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Minnesota Senate moves to ban prediction markets
The Minnesota Senate approved a ban on betting-style prediction markets in a 56-10 vote on April 30, a move supporters say will curb gambling risks and critics warn could draw legal challenges. ban on betting-style prediction markets
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$100M Metro Surge business loan fund poised for Minnesota Senate passage
The Minnesota Senate is poised to pass a $100 million Metro Surge business loan fund to help businesses harmed by an immigration crackdown, lawmakers and reporting said. Minnesota Reformer coverage says the measure is on track for passage.
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FBI-Walz feud erupts over who uncovered child-care fraud in 22-site Twin Cities raid
The FBI executed 22 search warrants across the Twin Cities on Tuesday, April 28, targeting Medicaid-billed child-care providers, and a public feud erupted over who first uncovered the alleged fraud. 22 search warrants
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Minnesota Senate backs $150M rescue, sales tax for HCMC
The Minnesota Senate passed a Health and Human Services bill that includes $150 million in grants for Hennepin Healthcare and backed a modest Hennepin County sales-tax hike for HCMC.
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Walz skeptical of arena subsidy as bonding bill stalls at Capitol
Gov. Tim Walz said he is skeptical of a $200 million state subsidy for renovations to the Grand Casino Arena as lawmakers' broader bonding bill stalls at the Minnesota Capitol.
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Stalled $907M bonding bill imperils Minnesota infrastructure
Negotiators in the Minnesota Legislature have stalled a $907 million bonding package, imperiling statewide funding for metro roads, bridges and water systems with about two and a half weeks left in the session.
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Minnesota Senate to vote on assault-weapons ban bill
The Minnesota Senate is preparing to take a floor vote on a gun bill that includes an assault-weapons ban, limits on high-capacity magazines and new restrictions on binary triggers and ghost guns.
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Minnesota set to ban AI 'nudification' statewide
The Minnesota Senate passed a bipartisan ban on AI "nudification" technology in a 65-0 vote, clearing the way for the state to become the first in the nation to outlaw AI-made nude images and videos. Minnesota Senate
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Plymouth bans flavored tobacco, tightens licenses
The Plymouth City Council voted April 28, 2026, to ban flavored tobacco sales within city limits and tighten licensing rules in a move aimed at curbing youth vaping. ban flavored tobacco sales
Gunfire Damages Seattle Community Center During Mayor's Event, No Injuries
Gunfire struck and damaged the Yesler Community Center around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2026, while Mayor Katie Wilson was speaking there; no injuries were reported.
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USA Powerlifting settles Minnesota transgender discrimination case
USA Powerlifting settled a discrimination lawsuit with a transgender woman on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Minnesota, ending litigation over alleged mistreatment of a transgender athlete. USA Powerlifting
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Bill would cut aid to MN cities defying new flag as Inver Grove Heights reverts to 1983 design
On Monday, April 27, 2026, DFL lawmakers introduced a bill to cut state aid to Minnesota cities that stop flying the new state flag, as the Inver Grove Heights City Council voted to revert to the 1983 design. bill Inver Grove Heights
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Twin Cities contractors to pay $1.28M after DLI wage-theft probe
Twin Cities-area contractors agreed Monday, April 27, 2026, to pay $1.28 million after the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry concluded a wage-theft probe of local construction firms. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
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Feds weigh death penalty in Hortman killings as political violence reshapes Minnesota Legislature
Federal prosecutors have submitted a recommendation on whether to seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the accused gunman in the June 14, 2025, Hortman killings in Brooklyn Park.
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Political violence pushes Minnesota legislators out of office
Several Minnesota state legislators announced they will retire, citing rising threats and political violence, in reporting published Monday, April 27, 2026. The departures, described by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, add urgency to concerns about lawmaker safety and the coming campaign season.
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Audit faults MPD response to 2024 Moturi shooting
A Minneapolis city audit faults the Minneapolis Police Department for failures in its October 2024 response after neighbor John Sawchak allegedly shot Davis Moturi in the neck.
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Metro Surge fallout: Local officials feared city workers mistaken for ICE, records show
Internal city records show Minneapolis officials warned in January 2026 that city workers and first responders risked being mistaken for ICE during Operation Metro Surge, prompting new ID rules and procedural changes to protect staff and residents.
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Bill would recycle Twin Cities sports-tax windfalls
This week, Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill to redirect Twin Cities sports-related sales-tax windfalls into a fund aimed at recapturing about $430 million lost in major-event revenue.
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Uptown meeting addresses fallout from fatal shooting
Minneapolis city leaders met Monday in Uptown with residents and business owners to address safety concerns after a fatal March 14 shooting and seek steps to restore security and confidence.
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Minneapolis council delays decision on data-center moratorium
The Minneapolis City Council this week delayed a vote on a proposed moratorium on new data centers, saying it needs more study and wider public input before taking action.
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Minnesota bill would tax fraudsters 100% of stolen funds
Minnesota lawmakers this week unveiled a bill that would tax people convicted of fraud at 100% of the value of the funds they stole, effectively forcing full repayment to victims and state recovery programs.
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Hwy 280 both directions closed through late August; key I-94 ramps, local streets also hit
MnDOT will fully close Highway 280 between I-94 in St. Paul and Highway 36/I-35W in Roseville starting April 13 for northbound lanes and April 29 for southbound lanes, with both directions shut through late August.
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Minneapolis council votes to decriminalize drug paraphernalia
The Minneapolis City Council voted this week to decriminalize possession of drug syringes and pipes, a change supporters say will reduce overdose deaths and expand harm-reduction services.
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St. Paul tightens rules on city role in ICE raids
A cycle of federal policy shifts around immigration and border enforcement set the scene for this local action. Changes at the national level strained border processing, doubled migrant encounters in some places, and left local officials scrambling to house and process arrivals. Those pressures pushed cities to rethink how they would respond when federal agents carried out immigration actions in their communities.
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MN Senate OKs partial veteran benefits for Hmong CIA 'Secret War' soldiers
Minnesota senators approved partial veteran status and some benefits for Hmong fighters who served with the CIA in Laos. The state Senate voted to grant burial privileges at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries and veterans' preference in state hiring and promotion decisions.
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Senate passes transport bill, leaves self-driving rules in limbo
The Senate passed a transportation bill that left federal rules for self-driving cars unresolved. Lawmakers approved the measure this week, but it did not adopt industry-backed language tied to companies like Waymo. That omission means Congress did not create a clear federal pathway for autonomous vehicle testing and deployment.
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Trust buys Great Northern tower in downtown St. Paul
An investor has purchased the Great Northern Building, a landmark downtown St. Paul office tower, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports. The sale was reported recently and marks a new investor entry into St. Paul's downtown office market. The buyer is positioning to pursue additional downtown acquisitions, signaling confidence in local recovery and opportunity in office or mixed-use assets.
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Twin Cities senator fined, banned after betting on own race
A Minnesota state senator wagered $50 on himself to win a primary and was suspended from the Kalshi trading platform. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the senator placed the $50 bet on Kalshi to back his primary victory. Kalshi responded by suspending the account, the station said.
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St. Paul rescinds TikTok influencer's 180-day parks ban after appeal
St. Paul has rescinded a 180-day ban that barred TikTok influencer Josh Liljenquist from all city parks.
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Minneapolis weighs 45-day eviction notice amid $6.8M rental aid push
Minneapolis City Council is considering a 45-day pre-filing eviction notice while officials push about $6.8 million in rental aid.
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Senate okays manufactured home rent caps, House stalls
The Minnesota Senate approved a bill to cap rent increases for manufactured-home communities, while the state House has not advanced the measure. The measure is described as a manufactured homes "bill of rights" and would set limits on how much owners can raise lot rents. Supporters say the change would protect long-term residents from sudden rent spikes and potential displacement.
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Walz signs law easing liquor rules in nursing homes
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently signed a law easing liquor rules for nursing homes. The bill loosens state requirements around serving licenses for long-term care facilities, making it simpler for nursing homes to serve or offer alcohol to residents. Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the change but did not detail specific licensing steps or the law's effective date.
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Minneapolis expands community safety ambassadors, cites narcotics drop in Uptown
Minneapolis will expand community safety ambassadors in Uptown beginning in November to provide escorts, wellness checks, first aid, and service referrals. The city said the new team will begin in November and focus on Uptown corridors such as Lake Street and Franklin Avenue. Ambassadors will offer safety escorts, wellness checks, help filing police reports, first aid, and connections to social services. Officials including Mayor Jacob Frey, Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara and Uptown United's Kevin Norman praised the program's role in reducing harm and connecting people to help.
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Lakeville halts new home applications for one year
Lakeville City Council this week approved a one-year pause on new home construction, citing concerns about infrastructure and planning.
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DHS probes impaired drivers in vulnerable adult care
Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is investigating suspected impaired drivers working in care homes for vulnerable adults.
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Hennepin OFP killer gets life without parole after skipped sentencing
David Eugene Wright was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Mariah Samuels, in Minneapolis. Judge Mark Kappelhoff imposed the mandatory life term for first-degree premeditated murder and said Wright had "laid in wait" and shot Samuels execution-style after she ended the relationship. Wright apologized in court, but earlier refused to leave his jail cell for a scheduled Friday sentencing, prompting a judge to postpone the hearing to Monday.
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Senate backs limits on cat, dog sales at new pet shops
The Minnesota Senate this week backed a proposal to ban cat and dog sales at new pet shops to curb puppy and kitten mill sourcing. Proponents say it aims to cut off retail demand that fuels large-scale commercial breeders often called puppy and kitten mills. Supporters argue that the change would boost adoptions and encourage direct sales from reputable rescues or responsible breeders.
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FPS used gas, pepper balls on Whipple protesters
The Federal Protective Service used tear gas and pepper balls on protesters at the Whipple Federal Building after a protester threw a snowball.
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Lawmakers weigh bus cameras to ticket blocked lanes
Lawmakers in Minnesota are considering using bus-mounted cameras to ticket drivers who block transit and bike lanes. The proposal was reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul and aims to reduce bus delays and improve safety for cyclists and transit riders. Cameras would document lane blockages so authorities could issue citations without needing an officer at the scene.
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Hennepin charges ICE officer, issues nationwide warrant over highway gun-brandishing
Hennepin County charged ICE officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with assault and issued a nationwide warrant after he allegedly pointed a gun at a car.
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8th Circuit keeps Minnesota transgender athlete policy in place while DOJ suit proceeds
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by Female Athletes United, leaving Minnesota's policy that allows transgender girls to compete on girls' sports teams in place while litigation continues. The appeals panel concluded the advocacy group lacked a private right of action under Title IX to obtain that injunction, so Minnesota schools can continue following the state's inclusive rules as the case returns to federal district court for further proceedings. Attorney General Keith Ellison welcomed the ruling, saying he is "proud to defend Minnesota's inclusive legal protections" and framing the decision as a rebuke to efforts to force discrimination; the U.S. Department of Justice, meanwhile, has filed its own suit challenging the state's approach.
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Judge orders private review of ICE evidence in Renee Good shooting as Minnesota sues for access
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to turn over unredacted evidence from the ICE shooting death of Renee Good for a private, in camera review within three weeks, a ruling that directly clashes with federal resistance to sharing files with local prosecutors. The order — issued in a separate case in which a man previously arrested by ICE agent Jonathan Ross seeks the Good investigation file to challenge his conviction — requires a broad set of materials, including Ross's full training and personnel files; ICE/DHS use-of-force and officer-involved-shooting policies in effect from June 17, 2025 through Jan. 7, 2026; statements by Ross and other witnesses surrounding the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting; all photos, video and audio from 30 minutes before to 60 minutes after the encounter; Ross's cellphone data and related medical evaluations. At the same time, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, the State of Minnesota and the BCA have filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., pressing DOJ and DHS to turn over evidence in three shootings — the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis — after formal Touhy letters demanding weapons, autopsies, training materials, and officer identities went largely unanswered.
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Ramsey County reviewing five Metro Surge cases for possible criminal charges against DHS agents
Ramsey County officials are actively reviewing five specific cases that allege potential crimes by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, the concentrated ICE enforcement effort in Minnesota from December 2025 through mid-March 2026. County leaders told reporters these matters are beyond intake or simple fact-gathering and are now in the formal charging-review pipeline; the alleged conduct in the cases includes warrantless home entries, assaults and detentions that county lawyers say may meet elements of kidnapping, burglary or false imprisonment under Minnesota law. Ramsey County has also articulated a legal theory it will rely on: federal agents who step outside the scope of lawful authority can be prosecuted under state criminal statutes even where Supremacy Clause issues arise, and officials are pressing DHS for records and cooperation as part of their review.
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Lawmakers weigh overhaul of Minneapolis stadium taxes
Minnesota lawmakers are weighing changes to how stadium-related taxes are collected and distributed in the Twin Cities, a push that proponents say could save teams and local governments millions and funnel new revenue to suburbs such as Chaska. The debate, unfolding in the current legislative session, centers on proposals ranging from taxing premium or preferred seating at sporting events to redirecting parts of stadium-related sales taxes; supporters present those measures as ways to raise money for shelters, housing and property tax relief, while critics say they would break earlier promises about how those revenue streams were supposed to be handled.
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MPD chief orders fresh look at Allison Lussier homicide
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara recently met with the family of Allison Lussier in Minneapolis and pledged a fresh look into her homicide, apologizing for earlier public remarks about drugs in her system that were based on incomplete information. The renewed commitment follows mounting questions about how the department handled warnings related to domestic violence and why the case went unsolved. City officials and family members say the meeting and O'Hara's apology were prompted by community pressure for accountability and clearer answers about investigative steps taken after Lussier's death.
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Kistner quits 2nd District race for Middle East deployment
Tyler Kistner, a Republican and Marine Reservist who had been campaigning for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, announced he is withdrawing from the race after being activated for a Middle East deployment. The announcement, reported by FOX 9, came as Kistner said he was putting military duty ahead of another congressional bid; his activation is part of a broader U.S. troop buildup in the region this year — the largest since 2003, with more than 10,000 additional personnel sent amid tensions and ceasefire negotiations. The withdrawal removes a high-profile GOP contender from a swing district that has been competitive in recent cycles.
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Medicaid fraud integrity bill stalls over AG funding fight
A bill from the Department of Human Services intended to tighten integrity and anti-fraud controls in Minnesota's Medicaid program has stalled in a legislative committee after lawmakers clashed over provisions tied to funding and oversight of the state Attorney General's office. The dispute, playing out at the Minnesota Capitol in recent committee hearings, centered on who would control additional resources and authority to pursue Medicaid fraud, and opponents on both sides argued the proposal shifted power and funding in ways they could not accept.
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Minnesota election chief defends voter-roll security in D.C.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before a House committee on election security, defending how the state maintains its voter rolls and explaining specific practices that some Republicans have criticized. Simon told lawmakers that Minnesota's vouching process verifies only a voter's residence, not citizenship or age, and warned that proposals to expand use of the SAVE database or to impose new documentary requirements could complicate absentee and same-day registration. The hearing drew pointed exchanges — including questions about driver's licenses issued without citizenship markers and about Minnesota's refusal, according to critics, to hand over certain data to the Justice Department — and sparked a robust social media response ranging from GOP criticism of state officials to posts highlighting a prosecution in Fillmore County of a noncitizen who voted.
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Wayzata voters OK nearly $500M school referendum
Voters in the Wayzata Public School District recently approved a historic, nearly $500 million referendum to pay for district improvements, authorizing a large-scale investment in school facilities, capacity and safety across the suburban Minneapolis district. The measure — the largest in district history — responds to long-running planning by school leaders who argued aging buildings and rapid enrollment growth required a major capital investment.
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Ramsey County OKs $320M plan to revive downtown St. Paul riverfront, bolster tax base
Ramsey County this week approved a $320 million economic development package aimed at reviving the downtown St. Paul riverfront and shoring up the county tax base. The plan channels significant funding toward a renewed RiversEdge vision — including park space, housing and infrastructure meant to attract private investment and reverse weakening commercial values — and is explicitly tied to stabilizing property taxes as office occupancy and retail activity have lagged since the pandemic. Local coverage frames the move as a revival of an older, ambitious riverfront blueprint of high-rise towers and a riverfront park, not an entirely new concept.
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Minnesota bill would reopen seclusion rooms for youngest students
Minnesota lawmakers are advancing a proposal, including bill SF4677, that would roll back part of a 2023 ban and allow the use of seclusion rooms again for students in kindergarten through third grade. Proponents say the move responds to what they describe as unintended consequences of the ban — most prominently a rise in physical holds and related staff injuries — and argue schools need another tool to manage severe behavior that threatens safety. The debate is playing out this legislative session in the state Capitol and in local news coverage, with lawmakers and district officials framing the change as a safety and practical response to classroom realities.
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District 196 approves 2027 start-time shifts, opt-in busing to address driver shortage
The District 196 school board in Minnesota has formally approved a set of schedule changes and an opt-in transportation policy to address an ongoing school bus-driver shortage, with changes to take effect in the 2027-2028 school year. Under the plan, Woodland Elementary and East Lake Elementary will move from a 9:30 a.m. start to 7:45 a.m., and Valley Middle School of STEM will shift to an 8:20 a.m. start to align with other district middle schools. Roughly 1,500 students could be affected; some families may need to transfer students to different schools to fit the reworked busing plan. Rather than automatically routing students to buses, families will be required to opt in for district transportation, the district said, and leaders also signaled "targeted reductions" in magnet-school busing while keeping special-education students closer to neighborhood schools to simplify routing.
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Court: Swimply pool rentals need public licenses
A Minnesota court recently ruled that private pools offered through Swimply, the peer-to-peer pool-rental platform, can be treated as public pools under state law and therefore must comply with public-pool licensing and oversight requirements. The decision affects homeowners who list pools for hourly rental across Minnesota and reinforces guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health that has been in place since 2021, bringing the platform squarely into the regulatory framework that governs commercial aquatic operations.
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Minnesota weighs tightly controlled medical psilocybin program
Minnesota lawmakers are debating three psilocybin, or "magic mushroom," bills, with momentum shifting away from full decriminalization toward a narrowly drawn medical-only program that would operate under far stricter rules than the state's cannabis system. A Senate committee heard, but is unlikely to advance, a proposal to decriminalize psilocybin for all adults 21 and over; instead, legislators are steering a medical framework to the House Veterans Committee next week, reflecting intense lobbying by veterans who say illegal psilocybin therapy pulled them back from the brink. The draft medical bill would cap enrollment at 1,000 patients in the first three years, require both patient and facility licensing, and mandate that medical professionals be present during nearly all treatments. Doctors involved in clinical trials, including addiction specialist Dr. Patty Dickmann, told lawmakers psilocybin appears especially promising for PTSD, depression and substance-use disorders by forcing patients to confront, not numb, trauma, and they reported seeing no evidence of psilocybin addiction. For Twin Cities residents — particularly veterans and people in treatment at metro hospitals and clinics — any eventual law will determine whether supervised psychedelic therapy becomes a legal, local option or remains an underground, unregulated market with all the usual risks.
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Bid to ban local NDAs on data-center deals stalls in Minnesota House
A bipartisan bill to bar local elected officials and governments from signing nondisclosure agreements in economic-development negotiations — including data-center deals — stalled in the Minnesota House Judiciary Committee after every Republican on the panel voted against advancing it. Sponsors (two Republicans and two Democrats) and supporters call it a transparency measure, while Judiciary Republicans say it could act as a de facto ban on data centers and argue many NDA-covered agreements are already subject to public-records requests; the bill still appears to have a strong chance in the Senate, but its House prospects are now murky.
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Minnesota bill would ban online prediction markets
Minnesota lawmakers are weighing a bill that would ban online prediction-market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket from operating in the state, a move that would shut off Twin Cities residents from legally wagering on real-world events ranging from sports to war. The measure cleared two Senate committees on Thursday, but its ultimate fate in the full House and Senate remains uncertain despite some bipartisan support, including from legislators who otherwise favor legalizing sports betting. Lead sponsor Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) argues prediction markets invite "horrendous" abuses and open the door to insider trading, while Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis) says their rapid growth over the last year demands a legislative response. The bill would treat these platforms more like prohibited gambling than financial instruments, drawing a line around what kinds of event-based markets are allowed in Minnesota. For the Twin Cities' growing tech and fintech scene — and anyone here using these apps — this fight will determine whether the state slams the door on a controversial but expanding corner of online finance and betting.
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Minneapolis council rejects Barnette as public safety chief
The Minneapolis City Council narrowly rejected Mayor Jacob Frey's bid to reappoint Toddrick Barnette as commissioner of the Office of Community Safety on Thursday, voting 6-7 against confirmation. Barnette, the former chief Hennepin County judge, had been sworn in to the post in October 2023, replacing Cedric Alexander at the helm of the office that oversees Minneapolis police, fire, 911 and related public safety operations. The no vote throws the city's top civilian safety role back into flux at the exact moment Minneapolis is under the microscope from a looming federal consent decree, Metro Surge fallout, and persistent violent crime concerns. The article offers no explanation from council members for the rejection, but it signals a clear split between the mayor and a majority of the council over who should steer policing and public safety strategy going forward. For residents, it means another round of uncertainty and potential turnover in a position that has already seen rapid churn since 2020.
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Minnesota lawmakers float 1% wealth tax above $10M
DFL legislators at the Capitol are pushing a new "wealth tax" that would slap a 1% annual levy on every dollar of in-state taxable wealth above $10 million, hitting individuals and trusts that keep their wealth based in Minnesota, including the Twin Cities. The bill, heard in the House Taxes Committee and laid over for possible inclusion in the broader tax bill, would take effect for tax years starting after Dec. 31, 2025, and is framed by sponsors like Reps. Esther Agbaje and Liz Lee as a way to make the state's richest residents "pay their fair share" in a system where asset growth far outpaces wages. Republicans on the committee blasted the proposal as repeat-performance tax-and-spend politics, with Rep. Mike Wiener pointing to roughly $10 billion in recent tax hikes and Rep. Patti Anderson questioning whether taxing unrealized wealth is even constitutional. Opponents also warned that asset-rich but cash-poor owners — including farmers and some business owners whose land and equipment push them over $10 million on paper — could be squeezed despite modest annual income. For the metro, where a large share of the state's high-net-worth households live, this is the opening round of a fight over whether Minnesota tries to tax fortunes as well as paychecks — and whether the very wealthy start voting with their feet.
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State to pilot new observation-based kindergarten assessment
The Minnesota Department of Education will launch a new kindergarten assessment pilot this fall that has been written into law to go statewide in 2027, meaning it will ultimately cover Twin Cities public and charter classrooms. Created by the 2023 Legislature, the Minnesota Kindergarten Fall Assessment (MnFKA) is an observation-based tool in which teachers record how children function across normal daily routines instead of pulling them out for formal testing. The system focuses on developmental areas — social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language and literacy, and early math concepts like patterns and connections — with data logged on an online platform. MDE's early education director Danielle Hayden says the goal is to give teachers "really great information" on what children can do as they enter kindergarten so they can tailor instruction and classroom environments accordingly, noting that age 5 by Sept. 1 remains the only legal requirement for enrollment. MDE is now recruiting 25-40 volunteer classrooms from districts and charters statewide and expects to finalize the list within a month, so metro districts that step up will be first to feel the effects of a system that, if it becomes high-stakes later, will shape how kids are labeled and supported from the first weeks of school.
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Probe flags possible ineligible firms in Promise Act grants
An investigative report into Minnesota's Promise Act small-business grant program has found indications that some aid may have gone to ineligible companies, including at least one cargo business that listed a Lake Street address the actual property owner says has no record of it operating there. The Promise Act was set up to funnel state money into businesses on corridors like Lake Street that were hit hard by the 2020 unrest, making the legitimacy of those addresses a central eligibility test. The nonprofit contracted to administer the program told the Business Journal it is "applying lessons" from this first round to tighten vetting before the next wave of grants goes out, but did not spell out exactly how screening failed or how many questionable awards are under review. For Minneapolis corridor businesses that have complained quietly for months about opaque criteria and slow decisions, this is the first on-the-record confirmation that basic address and eligibility checks may have broken down, raising questions about state oversight and whether scarce recovery funds actually reached the storefronts they were sold to voters as helping.
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Minnesota reshapes conversion therapy rules after Supreme Court ruling
Minnesota lawmakers are moving a pair of new Senate bills to shore up the state's 2023 conversion-therapy ban after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled that outright prohibitions, like Colorado's, may violate First Amendment free-speech protections. The proposals would bar insurers from paying for mental-health treatments aimed at achieving a predetermined outcome not initiated by the client — effectively cutting off insurance reimbursement for conversion therapy — and would create a clear right for patients to sue practitioners if they can prove they were harmed. Supporters point to Trevor Project data that nearly 15% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota have been threatened with or subjected to conversion attempts, and to AMA findings that such practices lack scientific basis and are linked to higher depression and suicide risk. Opponents, including Agape First Ministries' director Nate Oyloe, argue the bills are a back-door attempt to dodge the Supreme Court's ruling and still burden faith-aligned counseling, warning they will invite fresh legal challenges. The measures have cleared an initial Senate hurdle with some bipartisan support, but their fate in the House — and whether this 'viewpoint-neutral' insurance/liability strategy will survive in court — remains uncertain, even as Twin Cities families, therapists and insurers brace for another legal fight over what care can be offered and who pays for it.
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ICE surge, tariffs and state policies hammer Twin Cities hospitality
Minnesota's hospitality sector is "stressed and on the brink," with profits and customer traffic falling after an early-2026 federal immigration enforcement surge and tariff increases, according to Hospitality Minnesota's 2026 State of Hospitality Report and local coverage. The industry is urging state fixes — including credit-card swipe-fee reform, changes to the liquor posting law, and adjustments to the new paid-leave rules for seasonal workers — as Twin Cities chefs Andrew Kraft and Gustavo Romero warn shrinking profitability may force closures or reduced hours.
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Lawmakers weigh 2026 increase to Minnesota child tax credit
Minnesota legislators are considering a bill to raise the state's new child tax credit for low-income families from $1,750 to $2,000 per child starting with the 2026 tax year, a change that would pump more cash directly into qualifying households across the Twin Cities. The refundable credit, first available on 2024 returns, currently applies to children 0-17 in families making under $31,950 (or $37,910 for married joint filers), with no cap on the number of children, and a smaller credit for "older" dependents 18-23. Under the proposal, the $2,000 amount would also be indexed to inflation beginning with taxable years after Dec. 31, 2026, preventing the benefit from quietly eroding over time. House Research figures show the combined cost of the child and working family credits was about $724.8 million for tax year 2023, with 77% of that tied to young-child credits, underscoring how central this program has already become for poor families. For Minneapolis-St. Paul residents in low-wage jobs, this isn't abstract budget talk — it's the difference between a one-time check in the low thousands and something meaningfully larger to help cover rent, food, and child care, if lawmakers actually pass it.
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Minnesota lawmakers weigh dedicated crime victims fund
Minnesota legislators are advancing a bill to create a dedicated state crime victims fund that would pay for services ranging from emergency hotel stays to support staff and prevention programs for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and other crimes. The account would be financed partly through fines and penalties imposed at sentencing on convicted offenders, with the option to supplement it using transfers from the state's general fund. The proposal has strong backing from DFL lawmakers and at least one Republican co-author in the House, signaling some bipartisan appetite for shoring up victim services as federal VOCA dollars have grown less reliable in recent years. Because many of the state's largest advocacy organizations, shelters, and hospital-based victim response teams are in the Twin Cities, a stable state-level fund would directly affect support available to Minneapolis-St. Paul residents after violent or traumatic crimes. The bill is still working its way through committees at the Capitol, so amounts, formulas, and guardrails on how the money is spent remain to be hammered out in public.
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New Easter arrest at Cities Church protest deepens anti-ICE clash
On Easter Sunday St. Paul police arrested an unidentified woman outside Cities Church for "interference with religious observance" and violating city sound ordinances after protesters using a bullhorn disrupted services; officers say most protesters complied with warnings but one did not and was taken into custody. The arrest comes amid related federal cases stemming from an earlier anti-ICE protest in which five defendants pleaded not guilty and were ordered to stay away from Cities Church, a judge previously dropped charges against another defendant, and photojournalist Shane Bollman has moved for grand jury materials alleging press-freedom and political-influence concerns.
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FBI's 'Operation Not Forgotten' taps Minneapolis field office
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI are launching Operation Not Forgotten, a new push to clear unresolved cases in Native American communities, and Minneapolis is one of just 11 FBI field offices getting extra resources. The effort targets roughly 4,100 open Indian Country investigations nationwide, with a focus on violence against Native women and children, including death investigations, child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Federal agents say they will work with tribal, federal and local partners, but Native advocates in Minnesota are already warning that without serious trust-building, victims' families and communities won't feel safe talking to investigators. Nicole Matthews of the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition urges DOJ and the FBI to connect directly with the state's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office and local Native organizations, and to be transparent about their intent, before expecting cooperation. The backdrop in the Twin Cities is raw: recent federal immigration crackdowns have already damaged trust in federal agents in Native and immigrant neighborhoods, so how this operation is handled here will determine whether it actually delivers answers or just becomes another DC program announcement.
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Minnesota nudification ban nears House vote
A bill that would ban AI "nudification" deepfake apps has cleared the Minnesota Senate and is headed to the House after amendments that carve out protections for legitimate tools like Photoshop and narrow the ban to instant, automated nudification without human involvement. Sponsors and victim advocates call the measure a "slam dunk issue," citing more than 80 Minnesota women victimized and pointing to cases involving schoolgirls in Pennsylvania and infants sexualized by other AI tools.
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Lawsuit targets secret ICE home-entry policy from Metro Surge
Plaintiffs have sued the Department of Homeland Security in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleging ICE circulated a secret "Home Entry Memo" titled "Utilizing Form I-205, Warrant of Removal" that instructors showed in secret, used to train inexperienced agents, and led to forced entries and warrantless searches of homes. They seek vacatur of the memo, a declaration that the practice violates the Fourth Amendment, and ongoing injunctive relief, with ACLU of Minnesota and Protect Democracy attorneys saying the policy was a deliberate end-run around the Constitution.
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Minneapolis weighs renaming Blaisdell for Officer Mitchell
The Minneapolis City Planning Commission is set to consider a petition to rename a stretch of Blaisdell Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood as "Officer Jamal Mitchell Way" in honor of the MPD officer killed responding to a mass shooting there on May 30, 2024. The proposal, submitted last month by Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara, would apply to Blaisdell between Franklin Avenue West and 22nd Street West, the corridor where Mitchell was ambushed while stopping to aid what appeared to be a shooting victim. Mitchell, who joined MPD in 2022, had previously been commended for rescuing an elderly couple from a burning house in the 5th Precinct, and O'Hara is publicly backing the naming as recognition of his service and death in the line of duty. If the commission signs off, the recommendation will go to the City Council, putting an official city street renaming tied to one of Minneapolis's most recent mass-casualty crimes on the council's plate. For residents and businesses along Blaisdell, the change would mean updated addressing and signage; for the broader city, it's a visible statement about how Minneapolis chooses to memorialize officers killed amid ongoing violence and distrust around policing.
