 TC 1

Minnesota DEED reported Friday that state exports of agricultural, mining, and manufactured goods totaled $5.8 billion in Q2 2025, a $1.3 billion (19%) drop from Q2 2024, led by a 96% plunge in mineral fuel and oil exports to Canada (-$703 million). Exports to Mexico and China also fell more than 20%, while shipments to Ireland, the UK, Germany and Switzerland increased; officials completed a business mission to Ireland and plan a November trade mission to Germany and Switzerland.

Business & Economy Government

Lakeville wrong-way crash kills man, injures woman

Oct 11 Breaking TC 1

An 85-year-old Lakeville man died and a 44-year-old Farmington woman was critically injured after a wrong-way crash around 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on Cedar Avenue just south of 185th St. W in Lakeville. Police say preliminary information indicates the man was driving south in the northbound lanes when the vehicles collided; both were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, and investigators report no signs of impairment at the scene as the probe continues.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

UnitedHealth to cut MN Medicare Advantage counties from 72 to 27 in 2026; UCare exits; Blue Cross maintains statewide coverage via MA/Cost

Oct 11 Dev TC 3

UnitedHealth Group will sharply shrink its Minnesota Medicare Advantage footprint from 72 counties to 27 in 2026 (part of a national pullback from 109 counties affecting up to 180,000 members), a change that will affect roughly 20% of its Minnesota MA subscribers; UCare is exiting Medicare Advantage entirely while Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will offer MA in 66 counties and Medicare Cost plans in the other 21, preserving Blue Cross options across all 87 counties. Beneficiaries who lose MA plans will revert to Original Medicare Parts A and B and could lose supplemental benefits and drug coverage, with guarantee-issue Medigap enrollment and stand‑alone Part D plans (with widely varying premiums) cited as immediate replacement options.

Business & Economy Health

FOF defendant accused of tampering pleads guilty

Oct 10 Dev TC 1

A defendant in Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud case who had been accused of witness tampering pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court ahead of trial. The plea is the latest development in the wide‑ranging prosecution over alleged misuse of federal child‑nutrition funds tied to operations in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis opens RFP for 'New Nicollet' Phase One

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

The City of Minneapolis has issued a formal Request for Proposals this week for Phase One of the 'New Nicollet' redevelopment at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue, the former Kmart site long blamed for severing the corridor. Phase One targets the southeast quadrant with subsidized and affordable apartments; bids are due in January 2026, with a developer to be approved later in 2026 and construction still several years away.

Housing Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Judge blocks conditions on domestic-violence grants

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

A federal judge ruled on Oct. 10, 2025, that the Trump administration cannot impose additional conditions on federal domestic‑violence grants, limiting the administration’s ability to tie funding to new requirements. The decision has direct implications for Twin Cities governments and victim‑service providers that depend on these grants to fund domestic‑violence programs.

Legal Local Government

Shakopee neighbor feud triggers 232 police calls

Oct 10 Dev TC 1

Shakopee police say a long-running shared-driveway dispute between neighbors Juan Salas and Jessica Keil generated 232 calls and 260 officer hours over the past year in Shakopee, with Police Chief Jeff Tate estimating the saga has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Both parties hold harassment restraining orders against each other and accuse the other of violations, as the city and courts seek a resolution to the escalating conflict.

Public Safety Local Government

Mississippi Market, River Market co-ops to merge

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

Member-owners of Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op in St. Paul and River Market Community Co-op in Stillwater voted to approve a merger on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, combining the two Twin Cities–area cooperatives. The vote paves the way for legal and operational integration affecting co-op members, shoppers, and staff in Ramsey and Washington counties; further details on timeline and branding were not immediately disclosed.

Business & Economy

Bloomington mulls 9.44% levy, $100M complex

Oct 10 Dev TC 1

City of Bloomington officials are considering a 9.44% property tax increase alongside plans for a $100 million complex, according to a new report. The proposal would affect Bloomington taxpayers in Hennepin County as city leaders review budget and capital project options.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

I-94 St. Paul weekend closure for bridge work

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will close sections of I-94 in St. Paul from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, for John Ireland Boulevard bridge replacement work tied to a nine-bridge repair program. Westbound I-94 will be closed between I-35E and Dale Street and eastbound I-94 between Highway 280 and University Ave East, with detours via I-35E, Highway 36, and Highway 280; the bridge is slated to reopen next summer.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Family sues Eagan, Dakota County over jail death

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

The family of Kingsley Bimpong, 50, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging Eagan police and Dakota County jail staff ignored signs he was suffering a massive stroke after a Nov. 16, 2024 traffic stop, delaying medical care for more than three hours before he was taken to a hospital where he died three days later. Court filings cite surveillance video of his collapse and body‑camera audio suggesting an officer suspected a stroke; Eagan’s attorney called the death tragic but said he did not exhibit an obvious emergent condition, while Dakota County declined comment.

Legal Public Safety

UMN regents approve 9-2 transfer of Eastcliff to University Foundation

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted 9-2 on Oct. 9, 2025, to transfer Eastcliff to the University of Minnesota Foundation. The approval clears a $2.2 million sale of the property to the Foundation.

Education Local Government Business & Economy

State settles sex-discrimination cases with two businesses

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced Oct. 2025 settlements with Lakes Concrete Plus of Bemidji and Key Lime Air of Thief River Falls after finding both violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act through gender stereotyping. Each company will pay $45,000 to an aggrieved job applicant or former employee and must revise workplace policies to prevent future sex discrimination.

Legal Business & Economy

Jerrod Rentist Johnson charged with attempted murder after St. Paul Green Line table-leg attack

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

Jerrod Rentist Johnson, 20, of Minneapolis, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly using a large wooden table leg to repeatedly beat a woman at the Fairview and University Avenue Green Line platform in St. Paul about 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2025; surveillance footage reportedly shows initial swings, 21 additional strikes and about 17 seconds of continued blows after the victim lost consciousness. The victim suffered a fractured skull, multiple fractures in her right arm, a swollen‑shut eye, a concussion and head wounds closed with staples; officers found a bloodied table leg on the platform and arrested Johnson with blood on his hands, and he faces a separate pending assault charge in Hennepin County.

Legal Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul officers give CPR to collapsed 10K runner

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

During the Twin Cities Marathon 10K on Oct. 9, 2025, a runner collapsed and was given CPR by a St. Paul police officer and three other officers. The officer told reporters, 'God put us there,' describing the on-scene lifesaving effort; the incident prompted an emergency medical response at the race in St. Paul.

Public Safety Health

Walz Threatens Lawsuit if Federal Troops Are Sent to Minnesota

Oct 09 Dev TC 2

Gov. Tim Walz warned he would sue the Trump administration if it sent federal troops to Minnesota, directly tying the threat of legal action to suggestions President Trump might deploy National Guard forces to the state. His statement follows reporting that the administration could consider such deployments.

Government/Regulatory Legal Public Safety

Minnesota launches 10-year Drinking Water Action Plan to address PFAS and nitrate contamination

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

Minnesota launched a 10-year Drinking Water Action Plan to tackle PFAS and nitrate contamination, with the Minnesota Department of Health reporting 97% of the state's drinking water meets federal standards while about 3% of communities fall below standards due to excessive nitrate and arsenic. The plan — financed by the Clean Water Fund (which expires in 2034) and updated every two years — directs the Clean Water Council to fund grants for testing and remediation, cites projects like a $330 million Woodbury treatment plant funded in part by the 3M settlement, and responds to more PFAS-positive residential wells and a PFAS plume moving toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.

Environment Health

Hao Nguyen enters Hennepin County Attorney race

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

Senior prosecutor Hao Nguyen has declared his candidacy for Hennepin County Attorney, becoming the second person to announce a run and one of four publicly declared contenders. Nguyen has 15 years of experience as a prosecutor and previously served as a corrections officer, police officer and sheriff’s deputy.

Legal Elections

Matt Pelikan launches Hennepin County attorney bid

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

Matt Pelikan has officially launched a campaign for Hennepin County Attorney, declaring his candidacy in the emerging 2026 contest. FOX 9 lists him among four declared contenders, noting his entry follows incumbent Mary Moriarty’s decision not to seek re-election.

Legal Elections Local Government

Four candidates now running for Hennepin County Attorney

Oct 09 Dev TC 1

Four candidates have publicly announced runs for Hennepin County Attorney ahead of the November 2026 election: Anders Folk (former acting U.S. attorney and DOJ official), state Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Hao Nguyen (former assistant Ramsey County attorney), and Matt Pelikan (Minneapolis attorney). The Fox9 roundup summarizes each campaign announcement, cites endorsements (Andy Luger for Folk, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flangan and several mayors for Frazier), and notes the race is open after incumbent Mary Moriarty said she will not seek reelection.

Elections Legal Local Government

Duos raises $130M to expand aging-at-home care

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

Duos, a Minnesota digital-health startup launched by a former Optum executive to help seniors age at home, announced Oct. 9, 2025 that it raised $130 million in a funding round led by investors including FTV and Forerunner. The infusion ranks among the largest investments for a Minnesota startup this year and positions the company to scale its senior-care technology and services from its Twin Cities base.

Business & Economy Health

Former Minnesota trooper pleads guilty

Oct 09 Dev TC 1

Jeremy Plonski, a former Minnesota state trooper and National Guard member, pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography after investigators say he made and shared video(s) showing sexual abuse of an infant. The federal plea was filed this week; separate Scott County charges for first‑degree criminal sexual conduct related to the same alleged video remain pending. Authorities including the FBI and state law‑enforcement leaders have described the allegations as horrifying and say the case remains under active review ahead of sentencing and state proceedings.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

Burnsville Meridian Pointe Apartments sold for $63M

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

Meridian Pointe Apartments, a 339-unit complex in Burnsville (Dakota County), was sold in a $63 million transaction to a New York–based multifamily real-estate buyer, the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal reported on Oct. 9, 2025. The deal transfers ownership of a large metro rental property and could affect management, rents, or operations for the hundreds of tenants who live there.

Business & Economy Housing

Breezy, warmer Thursday with light shower chance

Oct 09 Dev TC 1

FOX 9 meteorologists forecast a warmer, breezy Thursday for the Twin Cities metro (Oct. 9, 2025), with highs near 70°F and southerly winds of 10–20+ mph. Clouds increase through the afternoon with an isolated late shower possible; milder overnight lows in the 50s are expected and sunshine returns Friday with highs in the 60s.

