Public Safety

Funeral plans set for Sgt. Nicole Amor, White Bear Lake soldier killed in Iran conflict

8h Breaking TC 6

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor of White Bear Lake was one of six Army Reserve soldiers killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and was honored in a dignified transfer at Dover attended by President Trump, Vice President Vance and Minnesota senators. Visitation is set for 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 interment at Fort Snelling, and Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at half‑staff statewide until sunset on the day of her interment.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

District 196 shuts all schools Tuesday after voicemail threats

10h Breaking TC 1

Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan School District 196 closed all schools Tuesday after multiple buildings received voicemail threats discovered around 3:30 a.m., prompting an early‑morning scramble with law enforcement. District leaders say they decided at about 5:45 a.m. to cancel classes "out of an abundance of caution," halt all in‑person operations, and instruct employees not to report to work while police investigate. Officials have not disclosed what the threats said or which schools were targeted, and they emphasized that this will not count as an e‑learning day. For families across the south‑metro suburbs, the move means abrupt childcare and work disruptions while they wait for clarity on the credibility of the threats and whether classes will resume normally. The lack of detail so far is fueling questions online about how districts draw the line between credible danger and blanket shutdowns, especially as threat‑driven closures become more common.

Public Safety Education

Bill would tighten Minnesota school threat reporting

21h Breaking TC 1

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.

Education Public Safety Local Government

Judge frees Metro Surge detainee DHS called 'Worst of Worst'

22h TC 1

Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson has ordered the immediate release of Carlos Flores‑Miguel, an El Salvadoran man DHS publicly branded one of the “Worst of the Worst,” after finding his detention was unlawfully prolonged by a series of government missteps during Operation Metro Surge. Flores‑Miguel was grabbed by federal agents outside his workplace in the Twin Cities metro on Jan. 20, accused of being an MS‑13 member and registered sex offender, and briefly faced sealed criminal charges before DOJ quietly dropped the case. In a written habeas ruling, Nelson detailed a bureaucratic mess in which ICE and DOJ bounced him between Minnesota and Texas, could not even say who had him in custody at points, and then slapped an immigration hold on him after telling the court he would be released, concluding that only outright release could remedy the violations. Flores‑Miguel, who has prior illegal‑reentry convictions and was accused of violently resisting arrest, is now living in Newport under strict supervision conditions that bar him from associating with known gang members and require regular ICE check‑ins. He cannot be sent back to El Salvador because an immigration judge previously found he would likely face torture there, and DHS is now floating Mexico as a possible 'third‑country' deportation — a legally shaky plan given ongoing court fights and no clear indication Mexico will take him. For metro residents, the case is another concrete example of federal agencies overselling Metro Surge arrests in press materials while federal judges here keep finding the underlying detentions unconstitutional or incompetent.

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota lawmakers revive ghost gun ban after court ruling

22h Developing TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

144 pounds of meth seized in St. Louis Park raid

1d Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors have charged 22‑year‑old Jose Manuel Jimenez‑Zamorano with first‑degree drug sale after investigators say they found roughly 144.3 pounds of methamphetamine in a St. Louis Park apartment last October. The search warrant was executed Oct. 1, 2025, at an apartment on the 2500 block of Nevada Avenue South, where deputies report they discovered the drugs in a tote containing mail addressed to Jimenez‑Zamorano and in two suitcases in a bedroom closet, along with packaging materials associated with distribution. An adult woman in the unit told officers he lived there and used the bedroom where the stash was found, according to the complaint. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office publicly touted the bust at the time as a major milestone in a multi‑agency effort to disrupt meth trafficking into the county, but said details were limited because the probe was ongoing. Jimenez‑Zamorano has now been charged via warrant, his whereabouts are unknown, and a nationwide warrant has been issued, meaning a key alleged player in a large‑scale Twin Cities meth pipeline is currently on the run.

Public Safety Legal

Twin Cities blizzard cleanup: metro roads mostly clear, MSP back to normal, southern MN still shut down

1d Breaking TC 16

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.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Ex‑ICE attorney Julie Le to challenge Omar in MN‑05

3d Breaking TC 1

Former ICE attorney Julie Le, who went viral in February for telling a federal judge "this system sucks, this job sucks" amid a crush of Operation Metro Surge cases, formally launched a Democratic primary campaign Saturday in Brooklyn Park for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Ilhan Omar. Le told supporters she is "overwhelmed" by their backing and said her run is driven by the fallout of the Twin Cities ICE crackdown, citing families torn apart, allegedly unlawful detentions, and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as proof the system is broken. She previously represented ICE in immigration court and then volunteered to help the U.S. Attorney’s Office handle a flood of habeas petitions from immigrants claiming wrongful detention, with court dockets showing she was assigned to more than 85 such cases before the Trump administration pulled her off them hours after her outburst. Le is making comprehensive immigration reform the centerpiece of her platform, arguing that Metro Surge has shuttered family businesses and killed innocent U.S. citizens for exercising constitutional rights. Her entry sets up a high‑profile Democratic fight in the Minneapolis‑anchored district that has become ground zero for national battles over immigration enforcement and federal overreach.

Elections Legal Public Safety

Man fatally shot in Uptown Minneapolis parking lot

3d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was fatally shot around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, while standing with a group of people in a parking lot near Hennepin Avenue and West 24th Street. Responding officers found him with a gunshot wound and he later died at the hospital; his name has not yet been released. Investigators say the gunfire came from outside the group he was standing with, and no arrests have been made as detectives work to determine what led up to the shooting. Police Chief Brian O’Hara issued a statement calling the killing "senseless" and pledging to do everything possible to identify those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact MPD via email at policetips@minneapolismn.gov or by leaving a voicemail at 612‑673‑5845, as residents again confront late‑night gun violence along a major commercial corridor.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota Senate panel advances assault‑weapons ban, local gun‑law powers

3d Developing TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Ex‑military lawyers challenge JAG prosecutors in MN ICE cases

3d TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Phishing scam targets Minneapolis permit applicants

4d Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government Technology

State clears Savage daycare where infant died to reopen under monitoring

4d Developing TC 2

The state has formally cleared Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage to reopen after its suspension following the death of 11‑month‑old Harvey Muklebust, and the 18‑year‑old worker in the case has been charged and is no longer on staff. State regulators said their maltreatment investigation found no longer an “imminent risk of harm” at the facility and that there was “no apparent reason” the center would have known the worker posed a threat.

Public Safety Legal Health

High winds knock out power for 20K+ Xcel customers; MSP hits 61 mph as winter storm watch follows

4d Breaking TC 5

High winds — peaking at 61 mph at MSP and as high as 74 mph near Bird Island — toppled trees and caused roughly 306 outages affecting just over 20,500 Xcel Energy customers across Minnesota Friday morning. High Wind Warnings remained in effect (metro through 10 a.m., some western areas until 7 a.m.), and a winter storm watch is now posted from late Saturday into Monday for central and southern Minnesota, with a wintry mix overnight and the potential for heavy snow and hazardous travel.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Man dies in Minneapolis house fire, city’s first 2026 fatality

5d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis recorded its first fire-related death of 2026 after a man pulled from a burning house near 32nd Avenue South and East 44th Street late Wednesday night died at the hospital. Minneapolis Fire Department crews arrived just before midnight to find heavy fire that had already spread to the home’s second floor and say interior access was hampered by significant debris. Firefighters were eventually able to knock down the flames and, during their searches, located the victim unconscious in the basement; no one else was inside. Assistant Chief Wes Van Vickle said crews initiated a rapid search once they learned someone might be in the structure but the man "tragically" succumbed to his injuries. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and for south Minneapolis residents it’s another reminder of how quickly an after‑hours house fire can turn deadly, especially when escape routes are blocked or cluttered.

Public Safety

Federal judges’ written orders slam ICE Metro Surge as unconstitutional, 'Orwellian'

5d Breaking TC 16

Federal judges across the District of Minnesota have issued written orders blasting ICE’s Operation Metro Surge as unconstitutional and “Orwellian,” finding multiple Fourth Amendment violations — including warrantless battering‑ram home entries and workplace arrests — and ordering immediate releases, a 72‑hour limit on out‑of‑state transfers and expanded attorney access. Courts say ICE and DOJ have repeatedly flouted hundreds of these orders amid a surge of habeas petitions in the high hundreds to over 1,000, prompting contempt findings and threats of fines or criminal sanctions while the U.S. Attorney’s Office, depleted by resignations and overwhelmed by the caseload, struggles to comply as ICE at times re‑arrested released individuals and seeks to restart deportations.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Judges threaten contempt as Rosen again defends ICE surge order violations

5d Developing TC 3

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen was summoned back to court for another contempt‑focused hearing after judges found ongoing violations of an ICE surge order and missed court‑ordered deadlines, indicating compliance remains incomplete. In more than two dozen rulings — including at least some civil‑contempt findings — judges have sharply criticized the government as "craven," "disturbing" and "Orwellian," pointing to concrete cases such as the detention of a Somali Amazon worker and the transfer of a 12‑year‑old taken without warrants.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Woman critically injured in St. Paul intersection crash

5d Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say an adult woman remains in critical condition after she was hit by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of White Bear Avenue North and Maryland Avenue East in the Prosperity Heights neighborhood around 8:17 p.m. Wednesday. Officers found her lying in the intersection and she was taken to Regions Hospital, where she is still listed in critical condition. A preliminary investigation indicates she was walking across the intersection when the vehicle struck her. Police say the driver stayed at the scene and has been cooperative with investigators. Authorities have not yet released identifying details about either the victim or the driver, and the crash remains under investigation — another data point in a city already under pressure over dangerous arterials and pedestrian safety.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Monticello nuclear oil leak reaches Mississippi River

5d Breaking TC 2

Xcel Energy says roughly 200 gallons of mineral oil leaked at the Monticello nuclear plant, and the company now confirms a small amount has appeared as a sheen along the Mississippi River shoreline, walking back an earlier statement that no oil reached the river. Xcel says its first sign of abnormal oil levels came Monday afternoon (earlier than first reported), containment and absorbent booms were placed in the discharge canal and on the river Tuesday, but the company has not quantified how much oil entered the river or how far downstream it has been seen; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is monitoring and working with Xcel to assess the impact.

Environment Utilities & Energy Utilities

Target CEO’s $3B growth plan collides with ongoing Minneapolis‑led boycott over DEI and ICE

5d TC 2

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.

Business & Economy Local Government Public Safety

Bill would make cyclists stop on yellow lights in bike lanes

5d Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

BCA exposes 595 non‑public criminal records online

6d Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says a computer error in its Minnesota Criminal History System (CHS) caused non‑public criminal history records for 595 people to be posted on the state’s public criminal‑history website for varying lengths of time. According to a BCA notice, the glitch occurred when CHS failed to recognize recent activity on certain records that contained non‑public items, allowing them to be copied to the public site; some third‑party vendors also obtained the data through records requests. The issue lasted roughly a month before being corrected on Feb. 25, 2026, but officials have not disclosed whose records were exposed or exactly what information was revealed. The BCA says it will produce a formal report on the incident and is directing anyone who wants a copy to email BCA.DataResponse@state.mn.us with their contact information. For Twin Cities residents whose employment, housing and licensing often hinge on background checks that rely on this system, the episode raises serious questions about data integrity and what remedies, if any, will be offered to people whose supposedly non‑public records were briefly made public.

Public Safety Legal Technology

Minnesota bill would treat e-motos as motorcycles

6d Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Technology

Eagan hit-and-run suspect with 3 prior DWIs claimed victim ‘jumped’ in front of SUV

6d Breaking TC 3

Police arrested Rolando Miranda Martinez in connection with a fatal hit-and-run Saturday in Eagan that killed 40-year-old Leslie Youngberg; Martinez, who has three prior DWI convictions (2012–2023), is charged in Dakota County with leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death and faces related counts prosecutors say include criminal vehicular homicide. Investigators say he fled after the crash despite heavy front-end and windshield damage to his white Honda CR‑V, attempted to leave his home in an Uber before being taken into custody, and allegedly told officers that "a thing" jumped out in front of him, that it was drunk or homeless, and that he was returning from a Minneapolis bar but denied drinking; police obtained warrants for his phone and a blood sample and toxicology results are pending.

Public Safety Legal

Judge details ‘compelling and troubling’ evidence of racial profiling by ICE in Minnesota

6d TC 2

Judge Eric Tostrud found "compelling and troubling" evidence that ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Minnesota likely engaged in racial profiling and unconstitutional immigration enforcement after parsing specific stop-and-arrest scenarios and internal agency guidance. He nonetheless declined to issue an injunction, saying plaintiffs had not shown the required future harm and noting the government’s claim it was winding down certain operations, while distinguishing constitutional defects in agency policies from misconduct by individual officers.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Overnight snow brings slick Twin Cities roads, minor crashes

6d Breaking TC 2

Overnight snow left slushy, slick spots across the Twin Cities Wednesday morning, making bridges, overpasses, side streets and parking lots hazardous and leaving many metro roads partially covered — with some completely snow-covered in the southwest metro and north of the Cities, MnDOT said. Plows are salting and clearing as temperatures hover near freezing, and at least a couple of minor crashes, including one on Highway 169 in Shakopee, have slowed commutes.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Expired BAC solution at regional lab raises DWI case doubts

6d TC 1

A Roseville-based defense attorney is challenging blood‑alcohol test results from the Midwest Regional Forensic Laboratory, which serves Anoka, Wright and Sherburne counties, after the lab admitted it used an expired testing solution on blood samples in July 2023. According to a letter cited by attorney Chuck Ramsay, the lab says nine cases were affected but insists the results remain reliable, a stance he attacks as 'trust me' science given the high stakes of DWI prosecutions. Ramsay argues the expired solution could be skewing BAC readings in ways that cost people their driver’s licenses and saddle them with criminal records, and says his client’s DWI trial has already been delayed while the issue is litigated. The lab, which previously acknowledged in 2010 that its urine alcohol tests were about one‑third too high, did not respond to FOX 9’s latest questions about the expired reagent or how it validated its continued use. For metro residents — especially those picked up in Anoka County — the fight goes to the heart of whether local crime labs are following rigorous, auditable science or cutting corners that could taint drunk‑driving enforcement.

Legal Public Safety

Bloomington au pair charged with abusing infant on camera

6d Breaking TC 1

Bloomington police arrested 29‑year‑old au pair Belky Lilibeth Acosta‑Olmedo after surveillance video in a family’s home allegedly showed her roughly handling and striking a 5‑month‑old child over two days in early March. According to Hennepin County charges, the child’s father reviewed in‑home cameras after noticing unusual behavior from his 2‑year‑old and then saw Acosta‑Olmedo dropping the infant onto a mat, forcefully holding a pacifier in the baby’s mouth, covering and pushing the child’s face, and repeatedly smacking the infant’s back when it cried. Police say three separate incidents from March 4–5, 2026 were documented, and photos of marks on the child’s face, combined with the video, led investigators to arrest and charge her with two counts of malicious punishment of a child. The case underscores the risks families take when leaving infants with caregivers behind closed doors and is likely to fuel renewed debate in the metro over surveillance cameras, au pair vetting, and how quickly agencies respond when abuse is caught on tape. Social media discussion is already centering on whether licensing and placement agencies bear any responsibility when caregivers in private homes end up in criminal court.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota lawmakers weigh statewide ban on crypto ATMs

7d Breaking TC 1

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.

Technology Public Safety Local Government

Moriarty threatens suit over federal 'obstruction' as Pretti, Good charging decisions near

7d Developing TC 4

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has sent formal Touhy letters to DOJ and DHS demanding the full evidentiary record in the ICE killing of Renee Good (including weapons and casings, all video and photos, medical and autopsy records, policies/training materials, and identities/statements of federal officers), set a mid‑February deadline for Good and a March 3 deadline for Pretti, and says federal agencies are already “obstructing” the investigations and she is prepared to sue if requests are ignored. Moriarty says she expects to have enough non‑federal evidence to make charging decisions in both the Good and Alex Pretti shootings despite Supremacy Clause hurdles, has launched a public “Transparency and Accountability Project” portal to solicit evidence, and notes that practical limits make state trials of federal officers unlikely so federal prosecutors would likely have to bring charges. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara was criticized over limited MPD intervention during Operation Metro Surge, and MPD has referred two possible misdemeanor assault cases involving federal agents to an Inspector General’s Office but has received no response.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

MPD chief grilled over passivity during ICE Metro Surge

7d Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Dotseth named permanent Metro Transit police chief

7d Breaking TC 1

The Metropolitan Council has appointed Joseph Dotseth as the permanent chief of the Metro Transit Police Department after he served about 18 months in an interim role following the resignation of former chief Ernest Morales III amid an internal conduct investigation. Dotseth has nearly 25 years with Metro Transit Police, working as a patrol officer and internal affairs investigator before moving into leadership and taking over as interim chief in fall 2024. In a prepared statement, he said he is committed to making sure "every person who uses transit feels protected and respected," while Met Council regional administrator Ryan O’Connor touted his experience and pledged that the department will focus on rebuilding rider trust and regional partnerships. The council has not released specific policy or operational changes Dotseth intends to pursue, leaving questions about how he’ll handle ongoing concerns about crime, perceptions of safety, and enforcement practices on buses, trains and platforms across the metro. For Twin Cities riders and operators who use the system daily, this decision locks in who will be calling the shots on transit policing for the foreseeable future.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

No charges for officers in 2025 St. Paul Cub standoff

Mar 09 TC 1

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has ruled that three St. Paul officers who exchanged gunfire with 32‑year‑old Tevin Marcel Bellaphant before he died by suicide inside a Cub Foods on July 11, 2025 will not face criminal charges. A 15‑page memo, based on a Minnesota BCA investigation, concludes Sgt. Megan Kosloske and Officers Melissa Leistikow and Christopher Leon were legally justified in using force after Bellaphant allegedly fled a violent domestic assault and kidnapping, fired multiple shots at them inside an Aldi, then shot and wounded a mother and her son outside Destiny Café. Prosecutors say Bellaphant, armed with a black, unserialized 9mm pistol, fired a total of 20 rounds during the rampage before a 27‑minute standoff in the Cub where SWAT later found him dead of a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. The decision closes the criminal review of police conduct in a case that rattled shoppers and workers at two East Side grocery chains in the middle of the day and adds another data point in the ongoing debate over when Twin Cities prosecutors will charge officers in deadly encounters.

Public Safety Legal

Man charged in 2020 killing of south Minneapolis teen

Mar 08 Breaking TC 1

Nearly six years after 18-year-old mother Arionna Buckanaga was shot in the head while driving near 39th Street East and Cedar Avenue South, Hennepin County prosecutors have charged 33-year-old Minneapolis man Malcom Chan Johnson with murder. According to the criminal complaint, police tied an abandoned Chevy Suburban found a mile and a half from the scene — with bullet holes in the hood consistent with someone firing over it — and two Glock 9mm handguns recovered in a nearby compost bin to 32 shell casings at the shooting scene. DNA from the Suburban and firearms matched Johnson and another man, Namiri Tanner; in 2025 a witness told investigators Johnson had confessed and described a "gang feud" with Buckanaga’s boyfriend, who survived as a passenger in the Mustang. Tanner, interviewed in federal prison, admitted firing from the passenger seat while Johnson shot from the driver’s side, and Johnson told detectives on March 4, 2026 that he drove the Suburban and fired, claiming he meant to target the boyfriend and did not know Buckanaga was in the car. The late charges highlight how long some Minneapolis families wait for movement in homicide cases, even when forensics and witness accounts eventually converge.