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Crystal shuts Becker Park amid three days of teen unrest
Crystal police say they were forced to break up large groups of 75-150 unsupervised teenagers at Becker Park on three straight days, ultimately closing the park entirely on Sunday when the crowd became 'so big and so charged' that officers deemed it unsafe. Chief Brian Hubbard says officers recovered water-gel bead guns, pepper spray and a taser, and arrested multiple teens on disorderly conduct, trespassing and theft charges as fights and disturbances spilled from the park into nearby businesses and shopping centers. Police say many of the teens used ride-share apps to converge on the park during the first real warm spell of the year, turning what's supposed to be a family space into a flash-point that one visiting Minneapolis mother described as 'chaotic.' The department has now put extra patrols around Becker Park and is publicly stressing a zero-tolerance stance, even as some residents accuse it on Facebook of unfairly targeting youth; Hubbard, who is Black and has children of color, insists the response is driven by safety, not race. For Twin Cities parents and nearby businesses, this is a warning that unsupervised social-media-driven meetups can quickly trigger park closures, arrests and heavier police presence well beyond the neighborhood where they start.
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Legislature moves toward lifting nuclear plant moratorium
Minnesota lawmakers in both the House and Senate are advancing bipartisan bills to fund a formal study of nuclear power, a move supporters openly describe as the first step toward ending the state's 32-year ban on new nuclear plants. The study would weigh the costs, timelines, safety issues and waste-storage implications of adding new reactors as Minnesota phases out coal and natural gas, with backers hoping it could tee up a moratorium repeal as soon as next year. Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township) argues that electrification and population growth will leave a major 'gap' in power supply without nuclear, while Rep. Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park) counters that nuclear has only gotten more expensive and slower to build over time. Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato), who authored the state's 2040 carbon-free law, says nuclear must be evaluated alongside cheaper wind, solar and possible geothermal, and stresses that any new plants would still be at least eight years away and require local community input. The Prairie Island Indian Community, which lives next to one of the nation's closest nuclear waste storage sites, is backing the study specifically to scrutinize how much new waste would be created and how it would be stored long-term, underscoring that the people already living with the risks want hard answers before any green light is given.
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Prosecutor won't charge Rep. Hudson in Engen DWI gun incident
On March 27 in White Bear Lake, Republican Rep. Elliott Engen was stopped and later charged with DWI after breath tests showed a .13 BAC, while passenger Rep. Walter Hudson told officers he owned a liquor bottle and was carrying a concealed 9mm pistol that police removed and held for safekeeping. Prosecutors declined to charge Hudson with carrying a firearm while impaired, saying they could not prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt — noting he was not given a breath or chemical test — even as Engen faces a formal DWI charge.
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Statewide distracted-driving crackdown runs all April
Minnesota law enforcement is launching a monthlong distracted-driving crackdown from April 1-30, with more than 300 agencies — including metro police, sheriffs and the State Patrol — adding extra patrols specifically to nail drivers who won't put the phone down. The campaign, led by the Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety, comes with fresh numbers: from 2020-2026, distracted driving was tied to 33,183 crashes, 888 serious injuries and 162 deaths statewide, including at least 21 deaths and 159 serious injuries just in 2025. Officials are blunt that this is about writing tickets as well as education, and Twin Cities drivers should expect more stops any time they're fiddling with a phone or not paying attention, despite the state's 2019 hands-free law that many still treat as optional. Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman, whose daughter-in-law Ashley was killed after a 2025 distracted-driving crash, is fronting the push, arguing families are living with "forever nightmares" while too many motorists act like scrolling is worth someone else's life. The enforcement window covers every major metro artery — from I-35, I-94 and 494/694 down to city arterials — so for Minneapolis-St. Paul residents this isn't an abstract safety campaign; it's a guaranteed spike in traffic stops and fines aimed at forcing a behavior change on roads where the stakes are already written in blood.
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State reopens low-dose hemp THC licenses under new rules
Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management has reopened applications for lower-potency hemp edible retailer, manufacturer and wholesaler licenses as of April 1, ending a transition period and putting all hemp-THC businesses under a new, tighter regulatory framework. The agency says it has already processed more than 2,200 applications since last October and that over 1,500 licensed hemp-derived THC businesses are operating statewide, many clustered in the Twin Cities metro. Under the updated rules, all manufacturers and wholesalers now must meet stricter testing, labeling and local-registration requirements, with a recent law signed by Gov. Tim Walz temporarily allowing use of qualified out-of-state labs through May 2027 to ease backlogs. OCM Director Eric Taubel says the move is meant to let compliant businesses "continue to prosper" while warning that looming federal changes could significantly affect Minnesota's hemp-THC market. A federal spending bill signed last November will, starting in November 2026, ban hemp-derived products that exceed 0.4 mg of THC, forcing many Twin Cities producers and retailers to rethink product lines built around today's higher-dose hemp edibles and seltzers.
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Walz signs Farmworkers Day proclamation after Cesar Chavez Day repeal
Minnesota lawmakers fast-tracked and unanimously passed legislation to repeal Cesar Chavez Day as a state observance after New York Times reporting and Dolores Huerta's abuse allegations, with the House voting 129-0 and the Senate approving the measure before March 31. Gov. Tim Walz has signed a proclamation recognizing March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day, and community leaders are pressing to rename local streets and a charter school while emphasizing a desire to honor the broader farmworkers' movement separate from Chavez.
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ICE data show Metro Surge swept mostly non-criminals
Internal ICE data pried loose in a lawsuit show that Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota arrested about 3,800 people between December and February, with more than 60% of them having no criminal convictions at all and only about one in four showing any record, even for misdemeanors or traffic violations. Another 13% had only pending charges, and ICE's own figures indicate that 63% of those picked up also had no immigration-related convictions or charges, meaning they were not previously documented as lawbreakers under any code. The Deportation Data Project, which analyzed the dataset, says a national quota of 3,000 arrests a day pushed agents away from targeting violent offenders and toward grabbing immigrants "going about their daily lives," including people attending ICE check-ins and immigration court in the Twin Cities. Ecuadorians were by far the most targeted group in Minnesota: more than 1,000 natives of Ecuador were arrested here during the surge, drawn from roughly 12,000 pending immigration cases and 1,900 asylum claims, a pattern that includes high-profile cases like 5-year-old Columbia Heights resident Liam Conejo Ramos and his family. DHS has so far refused to respond to FOX 9's questions about the data, even as local courts, lawmakers and Walz's new Metro Surge council wrestle with the fallout from an operation now shown, by ICE's own numbers, to have focused primarily on people with clean records rather than the "worst of the worst" the agency advertised.
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Twin Cities mayors split with councils over 60-day eviction notice ordinances
Minneapolis' council passed the "Pause Evictions, Save Lives" ordinance to extend pre-filing eviction notices from 30 to 60 days through Aug. 31, 2026, but Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed it—citing steady eviction-court trends, arguing rental assistance is more effective, and announcing an additional $1 million for emergency rent aid—with the council needing nine votes to override. In St. Paul a 7-0, veto-proof council approved a 60-day notice effective May 14-Dec. 31, and Mayor Kaohly Her said she will neither sign nor veto it, letting it become law via pocket approval while urging state-level rental assistance as a more sustainable solution.
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UCare fraud failures fuel Walz push to scrap Medicaid managed-care
After revelations that UCare — the state's largest Medicaid managed-care organization before it was seized last year and now being absorbed by Medica — and other MCOs failed to stop large fraud schemes, Gov. Tim Walz is pushing to eliminate private Managed Care Organizations from Minnesota's Medicaid system and centralize accountability within the Department of Human Services; DHS Inspector General James Clark says that would streamline and unify oversight. About 80% of Minnesota's Medicaid is administered by MCOs, which have paid more than $6 billion in claims since 2018, and prosecutors and watchdogs say MCOs and DHS (the only entities that can freeze funding) were "asleep at the wheel," exemplified by the PITSTOP-66 scheme in which a banned provider continued generating phantom UCare claims into 2021 despite warnings.
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Twin Cities office tower values plunge, shifting tax burden to homeowners
Office tower assessments in the Twin Cities have plunged, with downtown Minneapolis towers down more than 20%, Minneapolis commercial values dropping about 9% (from $8.6 billion to $7.8 billion) largely because of office write-downs, and St. Paul's seven largest office properties seeing 2026 declines of 12%-29%. City officials and assessors say the erosion in large commercial values will likely push a greater share of the property-tax levy onto homeowners in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Walz extends out-of-state testing for hemp THC products
Gov. Tim Walz has extended permission for hemp THC products to be tested by out-of-state laboratories through May 2027. Lawmakers are meanwhile weighing broader changes to let businesses operate across medical, adult-use and hemp markets — a shift that comes as the Office of Cannabis Management estimates potential market capacity at about 2 million square feet versus roughly 400,000 today — while tribes and operators warn frequent rule changes jeopardize stability and investment.
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HCMC and rural hospitals squeezed as UCare collapse and unpaid federal claims threaten closures
Hennepin County Medical Center officials warn the downtown safety-net hospital could begin a formal shutdown as early as May without legislative action after losing more than $100 million in 2024, being owed $115 million by collapsed nonprofit insurer UCare and relying on county payroll support and $38 million a year in property taxes while asking lawmakers to redirect roughly $55 million a year from the Target Field sales tax to stay open; UCare's Medicaid payouts ballooned to about $620 million in 2025, the insurer stopped paying major hospital debts in December, and state regulators have taken control as the four largest systems are collectively owed nearly $500 million.
Rural facilities face similar pressure—Mille Lacs Health System says Medicare owes $3 million and UCare $1 million, and a federal Medicare billing glitch that deactivated providers and rejected claims has created crippling cash shortfalls—highlighting how insurer collapse and unpaid federal claims threaten both metro and rural hospital closures.
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HCMC warns closure as UCare default and Target Field tax fight converge
Hennepin County Medical Center is facing possible closure after UCare stopped paying debts in December, part of nearly $500 million owed to four large systems that fueled Hennepin's $100M-plus loss and spurred talk of a 12-18 month shutdown, while the Minnesota Department of Health now runs the UCare wind-down and therefore largely controls whether hospitals recover money. Lawmakers have not delivered the Target Field sales-tax fix Hennepin says is needed to keep HCMC open, and officials — including a Minnesota senator — warn closure could cost lives as unpaid Medicare and UCare claims threaten both urban and rural hospitals like Mille Lacs.
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'No Kings' Capitol rally draws 100K as organizers plan May 1 strike; Bloomington counterprotester now charged with felony assault
Organizers of the "No Kings" March 28 Capitol rally in St. Paul said the flagship event drew more than 200,000 people (the Minnesota State Patrol estimated about 100,000) and billed the nationwide, anti-Trump, midterm-energizing movement — featuring speakers including Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez and Rep. Ilhan Omar — as moving into a planned May 1 national strike after what organizers say were more than 3,300 events with at least 8 million participants. Separately, Hennepin County charged 36-year-old Zak X of St. Cloud with felony third-degree assault and a felony for wearing a bullet-resistant vest during a protest after prosecutors say he livestreamed a Bloomington No Kings event, punched a father in the nose after the man pushed his phone away when X pointed the camera at the child (breaking the victim's nose and requiring surgery), and was found with a concealed vest, OC spray, a loaded airsoft gun and other gear; X has admitted throwing the punch, claimed self-defense and is being held on $75,000 bail.
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DNR halts open burning in metro counties amid wildfire risk
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is imposing spring open burning restrictions in 32 counties starting Monday, March 30, including key Twin Cities metro counties Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington, because warm, dry conditions are driving up wildfire risk. During the ban, the DNR will not issue permits for burning brush or yard waste in these counties, and anyone who lights a fire that rekindles or escapes can be held liable for damages and suppression costs. Officials say more than 90% of Minnesota wildfires are human-caused, and the period after snowmelt but before green-up is when grass and brush fires spread fastest. Residents are being pushed toward alternatives like composting, chipping or hauling brush to collection sites, and the agency says restrictions and risk maps will be updated as conditions change on its wildfire danger and burning restrictions webpage. For metro homeowners used to spring burn piles, this is a hard stop backed by fines, not a suggestion.
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Fleet Farm settles suit over straw-purchase gun sales
Minnesota's 2022 civil lawsuit against Fleet Farm has ended in a $1 million settlement and a commitment by the retailer to make "significant changes" to its gun-sales practices after federal Judge John Tunheim ruled the case could proceed despite the industry's usual federal immunity. Evidence reviewed by FOX 9 ties at least 46 firearms sold by Minnesota Fleet Farm stores to known straw buyers, with eight of those guns later recovered at Twin Cities crime scenes — from Minneapolis street arrests and a six-year-old finding a loaded handgun to the 2021 Truck Park Bar mass shooting in St. Paul. Tunheim warned in a September order that the dozens of yet-unrecovered Fleet Farm guns "pose an ongoing public safety threat to Minnesotans," undercutting the company's claim that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) barred the lawsuit entirely. Legal experts say the ruling and settlement show how state consumer-protection and negligence laws can still be used against gun sellers that ignore clear red flags in high-volume purchases, even with PLCAA on the books. For Minneapolis-St. Paul residents living with routine gunfire, the case sets a concrete precedent for holding retailers accountable when their sales patterns are feeding the local illegal market, not just blaming trigger-pullers after the fact.
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Search warrant details probe of White Bear Lake fire that killed Jessi Hinrichs and three children
A Ramsey County search warrant made public details investigators' probe of the March 21 White Bear Lake house fire that killed 38-year-old Jessi Hinrichs (known professionally as Jessi Pierce) and her three children — Hudson, 8; Cayden, 7; and Avery, 4 — whose bodies and the family dog were found together in the main living area after crews knocked down flames that had been shooting "dozens of feet" high and prevented rescue entry. The warrant authorizes collection of items such as ignitable liquids, extension cords, candles, chemicals, electrical wiring, gas lines, appliances, signs of tampering, charred materials and review of vehicles and documents; investigators say they contacted a man who identified himself as the homeowner and confirmed his family should have been inside, but officials stress there is no evidence so far the fire was intentionally set and the cause remains undetermined.
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St. Paul advances tougher limits on ICE actions
The St. Paul City Council has introduced a new immigration ordinance that would tighten the city's long-standing non-cooperation stance with federal immigration enforcement and spell out how police and other employees must respond when ICE shows up. Introduced March 27 and set for a second reading April 1, the measure would ban using city-owned property for federal civil immigration actions, sharply limit federal access to non-public city spaces, and require federal agents on city sites to show visible identification and insignia while prohibiting masks. It also orders St. Paul police — and the fire department where relevant — to submit annual reports on calls tied to civil immigration enforcement and creates an internal system for any city worker to document immigration-related activity on city property, lots or in city vehicles. Council members say the policy, drafted with multiple departments, is a direct response to the November 2025 Payne-Phalen ICE raid, where St. Paul officers fired pepper balls and chemical irritants at residents who gathered, and to community demands for clearer rules and more transparency. If enacted, the ordinance would hard-code separation from ICE deeper into the Administrative Code and put the city's own conduct around federal operations on a paper trail residents can later scrutinize.
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Minnesota bill would bar under-15s from big social media
Minnesota lawmakers are debating a bipartisan bill that would force major social media platforms to use their own age-estimation algorithms to block users under 15 by default, unless a parent explicitly grants access. Authored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), the proposal targets platforms with at least $1 billion in global ad revenue — effectively sites like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, X and possibly Reddit — and is being sold as a way to turn the same data-mining tools used for ad targeting toward limiting youth addiction. If parents opt their kids in, the bill would still strip away targeted commercial ads and "addictive" design features such as infinite scroll, autoplay video and public like counts for those youth accounts. Supporters cite the 2023 Minnesota Student Survey showing nearly 20% of high-schoolers are on social media between midnight and 5 a.m., while opponents warn the law could cut vulnerable teens off from online support networks and organizing spaces they rely on. For Twin Cities families, this is a direct fight over who controls kids' online lives — the platforms, the state, or parents — and whether the Legislature is comfortable hard-coding Silicon Valley's own surveillance tech into state law as the enforcement mechanism.
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Funeral plans set for Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, Senate passes tribute resolution
Visitation for Master Sgt. Nicole M. Amor will be held Thursday, March 19 from 2-6 p.m. at Mueller Memorial in White Bear Lake, with a public funeral at noon Friday at Eagle Brook Church followed by a private family interment at Fort Snelling. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith honoring Amor's nearly 20 years of Army Reserve service and posthumous promotion, while Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags at half-staff and her remains were carried in a dignified transfer at Dover after she was killed March 1 in an Iranian drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait tied to Operation Epic Fury.
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Minneapolis council meeting erupts over ICE divestment resolution
A Minneapolis City Council meeting devolved into a public shouting match Thursday as members debated a resolution urging European financial institutions to divest from companies that enable the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, along with a separate resolution calling on the Trump administration to end an executive order on Cuba. The clash began while Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer had the floor, with Council Members Aurin Chowdhury and LaTrisha Vetaw arguing off-mic before Vetaw openly challenged Council President Elliot Payne's handling of the meeting and accused colleagues of "tantrums" because votes weren't going their way. Chowdhury later said she'd been called a "f--king child" while chairing a previous meeting and accused other members of bullying her, prompting Payne to call a recess. After the break, Council Member Pearl Walker delivered an emotional speech criticizing colleagues for focusing on ICE and Cuba while gun violence continues in North Minneapolis, saying she has been "ICE'd [her] whole damn life." Despite the infighting and questions about why the council is weighing in on international issues with Minneapolis facing its own crises, both resolutions ultimately passed, underscoring deep rifts over decorum, priorities, and how the body engages with federal immigration policy in the wake of Metro Surge.
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Minneapolis police-fire training center plan stalls as council sends land deal back to staff
Minneapolis City Council sent a $6.1 million land-purchase motion for a proposed $38 million multiagency police-fire safety and training center in the Windom neighborhood back to staff after a split vote over funding sources and acquisition procedures, with Council Member Robin Wonsley warning it would divert money from ADA and traffic-calming projects and protesters briefly disrupting the meeting. City staff and the Community Safety Commissioner say the nearly 5-acre facility — including classrooms and mental-health spaces — would consolidate training and wellness functions, address shortcomings of the leased Hamilton Special Operations Center (which has cost the city more than $20 million since 2006), and help meet DOJ consent-decree cross-training requirements.
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Eighth Circuit's Avila ruling backs Trump policy of no-bond ICE detention
A three-judge Eighth Circuit panel ruled 2-1 in Joaquin Herrera Avila's case that the federal mandatory-detention statute permits ICE to hold certain noncitizens without bond even when arrested in the interior, reversing a Minnesota district judge's order for a bond hearing and aligning with the Trump administration's July ICE memo and a recent Fifth Circuit decision. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen warned the ruling could undercut roughly 1,000 Minnesota habeas-ordered releases tied to Operation Metro Surge, defenders of detainees say they will pursue further appeals (potentially to the Supreme Court), and a dissent argued the decision departs from long-standing government practice.
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Judges threaten contempt as Rosen again defends ICE surge order violations
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen was returned to court in a contempt-focused hearing as judges continue to find repeated ICE surge order violations, with more than two dozen written rulings often siding with immigrants and some courts already holding the government in civil contempt — judges have called aspects of the operation "Orwellian," "craven" and "disturbing," citing cases such as a Somali Amazon worker and a 12-year-old allegedly transferred without warrants. Rosen has defended his office by pointing to a recent Eighth Circuit ruling in the Herrera Avila case, which upheld the government's interpretation of mandatory detention, reversed district no-bond orders and, he says, renders roughly 1,000 prior release orders "flatly wrong."
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Judge details 'compelling and troubling' evidence of racial profiling by ICE in Minnesota
Judge Eric Tostrud found "compelling and troubling" evidence that ICE/HSI in Minnesota engaged in racial profiling, parsing specific stop-and-arrest scenarios and internal guidance and distinguishing where policies versus individual officer conduct appear unconstitutional, but he declined to issue an injunction citing the future-harm standard and the government's claim it was winding down certain operations. At the same time, appeals courts continue to uphold the broad no-bond detention authority under the 1996 statute, creating a structural gap in which statutory detention power remains intact even as district judges identify on-the-ground constitutional problems, leaving uneven protections for residents.
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Federal E15 waiver aims to cut Minnesota gas costs
The federal government has approved a request from Midwest governors, including Gov. Tim Walz, for a temporary nationwide waiver to allow summer sales of E15 gasoline — a 15% ethanol blend — beginning May 1, a move Walz says should shave about 14 cents per gallon for drivers as prices climb toward $4 amid the Iran war. Walz's office notes Minnesota already has more than 550 stations selling E15 and moved over 144 million gallons of the blend in 2025, meaning the policy change will be immediately felt at pumps used by Twin Cities commuters, delivery fleets and farmers hauling into the metro. The waiver also lifts federal restrictions on E10, the 10% ethanol blend, broadening the supply of compliant fuel during what the governor calls a "fuel supply shortage." Vehicles model year 2001 and newer can legally use E15, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, so nearly all metro passenger cars and light trucks are eligible. Walz, who helped win a 2024 ruling allowing permanent year-round E15 in eight Midwestern states including Minnesota, is now pushing for a permanent nationwide E15 policy rather than the patchwork of temporary waivers every time global oil markets go sideways.
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Minnesota lawmakers debate kratom age hike vs. full Schedule II ban
Minnesota lawmakers are debating competing kratom measures — one to raise the purchase age from 18 to 21 and another to classify kratom and its active alkaloid 7-OH as Schedule II controlled substances requiring a prescription — as victims' families and some legislators press for tougher action. Sen. Alice Mann, an ER doctor, warned against basing laws on anecdote while flagging synthetic additives as the biggest problem, Sen. Michael Holmstrom called for "a lot more severe restrictions," FOX 9 found kratom liquid and pills readily available at an Eden Prairie smoke shop, and several other states, including Connecticut this week, have moved to ban the substance.
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Minnesota lawmakers target online sweepstakes casinos
Minnesota lawmakers are moving a bipartisan bill that would effectively ban online 'sweepstakes casinos' that mimic slots and table games while skirting the state's gambling laws, a change that would hit Twin Cities users and at least one Minnesota-run operator. The measure, which has cleared committees in both the House and Senate, is backed by the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which calls the sites unregulated and illegal platforms that advertise in the state and pay out cash winnings through a two-currency system. Sen. Jordan Rasmusson says the bill is aimed at closing a loophole that is 'effectively allowing online gambling' while still preserving traditional promotional sweepstakes used in marketing. Opposing the bill, ARB Interactive CEO Patrick Fechtmeyer — a Minnesota native whose company employs more than 200 tech workers — warns that an outright ban will simply push Minnesotans to some 1,100 offshore operators with even fewer consumer protections. For metro residents, the fight will determine whether online casino-style play remains accessible at all inside Minnesota's borders or is driven deeper into the shadows while the state continues to rely on tribal casinos, pulltabs and the lottery for legal gambling.
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GOP move to swap Blue Line extension for buses
Republican legislators and Northside business leaders are lining up against the planned Blue Line light-rail extension from Target Field to Brooklyn Park, arguing it will bulldoze through a predominantly Black business district on West Broadway, wipe out parking and displace hundreds of homes and minority-owned shops. At a Capitol briefing and House Transportation Committee hearing this week, Rep. Jon Koznick compared the project's potential impact to the I-94 construction that destroyed St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood in the 1950s and said North Minneapolis through Brooklyn Park residents "do not want" the rail line in its current form. Koznick is pushing a bill to divert state money away from the extension and into a rapid bus alternative he says would be cheaper, more flexible and less disruptive to the corridor. Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene hit back, telling lawmakers that half of projected Blue Line riders come from households without reliable cars and that light rail has the highest ridership and lowest subsidy per rider of any transit mode, with the existing Blue and Green lines already carrying a third of all metro transit trips. The fight puts North Minneapolis and northwest suburbs at the center of a familiar Twin Cities question: whose mobility and whose land get prioritized when big transit dollars are on the table, and what lessons—if any—the region has learned from Rondo-style "progress."
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St. Paul to pay $9.5M over Jimmy Lee rec center shooting
The St. Paul City Council is poised to approve a $9.5 million settlement with the family of JuVaughn Turner, who was 16 when he was shot in the head by city employee Exavir Dwayne Binford Jr. outside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in January 2023. The civil suit says Turner survived but now lives with permanent physical and cognitive impairments that will affect his ability to work, maintain relationships and handle basic daily tasks. The complaint also lays out Binford's prior history as a city worker, including an earlier allegation that he threatened to shoot another teen — a report the city allegedly failed to properly investigate just months before this shooting. Binford, who reportedly said, "If I got to kill somebody I will. I don't give a f---" shortly before pulling the trigger, pleaded guilty in 2024 to first-degree assault and is serving a 125-month sentence, with release expected in December 2029. If approved, the settlement would close the family's claims in exchange for releasing future legal action, leaving taxpayers on the hook for one of the largest recent payouts tied to a city employee's violence at a public facility.
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Judge orders ICE to allow clergy access at Whipple
A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered ICE to let faith leaders minister in person to immigration detainees held at the Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, tightening the leash on an agency already under fire for Metro Surge abuses in the Twin Cities. The ruling comes after local clergy and religious groups said they'd been blocked or heavily restricted from providing pastoral care and religious services to detainees at Whipple, despite repeated requests. The judge found that ICE's current practices unlawfully interfered with detainees' ability to exercise their religious rights and directed the agency to adopt a system that gives qualified clergy regular, meaningful access, rather than ad-hoc or blanket denials. The order applies to Whipple — the metro's central ICE court and processing hub — meaning detainees swept up in recent raids and held there must now be allowed contact with outside ministers, not just phone calls or video when ICE feels like it.
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JFK Profile in Courage Award honors Twin Cities' Metro Surge resistance
The JFK Library Foundation has awarded its 2026 Profile in Courage Award to the "People of the Twin Cities" in recognition of their response to ICE's Operation Metro Surge. This formal, national-level honor — not just a nomination — is part of the 2026 award cycle that also recognizes Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, underscoring the selection's prominence.
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Minnesota bill would cap concert ticket resales at 15%
A bill moving forward at the Minnesota Legislature would cap the resale price of concert tickets at no more than 15% above the original face value after fees and force platforms like SeatGeek and StubHub to disclose the original ticket price. The proposal, carried by Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL-Spring Lake Park), targets bots and bulk resellers that snap up tickets and then sharply mark them up, but it would not apply to tickets for sports events or Broadway-style performances. A StubHub representative warned lawmakers that primary sellers like Ticketmaster and Live Nation routinely hold back roughly half of tickets and create artificial scarcity, driving up prices before the resale market ever sees them. The bill advanced out of committee on Wednesday with some members questioning how far the state can go without also tackling primary-market practices, especially given Minnesota's separate antitrust suit against Ticketmaster/Live Nation and ongoing federal action that so far has delivered no direct compensation to consumers. For Twin Cities concertgoers shut out of big shows or gouged on the secondary market, the measure would put a hard ceiling on resale prices while leaving the underlying monopoly fight with Ticketmaster largely unresolved.
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Staffing exodus jeopardizes Feeding Our Future trials as more guilty pleas loom
A collapse in federal prosecutor staffing — with more than a dozen resignations this year amid fallout over Operation Metro Surge — has prompted the U.S. Attorney's Office to push for guilty pleas and threatens to delay Feeding Our Future trials. Three defendants are scheduled before a judge Wednesday with two expected to plead, and while seven remain slated for an April trial (six of whom could still take deals), prosecutors say they cannot be ready for a separate June trial because of staffing losses and the demands of the April case.
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Minnesota lawmakers push new tools to vet fraud risk
Republican and DFL lawmakers are rolling out parallel anti-fraud plans at the Capitol that would change how Minnesota vets grant applicants and human-services providers, with direct implications for Twin Cities nonprofits and Medicaid contractors. One GOP bill backed by some House Democrats would introduce a formal 'risk score' for grant applicants, forcing groups to spell out internal controls and structures before they see a dime. Separate DFL Senate proposals would tighten provider standards, mandate more state audits and electronically verified unannounced site visits, while trying to dial back blanket prepayment reviews that have been choking legitimate operators. Another bill would lock in annual data-matching by the Department of Human Services to confirm ongoing medical-assistance eligibility and require overdue reports to the Legislature — a function DHS has largely skipped since the pandemic. For metro residents watching DHS scandals, CMS deferrals and UCare's collapse, this package represents the first concrete attempt this session to hard-wire better vetting into state law instead of just talking tough about fraud after the money's gone.
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Auditor: DHS wrongly ignored autism kickback complaints, misread its own authority
An audit by the Office of the Legislative Auditor found Minnesota DHS's Office of Inspector General repeatedly declined to investigate kickback-only complaints in the EIDBI autism program because staff mistakenly believed state law didn't cover those allegations — a confusion traced to a decades-old DHS administrative rule that cited the wrong federal fraud statute. The report documents uninvestigated complaints and internal decision-making, flags broader fraud-screening and case-selection weaknesses, and urges rewriting rules, retraining OIG staff and creating explicit procedures after lawmakers made the authority clear in a 2025 statute.
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Walz budget pairs social-media tax with $370M cuts, sales-tax trim, Metro Surge aid
Gov. Walz's supplemental budget pairs a proposed state tax on large social-media/tech companies with $370 million in spending reductions, a sales-tax trim and targeted aid for the Metro Surge program. A substantial share of the cuts would come from human services—including slowed growth and repurposed DHS line items beyond the fraud-detection and IT overhauls—intersecting with ongoing Medicaid fraud crackdowns and CMS deferrals that are straining metro providers.
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Senate GOP rolls out school safety and academics package
Minnesota Senate Republicans unveiled a package of education bills at the Capitol aimed at tightening school safety and raising academic performance, proposals that would hit metro districts directly if they pass. The plan centers on the SHIELD Act, sponsored by Sen. Zach Duckworth, which would create grants for "hard" security upgrades like electronic access systems, ballistic-resistant glass and security-staff training. Other bills would require schools to notify parents about safety incidents, protect staff who report safety concerns, allow schools to remove disruptive students from class for a day, and give districts the option to retain third-graders who are not reading-proficient. The caucus also wants to expand Safe School Aid to non-public schools, boost counselor funding, create a federal tax-credit scholarship mechanism, and temporarily let school boards waive certain mandates adopted after July 1, 2023 to gain budget flexibility. For Minneapolis-St. Paul parents, teachers and administrators, the package lays out the Republicans' counter-agenda on safety, reading policy and mandates that will shape this session's fights over how classrooms in the metro are run and funded.
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Bill would tightly limit Minnesota license-plate reader data
Rep. Brad Tabke has introduced HF 4205, a statewide bill to sharply restrict how automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data is collected, stored and shared by Minnesota law enforcement and private vendors, a move aimed squarely at practices exposed during Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities. Announced at a St. Paul press conference with the ACLU of Minnesota, the proposal would centralize ALPR data at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, require that any data not tied to an active criminal investigation be deleted within 48 hours, and mandate warrants before out-of-state agencies can access Minnesota plate records. ACLU attorney John Boehler said public records show some agencies have essentially opened their LPR systems to federal and out-of-state users, resulting in more than 15,000 searches per day in January and February and over 425,000 searches at a single metro agency in six weeks, often without warrants or clear case ties. Residents who monitored ICE during Metro Surge told reporters they believe agents used license-plate hits to track them to their homes, describing vehicles slowing down to photograph their houses as acts of intimidation. The bill would also impose new transparency and consent rules on private ALPR companies, banning sale or sharing of personal data without consent, a warrant or a court order, and is set for its first hearing in the House Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee.