Weather Local News

Largest Twin Cities credit unions, 2025 rankings

Oct 09 TC 1

The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal published a ranked list of the region’s largest credit unions on Oct. 9, 2025, reporting June 30, 2025 balances and metrics. The list names Wings Financial Credit Union as the largest with $9.48 billion in assets and provides assets, year-over-year asset changes, net income, membership counts and local executive contacts for the top institutions in the metro.

Business & Economy Banking and Finance

Isanti sheriff’s foundation treasurer charged in $100K swindle

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

Isanti County Sheriff's Foundation treasurer Kim Nordenstrom has been charged with two counts of theft by swindle after a criminal complaint alleges she diverted nearly $100,000 in grant money that was to be stewarded for Project 612, a Minneapolis nonprofit serving at-risk youth. Investigators from the Chisago County Sheriff's Office say Nordenstrom used funds for personal debt and farm equipment; the case is filed in Isanti County District Court and could carry up to 20 years on the theft count.

Legal Public Safety

Shipt driver accused of stealing $16K from Target orders

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man, Khang Huu Hoang, 25, was charged in Hennepin County with theft by swindle after court documents say he marked Target deliveries as delivered then took the merchandise himself. Investigators found empty Target boxes in an apartment building tied to Hoang and recovered more than $6,000 during a search; total undelivered items linked to him are valued at about $16,541.69. Hoang is in custody and has a first court appearance set for Oct. 27, 2025.

Public Safety Legal

Hundreds of Minnesota clergy demand assault-weapons ban

Oct 08 Dev TC 1

About 750 clergy from across Minnesota gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul, delivering a letter to Gov. Tim Walz and lawmakers calling for a special legislative session to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The group — representing more than 60 of the state's 87 counties — launched a "Seven Days of Prayer and Action," holding noon prayer vigils on the Capitol steps for a week; the action was organized in response to the Annunciation Church mass shooting that killed two children and wounded dozens.

Local Government Public Safety

Robbinsdale agrees $3.2M police-shooting settlement

Oct 08 Dev TC 1

The City of Robbinsdale has agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve a civil lawsuit arising from a police shooting, the Star Tribune reports. The settlement covers claims tied to the incident in Robbinsdale and represents a significant municipal liability with implications for the city's budget and police oversight.

Legal Public Safety

Ron Schutz launches Minnesota attorney general campaign

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

Republican Ron Schutz has announced he is entering the race for Minnesota attorney general, according to a Star Tribune report. The campaign entry makes Schutz a declared candidate in the statewide contest that will shape legal priorities affecting Minneapolis–Saint Paul residents and local governments.

Elections Legal

Daniel Rosen confirmed as U.S. Attorney for Minnesota

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Senate confirmed Minneapolis attorney Daniel Rosen as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota by a 51-47 vote. Rosen, principal of Rosen LLC with about 30 years of federal and state litigation experience and a University of Minnesota graduate, was nominated by President Trump in May after recommendations from Minnesota's Republican congressional delegation; he will take over federal prosecutorial leadership previously handled by acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson following Andy Luger's resignation.

Legal Public Safety

Frost advisory for Twin Cities; freeze warning for central and northern Minnesota

Oct 08 Dev TC 3

A frost advisory is in effect for the Twin Cities until 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, and a freeze warning covers most of central and northern Minnesota until 10 a.m.; overnight lows are expected in the 30s in the Twin Cities and the 20s farther north (the Twin Cities’ average first 32°F day is Oct. 18). Daytime highs Wednesday should rebound to about 64°F in the Twin Cities and generally the 50s–60s statewide with southwestern Minnesota near 70°F, with a warming trend into the upper 60s–low 70s Thursday and back into the 70s by Friday and through the weekend.

Public Safety Weather

Evereve doubling Edina headquarters, plans hiring surge

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

Evereve, a women’s fashion retailer headquartered in Edina, announced on Oct. 8, 2025 a multiyear plan to double its Edina headquarters footprint, double its corporate workforce, and triple its digital revenue as it expands operations in the Twin Cities suburb. The move signals increased local hiring and investment in digital channels tied to the company’s Edina base.

Business & Economy Jobs/Employment

Anoka extends downtown social district through 2025

Oct 07 Dev TC 1

The Anoka City Council voted Oct. 6, 2025 to extend its downtown 'social district' open-container rules through the end of 2025, allowing patrons to legally carry beer, wine and cocktails within a defined area of downtown and Riverfront Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The program includes a color-coded sign system for participating businesses, requires drinks to be served in special recyclable plastic cups, and excludes use during the city's Halloween parades; the council also approved allowing the expanded hours annually going forward.

Local Government Public Safety

Ramsey County to pay $100,000 settlement

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County has agreed to pay $100,000 to a former detainee of the county’s Juvenile Detention Center, the Twin Cities–area news outlet reported on Oct. 7, 2025. The payment was announced by county officials (or reported by the paper) and concerns a former juvenile held at the Ramsey County facility; the action raises questions about the county’s handling of the underlying claim and potential oversight or policy implications.

Local Government Courts/Legal

St. Paul bar customer dies after security guard’s punch; charges filed

Oct 07 Breaking TC 3

A St. Paul bar customer, 33-year-old Melvin A. Martinez Altamirano of Madison, Wisconsin, has died after suffering a devastating brain bleed following a punch by 28-year-old security guard Jose Eucario Conejo Marquez of North St. Paul, with surveillance video showing Marquez step between the couple and strike Altamirano in the parking lot as pepper spray was deployed. Marquez was arrested Sunday night, remains in custody at the Ramsey County Jail, and has been formally charged with one count of first-degree manslaughter.

Public Safety Legal Courts/Legal

L.L. Bean to open Maple Grove Arbor Lakes store

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

L.L. Bean announced plans to open a new store at the Arbor Lakes retail complex in Maple Grove, Minnesota, scheduled for 2026. The store will consolidate space by replacing four former retail units at the development, marking the retailer’s expansion into the Twin Cities regional market and altering occupancy at a major suburban shopping hub.

Business & Economy Retail

SSI recipients get two payments in October

Oct 07 Dev TC 1

The Social Security Administration will disburse Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits twice in October — on Oct. 1 and Oct. 31 — because November's scheduled payment date (Nov. 1) falls on a weekend, prompting the SSA to issue November benefits on the last business day of October. The government shutdown is not expected to interrupt Social Security payments, though a COLA announcement tied to benefits could be delayed.

Government/Regulatory Economy & Benefits

USDA warns HelloFresh spinach may contain listeria

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a warning that HelloFresh meals containing spinach may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. The advisory was reported Oct. 7, 2025 by TwinCities.com and affects HelloFresh customers nationwide, including residents of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, who should check USDA and HelloFresh notices for product details and safety instructions.

Health Public Safety

Outdoor Retailer to move trade show to Minneapolis

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

Outdoor Retailer announced it will relocate its major outdoor-industry expo to Minneapolis, scheduling a reimagined three-day trade show for Aug. 19–21, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Organizers say the move positions the show to focus on collaboration and innovation, and city leaders expect convention activity to bring measurable economic benefits to the metro.

Business & Economy Events

Tile Shop to Delist in $6.60 Cash-Out Deal

Oct 07 Dev TC 1

Minnesota-based retailer Tile Shop announced plans to exit public markets via a cash-out offer of $6.60 per share, a move the Business Journal reports is the company's second attempt to delist since 2019. The proposal would take the firm private, with the cash-per-share figure and the timing of the announcement provided by company filings and the Business Journal report.

Business & Economy Corporate

Wells Fargo raises checking fee 50%

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

Wells Fargo announced Oct. 7, 2025 that it will increase the monthly fee on its common checking account by 50%, a change that will raise costs for customers in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro as well as nationwide. The change was reported by the Twin Cities Business Journal and stems from the bank’s pricing update communicated to customers.

Business & Economy

U.S. News ranks two Minnesota children's hospitals

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Children's Hospitals list (published Oct. 7, 2025) named Mayo Clinic and M Health Fairview among the top children's hospitals in the Midwest. The recognition highlights M Health Fairview's standing in the Twin Cities metro and Mayo Clinic's regional prominence in Rochester, information that may influence patient referrals and consumer choices.

Health Business & Economy

Loma Bonita Market to Open in Richfield

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

Loma Bonita Market, a locally owned Mexican grocery chain, will occupy the long-vacant Rainbow Foods building at The Hub in Richfield and is set to open in the next few weeks. The store — the chain's largest at more than 50,000 square feet — will include a bakery, butcher shop, taqueria and tortilleria, and city officials say the project will revitalize the strip-mall area and expand grocery options for local residents.

Business & Economy Local Government

Minnesota DFL probes Minneapolis DFL mailers amid Fateh endorsement dispute

Oct 07 Dev TC 3

Following a contentious review that saw the Minnesota DFL State Executive Committee vote 40–7 to uphold the revocation of Sen. Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral endorsement and form a subcommittee to ensure convention compliance, the party has opened an investigation into postcards mailed by the Minneapolis DFL that featured Fateh. A complaint to the DFL’s Constitution, Rules and Bylaws Committee alleges the mailer contradicted the party’s retraction, while Minneapolis DFL says the postcards were delivered to its printer before a leaked draft ruling and bulk-mail delays explain late arrival; party leaders cited a “substantially flawed” first ballot and complications after the convention operator suffered a stroke, and Hennepin County judges previously fined Fateh’s campaign $500 for using the endorsement logo after it was rescinded.

Local Government Elections

All five St. Paul mayoral candidates speak at Gloria Dei forum

Oct 07 Breaking TC 2

All five St. Paul mayoral candidates — incumbent Melvin Carter, Kaohly Her, Adam Dullinger, Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn — spoke at a forum held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and organized by Fair Vote Minnesota. Candidates addressed public safety, housing and property taxes, with early voting already under way ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025.