Public Safety Legal

Six semi-tractors burn in Northeast Minneapolis railyard fire

Mar 08 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis Fire Department crews responded around 12:15 a.m. Saturday to a railyard at 29th Avenue NE and Central Avenue NE, where six semi-tractors were found fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes and reported no injuries. The railroad company told officials there were no hazardous materials in the immediate area, and Xcel Energy was called in to shut down a nearby electrical line that had been exposed to the fire. The cause remains under investigation, and no damage estimate has been released. For Northeast residents and businesses that rely on freight and truck access, the incident highlights the fire risk tied to aging equipment and dense industrial corridors that sit close to homes and commercial strips.

Public Safety

Man killed, woman hurt in Golden Valley house fire

Mar 08 Breaking TC 1

Golden Valley fire and police crews responded around 10:45 p.m. Friday to a house fire on the 4600 block of Golden Valley Road and found the home fully engulfed in flames, with reports of a man trapped inside. Firefighters located the man in the basement, pulled him out and attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman was also rescued from the house and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a Golden Valley Fire Department press release. Several neighboring departments assisted in fighting the blaze, and investigators are now working to determine what caused the fire. For nearby residents, it’s another reminder of how quickly a late-night house fire can turn fatal, especially when people are trapped below grade.

Public Safety

Parents sue Plymouth Lil’ Explorers, ex‑teacher over abuse

Mar 07 Breaking TC 1

Twenty-one parents whose children attended Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center in Plymouth have filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County against the center’s parent company, Cadence Education LLC, and former teacher Katie Ann Voigt, alleging their 21 minor children were subjected to recurring physical, mental and emotional abuse. Filed March 4, 2026, the complaint says kids were "daily exposed to abusive behavior" from staff, including Voigt, and that many now suffer toileting regressions, night terrors, heightened fear responses, aggression and anxiety. The suit follows Voigt’s 2025 guilty plea to two counts of malicious punishment of a child, after another staffer secretly recorded videos of her screaming at toddlers, pushing one into a table and yanking a child up by the arm, and after DHS cited the Plymouth site three times in 2024, twice over discipline. Parents are seeking at least $50,000 per plaintiff couple in damages and argue Cadence failed to provide the "safe, appropriate, kind, empathetic and respectful care" it advertised. For metro families already anxious about staffing and oversight in big-chain daycares, the case spotlights how much harm can happen inside a licensed center before regulators and parents catch it, and whether firing a bad teacher after the videos surface is anywhere near enough accountability.

Legal Public Safety Education

Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis at least $203M, but true damage is higher and hard to tally

Mar 06 TC 5

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.

Business & Economy Local Government Public Safety

Three separate shootings hit Minneapolis in 20 minutes

Mar 06 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police are investigating three separate shootings that unfolded within about 20 minutes Thursday evening in different parts of the city, leaving three people wounded. Officers were first called around 6:29 p.m. to the 400 block of Taylor Street NE, then less than 10 minutes later to the 2000 block of West River Road, and finally at about 6:46 p.m. to the 800 block of East Franklin Avenue. Preliminary information indicates each scene involved a single victim and that all injuries are considered non-life-threatening at this point. Investigators say the shootings do not appear to be connected, and no arrests have been made. The cluster of incidents will add fuel to ongoing debates about whether Minneapolis’ current policing and violence-prevention strategies are containing everyday gunfire, especially as residents in very different neighborhoods see multiple crime scenes pop up almost simultaneously.

Public Safety Crime

Bill would force assisted living homes to help fallen residents

Mar 06 Breaking TC 1

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.

Health Local Government Public Safety

Man pleads guilty in 900‑pound Minneapolis meth bust

Mar 05 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors say Guillermo Mercado‑Chaparro has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after a sting in south Minneapolis led agents to nearly 900 pounds of meth split between a Jeep and his Toyota Tacoma. Investigators say he first sold a pound of meth to an undercover officer, then was surveilled making additional apparent sales from his truck before officers intercepted a Jeep Wrangler carrying Mercado‑Chaparro and co‑defendant Joel Casas‑Santiago, seizing about 250 pounds of meth from garbage bags and a cooler. A search warrant on Mercado‑Chaparro’s pickup turned up another roughly 630 pounds, bringing the haul to nearly 900 pounds with an estimated street value of $1.7 million, which Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty called a 'staggering' amount that nearly reached Twin Cities residents struggling with addiction. Authorities say the two men are believed tied to a larger Mexico‑based trafficking organization; court records show Casas‑Santiago has a change‑of‑plea hearing set for later this month. For metro readers, this is another reminder that the pipeline flooding local users isn’t small‑time dealers — it’s industrial‑scale dope driven straight into Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Public Safety Legal

Hennepin detention deputy charged after Maple Grove hospital lockdown

Mar 05 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County detention deputy Dillon Matthew Field, 30, of Isanti, has been charged in Hennepin County with misdemeanor fifth‑degree assault and domestic assault after a Feb. 5 incident at Maple Grove Hospital that forced the facility into lockdown. According to the criminal complaint, Field’s wife was in labor in a bathtub in her delivery room when witnesses say he began yelling at her, tried to lock himself in the bathroom with her, and shoved a witness who attempted to intervene, prompting staff to secure the hospital. The complaint says Field’s wife had been living with her mother due to a year of alleged physical and emotional abuse, including a January 2026 incident where he allegedly tackled her while she was nine months pregnant and put his full body weight on her. Bail was set at $10,000 with conditions including no contact with the victim, and Hennepin County has placed Field on leave from his detention deputy job pending the case’s outcome. For metro residents, the case goes beyond a domestic dispute: it raises fresh questions about how rigorously the county screens, monitors and disciplines people it trusts to guard and control others inside its own detention facilities.

Public Safety Legal

DHS Tesla‑keying worker was 'on break' or 'out sick' during some vandalism incidents, records show

Mar 05 TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Trump ousts DHS chief Noem; Minnesota leaders blast Metro Surge legacy

Mar 05 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Hennepin deputy charged in off‑duty sexual assault

Mar 05 Breaking TC 1

Wright County prosecutors have charged Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy Jared Sprunk, 33, with third‑ and fifth‑degree criminal sexual conduct over an alleged off‑duty assault on a woman at a home in Albertville on March 1. According to the criminal complaint, the woman and friends helped an allegedly "highly intoxicated" Sprunk to a downstairs bedroom so he could sleep, after which he is accused of assaulting her in the dark, prompting her to scream and pound on the door until friends intervened. Deputies arriving at the scene reportedly found Sprunk outside bleeding from his nose and the back of his head after a confrontation with another man in the house; Sprunk later told investigators he was so drunk he did not remember the night, then denied the allegations after they were explained. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office says Sprunk has been placed on administrative leave and that it supports a "full and transparent" external investigation. For Twin Cities residents who rely on Hennepin deputies for patrol, jail and court security, the case goes straight to the question of whether the people carrying a badge can be trusted when they’re off the clock, and how aggressively the sheriff’s office handles serious criminal allegations in its own ranks.

Public Safety Legal

Potholes on key St. Paul routes damage vehicles

Mar 05 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Public Works has posted 'rough road' caution signs on heavily damaged streets including Hamline Avenue, Vandalia Street, Shepard Road and Childs Road as winter potholes chew up pavement and vehicles across the city. The department says it is responding to resident complaints and working to improve conditions by spring, but has not given a full repair timeline or cost estimate. Longfellow Automotive manager Nick Holman tells FOX 9 this season is at least as bad as recent years, with snow hiding cratered spots and leading to blown tires, broken ball joints and bent control arms for drivers who can’t dodge the holes in time. The situation underscores how deferred maintenance and freeze‑thaw cycles are again turning core St. Paul routes into suspension killers, forcing metro drivers to eat repair bills while they wait for city crews to catch up.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

ICE surge chills $11M Latino business hub in St. Paul

Mar 04 TC 1

A planned $11 million Latino small‑business incubator in St. Paul, designed to mirror the Mercado Central model that helped anchor Lake Street, is suddenly struggling to line up tenants because federal ICE raids in the Twin Cities have spooked would‑be shop owners. The project was supposed to be a cornerstone of Latino entrepreneurship on the city’s East Side, offering affordable stalls and shared services, but the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Metro Surge enforcement has many prospects now unwilling to sign leases or even be publicly associated with a highly visible hub. Backers warn that without a pipeline of committed vendors, the incubator’s financing and core mission are at risk just as construction and rehab dollars are coming together. This is exactly the kind of community wealth‑building project politicians love to stand in front of at ribbon cuttings; the reality on the ground is that a federal crackdown is bleeding it before it even opens. On social media, immigrant‑rights groups are holding this up as Exhibit A that Metro Surge isn’t just about arrests — it’s poisoning the business climate on the very corridors the state says it wants to revive.

Business & Economy Housing Public Safety

Walz tells Congress ICE surge hampered Minnesota fraud fight

Mar 04 Developing TC 4

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.

Local Government Public Safety Education

Ramsey County squad crash in St. Paul kills driver

Mar 04 Breaking TC 1

A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy responding to a stolen‑vehicle call Tuesday night crashed into another car at Robert Street and 12th Street East in St. Paul, killing that vehicle’s driver and injuring two passengers. The deputy, who had lights and siren activated, was headed to assist after St. Paul police chased a stolen car from Seventh Street East and Maria Avenue onto I‑94, where a State Patrol trooper disabled it with a PIT maneuver and arrested the 27‑year‑old driver. The deputy and three occupants of the struck vehicle were taken to a hospital; the driver later died, one passenger remains in serious condition and the other has non‑life‑threatening injuries, while the deputy was reported unhurt. The Minnesota State Patrol has taken over the investigation into the crash and the events leading up to it, including how the emergency response was conducted through downtown streets. The case is likely to renew scrutiny of high‑speed responses and pursuits in dense St. Paul neighborhoods, where residents have already voiced concerns about officers and deputies racing through intersections.

Public Safety Legal

250 Minnesota Guard troops deployed amid Iran strikes

Mar 02 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Minneapolis speed cameras cut speeding over 50%; 33,000 violations logged in first year

Mar 02 Breaking TC 4

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.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Cody Fohrenkam to be sentenced March 2 after guilty plea in Deshaun Hill murder

Mar 02 Developing TC 4

After the Minnesota Court of Appeals threw out his 2023 second‑degree murder conviction and 38.5‑year sentence — finding he was illegally detained and citing prosecutorial misconduct and improperly obtained interrogation statements — Cody Fohrenkam pleaded guilty Feb. 3, one day into his retrial, to the 2022 murder of 15‑year‑old Deshaun Hill Jr. Under a plea agreement that waives his right to appeal, Fohrenkam faces a 340‑month (just over 28‑year) prison term and is scheduled to be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2026.

Legal Public Safety

Community campaigns bolster immigrant-owned restaurants after Metro Surge

Mar 02 TC 2

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.

Business & Economy Public Safety Local Government

Central Avenue rally backs immigrant restaurants after Metro Surge

Mar 02 TC 1

Immigrant‑owned restaurants along Central Avenue in Columbia Heights hosted a packed solidarity event Sunday as organizers, anti‑ICE protesters, church members and neighbors deliberately filled dining rooms to offset losses and fear from Operation Metro Surge. The action, led by the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump (PACAT), centered on Los Cactus, whose general manager says the federal surge scared workers so badly the restaurant temporarily closed and cut hours before recently resuming normal operations. Supporters said stories of how immigrant workers have been treated are 'heartbreaking' and that visible patronage is one of the few tools communities have as federal agents remain active in the metro. After eating, participants marched along Central carrying signs like 'ICE Out of Minneapolis' and 'Legalization for All,' signaling that, even as the administration claims Metro Surge is winding down, organizing in inner‑ring suburbs like Columbia Heights and Fridley is intensifying rather than fading. The event reflects a growing pattern, seen across social media, of Twin Cities residents using "buycotts" at specific restaurants and markets to both stabilize fragile businesses and publicly reject ICE tactics.

Business & Economy Public Safety

Man killed in Stevens Square apartment shooting; suspect on bond now charged with murder and robbery

Mar 01 Breaking TC 2

A man was killed Feb. 24 in a shooting inside the Abbott Apartments in the Stevens Square neighborhood during an alleged armed robbery over a Louis Vuitton bag involving three men armed with Glock handguns and an AR‑style rifle. Police say 20‑year‑old Abdirahman Khayre Khayre, who was on conditional release for an alleged carjacking, has been charged with second‑degree murder and first‑degree robbery after a witness and building surveillance allegedly tied him to the incident and the complaint says he was handed a stolen gun, racked it and fired.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota clergy say ICE blocks spiritual care at Whipple detention center

Mar 01 Breaking TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Clergy describe barriers to spiritual care in ICE’s Whipple lockup

Mar 01 TC 1

Twin Cities clergy say providing spiritual care to immigrants detained at ICE’s Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building has become increasingly difficult during Operation Metro Surge, with tight access rules, limited visiting windows and rapid detainee transfers making it hard even to pray with people who ask for help. In interviews, pastors and chaplains describe detainees asking for confession, communion or simple pastoral counseling and then disappearing to Texas before a visit can be cleared, and note that what used to be routine pastoral access now often requires multiple layers of ICE approval. The article situates those accounts within an ongoing federal lawsuit Minnesota clergy have filed against DHS and ICE, alleging that restrictions at Whipple violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and within recent court‑ordered inspections that already documented overcrowded, unsanitary holding rooms and poor access to attorneys. Faith leaders argue that if ICE can’t reliably allow clergy in, local congregations are effectively cut off from members and families in crisis, deepening the human toll of the surge on immigrant neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Their stories are circulating widely in religious and immigrant‑rights networks as fresh evidence that Whipple is being run as a closed, high‑throughput jail rather than a facility accountable to basic community and constitutional norms.

Legal Public Safety Health

Two women wounded in Cedar Avenue parking-lot shooting

Mar 01 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say two women were injured when a fight in a parking lot on the 300 block of Cedar Avenue South escalated into gunfire just before 1:20 a.m. Sunday, March 1. Officers found an 18-year-old woman at the scene with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and brought her to the hospital. A 23-year-old woman arrived at a different hospital about 30 minutes later with a similar non-life-threatening gunshot wound, and the vehicle she came in showed "evidence of gunfire" and was towed as part of the investigation. Detectives believe the shooting followed an altercation in the lot, but no arrests or suspect details have been released. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about late-night violence in busy Cedar-Riverside corridors, where residents and business owners have been using social media to call for more visible, accountable policing.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul Public Schools expand virtual options and supports for immigrant families amid ICE surge

Feb 28 Developing TC 5

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.

Education Public Safety Local Government

Lawyer outlines possible penalties in Cities Church anti‑ICE protest case

Feb 28 Developing TC 14

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Judge blocks DHS refugee sweeps in Minnesota

Feb 28 TC 1

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim has issued a 66‑page opinion upholding his January preliminary injunction that barred DHS from arresting and detaining thousands of newly arrived refugees in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS, and ordered the release of dozens already taken into custody. Tunheim found that the refugees targeted have already undergone 'thorough' federal vetting, were lawfully admitted, and are living and working in Minnesota while awaiting green cards, making the warrantless sweeps unlawful. In unusually sharp language, he questioned the government’s motives, asking why it would 'terrorize refugees' who were brought here under a promise of safety and noting there is 'not a shred of evidence' they pose serious security risks. DHS had argued Minnesota is a focal point for immigration fraud and claimed it needed to rescreen roughly 5,600 recent arrivals, but the court rejected the administration’s new statutory interpretation as erroneous. The ruling immediately protects refugee families in Minneapolis–St. Paul from being grabbed at homes and jobs during the current immigration crackdown, and gives legal ammunition to Twin Cities advocates already fighting the broader Metro Surge in federal court.

Legal Public Safety Immigration & Civil Rights

Minneapolis man Robert Warren charged in Loring Park double homicide

Feb 28 Breaking TC 3

Minneapolis man Robert Warren, 51, has been charged in the Loring Park double homicide with two counts of second-degree murder with intent and two counts of possessing a firearm after a violent-crime conviction, and was arrested at the scene; his first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2025. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Warren ambushing the victims as they exited an elevator, and authorities recovered a shotgun and shells; records indicate he has prior felony convictions for domestic assault and third-degree assault.

Courts/Legal Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis man gets 40 years for Mahtomedi sex trafficking, assaults

Feb 28 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison in Washington County District Court for trafficking and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a 20‑year‑old woman at a Mahtomedi apartment, where he recruited vulnerable victims and forced them into commercial sex. Prosecutors said he used violence, threats and drugs to control the victims, repeatedly raped them and advertised them online for buyers in the Twin Cities metro. Jurors previously convicted him on sex‑trafficking and criminal sexual conduct counts, and the judge imposed consecutive sentences reflecting the separate harm to each victim; the defendant represented himself at trial, forcing the teen to endure cross‑examination. Advocates say the case illustrates how traffickers use ordinary suburban apartments to exploit teens and young women, and they point to it as evidence that tougher oversight and support services are needed in east‑metro communities as well as Minneapolis proper.

Public Safety Legal

Volunteers aid ICE detainees released from Whipple

Feb 27 Breaking TC 2

Volunteer group Haven Watch continues to meet released ICE detainees at the Whipple facility in Minnesota, helping them find rides, phones and winter clothing and offering emotional support. The group says it has seen no meaningful evidence of a DHS/ICE drawdown — people are often held longer before release and routinely let out with no ride, no phone and inadequate clothing, leaving them stranded at the gate and increasing the human toll of the surge.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

FBI searching for 'Family Mob' fugitive Kiron Williams after Twin Cities fentanyl raids

Feb 27 Breaking TC 3

The FBI executed warrants across the Twin Cities in a probe of a violent drug‑trafficking organization, saying there is no known threat to the public and that further operational details will be released later. Agents say 11 alleged "Family Mob" members are in custody and one fugitive, 43‑year‑old Kiron Jamoll Williams (aka "Killer"), is being sought — authorities provided his description and asked anyone with information to contact the FBI, and local reporting tied the investigation to two mass shootings along the East Lake Street corridor.

Public Safety Legal

North Minneapolis double homicide: Cousin killed two relatives hours after bail release; later shot by Brooklyn Center police

Feb 27 Breaking TC 5

Twenty‑three‑year‑old Eddie Duncan was released from the Hennepin County Jail after posting $35,000 of a $70,000 bail on charges tied to a May police pursuit and a recovered firearm, and within roughly three hours is accused of fatally shooting two of his cousins — 14‑year‑old Xavier Barnett and 23‑year‑old Akwame Stewart — at a north Minneapolis home. Duncan later went to an IHOP in Brooklyn Center where an exchange of gunfire with officers left him dead; the Minnesota BCA identified Duncan and the three officers who fired, recovered a handgun and spent casings, and said body‑worn and squad‑car video and evidence will be submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review. Family members and community supporters are grieving and say Duncan may have believed the cousins were responsible for his arrest, though police say there is no proof of that motive.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis to end nine community trauma-response contracts

Feb 27 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government Business & Economy

Four killed in head‑on crash near Mille Lacs

Feb 26 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota State Patrol says four people were killed and another critically injured just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in a head‑on collision on Highway 169 near Shakopee Lake Road in Kathio Township, along the southwest shore of Mille Lacs Lake. Investigators report a northbound Buick LeSabre driven by a 21‑year‑old woman from Isle crossed the center line and struck a southbound vehicle driven by a 53‑year‑old Minneapolis woman, who was carrying three passengers: a 51‑year‑old Minneapolis man, a 41‑year‑old Onamia man, and a 25‑year‑old Onamia woman. At least one occupant was not wearing a seat belt, roads were dry, and troopers have not yet said why the Buick crossed into oncoming traffic. Identities and which occupants died versus survived in critical condition have not been released as the State Patrol investigates. The crash contributes to a 2026 tally of at least 33 traffic deaths statewide so far, keeping road safety in the spotlight for metro residents who routinely travel Highway 169 to and from lake country.