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Ramsey County attorney seeks funding to tackle statewide fraud
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi says his office is willing to become a main prosecutorial hub for complex statewide fraud cases — including schemes tied to state government in St. Paul — but only if lawmakers cough up more money for investigators and attorneys. In an interview with FOX 9, Choi pointed to his office's past work on a $4 million daycare fraud ring and said they currently handle about 50 fraud cases a year, arguing they could take on more statewide cases because the State Capitol sits in Ramsey County and gives his office jurisdiction over many state-level crimes that don't involve federal dollars. A recent state fraud report explicitly recommended boosting the "prosecutorial capacity" of the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, effectively inviting Choi to step into a bigger role as Minnesota scrambles to respond to mounting fraud scandals in human services and beyond. Choi admits he hasn't yet had serious funding talks with legislators, calling the idea 'early stages' and stressing that any expansion would require a 'robust' team of investigators, not just lawyers. For Twin Cities residents watching DHS, Medicaid and childcare fraud stack up while cases bog down, the signal here is clear: Ramsey County is offering to swing harder — but only if the state stops pretending you can do big-league fraud enforcement on a small-ball budget.
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Bill would tighten Minnesota school threat reporting
Parents and survivors of the Annunciation Church mass shooting in Minneapolis are backing a new Minnesota bill that would force school districts to actively promote an anonymous threat-reporting app or create equivalent programs, arguing early tips are one of the few safety measures lawmakers will currently entertain. Testifying at the Capitol, Sandy Hook mother Nicole Hockley pushed her group's 'Say Something' system, claiming it has helped avert more than 300 weapon-related attacks and over 1,200 youth suicides, and citing research that roughly three-quarters of mass shooters show warning signs beforehand. Minnesota already participates in the 'See It, Say It, Send It' app, with the BCA analyzing tips, but metro school officials say the current setup doesn't reliably get information to school-based teams quickly enough to assess and intervene. The bill, which so far carries no dedicated funding, is drawing criticism from district leaders who say it lacks clear standards for how threats are evaluated and how schools and law enforcement must coordinate, raising fears of another unfunded mandate dropped on already stretched Twin Cities districts. For metro families, the fight now is less about headline-grabbing gun bans, which are stalled, and more about whether the state will build a threat-reporting system that actually works in real time instead of just checking a box.
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Minnesota lawmakers revive ghost gun ban after court ruling
Minnesota Democrats are pushing a new ban on untraceable "ghost guns" after the state Supreme Court effectively gutted the previous law, ruling last year that serial-number requirements only applied where federal law also required them. The proposed legislation, which has cleared a Senate committee, would close that gap by explicitly outlawing unserialized, home-built firearms that can be 3D-printed or assembled from kits bought online and that bypass background checks, a growing concern for metro police trying to trace shootings in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Gun-rights groups, including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, are fighting the measure, arguing that the state already has extensive laws against violent crime and illegal possession and that expanding criminal liability will hit "law-abiding" hobbyists more than criminals. Passage in the narrowly divided full House and Senate is uncertain, so for Twin Cities residents this is an early test of how far lawmakers are willing to go this session to rein in a class of weapons that investigators say increasingly show up at crime scenes with no paper trail. Behind the scenes, law enforcement has been complaining for years that ghost guns are a major blind spot in firearms tracing, but the court's ruling forced legislators either to fix the statute or live with essentially legal, untraceable guns on city streets.
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Twin Cities blizzard cleanup: metro roads mostly clear, MSP back to normal, southern MN still shut down
After a powerful March blizzard that brought narrow, high-end snow bands and blizzard warnings, Twin Cities road crews have mostly cleared highways—though ramps, bridges, parking lots and sidewalks remain slippery—and MSP is largely back to normal after hundreds of flight cancellations Sunday and short security waits Monday. Southern and southwest Minnesota, however, still face no-travel advisories, road closures and white-out/blizzard conditions with southeast Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin seeing 14-20" (southern metro 10-14", northern metro 6-10"), prompting National Guard activation and school and service disruptions.
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Minnesota Senate panel advances assault-weapons ban, local gun-law powers
Minnesota senators spent Friday in a marathon Judiciary Committee hearing on 17 gun-related bills, headlined by a proposed statewide assault-weapons ban prompted in part by the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis. Survivors and families, including the father of slain student Harper Moyski, urged lawmakers to restrict rifles designed for rapid fire and catastrophic wounds, while Republicans pointed to the 2016 Crossroads Mall knife attack in St. Cloud to argue that civilians may need similar firepower for self-defense. The package also includes bills that would let cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul enact stricter local gun ordinances, create a state Office of Gun Prevention, and reinstate a 2024 ban on binary triggers that effectively turn semiautomatics into near-automatics. Most of the measures cleared the DFL-controlled committee, but their future is murky in Minnesota's tied House, where several are already stalled. For Twin Cities residents who live with routine gunfire and are watching school, church and nightlife shootings stack up, this is the latest front in a fight that will decide whether the state tightens access to certain weapons and lets the core cities go further than the statewide floor.
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Ex-military lawyers challenge JAG prosecutors in MN ICE cases
A group of 11 former military attorneys, including ex-Marine JAG and former Minnesota federal prosecutor John Marti, has filed a motion to remove an active-duty Army JAG Corps lawyer from prosecuting a felony assault case in Minnesota federal court tied to Operation Metro Surge. They argue that using active-duty military attorneys as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in civilian criminal cases erodes the long-standing separation between the armed forces and domestic law enforcement, calling it a 'dangerous risk to the Republic' rooted in the very concerns the Founders tried to head off. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota, bleeding staff and already under fire for surge-related habeas defeats and contempt findings, has been importing JAGs to handle both civil and criminal dockets; at least one has already been held in contempt, underscoring how far out of their lane some of these lawyers may be. DOJ counters with a legal memo from Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser claiming the Posse Comitatus Act allows these deployments so long as the JAGs work full-time under civilian supervision, but that's exactly the interpretation Marti's group wants a federal judge here to test. With a hearing set for early next month in the Paul Johnson assault-on-agents case, the fight will put on the record whether Trump's Justice Department can plug its Minnesota staffing crisis by effectively militarizing parts of the prosecution function in Metro Surge cases that directly touch Twin Cities communities.
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Phishing scam targets Minneapolis permit applicants
The City of Minneapolis and the FBI are warning that scammers are targeting people with active city land-use permits and zoning applications by emailing fake invoices for "extra" fees and threatening delays or cancellations if they don't pay immediately. Officials say they've identified at least 15 scam emails over the past year, with senders posing as city or county planning staff, copying Minneapolis branding, and using look-alike addresses ending in @usa.com instead of the city's official @minneapolismn.gov domain. The city stresses it will never demand payment via PayPal, wire transfer, gift cards or similar electronic methods, and says it has no confirmed victims so far in Minneapolis. Residents, developers and contractors who receive suspicious emails are urged not to click links or open attachments and to report the messages by calling 311. The FBI notes the scheme is part of a broader national trend of fraudsters piggy-backing on legitimate government processes to shake down applicants for bogus fees.
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Anoka-Hennepin superintendent to depart after 2025-26
Anoka-Hennepin Schools Superintendent Cory McIntyre has told the school board he will not seek renewal of his contract, meaning his tenure will end when his current deal expires on June 30, 2026. McIntyre, who has led the state's largest district since July 2023, is exiting less than three years after taking the job and just months after a narrowly averted teachers' strike that produced a tentative deal in January following 11 bargaining sessions. The district says the board will now develop a leadership transition plan and timeline to select the next superintendent before the 2026-27 school year, but has given no details on search parameters or public input. In a formal statement, board members praised McIntyre for steering major budget cuts and implementing literacy changes under the READ Act, calling Anoka-Hennepin a 'leader in the state' on reading proficiency, while offering no explanation for his decision to leave. For north-metro families and staff, the move injects more uncertainty into a district already wrestling with budget pressures, state literacy mandates, and raw labor relations that only recently stepped back from a strike.
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$40M Metro Surge rental relief bill dies in House committee
DFL lawmakers proposed a $40 million emergency rental assistance package to help people affected by the Metro Surge, but the bill stalled and effectively died in a Minnesota House committee on a party-line vote, which House Speaker Lisa Demuth said "has no path forward." The Senate version had passed with at least one Republican vote, yet House Republicans were unanimously opposed, while supporters such as Sen. Lindsey Port argued using the tax-forfeiture surplus fund is appropriate restitution to people harmed and frames the Metro Surge as federal-government wrongdoing the state should address.
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Target CEO's $3B growth plan collides with ongoing Minneapolis-led boycott over DEI and ICE
Target's $3 billion growth plan to open new stores and win back customer trust is running up against an ongoing Minneapolis-led boycott that local activists say remains "indefinite" over the company's 2025 rollback of DEI measures and its allowing ICE to stage in parking lots and detain people during Operation Metro Surge. At a March 11 news conference outside Target's Minneapolis headquarters, civil-rights leader Nekima Armstrong rejected claims the boycott was over and accused Target of "going around" local organizers; Target responded that it is "more committed than ever" to growth and opportunity as quarterly results show profits stabilizing after five straight quarters of sliding sales.
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Bill would make cyclists stop on yellow lights in bike lanes
Minnesota lawmakers are considering HF 3774, a bill from Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) that would require bicyclists riding in dedicated bike lanes to come to a stop at yellow traffic lights before entering an intersection or crosswalk. The proposal, heard March 11, 2026 in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, is a tweak to last year's so-called 'Idaho stop' reforms, which already allow cyclists to roll through stop signs with no cross-traffic and to proceed through or turn at red lights without waiting for green. Crucially, the new rule would apply only when riders are in separate bike infrastructure; cyclists traveling in mixed traffic lanes with cars would still follow the regular rules for motorists. Backers, including a downtown Minneapolis rider who testified about seeing close calls from people 'racing the yellow lights,' say the aim is to cut bike-car collisions at intersections, while the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota warns lawmakers not to undermine a broader safety goal of clearing bikes out of danger zones quickly. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a larger transportation omnibus, so Metro riders won't see any change unless it survives end-of-session deal-making.
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Minnesota bill would treat e-motos as motorcycles
A new Minnesota House bill, HF 3785, would reclassify many high-powered electric "e-motos" as motor vehicles and effectively regulate them as motorcycles, tightening rules that directly affect how they're sold and ridden in Twin Cities streets and trails. Sponsored by Rep. Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) and heard Wednesday in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, the measure would redefine 'motor vehicle' to include battery-operated electric motorcycles not originally built for on-road use, triggering licensing and enforcement requirements under existing motorcycle statutes. The bill would also sharply limit the machines themselves in Minnesota, cutting allowable top speed from 30 to 20 mph, dropping maximum weight from 500 pounds to 100 pounds, and requiring throttle motors between 750 and 1,500 watts, while banning operation and sale of non-compliant e-motos unless they're third-party certified. Hastings resident Janet Stotko, who says a 14-year-old on an e-bike hit her from behind at about 25 mph last summer, told lawmakers the crash gave her a traumatic brain injury and left her with no charges filed, no insurance coverage and essentially no legal recourse because e-motos aren't clearly defined in law. The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota backed the bill as a practical way to use existing statutes to rein in a fast-growing class of electric dirt-bike-style machines that police say they've struggled to regulate, and the proposal was laid over for possible inclusion in a broader transportation omnibus, with any new rules taking effect Aug. 1, 2026.
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Business groups warn of early strain from paid leave law
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce told a House committee that, just two months after Minnesota's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act took effect in January, many of its 6,300 member businesses are already reporting higher costs, administrative headaches and fears of abuse. Chamber official Lauryn Schothorst said 80% of members already offered some paid leave before the mandate, but now face a more complex state system they say is slow to execute and disruptive for small and seasonal operations. She cited employer reports of workers pressuring doctors for the full 12 weeks of leave regardless of medical need, employees traveling on vacation or to music festivals while on leave, and some making more on benefits than the law's wage-replacement thresholds, which she framed as "overuse is abuse" even if it doesn't meet a legal fraud standard. The article notes that while some workers have experienced glitches applying for and receiving benefits, most appear to be getting payments without major problems so far. The program is still in its infancy, and lawmakers have not yet decided whether to tweak eligibility, enforcement or employer recourse in response to the business pushback, leaving Twin Cities employers in a wait-and-see posture as they staff around new absences.
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Ramsey County delays property taxes for ICE-hit owners
Ramsey County is giving certain property owners up to two extra months to pay the first half of their 2026 property taxes if they can show they were financially hit by Operation Metro Surge, the federal ICE crackdown that disrupted work for many east-metro residents. The relief applies to non-escrowed homesteads and small businesses with annual tax bills of $50,000 or less, and to one- to three-unit residential non-homestead properties with annual taxes of $20,000 or less. Eligible owners must apply through the county to qualify for the extension; escrowed properties are not covered. County officials explicitly link the move to "financial hardships" tied to the surge and are also steering $75,000 to the Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative, alongside existing 24/7 crisis services. For St. Paul and suburban Ramsey County, it's one of the first concrete county-level tax breaks tied directly to ICE's economic damage, but it only delays payment — it doesn't cut anyone's bill.
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Minnesota lawmakers weigh statewide ban on crypto ATMs
Minnesota legislators are considering a DFL-backed bill that would outlaw cryptocurrency ATMs statewide, a move police say is needed because the machines have become a prime tool for scammers and criminals to move cash out of reach. Law enforcement from around the state told lawmakers that residents have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars by being steered to these kiosks, with Faribault police alone tallying about $500,000 in crypto ATM scam losses since 2022 and a Woodbury detective describing a victim who made at least ten Bitcoin transactions over six months. There are currently about 350 crypto kiosks in Minnesota, many in gas stations and grocery stores that serve Twin Cities neighborhoods, and a major operator, CoinFlip — which runs 50 of them — is lobbying against an outright ban while saying it would support strict refund rules for fraud victims and tighter controls. The push comes even after lawmakers passed a weaker regulatory law in 2024 and after Attorney General Keith Ellison publicly warned of rising crypto ATM scams last year, reinforcing that the problem is escalating rather than fading. If the ban passes, it would cut off one of the easier on-ramps to cryptocurrency for metro residents, while forcing scammers to shift back to other channels like wire transfers and gift cards that don't happen to be in the political crosshairs right now.
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Minnesota House panel rejects electronic ID bill
A Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Monday voted down HF 1335, a bill by Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) that would have let the Department of Public Safety roll out electronic versions of driver's licenses and state IDs for use on smartphones. Tabke pitched the system as the ID equivalent of Apple Pay or Google Pay and noted that 14 other states already use similar technology, but the proposal failed to clear the committee, effectively stalling it for this session. The panel also rejected an amendment that would have limited eligibility for electronic credentials to people who could prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, a move clearly aimed at tightening ID access in the middle of highly charged immigration politics. For Minneapolis-St. Paul residents, the vote means no digital ID option is coming anytime soon — you're still stuck with the plastic card in your wallet even as REAL ID enforcement bites at airports — and it signals that lawmakers are nowhere near consensus on how much to modernize IDs or who should be allowed to hold them.
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DOJ pushes back on Minnesota suit over $243M Medicaid deferral, downplays JD Vance role
The Justice Department told a federal court it opposes Minnesota's request for an emergency order blocking roughly $243 million in CMS Medicaid deferrals tied to alleged fraud in 14 "high-risk" programs, arguing the hold is temporary, the state hasn't exhausted administrative remedies, and the funds can be restored through established processes. DOJ lawyers also said Vice President J.D. Vance's public comments carry "no weight" because he has no delegated Medicaid authority, even as the Trump administration — citing an Optum audit and broader fraud estimates — has paused larger payments (CMS has cited figures from about $259.5 million up to $2 billion) and Minnesota has appealed while ordering state audits and other oversight measures amid warnings the action could harm vulnerable residents.
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MPD chief grilled over passivity during ICE Metro Surge
At a Monday meeting of the Minneapolis Community Commission on Police Oversight, Police Chief Brian O'Hara faced pointed criticism from roughly three dozen residents and activists who say MPD failed to protect people during DHS's Operation Metro Surge and in the federal killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Speakers from groups including the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice and Communities United Against Police Brutality accused officers of hanging back while heavily armed federal teams swept neighborhoods, with one resident saying, "We showed up. Where were you guys?" O'Hara defended his department by arguing that federal agents operate under different laws and that MPD has limited authority to interfere with what Washington labels lawful immigration enforcement, conceding the department "wasn't perfect" and was in a "constant state of trying to adjust." He also disclosed that MPD has opened two potential misdemeanor assault cases involving federal agents and referred them to an Inspector General's Office, but said the department has received no response so far. The clash underscores a widening accountability gap: metro residents can grill their own chief in public, but any effort to hold federal officers to even misdemeanor standards is now stuck in a federal bureaucracy that doesn't feel obliged to answer to Minneapolis.
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Bill would cap Minnesota governors at two terms
A new bill at the Minnesota Legislature would amend the state constitution to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two four-year terms total, bringing Minnesota in line with 37 other states that already cap gubernatorial tenure. The proposal, introduced in the House with Republican backing and some DFL co-sponsors, would apply prospectively beginning in 2030 if it passes both chambers and is then approved by voters statewide. Minnesota voters have never actually elected a governor to more than two consecutive terms, but this measure would lock that norm into law and bar any future three- or four-term governor. For Minneapolis-St. Paul residents, a term-limit change would permanently alter the power curve at the Capitol, guaranteeing regular turnover in the office that sets budgets, appoints agency heads, and negotiates on everything from transit and Medicaid to Metro Surge fallout. The bill's bipartisan support suggests it is more than a messaging stunt and could realistically end up on a future statewide ballot.
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Minnesota lawmakers push broad AI limits on police, kids
Minnesota legislators are advancing a slate of artificial-intelligence bills that would directly affect how police, tech companies and insurers operate in the Twin Cities, including new limits on 'reverse warrants' and children's access to chatbots. In committee hearings Monday, Sen. Eric Lucero argued that reverse location and data warrants — where police use AI and bulk data to identify everyone in a given place at a given time — violate the Fourth Amendment's intent, while law-enforcement officials countered they're essential for quickly finding suspects. A separate bill led by Sen. Erin Maye Quade would bar companies from letting minors use conversational chatbots after reports that some systems have steered young users toward self-harm, eating disorders and suicide, though industry lobbyists like TechNet's Jarrett Catlin are pushing for narrower rules focused on harmful content and crisis-response protocols instead of an outright ban. Other measures would prohibit insurers from quietly using AI to deny coverage, criminalize turning ordinary photos or video of Minnesotans into sexual or 'deepfake' content, and add a constitutional amendment clarifying that AI systems themselves have no free-speech rights. None of the proposals has reached a floor vote yet, but if they pass, Minneapolis-St. Paul police departments, schools, hospitals and tech-heavy employers will all have to rethink how they deploy AI tools in investigations, customer screening and kid-facing products.
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Minnesota bill advances to launch psilocybin therapy pilot
Minnesota lawmakers are weighing House File 2906, a bill that would legalize supervised psilocybin 'magic mushroom' therapy in a tightly controlled, three-year pilot program serving up to 1,000 patients statewide, including in the Twin Cities. The bill, authored by Rep. Andy Smith and now with bipartisan sponsors in both chambers, cleared its first hurdle Monday in the House Health Finance and Policy Committee. It would set up licensed cultivators and treatment facilities, require patients to be at least 21, undergo a health screening, obtain a certificate from a health-care practitioner, and register with the state, paying an annual fee to remain in the program. The proposal follows recommendations from the state's Psychedelic Medicine Task Force, which urged decriminalization based on emerging research that psilocybin can help treat depression, PTSD and addiction, and comes after a broader decriminalization bill stalled last year. For metro residents, the measure could eventually put a controversial but potentially powerful mental-health treatment within reach at regulated clinics, while raising fresh questions about safety, oversight and who profits if Minnesota moves into the psychedelic-medicine business.
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St. Paul presses MPCA, Ford on Highland site cleanup
The St. Paul City Council has passed a resolution formally asking the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to force Ford Motor Co. to do more cleanup at the former Ford assembly plant site in Highland Park, now being redeveloped as Highland Bridge. Council members say new testing has found lingering contamination that wasn't adequately addressed under earlier remediation plans, and they want MPCA to hold Ford to a stricter standard before more building goes up on the river bluff. The move signals the city no longer trusts Ford's assurances or the original regulatory sign-off to fully protect nearby residents, workers and the Mississippi River corridor. Neighbors who've watched the site transition from heavy industry to high-dollar housing are already questioning online whether regulators went too easy on a major corporation, and whether buyers were given the full story up front. If MPCA leans on Ford, it could mean additional investigation, soil removal, vapor controls or construction slowdowns at one of St. Paul's signature redevelopment projects.
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Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis at least $203M, but true damage is higher and hard to tally
Minneapolis now says Operation Metro Surge cost the city at least $203.1 million — a conservative floor that includes roughly $47 million in lost wages, about $81 million in small-business and restaurant revenue losses, $4.7 million in hotel cancellations, $15.7 million in emergency rent aid, millions more in city payroll and police overtime, and large weekly food-support expenses — while MPD reports tens of thousands of surge-related calls, cancelled days off, extended shifts and officer injuries/PTSD. Reporters and city officials warn the tally is incomplete because of blind spots (undocumented and cash-paid workers, suburban impacts, long-term closures, legal costs and more than 1,000 habeas petitions), the continued federal presence in the metro, and the shifting of fiscal burdens to local governments and nonprofits, so the true damage is likely far higher; state auditors are preparing a statewide estimate.
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Bill would force assisted living homes to help fallen residents
A new bipartisan bill dubbed "Larry's Law" would overhaul how Minnesota assisted living facilities respond when residents fall, after 79-year-old veteran Larry Thompson died last March at Meadow Ridge Senior Living in Golden Valley while staff followed a "no touch" policy and watched him slowly suffocate against a wall. Prompted by FOX 9's earlier investigation, the legislation would require that at least one worker trained in emergency response be on site 24/7 at assisted living facilities and boost fines for egregious neglect, while forcing homes to be transparent about their fall policies so families can see in writing whether staff are allowed to physically help. The Minnesota Department of Health has already cited Meadow Ridge for neglect and fined it $5,000, criticizing its policy of ordering staff to call 911 and not touch residents after a fall — an approach Minnesota's long-term care ombudsman and elder-advocacy groups say is widespread and inhumane. EMS leaders have warned that these "no lift/no touch" rules are clogging 911 with non-emergency calls, tying up first responders who should be handling life-threatening incidents across the metro. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Human Services Committee but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing, setting up a fight with industry lobbyists who argue tougher rules will raise costs even as Twin Cities families demand basic, hands-on help when loved ones hit the floor.
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DHS Tesla-keying worker was 'on break' or 'out sick' during some vandalism incidents, records show
A Minnesota Department of Human Services employee who keyed multiple Teslas, causing about $20,000 in damage, was given a one-day suspension. Time-and-attendance records show the worker was recorded as "on a break" or "out sick" during some of the vandalism incidents, and the Hennepin County Attorney placed him in diversion rather than filing felony charges.
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Trump ousts DHS chief Noem; Minnesota leaders blast Metro Surge legacy
President Donald Trump announced Thursday on Truth Social that he is removing Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security and plans to nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her, a major shake-up atop the agency that ran Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In rapid-fire statements, Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey all welcomed Noem's exit but said it does nothing to repair what they describe as lawless, deadly conduct by DHS, ICE and Border Patrol in Minnesota. Walz and Smith explicitly called for sweeping overhauls, independent investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and full accounting for children taken in the surge, while Flanagan said "it's time to rip ICE apart" and warned that Trump's "mass deportation agenda" continues regardless of who runs DHS. Klobuchar framed Noem's firing as vindication for Minnesotans who fought Metro Surge abuses and pointed back to her own Senate questioning where she pressed Noem on why hundreds of federal agents remain in the state. The reactions make clear that, from the Twin Cities' vantage point, swapping out the secretary is being read less as reform and more as political damage control unless it's followed by concrete restraints on ICE and accountability for the surge's fallout here.
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Bill would mandate IVF, infertility coverage in Minnesota
A bipartisan group of Minnesota senators has introduced the Minnesota Building Families Act (SF 1961), which would require most health plans in the state to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment — including in vitro fertilization (IVF) — and standard fertility preservation services, putting a new floor under what Twin Cities residents can expect from their insurance. Sponsored by Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) with co-sponsors Sen. Julia Coleman (R-Waconia), Sen. Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) and Sen. Alice Mann (DFL-Bloomington), the bill is set for a hearing in the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Thursday. It would mandate comprehensive infertility benefits with coverage for unlimited embryo transfers and up to four completed oocyte retrievals, while prohibiting higher co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance than what a plan charges for maternity care; surgical reversals of elective sterilization would remain optional for insurers. The proposal also locks the definition of "standard fertility preservation" to clinical guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, targeting patients whose cancer or other treatments threaten their ability to have children later. With IVF cycles routinely costing up to $30,000 out of pocket — far beyond the modest TrumpRx discount program touted by the White House — this bill would shift a large share of that cost from individual metro families onto the insurance pool if it clears both chambers and Gov. Tim Walz signs it.
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Bill would create powerful Minnesota vaccine advisory council
A Minnesota Senate bill set for hearing Thursday would create a new state vaccine advisory council and expand which immunizations health insurers must cover, changes that would directly affect how Twin Cities residents get and pay for vaccines. The council, made up of "trusted" scientists, clinicians and public-health leaders from groups like the Minnesota Medical Association, AAP, nurses and pharmacists, would meet quarterly in public and send vaccine-schedule recommendations to the health commissioner. The commissioner would normally have final say, but if two-thirds of the council votes to override, its recommendations would take effect for at least six months, effectively letting outside experts overrule MDH on vaccine policy. The bill also requires health plans to cover vaccines recommended not just by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, but also by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the West Coast Health Alliance, aiming to plug gaps caused by recent federal "uncertainty" over vaccine guidance. Major systems including Allina, Fairview, Children's Minnesota and the Minnesota Hospital Association are backing the bill, citing falling childhood vaccination rates since 2020 and recent measles and pertussis outbreaks as reasons to lock in broad, evidence-based coverage.
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Optum audit and DHS probe put $1.7B in Minnesota Medicaid claims and 200+ providers under scrutiny
A state-commissioned Optum audit ordered by Gov. Tim Walz found about $52 million in clear Medicaid billing violations and flagged roughly $1.7 billion in claims across 14 "high-risk" services as vulnerable due to vague DHS policies, prompting the Department of Human Services to open probes into more than 200 providers and roll out Optum-driven analytics, prepayment reviews and up to 90-day holds on flagged claims. The abrupt initial rollout — which briefly delayed all payments for the programs before narrowing to only Optum-flagged claims — sparked provider backlash and legislative scrutiny while revalidation, enrollment freezes, licensing pauses and the threat of federal recoupment or CMS deferral (potentially near $2 billion) have produced legal and political fights and raised concerns about destabilizing care for vulnerable clients.
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CMS threatens $2B cut; Minnesota massively expands unannounced Medicaid site checks under 'Minnesota Revalidate'
Federal regulators threatened in December to withhold as much as $2 billion over Medicaid fraud concerns and have since deferred $259.5 million, prompting Minnesota to sue to recover more than $243 million it says CMS unlawfully withheld. In response, Minnesota launched "Minnesota Revalidate" — a statewide surge of unannounced site checks targeting 5,813 providers across 87 counties in 13 high-risk Medicaid programs, reassigning 168 state employees, freezing new provider enrollments, opening investigations into at least 200 providers, and terminating its fraud-plagued Housing Stabilization Services amid payment stops that critics say are destabilizing housing and disability supports.
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Bill would ban individual screens in MN preschool, K
The Minnesota House Education Policy Committee held a hearing on HF3776, a bill that would prohibit preschool and kindergarten students from using individual-use screens while on public school grounds statewide, including in Twin Cities districts. Co-author Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-South Minneapolis) framed it as a "conversation starter" about how teacher-directed screen time affects young children, citing research that heavy early screen use can hinder brain development in attention, memory and social skills and make it harder for kids to self-regulate emotions. Supporters, including the nonprofit LiveMore ScreenLess, argue that young children should have guaranteed screen-free time for play, conversation and real-world exploration, something they say is now mostly available only in private schools, while some metro parents online are already cheering the idea and others worry about tech literacy. Minnetonka Public Schools' technology director Amanda Fay testified in opposition, warning that a blanket ban would strip professional judgment from teachers, conflict with existing curricula, roll back accessibility tools like captioning and magnification, and override local school boards. The hearing signals that screen use in early grades is moving from PTA fights to the legislative arena, with any statewide rule set to reshape how Minneapolis-St. Paul classrooms use iPads, Chromebooks and similar devices with their youngest students.
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St. Paul drive-through rules tightened; new zoning tweaks limit sites and require safer designs
St. Paul's City Council has approved citywide restrictions on new drive-throughs, banning them downtown and significantly limiting them along transit corridors and in pedestrian-oriented zones while imposing detailed standards for queue length and circulation. The ordinance requires designs that keep drive-through lanes from crossing primary pedestrian approaches to storefronts and accompanies simplified standards in mixed-use zoning areas to promote safer, more walkable development.
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MN bills target AI 'surveillance pricing' at grocers, retailers
DFL lawmakers at the Minnesota Capitol are pushing two new bills that would ban "surveillance pricing"—AI tools that track individual shoppers and quietly charge them different prices for the same items—first in grocery stores and then across other businesses. The move follows FOX 9's own test of the Cub Foods app, which found a frequent shopper in Minnesota was quoted higher prices on soy sauce, eggs and orange juice than an infrequent shopper at the same store, raising concerns that loyal Twin Cities customers are being penalized for their habits. Bill author Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie) says legislators need to "set the framework" before corporations race ahead of regulation, while Rep. Andy Smith (DFL-Rochester) argues most Minnesotans will see such hidden price gaps as fundamentally unfair. Tech-industry group Chamber of Progress counters there's still no comprehensive evidence of systematic harm from personalized pricing, setting up an inevitable fight at committee between consumer-protection advocates and companies that have invested heavily in dynamic pricing systems. For metro residents already squeezed by groceries and rent, the story is touching a nerve online: social feeds are full of shoppers swapping screenshots and warning that the old price tag is no longer a guarantee everyone in the aisle is paying the same thing.
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St. Paul loosens drive-thru ban with strict limits
The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to once again allow new drive-thrus citywide, but only under tight zoning and design rules that bar them from downtown, high-frequency transit corridors and stand-alone buildings. The ordinance requires far longer 'stacking' queues than before—12 vehicle spaces for restaurant lanes and 14 for coffee shops—to keep lines from spilling into traffic, and mandates that pedestrian access be designed so people never have to cross a drive-thru lane or other vehicle circulation to reach a business. City leaders are framing the compromise as a way to balance convenience and economic development with Vision Zero-style safety goals after years of pressure to curb conflicts between cars and walkers; it also underscores a clear policy split with Minneapolis, which has kept an outright ban on new drive-thrus since 2019. For St. Paul residents, the change will shape how future fast-food, coffee and pharmacy projects are built in neighborhood commercial nodes while trying to protect bus corridors and the core from more car congestion.
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House report undercuts Walz timeline on Feeding Our Future payments
A new U.S. House Oversight Committee report released during a contentious hearing with Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison says Minnesota education officials voluntarily resumed Feeding Our Future payments in April 2021 before any court order — contradicting Walz's public claim that a Ramsey County judge forced the state's hand. The report cites Minnesota Department of Education Assistant Commissioner Daron Korte and nutrition director Emily Honer, who told congressional investigators the judge never issued a final ruling on the payment stoppage and that the court lacked jurisdiction to order MDE to keep paying; Judge John Guthmann had already issued a rare public rebuke in 2022, writing that MDE "voluntarily resumed payments" and that no order compelled reimbursements. According to the report, MDE flagged Feeding Our Future concerns to the governor's office by April 2020, stopped processing applications in November 2020, halted payments in March 2021 for "serious deficiency," then restarted payments a month later and continued until January 2022, while Walz later told reporters he was "speechless" at a supposed ruling and suggested the judge should be investigated. The GOP-led committee is using the internal testimony to argue the Walz administration misled Minnesotans about its role, even as state officials point to USDA rules that make cutting off a sponsor extraordinarily difficult. For Twin Cities residents, this isn't academic: those 2021 payments are the pot of public money that ultimately financed a giant share of the Minneapolis-centered fraud spree and are now being used in Washington as political ammunition to justify deeper federal intrusion into Minnesota's human-services programs.