Local Government Elections

Minnesota school board members urge ban on trans girls' sports

Oct 07 Dev TC 1

A coalition of school board members from 40 Minnesota districts sent a letter this week to the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota State High School League, the attorney general and the governor, asking state leaders to bar transgender athletes assigned male at birth from competing in girls' sports. The move follows a recent U.S. Department of Education finding that Minnesota is in violation of Title IX and comes amid a separate lawsuit by an advocacy group challenging current participation policies; the case has seen a denied emergency injunction and an appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Education Legal Local Government

St. Francis police: school threat claims fabricated

Oct 07 Dev TC 1

St. Francis police investigated reports that a middle school student threatened the school after a loaded rifle magazine was found near the football bleachers following a Thursday night sporting event; by Monday officers said the threat claims — including an alleged Snapchat post — were fabricated by other students and that the magazine belonged to a person who said they unintentionally left it at the event. The department says there is no evidence of any real threat to students, staff or the public, though the rumors prompted some parents to keep children home.

Public Safety Education

Former Golden Valley chief alleges department racism

Oct 06 Dev TC 1

Virgil Green, who resigned as Golden Valley police chief after four months and a period on paid administrative leave, told FOX 9 that he felt unsupported and believes racism remains within the city’s police department. His resignation followed two internal investigations — one into the alleged improper release of body-worn-camera footage and another into alleged interference with an internal probe — and comes amid deep staffing turnover at the department.

Local Government Public Safety

I-494 overnight closure for Portland Ave bridge work

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will close I-494 between I-35W and Highway 77 overnight Friday at 10 p.m. through Saturday at 5 a.m. to pour concrete for the Portland Avenue bridge decks; drivers are detoured to Highway 62. Two ramps — I-494 east to Lyndale Avenue and I-35W north to eastbound I-494 — are scheduled to close starting Sunday night, Oct. 12 and will remain closed through November.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Toro buys Canadian vacuum truck maker Tornado

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

The Toro Co., a Bloomington-based manufacturer, announced on Oct. 6, 2025 that it will acquire Tornado Infrastructure Equipment, a Canadian maker of vacuum excavation trucks, for $200 million to expand its construction product lineup and establish a manufacturing footprint in Canada. The deal aims to broaden Toro’s presence in construction markets and add specialized vacuum truck capabilities to its portfolio.

Business & Economy Manufacturing

WalletHub: Minnesota ranks eighth-safest state

Oct 06 TC 1

A WalletHub study released Oct. 6, 2025 ranked Minnesota the eighth-safest state in America for 2025, citing 52 indicators across personal/residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety and emergency preparedness. The analysis puts Minnesota at No. 2 for road safety but flags lower performance in residential safety and emergency preparedness, with WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo quoted describing the methodology and factors.

Public Safety Health

Minnesota Sen. Jim Carlson to Retire in 2026

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

State Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL‑Eagan), who has represented Senate District 52 since first being elected in 2006, announced Oct. 6, 2025 that he will retire at the end of his current term. Carlson — a five‑term senator who chaired the Senate Elections Committee and served on Judiciary, Public Safety, State and Local Government and Veterans, and Transportation committees — cited satisfaction with his legislative accomplishments; his seat will be contested Nov. 3, 2026.

Local Government Elections

Medical examiner rules March Minneapolis death a homicide

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

The medical examiner has determined that a man who died from a head injury sustained in March in Minneapolis was the victim of a homicide, according to a Star Tribune report. The official ruling reclassifies the March injury after autopsy review and is expected to inform an ongoing police investigation.

Public Safety Legal

John Ireland Blvd bridge closed until summer 2026

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT announced the John Ireland Boulevard bridge over I-94 in St. Paul will close starting Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, for a teardown and rebuild and is expected to remain closed until August 2026. The long-term project is part of repairs to nine bridges on I-94 and I-35E in St. Paul; MnDOT published driver and pedestrian detours and warned of construction noise and traffic impacts for nearby residents and commuters.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Man critically wounded after strip-club fight

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

A dispute inside a Minneapolis strip club spilled into the street, where a man was shot and critically wounded, Minneapolis police told the Star Tribune. Police say investigators are on scene and the shooting remains under investigation; the victim was taken to a hospital and no further details or arrests have been publicly announced.

Public Safety Local Crime

Minnesota wildland firefighter dies during Idaho burn

Oct 06 Breaking TC 2

Isabella "Bella" Oscarson, 26, of Watertown, Minnesota, died while participating in a prescribed burn in Idaho. Oscarson began her career with the Wildland Fire Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, was trained by the Minnesota DNR and served as a lead firefighter near Grand Rapids before taking a job with the Idaho Department of Lands in March; Minnesota has honored her with flags at half-staff as officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and state DNR supervisors, praised her service.

Government/Regulatory Public Safety

Ramsey deputies dodge gunfire; man shot

Oct 05 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County deputies investigating a reported stolen vehicle in a parking lot off Maryland Avenue East near Herbert Street in St. Paul were forced to take cover Friday evening when someone opened fire across the lot. A 39-year-old man was shot in the chest; deputies applied chest seals and transported him to a hospital, and the St. Paul Police Department is leading the investigation. At least one bullet struck a squad car; officials say the shooting appears unrelated to the traffic stop and the victim is expected to survive.

Public Safety Law Enforcement

Blue, green ribbons along TC Marathon for Annunciation

Oct 05 Dev TC 1

Organizers and volunteers have installed hundreds of blue and green ribbons along about four miles of Summit Avenue in St. Paul to honor victims of the Annunciation Church mass shooting during this weekend’s Twin Cities Marathon. The display — organized by Kristen Lyrek with help from volunteers and coordinated with group Bows of Love — runs up to the marathon finish line; family members of one victim will run in tribute during the race.

Public Safety Education

Twin Cities hit record 90°F Saturday; cooler weather expected Sunday

Oct 05 Dev TC 3

Forecasts had warned of record warmth — even a possible 91°F — and gusty 30–40 mph winds Saturday with overnight lows in the low 70s Friday night. Saturday’s high reached 90°F in the Twin Cities, topping the previous 89°F record, and other Minnesota locations also set records (Hibbing 83°F, Brainerd 86°F, Rochester 86°F, Duluth 84°F); cooler weather is expected Sunday with highs near 78°F and a further cooldown into the 60s next week as winds shift.

Public Health Public Safety Environment

Andrew Nietz charged with murder, arson in NE Minneapolis duplex fire that killed Housten Housley

Oct 04 Breaking TC 3

Around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, a fire on the 900 block of 22nd Avenue NE gutted a northeast Minneapolis duplex, killing 39-year-old Housten Housley — firefighters found him on the first floor, three other residents were displaced and aided by the Red Cross, and the unit where Housley was found sustained extensive damage and heavy flames. Authorities have charged longtime friend Andrew Nietz with second-degree murder and arson, saying surveillance showed him returning to the scene while crews were present, police recovered Housley’s car being driven by Nietz and observed scratches on his hands, arm and face, and court records list prior arson convictions in 2012 and 2023.

Legal Public Safety

Hennepin County seeks help identifying two 1990s bodies

Oct 04 Dev TC 1

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner this week released details and images seeking public help to identify two men found dead in the Mississippi River in 1995 and 1996 in Minneapolis. Officials provided forensic approximations, clothing and personal-item descriptions, locations where the bodies were recovered, and a contact number for tips as part of an active effort to close the cold cases.

Public Safety Local Government

Twin Cities Marathon adds heat preparations as yellow-flag alert issued

Oct 04 Dev TC 2

Twin Cities Marathon organizers and Twin Cities in Motion medical directors have issued yellow‑flag heat conditions for Saturday and Sunday but say the races are still a "full go" while adding extra preparations. Measures include 14 water stations along the courses and planning "as though they’re going to be red flag conditions," with organizers noting Saturday events finish by noon while Sunday’s marathoners are expected to finish around 2:30–3 p.m., affecting heat exposure.

Events Weather Public Safety

Forest Lake superintendent Steve Massey to retire

Oct 03 Breaking TC 1

Forest Lake Schools Superintendent Steve Massey announced plans to retire, according to a TwinCities.com article published Oct. 3, 2025. The announcement concerns leadership at the public school district serving Forest Lake in Washington County and is expected to prompt local officials and the school board to begin transition planning.

Education Local Government

Golden Valley police chief resigns after probe

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

Golden Valley announced the resignation of Police Chief Virgil Green after internal investigations concluded he released confidential body-worn camera footage from an active criminal investigation to a local news outlet and improperly attempted to interfere with an internal affairs probe. Green was placed on administrative leave in June (initially placed on leave in late May), and a city memorandum says he acknowledged the mistake; City Manager Noah Schuchman thanked assistant chiefs for interim leadership and said a search for a new chief will be announced.

Local Government Public Safety

I-35W Burnsville overnight lane closures start Oct. 6

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

MnDOT announced overnight lane reductions and targeted closures on I-35W in Burnsville beginning Monday, Oct. 6, to allow crews to stripe and deck the westbound Highway 13 bridge. Southbound I-35W will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Oct. 6–8 while northbound is reduced to one lane; then northbound will be closed nightly 9 p.m.–5 a.m. Oct. 8–10, with detours and traffic impacts between I-494 and the I-35/I-35E/I-35W split.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Prep Network lands private equity investment in Plymouth

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

Plymouth-based sports-media company Prep Network announced its first private-equity investment Oct. 3, 2025, a deal the company says will fund expansion of its sports-media operations. The business, which began as a side hustle and now employs about 60 full-time staff, intends to use the capital to scale content, technology and distribution from its Twin Cities base.

Business & Economy Technology

Driver sentenced for deadly Lyndale Avenue crash

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

Talon Covie-Cadrell Walker, 30, was sentenced Oct. 2, 2025 to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and related counts for an October 2024 DWI crash on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis that killed 26-year-old Natalie Gubbay and injured 10 others. Authorities say Walker was driving over 100 mph, over the legal alcohol limit, and an open bottle of liquor was found in his Chevy Avalanche; the collision involved seven vehicles and produced significant force that spun two cars 180 degrees.

Public Safety Legal

North Loop building lands 50,000-s.f. Stagwell lease

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

A North Loop office building in Minneapolis has signed Stagwell to a 50,000-square-foot lease, the latest major tenant commitment downtown. The property, purchased last fall by Crowe Cos., has been rebranded and is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that the owner says will reposition the asset for creative-office tenants.