Public Safety

Minneapolis plans $38M first-responder training campus in Windom

Feb 26 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Video repeatedly undercuts DHS accounts as ICE and Border Patrol operate without body cams in Minneapolis

Feb 25 Developing TC 8

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

Minnesota high court upholds Nicholas Firkus murder conviction

Feb 25 Breaking TC 2

The Minnesota Supreme Court upheld Nicholas Firkus’s murder conviction, rejecting his arguments that the state’s circumstantial case failed to exclude a reasonable-intruder theory and that the trial judge used the wrong legal standard. The court pointed to circumstantial evidence — including no unidentified DNA on the shotgun, no sign of forced entry or struggle on 911 calls, and a fully furnished house on the eve of foreclosure with investigators finding no evidence the victim, Heidi, knew of the foreclosure — and several justices wrote separate opinions signaling the decision will guide how Minnesota applies the circumstantial‑evidence standard.

Legal Public Safety

DNR warns ice-house owners as warm winter thins ice

Feb 25 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota DNR is warning ice anglers — including those in the Twin Cities who keep houses on nearby lakes — to plan now for removing their shelters as March deadlines approach amid unusually warm weather and thinning ice. Permanent shelters must be off southern inland waters by March 2, northern inland waters by March 16, and Minnesota–Canada border waters by March 31; after those dates, any shelter on the ice overnight has to be occupied. Officials stress that houses cannot be left at public access sites and that owners must remove all trash and blocking materials, even wood that has frozen into the ice, to avoid littering violations. The agency says record February warmth has already created weak spots on some lakes, raising the risk that both people and fish houses could break through if owners wait until the last minute. Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki said they want the season to "end on a high note," meaning shelters off by the deadlines and clean ice.

Public Safety Environment

FBI raids Bloomington ICS provider; prosecutors allege $1M billed for 13 clients

Feb 25 Breaking TC 4

Federal agents raided Bloomington-based Ultimate Home Health Services after prosecutors allege the company billed Medicaid for more than $1 million for 13 clients between June 2024 and August 2025, including a claim of 12 hours per day of services for a client who was later found dead. The action is part of a broader crackdown on Minnesota’s rapidly expanding Integrated Community Supports program — which grew from $4.6 million in 2021 to nearly $180 million by late 2025 and has paid out over $400 million since launch — where payment suspensions to multiple providers over fraud allegations have left some disabled recipients facing sudden housing loss.

Public Safety Legal Health

Court affidavits show 4,000 federal agents cycled through Minnesota; about 400 ICE/HSI to remain after Metro Surge

Feb 25 Developing TC 4

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.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

DHS vows arrests after Cities Church anti‑ICE protest; parishioner now files civil suit

Feb 25 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Parishioner sues over Cities Church anti‑ICE protest

Feb 25 Developing TC 1

A St. Paul parishioner, Ann Doucette, has filed a pro se civil lawsuit in Minnesota District Court against protesters and journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort over a Jan. 18 anti‑ICE protest that shut down a worship service at Cities Church. Doucette alleges the activists stormed the sanctuary to demand Pastor David Easterwood resign over his role as acting ICE field office director, interfering with her free exercise of religion and causing 'severe emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma.' The civil filing comes on top of federal FACE Act and KKK Act charges already brought against seven protesters, including Nekima Levy Armstrong and St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen, and against Lemon and Fort for entering the church during the action. The case will test how far Minnesota courts are willing to let individual worshippers seek damages from protesters and media figures when political demonstrations deliberately interrupt religious services. It also adds another legal front to the growing fallout from Operation Metro Surge–related protests in the Twin Cities.

Legal Public Safety

Three juveniles now in custody after Maplewood Mall shooting

Feb 25 Breaking TC 3

The shooting occurred around 2 p.m. Sunday in the lower concourse of Maplewood Mall after a physical fight; an adult man was struck in the hip and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say three juveniles are now in custody — two were initially arrested and booked on third-degree riot — and investigators say one of the later arrestees is believed to be the shooter; a firearm believed to have been used was recovered and charging decisions are pending with the Ramsey County Attorney.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul hit-and-run: Michael Kentrell Smith charged with vehicular homicide in death of Amber Deneen

Feb 24 Breaking TC 6

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.

Legal Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul woman left brain-dead in hit-and-run; deputies seek Honda Odyssey

Feb 24 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County authorities say 58-year-old Lisa Giguere has been pronounced brain-dead after a driver hit her as she crossed Pennsylvania Avenue near Rice Street in St. Paul last Monday and then sped away. Her family, now preparing to donate her organs, is publicly pleading for help identifying the driver and the vehicle, described as a blue or gray 2005–2007 Honda Odyssey minivan. Investigators say the van fled east on Pennsylvania after the collision and are asking anyone who recognizes a similar Odyssey with new damage or who has camera footage from the area to contact the sheriff’s office. The case adds to a string of serious pedestrian crashes in St. Paul and has residents venting online about drivers who leave victims dying in the street while families are left begging for basic information. Deputies are clear: without tips from the public — neighbors, shop owners, or body shops who see a freshly damaged Odyssey — this killer driver walks.

Public Safety Legal

Officer-involved shooting shuts busy Brooklyn Center hub

Feb 24 Breaking TC 1

Brooklyn Center police and multiple agencies are investigating an officer-involved shooting Monday afternoon near Xerxes Avenue North and 56th Avenue North, a commercial cluster that includes IHOP, Wendy’s, Wells Fargo, Taco Bell and Cub Foods. FOX 9 reporters at the scene counted at least six shell casings, and the intersection has been closed for what police say will be an extended period while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and ATF process the scene, a standard step when law enforcement fires shots. City officials have released almost no details on who was shot or their condition, but community members told FOX 9 they believe the incident is linked to a separate double homicide in north Minneapolis earlier in the day, though that has not been officially confirmed. Brooklyn Center Mayor April Groves issued a statement calling the shooting "deeply concerning," promising a thorough, independent, fact‑driven investigation and acknowledging the emotional weight of another police shooting in a city still marked by Daunte Wright’s 2021 killing and weeks of protests. Social media posts from the scene show heavy squad presence and residents urging each other to avoid the area as traffic and bus routes are disrupted.

Public Safety Legal

Full timeline maps ICE’s Operation Metro Surge in Twin Cities

Feb 23 TC 3

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Major I-394 and I-494 closures resume as Hwy 280 shuts down through State Fair

Feb 23 Breaking TC 2

Starting Monday Highway 280 will be fully closed from I‑94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I‑35W in Roseville and will remain shut until late August, reopening before the Minnesota State Fair. In the meantime both directions of I‑394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be fully closed 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2 for ramp and bridge work, and I‑494 will be fully closed both directions between I‑35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for a bridge removal, with six ramps (the Nicollet/12th Ave connections) now permanently closed.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Minnesota delegation’s SOTU guests spotlight ICE surge, Hortman killing

Feb 23 TC 1

Minnesota’s members of Congress are using President Trump’s State of the Union as a national stage to highlight two of the Twin Cities’ most explosive crises: the ICE 'Metro Surge' crackdown and the political assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman. Reps. Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison are bringing Hortman’s son, Colin, and his wife as guests, with Colin issuing a pointed statement about political violence and calling on leaders to reject dehumanizing language. Rep. Ilhan Omar is bringing four Minnesotans directly entangled in the ICE surge, including disability advocate Aliya Rahman, Columbia Heights school board chair Mary Granlund (who helped respond after 5‑year‑old Liam Ramos was detained), U.S. citizen Mubashir Hussen, and Gerardo Orozco Guzman, whose father was seized at a Minneapolis job site. The invited guests put real names and faces to local lawsuits, school walkouts and street protests, and ensure that when Trump delivers his immigration talking points, the human cost in Minneapolis–St. Paul will be sitting directly in front of him. On social media, immigrant‑rights groups are urging Minnesotans to watch for these guests during the broadcast as a counter‑narrative to the administration’s claims about targeting only the 'worst of the worst.'

Elections Public Safety Legal

St. Paul pedestrian dies days after hit-and-run

Feb 23 Developing TC 1

St. Paul police say a pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run crash last week has died from her injuries, marking a fatal escalation of a case that was already under investigation. The victim, identified as Lisa Giguere, was hit while walking in St. Paul; the driver fled the scene and has not yet been publicly identified or charged. Investigators are now treating the incident as a fatal crash and are asking anyone with information or video from the area at the time to contact police. The death adds to growing concern over serious pedestrian crashes on St. Paul streets and could lead to upgraded criminal charges once a suspect is identified. Social media reaction from residents reflects anger at hit-and-run drivers and calls for stronger enforcement and safer street design, especially in corridors where people regularly walk.

Public Safety Legal

MSP–Puerto Vallarta flights canceled amid cartel unrest

Feb 23 Breaking TC 1

Sun Country and Delta have canceled multiple Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport flights to Puerto Vallarta on Sunday and Monday, Feb. 22–23, 2026, after Mexican forces killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes and cartel gunmen launched retaliatory attacks across Jalisco. U.S. travelers already in Puerto Vallarta are being told to stay at their resorts, and Delta has posted a travel alert saying civil unrest could disrupt flights through Feb. 26, while Sun Country warns that all travel to and from Jalisco airports, including PVR, "may be impacted" and is waiving change fees for affected passengers. Mexican officials say 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks in Jalisco as cartel members blocked roads and burned vehicles following El Mencho’s death. The cancellations hit just as Minnesota’s spring break travel season ramps up, and social media posts from Twin Cities families show confusion and anxiety as they scramble to rebook or decide whether to travel into a volatile situation. Airlines say they are "monitoring the situation" with local authorities, but have given no firm timeline for when regular MSP–Puerto Vallarta service will resume.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Business & Economy

Data show true scope and impact of ICE Metro Surge

Feb 23 TC 1

The Reformer analysis uses ICE, DHS, court and state records to quantify for the first time how Operation Metro Surge actually played out in Minnesota — from how many people were arrested and what they were arrested for, to how many agents came and went, to the crush of habeas petitions and lawsuits it generated. It finds that only a small fraction of arrestees fit the administration’s 'worst of the worst' label, while many were picked up on civil immigration grounds or lower‑level matters, matching what families and public defenders have described since December. The piece also sets those enforcement numbers against Minneapolis’ updated estimate that the surge cost the city at least $203 million in business losses, wages, hotel cancellations and emergency rent and food support, and notes state and county officials now peg the legal workload at over 1,000 habeas and related cases. Maps and timelines show enforcement moving from Minneapolis’ core into suburbs even after federal officials declared the surge over, undercutting claims that the crackdown has truly ended and raising fresh questions about who will be held accountable and how long the metro will be living with the aftershocks.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

Local communities have limited power to block ICE detention centers

Feb 21 TC 1

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.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

2026 Minnesota session quickly bogs down in partisan fight over fraud and ICE-death investigations

Feb 21 TC 2

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.

Local Government Business & Economy Public Safety

Federal officials say fewer than 500 ICE agents remain in Minnesota after Metro Surge

Feb 20 Developing TC 5

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.

Business & Economy Local Government Public Safety

Trump tells governors he won’t force future ICE surges on states

Feb 20 Developing TC 9

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.

Public Safety Local Government Business & Economy

Minnesota mosque arsonist Jackie Rahm Little sentenced to 70 months in federal prison

Feb 20 Developing TC 2

Jackie Rahm Little, 38, who pleaded guilty to setting fires at two Twin Cities mosques in April 2023, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. The federal conviction covers the April 23 fire at Masjid Omar in Minneapolis and the April 24 blaze at Masjid Al‑Rahma in Bloomington—which caused more than $378,000 in damage and forced evacuations—after an FBI‑led arson and civil‑rights investigation; U.S. prosecutors said the sentence should deter attacks on houses of worship.

Legal Public Safety

ICE pursuit that killed Georgia teacher on Twin Cities freeway leaves school, family grieving

Feb 20 Breaking TC 2

A high-speed ICE pursuit on a busy Twin Cities freeway ended when the fleeing driver crashed, killing a Georgia teacher who was visiting Minnesota; colleagues, students and family described her as a cherished educator and shared tributes. Those close to her and local educators said their grief was compounded by anger at ICE’s decision to pursue on the crowded roadway.

Public Safety Legal Metro Surge / ICE

I-494 closes between I-35W and Hwy 77 this weekend

Feb 20 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will shut down Interstate 494 in both directions between I-35W and Highway 77 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, through 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, to demolish the Nicollet Avenue bridge and the pedestrian bridge at 12th Avenue in Bloomington and Richfield. Drivers will be detoured via I-35W, Hwy 62, Hwy 77 and the remaining portions of I-494, and MnDOT is warning of significant congestion as one of the metro’s busiest segments goes dark for the weekend. As part of the same project, the eastbound I-494 ramp to Nicollet Avenue and the Nicollet-to-westbound‑494 ramp closed permanently Thursday to reduce weaving and crash risk where ramps sit too close together to Lyndale, Portland and 12th Avenues. MnDOT says these changes will give drivers more room to merge and set up new bridges that better serve people walking, biking and driving. A second full I‑494 weekend closure between I‑35W and Hwy 77 is already scheduled March 6–9 to remove the 12th Avenue bridge, which will be closed from March 5 until September. Commuters and businesses along the corridor should plan alternate routes and expect repeated disruptions as the multi‑year reconstruction ramps up.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Trader Joe’s recalls 3.4M lbs of chicken fried rice over glass risk

Feb 20 Breaking TC 1

A nationwide recall has been issued for nearly 3.4 million pounds of Trader Joe’s chicken fried rice products after reports that some packages may contain pieces of glass. The frozen items were distributed to Trader Joe’s stores across the U.S., including all Twin Cities locations, and cover specific lot codes and "use by" dates listed in federal recall notices. Regulators are warning consumers not to eat the affected products and to either throw them away or return them to a Trader Joe’s store for a refund. No serious injuries had been confirmed at the time of the report, but food‑safety officials say ingestion of glass can cause mouth and internal injuries, making this a real public‑health concern for anyone with these meals in their freezer. The recall adds to a steady drumbeat of national food‑safety alerts that metro shoppers now have to track on top of already volatile grocery prices.

Health Public Safety

ICE presence shifts to suburbs as Dakota County reports increased coordination

Feb 20 TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Housing

Vance Boelter back in federal court in lawmaker shootings

Feb 20 Developing TC 1

Fox 9 reports that Vance Boelter, accused of killing House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman at her Brooklyn Park home and shooting Sen. John Hoffman nine times at his Champlin home on June 14, 2025, is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Friday for the first time since November. A federal grand jury indicted Boelter in July 2025 on first-degree murder and related counts, and prosecutors have said they may seek the death penalty, which would make this one of the most consequential criminal cases in modern Minnesota history. Investigators allege Boelter disguised himself as a police officer and arrived armed with multiple weapons in what authorities have called a politically motivated attack, triggering the largest manhunt in state history before his arrest near Green Isle about 40 hours later. The article ties the new hearing to the start of the 2026 legislative session, which opened this week with a formal remembrance of Hortman and a return to the Senate floor by Hoffman, who was greeted with a standing ovation. The case remains a focal point of public concern over political violence and security for elected officials across the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety Elections

MnDOT details plow response after Feb. 19 storm snarls Twin Cities commute

Feb 20 Breaking TC 2

MnDOT says it held a 10 a.m. planning meeting on Feb. 19 and deployed plows ahead of the snowfall, while pre-treating roads to reduce icing. Spokesperson Kent Barnard said the storm lasting longer than forecast "didn't throw any curves" for plow operations, and although the evening commute was chaotic with some trip times tripling, conditions were significantly clearer the following day.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Amended lawsuit lays out broader ICE abuses in Metro Surge

Feb 20 TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Medical examiner rules Alex Pretti killing a homicide; DOJ resists sharing evidence with Minnesota investigators

Feb 19 Breaking TC 4

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Senate DFL unveils multi‑bill 'ICE Accountability' package on masks, aid, protected spaces and state lawsuits

Feb 19 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Over 1,000 habeas cases challenge Metro Surge detentions; judges grant relief in most ICE cases

Feb 19 TC 2

Lawyers have filed over 1,000 habeas and related lawsuits in Minnesota federal court challenging detentions during Operation Metro Surge, a volume that eclipsed prior annual totals in a matter of weeks. Judges have granted relief in a very high percentage of ICE cases — ordering releases, new bond hearings and finding Fourth and Fifth Amendment problems — and the surge has forced the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reassign AUSAs and delay other enforcement work, with petitioners including asylum seekers, long‑time residents and applicants that undercut DHS’s "worst of the worst" characterization.

Legal Public Safety Immigration & Civil Rights

Shooter gets 86½ years for triple murder at Minneapolis encampment

Feb 19 Breaking TC 1

A Hennepin County judge has sentenced Earl Bennett to 86½ years in prison for a 'brazen' triple murder at a Minneapolis homeless encampment, closing one of the most disturbing encampment‑violence cases to hit the city in recent years. Bennett was convicted of killing three people at a south Minneapolis camp in 2022, in an attack prosecutors said terrorized an already vulnerable community and underscored how dangerous some of these sites have become. He was later shot and wounded by St. Paul police in a separate encounter, but survived to stand trial. At sentencing, the court imposed consecutive terms that will effectively keep him locked up for life, with credit only for time served. The case is being watched closely by advocates and neighbors who say encampment residents rarely see this level of accountability when they’re the ones being killed.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis Council honors 8‑year‑old Annunciation victim Fletcher Merkel

Feb 19 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Snow tapers; Twin Cities face cloudy, seasonable Thursday after 5–7" storm

Feb 19 Breaking TC 3

Snow tapers off Thursday morning after a storm that dropped about 5–7 inches in the Twin Cities (with 5–10 inches across northern Minnesota and 1–3 feet along the North Shore); a winter weather advisory remains in the metro until 8 a.m. and until noon for the Arrowhead. The morning commute saw widespread slowdowns as crews plowed Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the rest of Thursday will be mostly cloudy and seasonable with highs near 32°F in the metro (teens–20s elsewhere), then upper‑20s Friday, mid‑20s Saturday, low‑20s Sunday and a rebound to upper‑30s early next week.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Twin Cities face overnight storms, midweek wintry mix

Feb 18 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9 forecasts that the Twin Cities could see thunderstorms overnight Sunday into early Monday (roughly midnight to 6 a.m.), followed by a rain–snow mix Wednesday and a stretch of rain with some wet snow on Thursday into Friday, though significant accumulation in the metro is not currently expected. At the same time, northern Minnesota is under a patchwork of winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings through at least Wednesday, with heavy, dense snow that began Tuesday evening and North Shore totals that could reach 18 inches and make travel inadvisable. By Thursday night, forecasters expect snow to shift into southern Minnesota, while additional lake‑effect snow is likely along Lake Superior on Friday. Metro temperatures will hover in the low‑ to mid‑30s through the week before conditions calm down by Saturday. For Twin Cities residents, that means potentially slick commutes, loud overnight storms, and rapidly changing conditions while relatives or travelers headed north face much more serious winter driving hazards.