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Walz, Ellison grilled in U.S. House fraud hearing
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee, where they were questioned about alleged welfare fraud in the state. They told the panel a federal immigration crackdown — including Operation Metro Surge — has diverted resources, politicized oversight and hindered fraud investigations, with Walz calling Minnesota a "scapegoat," disputing the Justice Department's $9 billion fraud figure as far exceeding what has been charged or documented, and warning that threatened funding cuts are undercutting program-integrity work.
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Walz tells Congress ICE surge hampered Minnesota fraud fight
Gov. Tim Walz told a House Oversight Committee that the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge and broader immigration crackdown undermined Minnesota's fraud investigations by diverting federal resources, politicizing oversight, and threatening to freeze Medicaid and child-care funds, calling the state a "scapegoat" and disputing DOJ's multibillion-dollar fraud figures compared with actual indictments. His testimony came as federal tensions escalated — with President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, directing that federal agents won't intervene in protests unless cities ask (and must say "please"), and ordering ICE and Border Patrol to be "very forceful" in protecting federal property — developments that have fueled protests after the Minneapolis ICE crackdown and complicated state-local legal fights over the surge.
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Bill would cap private-equity home ownership, create landlord database
A new Minnesota House bill, HF 2687, backed by eight lawmakers and authored by Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Minneapolis) with GOP co-sponsor Rep. Elliott Engen (R-Lino Lakes), would bar private-equity corporations from owning more than 50 single-family homes statewide and prohibit them from holding stakes in duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. The proposal, headed to the Housing Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday, defines private equity as profit-seeking investment firms while exempting government agencies, land trusts, nonprofits that build or rehab housing, and mortgage holders of foreclosed properties. It also orders the Department of Commerce to build a free, public landlord database listing the legal names and addresses of all owners and managers, with owners required to register new rental units within 60 days and update annually, and protects tenants from rent hikes or lease changes in retaliation for reporting missing information. If violations persist a year after a cease-and-desist, Commerce could fine private-equity owners $25,000 per single-family home over the 50-property limit. If passed and signed by Gov. Walz, the limits would apply to home purchases on or after Aug. 1, 2026, directly affecting how large investor landlords operate in the tight Twin Cities single-family market.
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IRS details how to deduct tips and overtime pay
The IRS has released instructions and a new Schedule 1-A for 2025 Form 1040 filings that let eligible workers deduct up to $25,000 in tipped income and up to $12,500 in overtime pay ($25,000 for joint filers) under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The tips deduction phases out for modified AGI above $150,000 ($300,000 for joint returns), and the law also creates a new deduction for car-loan interest on a qualified passenger vehicle, available even to taxpayers taking the standard deduction. Seniors born before Jan. 2, 1961 with valid Social Security numbers can claim an additional $6,000 deduction, but married seniors must file jointly to qualify. The IRS is urging filers nationwide — including Twin Cities service-industry and shift workers who stand to benefit most — to file electronically with direct deposit, saying tax software will compute the new deductions and reduce errors. These changes apply to 2025 income, so they will affect returns filed in early 2026.
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250 Minnesota Guard troops deployed amid Iran strikes
About 250 Minnesota National Guard members are currently deployed to U.S. Central Command's Middle East theater as the U.S. carries out strikes in Iran, according to the Guard. The troops come from Duluth's 148th Fighter Wing, the 1-151 Field Artillery based in Marshall, and Stillwater's 34th Military Police Company, which draws heavily from the Twin Cities metro. Guard officials are not disclosing specific bases or countries but note all are within CENTCOM's 21-nation area of responsibility, which includes Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Gulf states. In his first public comments since the attacks, President Donald Trump said he expects operations in Iran to last four to five weeks, but warned he is prepared to continue longer, outlining goals of destroying Iran's missile capabilities, crippling its navy, and blocking nuclear and proxy-militia programs. For metro readers, this means neighbors and coworkers are already in theater as the conflict ramps up, with families now facing weeks of heightened risk and uncertainty.
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Minneapolis speed cameras cut speeding over 50%; 33,000 violations logged in first year
Minneapolis's speed-camera pilot at five initial intersections produced large drops in speeding — city data show drivers exceeding the limit by 10+ mph fell about 51% (20+ mph down ~58%) and overall speeding was down more than 40% — and in 2025 the program logged 33,829 violations (29,504 warnings, 4,325 citations). The pilot, which added two more cameras Nov. 1 and may rotate sites under a state cap of 42, issues a warning for a first offense and fines ($40 for >10 mph, $80 for >20 mph) for repeat or higher-speed violations, and cost roughly $956,000 in 2025 while generating about $18,000 in citation revenue.
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Minneapolis tops $1B in 2025 construction permits for 15th year
Minneapolis officials say the city issued about $1.07 billion in building permits across roughly 12,000 projects in 2025, marking the 15th consecutive year the permit tally has topped $1 billion. Mayor Jacob Frey touted the numbers as evidence people still want to live and do business in the city, but the key projects city leaders chose to showcase were heavily weighted toward public and affordable housing investments rather than luxury towers. These include a $78 million rehabilitation of 221 public-housing units at Spring Manor Highrise plus a new 15-unit building, a $35 million overhaul of North Commons Park with a new fieldhouse and water park, and a $29.6 million Native American Community Clinic project on Franklin Avenue that pairs a new clinic with 83 income-restricted units. Other top projects range from a $22.9 million rehab at Little Earth and $22.3 million in added units at Exodus Residence for people exiting homelessness to an Xcel Energy service center and an Indian Health Board wellness campus. Taken together, the permit data and project list show a construction pipeline that's still sizable but increasingly reliant on publicly backed housing, health and community facilities rather than big speculative office development downtown.
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Community campaigns bolster immigrant-owned restaurants after Metro Surge
Following Operation Metro Surge, community groups — including PACAT (People's Action Coalition Against Trump) — have organized coordinated pro-immigrant dining events and rallies at Los Cactus and four other immigrant-owned restaurants on Central Avenue to channel economic support to businesses hit by enforcement. Los Cactus temporarily closed and cut hours because workers were afraid to come in but has recently resumed normal operations, and organizers are deliberately extending campaigns into suburban immigrant corridors such as Columbia Heights and Fridley.
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Minnesota clergy say ICE blocks spiritual care at Whipple detention center
Minnesota clergy have sued the Trump administration alleging that ICE and Whipple detention officials are blocking their ability to minister to detainees by repeatedly delaying or denying pastoral visits. Clergy and detainees report logistical and administrative barriers to scheduling visits and providing prayers or sacraments, and say Operation Metro Surge's increased detainee volume has worsened spiritual-care access compared with pre-surge norms.
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St. Paul Public Schools expand virtual options and supports for immigrant families amid ICE surge
St. Paul Public Schools is offering online learning at every school and launched a temporary virtual option beginning Jan. 22 (with no school Jan. 19-21 to allow staff preparation); families can opt into remote instruction that keeps students with their current teachers and classmates, and roughly 6,000 students initially enrolled. The district frames the move as a safety/stability response to increased ICE/federal enforcement and is adding operational supports — reassigned teachers, tech distribution, adjusted schedules and attendance policies, language access, counseling and community partnerships — to help immigrant and mixed-status families stay connected to school.
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Lawyer outlines possible penalties in Cities Church anti-ICE protest case
Federal prosecutors have charged 39 people, including former CNN host Don Lemon, under the FACE Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act for disrupting a Jan. 18 service at Cities Church where the pastor is an acting ICE field director, with DOJ vowing criminal prosecutions, making multiple arrests and holding arraignments. Defense lawyer Melvin Welch says many first-time defendants could face misdemeanor-level exposure (potentially zero to six months) but that prosecutors must prove specific intent to intimidate or forcibly disrupt worship; defendants have been released on bond with no-go conditions and several have retained high-profile counsel.
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Hennepin Healthcare warns HCMC could shut without Target Field tax rescue
Hennepin Healthcare says Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) lost more than $100 million in 2024 treating many patients who cannot pay and is urging state lawmakers to redirect Target Field sales tax revenue from stadium debt service to keep the hospital open, warning that without such a rescue the county would begin a 12-18 month shutdown process by May that would itself cost about $100 million. County leaders and Sen. Alice Mann warn a closure would overwhelm ERs statewide and could cause patient deaths — underscoring HCMC's role as the backstop for complex, unfunded transfers from rural and smaller hospitals — even as Hennepin Healthcare plans a new $12 million downtown Minneapolis addiction center.
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Minnesota forecast now shows $3.7B 2026-27 surplus; structural gap looms
Minnesota Management and Budget now projects a $3.715 billion general-fund balance for 2026-27—about $1.3 billion higher than the November estimate—and has revised the 2028-29 outlook to a $377 million shortfall (improved from nearly $3 billion projected earlier). The swing reflects stronger-than-expected income and sales tax receipts, revised federal assumptions and updated spending baselines, but MMB warns of a structural imbalance ahead amid federal funding uncertainties and rising health-care costs, prompting partisan debate over one-time relief versus longer-term fixes.
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Minnesota forecast now shows $3.7B 2026-27 surplus
Minnesota Management and Budget's February 2026 forecast projects a $3.7 billion general-fund balance for the 2026-27 biennium, $1.3 billion higher than the state's November estimate, driven by a slightly better economic outlook and stronger—but more volatile—revenue sources. The out-years are less rosy: the 2028-29 biennium now shows just a $377 million balance and what officials call a "significant structural imbalance," with spending growth outpacing revenue through 2029 amid federal policy shifts, shutdown-related data gaps and broader economic uncertainty. House GOP leaders immediately seized on the stronger near-term numbers to argue against tax hikes and for a conformity bill that would exempt tips and overtime from state income tax, with Speaker Lisa Demuth saying "tax increases...should be off the table" and Rep. Harry Niska casting the forecast as proof pro-business policies are the solution to what he labels earlier DFL "fiscal disaster." For the Twin Cities, this forecast sets the table for 2026 session fights over whether to spend, save or cut—choices that will cascade into local aid, school funding, transit money, and how much of the Metro Surge and Medicaid-fraud fallout gets patched from the state's checkbook versus pushed onto local levies. The structural gap on the horizon also means Minneapolis-St. Paul taxpayers should assume today's surplus is no guarantee against tougher budget medicine later in the decade.
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HCMC 'on life support,' warns of possible shutdown without Target Field tax rescue
Hennepin County Medical Center is "on life support" and could shut down without additional state aid, even after cutting tens of millions of dollars in expenses. As one of Minnesota's largest health systems and a major downtown Minneapolis employer, corporate and civic leaders are pressing the Legislature for a rescue beyond what county taxpayers can shoulder.
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Minneapolis to end nine community trauma-response contracts
Minneapolis' Neighborhood Safety Department has told nine community trauma-response groups — including high-profile team A Mother's Love — that their city contracts will end in 30 days, blaming a $4 million rollover that never materialized in the general fund and a decision to pivot funding into gun-violence intervention programs instead. Officials say police and fire overtime and weaker-than-expected property-tax collections helped drain the general fund, but have not yet provided the full documentation FOX 9 requested. NSD manager Amanda Harrington says the department will focus on Group Violence Intervention and Youth Group Violence Intervention, while acknowledging the loss is "painful" and that many groups have still been showing up at crime scenes even when unpaid. A Mother's Love founder Lisa Clemons says families won't have buried many current homicide victims before the money stops and argues that trauma care itself is a key violence-prevention tool, warning that no one has explained who will take their place when shootings typically spike this spring and summer. The city has offered no clear replacement plan for on-the-ground trauma response, leaving neighborhoods to wonder whether police and prosecutors' budgets are being backfilled at the expense of the community workers who sit with grieving families after the tape comes down.
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Walz to unveil Medicaid anti-fraud package
Gov. Tim Walz is set to announce a 'comprehensive anti-fraud legislative package' Thursday at 10:45 a.m. in St. Paul aimed at tightening oversight of Minnesota's Medicaid system, a move with major implications for Twin Cities providers and beneficiaries. He will be joined by DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi, DHS Inspector General James Clark and BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, but not Program Integrity Director Tim O'Malley, whose blistering report this week traced fraud-control failures back to the 1970s and described a "compassion over compliance" culture at DHS. Walz's plan lands on top of a 13-bill DFL package and AG Keith Ellison's revised MAP Act, which would add 18 fraud prosecutors and investigators and expand subpoena powers, and a rival GOP 'Fraud Isn't Free Act' that would punish agencies and commissioners for slow responses and missed controls. The competing proposals will shape how aggressively the state goes after suspected Medicaid and human-services fraud tied to high-risk programs that disproportionately operate in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and how much collateral damage falls on legitimate providers and vulnerable clients. Lawmakers and lobbyists are already signaling a bruising fight over whether fraud is primarily a prosecutorial problem, an agency-culture problem, or both — and who should pay when systems fail.
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Target pays $110M to exit City Center lease; tower going up for sale
Target Corp. has paid nearly $110 million to terminate its long-term lease at Minneapolis' City Center, and the downtown tower will now be put on the market, according to a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal report. Most of Target's payout will go toward paying down debt on the building, easing pressure on the landlord but underlining how badly the once-flagship property has been hollowed out since Target moved its headquarters functions a block over and shifted to hybrid work. The sale will test investor appetite for a large, aging office/retail complex in the heart of a downtown still struggling with high vacancies, safety perceptions and the fallout from the ICE surge and the pandemic. For the city, any change of hands shapes future tax revenue, the chances of an office-to-residential conversion, and whether Nicollet Mall regains meaningful retail traffic. Commercial brokers and downtown advocates watching the listing say the size of Target's check shows how far landlords are now willing to bend to get legacy leases off the books and reset financing in a battered office market.
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U.S. House and BWCA advocates clash as Senate weighs mining-ban repeal
The U.S. House voted to revoke a mining ban in the Superior National Forest, sending H.J. Res. 140 to the Senate and prompting hundreds of protesters at the Minnesota Capitol who oppose lifting federal protections upstream of the Boundary Waters. Friends of the Boundary Waters executive director Chris Knopf warned water from the affected lands flows directly into the BWCA and could be fouled by mining, while outfitter Ginny Nelson and Mining Minnesota executive director Julie Lucas acknowledged local economic stakes and said any mine must first prove it will not harm the wilderness.
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Minneapolis plans $38M first-responder training campus in Windom
Minneapolis is proposing a $38 million, state-of-the-art first-responder training campus on a 4.7-acre site in the Windom neighborhood near West 60th Street, consolidating police, fire and emergency training now scattered across aging facilities. Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette says centralizing operations will improve coordination and deliver a "safer" and more "compassionate" response for residents and visitors. The project would include modern classrooms, major-incident training spaces, an indoor shooting range for MPD and space for employee mental-health support teams, and the city plans to ask the state to cover half of the cost. Officials aim to buy the property this year, break ground in 2026 and open the campus in 2029 or 2030, which will also make Windom one of the city's most heavily used public-safety hubs. The plan will go before the City Council in coming weeks, where funding, neighborhood impacts and long-term operating costs are likely to draw close scrutiny.
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DFL, GOP feud over rival anti-fraud plans and inspector general push as 2026 session opens
As the 2026 session opens, Minnesota DFL lawmakers have rolled out a 13-bill anti-fraud package — proposing more site visits, provider background checks, electronic visit verification, modernized IT, a consumer-protection fraud bureau and beefed-up Medicaid Fraud Control — while House Republicans counter with their "Fraud Isn't Free Act," pressing for statutory rules for high-risk programs (citing Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization, Medicaid and Somali-run day-care centers), an independent Office of Inspector General and an unredacted Optum audit. The standoff centers on whether agencies that oversaw past fraud can police themselves, with Republicans tying the issue to Gov. Tim Walz's decision not to seek reelection and DFL leaders urging bipartisan agreement on measures like EVV as Walz prepares to announce his own anti-fraud priorities.
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Video repeatedly undercuts DHS accounts as ICE and Border Patrol operate without body cams in Minneapolis
Surveillance and bystander video from multiple Minnesota incidents — including the downtown Minneapolis killing of Alex Pretti — have repeatedly contradicted DHS/ICE and Border Patrol accounts, highlighting a broader credibility problem while most agents still lack body cameras (about 3,000 of 13,000 ICE agents were issued cameras). Footage and sworn eyewitness declarations say Pretti was pepper-sprayed, thrown to the ground and engaged while holding a phone rather than a gun, prompting federal lawsuits, calls for an independent investigation, community protests and additional criminal and DOJ inquiries tied to clashes at the scene.
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Eagan uses one-year data center/crypto moratorium to study neighborhood, power impacts
Eagan has approved what reports call Minnesota's first-ever one-year moratorium on data center and cryptocurrency operations to study potential neighborhood and power impacts. City staff will evaluate issues including power-grid capacity, noise, traffic, heat, water use and tax implications, review how other Minnesota communities are responding, and the pause covers projects within 500 feet of residential zoning or drawing more than 20 megawatts, with draft ordinances expected before the moratorium ends.
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Ellison pitches tougher Medicaid fraud powers, bigger unit
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Rep. Matt Norris are rolling out a revised Medical Assistance Protection (MAP) Act that would expand the AG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit from 32 to 50 staff and broaden what state law defines as Medicaid fraud, directly affecting how fraud cases are built against Twin Cities providers and middlemen. The 18 new positions would be 75% federally funded under a 3-to-1 match from HHS, leaving Minnesota on the hook for roughly four FTEs at a cost of about $1.2 million per biennium, a staffing boost Ellison says federal officials themselves have recommended. Beyond claiming "false" reimbursement with intent to defraud, the bill would explicitly criminalize lying to defraud, falsifying service records, and destroying records after a state records request, raise Medicaid-fraud penalties to match private-sector fraud, lengthen the statute of limitations, and give the AG broader subpoena powers for financial records so longer, more complex schemes can be prosecuted. The proposal lands two days after Gov. Walz's new Program Integrity Director, Tim O'Malley, issued a scathing report that said Minnesota's oversight failures date back to the 1970s and that some DHS leaders prioritized "compassion over compliance," and as Republicans push a competing Fraud Isn't Free Act that targets agencies and commissioners. In the background, federal prosecutors have floated a $9 billion since-2018 Medicaid-fraud figure that state officials dispute, viral right-wing videos and Trump's attacks have turned Minnesota into a national punching bag, and Metro Surge ICE raids were explicitly justified in part on "fraud tourist" narratives, giving this bill high political heat as well as real prosecutorial consequences for Minneapolis-St. Paul hospitals, clinics, disability providers and day-care operators.
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Court affidavits show 4,000 federal agents cycled through Minnesota; about 400 ICE/HSI to remain after Metro Surge
Court affidavits filed at U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud's request say more than 4,000 federal agents — including roughly 3,000 ICE personnel (with about 270 ERO officers and 700 HSI agents detailed to the St. Paul field office) and additional CBP officers — cycled through Operation Metro Surge, with CBP beginning demobilization around Feb. 4 by moving about 680 personnel and leaving roughly 67 CBP staff to be reassigned. ICE's filings say staffing will stabilize at about 107 ERO officers and 300 HSI agents in Minnesota, and while officials including White House border official Tom Homan have publicly declared the Metro Surge over, enforcement data and maps show post-announcement arrests and operations remained elevated above pre-surge baselines; the drawdown coincided with a sharp drop in immigration habeas filings and the lifting of a prior contempt order after ICE complied.
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DHS vows arrests after Cities Church anti-ICE protest; parishioner now files civil suit
Federal authorities vowed arrests after the Jan. 18 anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, and parishioner Ann Doucette has filed a pro se civil lawsuit alleging the disruption interfered with her free exercise of religion and caused "severe emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma." The complaint names protesters and journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort — who already face federal FACE Act and KKK Act charges for entering the church — and says Lemon and Fort are being sued personally.
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St. Paul hit-and-run: Michael Kentrell Smith charged with vehicular homicide in death of Amber Deneen
Thirty-year-old Amber O. Deneen of St. Paul was killed in a hit-and-run after being struck while walking with her two dogs; police arrested 39-year-old Michael Kentrell Smith and charged him with vehicular homicide in Ramsey County. The complaint says Smith slowed but did not stop at a stop sign before striking Deneen, witnesses followed and honked as he fled, surveillance showed the SUV at a nearby Speedway inspecting a front passenger tire, and Smith told officers he thought he hit bike-lane cones and said, "I'm sorry man... I don't remember hitting nobody"; neighbors have planned a memorial and are calling for increased traffic enforcement.
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Full timeline maps ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Twin Cities
Minnesota Reformer's timeline and follow-up data aggregate arrests, offense categories and case outcomes from ICE's Operation Metro Surge, showing many arrestees fell outside DHS's violent-offender classifications and documenting how enforcement volumes and court workloads spiked during the surge compared with pre- and post-periods. A FOX 9 review found roughly 1,000 immigration habeas petitions filed in Minnesota federal court since Dec. 1, 2025 — weekly filings peaked at 198 the week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1 and fell to 46 the week of Feb. 16-22 — a decline tied to the administration's announced drawdown or faster transfers of detainees out of state after a surge that overwhelmed prosecutors, produced court-order violations and prompted judges to frequently order releases or bond hearings.
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Hwy 280 closes until State Fair; I-394, I-494 shut on weekends
MnDOT is closing Highway 280 from I-94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I-35W in Roseville starting Monday and keeping it shut until late August, promising to reopen in time for the Minnesota State Fair while crews resurface pavement, repair bridges and improve drainage. Separately, both directions of I-394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2, as part of work on 34 ramps and bridges, with westbound lanes then reduced to two (using the E-ZPass lane) into summer and the Penn Avenue bridge closed. A third project will close I-494 in both directions between I-35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for the second bridge removal in Bloomington/Richfield, alongside permanent closure of six ramps linking Nicollet Avenue and 12th Avenue to I-494. These overlapping shutdowns will force detours onto I-94, Hwy 36, I-35W, Hwy 100 and Hwy 77, and MnDOT is bluntly telling drivers to leave extra time, watch for lane reductions and check 511 before heading out. For Twin Cities commuters, truckers and anyone headed downtown or to the airport, the message is that 2026 construction has arrived early and the old 'winter or road work' joke now describes February reality.
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Local communities have limited power to block ICE detention centers
This piece examines how cities and counties around the U.S., including Minnesota, are trying to resist new or expanding ICE detention centers — and how few legal tools they actually have. It explains that most detention facilities are controlled by federal contracts with counties or private prison firms, and local zoning boards can usually only influence where, not whether, a jail or detention site operates. The article walks through concrete examples of communities that passed moratoriums, tried to cancel contracts, or used building and health codes, only to find that federal supremacy, long-term agreements, and the threat of litigation sharply limit their leverage. It also notes that where residents have been most successful is in sustained political pressure that convinces counties not to renew ICE contracts or deters private operators from building in the first place — a point directly relevant to Twin Cities suburbs now worried that, after Metro Surge, ICE may look to expand brick-and-mortar capacity here. Advocates and local officials quoted in the story say any real change will require state-level laws or federal policy shifts, not just ad-hoc local fights at planning commissions.
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2026 Minnesota session quickly bogs down in partisan fight over fraud and ICE-death investigations
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session quickly bogged down in partisan fights as House Republicans tried to fast-track a Senate bill creating a new inspector general to investigate fraud—overruling suggested changes from the bill's DFL author—while House Democrats pushed to fast-track a bill giving the BCA authority to investigate deaths of Minnesotans caused by federal agents, citing the FBI's refusal to turn over evidence in cases like Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Both fast-track efforts failed on tied votes, leaving the proposals stalled in the first week; GOP Rep. Harry Niska blamed House DFL for blocking the fraud bill, and DFL Leader Zack Stephenson defended the BCA bill, saying the BCA told them the FBI would not cooperate.
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Federal officials say fewer than 500 ICE agents remain in Minnesota after Metro Surge
Federal officials say fewer than 500 ICE agents now remain in Minnesota, down sharply from roughly 3,000 at the height of Operation Metro Surge and following a series of announced drawdowns that officials say have reduced the force by about 1,000 since Tom Homan's initial pullback; the White House has presented the named "Metro Surge" as concluded. Gov. Tim Walz, who has pressed for an immediate end and called the presence an "occupation," expects the drawdown to happen in days and is preparing emergency grants, tax deferrals and licensing relief for Twin Cities businesses hurt by the surge, even as local leaders note that fewer than 500 agents still exceeds the pre-surge federal immigration footprint.
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Trump tells governors he won't force future ICE surges on states
President Trump privately told governors he will not force large-scale ICE enforcement surges on states that oppose them, but that pledge is political — not backed by any written order — and has been met with skepticism from immigrant communities and civil-rights lawyers. In Minnesota, Border Czar Tom Homan has declared Operation Metro Surge over and called it a success even as roughly 700 agents were pulled and about 2,000 ICE officers remain, prompting protests, legal challenges, local leaders' concern, and disruptions that have turned some business corridors into ad hoc shelters and triage sites.
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ICE presence shifts to suburbs as Dakota County reports increased coordination
Community reporting and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office say ICE activity and arrests are increasingly concentrated in Twin Cities suburbs, with a "noticeable increase" in ICE communication over the past two weeks and some—but not consistent—advance notice of enforcement actions, prompting heightened vigilance among residents. This shift follows federal officials' announcement that Operation Metro Surge concluded on Feb. 12 and that roughly 1,000 of about 3,000 agents had left Minnesota; DHS has not provided updated agent counts, and Gov. Tim Walz says there are about 150 federal immigration agents in the state under normal circumstances.
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Amended lawsuit lays out broader ICE abuses in Metro Surge
An amended federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota and Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota adds a sweeping set of new allegations against DHS, ICE and Border Patrol over Operation Metro Surge, accusing agents of unconstitutional home raids, traffic stops, use of force and interference with state and local authority across the Twin Cities. The filing details specific incidents: battering-ram entries into homes with defective or no warrants; agents allegedly lying in affidavits; detaining U.S. citizens, asylum seekers and long-settled residents; and blocking or gassing peaceful observers and legal monitors outside Whipple and at street protests. It also adds fresh plaintiffs, including people whose skulls were fractured or who were dragged half-naked from homes, and attacks DHS's use of mass data tools and license-plate readers to target neighborhoods. The suit, which previously focused more narrowly on legal-access and facial-recognition issues, now explicitly asks the court to rein in Metro Surge tactics as systemic Fourth and First Amendment violations and as an unconstitutional attempt to commandeer Minnesota's justice system. Social-media reaction in the metro has quickly seized on the new complaint as a consolidated record of what residents have been posting in scattered videos and threads for weeks, and advocates are framing it as the main legal vehicle to force changes if the political fight stalls.
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Downtown Minneapolis recovery shows gains, hurdles ahead
At the Minneapolis Downtown Council's 70th annual meeting at the Armory, Mayor Jacob Frey and business leaders touted signs of rebound downtown — roughly $200 million in 2024 building permits, about 9 million event visitors, and a 55% drop in Warehouse District crime — while conceding perceptions of danger and stubborn office vacancies are still dragging recovery. Council CEO Adam Duininck said the top barrier is the belief that downtown is unsafe or unpredictable, a perception recently inflamed by visible ICE enforcement, protests and business disruptions. Sixteen of the 20 largest downtown employers now require at least some in-office days, but small businesses like Hell's Kitchen say they still can't cover bills without more workers coming in, even "one more day" per week. Population is holding at about 60,000 residents with low residential vacancy and more apartments under construction, yet older office towers remain under-occupied and the Council is pushing conversions to housing and other uses, acknowledging this will require new financing tools and investor confidence. Speakers like Twins chair Tom Pohlad stressed that sports and events are propping up vibrancy, putting pressure on teams and venues to keep fans coming even when on-field performance lags.
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Walz $10M forgivable-loan plan, suburban mayors seek broader state bailout for ICE surge damage
Gov. Tim Walz has included a $10 million emergency relief package in his 2026 legislative proposal to provide one-time forgivable loans of $2,500-$25,000, administered by DEED, to small businesses that can show substantial revenue loss during specified Operation Metro Surge dates — a response he called to a "campaign of retribution" that caused "long-term damage," with owners like Henry Garcia saying aid could keep doors open. Meanwhile a coalition of roughly 20 largely suburban mayors is pushing for a broader state bailout, arguing the $10 million business fund is insufficient as cities face lost construction jobs, mounting police overtime, overwhelmed nonprofits and unaffordable local costs that suburbs cannot absorb alone.
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Medical examiner rules Alex Pretti killing a homicide; DOJ resists sharing evidence with Minnesota investigators
The Minneapolis medical examiner has ruled that Alex Pretti, who suffered a head injury in March, died as a homicide. Minnesota's BCA says the FBI and DOJ have refused to share case materials or physical evidence with state investigators, prompting Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith to urge U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to cooperate and to criticize administration officials for labeling Pretti a "domestic terrorist," a dispute that feeds broader calls for stricter oversight of federal agents' use of force in Minneapolis.
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Senate DFL unveils multi-bill 'ICE Accountability' package on masks, aid, protected spaces and state lawsuits
Senate DFL unveiled a multi-bill "ICE Accountability Agenda" to be heard first in the Senate Judiciary Committee beginning Friday, Feb. 20, including SF3688 (duty to render aid, Sen. Erin Murphy), SF3590 (a ban on masks for law enforcement, Sen. Lindsey Port), a package to create protected "essential spaces" like schools and hospitals (carried by Sen. Alice Moon), SF3628 — the Minnesota Constitutional Remedies Act (Sens. Bobby Joe Champion and Omar Fateh) — and a bill by Sen. Ron Latz requiring the BCA to lead investigations when federal agents kill Minnesota residents. Sponsors say the remedies bill aims to constrain or drive out Metro Surge-style ICE operations — "our desire is for ICE to leave and to never return," Champion said — while Port says ICE is "destroying the trust" rebuilt by local law enforcement and that agents should "take off their masks," and Latz expects at least some bipartisan support for the BCA provision.
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Minneapolis renews liquor licenses for ICE-lodging hotels after legal review
The Minneapolis City Council renewed liquor licenses for the Canopy and The Depot hotels despite earlier threats to deny them over allegations they housed ICE agents, after Regulatory Services' Jan. 28, 2026 review of security plans, code and labor-standards history and 911/311 calls (Dec. 2025-Feb. 2026) found no ordinance "strikes" and only a corrected 2025 underage-alcohol violation; public comments were evenly split 10-10. Staff warned that alleged weapons in rooms and ICE presence fall outside liquor-license criteria and that tying renewals to immigration policy would be legally vulnerable, while some council members signaled they might use other measures (such as blocking a hotel GM's advisory-board appointment) to register disapproval.
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St. Paul declares Feb. 19 snow emergency; night plow 9 p.m. Thursday, day plow 8 a.m. Friday
St. Paul declared a snow emergency beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, after the latest 7.6" storm; night-plow routes must be cleared of parked cars by 9 p.m. Thursday and day-plow routes by 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The emergency runs 96 hours through 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, with full ticketing and towing enforced citywide (note: blocks without "night plow" signs are treated as day-plow routes, so parking is prohibited during the day-plow phase).