Business & Economy Real Estate

St. Paul man jailed 10 years for I-94 crash

Oct 03 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after driving about 100 mph and causing a deadly crash off Interstate 94 in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities news site reported on Oct. 3, 2025. The sentencing resolves a criminal case tied to a fatal motor-vehicle collision that occurred on the I-94 corridor in Minneapolis and is being reported as a matter of public safety and legal accountability.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

Fridley man indicted in thallium poisoning death

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

Stuart Hanmer, 35, a Fridley resident, was indicted by a grand jury on a count of premeditated first-degree murder and faces an existing second-degree murder charge after his roommate Cody Ernst, 33, died of thallium poisoning. Court records say Ernst fell ill May 15, was hospitalized and died June 22; prosecutors cite internet searches and three purchases of thallium found in connection with Hanmer, and bail was raised to $5 million without conditions ($2.5 million with conditions). Hanmer remains in custody at the Stearns County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Public Safety Legal

Kaohly Her outlines St. Paul downtown plan

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

State Rep. Kaohly Her, a leading challenger to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, told FOX 9 she would prioritize improving city operations (permitting and licensing) and immediately work with partners to structure an "urban wealth fund" to finance downtown investment. Her framed the approach as combining operational reforms with an investment vehicle leveraging city assets to turn the Downtown Investment Strategy into concrete projects ahead of the Nov. 4, 2025 mayoral election.

Elections Local Government

Annunciation students' cards reach the Pope

Oct 03 Dev TC 1

Students at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis created cards and acts of service to mark the school’s feast day as part of healing after an August mass shooting that killed two students and injured nearly two dozen. Archbishop Bernard Hebda personally delivered the students' cards and a centennial button to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, and said the Pope promised prayers for the families and the Archdiocese.

Education Religion

Minnesota doctors demand assault-weapon ban

Oct 02 Dev TC 1

At a news conference at the State Capitol, physicians who treated victims of the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church mass shooting in Minneapolis urged lawmakers to call a special legislative session and enact statewide gun measures, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, mandatory locked-and-unloaded storage, and removal of the state preemption preventing local governments from adopting stricter firearm rules.

Public Safety Health Government/Regulatory

West St. Paul police add therapy dog Rocky

Oct 02 Dev TC 1

West St. Paul Police Department has adopted an abandoned eight-month-old black lab found in April at the Thompson Park pavilion and named him Rocky. Officer Isabelle Lalor is training Rocky with Soldier’s Six to serve as a therapy dog on the department’s peer-support team; training is ongoing and a K-9 foundation fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 5 in Lilydale.

Public Safety Community

ICE detains roofing crew in St. Paul

Oct 02 Breaking TC 1

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained an entire roofing crew working in St. Paul’s North End neighborhood on Thursday morning, witnesses and immigrant-advocacy groups said. Advocacy organizations and state Rep. Athena Hollins condemned the action and organized a 5:30 p.m. vigil at Marydale Park while FOX 9 has sought confirmation from DHS/ICE.

Public Safety Legal

Dunwoody College enrollment hits 17-year high

Oct 02 Dev TC 1

Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis reports enrollment reaching a 17-year high as of an Oct. 2, 2025 report, with college leaders attributing the surge to strengthened industry partnerships and demand for technical-skills programs. The growth is presented as bolstering the Twin Cities skilled-trades pipeline and meeting employer needs for machinists and other technicians.

Education Business & Economy

Driver in Andover school bus crash identified as Dustin King

Oct 02 Breaking TC 2

Authorities identified the pickup driver killed in the head-on Andover crash with a school bus as Dustin King, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. Deputies said the pickup, which was towing a trailer, crossed the center line on Roanoke Street at 175th Avenue NW (just south of the Rum River) and struck the school bus; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and two people on the bus were injured.

Public Safety Education Transit & Infrastructure

Best man arrested after Maplewood wedding shooting; stolen gun recovered

Oct 02 Breaking TC 2

Authorities say a 36-year-old wedding guest was shot in both legs during an argument at a Sept. 27 wedding in Maplewood. Ramsey County deputies arrested a 34-year-old South St. Paul man identified as the wedding's best man on Oct. 1 in St. Paul and recovered two guns — including one reportedly stolen — and he has been arrested but not yet formally charged.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota SNAP benefits increase, new monthly amounts

Oct 02 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual cost-of-living update raises maximum SNAP monthly allotments in Minnesota effective Oct. 1, 2025, with new household amounts published using the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. The change yields modest increases for most household sizes (e.g., $298 for one person, $994 for four), while the article also notes recent federal legislation that tightened SNAP work and eligibility rules and will reduce some state reimbursements.

Government/Regulatory Health

Roseville parents charged after toddler falls from balcony

Oct 02 Dev TC 1

Roseville parents Aisha Ali, 30, and Hanad Hassan Jama, 35, were charged with manslaughter after their 15-month-old daughter fell from a two-story apartment balcony on July 6, 2025, and died the following day. Police and a criminal complaint say property management warned the couple in 2024 after seeing children hanging from the balcony, and investigators found a torn screen door and a partially open sliding door at the Lexington Avenue North apartment building.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

U.S. Bank Center in St. Paul set for auction

Oct 02 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Bank Center, a 380,170-square-foot office tower in downtown St. Paul owned by Madison Equities, is going to auction with a $1 million starting bid, the BizJ reports. The building was part of a 10-building portfolio put up for sale last year and saw a major tenant contraction after U.S. Bank relinquished about 118,000 square feet last year.

Business & Economy Real Estate

Plymouth daycare teacher sentenced for abuse

Oct 02 Dev TC 1

Katie Voigt, a former teacher at Lil' Explorers Child Care Center in Plymouth, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of malicious punishment of a child after videos showed her yelling at and pushing toddlers. Hennepin County court documents filed Sept. 30, 2025 say she received stayed sentences (no jail if no further violations), must complete 10 days of community service within six months, undergo anger-awareness training and therapy, and is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults; 16 families have since hired a law firm to investigate.

Legal Education

Twin Cities suburbs face fierce apartment competition

Oct 02 TC 1

A RentCafe report cited by the Twin Cities Business Journal on Oct. 2, 2025, shows rental demand in Twin Cities suburbs has surged, with about 12 prospective renters competing for each apartment that hits the market—up from 10 a year earlier—outpacing competition in many large U.S. markets. The increase signals tightening supply and growing pressure on affordability for metro-area renters across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul suburbs.

Housing Business & Economy

Sylvan franchise owner files bankruptcy, closes multiple Twin Cities tutoring centers

Oct 02 TC 2

Paul Ripon, the franchise owner of multiple Sylvan Learning centers in the Twin Cities, filed for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and listed more than a dozen creditors after reporting debts exceeding $600,000 — including about $205,000 owed to Sylvan Corporation and an estimated $100,000 owed to individual customers. Sylvan revoked Ripon’s tutoring licenses, forcing closures of centers in Edina, Maple Grove, Roseville and Woodbury as the Minnesota school year begins; in an owner email he wrote, "There are no funds available at this moment."

Education Business & Economy

50 sticks of suspected dynamite prompt Medina evacuation

Oct 01 Breaking TC 1

A Medina resident discovered a container holding 50 sticks of suspected dynamite in an old garage on the 4600 block of Mohawk Drive just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, prompting an immediate evacuation of the immediate area. The Minneapolis bomb squad responded, removed the explosives, and police said there was no danger to the public once the scene was cleared, according to a Medina Police Department press release.

Public Safety Local Government

Weidner buys downtown Minneapolis apartments for $77M

Oct 01 Dev TC 1

Weidner Acquisitions purchased a 13-story apartment building in downtown Minneapolis for $77 million and has rebranded the property The Grand Mill District Apartments. The sale, reported Oct. 1, 2025, expands Weidner’s Twin Cities portfolio and follows the building’s recent summer listing.

Business & Economy Housing

South St. Paul council member's daycare license reinstated

Oct 01 Dev TC 1

South St. Paul City Council member Pam Bakken had her in-home daycare license conditionally reinstated after appealing the state's revocation tied to a Dec. 6, 2024 incident in which a 3-year-old tested positive for methamphetamine. Dakota County prosecutors rescinded a maltreatment determination, saying they could not prove exposure occurred at the daycare beyond a reasonable doubt, but a separate DHS order keeps the facility closed pending conditions; residents have launched a recall petition with over 2,500 signatures.

Local Government Public Safety

Omar Jamal released after settlement following ICE arrest

Oct 01 Breaking TC 2

Omar Jamal, a Somali community advocate who has served as a civilian Community Service Officer and liaison to the Somali community with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office since 2020, was arrested by ICE in Minneapolis on Aug. 29 and later released after a mutually agreed-upon settlement that resulted in a court order directing his release, prompting a lawsuit over his detention. DHS said Jamal had a final order of removal issued in 2011 and publicly listed alleged prior offenses, while Jamal’s attorney thanked the local U.S. Attorney’s Office and ICE personnel for their cooperation.

Local Government Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis man Robert Warren charged in Loring Park double homicide

Oct 01 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis man Robert Warren, 51, has been charged in the Loring Park double homicide after surveillance footage allegedly showed him ambushing two people as they exited an apartment elevator; both victims were killed and a shotgun and shells were recovered. Hennepin County prosecutors filed two counts of second-degree murder with intent and two counts of possessing a firearm after a violent-crime conviction; Warren, who has prior felony convictions for domestic assault and third-degree assault, was arrested at the scene and is scheduled for a first court appearance on Oct. 1, 2025.

Courts/Legal Legal Public Safety

Nonprofits convert former Havenbrook rentals to single-family homes

Sep 30 Dev TC 1

Nonprofits have acquired and are renovating hundreds of former Havenbrook rental properties in north Minneapolis after an Attorney General investigation and settlement over poor conditions. About 345 homes went to local nonprofits, roughly 110 have been renovated and sold to single-family buyers, and the AG secured roughly $2 million in payments plus about $2 million in rent forgiveness for affected tenants.

Housing Legal

U.S. Bank to spend $200M yearly renovating branches

Sep 30 Dev TC 1

U.S. Bancorp announced it will invest $200 million a year to renovate its retail-branch network, beginning with upgrades in five key markets and signaling a strategic reappraisal of physical locations as digital banking grows. The plan, announced Sept. 30, 2025, implicates branches in the Twin Cities—where U.S. Bank is headquartered—and could affect branch operations, customer access and local construction work.