Weather Public Safety

Sinaloa‑linked meth ring leader convicted in Minnesota

Feb 18 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors say 47‑year‑old Eric Anthony Rodriguez has been convicted in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute for his role in the Diaz‑Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization, a Sinaloa Cartel–linked ring that moved large quantities of meth, cocaine and fentanyl into the Twin Cities and across Minnesota from April 2024 to March 2025. A coordinated November 2025 traffic stop netted three pounds of meth from Rodriguez, and follow‑up search warrants in Columbia Heights, Hastings and Rochester helped agents seize about 60 pounds of meth, 1,500 fentanyl pills and more than $20,000 in cash in the wider case. Rodriguez is the fifth defendant convicted in the DTO led by Erick Emilio Diaz‑Aguilar, which authorities allege supplied major quantities of cartel product to local distributors. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled; given federal guidelines and the scale of the operation, Rodriguez is staring at a long prison term. For metro residents already seeing meth and fentanyl poisonings in every weekly blotter, this case underlines that some of that dope is still being fed by Mexican cartel pipelines, not just backyard cooks or street‑level hustlers.

Public Safety Legal

FBI, St. Paul police probe ICE arrest causing skull fractures

Feb 18 Developing TC 1

The FBI and St. Paul Police Department have opened a joint investigation into an immigration arrest in St. Paul that left a man with multiple skull fractures, according to newly reported medical and law‑enforcement records. The man, taken into custody by federal agents, alleges he was beaten without provocation and required emergency surgery for extensive cranial injuries; witnesses quoted in prior coverage say they did not see him attack officers before he was taken down. Local and federal investigators are now examining whether excessive force or civil‑rights violations occurred, adding yet another serious case to the stack of Metro Surge incidents already under court scrutiny. The inquiry comes as Twin Cities courts are flooded with habeas petitions challenging ICE conduct and as public anger over federal tactics, including two recent deadly shootings, continues to build. On social media, many St. Paul residents are sharing the injury photos as evidence that the official narrative of 'targeting the worst of the worst' doesn’t match what they’re seeing on their own streets.

Public Safety Legal

Judge again blocks ICE from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia, keeps him free pending immigration case

Feb 17 Developing TC 19

A federal judge in Maryland, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, issued a temporary restraining order blocking ICE and DHS from re‑detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia, finding officials lacked legal authority and had misled the court; Garcia was released from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center and returned to Maryland. The order keeps him free pending further immigration and criminal proceedings, requires ICE to notify his attorney and update the court before any custody action, and bars any re‑detention absent a new lawful basis.

Government/Regulatory Public Safety Health

Bloomington sting nets 30 men; ICE vetter charged with prostitution

Feb 17 Breaking TC 2

A Bloomington prostitution sting that netted about 30 men led to the arrest and Hennepin County charging of 36‑year‑old Brashad Antwann Johnson of St. Michael, who faces a gross‑misdemeanor prostitution charge for allegedly responding to a police decoy ad, agreeing to pay $100 for a "quick visit," and being arrested at a hotel with $100 in cash and a phone. The Pentagon confirmed Johnson is a contract investigator for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency via Peraton who performs background checks and security‑clearance vetting for DHS/ICE, HSI, the FBI and other federal employees, and officials are reviewing whether further action is warranted; Peraton has not responded about his employment status.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

Hoffman returns as 2026 Legislature opens, honors slain Rep. Hortman

Feb 17 Breaking TC 2

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.

Local Government Politics Public Safety

ICE lures Brooklyn Park man from home, arrests him

Feb 17 Breaking TC 1

A neighbor’s security video shows ICE agents in Brooklyn Park using a ruse on Feb. 12 to arrest undocumented mechanic Jesus Flores outside his home: two women pulled up, lifted their car hood and knocked on his door asking for help, then three SUVs rushed in and agents took him into custody within minutes. Flores, who had been deported once more than 15 years ago and returned, was already in a Texas detention facility by Friday and faces rapid deportation, with immigration attorneys telling his family that a legal challenge is a long shot given his prior removal. His U.S.-born son Miguel says the family is "shocked" that agents lied about car trouble to target someone with no criminal record beyond parking violations and who supports several children with autism and other special medical needs; the family has launched a GoFundMe as local churches bring food and supplies. The operation took place the same day federal officials publicly announced the drawdown of Operation Metro Surge, undercutting claims the surge is truly over and reinforcing fears in Twin Cities immigrant neighborhoods that lures and doorstep arrests will continue. DHS has not responded to FOX 9’s questions about why Flores was singled out or whether other factors besides his past deportation made him a target.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

GOP bill would criminalize protests outside Minnesota homes

Feb 16 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Legal Public Safety

Medical examiner rules Woodbury toddler’s death a homicide

Feb 16 Breaking TC 1

The Ramsey/Washington County medical examiner has ruled the September 2025 death of a 20‑month‑old Woodbury boy a homicide, formally confirming that the child died from inflicted injuries rather than an accident or natural causes. The boy was found unresponsive at a Woodbury residence in September and later died at a Twin Cities hospital; police had been investigating the case for months while awaiting final autopsy results. With the homicide classification now in hand, Woodbury police and Washington County prosecutors will review the findings to determine whether criminal charges are warranted against any caregivers or others present at the time. The ruling also triggers state child‑protection reviews and adds another suspected abuse‑related child killing to the metro’s ongoing concerns over daycare and in‑home safety. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or suspects and are asking anyone with information about the circumstances leading up to the boy’s collapse to contact Woodbury police.

Public Safety Legal

FBI refuses to share Alex Pretti shooting evidence with Minnesota BCA, also withholds records in Renee Good and north Minneapolis ICE cases

Feb 16 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul woman indicted for biting off HSI agent’s fingertip at Pretti protest

Feb 14 Breaking TC 1

A federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted 27‑year‑old Claire Louise Feng of St. Paul on a charge of inflicting bodily injury on a federal law enforcement officer, after Homeland Security says she bit off the tip of an agent’s finger during a Jan. 24 protest at the scene of the fatal Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis. According to charging documents, Homeland Security Investigations agents were trying to secure a perimeter after Pretti was killed when one agent moved to arrest a person who had thrown a tear‑gas canister back at officers; prosecutors allege Feng then tackled that agent, and when another agent took her to the ground she bit his right ring finger, severing the tip and leaving the bone exposed. The case, investigated by DHS, ICE and HSI, now heads into federal court and adds to the criminal fallout around Operation Metro Surge and the protests that have followed the Border Patrol killing. The indictment will likely become part of the broader political and legal fight over how far both federal agents and protesters have gone in Minneapolis‑area clashes since January.

Legal Public Safety

DHS enters partial shutdown after funding lapse

Feb 14 Breaking TC 1

The Department of Homeland Security has entered a partial shutdown after Congress missed a midnight funding deadline, forcing the agency that oversees TSA, CBP, ICE, FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard to operate without full appropriations. Essential staff such as TSA screeners at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport and Border Patrol/ICE agents remain on duty but may go unpaid until Congress passes a funding bill, while non‑essential administrative and support functions are curtailed. The article notes that, as in prior shutdowns, frontline security and border operations continue, but with growing strain on workers and potential ripple effects if the lapse drags on. Lawmakers can end the shutdown at any time by passing a DHS funding measure, but negotiations remain unresolved and no timeline has been announced. For Twin Cities residents, the shutdown raises the risk of longer lines, stressed federal staff, and slower back‑office processing tied to immigration and disaster programs even as daily operations nominally continue.

Public Safety Federal Government

Evidence undercuts DHS narratives in Twin Cities ICE shootings; DOJ drops north Minneapolis assault case

Feb 14 TC 7

Surveillance and bystander videos, document analyses and medical records from multiple Twin Cities incidents have undercut DHS/ICE accounts — showing men running or falling rather than attacking in at least one Minneapolis shooting, revealing a defective St. Paul warrant that led a judge to free six detainees, and documenting a detainee’s skull fractures that contradict ICE’s claim he violently resisted. Separately, DOJ moved to dismiss with prejudice federal assault charges against two Venezuelan men in a Jan. 14 north Minneapolis shooting, citing newly discovered evidence materially inconsistent with the ICE affidavit, a development defense attorneys and rights groups say bolsters calls for independent investigation.

Public Safety Business & Economy Immigration & Legal

Man missing after breaking through Mississippi River ice by U of M

Feb 14 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies and Water Patrol are searching for an adult man who fell through the ice on the Mississippi River near the University of Minnesota Rowing Club around 4 p.m. Friday and could not be located before nightfall. A woman who tried to reach him also broke through the ice but managed to get back to shore and was taken to a hospital as a precaution for cold exposure. Water Patrol used sonar to search beneath the ice Friday evening without success and say they will resume search‑and‑recovery operations Saturday in daylight. The incident highlights how deceptively thin and unstable river ice remains in mid‑February around campus and elsewhere in the metro, despite recent cold snaps, and underscores law‑enforcement warnings against venturing onto large rivers during winter.

Public Safety

Feds probe whether two immigration officers lied about north Minneapolis shooting, place them on leave

Feb 13 Developing TC 3

Federal investigators are probing whether two ICE agents lied about a Jan. 14 north Minneapolis shooting after an internal review determined the agents’ sworn accounts “appear” to contain untruthful statements, and both have been placed on administrative leave, ICE Director Todd Lyons said. The inquiry — led by ICE and DOJ as a potential criminal false‑statement matter and distinct from an FBI probe offering up to $100,000 for stolen federal property — centers on video that contradicts the officers’ affidavit about who initiated force and prompted DOJ to dismiss assault charges against Julio Sosa‑Celis and Alfredo Aljorna.

Public Safety Legal Immigration & Federal Enforcement

Minnesota Capitol adds weapons screening, still allows permitted handguns

Feb 13 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety

DOJ drops charges against two men in Renee Good ICE shooting; ICE still holds them

Feb 13 Developing TC 3

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Six children hurt when flash bang hits van in north Minneapolis ICE protest

Feb 13 Developing TC 3

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

New weapons screening to start at MN Capitol Feb. 17

Feb 13 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety

Members of Congress renew challenge to Noem’s limits on ICE facility visits

Feb 13 Developing TC 8

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Amazon drops surveillance‑data partner after Ring AI Super Bowl backlash

Feb 13 TC 2

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.

Technology Legal Local Government

11,000 Amazon smoke alarms recalled for failure to sound

Feb 13 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 11,000 LShome Photoelectric 3-Pack Smoke Detector Fire Alarms sold on Amazon nationwide from February 2024 through December 2025, a defect that likely affects some Twin Cities households. Regulators say the model XG-7D04-KZ9Z units, powered by 9-volt batteries, may have their detection thresholds set so high that the alarms fail to activate promptly in a fire, creating a serious safety hazard, though no injuries have yet been reported. The alarms are white, circular detectors with SKU CX-50YP-A5VN printed on the underside, and include a light warning and test button. Owners are urged to immediately stop using the recalled alarms, contact the manufacturer at lmm15957491237@163.com for instructions to obtain a full refund through Amazon.com, and then discard the devices in household trash. Fire-safety experts routinely warn that defective or missing smoke alarms are a major factor in home fire deaths, so Twin Cities residents who bought inexpensive multi-pack detectors online over the past two years are being advised to double‑check model numbers against the recall list.

Public Safety Health

Judge Brasel blasts Whipple ICE conditions, orders fixes on attorney access and detainee treatment

Feb 13 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Task force seizes 11 pounds of meth in Inver Grove Heights raid

Feb 13 Breaking TC 1

The Washington County Drug Task Force says a Feb. 3 search warrant at a home in Inver Grove Heights led to the arrest of 62‑year‑old Danny Gene Zaccardi and the seizure of nearly 11 pounds of methamphetamine along with two handguns. Zaccardi is charged in Washington County with first‑degree sale and possession of a controlled substance after investigators found meth stashed throughout a downstairs bedroom and more drugs and both guns hidden behind a basement couch. The seized firearms are identified as a Sig Sauer P365 9mm and a Sig Sauer P232 .380, and the task force notes its work is supported by the North Central High‑Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. Authorities say the bust is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt meth trafficking networks feeding communities in the south and east metro.

Public Safety Legal

Medical examiner rules Alex Pretti’s death a homicide in Minneapolis Border Patrol shooting

Feb 12 Breaking TC 14

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.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

U.S. senators blast ICE, Border Patrol over deadly Minneapolis shootings

Feb 12 TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Family mourns 14-year-old St. Paul boy killed in Burnsville apartment shooting

Feb 12 Breaking TC 2

Fourteen-year-old Demetrius, a St. Paul resident, was shot and killed Monday inside a unit at the Burnsville Glen Apartments while visiting, authorities said. His family — including an adult sister who said he "grew up fast" and needed more time — is mourning and calling for answers as the community posts social-media memorials and demands accountability in the ongoing investigation.

Public Safety Legal

Senate to grill Minnesota, DHS leaders on Metro Surge

Feb 12 Breaking TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Border czar Tom Homan to brief on ICE Metro Surge in Minneapolis Thursday morning

Feb 12 Breaking TC 4

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.

Public Safety Elections Local Government

Walz sends $1.2M state disaster aid for St. Paul cyberattack recovery

Feb 12 Developing TC 3

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.

Technology Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul council targets ICE hotel staging with resolution

Feb 12 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Business & Economy

St. Paul expands ICE limits with ID, uniform and staging ordinances

Feb 12 Developing TC 3

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Brooklyn Park squad car rolls in 3‑vehicle crash; 4 hurt

Feb 11 Breaking TC 1

Two Brooklyn Park police officers and two civilians were hospitalized with non‑life‑threatening injuries Wednesday after a police SUV responding to an emergency call collided with another vehicle and rolled at 85th and Zane Avenues North. The Minnesota State Patrol says the squad, running lights and siren westbound on 85th, was hit by a southbound Chevrolet Equinox on Zane, triggering a three‑vehicle crash around 3:21 p.m. Aerial footage showed the squad on its side as first responders worked the scene at the busy north‑metro intersection. Because the crash involved Brooklyn Park officers, State Patrol is leading the investigation, which will examine speed, signals and right‑of‑way in emergency responses. The incident underscores the risks both officers and motorists face at controlled intersections when squads are running code through rush‑hour traffic.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

ICE pursuit ends in Selby–Western crash, crowd gathers

Feb 11 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

AP finds pattern of ICE agent crimes, including Minnesota case

Feb 11 TC 1

An Associated Press records review, summarized here by FOX 9, found at least 17 ICE employees and contractors convicted and six more awaiting trial in recent years for crimes ranging from domestic abuse and drunk driving to child‑sex stings and corruption, even as Congress handed the agency $75 billion in 2025 to expand arrests and detention. The Minnesota‑specific case involves ICE employment‑eligibility auditor Alexander Back, 41, who’s on administrative leave after pleading not guilty to attempted enticement of a minor; Bloomington police say he showed up to a sting thinking he was meeting a 17‑year‑old prostitute and told officers, "I’m ICE, boys" when they closed in. Other cases include Cincinnati field‑office supervisor Samuel Saxon, jailed on charges he strangled and brutally abused his girlfriend; Chicago officer Guillermo Diaz‑Torres, accused of crashing his car and passing out drunk with a government gun inside; officer Scott Deiseroth, caught driving drunk with his kids and trying to lean on his badge; and supervisor Koby Williams, now imprisoned after arriving at a Washington hotel in a government SUV packed with cash, booze, pills and Viagra to meet what he thought was a 13‑year‑old girl. The AP also documents a broader pattern of ICE workers at contract facilities abusing detainees and vulnerable people in their custody, raising sharp questions about how thoroughly the agency is vetting and policing its own ranks at the same time it is running a massive, error‑ridden surge across Minneapolis–St. Paul. For Twin Cities residents watching a few thousand federal agents swarm their streets, this isn’t an abstract national scandal — it goes straight to whether they can trust the people who now have the power to batter down doors, haul off kids, or shoot someone and write it up as "self‑defense."

Public Safety Legal Technology

ICE tackles, arrests 18-year-old in Minneapolis courthouse lobby

Feb 11 Breaking TC 1

ICE agents tackled and arrested 18-year-old Junior De Jesus Herrera Berrios in the lobby of the Hennepin County Government Center Tuesday morning immediately after a court hearing in his Minnesota felony meth case, drawing whistles, cellphone cameras and a crowd that followed agents out of the building. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty warned that immigration arrests in and around courthouses can blow up pending prosecutions by removing defendants mid‑case and scaring witnesses and victims — particularly people of color — away from testifying, saying this could make it "doubtful" her office can ever hold Herrera Berrios accountable. DHS fired back in a nighttime statement calling him a "criminal illegal alien," accusing "agitators" of tipping him off and claiming he tried to run before agents "successfully" took him into ICE custody, but did not address the local prosecution concerns. The incident adds a new flashpoint to Operation Metro Surge inside the state’s busiest courthouse, and defense and victims’ advocates on social media are already arguing that ICE’s tactics are undermining the state’s own justice system as much as they target individual non‑citizens. For Twin Cities residents who need the Government Center to function as neutral ground, it reinforces fears that simply walking into court — as a defendant, witness, or family member — now carries immigration risk.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

Attorneys detail grim conditions at Whipple ICE lockup

Feb 11 TC 1

Court filings from immigration attorneys Kim Boche and Hanne Sandison describe roughly 40 detainees held in seven small rooms at the Whipple Federal Building on Feb. 9, many sleeping on bare floors without blankets, pillows, pads or cots and surrounded by piles of trash and rotten food with no visible garbage cans. The filings say detainees reported having no clear information on how to reach lawyers; one man who has lived in the U.S. for 10 years told Boche he didn’t know who to call, and a phone labeled for legal calls rang to a Kentucky detention center rather than a local number. Instructions posted above phones were described as confusing, and the attorneys say DHS staff cut their visit short, limiting interviews. The inspection was ordered by U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel in a lawsuit alleging Operation Metro Surge has unlawfully restricted detainees’ access to counsel at Whipple, which doubles as ICE’s Twin Cities field office and short‑term jail. These sworn observations add concrete, first‑hand detail to claims from families, advocates and habeas petitions that people arrested in the metro are being held in substandard conditions with little meaningful chance to contact an attorney before they are moved or pressured into decisions.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Native-led prayer camp forms outside Whipple ICE lockup

Feb 11 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Top fraud prosecutor Joe Thompson quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office over ICE‑widow probe; now joins Don Lemon investigation

Feb 10 Developing TC 5

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Dylan Tobler charged with murder in St. Cloud stabbing of Jeff Johnson’s daughter

Feb 10 Breaking TC 2

Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 7 stabbing death of the daughter of former Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Dr. Jeff Johnson in St. Cloud. A witness who went to the home after not hearing from the victim since Feb. 3 found the victim’s body in a bathroom with multiple knives (one with dried blood) and Tobler — who told police he had been alone with the victim, said he thought it was his fault she was dead and tapped his chest saying “jail” — and the medical examiner preliminarily reported multiple stab wounds to the chest, upper back, head and neck and ruled the manner of death a homicide; the Minnesota GOP said Johnson has suspended his 2026 campaign to focus on his family.

Public Safety Legal Elections

I-94 east of downtown St. Paul to close again this weekend for bridge deck work

Feb 10 Breaking TC 3

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.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government Public Safety

VA chaplains told not to name slain Minneapolis nurse

Feb 10 TC 1

The article reports that chaplains at a VA hospital system in Massachusetts were instructed by their supervisor not to mention Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti by name in public prayers or services, even as Pretti’s killing by Border Patrol agents in south Minneapolis has become a focal point of protests and legal fights over Operation Metro Surge. Internal communications obtained by the Reformer show the directive came after clinicians and chaplains wanted to acknowledge Pretti’s death, and that some staff objected, saying it conflicted with chaplaincy’s pastoral mission and veterans’ interest in speaking openly about the incident. VA officials offered shifting explanations when asked, at times framing the order as an attempt to avoid “politicizing” worship, while not denying that a ban on naming Pretti was imposed. The piece underscores how deeply the Minneapolis shooting is reverberating inside federal institutions nationwide, and how leadership is trying to control internal speech about a case that Twin Cities families, nurses and city officials insist must be confronted head‑on. On social media, veterans and health‑care workers are sharply split between those who see the order as censorship and those who say VA spaces should stay apolitical, mirroring the broader divide over federal enforcement tactics in Minneapolis.