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St. Paul declares snow emergency after 7.6" storm
St. Paul has declared a snow emergency starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, after MSP Airport recorded 7.6 inches of snow — the Twin Cities' largest snowfall of the season. All signed Night Plow Routes, including downtown and streets marked 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE' or 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET,' must be clear of parked cars by 9 p.m. Thursday or vehicles will be ticketed and towed; unsigned Day Plow Routes must be clear by 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The snow emergency will remain in effect for 96 hours, through 9 p.m. Feb. 23, and Mayor Kaohly Her has formally suspended her earlier towing moratorium until Feb. 24, warning that this event will bring full ticketing and towing back into play. Her said she won't "risk relying on unpredictable spring weather" to clear streets after weeks of ice ruts and is counting on plow and ticketing crews to restore passable pavement. Residents who don't pay attention to the new emergency face a rude awakening in the form of impound bills on top of already-steep winter costs.
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Minneapolis Council honors 8-year-old Annunciation victim Fletcher Merkel
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a resolution Feb. 19 honoring the life of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, one of two students killed in the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in south Minneapolis. The resolution describes Fletcher, born Jan. 17, 2017, as an inquisitive boy who loved all sports — including the Green Bay Packers — and was especially fond of animals, butterflies and frogs, saying his 'bright light was extinguished' when a gunman fired more than 100 rounds through the church's stained-glass windows during school Mass. Annunciation Principal Matthew DeBoer addressed the council, saying "Fletcher's light will never go out" before leading a rendition of "This Little Light of Mine," while Council Member Linea Palmisano noted that "healing is a journey, but the sting will never go away." The August attack left two students dead and 30 people injured, including students and staff, and this formal city recognition becomes one of the first official memorial acts tying the child's story to the public record as families, classmates and neighbors continue to push for accountability and gun-law changes at the Capitol.
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Minneapolis council moves to block Graduate Hotel GM from city board over ICE housing
The Minneapolis City Council is moving to deny the general manager of the Graduate Hotel a seat on a city board amid allegations that downtown hotels housed ICE agents during Operation Metro Surge. Council members are also scrutinizing liquor-license renewals for the Canopy and The Depot — but City Attorney Quinn O'Reilly said officials must show a nexus between alcohol service and any public-safety concerns before restricting licenses, while Council Member Michael Rainville said the threat of license loss has prompted cancellations, reduced hours and planned layoffs and Council Member Aurin Chowdhury pressed for due process and possible investigation before Thursday's vote.
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Hoffman returns as 2026 Legislature opens, honors slain Rep. Hortman
As the Minnesota Legislature gavels in for 2026 and lawmakers prepare to honor slain Rep. Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman made an emotional return to the Capitol — walking up the steps to a standing ovation and escorted by the same state troopers who guarded him — after months of hospitalization and recovery from the June 14, 2025 attack in which he and his wife were shot multiple times. Hoffman called the incident an "attempted assassination," praised Mercy Hospital staff, first responders and colleagues, credited his daughter Yvette with calling 911 after a gun was pointed at her, and urged politics to "fade" so lawmakers can "rise above the noise" and show that democracy is stronger than fear.
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Minnesota doctors press lawmakers on guns, vaccines, Medicaid cuts
On the eve of the 2026 session, the Minnesota Medical Association, representing about 10,000 physicians, rolled out five priorities for lawmakers, led by stricter gun-safety laws, higher vaccination rates and protecting hospitals from an expected $1.4 billion Medicaid reduction over four years. MMA president Dr. Lisa Mattson warned that roughly 40% of rural hospitals already operate in the red and said the looming cuts could force closures that would ripple into Twin Cities systems as patients are pushed toward metro facilities. The group is also urging the Legislature to consider eliminating Minnesota's "personal beliefs" exemption to school immunization rules and to require that human physicians, not algorithms, make final decisions on insurance denials as insurers push AI deeper into utilization review. House Speaker Lisa Demuth responded that Republicans "are not interested in any type of vaccine mandate" but acknowledged Medicaid's fiscal impact will have to be part of budget talks. Doctors plan to begin lobbying immediately, including testifying Thursday on how federal Medicaid moves will strain Minnesota's health-care safety net.
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GOP bill would criminalize protests outside Minnesota homes
A bloc of more than two dozen Minnesota House Republicans is backing HF 2809, a bill by Rep. Walter Hudson that would make 'residential protesting' a crime for demonstrators who gather on or directly in front of someone's home, with penalties escalating from a misdemeanor up to a gross misdemeanor and allowing courts to issue restraining orders. The proposal carves out narrow exceptions for peaceful protests in common areas where meetings are held and for homes that also function as the target's place of business, but otherwise would let police charge people simply for demonstrating at a residence. It's headed first to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on Feb. 18 and is being rolled out as Republicans tout a broader 2026 agenda built around a "Fraud Isn't Free Act" and crackdowns tied to DHS program scandals. The timing here isn't subtle: since Operation Metro Surge began Dec. 1, residents have taken their anger over ICE raids and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to officials' doorsteps, and this bill is an obvious attempt to shove that dissent off the block and back into "approved" public spaces. If it passes, Twin Cities residents who try to bring their protest to a lawmaker's or agency head's house could suddenly find themselves facing criminal charges and a court order to stay away.
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FBI refuses to share Alex Pretti shooting evidence with Minnesota BCA, also withholds records in Renee Good and north Minneapolis ICE cases
On Feb. 13 the FBI informed the Minnesota BCA it will not share any evidence in the Alex Pretti killing—even after a state judge ordered preservation—and has similarly declined BCA requests for cooperation and records in the Renee Good ICE killing and the Jan. 14 north Minneapolis shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says she still expects enough non-federal evidence to make charging decisions but warned federal noncooperation complicates state prosecutions, while DOJ civil-rights and DHS reviews continue without agreeing to joint investigations or reciprocal evidence sharing, a stance local officials call unprecedented.
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Minnesota Capitol adds weapons screening, still allows permitted handguns
Minnesota is installing airport-style security screening at the State Capitol in St. Paul for the 2026 session, a first for the building, but the new checkpoints will not change state law that allows permitted handgun carriers to bring firearms inside. Under the system, all visitors will pass through screening lanes with magnetometers and bag checks; knives and most other weapons will be barred, and even Capitol staff will be screened if they use public entrances, while legislators retain additional access options. State Patrol/Capitol Security officials say the move responds to a sharp rise in threats against public officials and aims to keep the building open while reducing the risk of weapons slipping in unnoticed. Critics on social media are already questioning why guns with permits remain legal as smaller weapons are banned, while others worry about bottlenecks and whether there will be enough staff to run the lines during big hearings and rallies. The change will directly affect Twin Cities residents who come to the Capitol to testify, protest, lobby or tour, and will set the baseline for any future debates over tighter, D.C.-style security.
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DOJ drops charges against two men in Renee Good ICE shooting; ICE still holds them
The Department of Justice moved to dismiss—and a judge granted dismissal of—all federal assault charges against Alejandro Velasco-Gonzalez and Kevin Garcia stemming from the Jan. 7 south Minneapolis ICE shooting, with prosecutors saying newly obtained video and witness statements materially undermined claims that either man attacked ICE Officer Jonathan Ross. The dismissal did not free them: they were released by a judge and immediately re-detained by ICE in civil immigration custody, and their lawyers say they will use the dropped charges to bolster habeas challenges and argue the criminal narrative around the shooting was false.
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Six children hurt when flash bang hits van in north Minneapolis ICE protest
Six children were hospitalized after a flash-bang device detonated near a van during an ICE protest in north Minneapolis, parents Shawn and Destiny Jackson said. They said ICE agents initially blocked their vehicle and rolled a tear-gas canister under the van as they tried to leave, causing airbags to deploy and the van to fill with gas; the mother performed CPR on a 6-month-old who stopped breathing, and three children, including the infant, were taken to the hospital. The Jacksons say they had not been protesting but were simply trying to go home.
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New weapons screening to start at MN Capitol Feb. 17
State officials are rolling out a new weapons-screening process for everyone entering the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, with implementation set to begin Monday, Feb. 17. At a preview event covered by FOX 9, authorities said the goal is to tighten security in the building while keeping it open and accessible to the public, staff and lobbyists. Details on the exact equipment, entrances affected and how firearms will be handled have not yet been fully disclosed, but the system will apply to visitors and employees alike. The change comes amid a marked rise in reported threats against public officials and the Capitol complex and follows earlier moves to add officers and a dedicated threats investigator. Capitol watchers and advocates are already debating online whether the state should go further with metal detectors and broader gun restrictions, especially given Minnesota's relatively permissive Capitol carry rules compared with other states.
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Members of Congress renew challenge to Noem's limits on ICE facility visits
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has imposed new limits on congressional visits to immigration detention and processing facilities—curbing unannounced "walk-throughs," requiring more advance notice and tighter conditions—which House Democrats and members of Minnesota's delegation say unlawfully obstruct traditional oversight and have formally challenged, using the Whipple Building encounter as a local test case. A federal judge declined to enjoin the policy, leaving the rules in place while the lawsuit proceeds and additional briefing is sought, even as related appeals have paused some protester protections and other litigation over the federal Operation Metro Surge continues.
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Amazon drops surveillance-data partner after Ring AI Super Bowl backlash
Amazon has formally terminated a partnership with a surveillance/data-broker company after backlash to a Ring AI feature showcased in its Super Bowl ad, saying it "listened to customer feedback" and will not move forward with the specific cross-camera search capability. Privacy and civil-liberties groups — including Minnesota advocates who criticized the ad — have claimed credit online and called the reversal a precedent against privatized mass surveillance.
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Judge Brasel blasts Whipple ICE conditions, orders fixes on attorney access and detainee treatment
U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel sharply rebuked the Trump administration over conditions at the Whipple Building, calling reports that detainees slept on bare floors in filthy, overcrowded holding rooms with trash, spoiled food and no bedding "deeply troubling" and inconsistent with constitutional and statutory obligations—findings she credited to attorneys who inspected the facility. She ordered DHS and plaintiffs to meet concrete deadlines to agree on improved attorney access and basic detainee conditions (narrowing DHS limits on phones, cameras and attorney contact during inspections), warned she will impose her own requirements if they fail, and linked the problems to the scale of Operation Metro Surge overwhelming Minnesota's due-process infrastructure.
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CDC yanks $38M from Minnesota public health, AG sues
The Minnesota Department of Health says the CDC has abruptly canceled about $38 million in grants for public-health infrastructure in the state—part of roughly $600 million in cuts targeting Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois and California—after telling MDH the work was 'inconsistent with agency priorities.' MDH planned to use the money to bolster the public-health workforce, modernize data systems, support emergency planning and response, and shore up local health capacity, which directly hits the metro counties that rely on state pass-through funds for disease tracking and emergency readiness. Attorney General Keith Ellison has now filed suit with California, Colorado and Illinois, seeking at least $42 million and a temporary restraining order, arguing the directive is unconstitutional and 'arbitrary and capricious' retribution against Minnesota. MDH Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham condemned the move as needless, politically targeted and dangerous, warning it makes Minnesotans 'less healthy, less safe and less prepared to respond to emergencies,' while HHS has already notified Congress it plans to cut additional grants next week, including Preventive Services Block Grant dollars and HIV/STD surveillance funding. The CDC has not yet publicly explained why these specific states were singled out, fueling online criticism that national public-health dollars are being weaponized against perceived political enemies rather than allocated by risk and need.
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Medical examiner rules Alex Pretti's death a homicide in Minneapolis Border Patrol shooting
Hennepin County Medical Examiner has ruled 37-year-old Alex Pretti's death a homicide, listing the cause as "multiple gunshot wounds" and noting he was shot by law-enforcement officers after Border Patrol/CBP agents fired near 26th & Nicollet in south Minneapolis. The killing — disputed by family and bystander videos, now the subject of a DOJ civil-rights probe and a state review, a federal-evidence preservation lawsuit, and public protests met with chemical crowd control — has intensified clashes between local officials and federal agencies over Operation Metro Surge and use of force.
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U.S. senators blast ICE, Border Patrol over deadly Minneapolis shootings
A Minnesota Reformer report says U.S. senators are now openly denouncing the way immigration agents used force in the Minneapolis shootings that killed Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, calling the incidents unacceptable and demanding tighter limits on ICE and Border Patrol tactics under Operation Metro Surge. In hearings and public statements, senators are questioning DHS accounts that framed both killings as self-defense, citing bystander videos and court affidavits that suggest agents escalated encounters and fired into crowded city streets. They are pressing for independent investigations separate from DHS internal reviews and warning that leaving lethal-force standards to agency discretion has put Twin Cities residents at risk. The article notes that this high-level pushback comes as federal judges in Minnesota repeatedly fault ICE for due-process violations and as local protests, school walkouts and business boycotts continue over the surge. On social media, Minneapolis nurses and immigrant advocates are hailing the senators' comments as overdue accountability, while pro-enforcement voices accuse them of undermining frontline officers.
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Senate to grill Minnesota, DHS leaders on Metro Surge
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, will hold a high-profile oversight hearing Thursday at 8 a.m. CT focused on immigration and law-enforcement operations in Minnesota, including the controversial Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities. The first panel will feature Minnesota officials — U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, state House GOP leader Harry Niska, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell — who are expected to be questioned on state responses to ICE and Border Patrol tactics, habeas rulings, fraud probes and detainer practices. A second panel will bring in federal brass: USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott and ICE Director Todd Lyons, putting the national architects of the surge on the record about shootings, raids and due-process violations playing out in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The hearing follows weeks of federal court rebukes, mass habeas filings, state-federal lawsuits and calls for investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and other disputed operations on city streets. For Twin Cities residents, this will be the first time top Minnesota officials and the key DHS leaders behind Metro Surge are questioned together under oath about what they've done — and failed to do — as thousands of federal agents have flooded the metro.
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Border czar Tom Homan to brief on ICE Metro Surge in Minneapolis Thursday morning
Border czar Tom Homan will hold an 8 a.m. Thursday news conference in Minneapolis to update ICE operations tied to Operation Metro Surge; at 9 a.m. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations leader Marcos Charles will give an official update, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections will hold a separate 10:30 a.m. briefing on ICE detainers. The Homan briefing — framed against Gov. Tim Walz's comment that the federal crackdown could end "days, not weeks" and following Homan's prior note that roughly 700 federal agents would leave Minnesota — coincides with Vice President JD Vance's Minneapolis stop on a multi-state trip tied to the immigration crackdown and has drawn warnings from Sen. Ron Latz that federal agents must respect constitutional rights.
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Congress moves to kill Trump's Canada tariffs; House joins Senate in bipartisan rebuke
Both chambers of Congress have moved to block President Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports, with the Senate voting earlier and the House now passing a bipartisan resolution to end the tariffs. The House measure directly targets the emergency declarations Trump used to justify the duties and sets up a likely veto fight and subsequent court challenges.
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Walz sends $1.2M state disaster aid for St. Paul cyberattack recovery
Gov. Tim Walz has authorized $1.2 million in state disaster assistance to help St. Paul recover from a July 2025 ransomware attack, saying the magnitude and complexity of the incident exceeded the city's response capacity. The funds are intended to restore critical IT systems, maintain continuity of vital city services and strengthen cybersecurity protections going forward.
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St. Paul council targets ICE hotel staging with resolution
The St. Paul City Council is advancing a resolution urging hotels and other lodging businesses inside city limits to decline contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, effectively telling ICE it is not welcome to use local hotels as staging bases during Operation Metro Surge. The measure is symbolic rather than a binding ban, but it formalizes political pressure on downtown and neighborhood hotels that have quietly hosted large numbers of federal agents during the Twin Cities immigration crackdown. Supporters frame it as a way to reduce fear in immigrant communities and keep federal operations away from places where families work and stay, while critics warn the city is trying to intimidate private businesses and risk federal retaliation. The resolution comes after two large downtown St. Paul hotels temporarily closed to ICE bookings over safety concerns, and as small immigrant-serving businesses report sharp revenue drops tied to the surge. On social media, immigrant-rights groups are praising the move and demanding similar action in Minneapolis, while some hospitality voices privately worry about being caught between city hall and the federal government.
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St. Paul expands ICE limits with ID, uniform and staging ordinances
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her signed an ordinance banning ICE "staging" and other operational activity on all city-owned property — including limits on access to non-public "cry spaces" — codifying a prior cease-and-desist and framed as a response to masked agents during Operation Metro Surge and concerns about harms to small businesses. The City Council also unanimously approved a rule requiring officers performing law-enforcement duties to visibly display identification on the outermost layer of their uniform and is weighing a companion ban on masks or facial coverings (with narrow exceptions) as part of a phased, legally resilient approach.
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ICE pursuit ends in Selby-Western crash, crowd gathers
St. Paul police say a red sedan being pursued by federal immigration agents under Operation Metro Surge crashed late Wednesday morning at Western and Selby Avenues, sending the person ICE was chasing to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and damaging several bystanders' cars. A large crowd quickly formed, with people blowing whistles and filming the scene — a now-common response in Twin Cities neighborhoods trying to document federal operations after previous ICE shootings and disputed raids. Newly elected Mayor Kaohly Her blasted the pursuit as another example of "reckless" ICE tactics that are "causing chaos and putting residents at risk," and renewed her call for Metro Surge to end immediately, while thanking neighbors and St. Paul officers who stayed to help. DHS did not respond to FOX 9's questions, leaving key details — including why the target was being pursued and what led up to the chase — unanswered. On social media, residents are highlighting the crash as proof that even routine St. Paul intersections have become dangerous ground when federal agents are in the mix.
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Minnesota updates climate plan, affirms 2040 carbon-free power goal
State officials unveiled Minnesota's 2026 Climate Action Framework on Feb. 11 at St. Paul's North End Community Center, an updated roadmap that leans into the statutory goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 and outlines more than 400 specific actions across seven sectors. Built off a 2022 framework and now tied to roughly 40 state laws and over $1 billion in climate-related funding, the plan targets big cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions from the power sector, transportation, building heat and agriculture, while promising job growth in clean-energy fields. MPCA says Minnesota has already distributed $95 million to more than 160 local governments in the past two years to help them prepare for climate impacts, money that includes Minneapolis, St. Paul and other metro cities working on flooding, heat and infrastructure upgrades. Near-term priorities include actually implementing 100% carbon-free electricity, accelerating EV adoption and transit decarbonization, cutting emissions from furnaces and boilers in homes and offices, and backing local infrastructure and disaster-response projects. For Twin Cities residents, this framework is the blueprint agencies and utilities will use to justify future rate cases, building-code changes, grant programs and transit or land-use decisions that will show up in monthly bills and neighborhood projects over the next decade.
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Native-led prayer camp forms outside Whipple ICE lockup
Native activists and allies have set up an Indigenous-led prayer camp outside the Whipple Federal Building ICE detention center at Fort Snelling, turning the lawn into a round-the-clock site of ceremony and protest against Operation Metro Surge. Organizers describe the camp as a spiritual response to the federal surge and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, saying they intend to remain, pray, and monitor who is taken into and released from the facility. The camp adds a visible, sustained presence at the metro's main ICE lockup at the same time lawsuits, habeas petitions and school walkouts challenge federal tactics across Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Social media posts from the site show drums, banners and elders leading prayers, and emphasize the parallel between historic military occupation at Fort Snelling and today's heavy federal enforcement presence. For Twin Cities residents, the camp signals that opposition to the surge is not just in courtrooms and at one-off marches, but is now physically rooted at the place where detainees are cycled in and out of the system.
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Top fraud prosecutor Joe Thompson quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office over ICE-widow probe; now joins Don Lemon investigation
Joe Thompson, the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office's top fraud prosecutor and First Assistant U.S. Attorney, resigned — one of at least six prosecutors to leave — after internal pressure from Washington to open a criminal probe into the widow of an ICE shooting victim, a dispute officials say has raised concerns about politicization and could disrupt high-profile fraud dockets such as Feeding Our Future and Medicaid/Housing fraud cases. Thompson has since been hired by journalist Don Lemon as the lead outside investigator for Lemon's deep-dive reporting on the ICE killing of Renee Good and the broader Operation Metro Surge crackdown in Minneapolis.
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I-94 east of downtown St. Paul to close again this weekend for bridge deck work
I-94 east of downtown St. Paul will be fully closed in both directions this weekend for bridge deck repairs after a previously planned shutdown was postponed, with MnDOT confirming the exact segment, start/end times and which ramps will be affected. MnDOT has posted updated detour routes and details to guide motorists around the closure.
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Homeland Security funding fight intensifies as Democrats reject White House ICE offer
Democrats have rejected a White House offer on ICE provisions as "insufficient," saying the dispute is not over DHS topline funding but over the absence of meaningful, written constraints on ICE and Border Patrol operations in the appropriations language. With Homeland Security funding set to expire imminently and Democrats moving to block the spending bill after the latest Minneapolis shooting, the standoff raises the risk of a lapse or another stopgap that would leave Operation Metro Surge unchanged.
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ICE director to face D.C. grilling over Minnesota surge
ICE Director Todd Lyons will testify Tuesday at a 9 a.m. CT U.S. House Homeland Security Committee oversight hearing alongside CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, with the Minnesota-centered ICE surge squarely on the agenda. The panel is chaired by Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who says he wants answers on officer training and claims he hopes the session will "calm down the rhetoric" even as Twin Cities footage shows agents battering down doors, shooting residents, and dragging people from cars and bus stops. Lyons will also face hostile questioning from Democrats such as Rep. Shri Thanedar, who has a bill to abolish ICE, and Rep. LaMonica McIver, herself charged with impeding federal officers during a detention-center incident, underscoring just how polarized this circus will be. For Minneapolis-St. Paul, this is the first time the top ICE brass will be on the record in a formal hearing since the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the wave of habeas petitions, and federal judges' orders freeing detainees and rebuking ICE tactics here. Expect members to wave around the same cooked-up "worst of the worst" numbers local reporting has already gutted, even as Minnesota officials and residents keep pushing for hard answers on how many of these raids are actually legal and how many are political theater.
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Minnesota paid leave: one-month update on demand, backlogs and fraud controls
In its first month Minnesota's Paid Family and Medical Leave drew nearly 12,000 early applications (11,883), with DEED reporting 6,393 applications reviewed so far and roughly two-thirds approved, while projecting about 130,000 users in year one and budgeting roughly $1.6 billion staffed by ~400 state employees. DEED says the portal and contact center are holding up and has rolled out layered fraud controls — LoginMN ID verification with a live selfie, mandatory provider certification and EHR checks, unemployment-insurance data matching, analytics, random audits and a program-integrity unit to track complex or suspicious claims.
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Scott Jensen drops governor bid, launches 2026 state auditor campaign
Scott Jensen has formally withdrawn from the 2026 Minnesota governor's race and launched a campaign for state auditor. The shift moves him from a top-of-ticket executive contest into an oversight role auditing state and local finances and reshapes the emerging statewide field, which already includes other GOP and DFL contenders.
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St. Paul backs study of rail line to Kansas City
The St. Paul City Council has backed a resolution supporting a study of new passenger-rail service between St. Paul and Kansas City, building on the strong early performance of Amtrak's Borealis line to Chicago, which reached 100,000 riders in under six months. The move signals city interest in making Union Depot a broader Midwest rail hub and in exploring another long-distance option for Twin Cities travelers beyond Chicago and existing Empire Builder service. While the resolution itself doesn't fund or commit to a line, it positions St. Paul to be at the table as Amtrak, MnDOT and neighboring states weigh potential routes, costs and federal funding. Rail advocates online are already touting the idea as a way to connect the Twin Cities more directly to Kansas City and the central U.S., while skeptics are watching to see whether the concept has enough political and financial backing to move beyond the study stage.
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Demuth names Ryan Wilson running mate in 2026 governor bid
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her running mate in her 2026 Republican gubernatorial bid; Wilson is an attorney, former CEO of a clinical-trials firm and narrowly lost the 2022 auditor race to DFLer Julie Blaha. The Demuth-Wilson ticket will begin a statewide tour this week and is the first GOP gubernatorial campaign so far to announce a lieutenant governor pick, with both figures having been involved in high-profile conservative legal and political efforts.
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Scott Jensen exits governor race, will run for auditor
Scott Jensen, the former Republican gubernatorial nominee, is dropping his 2026 bid for Minnesota governor and will instead run for state auditor, according to a new report from the Minnesota Reformer. His switch removes one more prominent name from an already crowded GOP governor field and moves him into a race that directly oversees audits of state agencies and local governments, including Twin Cities cities, counties, and school districts. The move also reshuffles the DFL-GOP matchup for an office that has become more politically salient amid massive fraud scandals and looming budget shortfalls. Reaction online from DFL-leaning circles is that Jensen is seeking a lower-profile statewide office after two losses and years of COVID-era controversy, while some Republicans see his name recognition as an asset in an office most voters usually ignore. How metro voters respond will help determine who sits over the books of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hennepin and Ramsey County for the next four years.
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Judge orders attorney inspection of Whipple ICE lockup
Immigration-rights attorneys will enter ICE's Whipple Building detention area Monday morning under a court order from Judge Nancy Brasel, but they've returned to court saying DHS is trying to block them from bringing phones or cameras and from speaking with detainees. The inspection stems from a lawsuit by The Advocates for Human Rights and a St. Paul asylum seeker alleging Operation Metro Surge has sharply limited detainees' access to lawyers at Whipple, despite ICE having attorney-visit rooms that were used in years past. Government lawyers argue detainees can make free legal calls and that the law doesn't guarantee 'unfettered' in-person access, noting most people are moved out of Whipple within 24 hours. The dispute comes after weeks of congressional clashes over access to the same facility, with Minnesota's delegation initially turned away and later allowed in only under tight conditions, and after Rep. Kelly Morrison likened conditions there to a 'third-world prison.' For Twin Cities residents, this inspection fight is a direct test of whether anyone outside ICE will be allowed to independently document what's happening inside the metro's central immigration jail during the federal surge.
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Six charged as Minnesota Medicaid probes expand
Six people have been charged as Minnesota's Medicaid fraud probe expands, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the DOJ to send additional federal prosecutors to bolster the relatively small U.S. Attorney's Office — a move framed as a response to "widespread fraud" and linked to a broader federal posture that has included large immigration/fraud operations. One defendant, Nasro Takhal, pleaded guilty in a PITSTOP-66 "phantom rides" scheme that used fabricated names to bus Somali Americans to unnecessary clinic visits and inflate UCare non-emergency medical transportation reimbursements from 2019-2021 (she faces over $300,000 in restitution), while officials warn fraud across 14 flagged Medicaid services could exceed $9 billion and say new $50 million schemes are being uncovered regularly.
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Only one Minnesota lawmaker allowed into Whipple ICE lockup
U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison was allowed into the Whipple Federal Building's ICE detention area in Minneapolis under a recent court order, but fellow Minnesota Democrats Angie Craig and Betty McCollum were stopped at a waiting room door and denied entry during an unannounced oversight visit. Morrison, a physician, says agents initially ignored the judge's order and stalled her for nearly 30 minutes, and once inside she found detainees held in what she called a cramped, "very dehumanizing" space with no protocol to prevent measles spread between Texas and Minnesota facilities. The visit is Morrison's first since joining a lawsuit that temporarily blocked the Trump administration's 7-day notice rule for congressional visits; Craig and McCollum, not plaintiffs in that case, remained barred despite the court's broader stay of the policy. Morrison blasted the operation as lawless and unprepared for the scale of "Operation Metro Surge," warning that gaps in infection-control and basic transparency at Whipple endanger detainees, staff and Minnesotans generally. On social media, Twin Cities advocates are seizing on the measles detail and the access denials as fresh evidence that federal agencies are stonewalling oversight while running a chaotic crackdown in the middle of the metro.
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Anoka opens Minnesota's first city-run cannabis shop
The City of Anoka has opened the Anoka Cannabis Company at 839 East River Road, making it Minnesota's first government-run municipal cannabis dispensary and the first such operation in the Twin Cities metro. After a Thursday ribbon-cutting, the 3,000-square-foot store is using a pre-order system through opening weekend before offering walk-in sales of flower, vapes, edibles, THC drinks and accessories starting Monday. City officials, who broke ground on the site last May and finished construction in January, say they expect the shop to turn a profit within its first year and plan to plow earnings and local cannabis taxes back into levy relief and new parks and recreation projects for Anoka residents. The Office of Cannabis Management has already received 12 more municipal-run retail applications statewide, including from metro suburbs such as Blaine, Mounds View, Osseo, St. Anthony Village and Lauderdale, setting up direct competition between public and private operators once more licenses are issued. The model mirrors municipal liquor stores but, unlike booze, cities cannot lock in monopolies on cannabis, so Anoka's experiment will be watched closely by other Twin Cities councils weighing whether the political and operational risk is worth the potential revenue.
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Jan. 6 figure Jake Lang charged with felony for smashing 'Prosecute ICE' Capitol sculpture
Jake Lang, a 30-year-old far-right influencer pardoned for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, was charged by Ramsey County prosecutors with one felony count of first-degree criminal damage to property after State Patrol troopers say he kicked and broke a "Prosecute ICE" ice sculpture outside the Minnesota Capitol — an act he recorded and posted — with the damage valued at more than $1,000 (Common Defense paid $6,250 for the piece). Identified via his own social-media video, Lang was arrested nearby, booked into Ramsey County Jail, made an initial court appearance and was released under conditions; he has defended the act as "First Amendment" and "artistic expression," a claim the charging complaint rejects, and the felony carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
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St. Paul small businesses say ICE surge slashes sales and forces hour cuts
St. Paul small businesses say a recent surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity—part of Operation Metro Surge—has slashed sales and forced some restaurants to cut hours or close. Owners at a coordinated news conference said customers are afraid to shop or even leave home, and some storefronts posted signs explicitly warning ICE agents not to enter.
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FOX 9 finds DHS ICE detainer numbers wildly inflated
FOX 9's review of jail and prison data blows a hole in the Trump administration's line that Minnesota is sitting on 1,360 'deportable criminals' with ICE detainers, a number DHS has been waving around to justify keeping a federal army on the ground here. Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell says DOC has been honoring detainers and estimates there are only about 100 people with ICE holds across all 87 counties, while FOX 9's check of the five biggest counties turned up just 36 detainers and roughly 300 non-citizens in custody total — nowhere near 1,360. Ramsey County didn't cough up numbers, but nothing in the local data comes close to backing the federal claim, and DHS has refused to produce any evidence for its figure even after repeated requests. Border czar Tom Homan is still insisting that building a 'reliable pipeline' from county jails to ICE is key to pulling agents out of Minnesota, but this investigation shows the pipeline he's describing is mostly smoke. For Twin Cities residents watching ICE batter down doors and shoot people on our streets, this isn't a minor accounting error — it's one more sign the surge is being sold with cooked numbers, not facts.
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New $30M fund targets troubled downtown St. Paul buildings
Securian Financial and the Bush Foundation are backing a roughly $30 million investment fund that will buy and stabilize troubled or strategically important properties in downtown St. Paul, working in partnership with the St. Paul Downtown Alliance's real-estate arm. The fund is designed to move quickly on distressed buildings or key sites that private buyers have left languishing, similar to how the Downtown Development Corporation has already taken over the U.S. Bank Center and Alliance Bank Center. By pooling local institutional money, the vehicle aims to keep ownership and decision-making in Twin Cities hands while repositioning underused offices and ramps into housing, mixed-use or other community-oriented uses. For residents and businesses, this is a serious attempt to arrest the downtown vacancy spiral before it guts the tax base, and it signals that big local players are no longer waiting for out-of-town landlords or national capital to fix the core. Early social-media chatter from downtown workers and small businesses is cautiously optimistic but skeptical, with people asking whether this will mean real storefront activity or just another round of speculative flipping.