Business & Economy Corporate

Feds uncover immigration‑fraud ring in Twin Cities

Sep 30 Breaking TC 1

Federal authorities — USCIS, ICE and the FBI — said Operation Twin Shields, conducted in the Twin Cities Sept. 19–28, flagged roughly 1,000 suspect cases involving about 900 people for sham marriages, forged documents and fake death certificates. Officials reported four arrests, 42 notices to appear in immigration court, and highlighted abuses tied to Uniting for Ukraine sponsorships and a fake Kenyan death certificate used to allege a spouse was deceased.

Legal Public Safety

New Brighton man charged in Frogtown fatal shooting

Sep 30 Breaking TC 1

TwinCities.com reports that a man from New Brighton was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal shooting in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul. The arrest and charges were reported Sept. 30, 2025; police say the incident involved a deadly shooting in the neighborhood and authorities have moved to file criminal charges against the suspect.

Public Safety Legal

DOJ sues Minnesota, Minneapolis over 'sanctuary' policies

Sep 30 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Sept. 29, 2025, against Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt, alleging policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement. DOJ, citing a DHS directive, claims local noncooperation results in the release of removable offenders; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vowed to fight the lawsuit, calling it politically motivated.

Legal Local Government

MnDOT holds first-ever statewide safety stand-down Sept. 29 after two Twin Cities work-zone deaths

Sep 30 Dev TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will hold its first-ever statewide safety stand-down on Sept. 29, pausing projects and requiring all employees to reflect and recommit to work-zone safety in honor of two contractors killed in Twin Cities work zones last week. One worker was struck by a construction vehicle with a boom on I-35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24 and another by a dump truck on Hwy. 610 in Maple Grove on Sept. 26; MnDOT says it is coordinating with the State Patrol and Minnesota OSHA on investigations, noting the deaths are Minnesota’s fifth and sixth construction-related fatalities this year.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Nilfisk closing Brooklyn Park plant; 105 layoffs

Sep 29 Breaking TC 1

Nilfisk, a professional cleaning equipment manufacturer, will close its plant in Brooklyn Park, cutting 105 jobs. The shutdown affects Hennepin County workers in the Twin Cities metro; the company confirmed the closure and workforce reductions.

Business & Economy

Driver charged in Maplewood fatal hit-and-run; intoxication alleged

Sep 29 Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County prosecutors have charged a driver in a Maplewood fatal hit-and-run that killed a 31-year-old man around 4:30 a.m. on the 2300 block of Maryland Avenue East; the complaint alleges the driver was intoxicated, fled the scene, and then drove roughly two hours to work. Police say a witness saw a large conversion van with a ladder rack near the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators obtained suspected vehicle information and surveillance video, with the Minnesota State Patrol assisting.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis man admits twice trying to join ISIS

Sep 29 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis resident pleaded guilty in Minnesota court to twice trying to join the Islamic State group, concluding the guilt phase of a terrorism-related case tied to the Twin Cities. The plea was entered in Minneapolis, with sentencing to follow.

Legal Public Safety

Normandale 8500 Tower sells at steep discount

Sep 29 TC 1

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that the 8500 Tower at Normandale Lake Office Park in Bloomington has been sold at a price nearly 94% below what the lender paid when it took the property at a 2024 foreclosure auction. The Sept. 29 report cites industry experts on factors contributing to the lower price, highlighting ongoing stress in the Twin Cities office market.

Business & Economy

Trump imposes 100% tariffs on foreign films

Sep 29 Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump announced Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, that the U.S. will levy 100% tariffs on foreign-made films, a nationwide move that could affect how imported movies are distributed and priced in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The White House framed the measure as part of its broader tariff policy; implementation details were not immediately available.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Spirit Airlines to exit MSP in December

Sep 29 Breaking TC 2

Spirit Airlines will end all flights and service at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, exiting the market in December. The move follows the carrier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year and comes after it had already scaled back most of its MSP flights.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Woman killed as car hits St. Paul yard

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a vehicle left the roadway around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and crashed into a backyard along Stinson Street near Oxford Street North, striking and killing a 36-year-old woman. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating; the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Public Safety Transportation

Pedestrian killed by car and bus in Minneapolis

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man died after being struck by a white sedan and a bus while crossing mid-block near Franklin Avenue East and Cedar Avenue South just after 3 p.m. Saturday. Both drivers remained at the scene and are cooperating; no arrests or citations have been issued. The victim’s identity and official cause of death have not yet been released.

Public Safety

Bicyclist seriously injured in Stillwater Township crash

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

A bicyclist was struck and seriously injured in a crash in Stillwater Township on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, according to a Pioneer Press report. The incident occurred in Washington County within the Twin Cities metro; authorities are investigating and additional details were not immediately released.

Public Safety

Pedestrian killed in St. Paul Maryland Avenue crash

Sep 27 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a male pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle near Maryland Avenue and Clarence Street around 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. The driver, who reported traveling westbound on Maryland and not seeing the victim, showed no signs of impairment, is cooperating with investigators, and has not been arrested as the investigation continues.

Public Safety

Three wounded in downtown Minneapolis shooting

Sep 27 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say three men were shot just after 6:30 p.m. Friday on the 700 block of Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, and all are expected to survive. The shooter fled before officers arrived, and no arrests have been announced as MPD investigates.

Public Safety

MSP Airport $600M renovation nears completion

Sep 27 Dev TC 1

A Sept. 27 report says a $600 million renovation program at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is nearing completion. The multi‑year capital project, overseen by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, modernizes facilities at the region’s primary airport and is entering its final phase.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Essentia leaves UMN–Fairview health talks

Sep 26 Dev TC 1

Essentia Health said Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, it has exited negotiations with the University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services over an 'All‑Minnesota' health solution intended to reshape the state’s academic health system. The move forces UMN and Fairview—operators of major Twin Cities hospitals and clinics—to reassess next steps for a Minnesota‑based model and the future governance of university‑affiliated facilities.

Health Business & Economy

Frey, Fateh clash in first Minneapolis debate

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

On Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, the Citizens League hosted the first Minneapolis mayoral debate at Westminster Presbyterian, featuring Mayor Jacob Frey, Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. Dewayne Davis, Jazz Hampton, and Brenda Short. The 82‑minute forum highlighted divisions on encampment clearances and public safety response models, with only Fateh backing rent control; candidates also agreed against using more city funds to keep the Timberwolves/Lynx. Early voting is already open, and another debate is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Elections Local Government

Woman dies after Lake Street encampment shooting; victim identified

Sep 26 Dev TC 7

A woman shot during a Sept. 15 mass shooting at a homeless encampment near E. Lake St. and 28th Ave. S. in Minneapolis died Sept. 18; police identified her as 30-year-old Jacinda Oakgrove, while several others were wounded and tents caught fire during the gunfight. Investigators say the violence stemmed from a drug-territory dispute; Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Trivon D. Leonard Jr., 31, of Illinois, with first-degree riot resulting in death and illegal gun possession after he admitted firing before his gun jammed. The city has increased patrols and erected fencing along the corridor, and MPD is examining whether this shooting is connected to another Lake Street shooting earlier that day.

Legal Local Government Housing

Minnetonka ex-CBP agent pleads to child porn

Sep 26 Dev TC 1

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent from Minnetonka admitted in court to possessing child pornography, according to the Star Tribune. The plea resolves the guilt phase of the case, with sentencing to be scheduled by the court.

Legal Public Safety

Man arrested in Missouri after Waite Park Elementary threat; MPD used license plate reader

Sep 26 Breaking TC 2

A man who allegedly called in a threat to “shoot anything that moves” with an AR-15 at Minneapolis’ Waite Park Elementary just before 11 a.m. on Sept. 25—prompting a lockdown—was tracked using a license plate reader and arrested in Missouri with assistance from the ATF and local police. Investigators say he lived about two miles from the school and had ties to two people there; he was booked into the Jackson County Jail and could face a terroristic threats charge as the investigation continues.

Legal Public Safety Education

Minneapolis gang member pleads to federal fraud

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

A member of the Minneapolis 'Lows' gang pleaded guilty in federal court to a fraud scheme that used money mules to steal about $220,000, according to federal prosecutors and court filings. The plea resolves part of a case tied to organized criminal activity in Minneapolis and details how proceeds were moved through recruited intermediaries.

Legal Public Safety

Second Twin Cities work-zone death in two days

Sep 26 Dev TC 1

A second highway construction-zone worker has been killed in the Twin Cities on successive days, the Star Tribune reports, one day after a worker died on I-35W in Burnsville. Authorities are investigating both crashes amid renewed concerns about driver behavior and safety in active work zones across the metro.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul opens $250M McCarrons water plant

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Regional Water Services opened its new $250 million McCarrons water treatment plant on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, upgrading core drinking water infrastructure for St. Paul and nearby suburbs. The facility’s commissioning marks a major capital project for the utility intended to enhance service reliability and capacity for metro customers.

Utilities Transit & Infrastructure

Wild owner vows team will stay in St. Paul

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, that the NHL franchise will remain in St. Paul, affirming the team’s long‑term home at Xcel Energy Center. The pledge, reported by the Pioneer Press, addresses questions about the club’s future location and signals continued commitment to downtown St. Paul.

Business & Economy Local Government

Westbound I-94 closed I-35E to John Ireland Sept. 26–29; MnDOT detours set

Sep 26 Breaking TC 2

Westbound I-94 will be closed in downtown St. Paul between southbound I-35E and John Ireland Blvd. from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, through Monday, Sept. 29, as part of a MnDOT project to repair nine bridges on I-94 and I-35E. Detours include routing northbound I-35E traffic to westbound Hwy 36 and southbound Hwy 280, and sending southbound I-35E drivers via eastbound I-94 to southbound Hwy 52 to I-494; additional weekend closures and John Ireland Blvd. bridge work in October mean drivers should expect delays.

Traffic Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Inver Grove Heights man sentenced to 20 years

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

An Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for coercing and manipulating girls to send nude photos, the Pioneer Press reported Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The case stems from conduct involving minors and concludes with a lengthy prison term for the Twin Cities resident.