Health Legal Public Safety

Homeland Security funding fight intensifies as Democrats reject White House ICE offer

Feb 10 Developing TC 2

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

ICE director to face D.C. grilling over Minnesota surge

Feb 10 Developing TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Semi crash spills recycled load on Hwy 169 in Bloomington

Feb 09 Breaking TC 1

Two semis collided around 10:25 a.m. Monday on northbound Highway 169 near the Pioneer Trail interchange in Bloomington, spilling a load of recycled material across the roadway. State troopers say the truck hauling recycled material hit a semi carrying sand; the sand stayed contained, but the recycled load covered the right lane and the Pioneer Trail on‑ramp to 169, forcing closures for several hours. The driver of the recycling semi suffered minor injuries. MnDOT and cleanup crews had the debris cleared and all lanes reopened by about 1:30 p.m., but late‑morning traffic in the south‑west metro was significantly backed up while the lane and ramp were shut.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Minneapolis skier dies after hitting chairlift tower at Welch Village

Feb 09 Breaking TC 1

A 25-year-old Minneapolis man, Walker Phenix Nelson, died Saturday night after colliding with a chairlift support tower at Welch Village ski area in Goodhue County. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called around 8:37 p.m. Feb. 1 for a skier who had struck a tower; bystanders had already started CPR when first-responders arrived, and Red Wing Fire paramedics pronounced Nelson dead at 9:15 p.m. Authorities say several people witnessed the crash, but have not yet released details on what led up to the impact. The death is a serious safety incident at one of the main hills serving Twin Cities skiers and riders, and the investigation continues.

Public Safety

St. Thomas shelter-in-place lifted; police say no ongoing threat

Feb 09 Breaking TC 2

A shelter-in-place was issued early Monday at the University of St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus after reports of an armed man; police later said everyone is safe, there was never an ongoing danger, and the order has been lifted. University and police officials have not yet detailed what prompted the scare.

Public Safety Education

Minnesota measles cases rise to 21 as U.S. health chief urges vaccination

Feb 09 Developing TC 4

Minnesota has recorded 21 measles cases this year after a newly identified Mayo Clinic–associated case in Olmsted County, part of a surge state health officials link to declining routine childhood vaccination rates. A top U.S. health official has urged Americans to “take the vaccine,” warning measles is highly contagious, can resurge quickly in undervaccinated communities, and urging parents to get children caught up on MMR shots as national cases rise.

Public Safety Health

Judge orders attorney inspection of Whipple ICE lockup

Feb 09 Developing TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

St. Louis Park house fire kills one, injures one

Feb 08 Breaking TC 1

An early-morning fire at a home on Edgewood Avenue South near Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park left one adult dead and another hospitalized Sunday, according to city officials. Fire crews arrived just after 7 a.m., rushing one victim to the hospital with smoke and heat injuries while locating a second adult who was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say the cause of the blaze is not yet known but currently does not appear suspicious; the Hennepin County Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. The St. Louis Park Fire Department is being assisted in the investigation by the Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team, the State Fire Marshal, the Hennepin County Crime Lab, and neighboring fire departments from Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Plymouth and Richfield. The incident underscores both the lethality of winter house fires in the metro and the level of mutual-aid coordination now routine even for single-structure events.

Public Safety

Cottage Grove man charged after waving butcher knife at elementary school

Feb 08 Breaking TC 1

Washington County prosecutors have charged 46‑year‑old Touyer Yang of Cottage Grove after police say he drove erratically in the Cottage Grove Elementary School parking lot on Feb. 3, then walked into the school’s vestibule waving a large butcher knife and yelling while children watched from a nearby common area. Court documents say at least three staff members saw Yang with the knife, one reported him photographing her from his black pickup as he circled the lot, and another saw him banging on the vestibule doors with the blade in hand; staff moved several frightened children into a classroom for safety while officers responded. Police found multiple knives in his truck, a traffic cone jammed under the vehicle, and noted signs of intoxication; Yang is accused of refusing a breath test after being warned refusal is a crime and later admitting he had been drinking before going to the school. He now faces felony counts including possessing a dangerous weapon on school property, threats of violence, property damage over $1,000, and driving under the influence. The case will be closely watched by east‑metro parents already on edge about school security and by districts reviewing how quickly staff can lock down or isolate vestibules when an armed stranger appears at the door.

Public Safety Legal Education

Man found shot to death in crashed car at 33rd and Chicago

Feb 07 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was found fatally shot inside a vehicle that had crashed into a building on the 3300 block of Chicago Avenue around 8:25 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Officers initially responded to a reported crash near East 33rd Street and Chicago and discovered the driver with multiple gunshot wounds; despite life‑saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the vehicle, no arrests have been announced, and investigators have released no suspect information. Chief Brian O’Hara called the gun violence "unacceptable" and said detectives will "work tirelessly to follow all leads," as the area — already under strain from federal ICE activity and past high‑profile incidents — faces another unsolved homicide.

Public Safety Legal

Fire, small explosion hit UMN Minneapolis steam plant

Feb 07 Breaking TC 1

A large fire and at least one small explosion broke out late Friday night at the University of Minnesota’s main steam plant on the Minneapolis riverfront, prompting a major fire response and temporary evacuations in the immediate area. The plant is a key utility hub that provides steam heat and other services to much of the Minneapolis campus, raising concerns about potential service disruption in the middle of a severe cold snap. Fire crews reported heavy flames inside the facility before bringing the blaze under control; no fatalities were immediately reported, and officials were still assessing structural damage and the cause. University authorities said they were working on contingency planning for campus heating if needed and would update students, staff and nearby residents as they learned more. Social media posts from students and neighbors described loud booms, smoke over the river, and emergency alerts late into the night, underscoring public anxiety about both safety and staying warm. Environmental regulators are expected to review whether any emissions or runoff from firefighting operations affected the Mississippi River corridor.

Public Safety Energy Transit & Infrastructure

Minneapolis ICE arrest leaves immigrant’s skull shattered

Feb 07 Developing TC 1

A south Minneapolis immigrant says ICE/HSI agents beat him so severely during a recent arrest that his skull was fractured in eight places, requiring emergency surgery and a lengthy hospital stay, and he insists the violence was unprovoked and not in response to any resistance. In an interview with the Pioneer Press, he recounts complying with commands, being slammed to the ground and then struck in the head multiple times while already down; medical records reviewed by the paper confirm extensive cranial fractures. Witnesses quoted in the story say they did not see him attack officers before the takedown, directly contradicting the usual DHS script that Metro Surge targets were 'fighting' agents. His attorney is now preparing an excessive‑force lawsuit and has alerted federal judges who are already inundated with habeas petitions challenging ICE conduct in the Twin Cities. The case adds a grim new data point to a surge already marred by two fatal federal shootings, dozens of contested raids, and a widening gap between what ICE puts in its press releases and what’s actually happening on Minneapolis streets.

Public Safety Legal

Only one Minnesota lawmaker allowed into Whipple ICE lockup

Feb 07 Developing TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Man charged in fatal St. Paul marijuana‑deal shooting

Feb 06 Breaking TC 1

Prosecutors have charged a St. Paul man in the fatal shooting of another man during what police say was a marijuana deal that turned into a robbery on the city’s East Side. According to the criminal complaint, the suspect arranged the buy, pulled a gun during the transaction, and the victim was shot and later died despite emergency response at the scene. Investigators say video, phone records and witness statements tied the defendant to the meetup and the gunfire, and he is now jailed on a pending second‑degree murder count. The case highlights how street‑level cannabis deals remain a flashpoint for violence in the Twin Cities even after legalization and will feed into ongoing debates over illegal markets, guns and neighborhood safety in St. Paul.

Public Safety Legal

Jan. 6 figure Jake Lang charged with felony for smashing 'Prosecute ICE' Capitol sculpture

Feb 06 Breaking TC 4

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

St. Paul small businesses say ICE surge slashes sales and forces hour cuts

Feb 06 TC 2

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.

Business & Economy Public Safety Local Government

Minneapolis man charged with online threats against ICE

Feb 06 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors have charged 37‑year‑old Minneapolis resident Kyle Wagner with conspiring and threatening to assault federal law‑enforcement officers in connection with ICE’s ongoing operations in Minnesota. A DOJ criminal complaint alleges Wagner, who identified himself as Antifa, posted Jan. 8 and Jan. 24 social‑media videos telling followers "ICE we’re f‑‑‑ing coming for you" and urging people to "get your f‑‑‑ing guns and stop these f‑‑‑ing people," and encouraged others to hunt, confront and assault ICE agents in Minneapolis. Prosecutors say he also doxxed a pro‑ICE supporter by posting that person’s name, phone number and home address on Instagram, effectively pointing an online mob at a private individual. The case drops into an already volatile landscape where ICE and Border Patrol have shot and killed Twin Cities residents and a wave of habeas cases is challenging federal conduct, and it shows DOJ is now moving on people who cross the line from protest into explicit calls for violence or targeting named individuals. Civil‑liberties advocates online are already debating where protected speech ends and criminal incitement begins, but the charging documents make clear the feds are watching social feeds as closely as they are watching the streets.

Legal Public Safety

New Epstein files reveal Minnesota victim and flights

Feb 06 TC 1

Newly released Epstein case documents show Jeffrey Epstein regularly paid for flights to move women to and from Minnesota over several years, including at least one woman from Duluth whom he flew out for weekend trips around her class schedule. FOX 9 identified at least four women tied to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse who traveled on his dime between Minnesota, New York, his New Mexico ranch and even Paris, with internal emails showing staff tightly tracking and limiting their travel, including Christmas visits back home. One 2012 email shows a victim asking Epstein to travel to Minnesota for the holidays with another woman’s family, underscoring how he used financial control and travel to manage victims’ lives. The cache also includes a 2015 itinerary suggesting Epstein planned a visit to Mayo Clinic in Rochester—complete with meetings with executives and campus tours—though FOX 9 found no flight logs confirming he actually came. The reporting comes as national outlets highlight how often Dr. Peter Attia’s name appears in the new files, raising fresh questions about high‑profile professionals’ proximity to Epstein’s orbit.

Public Safety Legal Health

Judge blocks deportation of witness in Minneapolis ICE shooting

Feb 06 Developing TC 1

A federal judge has ordered the government not to deport Venezuelan immigrant Valentina Moreno, a key eyewitness in the Jan. 14 north Minneapolis ICE operation where an agent shot and wounded a man during a chaotic street confrontation with protesters. Court records show Moreno, now detained in New Mexico after transfers from Minnesota and Texas, is the girlfriend of defendant Alfredo Aljorna, one of three men charged federally after DHS claimed they attacked an ICE agent with a broom and a shovel. Aljorna asserts that Moreno and other witnesses can testify he never struck the agent, and the judge warned there would be consequences if she were removed before she can testify, especially after the government abruptly fast‑tracked her immigration hearing by six months to this Friday. The halt comes amid widespread skepticism of DHS narratives about Metro Surge incidents, with local reporting and habeas rulings already undercutting federal claims in several Twin Cities raids and shootings. Homeland Security officials have not responded to questions about why Moreno was moved out of state or why her case was suddenly accelerated.

Legal Public Safety

BCA warns missing Coon Rapids teen is public‑safety risk

Feb 06 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota BCA is searching for 14‑year‑old Olavion Milek Washington, missing from his guardian’s Coon Rapids home for more than a month and now believed to be traveling in stolen vehicles around the metro. Investigators say Washington has a history of stealing cars, fleeing law enforcement and being involved in police pursuits, and that "recent credible information indicates imminent risk to life and public safety." The BCA’s bulletin notes he was reportedly shot at within the past weekend and is suspected of crashing a stolen vehicle in an incident that caused serious injuries to another person, after which he allegedly posted related content on social media. Authorities have also seen him in videos with people displaying firearms, though they don’t know if he currently has a gun, and they’ve released his photo while withholding any guess at his present location. Metro residents are being asked to contact law enforcement rather than approach if they spot either Washington or vehicles he may be using, as officers weigh a juvenile’s welfare against the real risk to bystanders from another high‑speed run.

Public Safety Legal

State Patrol honors 911 dispatchers in Annunciation shooting

Feb 06 TC 1

The Minnesota State Patrol has awarded Chief’s Commendations to dispatchers Erin Madison and Kate Geissler for coordinating the frantic 911 response to the Aug. 27, 2025 mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in south Minneapolis. Working out of the Roseville dispatch center, they juggled a flood of calls and multiple radio channels while routing troopers, local police and medics to the scene within minutes in what they describe as an "overwhelming" wall of audio traffic. At an awards banquet in Mendota Heights, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said their actions during an "extraordinarily difficult" morning "undoubtedly saved lives," underscoring how critical back‑room communications were to stabilizing a scene where children were under fire. Madison and Geissler, both dispatchers since 2012, stressed the teamwork of their colleagues and field responders and used the spotlight to argue that all 911 dispatchers across agencies deserve recognition for life‑saving work done daily. The commendations add new detail to how the response that day actually unfolded behind the radios — a piece that’s often missing when the public only sees squad‑car video and press conferences.

Public Safety Health

FOX 9 finds DHS ICE detainer numbers wildly inflated

Feb 06 TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

MDH links newborn’s listeria death to mom’s raw milk

Feb 05 Breaking TC 1

State health officials say a Minnesota newborn likely died of listeriosis after the mother drank unpasteurized (raw) milk while pregnant, in what they are calling a preventable tragedy. The Minnesota Department of Health traced the infection to raw milk exposure and is warning pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems statewide — including in the Twin Cities — that even small amounts of unpasteurized dairy can carry Listeria monocytogenes capable of crossing the placenta and killing a fetus or newborn. Investigators say the case underscores long‑standing CDC and MDH guidance against raw milk, which remains legal to buy directly from some farms under Minnesota law despite repeated outbreaks. MDH is urging clinicians to reinforce pasteurization messages in prenatal visits and says it is monitoring for any additional related illnesses.

Health Public Safety

AI enforcement drops Highway 7 traffic deaths to zero

Feb 05 TC 1

Police on the Highway 7 corridor from St. Louis Park to St. Bonifacius say fatal crashes on that stretch fell from five in 2024 to zero in 2025 after they deployed an AI‑equipped orange trailer to spot distracted drivers and seatbelt violations. The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and neighboring agencies used the system to capture real‑time photos of drivers on their phones or unbelted, feeding officers more than 1,500 stops in a year — a 300% jump over the previous year — while also running social‑media campaigns and student‑made PSAs about traffic safety. Serious‑injury crashes dropped by half, from an average of six per year to three, which officers say they can see in day‑to‑day patrols as they now encounter far fewer motorists visibly on their phones. The work was funded by a $451,000 grant that ran out in June, and the Highway 7 Safety Coalition — a group of more than a half‑dozen west‑metro agencies — is now trying to secure new money to keep the stepped‑up enforcement going. The program shows how automated enforcement, combined with visible policing and education, can change driver behavior on a dangerous suburban highway without relying solely on traditional speed traps.

Public Safety Technology Transit & Infrastructure

Columbia Heights 4th grader Elizabeth Zuna freed from Texas ICE detention; MN schools sue to block raids near campuses

Feb 04 Developing TC 3

Columbia Heights fourth‑grader Elizabeth Zuna, who had been held at ICE’s Dilley detention center in Texas, has been released, a case that, officials say, has taken an emotional toll on her family and drawn attention to wider child‑detention practices. At the same time, Education Minnesota and the Duluth and Fridley school districts have sued to bar federal immigration enforcement near school campuses, and litigation in related cases has already yielded a federal temporary order protecting a detained 5‑year‑old and his father from removal.

Education Public Safety Legal

How ICE and HSI track Minnesotans’ phones, cars and data under Metro Surge

Feb 03 TC 4

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Man killed in West 7th St. Paul shooting

Feb 03 Breaking TC 2

A man was found fatally shot in a vehicle on the 100 block of Oneida Street in St. Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood and was pronounced dead at the scene despite life‑saving efforts. No arrests have been made, and investigators say it is St. Paul’s second homicide of 2026.

Public Safety Legal

DHS to equip ICE and Border Patrol with body cameras, starting in Minneapolis

Feb 03 TC 5

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Fridley substitute teacher charged over Snapchat sexual messages to students

Feb 03 Breaking TC 1

Anoka County prosecutors have charged 42-year-old Rey Dela Gente Jagolina of Fridley with nine felonies for allegedly sending nude photos and videos of himself and engaging in sexual conversations with current and former Fridley Middle School students over Snapchat. According to the criminal complaint, Fridley Police were alerted Nov. 6, 2025, after staff learned a 14-year-old student had received sexual images, and an investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office uncovered at least 10 student victims and 483 messages with one victim between Oct. 27 and Nov. 6 alone. Investigators say Jagolina admitted being “inappropriate with students,” used multiple Snapchat accounts to contact minors, sent at least one explicit image at 1:10 a.m., and asked one student, “Can I sleep over there?”. He is charged with three counts each of solicitation of a minor via electronic communication, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and distributing sexual material to a minor; state officials are seeking a warrant and say he may already be in Thailand, calling him a significant flight and public safety risk. The case heightens concerns about background checks, social‑media boundaries, and monitoring of substitute teachers in metro schools, and parents are likely to press Fridley and other districts for clearer safeguards and reporting protocols.

Public Safety Legal Education

Army stands down units eyed for possible Minnesota deployment

Feb 03 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

Flanagan denies role in alleged anti‑ICE Signal chat

Feb 02 Developing TC 1

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, now a leading DFL candidate for the U.S. Senate seat Tina Smith is vacating, told FOX 9 it is “ridiculous” to suggest she was part of a Signal group under the alias “Flan Southside” that purportedly tracked ICE agents and coordinated protests and donations during Operation Metro Surge. The claim came from conservative influencer Cam Higby, who posted screenshots he says came from an infiltrated Signal chat that shared ICE vehicle locations, solicited agitators, and directed money to a group called Stand with Minnesota; none of that has yet been independently verified. Flanagan flatly denied being in the chat, said her own work has focused on mutual aid and groceries for families, and argued the story is a distraction from “what is happening in our streets in real time,” pointing to the detainment of U.S. citizens and the killings of Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents. She repeated her view that ICE is operating as a “reckless paramilitary force” and called again for the federal government to pull ICE out of Minnesota, even as she leans into Smith’s endorsement as she seeks a promotion to the Senate. On social media, the Signal allegation is circulating heavily in right‑wing circles, while many Twin Cities progressives are treating it as an obvious smear but amplifying Flanagan’s harder‑line anti‑ICE rhetoric as the political temperature around the surge keeps rising.

Elections Public Safety Legal

Zimmerman Amber Alert suspect previously worked as nanny, raising wider safety concerns

Feb 02 Breaking TC 2

Joseph Andrew Bragg, charged in the Zimmerman Amber Alert case with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 7‑year‑old Sherburne County girl, is reported to have previously worked as a nanny for at least one Minnesota family. Authorities say they have contacted or are contacting families who employed him and are urging any past employers or parents who used him as a nanny or sitter to come forward as they investigate whether the alleged conduct reflects a broader pattern.

Public Safety Legal

North St. Paul group home worker charged after resident freezes to death

Feb 02 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County prosecutors have charged a worker at a North St. Paul group home after a vulnerable resident was found dead in the street during below‑zero weather, allegedly after the staffer fell asleep on an overnight shift and failed to notice the resident had left. Charging documents say the resident, who had disabilities and required supervision, was discovered outdoors in life‑threatening cold a short distance from the home and died of exposure, turning what should have been a preventable incident into a criminal case. North St. Paul police and county investigators say facility checks and worker statements contradict the level of monitoring that was supposed to occur, and the case will likely trigger state regulatory scrutiny of the home’s license and policies. For Twin Cities families with relatives in group homes, this is another warning that staffing, training and overnight supervision are weak points in the system, and that only a catastrophic failure seems to prompt real accountability.