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Minneapolis council to vote on $1M ICE-surge rental aid
Minneapolis City Council Minority Leader Robin Wonsley has introduced a proposal to pull $1 million from the city's contingency fund for emergency rental assistance to residents who have lost income or work hours during ICE's Operation Metro Surge, with a vote set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The money would be transferred to Hennepin County, which would route it through existing nonprofits that already help families cover rent. Council members say the federal immigration crackdown has closed or curtailed hours at workplaces and made many immigrants too afraid to commute, pushing households toward eviction. A companion measure would temporarily extend the city's minimum eviction-notice period from 30 to 60 days, buying tenants more time to secure help, while the council continues to press Gov. Tim Walz for a broader, statewide eviction moratorium during the surge. On social media, tenant groups and immigrant advocates are calling the plan a necessary stopgap, while some landlords and fiscal hawks question whether a one-time $1 million allocation can meaningfully blunt the economic damage from an open-ended federal operation.
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How ICE and HSI track Minnesotans' phones, cars and data under Metro Surge
Federal immigration and HSI agents operating under the Metro Surge are using systems like HSI's FALCON and commercial data streams—app-location feeds, ad-tech identifiers, cell-tower pings, automated license-plate readers and brokered records—to map devices, vehicles and "patterns of life" across Minneapolis-Saint Paul, including targeted searches in neighborhoods with Somali and Latino residents. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a consumer alert advising technical precautions and invoking the new Consumer Data Privacy Act to seek disclosure or deletion of some brokered data, while officials and experts warn there are major information gaps about what DHS is accessing and limits to how much deletion or privacy measures can blunt surveillance once data are ingested.
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DHS to equip ICE and Border Patrol with body cameras, starting in Minneapolis
DHS announced that every field officer in Minneapolis — including ICE and Border Patrol agents — will now wear body cameras, a rollout Secretary Kristi Noem framed as a response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and as a way to rebut what officials call "selectively edited" bystander videos. The move comes amid the controversial Operation Metro Surge — roughly 3,000 federal officers deployed in Minnesota versus about 80 under normal conditions, with no clear end date as a drawdown plan is drafted — and follows reporting that revealed 911 call audio about an ICE detainee's death and questions over DHS's characterization of recent arrests.
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Army stands down units eyed for possible Minnesota deployment
U.S. Northern Command has told Army units in North Carolina and Alaska to stand down from the short-fuse 'prepare to deploy' orders that had put them on 48-72-hour notice for a possible mission in Minnesota, according to the Twincities.com report. Those orders were part of Pentagon contingency planning as President Trump repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to Minneapolis-centered ICE protests and unrest. The stand-down means there is no active move right now to send additional active-duty troops into the Twin Cities, even as hundreds of ICE and Border Patrol agents remain on the ground under Operation Metro Surge. The article notes the change follows intense political blowback, ongoing habeas wins for detainees in Minnesota federal court, and visible fears locally of a repeat of 2020-style militarization. Social media reaction has been split: immigrant and civil-rights groups are calling the stand-down a partial victory of public pressure, while hard-line commentators frame it as a missed opportunity to 'restore order' in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Ramsey County adding treatment homes for justice-involved youth
Ramsey County is moving ahead with opening treatment-focused homes for youth in the juvenile justice system, aiming to keep kids closer to their communities and out of state-run institutions. The county plans to use small, staffed residences as placements for court-involved teens who need intensive mental-health and behavioral support, rather than relying solely on detention or distant residential facilities. Officials say the shift is meant to reduce reoffending by pairing supervision with therapy, schooling and family services in a more home-like setting. The homes will be in Ramsey County neighborhoods and operated under county contracts and oversight, raising questions from some residents about safety, siting and transparency that county leaders say they'll address through community engagement.
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Protesters rally at Target HQ over ICE surge
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Monday morning outside Target's downtown Minneapolis headquarters, demanding that new CEO Michael Fiddelke publicly oppose ICE's Operation Metro Surge and bar federal immigration agents from using Target stores and parking lots. Organizers accuse Target of 'silent complicity' while ICE and Border Patrol fan out across the Twin Cities, and they are pressing the retailer to end cooperation with federal staging and speak out against arrests that have traumatized immigrant workers and customers. The rally is part of a coordinated pressure campaign that has already hit hotels and homebuilders, and comes as major corporations have been criticized for reaping profits from diverse metro neighborhoods while ducking the political fallout of the crackdown. Social media posts from the scene show union banners and family-led chants, with some employees saying they fear both retaliation from the company and ICE attention if they join in.
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Trump ties federal protest response to city 'please' request
President Donald Trump used a weekend social-media statement to say he has ordered DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that federal agents will not intervene in protests or riots in "poorly run Democrat cities" unless local leaders formally ask for help — and, in his words, say "please." At the same time, he directed ICE and Border Patrol to be "very forceful" in protecting federal property, citing a protest that breached a federal building in Eugene, Oregon, and warning that spitting on officers or damaging government vehicles would bring "equal, or more, consequence," without clarifying whether he meant criminal charges, escalated force, or both. The guidance comes immediately after a nationwide strike and school walkouts sparked by ICE's Minneapolis-centered immigration crackdown and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, with Twin Cities organizers now bracing for harder lines around federal buildings even if Trump is, for the moment, backing off sending new riot squads into city streets. On social media, the "say please" line is being mocked as juvenile posturing, but policy lawyers note it telegraphs a posture: the administration wants visible deference from mayors while reserving aggressive tactics to defend its own turf.
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Judge frees Venezuelan family after invalid St. Paul ICE raid; U.S. Attorney apologizes
A federal judge ordered the release of a Venezuelan family detained in a St. Paul ICE raid after finding the operation relied on an invalid warrant, and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen formally apologized in a court filing for the way the matter and information were handled. All six family members were returned to their St. Paul home after being flown to two Texas immigration facilities where they allege mistreatment, and the case echoes a separate Minnesota habeas ruling that freed a 5-year-old and limited ICE's ability to move child detainees, though that order did not resolve the underlying legality of that arrest.
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Judge refuses to pause Operation Metro Surge; ICE crackdown continues in Minnesota during lawsuit
A federal judge declined Minnesota's request to halt Operation Metro Surge — the Trump-era ICE enforcement effort — finding the state had not met the standard for a preliminary injunction and allowing ICE and Border Patrol to continue operations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The broader lawsuit will proceed while individual habeas petitions and any narrower court orders continue to be adjudicated in parallel.
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St. Paul mayor meets border czar, presses to curb Metro Surge harms
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her met in person with the federal "border czar" to describe the harms Operation Metro Surge is causing — including fear in neighborhoods, school disruptions, and traffic and business impacts at immigrant-serving businesses as residents reportedly avoid work, school and essential errands because of visible ICE and Border Patrol activity. Federal officials acknowledged the concerns but gave no signal of an immediate rollback, and the meeting was framed as part of Her's broader push to tighten the city's separation ordinance and limit ICE staging on city property.
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DHS memo confirms two federal shooters, probes errant shot in Alex Pretti killing
A DHS memo to Congress confirms two federal officers — one Border Patrol agent and one Customs and Border Protection officer — each fired Glock pistols during the Nicollet Avenue killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, and DHS says it is leading the probe with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI while CBP conducts an internal review; at least four Border Patrol officers on scene were wearing body cameras and involved agents have been placed on administrative leave. Plaintiffs' newly filed declaration and bystander video and testimony allege agents used pepper spray and force on observers and saw no gun in Pretti's hands, investigators are examining whether an agent accidentally discharged Pretti's Sig Sauer P320 after disarming him, a court has ordered evidence preserved amid initial state-federal access disputes, President Trump has called for an "honest investigation," and DOJ has not opened a separate civil-rights probe.
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How federal $1,000 'Trump Accounts' work for new Twin Cities parents
The piece explains that under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, every baby born in the U.S. from 2025 through 2028 is eligible for a federally seeded $1,000 'Trump Account' once a parent or guardian opens an approved investment account, with the money locked in low-fee U.S. stock index funds until the child turns 18. It clarifies that funds can only be used for restricted purposes — such as tuition, a first-home down payment or starting a business — and withdrawals for other uses will trigger taxes and penalties, similar to misuse of a 529 plan. The article notes that Michael and Susan Dell have separately committed $6.25 billion to add a $250 seed for some lower-income children age 10 and under in qualifying ZIP codes, which include parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul, but those seeds are distinct from the $1,000 newborn accounts. It walks through how Twin Cities parents actually claim the benefit (which institutions are participating, what documents they need, and basic deadlines) and highlights fine print around income-tax treatment and what happens if parents fail to open an account during the eligibility window. The context makes clear this is not an automatic mailed check but an opt-in long-term asset program that could meaningfully affect wealth-building for new metro families who understand and use it.
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Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown liquid at Minneapolis town hall; assault suspect arrested
At a north Minneapolis town hall on ICE operations, Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid delivered via a syringe; police arrested a man on suspicion of assault and a forensic team is testing the substance. Omar appeared unhurt, resumed speaking after being checked, and the spraying was a separate incident from an earlier man who rushed the stage but was stopped by security.
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DFL wins two specials; MN House stays 67-67
DFL candidates Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai won special elections in St. Paul's HD47A and the Woodbury-area HD67A, taking roughly 97-98% and about 95% of the vote respectively to fill seats vacated by Kaohly Her and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger. Their victories leave the Minnesota House tied 67-67 heading into the 2026 legislative session, maintaining the need for continued power-sharing.
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Calls escalate to oust DHS chief Noem over Minneapolis ICE surge
The article reports that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing intensifying calls for her firing or impeachment from Democratic members of Congress, civil-rights groups and Minnesota officials over her handling of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's massive ICE and Border Patrol crackdown centered on Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Critics cite the fatal shooting of Renee Good, the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and another north-side wounding by federal agents, along with battering-ram raids, child detentions and bystander injuries, as evidence of systemic abuses under Noem's watch. The piece notes that impeachment articles in the U.S. House accuse her of violating civil rights, obstructing oversight and green-lighting unconstitutional tactics, and that local leaders like Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison argue the surge has turned Twin Cities neighborhoods into a federal militarized zone. It also underscores that the White House is standing by Noem so far, framing the surge as necessary law-enforcement, and that any impeachment would be an uphill climb in a Republican-run House and closely divided Senate. On social media, Twin Cities residents are amplifying video of federal shootings and raids while business owners and school communities describe Noem as personally responsible for the fear and economic damage rippling through immigrant corridors.
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Golden Valley neglect case sparks push to ban assisted-living 'no touch' policies
After a resident at a Golden Valley assisted-living facility reportedly slowly suffocated while staff did not intervene, Minnesota advocates and lawmakers are pushing to curb "no lift"/"no touch" fall policies in assisted-living homes. Proposed legislation — modeled on Arizona's 2021 law and including increased staff training, funding for lift devices and a statutory duty of care — is being drafted in response to hundreds of 911 fall calls linked to such policies, though the assisted-living industry is expected to oppose the reforms.
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Minnesota weighs law to end assisted-living 'no touch' policies
Elder advocates in Minnesota are drafting legislation that would curb or effectively ban 'no touch'/'no lift' policies in assisted-living facilities — rules that tell staff to call 911 and not touch a resident who has fallen — after a Golden Valley case where 79-year-old Larry Thompson slowly suffocated while workers stood by. The FOX 9 investigation that exposed Thompson's death now sits alongside national examples, including an Arizona law passed in 2021 that bars these policies and data from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the fire department has run more than 800 fall calls from assisted living since 2020 because staff are ordered not to lift residents or perform CPR. Wisconsin Rep. Lori Palmeri, whose own mother experienced such a policy, is preparing a package of bills that would require more staff training, fund mechanical lifts, and impose a statutory duty of care, moves Minnesota advocates are watching as they draft their own proposal. The assisted-living industry has fought similar reforms elsewhere, arguing liability concerns, so a bruising fight at the Capitol is likely if Minnesota tries to force facilities to put hands on residents instead of handing them off to already-stretched metro EMS crews. For Twin Cities families with parents in assisted living, this is the first concrete sign that the Thompson case could translate into law that governs how staff respond the next time an elder hits the floor in a Golden Valley or Eagan hallway.
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Ramsey County attorney urges residents to report alleged felonies by federal agents
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi urged residents to report alleged felonies by federal agents, telling anyone who believes a federal officer committed a felony in the county to call 911 or the local police non-emergency line so a standard criminal report and local investigation can begin. Local police or sheriff's deputies will investigate like any other felony and refer cases to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office for charging decisions, guidance Choi said is in response to Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE/Border Patrol incidents in St. Paul.
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Walz, Democratic AGs say citizen video is key weapon against ICE abuses
Gov. Tim Walz and a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general are urging residents to record interactions with ICE and Border Patrol agents, encouraging citizen video as a tool for future prosecutions and challenges. They say courts are increasingly treating phone videos and other citizen-generated records as critical evidence in habeas and civil-rights cases and that documenting warrantless entries, use of force and who agents target helps build pattern-of-practice claims against ICE and DHS, not just individual complaints.
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Big Minnesota firms fund $3.5M relief for Twin Cities small businesses
The Minneapolis Foundation has launched a $3.5 million fund backed by 28 major Minnesota corporations — including Target and Best Buy — to support small businesses in the Twin Cities that are facing urgent operational disruptions. According to the Business Journal preview, the money will begin flowing in the coming weeks through community organizations that already work directly with affected entrepreneurs, rather than being handed out by the corporations themselves. While the article doesn't spell it out, the timing and structure clearly track current reality on the ground: immigrant-serving shops and restaurants along corridors like Lake Street, Nicollet and the West Side have been reporting 50-80% revenue drops amid ICE's Metro Surge and the federal crackdown, on top of winter weather and the usual post-holiday slump. This fund is corporate Minnesota's attempt to patch that hole and buy some stability without publicly confronting the federal operation that helped cause it — a lifeline for some businesses, but nowhere near enough to fully offset the damage if the surge drags on.
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8th Circuit lifts injunction that curbed ICE use of force on Minnesota protesters
An 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay/partial stay of U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez's injunction that barred ICE and DHS from detaining, tear-gassing, or otherwise using force on peaceful protesters and legal observers around Operation Metro Surge, effectively restoring broader authority for ICE and Border Patrol to use crowd-control tactics while the government's appeal proceeds. Civil-rights lawyers and the ACLU warn the ruling raises the risk of arrest or force against activists, and confrontations — including deployments of tear gas and pepper spray — have continued and intensified in the Twin Cities.
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TSA finalizes $45 Confirm.ID fee for flyers without acceptable ID starting Feb. 1, 2026
TSA will charge a $45 Confirm.ID fee, effective Feb. 1, 2026, for travelers who do not present acceptable identification (such as a REAL ID, passport or trusted traveler card); the fee covers a 10-day travel period and temporary driver's licenses are not accepted. TSA urges travelers to pay online before arriving — airport payment options and signage will be available but delays are expected — and warns that paying the fee does not guarantee identity verification or boarding, saying the charge shifts costs from taxpayers to travelers.
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Federal judge orders ICE director to Minneapolis court over Metro Surge due-process violations
Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz has ordered Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear at a 1 p.m. Friday hearing in Minneapolis federal court to explain why detainees were denied due process during the Metro Surge. Schiltz's order says the Trump administration sent "thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision" for the resulting habeas cases and that violations continue despite assurances — noting a petitioner granted relief on Jan. 14 remained in custody as of Jan. 23, prompting a show-cause order and possible contempt; ICE and DHS had not yet responded on the docket, and the order comes as the administration reshuffled Metro Surge leadership, naming Tom Homan and pulling some agents, including Commander Greg Bovino.
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Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino pulled from Metro Surge, reassigned to El Centro sector
Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who had been serving as the national "Commander of Operation At Large," has been pulled from the Metro Surge and reassigned back to the El Centro, California CBP sector — a move described by The Atlantic and the Washington Examiner as a demotion, and reports say he may retire soon. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he was not "relieved" and would "continue to lead" broadly while border czar Tom Homan will run point on Minnesota ICE raids, after Bovino drew controversy for publicly backing the Border Patrol agent who shot Alex Pretti and declining to identify the shooter.
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Courts, AGs and DOJ clash over evidence in Renee Good, Alex Pretti ICE shootings
The fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good and a subsequent Border Patrol shooting that killed Alex Pretti have set off protests, an "ICE Out" strike, federal grand-jury subpoenas to state offices, the staging and limited activation of the Minnesota National Guard, and the resignation of several federal prosecutors amid sharply escalated tensions over a large federal agent surge in Minneapolis. At the same time Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and local officials have sued for court-ordered preservation, independent custody and disclosure of video and other evidence while DOJ warns such broad orders would impede criminal probes and is resisting, setting up a likely appellate fight over who controls and must produce the evidentiary record.
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DHS theory that guns at protests are 'unlawful' blasted as absurd in Minneapolis shooting case
In the Minneapolis shooting case, critics have blasted the Department of Homeland Security's theory that merely being armed at a protest — even with a legal permit — makes someone unlawful, pointing to an eyewitness account filed in court describing an ICE operation in which Pretti, who was filming with his hands raised, was repeatedly pepper-sprayed, tackled and shot. The account also alleges agents surrounded cars, threatened observers and used spray pre-emptively, linking the shooting to crowd-control behavior rather than solely to the presence of a firearm.
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Walz blasts Metro Surge, invites Trump to Minnesota
FOX 9's live updates center on Gov. Tim Walz's new statement inviting President Trump to Minnesota "to see our values in action" while condemning Operation Metro Surge as political theater that is scaring families, hurting small businesses, and trampling constitutional limits. Walz directly links ICE operations in Minneapolis to the killing of Renee Good, allegations that agents are busting down doors without warrants, traffic stops of off-duty cops "based on the color of their skin," and children being detained and shipped to Texas, and says the Justice Department's investigation into Minnesota officials is a partisan distraction from federal misconduct. The piece also previews a Saturday morning news conference where ICE and Border Patrol leaders will publicly brief on Metro Surge, setting up a sharp on-camera contrast between federal talking points and the governor's accusations. On social media, immigrant communities, civil-rights groups and many local officials are amplifying Walz's framing, while pro-enforcement voices repeat DHS claims that the surge targets the "worst of the worst" even as local reporting and court rulings keep undercutting that narrative.
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Records show many ICE 'worst of worst' in MN haven't been in jail for years
A FOX 9 review of court records for nearly three dozen people ICE labeled as the "worst of the worst" found one-third have no Minnesota criminal record, only four had been in a Minnesota jail in the past year, and many hadn't been jailed in Minnesota for years — with evidence DHS sometimes mixed up or misattributed records. The reporting also notes Minnesota's DOC says it routinely notifies and transfers non-citizen inmates to ICE, and highlights specific misrepresentations (e.g., the Cottonwood County case and the St. Paul raid) that undercut federal claims and the department's larger counts of recent local releases.
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St. Paul police restrict routine stops to marked squads
St. Paul police have temporarily ordered that routine traffic stops be conducted only by clearly marked squad cars, pausing the use of unmarked vehicles for ordinary enforcement while the department reviews its tactics. The change applies citywide and is framed as a trust- and safety-focused move at a time when public scrutiny of stops is intense, particularly for immigrant and minority communities already on edge from federal ICE activity across the metro. Unmarked cars can still be used for investigations and specialized operations, but rank-and-file officers are being told to leave day-to-day traffic enforcement to standard black-and-white squads with lights and markings. The department has not set a firm end date, suggesting the policy could become permanent depending on what a broader review finds about crash data, stop patterns, and resident concerns. For drivers in St. Paul, it means routine stops should now come from vehicles they can easily recognize as police, which could reduce confusion and lower-risk interactions at the curb.
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Jan. 23 'ICE Out of MN' general strike closes hundreds of Twin Cities businesses, culminates in Target Center rally
Hundreds of Twin Cities businesses closed as thousands joined a Jan. 23 "ICE Out of MN" general strike — a nonviolent work stoppage organized by immigrant-rights groups, faith leaders, unions and supportive lawmakers that asked people not to go to work, school or shop to protest ICE's Operation Metro Surge and recent shootings. Despite an Extreme Cold Watch, demonstrators gathered at The Commons at 2 p.m., marched about a mile to a rally at Target Center, with organizers emphasizing mutual aid, safety planning and acknowledging participation would be uneven due to legal and economic constraints.
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DOJ narrative on St. Paul ICE raid unravels: one 'co-resident' sex offender has been in prison for months
Federal prosecutors said Hmong U.S. citizen ChongLy Scott Thao lived with two convicted sex offenders to justify a forceful ICE raid that left him dragged from his St. Paul home wearing only shorts and Crocs; Thao was later confirmed to be a U.S. citizen. Minnesota Department of Corrections records show one of the alleged co-residents has been in state prison for months and therefore could not have been living at Thao's address, a discrepancy that further undermines the Justice Department's account of the raid.
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House Democrats move to impeach DHS Sec. Kristi Noem over immigration crackdowns including Minneapolis ICE killing
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) has led nearly 70 House Democrats in filing articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, charging her with obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust — citing warrantless arrests, use of tear gas and due-process abuses tied to the fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good — and self-dealing over alleged steering of a federal contract and a $200 million ICE recruitment/PR campaign. Democrats say the move is an oversight and political escalation amid broader controversy (including reporting that arrests in Chicago's Operation Midway Blitz did not include murder or rape charges), but removal is unlikely given a GOP House majority and the two-thirds Senate conviction requirement, and DHS/ICE have staged Minnesota briefings to defend the Metro Surge.
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DOC to hold detainer briefing as it disputes ICE 'criminal alien' claims
Minnesota's Department of Corrections will hold a 10:30 a.m. news conference to rebut federal claims that 1,360 "criminal illegal aliens" are in state custody, releasing updated, precise counts of non-citizen inmates, how many have ICE detainers, and how often inmates are turned over to ICE at sentence end. State officials and county sheriffs say they notify ICE and DOC routinely transfers eligible people, while local jails won't hold inmates past release on civil detainers and have reported ICE declined some pick-ups due to Metro Surge operations — a dispute unfolding amid a larger federal-state fight over the surge and related political rhetoric.
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VP Vance visit coincides with ICE, Border Patrol and DOC surge briefings
Vice President J.D. Vance will be in Minneapolis Thursday to speak about ICE operations, hold a roundtable and join a joint ICE/Border Patrol press briefing on Operation Metro Surge, with FOX 9 carrying his remarks and the federal briefings live. His visit coincides with a Minnesota Department of Corrections public response on ICE detainers, setting up a clash between the administration's assertion that the state is obstructing enforcement and state officials' contention that DOC already coordinates on releases.
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Army puts MP units on Minneapolis standby as Pentagon readies possible deployment
The Pentagon has issued prepare-to-deploy orders affecting roughly 1,500 troops — including two Alaska-based infantry battalions and specific Army military police units — placing commanders into 48-72-hour readiness windows focused on a possible Minneapolis mission. The moves are contingency planning tied to the potential invocation of the Insurrection Act amid tensions over an ICE surge and related litigation (DOJ's response to Minnesota's suit is due Jan. 19, with plaintiffs' rebuttal due Jan. 22); no deployment has been ordered.
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Renee Good family hires Floyd firm, moves to preserve evidence in ICE killing
Renee Good's family has retained Romanucci & Blandin—the civil-rights firm that represented George Floyd's family—to conduct an independent investigation, pursue civil litigation if warranted, and has sent a formal Preservation of Evidence Letter demanding that federal authorities preserve all physical and electronic evidence while urging the public to share video and information. The family also commissioned an independent autopsy that found Good was shot in the left temple, a result they say is inconsistent with DHS/ICE's claim that her vehicle was "weaponized" and has bolstered the firm's pledge of transparency and accountability.
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Judge lifts key protest limits on ICE tactics in Minnesota surge case
A federal judge has lifted or significantly narrowed a prior order that had barred ICE, CBP and other DHS officers from retaliating against, arresting, detaining or using force or chemical agents on people peacefully protesting, recording, observing or safely following Operation Metro Surge—restoring broader authority for immigration agents to use certain crowd-control tactics and arrests while the litigation continues. The suit, brought by Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul (and joined by Illinois), alleges the surge unlawfully targets Minnesota for its diversity and politics, violates the 10th Amendment and involves excessive, sometimes deadly, force in incidents that have sparked protests, school walkouts and business closures.
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Rural Minnesota sheriff says ICE 'too busy' in Twin Cities to pick up charged child-sex suspect
Cottonwood County Sheriff Jason Purrington is publicly disputing an ICE tweet that accused his jail of 'refusing' to honor a detainer and 'letting go' 20-year-old Guatemalan national Samuel Arevalo Hernandez, who is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct for an alleged relationship with a girl that began when she was 15. Purrington says ICE did in fact lodge a detainer, his staff called ICE immediately on Jan. 13 when someone posted Hernandez's bail, and the ICE agent they regularly work with told them agents were tied up with operations in the Twin Cities metro and 'unable to respond' but would pick Hernandez up later, asking only for his address. Despite that, ICE pushed out a video of Hernandez's later arrest and blasted Cottonwood County online for not honoring the detainer, fitting a broader DHS talking point that Minnesota and metro 'sanctuary' officials won't cooperate. This case lands right in the middle of the Metro Surge spin war: state and county officials have been saying most jails and DOC do follow the law and notify ICE, while the feds keep throwing out big numbers and cherry-picked cases; here, the sheriff is on record saying ICE had its chance, claimed it was too busy in the Twin Cities, and is now lying about it on social media. For Twin Cities readers, it's one more example that the enforcement surge chewing through our neighborhoods isn't even catching its own supposed 'worst of the worst' when the phones ring in outstate jails.
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Chanhassen council debates ICE raid; member plans local cooperation rules
Chanhassen's city council will address a weekend ICE operation and protest after Council Member Mark Von Oven criticized the lack of coordination with local law enforcement, called for process, transparency and constitutional protections, and said he will draft locally focused rules for how the city should cooperate with federal immigration agents. DHS identified the targets as Marco and Edgar Chicaiza Dutan; ICE tried to arrest two construction workers on Avienda Parkway, one man was taken by ambulance for cold exposure and later released to ICE custody while the other stayed on a roof to evade arrest and Edgar's attorneys are challenging his detention, and workers' group CTUL — citing multiple recent actions at a D.R. Horton site — plans to press the builder to bar ICE from worksites unless agents present a judicial warrant.
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U.S. freezes immigrant visas from 75 countries, citing 'public charge' risk
The U.S. State Department will suspend processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries beginning Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, saying the move is intended to prevent entry of people who would "take welfare and public benefits" and to end "abuse of America's immigration system." The freeze applies only to immigrant visas (non-immigrant tourist and business visas are exempt and expected to surge ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics) and affects countries including Somalia, Iran, Russia, Nigeria and Brazil, with Somalia's inclusion explicitly linked in administration messaging to Minnesota's Feeding Our Future-related benefit fraud scandals.
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FBI offers $100K reward after protesters rip safe box from ICE vehicle in north Minneapolis
Following a Wednesday evening ICE-involved shooting in north Minneapolis' Hawthorne neighborhood, protesters used ratchet straps to pull a locked storage/cabinet box from the trunk of a federal vehicle, dragging it down the street as several federal vehicles were vandalized and government property reportedly stolen; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the cars likely belonged to the FBI and that documents were reportedly taken. The FBI has opened an investigation, released photos of a suspect (a Black male in a tan Carhartt jacket, tan pants, black hoodie, orange latex gloves and black boots) and is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to recovery of the stolen property or arrests, with tips to 1-800-CALL-FBI, local offices or tips.fbi.gov.
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AG Keith Ellison rules out governor bid, will seek third term
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced he will not run for governor in 2026 following Gov. Tim Walz's decision not to seek re-election and instead will seek a third term as attorney general. Ellison cited a federal ICE surge and what he called a "war on Minnesota" as reasons he's best equipped to remain in the AG's office, a move that ends DFL speculation about him as a potential top-ticket replacement while the GOP governor's field expands.
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DOJ subpoenas Walz, Ellison, Frey, Her and Moriarty in Metro Surge probe
The Department of Justice delivered federal grand-jury subpoenas on or about Jan. 20, 2026 to the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, AG Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty as part of a probe into alleged efforts to coerce or obstruct federal law enforcement during DHS's Operation Metro Surge. Walz's office confirmed receipt of a subpoena while Ellison's office declined to confirm, and the use of grand-jury subpoenas indicates a criminal investigative posture.
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ACLU Minnesota sues Trump administration over Metro Surge arrests
ACLU Minnesota has sued the Trump administration, alleging constitutional violations related to arrests carried out during the Operation Metro Surge. In a related case, the DOJ filed a formal response opposing Minnesota and local governments' bid to halt the surge, calling the motion "legally frivolous" and signaling the administration will vigorously contest claims about warrantless arrests and profiling in federal court.
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Judge orders ICE to free Venezuelan family after St. Paul raid without warrant
A judge ordered DHS and ICE to release a Venezuelan family of six detained after a St. Paul raid, ruling the agencies failed to produce a valid warrant; the court-ordered release took place on Monday. The decision was reported amid a broader surge of ICE activity in the Twin Cities and has been highlighted in live updates as part of local leaders' responses to the enforcement actions.
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Twin Cities leaders stage coordinated pushback to ICE surge
FOX 9's live-updates piece pulls together the next phase of the ICE story: on Tuesday, Jan. 20, multiple Twin Cities constituencies — Dakota County commissioners, students and families, physicians, MSP airport workers and clergy — are holding staggered press conferences to denounce the ongoing ICE surge that began before Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. The coverage notes that the U.S. Department of Justice has now filed its formal answer in Minnesota's case seeking to halt Operation Metro Surge, dismissing the state's motion as 'legally frivolous,' even as a federal judge just ordered DHS to free six Venezuelan family members snatched in a St. Paul raid where agents had no warrant. At the same time, social media is driving a 'Taco Tuesday' campaign urging residents to eat at immigrant-owned restaurants that have seen business collapse while people hide from raids. Trump is pouring gasoline on the fire from Washington, calling church-service protesters 'agitators and insurrectionists' and demanding Walz and Ilhan Omar be 'thrown in jail, or thrown out of the country,' rhetoric that only hardens the lines as local officials, unions and clergy line up in opposition to the surge.
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St. Paul's Intercontinental and DoubleTree hotels close temporarily after ICE threats, pulling 600+ rooms offline
Two downtown St. Paul hotels—the Intercontinental and DoubleTree, owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe—have temporarily canceled rooms for ICE agents and closed citing safety concerns after threats linked to an immigration crackdown. The simultaneous shutdowns remove more than 600 rooms from downtown St. Paul's lodging inventory.
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PUC lets trash and wood burning count as 'carbon-free' power
Minnesota state regulators have ruled that electricity from burning municipal solid waste and some types of wood/biomass can be treated as 'carbon-free' under the state's 2040 carbon-free standard, a decision with major implications for utilities that serve the Twin Cities. The Public Utilities Commission's interpretation effectively keeps metro-area garbage burners and biomass contracts in the portfolio of resources utilities can rely on to meet the mandate, even though the plants still emit greenhouse gases and local pollutants. Supporters argue these facilities help manage waste streams and provide reliable baseload or dispatchable power that wind and solar can't always match, while environmental and climate advocates call the move a shell game that could lock in higher pollution in already overburdened neighborhoods. The ruling is expected to guide Xcel Energy's and other utilities' next integrated resource plans and could tilt future rate cases and infrastructure investments that directly affect Minneapolis-Saint Paul bills, air quality, and siting battles.