Legal Public Safety

Trump imposes tariffs on cabinets, furniture, trucks

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump announced new import taxes on kitchen cabinets, furniture, and heavy trucks that will take effect starting next week. The nationwide tariffs, announced Sept. 25, 2025, are poised to impact Twin Cities consumers, retailers, home contractors, and trucking-related businesses as prices and sourcing adjust.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Judge rules DJ stalker not guilty by mental illness

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

A Twin Cities judge found that a person who stalked a DJ at The Current violated a restraining order but entered a verdict of not guilty due to mental illness on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The ruling acknowledges the conduct occurred while concluding the defendant is not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Legal Public Safety

1.2M Oster French-door ovens recalled nationwide

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of more than 1.2 million Oster French‑door countertop ovens on Sept. 25, 2025, due to a safety hazard. The recall applies nationwide, including the Twin Cities; consumers are advised to stop using the product and follow recall instructions for a remedy from Oster/Sunbeam.

Public Safety Health

I-94 eastbound closed at Hwy 610 in Maple Grove

Sep 25 Dev TC 1

MnDOT says eastbound I-94 at Minnesota 610 in Maple Grove is closed Thursday afternoon due to a traffic incident, with reopening estimated around 6 p.m. A separate crash on westbound MN 610 between Fernbrook Lane N and Maple Grove Parkway is contributing to major backups amid ongoing construction lane closures.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

89-year-old dies in Oak Park Heights crash

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

An 89-year-old man from New Richmond, Wisconsin died in a vehicle crash in Oak Park Heights in Washington County, according to authorities. The fatal collision occurred in the east Twin Cities metro and remains under investigation; officials did not immediately release additional details on circumstances or other injuries.

Public Safety

Minneapolis Fed orders full-time office return

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, one of downtown Minneapolis’ largest employers, has mandated a full-time return to the office, reversing hybrid or remote arrangements. The policy goes further than other large organizations that have recently tightened remote-work rules, signaling a notable shift for the downtown workforce.

Business & Economy Local Government Technology

Texas brothers hit with federal kidnapping charges in Grant crypto case; feds value theft at $8M

Sep 25 Breaking TC 3

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed federal kidnapping charges against Texas brothers Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, in a Sept. 19 Grant, Minnesota, home invasion, valuing the stolen cryptocurrency at $8 million—far above the $72,000 cited in county filings. Authorities say the men bound a family with zip ties, used an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun, and forced transfers at the Grant home and a Jacobson cabin before their arrests in Texas; they face the federal counts in addition to state charges of kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and first-degree aggravated robbery, with a first federal court appearance set for Thursday.

Legal Public Safety

Amazon settles FTC Prime case for $2.5B, averting jury trial

Sep 25 Dev TC 2

Amazon agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit alleging it used deceptive tactics to enroll customers in Prime and made cancellation onerous. The deal resolves a case that a judge had ruled would go before a jury, averting a federal jury trial.

Legal Business & Economy Technology

Fateh campaign reports vandalism, hate message

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral campaign says it found a message outside its office reading 'Somali Muslim — this is no joke' and filed a police report on Wednesday. The campaign called it the latest hate incident and said it will not be deterred, as Fateh challenges incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in November.

Elections Public Safety

Xcel settles Marshall Fire suits for $640M

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy agreed to a $640 million settlement on Sept. 25, 2025, resolving litigation alleging the utility sparked the Denver-area’s devastating Marshall Fire, reached on the eve of a jury trial. The settlement is a significant financial development for the primary electric utility serving the Twin Cities and could influence regulatory and rate considerations.

Utilities Legal

St. Paul rejects 28.5% Ashland rent hikes

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

The St. Paul City Council voted 4-3 on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, to reject proposed 28.5% rent increases for properties on Ashland Avenue under the city’s rent stabilization framework. The decision directly affects tenants at the Ashland Avenue addresses and reflects the council’s oversight of large rent-hike requests.

Housing Local Government

Minnesota Supreme Court expands eviction protections

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

On Sept. 24, 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a ruling that expands eviction protections for renters who use housing vouchers or other rental subsidies, setting binding precedent for courts statewide, including Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The decision clarifies how judges must treat third‑party rental assistance in nonpayment and related eviction proceedings, directly affecting landlords and tenants across the Twin Cities.

Housing Legal

Legislative auditor urges stronger anti-fraud controls

Sep 25 TC 1

Minnesota Legislative Auditor Judy Randall said her office is coordinating with the BCA’s new financial crimes unit and stressed the state must tighten and enforce existing internal controls to stop fraud, in an interview following new federal charges in state-funded programs. DHS said it designated the autism program “high risk” in May, enhanced provider screening, imposed stricter billing, and is moving faster to halt payments when fraud is suspected, with expanded data analytics outlined to lawmakers this month.

Local Government Legal Health

Edina’s Mark Erjavec indicted in $975K COVID-relief fraud

Sep 25 Breaking TC 2

Mark Erjavec, 49, of Edina, has been indicted in Minnesota on five counts of wire fraud for an alleged $975,000 scheme targeting COVID-19 relief programs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say he reactivated dormant business entities dissolved between 2008 and 2013, opened new bank accounts, and submitted false EIDL and PPP applications with nonexistent employees and inflated revenues; he has appeared in federal court.

Business & Economy Legal

First charge in MN autism program fraud

Sep 24 Breaking TC 2

Federal prosecutors charged Asha Farhan Hassan, 28, with wire fraud, alleging she used Smart Therapy LLC/Smart Therapy Centers to obtain more than $14 million from Minnesota’s EIDBI program via DHS and UCare by paying parents $300–$1,500 a month and hiring unqualified teen relatives, while also claiming to feed up to 1,200 children a day under Feeding Our Future and seeking nearly $500,000 in reimbursements. Authorities say funds were moved overseas, including for property in Kenya; the FBI previously raided autism centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, and Hassan is the 76th defendant tied to the broader Feeding Our Future case but the first charged in the autism-center probe. Her attorney says she plans to plead guilty within weeks and is cooperating to some degree, as investigators estimate related fraud totals approaching $300 million; the defense called it a “perfect storm” amid recent state funding changes.

Legal Health

MyPillow to sell Chaska HQ, shift offices

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

MyPillow has put its Chaska headquarters up for sale and will relocate office functions to Shakopee, according to a Star Tribune report. The move consolidates operations within the Twin Cities metro across Carver and Scott counties; details on timing and employment impacts were not immediately disclosed.

Business & Economy Housing

Lake Street restaurant owner gets 8-month sentence

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

The owner of a Lake Street restaurant in Minneapolis was sentenced to eight months in an immigration-related case, following an earlier federal raid at the business. The federal sentencing closes a local investigation tied to immigration violations at the establishment, according to the Star Tribune.

Legal Public Safety

Charges filed in U of M Rapson Hall gunfire

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged 18-year-old Anas Mursal Mohamed after two shots were fired outside the University of Minnesota’s Rapson Hall around 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 18, causing panic and the evacuation of hundreds with no injuries. A criminal complaint cites surveillance video showing Mohamed firing twice, 10mm casings at the scene, recovery of a discarded hoodie and a 10mm Glock near the area, and his arrest the next day during a traffic stop where a loaded 9mm was found under the driver’s seat.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota Supreme Court censures, suspends Anoka County judge for misconduct

Sep 24 Breaking TC 2

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Sept. 23, 2025, publicly censured and suspended an Anoka County District Court judge for nine months following a misconduct case brought by the Board on Judicial Standards. The high court’s order cites key findings from the board’s investigation, according to the Star Tribune.

Local Government Legal

Oppidan sells Pillars of Prospect Park for $140M

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

Oppidan sold the Pillars of Prospect Park senior living community near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to Ventas for $140 million, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on Sept. 23, 2025. The deal is described as one of the Twin Cities’ largest real estate transactions of the year, with the property’s unique features and partnerships cited as drivers of the price.

Business & Economy Housing

Construction worker killed on I-35W in Burnsville

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

A construction worker was fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24, 2025, authorities said. The incident occurred within a work zone on the core Twin Cities freeway and remains under investigation.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Mahtomedi homecoming canceled amid manhunt for Grant kidnapping suspects

Sep 24 Breaking TC 3

Mahtomedi High School canceled its homecoming football game on the advice of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office due to ongoing law enforcement activity near campus, with electronic ticket purchases to be refunded. The cancellation coincided with a shelter-in-place as authorities searched for Texas brothers Raymond and Isiah Garcia, who are charged in Washington County in a Grant home-invasion kidnapping and robbery involving armed suspects, a hostage, and the forced transfer of more than $72,000 in cryptocurrency.

Public Safety Education

I-94 St. Croix bridge work starts Monday

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

Bridge work on Interstate 94 over the St. Croix River at the Minnesota–Wisconsin border will begin Monday, affecting traffic between Washington County and Hudson. The project is slated to create travel impacts at the busy Twin Cities–to–Wisconsin crossing; drivers should plan for delays and possible changes to traffic patterns.

Transit & Infrastructure

Robbinsdale schools weigh mergers, closures amid $21M deficit

Sep 24 Dev TC 1

Robbinsdale Area Schools said at a Tuesday night board meeting it faces a $21 million budget shortfall and is considering merging Cooper and Armstrong high schools, closing several middle and elementary schools, and seeking a voter-approved bond to build a new high school. The district, now in statutory operating debt, must submit a board‑approved plan to the Minnesota Department of Education by Jan. 31, 2026. Leaders cited declining enrollment, rising costs, and a $20 million compensatory funding double‑count as drivers of the crisis, with closures projected to save $500,000 to over $1 million per building.

Education Local Government

Minneapolis to nominate three Black heritage sites

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

The City of Minneapolis says it will nominate the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in North Minneapolis, and the former home of Harry Davis Sr. in South Minneapolis to the National Register of Historic Places. The effort, part of a city initiative begun in 2019 to document Black history, could open access to preservation grants and tax credits, with decisions expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

Local Government Housing

Arrest made in Aug. 26 Minneapolis mass shooting

Sep 24 Dev TC 1

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Tuesday that officers arrested 24-year-old Trayveion Alvin Green on a murder warrant in the Aug. 26 mass shooting near Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and a nearby encampment. Green is the third suspect charged, following Ryan Timothy Quinn and Tiffany Lynn Marie Martindale; the shooting involved a .223 rifle and left seven people shot, including one man who died.

Public Safety Legal

Washington County sets 2026 levy cap at 6.95%

Sep 23 Breaking TC 1

The Washington County Board on Sept. 23, 2025, approved a preliminary 2026 property tax levy allowing an increase of up to 6.95%. The preliminary action sets the maximum levy that can be reduced before final adoption later this year, affecting homeowners and businesses countywide in the east Twin Cities metro.