Public Safety Legal Health

Ramsey County adding treatment homes for justice‑involved youth

Feb 02 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Education Local Government

St. Paul IDs first 2026 homicide victim in Payne-Phalen

Feb 02 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police have identified the man shot and killed Sunday afternoon on the 900 block of York Avenue in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood as a 25-year-old city resident, marking the capital city’s first homicide of 2026. Officers responding around 2:25 p.m. found him with multiple gunshot wounds; he died at the scene despite emergency efforts, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner has now formally released his name. No arrests have been announced, and investigators in the homicide unit are still working to determine a motive and identify suspects while canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance video. The killing has heightened concern in the East Side neighborhood, where residents are already dealing with fallout from the federal ICE surge and other recent shootings, and police are asking anyone with information to contact them or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers.

Public Safety Legal

Protesters rally at Target HQ over ICE surge

Feb 02 Developing TC 1

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.

Business & Economy Public Safety Local Government

Columbia Heights closes all schools Monday over 'credible threat'

Feb 02 Breaking TC 1

Columbia Heights Public Schools shut down all classes and activities Monday after officials said they received a 'credible threat,' telling families that no students or staff should report to school. The district has not disclosed the nature of the threat, but the closure comes one day after 5‑year‑old student Liam Conejo Ramos returned home from an ICE detention facility in Texas following a federal court order. Columbia Heights has been at the center of the ICE surge controversy in recent weeks, with at least four of its students detained and still being held at a Dilley, Texas facility. District leaders publicly welcomed Liam and his father home Sunday and reiterated calls for the release of all detained children, even as they now move to address a new security concern at home. Parents are left scrambling for childcare and answers as law enforcement and school officials investigate whatever triggered the shutdown.

Education Public Safety

Woodbury asylum seeker with rare skin disease details six‑day ICE detention and ongoing fear

Feb 01 Breaking TC 3

A Woodbury man and Libyan asylum seeker with a rare genetic skin disorder says he was held six days by ICE at the Whipple Federal Building — released on a $1,500 bond — and alleges he was denied soft food needed for a life‑threatening esophageal condition and was cuffed to a hospital bed in ways that worsened painful blisters. He says agents told him he was not in the U.S. legally despite a 12‑year‑pending asylum case and no criminal record; now back home and physically recovering, he and his attorney say he remains afraid to go out and fear ICE could detain him again before next month’s asylum hearing.

Public Safety Legal Health

Trump ties federal protest response to city 'please' request

Feb 01 TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety

Police searching for Florida mom in manic state heading toward Minneapolis with kids

Feb 01 Breaking TC 1

Police in multiple states are searching for 37‑year‑old Erica Brown of Florida, who was last seen in Georgia on Jan. 30 with her two children and is believed to be driving a white 2016 Hyundai Accent with Ohio plates (HSZ‑4983) toward Minneapolis and possibly Canada. Brown’s family told investigators she is in a manic state, convinced U.S. cities are going to be bombed and currently unable to care for her children, raising serious welfare concerns. Authorities say her vehicle was last tracked crossing the Wisconsin–Illinois border around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and the Wisconsin Dells Police Department has issued a regional alert with her description (5'5", blonde and brown hair, hooded sweatshirt and leggings). Twin Cities law enforcement and drivers need to be aware that a mother in a deteriorated mental state with two minors in the car may already be on Minnesota highways headed for the metro. Anyone who spots Brown or the described vehicle is urged to contact local police immediately and not attempt their own intervention, a warning that’s already circulating heavily on social media in missing‑persons and neighborhood‑alert groups.

Public Safety

St. Paul police probe first homicide of 2026

Feb 01 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police are investigating a fatal shooting on the city’s East Side after officers responded around 2:25 p.m. to the 900 block of York Avenue and found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to confirm his identity and official cause of death. Detectives in the homicide unit are working to piece together what led up to the gunfire and to identify any suspects, but no arrests or motive have been reported. This marks St. Paul’s first homicide of 2026, a metric residents and officials track closely after several years of volatile violent‑crime trends.

Public Safety Legal

Texas judge slams ICE quotas, orders release of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father seized in Columbia Heights

Jan 31 Developing TC 2

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of the Western District of Texas ordered that 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, be released from ICE detention by Tuesday, Feb. 3, and stayed any removal or transfer while the case is pending. In a written ruling Biery blasted the government's "ill‑conceived and incompetently‑implemented" daily deportation quotas and said administrative warrants do not constitute probable cause, while the family disputes DHS’s claim the father abandoned the child and says ICE used the boy as bait during the Columbia Heights seizure.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Judge frees Venezuelan family after invalid St. Paul ICE raid; U.S. Attorney apologizes

Jan 31 Developing TC 3

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Judge orders 2‑year‑old released from ICE custody

Jan 31 Breaking TC 3

A federal judge ordered a 2‑year‑old released from ICE custody, part of a series of Minnesota rulings during Operation Metro Surge that have blocked or limited rapid deportations of children seized in the raids. Similar emergency habeas orders — including one requiring ICE to release 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father and barring their removal by a court‑set deadline — have targeted individual cases and whole family units, providing case‑specific relief rather than a broad injunction against the operation.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Judge orders release of 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and father after Minnesota ICE arrest

Jan 31 Developing TC 3

A federal judge has ordered ICE to affirmatively release 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from custody by Tuesday and barred their removal while their immigration case proceeds; the pair are currently held in Texas after being arrested in a Minnesota ICE operation. The decision is a case‑specific habeas win and does not impose a broad injunction against the administration’s ongoing Metro Surge in Minnesota, which the court indicated will be addressed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Judge refuses to pause Operation Metro Surge; ICE crackdown continues in Minnesota during lawsuit

Jan 31 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Immigration & Civil Rights

St. Paul mayor meets border czar, presses to curb Metro Surge harms

Jan 28 Developing TC 2

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.

Local Government Business & Economy Public Safety

26 arrested at Maple Grove ICE hotel protest; 13 charged with riot

Jan 28 Breaking TC 2

Twenty-six people were arrested outside the SpringHill Suites in Maple Grove during a protest targeting a hotel where ICE agents were believed to be staying. Maple Grove police said they allowed the demonstration to proceed until property damage and violence prompted an unlawful-assembly declaration; 13 are being referred for gross-misdemeanor riot charges and 13 for misdemeanor unlawful assembly, with two of those also facing obstruction charges.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

DHS memo confirms two federal shooters, probes errant shot in Alex Pretti killing

Jan 28 TC 5

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.

Public Safety Legal Immigration & Federal Enforcement

Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown liquid at Minneapolis town hall; assault suspect arrested

Jan 28 Breaking TC 5

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.

Public Safety Elections Legal

Ecuador consulate blocks ICE agent from entering Minneapolis office

Jan 28 Breaking TC 1

The Ecuadorian consulate on Central Avenue NE in Minneapolis says an ICE officer tried to enter its premises around 11 a.m. Tuesday and was stopped at the door by consular staff, who later called the visit an "attempted incursion" and said they acted to protect Ecuadorians inside. Under international law, consulates are treated as protected diplomatic facilities, and Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry has now filed a formal note of protest with the U.S. Embassy in Quito, asking that similar actions not be repeated at any of its offices. The incident unfolded against the backdrop of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s deployment of thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Twin Cities that has already produced multiple disputed shootings, mass habeas challenges, and visible fear in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. On social media, immigrant advocates are pointing to the consulate’s stand as one of the first foreign-government pushbacks on Metro Surge tactics in Minneapolis, while legal observers note that trying to walk into a consulate without a clear diplomatic purpose shows how aggressive some field agents have become. For Ecuadorian nationals in the metro, the episode is being read as both a warning about the reach of ICE and a sign that their own government is willing to push back when that reach crosses legal lines.

Public Safety Legal Immigration & Federal Government

Calls escalate to oust DHS chief Noem over Minneapolis ICE surge

Jan 28 TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Golden Valley neglect case sparks push to ban assisted‑living ‘no touch’ policies

Jan 27 Breaking TC 2

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.

Health Public Safety Local Government

Minnesota weighs law to end assisted‑living ‘no touch’ policies

Jan 27 TC 1

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.

Health Local Government Public Safety

Ramsey County attorney urges residents to report alleged felonies by federal agents

Jan 27 Breaking TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Walz, Democratic AGs say citizen video is key weapon against ICE abuses

Jan 27 TC 2

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Detainee with first‑aid training saves seizing ICE agent

Jan 27 Breaking TC 1

A Brooklyn Park woman, Tippy Amundson, says she and a friend were detained by ICE near an apartment complex while honking to warn children about an agent hiding behind a trash can, and that an agent transporting them to the Whipple Federal Building then suffered multiple seizures in the vehicle. Amundson, a former teacher with basic medical training, alerted other agents, was uncuffed, and rendered aid until paramedics arrived, telling FOX 9 she was stunned they "had no idea" how to perform even simple first aid. After the medical emergency, she and her friend were still taken to Whipple and held about an hour before being released with citations for impeding federal officers. The episode both humanizes individual agents and adds to a growing pattern of ICE encounters on Twin Cities streets that leave residents questioning federal tactics and training as Operation Metro Surge continues.

Public Safety Legal

Eat Street businesses became triage hubs after federal killing

Jan 27 TC 1

Restaurants and shops along Minneapolis’ Nicollet Avenue “Eat Street” corridor opened their doors as makeshift warming centers and medical triage sites after federal immigration agents killed a resident there, according to business‑owner accounts. In the chaos that followed the shooting, staff pulled shaken people in from the cold, tended to injuries and let bystanders shelter inside while squads and ambulances swarmed the street. Owners now say they’re physically and emotionally depleted and are unsure how to operate a neighborhood dining district that keeps doubling as a front‑line response zone whenever federal operations turn violent. Their experience underscores how Operation Metro Surge is not just a law‑enforcement story but a direct blow to a key commercial corridor’s ability to function, on top of years of construction, COVID and civil‑unrest damage.

Public Safety Business & Economy

8th Circuit lifts injunction that curbed ICE use of force on Minnesota protesters

Jan 27 Developing TC 4

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

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

Jan 27 Breaking TC 4

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.

Technology Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Twin Cities stuck in single digits through week

Jan 27 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9’s Tuesday forecast calls for a bright but bitterly cold day across Minnesota, with the Twin Cities topping out near 8°F and subzero wind chills that make it feel colder. Gusty morning winds will slowly ease in the afternoon, but temperatures drop back below zero overnight and stay in the single digits on Wednesday with more subzero wind chills. The pattern holds through the workweek before a gradual warm‑up begins this weekend, with highs climbing into the teens by Saturday and the mid‑20s by Sunday and early next week. Residents should plan for continued dangerous cold for anyone waiting at bus stops, working outside, or dealing with marginal heating systems, even as conditions finally moderate by the end of the 7‑day period.

Weather Public Safety

Federal judge orders ICE director to Minneapolis court over Metro Surge due‑process violations

Jan 27 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino pulled from Metro Surge, reassigned to El Centro sector

Jan 27 Developing TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Courts, AGs and DOJ clash over evidence in Renee Good, Alex Pretti ICE shootings

Jan 27 Developing TC 10

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

DHS theory that guns at protests are 'unlawful' blasted as absurd in Minneapolis shooting case

Jan 25 TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Columbia Heights 5‑year‑old held in Texas as immigrant families protest outside ICE facility

Jan 25 Developing TC 2

Immigrant families and supporters traveled to a Texas family detention facility where 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father are being held after a Minnesota immigration enforcement operation, protesting outside the center and coordinating with Minnesota‑based advocates and legal teams to demand their immediate release back to Minnesota. Organizers say Liam’s case — tied by protesters to Minnesota’s Operation Metro Surge — highlights the cruelty of detaining children with pending asylum claims, while the family says they entered the U.S. the “right” way.

Public Safety Legal Education

Report: Second federal shooting in Minneapolis

Jan 24 Breaking TC 1

TwinCities.com reports that federal officers have been involved in yet another shooting in Minneapolis, separate from the killing of Renee Good and the later north‑side ICE shooting already under investigation. Details are still emerging — including which federal agency fired, how the encounter began, and the condition and identity of the person who was shot — but the incident adds to escalating tensions as hundreds of ICE and Border Patrol agents operate under Operation Metro Surge. Previous shootings have already prompted lawsuits, mass habeas petitions, and calls for independent probes, and social media is full of residents questioning whether the federal narrative will again match what’s on bystander video. As with the earlier cases, this will likely trigger parallel federal and local investigations and intensify political pressure on both DHS and state leaders over the surge’s conduct on Minneapolis streets.

Public Safety Legal

Walz blasts Metro Surge, invites Trump to Minnesota

Jan 24 Developing TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Records show many ICE 'worst of worst' in MN haven’t been in jail for years

Jan 24 TC 3

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Man charged after Amber Alert abduction of 7-year-old

Jan 24 Breaking TC 1

Sherburne County authorities say a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl reported missing Wednesday evening was found alive after a statewide Amber Alert, and 29-year-old International Falls resident Joseph Andrew Bragg now faces felony kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. Investigators allege Bragg abducted the child after she got off her school bus, then used a Lyft ride from a Hamel/Corcoran-area residence to a Ramada Inn in Plymouth before driving south in a rented white Dodge Ram; hotel video shows him entering alone and booking a room. After an Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) alert in Sherburne County and cell-phone location tracking pointed to his truck heading toward Iowa, Albert Lea police spotted the vehicle near two truck stops around 12:34 a.m. and, during a traffic stop, found the girl in a back seat packed with belongings. The charging complaint also details a prior December Facebook contact in which Bragg allegedly befriended the child’s mother online, asked about her kids and expressed interest in working with children, prompting investigators to warn parents to tightly monitor kids’ social media and messaging app activity. Roughly 200 law enforcement personnel and more than 700 community members joined the search, which officials say was crucial to bringing the girl home quickly and keeping this from becoming another unsolved child-abduction horror story.

Public Safety Legal Education

Judge blocks ICE from moving detained Hopkins family

Jan 24 Developing TC 1

A Hopkins family from Ecuador — parents with pending asylum applications and their two children — was detained Thursday after ICE agents first pulled over mother Maria Hurtado on her way to work, then went to the family’s home and used her detention to coax her husband, Luis Chiluisa, and the children outside, where they were also taken into custody, according to their attorney. Minneapolis lawyer Brian Clark says he has been unable to learn where they are being held and feared they could be transferred to Texas, prompting an emergency filing in which he argued the family is here legally, has no known criminal history beyond Chiluisa’s 2024 misdemeanor DWI, and is well‑known in Hopkins. A federal judge has now ordered the government not to move the family out of Minnesota and to return them if ICE has already relocated them, effectively freezing any out‑of‑state transfer while the court reviews the case. Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon publicly vouched for Chiluisa as a "model citizen" who works in snow removal and said the city wants its community member back and a "normal working relationship" with federal partners, while Hopkins Public Schools’ superintendent told parents the detention was a "horrific experience" and warned the district may never learn the outcome unless the family later shares it. The case adds to a growing pattern of Metro‑area families with pending asylum or legal status being swept up in Operation Metro Surge, heightening fear in schools and neighborhoods that even long‑settled, working residents are now at risk in routine traffic stops and at their own front doors.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

Tests point to powdered whole milk as likely ByHeart botulism source

Jan 24 Developing TC 5

Laboratory testing and supply‑chain investigations have traced powdered whole milk used in ByHeart’s formula as a likely source of Clostridium botulinum, with the company saying 5 of 36 product samples from three lots tested positive for type A and that it “cannot rule out” contamination across all lots, prompting a nationwide recall that investigators say remains on some store shelves as retailers work to remove it. The outbreak has sickened at least 31 infants in 15 states (with additional earlier ByHeart‑linked cases), more than 107 infants have received BabyBIG treatment since Aug. 1, and individual patients — including an Oregon infant still critically ill — underscore the severity of the contamination; ByHeart has expanded refunds for certain online purchases.

Health Public Safety Consumer

911 audio details ICE detainee death in Minnesota facility

Jan 24 Developing TC 1

Newly released 911 audio captures a private security guard at a Minnesota immigration detention facility reporting that an ICE detainee had just attempted suicide and then "kept going" before being killed in custody, adding hard detail to what was previously just a vague federal death notice. The call describes staff intervening when the man tried to harm himself, then a confrontation that ended with the detainee down and unresponsive, while the guard pleads for medical help. This happened inside Minnesota’s contracted immigration detention system at the same time Operation Metro Surge has flooded the Twin Cities with federal agents and driven a spike in habeas petitions and civil‑rights challenges over federal conduct. The recording will be Exhibit A in whatever comes next — a state or federal investigation, a wrongful‑death suit, or both — because it’s a contemporaneous account that can be checked against later ICE reports, autopsy findings and any surveillance or body‑camera footage. For metro residents already watching federal officers shoot people on Minneapolis streets, it’s another reminder that the human toll of this surge doesn’t stop at the jail door.

Public Safety Legal Immigration & Federal Enforcement

St. Paul police restrict routine stops to marked squads

Jan 23 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Jan. 23 ‘ICE Out of MN’ general strike closes hundreds of Twin Cities businesses, culminates in Target Center rally

Jan 23 Developing TC 10

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.

Public Safety Business & Economy Local Government

First autism‑fraud defendant Asha Hassan pleads guilty; DHS moves to revoke Smart Therapy license

Jan 23 Breaking TC 5

Asha Hassan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in Minnesota’s autism‑services and Feeding Our Future investigations, admitting to a roughly $14 million Medicaid billing scheme and theft of hundreds of thousands tied to Feeding Our Future; her plea calls for nearly $16 million in restitution and contemplates a 70–87 month sentence while she remains free pending sentencing. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has moved to revoke Smart Therapy Center LLC’s HCBS license—after a temporary suspension on Oct. 10, 2025 and with formal revocation set for Jan. 7, 2026—citing the criminal charges and allegations of recruiting Somali families, paying kickbacks and fabricating or overbilling autism services as part of a broader Medicaid program‑integrity crackdown that investigators say is pushing about $300 million in fraud.

Health Legal Public Safety

Extreme cold blasts Minnesota; MSP hits −21°F, wind chills −47°F

Jan 23 Breaking TC 3

An arctic blast plunged Minnesota into dangerous cold Thursday night into Friday, with Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport bottoming out at −21°F Friday morning and wind chills near −47°F; other reported lows included Ely −35°F, International Falls −32°F (wind chill −52°F) and Duluth −29°F (wind chill −53°F), making this one of the coldest episodes since late January 2019. An Extreme Cold Warning was in effect from Thursday evening to noon Friday (followed by an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday and a cold‑weather advisory through midnight Friday), with Twin Cities temperatures forecasted to fall from about 6°F at noon Thursday to roughly −19°F by 7 a.m. Friday, producing wind chills around −40°F and prompting warnings that frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes and urging pet and public‑safety precautions.