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St. Paul pauses towing of 'abandoned' vehicles during ICE surge
The City of St. Paul has temporarily halted most towing of vehicles reported as abandoned on city streets, citing the ongoing ICE surge and reports of federal agents arresting drivers and leaving their cars behind. Under city ordinance, a vehicle normally can't stay in the same spot more than 48 hours before it may be tagged as abandoned and towed, but officials say they will pause that enforcement for now and instead focus on genuine public-safety hazards. The city also says people whose vehicles were towed while they were in ICE custody may have fees waived or reimbursed if they can document both ownership and that they were detained. The change responds in part to Minnesota's federal lawsuit against DHS/ICE, which specifically flagged incidents of agents leaving vehicles on public roads after arrests, and to growing pressure from local advocates who say families shouldn't be hit with hundreds of dollars in tow and storage bills on top of immigration trouble. On social media, many St. Paul residents are applauding the move as basic fairness, while others worry the pause could create longer-term parking and plowing headaches if it drags on without clear criteria for what still gets towed.
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Hennepin sheriff blasts ICE tactics, urges lawful conduct
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt used a FOX 9 interview to sharply criticize some ICE officers deployed in Minnesota, saying she has "seen and heard" instances of excessive force, racial profiling and stereotyping during the current federal immigration surge. Witt warned those tactics are undermining years of work to rebuild community trust in law enforcement and said "nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop," calling on federal agents to be professional, "follow the law" and treat people with dignity and respect. She framed the issue as bigger than partisan politics, urging leaders who took an oath of office to remember they represent everyone, including people who don't share their views, and to stop treating politics like a zero-sum game. Her comments add a top local cop's voice to growing criticism of Operation Metro Surge, where videos and lawsuits already allege racial targeting and heavy-handed force by ICE and Border Patrol on Twin Cities streets, and they signal that even within law enforcement, some are worried ICE is poisoning the well for everyone in a badge.
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St. Paul snowplow driver detained by ICE now faces deportation; coworkers launch fundraiser
St. Paul Public Works says one of its snowplow drivers was detained by ICE and is now facing deportation proceedings despite the city previously verifying his legal authorization to work. Colleagues and community members have organized a fundraiser to support his family while he's in custody; the driver is described as a long-serving member of the snowplow crew with family and health concerns, and organizers say his detention has strained winter operations and morale.
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Multiple Twin Cities districts add online learning options amid ICE surge
Several Twin Cities districts — including Minneapolis, St. Paul, District 196 (Apple Valley-Eagan-Rosemount), Fridley, Richfield and Robbinsdale — have opened opt-in remote learning or e-learning windows in response to a surge in federal immigration enforcement tied to DHS's "Operation Metro Surge" (Minneapolis' e-learning began Jan. 8 and runs through Feb. 12; Fridley's window is Jan. 20-Feb. 13, with St. Paul and District 196 also launching opt-in tracks this week). Districts cite community fear after the Renee Good shooting and same-day ICE incidents near schools, reporting widespread absences and students missing meals, while DHS says the operation has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests and denies "raiding" schools.
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DPS, National Guard brief joint plan for ICE protests
Minnesota's Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota National Guard are rolling out a coordinated protest safety plan for this coming weekend, saying they expect multiple demonstrations both for and against ICE's presence in the Twin Cities after two recent ICE-involved shootings in Minneapolis. The briefing, announced for Friday, comes against the backdrop of Operation Metro Surge, which has dumped more than 2,000 federal immigration agents into Minnesota in six weeks, and after an ICE officer killed Renee Good in south Minneapolis on Jan. 7 and another agent shot and wounded a man in north Minneapolis a week later. FOX 9 notes that the Guard is formally at the table for this plan, even as President Trump has publicly threatened — then temporarily walked back — using the Insurrection Act to send federal troops into Minneapolis, a red line that has Twin Cities residents on edge after 2020. Online, organizers are already circulating march plans and warning about the risk of another "militarized" response, while business owners along Lake Street and in Cedar-Riverside say any misstep — from federal agents or Guard troops — could drive away what fragile customer traffic they have left. Between the lawsuits, impeachment chatter and now a formal Guard-DPS protest posture, this weekend is shaping up as a test of whether state and federal forces can keep the lid on without lighting the fuse again.
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Major Minnesota employers stay largely silent as ICE surge hammers Twin Cities immigrants and small businesses
Many of Minnesota's biggest employers — including Target, Best Buy, U.S. Bank, Medtronic and Cargill — have largely stayed publicly silent or issued only generic statements as ICE's Operation Metro Surge ramps up enforcement that is hammering Twin Cities immigrants and small businesses. Statewide business groups warn of labor shortages, chilled consumer activity and reputational risk but aren't openly confronting the administration, and communications experts say the corporate silence is itself becoming a leadership and reputation problem as companies weigh fear of political backlash against their reliance on immigrant workers and customers.
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Big Minnesota employers stay quiet on ICE surge
The Reformer piece reports that as Trump's immigration crackdown and Operation Metro Surge rattle Minneapolis-Saint Paul neighborhoods, most of Minnesota's largest employers are either silent or speaking in vague generalities about the situation. Companies like Target, Best Buy, U.S. Bank, Medtronic and Cargill — all deeply tied into the Twin Cities economy and dependent on immigrant workers and customers — have avoided directly criticizing the raids, even as small immigrant-serving businesses report sales plunges of 50-80% and unions at MSP airport and Hennepin Healthcare warn of fear-driven staffing problems. Business groups such as the Minnesota Chamber and Hospitality Minnesota concede the enforcement wave is bad for labor and local commerce, but they're hedging their language, clearly wary of provoking the White House. The article situates that caution in the broader political climate, where Trump has already shown he's willing to use tariffs, contracts and public attacks as weapons, leaving big employers to quietly lobby behind the scenes while letting smaller neighborhood shops take the public risk. Online, that posture is drawing growing anger from Twin Cities residents who see corporate logos all over immigrant corridors like Lake Street but almost no corporate backbone as ICE and Border Patrol flood those same streets.
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Oglala Sioux leaders press ICE in Minneapolis over four detained tribal members; three still unaccounted for
Oglala Sioux leaders say four unhoused tribal members living near the Little Earth housing project in Minneapolis were detained by ICE — one has been released and three remain unaccounted for — and while a tribal witness confirmed all four are enrolled members the tribe still lacks names and confirmed detention locations. Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out and leaders have traveled to and entered the Whipple Federal Building offering to provide enrollment documents, tribal attorneys are seeking help from Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and activist Chase Iron Eyes vowed they will remain until the missing members are found.
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House Republican formally files impeachment articles against Gov. Walz over fraud oversight
A Minnesota House Republican has formally filed articles of impeachment accusing Gov. Tim Walz of failing to stop and fully disclose widespread fraud in state programs, breaching his oath and mishandling audits and oversight tied to Operation Metro Surge. The sponsor says the resolution will be introduced when the Legislature convenes Feb. 17, with a House majority required to impeach and a two-thirds Senate vote needed to convict and remove, and both the lawmaker and DFL leaders have offered on-record statements framing the partisan and constitutional stakes.
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Trump threatens Insurrection Act, military deployment in Minnesota amid Minneapolis ICE unrest
President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy federal troops to Minnesota amid protests in Minneapolis against ICE and the federal "Operation Metro Surge" following two recent federal shootings, including the killing of Renee Nicole Good. He characterized protesters as "insurrectionists" and said state and local leaders had "lost control," framing that claim and Minnesota leaders' resistance to the surge as justification for possible military intervention.
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Operation Metro Surge: DHS data show only ~5% of 2,000 Minnesota ICE arrestees are violent offenders
DHS data show that of more than 2,000 arrests tied to Operation Metro Surge, 212 people are on DHS's "worst of the worst" list and 103 of those are classified as violent — roughly 5% of all arrestees. The surge, which officials say includes about 1,500 ICE officers and 600 HSI agents and brought Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the Twin Cities, has sparked large protests, security barriers and school disruptions, expanded community "constitutional observer" trainings, and figures in a proposed impeachment effort against Noem.
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Federal SAMHSA cuts slash Minnesota addiction and mental-health funding
The Department of Health and Human Services has formally implemented cuts to SAMHSA, sharply reducing state mental-health and substance-abuse block grants and trimming or eliminating multiple grant lines, leaving Minnesota facing a substantial drop in federal behavioral-health funding for FY2026. State and county officials and providers say the reductions have prompted hiring freezes, program closures and expanded wait lists across Twin Cities treatment and crisis-response programs, and critics warn those service cuts could jeopardize progress during Minnesota's current overdose plateau or early decline.
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Educators demand ICE stay away from Minnesota schools
Education Minnesota has joined hundreds of students in demanding that ICE stay away from Minnesota schools, urging protections for classrooms and school communities. Students staged walkouts and rallied at the state Capitol, directly linking their actions to Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE incidents near Roosevelt High, Fridley and Columbia Heights, and calling on state officials to intervene.
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Twin Cities students walk out, rally at Capitol over ICE surge
Hundreds of Twin Cities students walked out of class and rallied at the Minnesota Capitol on Jan. 14 to protest ongoing ICE operations under Operation Metro Surge, saying raids and armed agents near schools are terrifying immigrant families and disrupting education. Organizers from multiple Minneapolis-St. Paul districts marched to the Capitol, where student speakers demanded that ICE stay away from school grounds and that state leaders do more to protect their communities. The walkouts follow earlier decisions by Minneapolis, St. Paul and Fridley to offer or shift to online learning because of ICE activity, and reports of sharp absentee spikes in schools serving large immigrant populations. With video of the protests spreading online, the student-led action adds direct youth pressure on Gov. Walz, AG Keith Ellison and the Legislature as they battle the Trump administration in court over the Twin Cities enforcement surge.
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St. Paul council weighs tougher limits on ICE cooperation
The St. Paul City Council is considering changes to its immigration separation ordinance that would more clearly restrict when and how city staff can assist federal immigration enforcement, including explicit limits on letting ICE stage operations on city-owned property and tighter rules for information-sharing. The move comes amid Operation Metro Surge, heavy federal presence in the Twin Cities, and growing community and business backlash over raids and visible ICE activity near homes, schools and workplaces. City attorneys and staff briefed council members on options to codify and possibly strengthen current policy so it has the force of ordinance rather than relying solely on internal guidance. The debate mirrors Minneapolis' own recent steps to hard-code its ICE staging ban, and council members are weighing how far they can go under state and federal law while avoiding unintended legal or funding consequences.
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Mpls council president says ICE officer shoved him while he observed stop
Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne says an ICE officer shoved him from behind on Central Avenue while he was lawfully observing a stop of a man waiting for a bus during this week's immigration surge. Video Payne posted shows him on the sidewalk recording as an ICE agent walks up and pushes him aside; Payne says a second agent was simultaneously pointing a Taser at "every single individual" present, which he called reckless behavior. Payne says he identified himself as council president and was trying to talk to the agents to de-escalate when he was pushed, and later warned on social media that if this is how ICE treats an elected official, residents should consider how others are being handled. The incident adds to mounting local allegations of heavy-handed federal tactics on Minneapolis streets, including other recorded uses of force, and will likely feed ongoing legal and political fights over Operation Metro Surge and city efforts to restrict ICE staging and demand accountability.
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ICE surge after Renee Good killing triggers Twin Cities walkouts, new warrantless raid lawsuits, and impeachment push against Noem
After the fatal shooting of Renee Good, ICE intensified "Operation Metro Surge" across the Twin Cities—carrying out neighborhood raids and arrests that protesters say have disproportionately targeted Somali residents and that sparked large marches, school and business walkouts, reports of U.S. citizens detained, and pepper-spray confrontations. Multiple immigrants have filed federal lawsuits challenging detentions and at least one habeas petition alleges a warrantless battering-ram home entry, while Minnesota lawmakers and other members of Congress have backed an effort to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of constitutional violations and misconduct tied to the surge.
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Trump administration ends Somali TPS, putting 500-600 Minnesotans at risk by March 17
The Trump administration will not renew Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, formally set to expire March 17, putting roughly 500-600 Somali TPS holders in Minnesota — out of about 37,000 Somali-born residents and roughly 700 Somalis nationwide covered by TPS — at risk of losing work authorization and facing detention or deportation. Local leaders and immigration attorneys say the move will strain social-service and legal-aid networks and threaten mixed-status families, while DHS officials note any TPS decision must follow legal procedures and would apply nationwide rather than only to Minnesota.
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Minneapolis shares residents' rights as ICE surge escalates
Minneapolis officials have circulated guidance on residents' rights and what to do if ICE or immigration agents appear at their door, including how to respond to requests for entry and when to ask to see a warrant. The outreach comes amid an enforcement surge that has included street-level operations — most recently a reported incident in which U.S. Border Patrol agents swarmed and pinned a man and one agent kneed him in the face — underscoring that arrests are occurring in ordinary city settings, not only through criminal-warrant cases.
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Border Patrol agent caught on video kneeing man in face in Minneapolis arrest
Bystander video published by the Minnesota Reformer shows a U.S. Border Patrol agent driving his knee into a man's face while several other armed agents hold him prone on a Minneapolis street during the current federal immigration surge. The clip, shot in a residential area of the city, captures agents swarming the man, forcing him to the ground and, even after he appears pinned and not actively resisting, one officer repeatedly striking his head/face area with a knee. The article situates the incident within Operation Metro Surge and the broader deployment of hundreds of ICE and Border Patrol personnel to the Twin Cities, noting that DHS has framed the effort as targeting 'worst of the worst' offenders while local residents and advocates say the tactics are indiscriminate and brutal. It also reports on DHS/Border Patrol's response or non-response to questions about the use of force and includes reaction from community members who view the video as evidence that things are spiraling beyond control. The incident adds another on-camera example of aggressive federal tactics in Minneapolis just weeks after the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, increasing pressure on city officials and in pending lawsuits over the surge.
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Walz makes unannounced visit to Renee Good memorial
Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen made an unannounced visit Monday morning to the south Minneapolis memorial for Renee Nicole Good, the woman ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Jan. 7 at 34th and Portland. Arriving in a black SUV, they spoke briefly with mourners and left flowers, spending about 10 minutes at the site that has become a focal point for anger over the shooting and the Trump administration's immigration surge in the Twin Cities. Federal officials claim Good tried to run Ross over when he fired three shots into her Honda Pilot; Minneapolis officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey, say video instead shows her trying to drive away from Ross as he recklessly opened fire. The governor's quiet appearance underscores how politically radioactive this shooting has become and adds pressure on federal agencies already facing protests, lawsuits, and demands for independent investigations into ICE tactics on city streets.
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ICE takedown at St. Paul gas station sparks protest fury; DHS issues defense
Video footage shows federal agents detaining a man at a St. Paul gas station; DHS says the man was from Honduras with a final order of removal issued in 2020 and that Border Patrol broke the vehicle window and arrested him only after "multiple warnings and several minutes" as a crowd formed. The takedown sparked protests and a Maple Grove High School walkout, and DHS says a U.S. citizen in the crowd refused lawful orders, hit an officer and was arrested — a claim that contradicts protesters' accounts circulating online.
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MDH: Student mental health improves; social media flagged
A Minnesota student survey shows overall improvements in student mental health, though social media use remains a key concern. Separately, the Minnesota Department of Health said it will not adopt the CDC's Jan. 5, 2026 revised childhood immunization schedule—saying the CDC's rollback "does not reflect the best available science"—and will instead follow AAP/AAFP/ACOG schedules under a Walz executive order, joining Wisconsin in rejecting the federal changes.
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Minnesota rejects CDC's scaled-back childhood vaccine schedule
The Minnesota Department of Health says it will not adopt the CDC's newly revised childhood immunization schedule issued Jan. 5, 2026, which removed or softened several routine vaccine recommendations, and will instead continue to follow the more extensive schedules from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham is quoted saying the CDC's changes "do not reflect the best available science," and MDH points to a Walz executive order directing the state to maintain broad access to recommended vaccines. Because state schedules, not the CDC's website copy, drive what Minnesota pediatricians and school systems use, Twin Cities families will still see the longstanding shot list for daycare and school entry unless and until MDH changes course. The article also notes Wisconsin is taking a similar position, underscoring that the CDC's move is not being accepted as gospel in this region and that the federal guidance fight is as much political as scientific.
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Judge blocks Trump child-care funding freeze for Minnesota
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from freezing child-care and other federal program funds for five states, including Minnesota, at least for now. The order means key federal dollars that support child-care and related services may continue flowing to Minnesota pending further litigation, easing some pressure on state agencies and providers in the Twin Cities that had been bracing for a cutoff tied to fraud disputes.
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ACLU sought to curb ICE crowd-control tactics weeks before fatal Renee Good shooting; hearing canceled day of killing
Three weeks before Renee Good was fatally shot, the ACLU sued ICE and DHS alleging constitutional violations and asked a federal judge to bar Minnesota ICE agents from using crowd-control weapons such as chemical irritants and flash-bangs; a scheduled hearing in ACLU v. DHS/ICE was canceled without explanation hours after the killing. The ACLU cited a Chicago finding that ICE lacks regular crowd-control training and pointed to Minnesota video it says shows excessive force, while ACLU-MN warned the response to protests has grown more violent and the White House blamed Democrats for creating heightened, dangerous circumstances.
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Minnesota freezes new providers in 13 Medicaid programs amid fraud probe
Minnesota's Department of Human Services has imposed an immediate freeze on new provider enrollment across 13 Medicaid-funded programs it deems at high risk for fraud, saying current clients should keep receiving services while the state and federal government audit billing and tighten oversight. The move, announced Jan. 8, 2026, follows the shutdown of Housing Stabilization Services and CMS's decision to defer payment on billions in claims, and will slow or block new providers and some service expansions in programs heavily used by Twin Cities residents, including disability, personal care and housing supports.
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AG Pam Bondi sends more DOJ prosecutors to Minnesota fraud cases, vows severe consequences
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice is sending additional prosecutors to Minnesota to temporarily augment the U.S. Attorney's Office and help handle a surge of fraud cases, with staff pulled from other DOJ components. Bondi described the deployment as a major escalation in enforcement and warned those convicted in the Minnesota fraud prosecutions should expect "severe consequences."
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Ventura visits Roosevelt High after ICE confrontation
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura visited Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School on Thursday to show support for staff after a chaotic ICE enforcement incident outside the school at dismissal, where video shows agents and a crowd as a chemical irritant is deployed and a staff member is reportedly detained. Ventura, a Roosevelt alum, publicly praised staff for standing up for students, criticized federal tactics and called the separate deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis a needless tragedy, while DHS provided FOX 9 a detailed statement saying agents were pursuing a U.S. citizen who allegedly rammed a government vehicle and led a dangerous five-mile chase into the school zone before a teacher assaulted an agent and officers used 'targeted crowd control' with no tear gas. Minneapolis Public Schools has confirmed the Roosevelt incident and says it is investigating, as the teachers union alleges an employee was detained by ICE and community concerns over federal operations near schools escalate.
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St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation completes full acquisition of U.S. Bank Center
The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation has completed the acquisition and closed on full fee ownership of the U.S. Bank Center at 101 E. 5th St., finalizing a process that began with a late-2025 mortgage purchase and closed Dec. 30, 2025, using only private funding. The 25-story, roughly 516,000-square-foot tower (with a 348-stall parking ramp) will now be directly controlled by SPDDC for leasing, redevelopment and tenant recruitment, a move Mayor Kaohly Her and SPDDC say will help bridge the entertainment district and Lowertown and stabilize the downtown core.
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MDH rejects new CDC childhood vaccine schedule
The Minnesota Department of Health says it will not adopt the CDC's newly revised childhood immunization schedule issued Jan. 5, 2026, instead aligning state guidance with the evidence-based schedules of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham said the CDC's move to drop several vaccines from its universal recommendations "does not reflect the best available science," and Minnesota will maintain broader recommendations and access consistent with an executive order from Gov. Tim Walz, while Wisconsin announced it will likewise ignore the federal change for its school and child-care recommendations.
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Audit finds 12 compliance issues at MN Governor's Office
A legislative audit of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's office identified 12 compliance issues — including failure to recover costs for private events at the Governor's Residence, missing or late retroactive pay, an incomplete electronics inventory, inaccurate reimbursements and late vendor payments — while finding no problems with the governor's or lieutenant governor's salaries or staff who worked on the 2024 presidential campaign. Republican leaders criticized the administration's financial controls, and separately the Legislative Auditor released a different report documenting systemic oversight failures in DHS behavioral-health grants, with missing documentation and questionable payments prompting reforms.
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Legislative auditor finds major gaps in DHS behavioral-health grants
Minnesota's Legislative Auditor released a report finding the Department of Human Services' Behavioral Health division failed to properly oversee tens of millions of dollars in drug-treatment and mental-health grants between July 2022 and December 2024, with 63 of 71 grants showing compliance problems and at least one $672,647 payment unsupported by invoices or service records. The audit details lax monitoring, steep mid-stream grant increases—including one boost from $600,000 to $5.6 million—and a grant manager who soon left DHS to consult for the same grantee, prompting DHS to concede the findings, create a Central Grants Office, and promise tighter controls on providers that include many serving Minneapolis-St. Paul.
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Anoka-Hennepin teachers, district reach tentative deal, avert Jan. 8 strike
The Anoka-Hennepin School District and Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota reached a tentative contract agreement around 5 a.m. Wednesday after a 20-hour mediation session, preventing a teacher strike that had been set to begin Thursday, Jan. 8. The deal, which still must be ratified by union members and approved by the School Board, covers about 3,200 educators across 52 schools and ensures classes and activities will continue as scheduled while detailed terms have not yet been released.
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Audit finds widespread oversight failures in Minnesota substance-abuse grants
A new report from Minnesota's Office of the Legislative Auditor finds the DHS Behavioral Health Administration failed to adequately oversee millions in substance-abuse grants between July 2022 and December 2024, with systemic compliance problems in 63 of 71 audited grants and documentation issues in 11 of 18 tested payments. Auditors highlight a $672,647 one-month payment a grantee could not support with invoices or participant records, steep mid-stream grant increases (including one from $600,000 to $5.6 million), and a grant manager who approved the large payment, then left DHS days later to consult for that same provider. In response, BHA says it is restructuring oversight, creating a Central Grants Office and tightening monitoring of contracts and grants, changes that will affect Twin Cities treatment providers and clients who rely on these services.
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MPD chief reports major 2025 drop in violent crime
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said 2025 saw broad declines in serious street crime despite seven mass shootings, with homicides falling to 64 from 77 in 2024 and gunshot wound victims down 18%, including record-low shooting numbers in north Minneapolis. Robberies are down 50% and carjackings 73% from 2021 peaks, burglaries fell 10% and aggravated assaults 9%, while MPD modestly rebuilt staffing—hiring 174 officers and losing 49—and cut average Priority-1 911 response times back toward pre-2020 levels. O'Hara also urged both federal ICE agents and protesters to avoid violence or property damage as a roughly 2,000-agent immigration surge continues in the Twin Cities, warning that Lake Street's largely immigrant business corridor must not be harmed again.
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Feds freeze Minnesota child-care funds; state launches added on-site checks at 55 providers
Federal officials have frozen Minnesota's child-care funds amid allegations from senior HHS leaders — echoed by increased congressional scrutiny — that scammers and fake daycares siphoned millions over the past decade. In response, Minnesota's Department of Children, Youth and Families says its Office of Inspector General, working with BCA agents, will begin immediate on-site compliance visits at 55 providers now under investigation (including four featured in a viral video), and that DCYF and providers learned of the HHS freeze at the same time as the public while the state has until Jan. 9 to provide additional information.
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Gov. Tim Walz won't seek third term; fraud fallout and Trump attacks shape 2026 field
Gov. Tim Walz announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, reversing earlier intentions and saying 2025 has become "an extraordinarily difficult year" — citing a statewide fraud crisis and sustained political attacks from President Donald Trump and allies that he says have left him unable to mount a full campaign; Walz defended his administration's fraud response, including seeking new legislative tools, firing staff, prosecuting offenders, cutting funding streams tied to criminal activity and hiring a statewide head of program integrity. His exit reshapes the 2026 race: Democrats have no clear frontrunner though Sen. Amy Klobuchar is reportedly considering a run (with Secretary of State Steve Simon also floated and Rep. Dean Phillips saying he won't run), while a crowded GOP field — including House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, former Sen. Scott Jensen, Brad Kohler, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson and Phillip Parrish — has already formed amid sharp reactions from DFL leaders blaming Trump-era attacks.
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U.S. House Oversight Committee calls on Walz to testify in Minnesota fraud probe
House Oversight Chair James Comer has asked Gov. Tim Walz to testify at a Feb. 10, 2026 hearing (with an initial session Jan. 7) into alleged large-scale fraud in Minnesota social-services programs, accusing state leaders of being "asleep at the wheel or complicit." Federal prosecutors and the FBI say fraud in 14 high-risk Medicaid programs — roughly $18 billion in spending since 2018 — could be in the multi-billion-dollar range, while the Walz administration and state auditors say they've only documented tens of millions to date and are coordinating cross-agency audits and investigations amid mounting political pressure.
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Hortman children urge Trump to pull assassination conspiracy video
The children of slain Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman are publicly asking President Donald Trump to remove and apologize for a video he shared that falsely suggests Gov. Tim Walz orchestrated their parents' killing as retaliation for her vote on MNsure coverage for undocumented immigrants. The FOX 9 report details how the video repackages long-running conspiracy theories about accused gunman Vance Boelter's prior board appointment and Hortman's reluctant vote, while federal prosecutors have explicitly called Boelter's letter alleging Walz ordered other killings 'fantasy and delusion' and say he acted alone. Colin and Sophie Hortman recount their mother's anguish over the vote and warn that the killer himself was driven by conspiracy theories, underscoring the danger of misinformation.
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Northstar Commuter Rail to shut down Jan. 4
Metro Transit will permanently end Northstar Commuter Rail service on Sunday, Jan. 4, after years of steep ridership declines from about 3,000 weekday riders pre-pandemic to just over 400 weekly rides in 2024, on a line running from Target Field in downtown Minneapolis through Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey and Elk River to Big Lake. Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, Metro Transit will launch enhanced Route 888 express buses serving existing Northstar stations in Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids and downtown Minneapolis every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours and hourly midday to replace part of the rail service.
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SBA suspends 6,900 Minnesota PPP/EIDL borrowers, flags $400M for fraud review
The SBA's internal review flagged roughly 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans in Minnesota totaling about $400 million as suspected fraud and has suspended 6,900 borrowers from all SBA programs. Under current SBA policy those suspensions amount to permanent bars to future SBA participation, and the agency said it will refer the cases to federal law enforcement for potential prosecution and recovery, coordinating with a broader federal fraud probe of Minnesota-administered programs.
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Half of Skyline Tower residents return; St. Paul adds loan program as west tower repairs continue
About five days after a Sunday fire and resulting power outage at the 24-story Skyline Tower in St. Paul, roughly half of the building's 773 residents have returned — all 141 households in the east tower — after the city cleared the structure, while the west tower remains closed for repairs following significant sprinkler water damage. St. Paul has added a loan program to help residents displaced or financially affected by the evacuation with housing and recovery costs, supplementing aid from CommonBond, the Red Cross and other supports; investigators say the blaze activated sprinklers on the 12th-14th floors, knocked out heat, water and elevators, no injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation.
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Kaohly Her wins St. Paul mayor with 51.5% after RCV
Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Melvin Carter after ranked-choice tabulation produced a final total of 51.5%, overturning a first-round deficit (Carter 40.83% — 27,611; Her 38.38% — 25,884 of 67,617 ballots) as Her picked up the bulk of second-choice transfers and won by roughly 2.77 percentage points (~1,877 votes); Ramsey County used open-source RCV/RCTab software to complete same-night tabulation and Carter conceded after midnight. Her becomes St. Paul's first Hmong-American and first woman mayor, will join an all-women City Council, serve a three-year term before the city shifts to even-year elections in 2028, and is to be sworn in Friday.
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Kaohly Her defeats Carter for St. Paul mayor
State Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in a stunning upset to become St. Paul's next mayor, making history as the city will, for the first time, have a woman mayor serving with an all-women City Council. Her is scheduled to be sworn in at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University (streamed live), will serve a three-year term as the city shifts mayoral elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2028, and has said she will focus on cross-government and cross-sector collaboration as Carter posted a social-media reflection on his time in office.
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Kaohly Her sworn in as St. Paul mayor Friday at St. Catherine University
Kaohly Her will be sworn in as St. Paul mayor at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University, with live video coverage planned for viewers. Her becomes the city's first woman, first Hmong and first Asian American mayor as St. Paul will simultaneously have an all-women City Council; a refugee from Laos who served as Mayor Melvin Carter's policy director and in the state House since 2018, she says she intends to govern collaboratively through cross-department and cross-sector partnerships.
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New 2026 federal tax rules for tips, overtime, seniors
A FOX 9 guide outlines how President Donald Trump's 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes 2025 federal income tax filing for 2026, including temporary deductions that can effectively shield up to $25,000 in tips and $12,500 in overtime pay ($25,000 for joint filers), a new $6,000 senior deduction for qualifying older adults, and deductibility of up to $10,000 in car-loan interest on U.S.-assembled vehicles. The law also raises the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $2,200 per child and ends the IRS Direct File pilot for 2026, meaning Twin Cities filers must use other e-file or paid-prep options by the April 15, 2026 deadline.
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Minnesota paid family leave, break rules begin Jan. 1
Minnesota's Paid Family and Medical Leave law took effect Jan. 1, 2026, allowing most workers statewide to claim up to 20 weeks of paid leave per year—12 weeks for their own medical needs and 12 for family or safety reasons—with wage replacement generally between 55% and 90% of normal pay, capped at about $1,423 per week. Eligibility requires at least $3,900 in prior-year earnings and excludes certain groups such as federal and tribal employees, postal and railroad workers, seasonal hospitality workers, independent contractors and the self-employed, while a separate new law now guarantees at least a 15-minute rest break every four hours and a 30-minute meal break every six hours for Minnesota employees. Employers can withhold up to 0.44% of wages to help fund the program, leave can be taken in blocks or intermittently, and most workers are entitled to return to the same or an equivalent job after 90 days on the job, with retaliation prohibited.
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DHS sends fraud agents door-to-door in Burnsville
The Department of Homeland Security sent agents door-to-door in Burnsville to visit suspected fraud sites. Reporting links the visits to political and media fallout from a viral child-care fraud video promoted by Minnesota Republicans, which reportedly spurred FBI Director Kash Patel to intensify the fraud investigation.
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GOP collaboration with YouTuber heightens fallout from viral Minnesota day-care fraud video
House Republicans acknowledged working with YouTuber Nick Shirley on a viral video alleging roughly $110 million in Minnesota day-care fraud — a piece that drew federal attention (DHS/HSI) and comes amid an HHS freeze on about $185 million in child-care payments and door-to-door state investigations; GOP staff said they provided some information while DFL leaders called the effort a political stunt.
State child-care officials say the 10 centers named have been inspected at least once in the past six months and are being re-reviewed, reporting children present and headcounts matching licenses with no findings of fraud so far, while some centers are closed and providers have publicly denied wrongdoing.