Local Government Business & Economy

Nicole Mitchell sentencing set Tuesday; defense seeks misdemeanor downgrade and Ramsey County confinement

Sep 23 Dev TC 2

Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Becker County (Detroit Lakes) for Nicole Mitchell, a Minnesota state senator representing Woodbury, following her July 2025 jury convictions for first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. Her defense is asking the court to reduce the felony convictions to misdemeanors, to allow any sentence—minimum six months in jail or workhouse—to be served in Ramsey County rather than Becker County, and is disputing $23,585 in restitution sought by prosecutors.

Elections Local Government Legal

Dense fog advisory for Twin Cities

Sep 23 Breaking TC 1

A dense fog advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, for eastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with conditions expected to brighten by late morning. Highs around 70°F are forecast in the metro with light northeast winds; more morning fog is possible Wednesday, followed by a warm-up into the upper 70s and low 80s later this week.

Weather

Tad Jude announces secretary of state bid

Sep 23 Breaking TC 1

Tad Jude announced he is running for Minnesota secretary of state, emphasizing a platform of transparency in election administration. The statewide office oversees elections that include Minneapolis–Saint Paul, making the campaign relevant to metro voters as the 2026 race takes shape.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul driver gets workhouse in fatal crash

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

A driver who was traveling 77 mph on a St. Paul city street when he fatally struck a pedestrian was sentenced to serve time in a workhouse on Sept. 22, 2025. The case concludes with a non‑prison sentence following the deadly collision on a St. Paul roadway.

Legal Public Safety

Arden Hills considers allowing backyard ducks

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

The Arden Hills City Council will take public comment Monday on proposed changes to its backyard poultry ordinance that would allow residents to keep ducks and loosen chicken rules. The proposal would raise the chicken limit from three to seven, permit larger coops, allow fenced-yard roaming, and enable coops in detached garages; a staff memo notes six metro cities already allow ducks and the Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0.

Local Government Environment

Blue Line shuts 10 p.m. Sept. 22–Oct. 4; buses replace trains

Sep 22 Breaking TC 3

Metro Transit will shut the Blue Line light rail for 12 days starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, through Saturday, Oct. 4, with replacement buses running and trips expected to take longer. The closure launches phase one of the agency’s multi-year Renew the Blue project, replacing track along the entire corridor and several switches near Cedar-Riverside; trains resume at 7 a.m. Oct. 4, running every 12 minutes. A second phase is planned for June 2026 with a 45-day full-line closure; the Blue Line carries more than 17,000 rides per day.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

St. Paul restores library, rec center internet

Sep 22 Dev TC 2

St. Paul has restored public internet access at its libraries and recreation centers after a cyberattack disrupted services, officials announced Sept. 18, 2025. Mayor Melvin Carter said the city did not pay a ransom in the summer ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost well over $1 million, with teams working around the clock to back up data and restore services.

Local Government Technology

St. Paul cyberattack cost tops $1M; no ransom

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in a Sept. 22 FOX 9 interview that the city did not pay a ransom after this summer’s ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost 'well over $1 million.' He added teams worked around the clock to back up data and restore services as systems came back online.

Technology Local Government

St. Paul man sentenced in White Bear shootout

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

A St. Paul man was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2025, for his role in a 2023 shootout at Doc's Landing bar in White Bear Lake. The case stems from gunfire inside or near the bar that year and concludes with a district court sentence handed down in the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

Court: Bus stop arms must be fully extended

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned a driver’s school‑bus stop‑arm conviction and ruled that motorists are required to stop only when the bus’s stop sign/arm is fully extended. Issued this week, the decision clarifies statewide enforcement and applies to drivers, police, and school transportation across the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

Man killed in shooting near Peavey Field Park

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was shot just before midnight Saturday near Chicago Avenue and E. Franklin Avenue by Peavey Field Park in the Ventura Village neighborhood and later died at the hospital. MPD says an altercation preceded the gunfire, a possible suspect ran from the scene, and no arrests have been made; Chief Brian O’Hara is asking anyone with information to contact police or CrimeStoppers.

Public Safety

Maplewood rollover kills baby; driver arrested

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

A black Chevy Tahoe rolled off the eastbound Hwy 36 to southbound Hwy 61 exit ramp in Maplewood around 6:25 p.m., landing upside down in 1–2 feet of water, the Minnesota State Patrol said. One-year-old Revon Melvin Anthony Todd was extricated and later died; two boys, ages 5 and 6, and a 32-year-old man were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Driver Rachale Francine Peloquin, 28, of St. Paul, was arrested after medical clearance, suspected of alcohol use, and booked into Ramsey County Jail on criminal vehicular homicide.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis opens shooting assistance center

Sep 20 Dev TC 1

The City of Minneapolis has opened an assistance center to support people affected by recent shootings in the city, providing a centralized place to access victim services and other resources. The move follows multiple high-profile shootings and is intended to streamline help for victims, families, and impacted community members.

Public Safety Local Government

Man dies after Lake Street transit station shooting; victim identified as Adam Peterson

Sep 20 Breaking TC 4

Five people were shot near the Midtown Greenway by Lake Street and Stevens Avenue, steps from the transit station, shortly after 11 a.m. on Sept. 15; one victim, 46-year-old Adam John Peterson, died at the hospital Saturday. Investigators say shots were fired near the Greenway and on a walkway by the I-35W exit ramp, with victims found at multiple nearby locations; no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Police Chief Brian O’Hara has linked the violence to nearby encampment activity and signaled increased enforcement.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Minnesota OKs campaign funds for candidate security

Sep 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has ruled that campaign funds may be used for candidate security, including threat assessments and on‑site event protection, following a request from the Minnesota DFL Party. The decision applies statewide to candidates of any party, enabling security expenses during the 2025–2026 campaign cycle across the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul's West 7th Street reopens after sinkhole

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

The City of St. Paul reopened West 7th Street on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, after a sinkhole forced a four-month closure. The restoration of the major corridor resumes normal traffic flow along a key route connecting downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Hennepin County halts charges from minor stops

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced her office will no longer charge cases arising from low-level traffic stops — such as equipment or registration violations — across Minneapolis and its suburbs. The policy, which effectively limits felony prosecutions stemming from these stops, drew swift criticism from multiple police officials, who warned it could hinder prosecutions and harm public safety.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Metro Transit boosts service for Farm Aid 40

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Metro Transit says it will increase service to accommodate the all-day Farm Aid 40 concert at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, adding capacity and extra trips to handle large crowds before and after the event. The agency is directing concertgoers to use transit for access to the stadium area given expected heavy traffic and limited parking.

Transit & Infrastructure

Trump seeks Supreme Court rollback of Venezuelan protections

Sep 19 Dev TC 1

The Trump administration on Sept. 19, 2025, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to remove legal protections from Venezuelan migrants, a nationwide change that would affect those living and working in the Twin Cities. The filing seeks high‑court intervention to alter current immigration protections for Venezuelan nationals.

Legal Government

BB guns found at St. Paul school

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say preteen boys brought BB guns to Creative Arts Secondary School in St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Police responded and the BB guns were found on campus; the incident involves juveniles and is under investigation.

Public Safety Education

Hennepin County charges Mora man for email threats

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County charged John Allen Sandeen Jr., 64, of Mora with four counts of terroristic threats for emails sent Sept. 13–16 that threatened a Maple Grove church music director and another person, referencing retaliation for the killing of Charlie Kirk. Maple Grove police took the report on Sept. 15; Sandeen is in Ramsey County custody on a related matter, and a Hennepin County arrest warrant is active. County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the threats “chilling” and vowed to pursue accountability.

Public Safety Legal

Columbia Heights man Abdullahe Nur Jesow pleads guilty in Feeding Our Future scheme tied to S&S Catering

Sep 19 Dev TC 2

Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, of Columbia Heights, pleaded guilty in federal court in Minnesota to money laundering in the Feeding Our Future fraud case, becoming the 56th defendant to do so. Prosecutors say he was linked to the S&S Catering group that stole and laundered $17.4 million, operating the Academy For Youth Excellence site that claimed more than 1.7 million meals from Dec. 2020 to Sept. 2021, resulting in $4,286,088 in inflated reimbursements, of which he kept about 5% and returned most via cash or checks to launder proceeds. He had been set for trial Oct. 14; sentencing will be scheduled later.

Legal Public Safety

Second defendant gets 12½ years in South St. Paul killing

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

On Sept. 18, 2025, a second defendant was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a South St. Paul father during a marijuana robbery. The accomplice received nearly the same prison term as the shooter, indicating little disparity between the codefendants.

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota free school meals hit 302M total

Sep 19 TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota’s Universal Free School Meals program served 151 million meals in its second year, bringing the total to more than 302 million since the program launched in 2023. The statewide program provides free breakfast and lunch to all K–12 students regardless of income, with the governor’s office estimating about $1,000 in annual savings per student; a State Fair House poll found most respondents opposed an income cap. Parents interviewed praised access while noting some portion-size concerns requiring paid seconds.

Education Local Government

Minneapolis hires firm for neighbor shooting audit

Sep 19 Dev TC 1

The City of Minneapolis says it has contracted an independent law firm to assist with an audit related to the shooting of Davis Moturi by his neighbor, John Sawchak, and anticipates releasing findings in February 2026. Moturi, who was shot in the neck while trimming a tree and says MPD took five days to arrest Sawchak, continues to seek accountability as Chief Brian O’Hara has previously said the department failed him.

Public Safety Local Government

Minnesota adds 5,900 jobs in August

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s August 2025 jobs report shows a net gain of 5,900 jobs while the statewide unemployment rate ticked up to 3.6%, according to data released Sept. 18. The update, from the state’s employment agency, reflects current labor-market conditions that directly affect Twin Cities workers and employers.

Business & Economy

Toyota, Hyundai recall 1.1M vehicles for defects

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

On September 18, 2025, Toyota and Hyundai announced nationwide vehicle recalls totaling more than 1.1 million vehicles to address seat belt and panel display problems. The recalls affect owners in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro due to their national scope and will require affected vehicles to be serviced to remedy the defects.