Weather Public Safety

DOJ narrative on St. Paul ICE raid unravels: one ‘co‑resident’ sex offender has been in prison for months

Jan 23 Breaking TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

House Democrats move to impeach DHS Sec. Kristi Noem over immigration crackdowns including Minneapolis ICE killing

Jan 22 Developing TC 5

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

DOC to hold detainer briefing as it disputes ICE 'criminal alien' claims

Jan 22 TC 3

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

VP Vance visit coincides with ICE, Border Patrol and DOC surge briefings

Jan 22 Developing TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Judge orders release of ICE detainee once held in Minnesota jail

Jan 22 Breaking TC 2

A judge ordered the release of an ICE detainee in Iowa who had previously been held in a Minnesota jail. The case comes after a St. Paul raid in which authorities found a warrant left outside the targeted residence, raising questions about how the operation was carried out.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Army puts MP units on Minneapolis standby as Pentagon readies possible deployment

Jan 22 Developing TC 3

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Renee Good family hires Floyd firm, moves to preserve evidence in ICE killing

Jan 22 Developing TC 51

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

Judge lifts key protest limits on ICE tactics in Minnesota surge case

Jan 21 Developing TC 16

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.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Extreme cold warning: Twin Cities wind chills –30 to –50°F Thursday–Friday

Jan 21 Breaking TC 2

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning from Thursday evening through Friday morning for much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with wind chills forecast in the -30°F to -50°F range Thursday night. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, and the Twin Cities’ forecast high Friday is about -8°F (which would tie for the third-coldest high since 2000) with subzero readings lingering into Saturday.

Weather Public Safety

Rural Minnesota sheriff says ICE ‘too busy’ in Twin Cities to pick up charged child-sex suspect

Jan 21 TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Dozens of Minnesota schools to dismiss early Wednesday for storm

Jan 21 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9 reports that dozens of Minnesota school districts, including some in and around the Twin Cities, are closing early on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 because of an incoming winter storm. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for southwestern Minnesota and a winter weather advisory for western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon, with visibility expected to drop to near zero at times in the blizzard zone. After the snow, temperatures across the state will plunge, with an extreme cold warning in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday through 11 a.m. Friday, bringing subzero air temps and dangerous wind chills. The station is maintaining a running list of districts altering schedules and is urging families to monitor official school communications and use the FOX 9 weather app for hyperlocal warnings while planning for both the early dismissals and the sharp cold snap that follows.

Weather Education Public Safety

Chanhassen council debates ICE raid; member plans local cooperation rules

Jan 21 Developing TC 4

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.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Workers press D.R. Horton to block warrantless ICE raids

Jan 21 Developing TC 1

Twin Cities construction workers organized through Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL) plan to confront homebuilding giant D.R. Horton at its regional office Wednesday, demanding the company bar ICE agents from its jobsites unless they present a judicial warrant. CTUL says ICE has already 'raided and harassed' crews three times this year at a D.R. Horton development in Shakopee and previously hit another Horton site in Chanhassen, sparking a highly visible December standoff that drew neighbors and police. The group wants the nation’s largest homebuilder by volume to publicly condemn ICE’s escalated worksite tactics in Minnesota and call for the agency to pull back its Twin Cities operations, arguing the raids are 'unlawful' and are scaring immigrant workers off the job and destabilizing the construction labor market. CTUL says it has repeatedly offered Horton resources and model language to keep federal agents off private construction property without a proper warrant, but has received no response. In the context of Operation Metro Surge, this pushes a new front: holding prime contractors publicly accountable for whether they stand up to or quietly accommodate federal worksite sweeps on metro building sites.

Public Safety Business & Economy

Light snow Wednesday, then Extreme Cold Watch for Twin Cities

Jan 21 Breaking TC 3

Light snow Wednesday afternoon will coat roads (around a half‑inch to about 1 inch in spots) and make travel slick, with gusty northwest winds — locally reaching the mid‑40s mph in western Minnesota — and a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for western and southwestern Minnesota until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Arctic air moves in Thursday with a midday high near 8°F that plunges into the subzero teens overnight and a brutally cold Friday (around −8°F), and an Extreme Cold Watch is posted from Thursday evening through Saturday morning for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities area.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Twin Cities doctors say ICE surge is driving patients from hospitals and clinics

Jan 21 TC 2

Twin Cities doctors say a surge in ICE activity — including visible raids tied to Operation Metro Surge and the law‑enforcement response after the killing of Renee Good — is driving immigrant and mixed‑status families to avoid or delay emergency and routine care, even when seriously ill. Clinicians report patients sometimes discharge themselves early or refuse to give accurate registration information out of fear, which complicates diagnosis, follow‑up and continuity of care and, hospital leaders warn, could undermine public health and lead to preventable deaths.

Health Public Safety Business & Economy

FBI offers $100K reward after protesters rip safe box from ICE vehicle in north Minneapolis

Jan 20 Developing TC 12

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

DOJ subpoenas Walz, Ellison, Frey, Her and Moriarty in Metro Surge probe

Jan 20 Developing TC 3

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Twin Cities child‑care centers say ICE raids traumatize kids

Jan 20 TC 2

Child‑care providers across the Twin Cities say recent ICE enforcement actions are traumatizing the children in their care. In response, community leaders have used social‑media mobilization — including a coordinated "Taco Tuesday" campaign urging residents to eat at immigrant‑owned restaurants — to shore up businesses hit by the raids.

Education Public Safety Legal

ACLU Minnesota sues Trump administration over Metro Surge arrests

Jan 20 Breaking TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Union: ICE detaining vetted MSP airport workers

Jan 20 Developing TC 2

A union says ICE has detained vetted workers at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, prompting hundreds of airport employees to fear coming to work. MSP airport workers plan a 1 p.m. Tuesday news conference to publicly push back against ICE operations, part of a coordinated day of press events alongside educators, students, families, clergy and physicians.

Public Safety Business & Economy Transit & Infrastructure

Judge orders ICE to free Venezuelan family after St. Paul raid without warrant

Jan 20 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Twin Cities leaders stage coordinated pushback to ICE surge

Jan 20 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Twin Cities to briefly warm before brutal Friday cold

Jan 20 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9 meteorologists say the Twin Cities will see a short midweek break from recent deep cold, with Tuesday’s high near 13°F under increasing clouds and only a chance for light evening flakes or a dusting as a system passes mainly south of the metro. Wednesday should be the mildest day, with light snow and up to an inch of 'fluff' possible and highs around 22°F. Arctic air then surges back in Wednesday night into Thursday, with wind chills plunging toward 40 below zero in the metro by Thursday evening and even colder values in northern Minnesota. By Friday the actual high temperature in the Twin Cities is forecast to be about 8 below zero, a level where exposed skin can freeze in minutes and furnaces, vehicles, and outdoor workers are under significant stress. Residents are being advised to use the brief warmup to prepare for another round of dangerous cold later in the week.

Weather Public Safety

St. Paul’s Intercontinental and DoubleTree hotels close temporarily after ICE threats, pulling 600+ rooms offline

Jan 20 Breaking TC 2

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.

Business & Economy Public Safety Local Government

Man shot in head on Nicollet Avenue; woman arrested

Jan 20 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man suffered a potentially life-threatening gunshot wound to the head Monday afternoon after an argument near Nicollet Avenue and West 15th Street escalated into gunfire. Officers from the First Precinct responded around 2:18 p.m. and found the victim on the ground; they provided immediate aid before he was taken by ambulance to Hennepin Healthcare. Investigators say the man had met with another man and a woman on the 1500 block of Nicollet when the dispute broke out and shots were fired. Officers quickly located and arrested the woman near the scene, and she has been booked into the Hennepin County Jail pending charges, while the other man fled before police arrived. The shooting adds to ongoing concern about street violence along key south Minneapolis corridors as detectives work to determine what triggered the confrontation.

Public Safety Legal

Rare G4 geomagnetic storm could bring vivid northern lights to Minnesota

Jan 20 Breaking TC 2

A rare G4 geomagnetic storm has already produced widespread auroras and could bring vivid northern lights to Minnesota Monday evening, with the best viewing chances in the Pacific Northwest, eastern Dakotas and Minnesota. If G4 levels return the display could be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California; experts warn this may be the strongest solar radiation storm in more than 20 years (the last S4-level event was in 2003), though local cloud cover will affect visibility.

Weather Environment Public Safety

St. Paul pauses towing of 'abandoned' vehicles during ICE surge

Jan 20 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Housing & Streets

Hennepin sheriff blasts ICE tactics, urges lawful conduct

Jan 19 TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Pedestrian killed in Inver Grove Heights crash

Jan 19 Breaking TC 1

Inver Grove Heights police say an adult male pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle Sunday night on the 6500 block of Concord Boulevard, a major corridor in the south metro. Officers and medics responded about 7:15 p.m.; the victim was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he was pronounced dead. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, and initial reports do not indicate impairment or excessive speed, though the crash reconstruction is ongoing. Concord Boulevard was temporarily closed while the State Patrol assisted with scene work, and police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has dash‑cam footage from the area to contact investigators.

Public Safety

St. Paul snowplow driver detained by ICE now faces deportation; coworkers launch fundraiser

Jan 19 Breaking TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Multiple Twin Cities districts add online learning options amid ICE surge

Jan 18 Developing TC 5

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.

Education Public Safety Local Government

Minneapolis woman describes spiriting wounded Jake Lang from crowd

Jan 18 TC 1

FOX 9 reports that Minneapolis resident Daye Gottsche and a friend inadvertently became central to a downtown confrontation when far‑right influencer Jake Lang — recently pardoned by President Trump for allegedly assaulting officers on Jan. 6 — jumped, bleeding, into their car at a red light as counterprotesters chased and struck him. Gottsche says protesters surrounded the vehicle, opened the rear doors, kicked Lang and damaged the taillight before some in the crowd ultimately cleared a path so they could drive away; she confronted Lang, who offered little beyond praising Trump and calling himself “a bad boy,” and the women dropped him a couple blocks away, where he got into another vehicle. Gottsche told FOX 9 she opposes Lang’s politics but believes the street attack was wrong and played into a narrative the federal government could use to justify invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. The piece folds this incident into a larger backdrop: Trump has publicly threatened to deploy the military here if state leaders don’t “crack down” on anti‑ICE protests, and the Pentagon has put cold‑weather troops on prepare‑to‑deploy orders for Minnesota. The story underscores how out‑of‑town extremists and local counterprotesters are colliding on Minneapolis streets, dragging ordinary residents into volatile, politically charged confrontations just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Public Safety Legal Politics

ICE storms East Side St. Paul home, detains six including 12‑year‑old; warrant’s validity questioned

Jan 17 Breaking TC 1

Surveillance footage from a home on Nevada Avenue East in St. Paul shows heavily armed federal agents battering down a door and sweeping room to room Thursday, detaining six occupants—including a 12‑year‑old boy later reported by a family friend to have been transferred to an immigration facility in San Antonio. Neighbors who spoke with someone inside say agents claimed to have a search warrant but refused to show it during the raid; a day later, a purported warrant from a Ramsey County judge appeared on the doorstep, lacking a case number, file stamp and standard formatting that a state court spokesperson provided for comparison, and with no record yet of filing. Residents, a Venezuelan family who arrived in 2023, reportedly all had state IDs and work permits, and neighbors say agents told them the operation was part of a narcotics investigation, though outdoor video captured a package delivery minutes before the raid and agents allegedly threatened to arrest everyone if no one claimed the package. DHS did not respond to FOX 9’s questions, leaving basic issues unanswered: whether this was an immigration or drug case, why a child with no apparent charges is now in Texas, and why the paperwork doesn’t look like a standard state warrant. The raid adds another layer to growing fear on the East Side as Operation Metro Surge floods the metro with federal agents, and raises serious questions about warrant practices and whether federal officers are using state‑court processes—or something made to look like them—to punch into Twin Cities homes.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

DPS, National Guard brief joint plan for ICE protests

Jan 16 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Major Minnesota employers stay largely silent as ICE surge hammers Twin Cities immigrants and small businesses

Jan 16 TC 3

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.

Business & Economy Public Safety Local Government

Savage daycare worker charged with murder after admitting to choking infant at Rocking Horse Ranch

Jan 16 Developing TC 6

Savage police arrested 18‑year‑old daycare worker Theah Russell and charged her with second‑degree murder in the September death of 11‑month‑old Harvey Muklebust after investigators say she admitted to choking him and have also charged her with attempted murder in two earlier incidents involving an infant girl. State inspection records show Rocking Horse Ranch had prior safety violations, regulators suspended its license citing an imminent risk of harm, and investigators said a child‑abuse pediatric specialist flagged the pattern linking all three medical events to Russell.

Legal Public Safety Health

Light snow, icy patches make Twin Cities roads slick

Jan 16 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT and FOX 9 report that light snow and gusty winds are creating slick travel across Minnesota Friday, with the Twin Cities seeing under an inch of accumulation but scattered ice on highways, including parts of Highway 169 near New Hope and Brooklyn Park. A winter weather advisory is in effect for western Minnesota until 6 p.m., and MnDOT has issued no‑travel advisories in northwestern Minnesota where high winds and blowing snow have dropped visibility to zero on several major highways. Southwestern Minnesota roads are reported completely ice‑covered, and black ice plus blowing snow are affecting large stretches of northern, western and southern Minnesota. In the metro, main routes are mostly normal early but drivers are being warned to watch for changing visibility and sudden icy spots as snow bands and wind move through during the day.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Oglala Sioux leaders press ICE in Minneapolis over four detained tribal members; three still unaccounted for

Jan 16 Breaking TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

DHS audits Hennepin Healthcare for undocumented workers

Jan 15 Breaking TC 1

Homeland Security Investigations has launched a worksite audit of Hennepin Healthcare’s employment records, scrutinizing whether the county‑run hospital system employs undocumented workers and whether its I‑9 paperwork complies with federal law. The audit, confirmed in internal communications obtained by the Minnesota Reformer, comes in the middle of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s massive immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities that has already swept up airport workers, day‑care staff and other vetted employees. Hennepin Healthcare, which runs HCMC and a large clinic network serving tens of thousands of Minneapolis and Hennepin County residents, says it is cooperating but has declined to discuss specifics about affected workers or units. Labor and immigrant‑rights advocates warn on social media that targeting the region’s main safety‑net hospital is less about "fraud" and more about political theater, and raises the risk of staff shortages in critical frontline and support roles if long‑time employees are pushed out.

Health Public Safety Legal

ICE detains parent at Robbinsdale school bus stop

Jan 15 Breaking TC 1

Robbinsdale Area Schools says a parent was detained by ICE agents at a district bus stop on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 14, while children — including the detained parent’s child — were waiting to board. The district reports all students got on the bus and arrived at school safely, and says drivers are trained not to allow unauthorized adults onto buses. In a message to families, Robbinsdale emphasized that it does not collect or share immigration‑status information, reminded staff that ICE needs a judge‑signed warrant to enter school property, and instructed employees to call 911 if someone comes onto campus without a legitimate purpose. The district also pointed families to immigration‑resource links and said remote/online learning options are available for students who need to be absent for extended periods during the current federal enforcement surge. FOX 9 has asked DHS/ICE for details on why the parent was detained and whether they remain in custody, but the agency has not yet responded.

Education Public Safety Legal

Frigidaire expands minifridge fire‑hazard recall to 964K units

Jan 15 Breaking TC 1

Federal regulators and Frigidaire have expanded an earlier recall of compact refrigerators to about 964,000 units nationwide after additional reports that the minifridges can overheat and catch fire. The affected Frigidaire‑branded mini fridges were sold broadly through major retailers and online over multiple years, meaning thousands of units are likely in Twin Cities dorm rooms, apartments, basements and offices. Owners are being urged to immediately unplug the units and check specific model and serial numbers against the recall notice, then contact the manufacturer for a free repair, replacement or refund, depending on the model. Fire officials stress that even small appliances can start serious structure fires, and social media posts from consumers are already circulating photos of scorched units, prompting calls for landlords and colleges to audit any Frigidaire minifridges on their properties.

Public Safety Health

Trump threatens Insurrection Act, military deployment in Minnesota amid Minneapolis ICE unrest

Jan 15 Developing TC 3

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

North St. Paul man charged in teen’s fatal shooting

Jan 15 Breaking TC 1

A 24‑year‑old man has been charged in Ramsey County with fatally shooting a teenager inside a North St. Paul apartment after an argument over a sweatshirt, according to a newly filed criminal complaint. Prosecutors say the dispute escalated in the unit before the man allegedly pulled a gun and shot the victim, who died despite emergency response. The complaint details witness accounts from inside the apartment, cites the recovery of a firearm, and lays out the suspect’s statements to police. The killing adds to this year’s violent‑crime toll in Ramsey County and again raises questions about how quickly minor disputes in cramped metro housing situations are turning lethal when guns are present.

Public Safety Legal

Attorney: Minneapolis Liberian man hit in ICE battering‑ram raid had checked in for 15 years

Jan 15 Developing TC 2

A Liberian national in Minneapolis who had been regularly checking in with immigration authorities for 15 years was arrested during an ICE raid in which federal agents used a battering ram to force entry, and family members — including a child — witnessed the forced entry. His lawyer says there was no indication of non‑compliance that would justify such a violent home entry, and the family is demanding to see a judicial warrant.

Public Safety Legal Immigration

Sam’s Club Super Greens recall grows to 45 salmonella cases

Jan 14 Breaking TC 2

Health officials say a recall of Super Greens dietary supplement powder sold at Sam’s Club has been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people. The recalled product — labeled “Super Greens” (beyond earlier references to Member’s Mark Super Greens powder) — is now tied to cases across more states than initially reported, prompting expanded warnings and investigations.

Health Public Safety

Three arrested in fatal Brooklyn Park Park Haven Apartments shooting

Jan 14 Breaking TC 2

Brooklyn Park police say a man was fatally shot at the Park Haven Apartments on the 6900 block of 76th Avenue N at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday, and authorities arrested three suspects — two adult men and one juvenile male — around 7 p.m. the same day. Police have not released the victim’s identity or details about the circumstances of the shooting.

Public Safety Legal

Operation Metro Surge: DHS data show only ~5% of 2,000 Minnesota ICE arrestees are violent offenders

Jan 14 Breaking TC 12

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Educators demand ICE stay away from Minnesota schools

Jan 14 Developing TC 2

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.

Education Public Safety Local Government

Twin Cities students walk out, rally at Capitol over ICE surge

Jan 14 Developing TC 1

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.

Education Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul council weighs tougher limits on ICE cooperation

Jan 14 Developing TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Woodbury realtor says ICE held him 9 hours after he filmed agents across Twin Cities

Jan 14 Developing TC 3

A Woodbury realtor says he followed and filmed ICE agents in public — including a grocery‑store parking lot and his cul‑de‑sac — and was detained by ICE for more than nine hours, alleging agents pulled him from his car, put him in a headlock, threw him to the ground and left him with a black eye and facial abrasions though he was never formally arrested or charged. ICE declined to explain the legal basis for the detention, First Amendment experts say recording law enforcement in public is protected, and the account comes amid DHS’s Operation Metro Surge — a deployment of roughly 2,000 ICE officers (with plans for 1,000 more) that has sparked lawsuits, protests and business community concerns in the Twin Cities.

Public Safety Legal Civil Rights

Mpls council president says ICE officer shoved him while he observed stop

Jan 14 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

DHS to revoke licenses of two metro care centers tied to Medicaid fraud

Jan 14 Developing TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Human Services plans to revoke licenses of two Twin Cities-area care centers following separate Medicaid fraud investigations that previously prompted license suspensions. Separately, the Oglala Sioux Tribe says three of its members arrested in Minneapolis remain in ICE custody.