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St. Paul bans cryptocurrency kiosks; Bitcoin Depot sues to overturn ordinance
On Nov. 19 the St. Paul City Council adopted a 6-1 ordinance, led by Council President Rebecca Noecker, banning cryptocurrency kiosks citywide — a move Council Members Saura Jost and Cheniqua Johnson said was prompted by presentations on scams, with the city home to at least 32 kiosks and Minnesota reporting 51 kiosk-related scams totaling about $700,000; Council Member Anika Bowie cast the lone dissenting vote, saying a ban would simply shift the problem to neighboring cities. Bitcoin Depot, which had spoken at the St. Paul hearing and previously sued over Stillwater's similar ban, has now filed suit seeking to block enforcement of St. Paul's ordinance, arguing it is preempted by state or federal law and unlawfully interferes with its business.
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Melanie Rucker named interim Minneapolis fire chief
Minneapolis Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker will serve as interim fire chief starting at the end of December, following the retirement of Chief Bryan Tyner, while the city conducts a nationwide search expected to conclude by spring 2026. Mayor Jacob Frey said Rucker—who joined the department in 1999 and becomes the first Black woman and only the second woman to lead MFD—will return to her assistant chief and public information officer role once a permanent chief is appointed, with City Council approval required for the final hire.
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St. Paul honors firefighter Timothy Bertz after on-duty death days after academy graduation
St. Paul honored firefighter Timothy Bertz, a recent St. Paul Fire Academy graduate who died days after graduating, at a memorial attended by department leadership, colleagues and family who remembered his "all in" mentality and commitment. Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation ordering U.S. and Minnesota flags at half-staff statewide on the day of Bertz's funeral and encouraged state buildings, businesses and individuals to lower their flags in his honor.
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Minneapolis declares Dec. 28-30 snow emergency with three-day parking rules
Minneapolis has declared a Snow Emergency beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, ahead of a storm expected to drop 4-7 inches, and will impose a three-day parking schedule: Day 1 — no parking on either side of Snow Emergency routes from 9 p.m. Dec. 28-8 a.m. Dec. 29; Day 2 — no parking on even sides of non-Snow Emergency routes and both sides of parkways from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 29; Day 3 — no parking on odd sides of non-Snow Emergency routes from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 30. Several Twin Cities suburbs, including New Hope, West St. Paul, Eden Prairie, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Crystal, Elk River and St. James, have also declared snow emergencies, and the same storm prompted a ground delay program at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
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Lakeville proposes sweeping 2026-27 school boundary changes
Lakeville Area Schools is proposing district-wide attendance boundary changes for the 2026-27 school year—its second major redraw in two years—that would reassign students at all nine elementary schools and four middle schools to relieve overcrowding and plan for growth. Board Chair Matt Swanson says the district has added 800 students in five years and expects 500 more in the next five, while parents worry about repeated school moves for their children; a public feedback meeting is set for Jan. 6 ahead of a Jan. 13 board vote.
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Eagan Grace Slavic Church fire forces Christmas and school relocation
Investigators say Christmas lights likely sparked a blaze that heavily damaged Eagan's Grace Slavic Church — leaving a hole in the roof, burned gutters and boarded windows while the sanctuary cross remains — and forcing the congregation to relocate Christmas services, with another church offering space and revised schedules. The fire also displaced Baitul Hikmah Academy classes, which shifted to e-learning and temporary host/interim spaces, as leaders and families (including many Ukrainian immigrants the church has served) cope and a recovery GoFundMe has raised about $3,700.
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Federal judge rebukes DHS mandatory detention in Minneapolis case
U.S. District Court Judge Laura Provinzino has sharply criticized the Trump administration's use of a 'mandatory-detention' policy in immigration cases, ruling it unlawful and ordering DHS to give Minneapolis resident Roberto Mata Fuentes a bond hearing or release after he was held 50 days in Sherburne County Jail without bond eligibility. Mata Fuentes, a Mexican national who has lived in Minnesota for more than 20 years, has no criminal record, holds a work permit and is pursuing a U visa; an immigration judge has since granted him $3,500 bond, allowing him to reunite with his wife and three U.S.-born children in time for Christmas while his deportation case continues. The ruling notes that federal judges nationwide have told the government nearly 300 times that this detention scheme is unlawful, yet DHS continues to apply it amid an intensified raid campaign in Minnesota.
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Attempted break-in targets St. Paul Rep. Samakab Hussein
St. Paul State Rep. Samakab Hussein says someone attempted to break into his home while his family was inside, leaving them "terribly shaken" but unharmed, and St. Paul police are investigating the incident as an attempted break-in. Hussein and fellow legislators have linked the episode to a broader climate of threats and racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric directed at him and other officials.
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Minnesota Sheriffs' Association issues no-confidence vote in DOC chief Schnell, urges Walz to remove him
The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association at its winter conference issued a formal vote of no confidence in Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell and urged Gov. Tim Walz to remove him or for Schnell to resign. Sheriffs said Schnell's leadership has produced inconsistent enforcement of DOC rules, burdensome and uneven jail inspections, poor communication and cooperation, and increased costs and operational burdens on county jails — with MSA President Lon Thiele calling his leadership "detrimental to public safety."
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98 Minnesota mayors warn state that fraud, mandates and cuts are driving 2026 levy hikes
Ninety-eight Minnesota mayors sent a joint letter to the governor and legislative leaders warning that "widespread fraud," unfunded state mandates, cuts and broader fiscal mismanagement are forcing cities into higher 2026 property-tax levies, constraining public-safety staffing and delaying infrastructure projects. Preliminary Department of Revenue data and local reports show proposed 2026 levies could rise roughly $948 million statewide (preliminary increases up to about 6.9%, with average city proposals around 8.7% and county proposals up to 8.1%), every county proposing increases (some double-digit), with truth-in-taxation meetings set for Nov.-Dec., final levies due Dec. 29 and final statewide totals released after the February forecast.
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Anoka-Hennepin teachers set Jan. 8 strike date
Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota has filed a formal intent-to-strike notice with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, setting Jan. 8 as the earliest possible date for a teachers' strike if no contract agreement is reached. The union, representing educators in the Twin Cities' largest district, says rising health-insurance costs and pay are the main sticking points, while the school board says it remains committed to negotiating through mediation and will hold a special meeting to discuss the labor situation.
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Ninety-eight Minnesota mayors warn state on fraud, mandates and rising costs
A coalition of 98 Minnesota mayors sent a joint letter to state leaders Monday warning that widespread fraud, unfunded mandates and rising costs are driving up local property-tax levies, limiting public safety staffing and delaying infrastructure work, and citing the swing from an $18 billion surplus to a projected $2.9-$3 billion 2028-29 deficit as evidence of poor fiscal management. The mayors say many cities face 2026 levy hikes averaging 8.7% and counties up to 8.1%, and urge the state to change course to avoid 'taxing our families, seniors, and businesses out of Minnesota.'
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Inver Grove Heights superintendent to retire
Inver Grove Heights Schools (ISD 199) Superintendent Dave Bernhardson announced his retirement on Dec. 21, 2025. The leadership change affects the Dakota County district serving Inver Grove Heights; details on timing and next steps for selecting a successor were not immediately provided.
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St. Paul keeps Hmong program at current campuses
The St. Paul School Board voted on Dec. 19, 2025 to keep the district's Hmong language and culture school/program at its current campuses, declining proposals to relocate or consolidate. The decision affects Saint Paul Public Schools students and families and settles immediate questions about facility changes for the program.
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St. Paul orders ICE to stop using city lots
The City of St. Paul sent a cease-and-desist letter on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, directing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop staging enforcement operations in city-owned parking lots. The action cites city rules and the separation policy and follows recent immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities.
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Federal law expands first-responder benefits
A new federal law inspired by a fallen St. Paul fire captain expands survivor and disability benefits for first responders nationwide. Enacted this week, the change broadens eligibility and streamlines claims for firefighters, police and EMS, and directly affects Twin Cities agencies and their families.
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Trump secures drugmaker deals to cut Medicaid prices
President Donald Trump said Friday his administration reached agreements with nine additional major drugmakers — bringing 14 of the 17 largest firms on board — to a 'most-favored-nation' pricing initiative aimed at keeping Medicaid drug costs at or below prices in other high-income countries. The deals also include a combined $150 billion in new U.S. investment commitments and contributions of active pharmaceutical ingredients to a federal reserve, with a new TrumpRX.gov site set to launch in January 2026.
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U.S. House votes to delist gray wolf
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 18, 2025, passed a bill to remove the gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species Act list, sending the measure to the Senate. If it becomes law, federal protections would be lifted and management of wolves would revert to states, including Minnesota, potentially changing how the species is managed statewide.
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Developer seeks $3.5M St. Paul loan for Grand/Victoria project
A developer has asked the City of St. Paul for a $3.5 million loan to help finance a mixed-use housing and retail project at Grand Avenue and Victoria Street. On December 18, 2025, the St. Paul City Council approved creation of a $9 million tax-increment financing district for the same area, a larger public-financing step than the earlier loan request.
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St. Paul approves $9M TIF at Grand-Victoria
The St. Paul City Council on Dec. 18 approved a $9 million tax-increment financing district at Victoria Street and Grand Avenue to support redevelopment in the area. The public-financing measure formalizes a significant city investment mechanism for the corridor.
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After Senate rejection, House Speaker rules out ACA subsidy vote; 2026 lapse more likely
After the Senate voted down both a Democratic plan to extend enhanced ACA premium subsidies and a Republican alternative—and with Senate Republicans unveiling a plan that does not include the extensions—the likelihood the enhanced subsidies will lapse for the 2026 plan year has risen, threatening steep premium increases for millions nationally (including about 89,000 MNsure recipients and up to 24 million exchange enrollees). House Speaker Mike Johnson said Dec. 16 the House will not take up a subsidy-extension vote and will instead press a GOP health-care plan, closing near-term congressional paths despite a White House draft to extend subsidies for two years with eligibility caps and minimum premiums.
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DFL primary sets Shelley Buck as HD47A nominee; HD64A DFL results pending for Jan. 27 specials
Special elections for Minnesota House seats in St. Paul (HD64A) and Woodbury (HD47A) are set for Jan. 27. In DFL primaries held Tuesday, Shelley Buck won the nomination in HD47A, while results in the HD64A St. Paul primary — where seven candidates competed — were still pending.
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Shelley Buck wins HD47A DFL primary
Shelley Buck won the DFL primary for Minnesota House District 47A (Woodbury area) on Dec. 16, 2025, setting the party's nominee for the Jan. 27 special election. Results in the DFL primary for House District 64A (St. Paul) remained pending at publication.
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Washington County adopts 2026 levy at 6.95%, lowest in metro
On Dec. 16, 2025, the Washington County Board approved the final 2026 property-tax levy at a 6.95% increase. That rate is the lowest levy increase among counties in the Twin Cities metro area.
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Walz signs two gun-violence executive orders, establishes Statewide Safety Council
Facing a stalemated Legislature, Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 16 signed two executive orders that immediately establish a Statewide Safety Council and direct the state to expand education on safe firearm storage and Minnesota's red-flag law while collecting more data on the societal costs of gun violence. Walz framed the orders as bypassing a special session and said they could face legal challenges; critics including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus called them "low-impact" political cover and GOP leaders disputed his account of negotiations.
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MSP reassesses disadvantaged business programs after rule change
The Metropolitan Airports Commission says it is reevaluating which firms qualify for its disadvantaged business programs at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport after a federal rule under the Trump administration eliminated race and gender as factors for determining economic disadvantage. The review could affect certification and future contracting opportunities at MSP; updated criteria and timelines were not immediately disclosed.
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Dakota County adopts 2026 budget with 9.9% levy increase
Dakota County scheduled a Tuesday meeting to serve as the public hearing/Truth-in-Taxation step on a proposed 9.9% increase to the 2026 property-tax levy. At its Dec. 16, 2025 meeting the County Board approved the final levy at 9.9% and adopted the 2026 budget.
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Minnesota pauses adult day center licensing
Minnesota is pausing issuance of new adult day center licenses to increase oversight of the rapidly growing program. The Walz administration says the moratorium is part of an expanded statewide fraud probe and broader program-integrity efforts to tighten scrutiny amid concerns about provider growth and potential fraud.
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Robbinsdale board advances closures of Noble, Sonnesyn and Robbinsdale Middle; final vote Jan. 20 amid $20M shortfall
The Robbinsdale School Board voted to advance a plan to close Noble Elementary, Sonnesyn Elementary and Robbinsdale Middle School to address a roughly $20 million deficit the district attributes to an accounting error and declining enrollment. A final draft will be reviewed Jan. 5 with a final vote set for Jan. 20 under a plan that keeps Lakeview and Neill elementaries open, and parents raised concerns about the closures' community impacts.
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Ramsey County adopts 8.25% final levy, trims operating budget
Ramsey County initially set a preliminary 9.75% property-tax levy and scheduled a truth-in-taxation hearing to take public comment and provide information. After that process the county board adopted a final 2026 levy increase of 8.25% and approved a reduced operating budget, replacing the earlier preliminary levy.
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Feds to review Minnesota benefits programs over fraud
Federal officials have announced a targeted review of Minnesota benefits programs amid concerns about fraud in unemployment and nutrition assistance. As part of that review, the U.S. Department of Labor is sending an on-site team to investigate potential unemployment insurance fraud.
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Rondo Library to close Dec. 15 for renovations
St. Paul's Rondo Community Library will close on Dec. 15 for up to a year while it undergoes planned facility and safety upgrades. The temporary shutdown, which began ahead of some planned improvements, has prompted community concerns about the loss of library space and services during the renovation.
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St. Paul council delays vote on police force review tied to ICE operation
On Dec. 3 the St. Paul City Council postponed a planned vote to review SPPD's use of force during the Nov. 25 ICE operation on Rose Avenue, delaying action to a later meeting while council members had called for an audit of public costs, a review of compliance with the city's separation ordinance and scrutiny of pepper balls, less-lethal munitions and other chemical irritants. Community groups and leaders say police violated department policy and demand video release and discipline, and the council now plans to ask the Minnesota POST Board for a thorough state-level investigation as Chief Axel Henry — who described SPPD's role as a "rope in a tug of war" — urged better communication with ICE to prevent future clashes.
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Hennepin County to pay $370K in back wages
Hennepin County is paying $370,000 in back wages to security guards employed by a subcontractor on county contracts after determining they were underpaid under county labor standards. The county said the payout will make affected workers whole for work performed at county sites; details on the vendor and the number of workers were not immediately disclosed.
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Minnesota sets new rest, meal break minimums Jan. 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.
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AG: Only county boards (not sheriffs) can sign ICE 287(g); detainers alone not lawful basis to hold
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.
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Minneapolis passes stronger ICE noncooperation ordinance, codifying staging ban and adding MPD reporting
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.
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Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega will not seek re-election in 2026
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.
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Ortega won't seek 2026 Ramsey County re-election
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.
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Walz appoints statewide fraud-prevention director and launches program-integrity push
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.
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Trump order seeks to preempt state AI rules
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.
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Minneapolis approves final George Floyd Square plan
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.
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Court backs Wayzata in TCF site dispute
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.
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Forest Lake schools open applications for board vacancy; interviews set Dec. 4
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.
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Ramsey County appoints housing stability director
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.
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Mike Lindell launches Minnesota governor bid
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.
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Minneapolis ordinance to codify Frey's ICE staging ban and add MPD reporting requirements
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.
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St. Paul testing alternate-side winter parking rules
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.
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St. Paul council president eyes Ramsey County seat
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.
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Steve Simon to seek fourth term as Secretary of State
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.
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Refunds open after Woodbury Dental Arts settlement
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.
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FAA eases nationwide flight cuts to 3%; MSP still under limits
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.
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FAA probes airlines over shutdown flight cuts
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.
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AG Ellison to mediate UMN-M Physicians-Fairview talks; parties resume negotiations
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.
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Eagan opens Veteran Village for homeless veterans
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.
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DHS to pause new HCBS disability licenses Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2027; limited exceptions
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.
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St. Paul sets hearing on 5.3% 2026 levy
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.
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St. Paul approves 5.3% 2026 levy, $6.7M budget changes
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.
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SPPS says 2026 school levy on track to rise 15% after hearing
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.
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Eagan names Salim Omari police chief
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.
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$7.35M deal for Lake Elmo-Hwy 36 interchange land
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.
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Mike Lindell files for Minnesota governor
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.
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HUD pulls funds from Twin Cities housing projects
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.
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HUD rule change slashes MN supportive housing funds
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.
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USDOT audit threatens $30M over illegal MN CDLs
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.
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Rosemount police chief placed on leave
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.
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Rosemount police chief Dahlstrom resigns
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.
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Treasury orders probe of MN fraud-terror ties
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.
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Bronze Line to replace Purple Line BRT
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.
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USDA threatens to cut Minnesota SNAP funds
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.
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MN GOP urges federal probe of alleged terror financing
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.
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Ex-Mpls Chamber CEO Jonathan Weinhagen pleads guilty to mail fraud; faces nearly 3 years, >$200K restitution
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.
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Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel launches GOP governor bid with anti-fraud focus; endorsed by Minneapolis Police Federation
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.
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Cottage Grove seeks regional EMS backup
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.
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DNR boosts security at St. Paul office
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.
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US halts all asylum decisions nationwide
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.
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Trump Thanksgiving post targets Minnesota Somalis
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.
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St. Paul fire chief Butch Inks to retire
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.
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Dakota County to host 2031 horticultural expo
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.
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Shutdown ends: Feds back Thursday; back pay by Nov. 19 as LIHEAP restarts
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.
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ICE says 14 arrested in St. Paul Bro-Tex raid; city leaders decry chemical spray as fundraiser tops $25K
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.
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Lakeland sets open house on City Hall plan
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.
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Minneapolis to open 44 outdoor rinks by Dec. 22
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.
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DHS to end TPS for some Myanmar nationals
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.
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EPA moves to roll back soot standard
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.
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Stillwater schools sell Lake Elmo Elementary site
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.
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Free entry Friday at state, Washington County parks
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.
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White House starts dismantling Education Dept; most school funds shift to Labor, other agencies
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.
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USCIS to re-interview Biden-era refugees
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.
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Edina unveils draft ban on assault-style weapons, >20-round mags and ghost guns; delays action, will hold town hall
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.
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Four finalists named for Minnesota appeals court
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.
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Minneapolis police chief apologizes for comments
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.
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DHS adds Dec. 2 ICS payment stops; 97 affected as St. Paul tenants get eviction notices
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.
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Minnesota employers must send PFML notices Dec. 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.
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Met Council opens search for transit police chief
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.
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Minneapolis issues Thanksgiving cooking safety tips
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.
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St. Paul designates Hamm's Brewery historic district
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.
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St. Paul OKs 2 a.m. service, unveils World Juniors fest
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.
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DOC reduces Stillwater prison population
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.
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DOC pilots 'earned living units' at Stillwater
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.
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Ramsey County names deputy manager, reorganizes services
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.
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St. Paul mayor-elect Her names transition team
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.
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Hennepin touts data showing youth diversion works
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.
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St. Paul OKs trash cart sharing for small multifamily
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.
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Opioid settlement funds used for K-9s, admin
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.
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St. Paul seeks 120-day pause in $22M permit-fee suit
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.
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Lakeville OKs first mosque at former office
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.
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Washington County unveils $12M emergency shelter
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.
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MnDOT sets Robert Street project meetings
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.
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MN Senate probes Twin Cities college grant cuts
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.
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MnDOT denies permit for Lift Bridge tug-of-war
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.
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Sen. Steve Cwodzinski to retire in 2026
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.
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Rep. Sandra Feist to retire after term
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.
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Wayzata sets April 14, 2026 special election; $465M bonds plus separate $31M pool question on ballot
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.
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MnDOT to brief Hastings U.S. 61 rebuild Tuesday
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.
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St. Paul police adopt first AI-use policy
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.
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Congress passes shutdown bill with 0.4 mg hemp-THC cap; 1-year phase-in alarms MN beverage industry
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.
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Leaked DHS emails flag 2022 grant draw risk
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.
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I-494 weekend closure from Hwy 77 to Hwy 100
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.
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Ryan Winkler launches bid for HD 43B
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.
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Hennepin, metro cities boost food aid amid SNAP delays
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.
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St. Paul passes contingent assault-weapons ban; gun-rights group files lawsuit
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).
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St. Paul offers $2,500 eviction-prevention aid
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.
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Judge grants TRO barring encampments on Sabri Minneapolis properties
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.
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Walz orders veteran food pantry network
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.
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Stillwater schools weigh boundary changes
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.
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CBP building $15.6M facility at Holman Field
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.
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Washington County plans Ideal Avenue upgrades
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.
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St. Paul keeps staff-led review for reparations study
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.
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IACP to review 43-hour response to June 14 lawmaker shootings; $429.5K cost
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.
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Minneapolis CM Jamal Osman carjacked amid spree; two teens arrested, VW recovered
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.
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Minneapolis weighs downtown public restroom expansion
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.
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Judge denies stay on binary trigger ban ruling
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.
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Appeals court orders full SNAP funding; Supreme Court to decide whether 65% cap remains
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.
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AG's conviction review of 2002 Dakota murder nears
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.
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Swing-district Sen. Seeberger backs assault-weapon ban
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.
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Veterans Day closures and services in Twin Cities
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.
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Hennepin County revises North Arm landing plan
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.
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I-394 E-ZPass lanes reopen after July closure
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.
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Bernie Sanders backs Peggy Flanagan for Senate
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.
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Ramsey County approves $450K for food shelves; 11 recipients named, $70K reserved for infant formula
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.
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State awards $69M from MN Forward Fund, including $50M for Rosemount 'North Wind,' $5M for UST and $4M for Hennepin Tech
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.
Local
Judges in Minnesota rebuff ICE bond denials
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.
Local
Shepard Road lights still dark after thefts
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.
Local
Progressives keep 7-6 edge on Minneapolis council; veto overrides no longer possible
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
United Way reports 150% surge in food requests; $105K in grants distributed
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.
Local
Minnesota State Grant faces $102M shortfall
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.
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Minnesota to correct SNAP payout overcount
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.
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St. Paul launches SNAP relief food drive
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.
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Walz appoints Robin Hutcheson Met Council chair
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.
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Retired Woodbury police chief Bill Hering dies at 76
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.
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Walz orders half-staff flags for Farmington officer
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.
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Two charged in Bar Zia killing; prosecutors cite security lapses, city shutters bar
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.
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Frey wins third term after single RCV round; precinct map shows bases
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.
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Why Minneapolis reported RCV results later
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.
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Farmington officer Pete Zajac dies by suicide
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.
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Cottage Grove OKs EIS for riverbed mine
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.
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St. Paul Sen. Sandy Pappas retiring in 2026
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.
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Patrick Knight launches Minnesota governor campaign
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.
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St. Paul orders demo of former CVS at Snelling & University; 15-day deadline
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.
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Minnesota on pace for record eight 2025 specials
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.
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Most MN school levies pass; MSBA says 62% of 96 questions approved, ~$1B okayed statewide
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.
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Stillwater denies cannabis shop near rec center
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.
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Mpls Park Board appoints interim District 2 commissioner
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.
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States sue DHS over FEMA grant restrictions
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.
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Minneapolis sets record municipal turnout
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.
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DFL retains Minnesota Senate after SD47 win; GOP takes SD29
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.
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DFL keeps one-seat Senate majority after Nov. 4 specials
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.
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St. Paul mayoral race advances to RCV; first count: Carter ~40%, Her ~38%
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.
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St. Paul voters back administrative citations charter amendment; Yes leads 68-32 with 78 of 86 precincts reporting
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.
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Ramsey County election results and levies
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).
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Dakota County voters approve school levies; Reichenberger, Mikel-Mulder win board seats
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.
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SPPS uses public funds for levy outreach
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.
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St. Paul schools seek $1,073-per-pupil levy
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.
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St. Paul proposes cannabis business manager post
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.
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Minneapolis election to decide council control
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."
Local
Pro-labor challengers surge in Mpls Park races
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.
Local
Minneapolis voters decide Park Board, BET seats
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.
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Suburban Twin Cities elect local leaders
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.
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Community campaign saves Lake of the Isles rink
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.
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Lake St. Croix Beach fires administrator; suit planned
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."
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Avery Severson launches bid for House 36A
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.
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Minneapolis early voting at second-highest pace
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.
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Walz directs $4M to Minnesota food shelves as SNAP cutoff nears
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.
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Washington County allocates $250K to food shelves
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.
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Ramsey County elections: races and ballot measures
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.
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Where Minneapolis mayoral frontrunners stand on issues
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.
Local
St. Paul decertifies Westminster Junction TIF early
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
U.S. Ed Dept furloughs hit OCR, special ed
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.
Local
Pro-Frey PACs outspend Fateh allies in Mpls
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.
Local
MN Senate hears shutdown's toll on TSA, WIC
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.
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St. Paul administrative citations on ballot: full question, backers, and how it would work
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
MPD orders review and retraining after Willard-Hay domestic-violence killing
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.
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St. Paul chiefs warn pay gaps risk retention
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.
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Walz backs Frey in Minneapolis mayor race
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.
Local
Sheriffs warn of SNAP 'emergency relief' text scams amid shutdown (now includes Anoka County)
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.
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Oak Park Heights OKs Mango Cannabis at Joseph's
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
University of Minnesota ends hosting high school graduations
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.
Local
Minnesota Capitol to add 20 officers, threats investigator as threats surge
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
Judge blocks federal-worker layoffs during shutdown, citing political retribution
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.
Local
Court narrows Minneapolis duty to defend officers
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.
Local
Minneapolis clears 234 OPCR misconduct cases backlog
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
Nov. 4 voting guide for Twin Cities
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.
Local
MAC Chair Rick King to retire
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.
Local
Weinhagen resigns from Mounds View school board
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.
Local
State investment board cites safety, moves online
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
Southwest LRT begins on-track testing
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.
Local
Secondary market emerges for MN cannabis licenses
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.
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St. Paul Mayor Carter seeks third term
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.
Local
Early voting starts Sept. 19 in Twin Cities
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
Rep. Elliott Engen launches auditor bid
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.
Local
Express buses to replace Northstar at two stops
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.
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Minneapolis posts full 2025 mayor, council ballot
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.
Local
St. Paul meeting addresses racist fliers
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.
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Lakeville weighs 390-acre, 1,440-home project
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.
Local
MPD seeks two cyclists in Temple Israel bias-graffiti case; asks public for video
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 [email protected], 612-673-5845 or CrimeStoppersMN.org/1-800-TIPS.
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Union stages protest against Ramsey County detox program closure
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.
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St. Paul joins lawsuit over $100M emergency grants
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.
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Grand Ave Macalester-Wheeler segment reopens Tuesday; $6.7M project ribbon cutting 4:30 p.m.
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.
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State lifts cap on Hennepin jail capacity
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.
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Ramsey County settles foster parents data case
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.
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Walz, Prairie Island sign cannabis compact; wholesale to state dispensaries could begin in November
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.
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Minnesota ends same-day license pilot Oct. 31
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
Federal cuts slash Minnesota food aid
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.
Local
Wayzata sued over short-term rental ban
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.
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Minneapolis starts fall street sweeping Tuesday
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.
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Minneapolis board weighs school closures
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.
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BCA: Twin Cities violent crime up 1% in 2024
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.
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Minnesota federal courts limit operations amid shutdown
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.
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Guide to 2025 metro county elections
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.
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Minnesota drops 800 inactive Medicaid providers statewide
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.
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Minneapolis mayoral hopefuls split on policing
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.
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AG: Two contractors accused in $1.5M fraud
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.
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Judge: DHS can't tie FEMA aid to immigration cooperation, calls tactic 'bullying'
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.
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Minneapolis seeks developer for Dania Hall site
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.
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Rep. Ilhan Omar backs Fateh for mayor
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.
Local
MSP opens Terminal 1 FLEX Lane for MEA
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.
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CDC urges COVID shots; Walz gets vaccinated
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.
Local
Nonprofit takes over Alliance Bank Center
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.
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Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner to retire Dec. 31; to lead Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
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.
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Bloomington used COVID relief for City Hall bathroom
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.
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Minneapolis opens RFP for 'New Nicollet' Phase One
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.
Local
Judge blocks conditions on domestic-violence grants
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.
Local
Shakopee neighbor feud triggers 232 police calls
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.
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Bloomington mulls 9.44% levy, $100M complex
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.
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UMN regents approve 9-2 transfer of Eastcliff to University Foundation
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.
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Matt Pelikan launches Hennepin County attorney bid
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.
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Four candidates now running for Hennepin County Attorney
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.
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Hundreds of Minnesota clergy demand assault-weapons ban
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.
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Anoka extends downtown social district through 2025
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.
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Ramsey County to pay $100,000 settlement
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
Loma Bonita Market to Open in Richfield
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.
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Minnesota DFL probes Minneapolis DFL mailers amid Fateh endorsement dispute
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.
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All five St. Paul mayoral candidates speak at Gloria Dei forum
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.
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Minnesota school board members urge ban on trans girls' sports
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.
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Former Golden Valley chief alleges department racism
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.
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I-494 overnight closure for Portland Ave bridge work
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.
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Minnesota Sen. Jim Carlson to Retire in 2026
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.
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John Ireland Blvd bridge closed until summer 2026
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.
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Hennepin County seeks help identifying two 1990s bodies
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.
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Forest Lake superintendent Steve Massey to retire
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.
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Golden Valley police chief resigns after probe
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.
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I-35W Burnsville overnight lane closures start Oct. 6
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.
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Kaohly Her outlines St. Paul downtown plan
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.
Local
50 sticks of suspected dynamite prompt Medina evacuation
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.
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South St. Paul council member's daycare license reinstated
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.
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Omar Jamal released after settlement following ICE arrest
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.
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DOJ sues Minnesota, Minneapolis over 'sanctuary' policies
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.
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Frey, Fateh clash in first Minneapolis debate
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.
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Woman dies after Lake Street encampment shooting; victim identified
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.
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Wild owner vows team will stay in St. Paul
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.
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Westbound I-94 closed I-35E to John Ireland Sept. 26-29; MnDOT detours set
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.
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Minneapolis Fed orders full-time office return
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.
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St. Paul rejects 28.5% Ashland rent hikes
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.
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Legislative auditor urges stronger anti-fraud controls
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.
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Minnesota Supreme Court censures, suspends Anoka County judge for misconduct
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.
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Minneapolis to nominate three Black heritage sites
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.
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Nicole Mitchell sentencing set Tuesday; defense seeks misdemeanor downgrade and Ramsey County confinement
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.
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Tad Jude announces secretary of state bid
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.
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Arden Hills considers allowing backyard ducks
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.
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Blue Line shuts 10 p.m. Sept. 22-Oct. 4; buses replace trains
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.
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St. Paul restores library, rec center internet
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.
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Minneapolis opens shooting assistance center
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.
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Minnesota OKs campaign funds for candidate security
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.
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St. Paul's West 7th Street reopens after sinkhole
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.
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Hennepin County halts charges from minor stops
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.
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Minnesota free school meals hit 302M total
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.
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Minneapolis hires firm for neighbor shooting audit
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.
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DPS, State Patrol join MPD patrols after shootings
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.
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St. Paul budget leaves 16 police vacancies
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.
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DFL Sen. Ann Rest to retire after 40 years
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.
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Falcon Heights debates Les Bolstad redevelopment
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.
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Xp Lee wins Minnesota House District 34B special election
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.
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GOP seeks Annunciation shooter toxicology
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.
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Urban farm group misses Roof Depot deadline
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.
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Falcon Heights nets $49K from State Fair parking
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.