Public Safety Business & Economy

FTC sues Ticketmaster over pricing practices

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit on Sept. 18, 2025, against Ticketmaster/Live Nation, alleging practices that force fans to pay more for concerts and events. The case seeks to curb alleged anticompetitive or unfair methods that raise ticket costs nationwide, which could affect Twin Cities consumers who buy tickets for metro venues.

Legal Business & Economy

Duluth man charged in Mariucci upskirt case; 144 victims, CSAM alleged

Sep 18 Breaking TC 2

A Duluth man, Benjamin Thomas Goldsmith, 32, has been charged in Hennepin County via warrant with three counts of possessing pornographic work and three counts of interfering with privacy after prosecutors say he filmed under the skirts of high school graduates at Minneapolis’ Mariucci Arena on June 1–2, 2024. Authorities say there are 144 alleged victims; witnesses reported Goldsmith for avoiding metal detectors, leading to his arrest and the discovery of a concealed camera, and a vehicle search turned up a hard drive with 151 child sexual abuse material images and videos. Investigators also found programs from other graduations and are examining whether additional victims or locations are involved; the criminal complaint was filed Sept. 16, 2025.

Legal Education Public Safety

Bluestem to close Eden Prairie HQ; 103 layoffs

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Eden Prairie–based Bluestem Brands is closing its headquarters and laying off 103 employees, including its CEO, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on Sept. 18, 2025. The move follows prior layoffs and two bankruptcy filings; the company’s online shops reportedly have only a few items remaining.

Business & Economy Employment

Carver man indicted on 16 animal-crushing counts

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged Bryan Wesley Edison, 32, of Carver, with 16 counts of animal crushing for allegedly creating nearly 350 pay-per-view YouTube videos showing animals being tortured and killed since 2022. The DOJ says YouTube has removed the accounts; Edison made his initial appearance Wednesday and remains jailed in Sherburne County. Prosecutors cited the 2019 federal PACT Act expansion in announcing the case.

Legal Public Safety

Mahtomedi crash driver sentenced for killing two classmates

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

A driver who killed two Mahtomedi classmates in a crash was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in the Twin Cities metro. Families addressed the court during sentencing and expressed grace toward the driver, according to the report.

Legal Public Safety

Pentair acquires Hydra-Stop from Madison Industries

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Twin Cities–based Pentair announced on Sept. 18, 2025, that it acquired Illinois-based Hydra-Stop from Madison Industries. Pentair says the acquired business is expected to generate about $50 million in 2025 revenue with roughly a 30% return on sales, signaling strategic expansion of its water-related offerings.

Business & Economy Utilities

Man pleads guilty in Twin Cities mosque arsons

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

Jackie Rahm Little pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Sept. 17, 2025, to federal charges for setting fires at two Minneapolis mosques in April 2023, which prosecutors said were driven by anger toward Muslims. The incidents at Masjid Al Rahma (Mercy Islamic Center) and Masjid Omar Islamic Center forced evacuations but caused no reported injuries; sentencing will be scheduled.

Legal Public Safety

DPS, State Patrol join MPD patrols after shootings

Sep 17 Dev TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will partner with the Minneapolis Police Department under a Joint Powers Agreement to boost patrols, with Minnesota State Patrol troopers assigned to the Lake Street corridor following two mass shootings on Monday. MPD has further increased its own presence, and the city has erected fencing and barriers along parts of Lake Street to control access, measures officials say aim to deter further violence and stabilize the area. DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson announced the deployment, while MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the BCA are assisting and the National Guard is not currently needed.

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul budget leaves 16 police vacancies

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

The Pioneer Press reports that under Mayor Melvin Carter’s proposed city budget, 16 vacant St. Paul Police Department positions would remain unfilled as part of the spending plan outlined Wednesday in St. Paul. The move affects police staffing levels and is part of the administration’s budgeting decisions for the upcoming year.

Local Government Public Safety

East Ridge High placed on lockdown

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on lockdown Wednesday following a report of a weapon. Authorities responded to the campus as the situation was assessed; the school and district communicated the lockdown to families.

Public Safety Education

Amazon invests $1B to raise pay, cut health costs

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

Amazon announced on Sept. 17, 2025, that it will spend $1 billion to increase pay and lower health care costs for U.S. employees, a change that applies to workers nationwide, including those in the Twin Cities metro. The company said the investment is aimed at boosting compensation and reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Business & Economy Health

Illume Candles closing Maple Grove HQ, cutting 132 jobs

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

Illume Candles will close its Maple Grove headquarters and manufacturing operations and lay off 132 workers, according to a Star Tribune report. The move affects employees at the Hennepin County facility and removes a local manufacturing and office footprint in the Twin Cities suburb.

Business & Economy

UMN ends ICE contract, closes range access

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

The University of Minnesota has ended its contract allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use the campus shooting range and will no longer permit outside law enforcement agencies to train there, the university said. The change affects metro-area agencies that previously used the facility and limits access to university purposes.

Education Public Safety

DFL Sen. Ann Rest to retire after 40 years

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

DFL state Sen. Ann Rest, a longtime legislator representing a northwest Hennepin County district in the Twin Cities metro, announced her retirement after 40 years in office, according to the Star Tribune on Sept. 17, 2025. Her departure will open a metro Senate seat and marks the end of one of the longest tenures in the Minnesota Legislature.

Elections Local Government

Falcon Heights debates Les Bolstad redevelopment

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

Falcon Heights and University of Minnesota officials drew a large crowd Tuesday night to discuss the future of the 141-acre Les Bolstad Golf Course, which the university plans to close for financial reasons. The city presented mixed-use concepts including affordable housing, green space, and small-scale retail, citing a study that the site could support 1,500–2,000 homes; the Planning Commission is set to vote next Tuesday on a community feedback report to guide next steps with the university and developers.

Housing Local Government

Xp Lee wins Minnesota House District 34B special election

Sep 17 Dev TC 2

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, voters in Minnesota House District 34B—which includes parts of Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, and Champlin in Anoka and Hennepin counties—held a special election to fill the seat vacated after Rep. Melissa Hortman’s killing in June, for which a suspect has been indicted. DFL nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican Ruth Bittner with 60.82% (4,331 votes) to 39.11% (2,785), according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s unofficial results; the district had 26,596 registered voters at 7 a.m. on Election Day, and results will be certified later. Lee thanked supporters and pledged to honor Hortman’s legacy, as party leaders praised the win.

Local Government Elections

Gov. Tim Walz launches third-term campaign

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, 2025, that he will seek a third term, releasing a campaign video stating he’s "always tried to do what's right for Minnesota." The bid sets up a 2026 race in which Republicans including Dr. Scott Jensen, Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Kendall Qualls are competing for their party’s nomination; no Minnesota governor has won three consecutive four-year terms since the state adopted four-year terms in 1958.

Elections Local Government

First metro recreational cannabis shops open

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

Recreational cannabis sales began Tuesday at Green Goods locations statewide, including five shops in the Twin Cities, while RISE is opening five recreational dispensaries with 8 a.m. ribbon cuttings, three of them in the metro. Legacy Cannabis in Duluth is set to open at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday with flower grown by the White Earth Nation, after a tribal compact and new state licenses eased supply constraints that had delayed non-tribal openings.

Business & Economy Legal

GOP seeks Annunciation shooter toxicology

Sep 16 Dev TC 1

Minnesota Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Steve Drazkowski sent a letter to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension requesting the Annunciation Church shooter's complete autopsy and toxicology reports and asking for an expanded screen for antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, cannabinoids, psychoactive substances, and gender‑transition medications. The request follows the Aug. 27 Minneapolis mass shooting during morning Mass that killed two children and injured 21 before the gunman died by suicide.

Public Safety Local Government

Urban farm group misses Roof Depot deadline

Sep 16 Dev TC 1

Urban farm activists seeking to buy Minneapolis’ Roof Depot industrial site in the East Phillips neighborhood missed a city-imposed deadline to complete the purchase. The lapse puts the future of the long-disputed site back in the City of Minneapolis’ hands as officials determine next steps for the property.

Local Government Housing Environment

Minneapolis man sues Met Council over LRT access

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis resident filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council, alleging Metro Transit light-rail stations have accessibility barriers that impede access for people with disabilities. The case targets station conditions on the Twin Cities LRT system; details on the specific stations and court venue were not immediately available.

Legal Transit & Infrastructure

Appeals court lets dentist’s defamation suit proceed

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that a Twin Cities dentist’s defamation lawsuit over a negative Google review may move forward, allowing the case to continue in district court. The decision clarifies that claims tied to allegedly false online statements can proceed past initial challenges in Minnesota.

Legal Technology

Shakopee crash kills 83; driver suspected drunk

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Shakopee police say an 83-year-old motorist died after a suspected drunk driver caused a collision at a city intersection in the Twin Cities metro. Police reported the fatality and indicated alcohol was a factor as they investigate; additional details on any arrest or charges were not immediately released.

Public Safety Legal

PUC holds hearing on Xcel rate hikes

Sep 15 Dev TC 1

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is holding a public meeting from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Washington County Heritage Center Education Center in Stillwater on Xcel Energy’s proposed two-year electric rate increases. Xcel seeks 9.6% in 2025 ($353.3M; about $9.89/month for the average residential customer) and 3.6% in 2026 ($137.5M; about $3.90/month), totaling 13.2% ($490.7M). Public comments are open through Dec. 30, evidentiary hearings are Dec. 17–19, and the PUC’s order deadline is July 31, 2026.

Utilities Energy

Blaine child-solicitation sting nets 22 arrests

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The Blaine Police Department led a child-solicitation operation in Blaine, resulting in 22 arrests, according to police and local reporting. The enforcement action targeted adults attempting to solicit minors in the north metro suburb; authorities said the investigation continues and announced the results publicly.

Public Safety Legal

Falcon Heights nets $49K from State Fair parking

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The City of Falcon Heights reports earning a $49,000 profit from on-street parking fees charged during the Minnesota State Fair in areas near the fairgrounds. The fees were enforced on city streets in Falcon Heights during the event, generating revenue beyond program costs.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Man killed, another hurt in Lake Street shooting

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a shooting on the 1500 block of East Lake Street just before 1:50 a.m. Sunday left one man dead and another with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation; the fatally wounded man died at the hospital, and a second victim arrived separately. No arrests have been announced, and Chief Brian O’Hara urged anyone with information to come forward.

Public Safety Legal