Health Legal Public Safety

ICE surge after Renee Good killing triggers Twin Cities walkouts, new warrantless raid lawsuits, and impeachment push against Noem

Jan 14 Developing TC 29

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Target silent after ICE detains two U.S. citizen employees

Jan 13 Developing TC 1

A Minneapolis-area Target store became the scene of another controversial ICE operation when federal agents detained and dragged away two Target employees who are both U.S. citizens, according to a Business Journal report. The retail giant has not issued any public statement or internal explanation about the detentions, even as business groups and local officials warn that visible immigration raids at stores, gas stations and malls are chilling consumer traffic and destabilizing workplaces across the Twin Cities. The incident adds a new flashpoint to Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s deployment of hundreds of federal immigration agents to the metro, and deepens questions about how accurately ICE is identifying its targets and what responsibilities large employers like Target have to protect or at least inform their workers. The case is already being cited by legal-technology startup TurnSignl, which reports a spike in sign‑ups from people worried about encounters with law enforcement and ICE, and by business advocates who say this kind of enforcement inside or just outside major retailers is bad for both worker safety and the regional economy.

Business & Economy Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis shares residents’ rights as ICE surge escalates

Jan 12 TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Border Patrol agent caught on video kneeing man in face in Minneapolis arrest

Jan 12 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Minneapolis man gets 4 years for St. Paul road‑rage shootings

Jan 12 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to four years in prison for firing a gun at other vehicles in two separate road‑rage incidents in St. Paul, according to Ramsey County court records reported Monday. Prosecutors said he repeatedly shot at occupied vehicles during confrontations on St. Paul streets, but no deaths were reported; the case underscores how quickly traffic disputes in the metro have been turning violent. The judge imposed a 48‑month term under Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines, meaning the defendant will likely serve about two‑thirds in prison and the rest on supervised release if he stays out of trouble. The sentence comes as St. Paul and Minneapolis police have both been warning about an uptick in armed confrontations tied to aggressive driving, and residents have been using social media to vent about feeling less safe on major arterials. Court records also show mandatory probation conditions and a ban on possessing firearms after release.

Public Safety Legal

St. Anthony man charged in fatal apartment stabbing

Jan 12 Breaking TC 1

Prosecutors have charged a St. Anthony man with fatally stabbing an apartment maintenance worker and severely injuring a teenager during an attack inside a St. Anthony apartment building, according to a newly filed criminal complaint. Police say the worker was killed on scene and the teen suffered life‑threatening wounds in the same assault before officers arrived and apprehended the suspect. The building sits in a dense residential area, meaning dozens of tenants effectively lived inside an active crime scene while investigators processed the hallway and units. The case will now move into Anoka County District Court, adding another 2026 homicide prosecution to the metro docket and feeding ongoing resident anxiety about random‑seeming violence in otherwise quiet suburban complexes.

Public Safety Legal

Walz makes unannounced visit to Renee Good memorial

Jan 12 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

ICE takedown at St. Paul gas station sparks protest fury; DHS issues defense

Jan 12 Developing TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Anti‑ICE protester arrested after Lake Street vandalism spree

Jan 11 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis police arrested a 24‑year‑old man after a vandalism spree along Lake Street during an anti‑ICE march, alleging he spray‑painted a Metro Transit bus and then tagged a church, theater, school building, health‑care facility and a Target. Officers caught him following a brief foot chase and booked him on probable‑cause damage‑to‑property charges.

Public Safety Legal

Man killed, teen hurt in St. Anthony stabbing; suspect caught in Duluth

Jan 11 Breaking TC 1

Police say a stabbing in a hallway at the Equinox Apartments in St. Anthony just after 5 a.m. Saturday left one man dead and a teenager seriously injured before the suspect fled the metro in a stolen vehicle. Witnesses initially believed the attacker was still inside an apartment, but St. Anthony police later learned he had already taken off and alerted agencies along the North Shore. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says around 8:30 a.m. they were told the suspect might be driving to a home on Lake Superior’s North Shore; deputies spotted the vehicle in Duluth about 9 a.m., tried to stop it, and chased it until it crashed. The suspect then tried to run but was arrested after a brief foot pursuit. Authorities have not released the motive or the identities of the victim, wounded teen, or suspect as the investigation continues.

Public Safety Legal

I-94 to fully close in downtown St. Paul Jan. 16–18

Jan 09 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT will close Interstate 94 in both directions through downtown St. Paul from Friday, Jan. 16, to Sunday, Jan. 18, for bridge and roadway work, with signed detours routing traffic around the core. The shutdown will affect a key east–west freeway used by commuters and regional travelers, and drivers are being urged to plan alternate routes and expect delays throughout the weekend.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Isla Rae phone chargers recalled for explosion risk

Jan 09 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 13,200 Isla Rae magnetic wireless phone chargers sold at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls nationwide between June 2024 and November 2025, warning they can explode while in use and pose fire and burn hazards. The recalled RM5PBM model power banks, sold in white, pink and purple for about $15, are compatible with magnetic charging systems; Twin Cities customers are urged to stop using them, register at recallrtr.com/powerbank for a full refund, and dispose of the lithium‑ion devices through proper local hazardous‑waste channels rather than in household trash or standard recycling.

Public Safety Health Technology

Fridley schools cancel Friday classes over ICE fears

Jan 09 Breaking TC 1

Fridley Public Schools has canceled all classes, activities and childcare for Friday with no online learning, citing 'fear and disruption' and a major spike in absences and staff shortages after heightened ICE enforcement in the area over the last 24 hours. Nearby Columbia Heights Public Schools will shift to district‑wide online learning Friday 'out of an abundance of caution,' keeping only Mini Adventures childcare open, as both north‑metro districts respond to families’ concerns about safety in traveling to school.

Education Public Safety

ACLU sought to curb ICE crowd‑control tactics weeks before fatal Renee Good shooting; hearing canceled day of killing

Jan 09 Breaking TC 2

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Lakeville Hampton Inn stripped of Hilton branding; exterior signage removed after ICE booking refusals

Jan 09 Breaking TC 7

Hilton has removed its branding from the Hampton Inn in Lakeville and the property's exterior Hampton signage was taken down after ICE and DHS said the hotel refused to book immigration‑enforcement agents. DHS provided emails showing reservations were canceled because of "immigration work," and after Hilton apologized and initially pledged corrective action, the company cut ties and began removing the property from its system following undercover video showing staff still denying ICE/DHS bookings; the hotel will continue operating under its current ownership without Hilton/Hampton branding while the situation is reviewed.

Public Safety Business & Economy Legal

Ventura visits Roosevelt High after ICE confrontation

Jan 08 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Education Local Government

Forest Lake man indicted for child porn, cyberstalking North Branch students

Jan 07 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors have indicted 34-year-old Damien William Quinn of Forest Lake, also known as Ryan William Shattuck, on four counts of production of child pornography and related charges after he allegedly used fake Snapchat and Instagram profiles while posing as a teenager to solicit explicit images from minors and adults connected to North Branch High School. Investigators say Quinn targeted victims using multiple online aliases, and the FBI is asking anyone from North Branch High School who experienced suspicious solicitations for explicit images to contact its tip line as they believe more victims may be unidentified.

Public Safety Legal

Hopkins man charged with murder and manslaughter in girlfriend’s fatal shooting

Jan 06 Breaking TC 2

Hopkins man Krystofer Patrick Brooks, 20, has been charged in Hennepin County with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter after his girlfriend was fatally shot in the eye. Brooks told investigators he twice pulled the trigger while handling a 9mm handgun he believed was unloaded — saying the incident occurred after returning from errands, playing video games and preparing for work when he tried to clear the firearm in a dark bedroom — and officers found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic at the scene; Brooks has a permit to carry.

Public Safety Legal

MPD chief reports major 2025 drop in violent crime

Jan 06 TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Freezing rain makes Jan. 6 Twin Cities wettest on record; refreeze to slick Tuesday–Wednesday commutes

Jan 06 Breaking TC 4

A narrow band of rain and freezing rain tracked east‑northeast across the state overnight, yielding 0.55 inches at MSP (Cottage Grove 0.75") and making Jan. 6 the wettest on record for the Twin Cities while a Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect through noon Tuesday. Temperatures holding near freezing (where even a 1–2° difference could flip rain to freezing rain) produced icy spots and MnDOT-reported ice coverage, with a slow, foggy Tuesday commute expected and refreezing Tuesday night likely to create a slick Wednesday morning.

Weather Public Safety

Freezing rain, slick roads slow Twin Cities commute

Jan 06 Breaking TC 1

Overnight rain and near‑freezing temperatures are creating 'sneaky' slick spots on Twin Cities roads Tuesday morning, with MnDOT reporting ice‑covered highways northwest of the metro and a jackknifed semi on I‑35 in Chisago County as a winter weather advisory covers the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Red Wing and Willmar through the morning. Main metro routes are mostly passable but side streets, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots are especially icy; rain is expected to end around sunrise with highs in the low 30s, but evening fog and refreezing could create additional hazards later in the day.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Feds freeze Minnesota child-care funds; state launches added on‑site checks at 55 providers

Jan 06 Developing TC 2

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.

Legal Local Government Business & Economy

South Minneapolis fire displaces 24 residents

Jan 05 Breaking TC 1

A fire in a 10‑unit, three‑story apartment building on the 2500 block of Portland Avenue South in Minneapolis around 2 p.m. Monday displaced 17 adults, seven children and three pets, after firefighters found flames burning in the attic. Minneapolis Fire Department Interim Chief Melanie Rucker said roughly 54 firefighters responded, a mayday was briefly called when a firefighter got smoke in their eyes, no injuries were reported, and a preliminary investigation points to a possible electrical cause with no fire stops in the building aiding the spread.

Public Safety Housing

Minnesota appeals judge Renee Worke pleads guilty, sentenced for November DWI

Jan 05 Breaking TC 2

Minnesota Court of Appeals judge Renee Lee Worke pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI in connection with a November 2025 Black Friday crash in which her vehicle was found in a snowbank along Highway 14 near I‑35 in Owatonna. She formally entered the plea in court, acknowledged the offense and accepted responsibility, and has been sentenced.

Legal Public Safety

U.S. House Oversight Committee calls on Walz to testify in Minnesota fraud probe

Jan 05 Developing TC 12

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.

Legal Local Government Business & Economy

Hortman children urge Trump to pull assassination conspiracy video

Jan 05 Developing TC 1

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Champlin police seek missing mother and toddler

Jan 03 Breaking TC 1

Champlin police and the Minnesota BCA are asking for the public’s help to find 23-year-old Maige Yang and her 1½‑year‑old daughter, who were last seen on Dec. 28, 2025 and last heard from around Dec. 30–31 before communications later discovered by family raised 'extreme' concern for their safety. Yang, described as 5 feet tall and 90 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a black jacket with green sweatshirt and sweatpants; investigators now believe she and her daughter are in Glendale, Arizona and urge anyone with information to call Champlin police at 952-258-5321 or 911.

Public Safety

St. Paul Summit Avenue apartment fire critically injures resident

Jan 03 Breaking TC 2

A fire at an apartment on Summit Avenue in St. Paul left one resident critically injured, according to local reports. The incident was reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul and Twin Cities.

Public Safety

Half of Skyline Tower residents return; St. Paul adds loan program as west tower repairs continue

Jan 02 Breaking TC 7

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.

Utilities Local Government Housing

Driver killed in Coon Rapids train–vehicle collision

Jan 02 Breaking TC 1

A driver died after their vehicle was struck by a freight train around 3:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day at the intersection of 119th Avenue Northwest and Northdale Boulevard in Coon Rapids. Coon Rapids police say the driver was alone in the vehicle, was extricated and taken to a hospital where Burlington Northern Santa Fe later reported the person died; no train crew members were injured and the driver’s identity has not yet been released.

Public Safety

New H3N2 flu wave drives sharp rise in Minnesota hospitalizations

Jan 02 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota is seeing a steep early‑season flu surge driven by a new H3N2 Influenza A subvariant, with more than 1,900 people hospitalized so far this season compared with 536 at the same point last year, and 176 school and 31 long‑term care facility outbreaks already reported. Emergency departments, urgent cares and clinics — heavily concentrated in the Twin Cities metro — are described as 'flooded' with flu patients, and health officials warn that the impact of New Year’s gatherings has not yet shown up in the data.

Health Public Safety

Somali-run Nokomis Daycare vandalized and burglarized as Trump administration freezes Minnesota child-care funds

Jan 01 Breaking TC 2

Somali-run Nokomis Daycare in Minneapolis was reportedly broken into and vandalized in a burglary. The incident occurred as the Trump administration has frozen Minnesota’s child‑care payments and stepped up federal fraud scrutiny, and operators say they feel singled out, deny wrongdoing and point to their inspection history.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

Ex‑treasurer charged with $110K theft from Plymouth–Wayzata youth softball group

Jan 01 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Kristin Allyenne Williams, 52, of Maple Grove with felony theft by swindle, alleging she stole more than $110,000 from the Plymouth Wayzata Youth Softball Association between August 2020 and February 2025. According to the criminal complaint, Williams was the only person with online access and a debit card for the nonprofit’s U.S. Bank account and is accused of making unauthorized ATM withdrawals at Mystic Lake and Little Six casinos and falsifying financial reports to the volunteer board, which later learned the IRS had revoked the group’s tax‑exempt status after three years of unfiled returns and vendors and coaches went unpaid.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

St. Paul releases dashcam/bodycam of I-94 police shooting of Elliot Vaughn

Dec 31 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul Police released edited dashcam and body‑camera video of the Dec. 21 I‑94 shooting involving officers Matthew Foy and Byron Treangen III that shows Elliot Vaughn running up the I‑94 ramp, drawing a handgun, extending his left arm and pointing the weapon at the trailing squad before the officers fire and strike him in the leg. Police say General Motors remotely disabled the stolen Buick Envista on the ramp immediately before Vaughn and a passenger fled on foot, Vaughn faces multiple felony charges, and the gun recovered near him was a Smith & Wesson with a round in the chamber and a full magazine; SPPD and FOX 9 provided links to the edited clip and full video package.

Public Safety Legal

DHS sends fraud agents door-to-door in Burnsville

Dec 31 Breaking TC 2

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

GOP collaboration with YouTuber heightens fallout from viral Minnesota day-care fraud video

Dec 31 Developing TC 4

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.

Public Safety Local Government Legal

Minneapolis distributor recalls hundreds of items over rodent contamination

Dec 31 Breaking TC 1

The FDA has ordered Minneapolis-based Gold Star Distribution, Inc. to recall all regulated products—including drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements and shelf-stable foods—after inspectors found rodents, rodent urine and bird droppings in warehouse areas where items for humans and pets were stored. The recall, which affects hundreds of products such as JIF peanut butter, Pringles, rice and ramen distributed to more than 50 stores statewide, warns of potential Salmonella and other contamination and urges consumers and retailers to destroy affected items; frozen and refrigerated products shipped directly from manufacturers are not included, and no illnesses have been reported so far.

Health Public Safety Business & Economy

Chisago City standoff ends safely; barricaded man arrested after fire threat and evacuations

Dec 31 Developing TC 2

A man barricaded inside a business in primarily manufacturing/industrial Chisago City prompted evacuations and warnings to avoid the area after he threatened to set a fire. Multiple agencies, including the Chisago County SWAT Team, communicated with the 39-year-old and took him into custody without injury around 8:15 p.m., and evacuations were lifted once the scene was cleared.

Public Safety Legal

Castle Rock Christmas Eve shooting now charged as second-degree murder

Dec 30 Breaking TC 3

A Castle Rock Township couple’s home in rural Dakota County was the scene of a Christmas Eve shooting that left 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles dead and led to 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones of Farmington being charged with one count of second-degree murder. Deputies say five other family members, including the couple’s two children, were inside the 250th Street West house, a child reported Jones saying both “I’ve been shot, she shot me, call 911” and then “I shot her,” and investigators found Ehnes-Giles deceased on an upstairs bed with a handgun and two spent casings recovered as the sheriff characterized the incident as a homicide and attempted suicide tied to a single domestic episode and said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Public Safety Legal

Bicyclist, 26, dies after being hit in St. Paul

Dec 30 Breaking TC 1

A 26-year-old bicyclist, identified as James Moo, died after he was struck by a driver in St. Paul, according to police and local reporting. The collision occurred on a city street, and Moo later succumbed to his injuries; authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash and have not yet announced any charges.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul bans cryptocurrency kiosks; Bitcoin Depot sues to overturn ordinance

Dec 30 Developing TC 3

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.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Plymouth man now charged with murder in 2022 shooting

Dec 30 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Austin Robert LeClaire, 30, with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Daisy Olga Melia Colonnese, who died in August 2025 from complications of a 2022 gunshot wound she suffered at their Plymouth home. LeClaire had already pleaded guilty in 2023 to first-degree attempted murder for the same shooting and is serving an 18‑year sentence, but the medical examiner’s ruling on her death allowed prosecutors to pursue a new murder count, which they say is not barred by double‑jeopardy because the victim was still alive when he was originally sentenced. The new complaint cites surveillance showing LeClaire arguing with and threatening to shoot Colonnese before firing, and describes her nearly three years of intensive medical care that prosecutors call "truly hellacious."

Public Safety Legal

Melanie Rucker named interim Minneapolis fire chief

Dec 30 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety

St. Croix Falls man charged with second-degree murder in Wyoming ER security guard death

Dec 30 Breaking TC 5

Jonathan Chet Winch, 25, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Andrea Merrell, a security guard who died from injuries sustained during a Christmas Day assault in the emergency department at M Health Fairview Lakes in Wyoming, Minn. Authorities say Winch forced his way past magnetic doors after leaving against a medical hold, tried to steal a hospital emergency vehicle and jumped onto a responding officer’s squad car windshield, triggering a roughly five‑minute struggle during which a Taser was used; he is in custody and was quoted saying, "I didn't mean to hurt her," while the hospital called Merrell a valued team member.

Public Safety Health Legal

Blizzard closes and then reopens I‑35 from Albert Lea to Iowa

Dec 29 Breaking TC 10

After a weekend blizzard that produced heavy snow, high winds and hundreds of crashes, Interstate 35 was closed south of Albert Lea — between I‑90 and Highway 30 in Ames, Iowa — stranding motorists and prompting Minnesota National Guard assistance in Freeborn County and southern Minnesota. The corridor has since reopened in far southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, but state DOTs say crews will work through the morning of Dec. 29 to remove disabled vehicles and finish snow-and-ice clearing and advise motorists not to detour around I‑35 until conditions improve.

Education Transit & Infrastructure Weather

St. Paul honors firefighter Timothy Bertz after on‑duty death days after academy graduation

Dec 29 Breaking TC 3

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Blizzard and ice trigger 500+ crashes over two days; I‑35 closures in southern Minnesota

Dec 29 Breaking TC 5

Blizzard‑force winds, whiteout snow and icy roads produced more than 500 crashes across Minnesota over two days — Sunday recorded 366 property‑damage and 30 injury crashes and Monday about 186 property‑damage and 16 injury crashes — with dozens of jackknifed semis and hundreds of vehicles driven off the road. Portions of I‑35 in southern Minnesota were closed after multiple crashes and stranded motorists, prompting Minnesota National Guard assistance, while the Twin Cities saw 5–7 inches of snow (higher totals in western Wisconsin) and continued slick, low‑visibility conditions.

Transit & Infrastructure Weather Public Safety

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

Dec 29 Breaking TC 9

A winter storm warning in effect from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday brought a changeover to snow across the Twin Cities (generally 3–5 inches, locally higher to the north), with wind gusts up to about 40–45 mph causing blowing snow, low visibility and snow‑covered roads through the Wednesday morning commute. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 255 crashes and 375 vehicles off the road (including 13 jackknifed semis), 19 injury crashes and one fatal wreck, and a multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy. 52 near the Concord Blvd. exit in Inver Grove Heights that snarled traffic in both directions.

Public Safety Weather Transit & Infrastructure

Snow, high winds snarl Twin Cities roads; 5–7" metro totals confirmed

Dec 29 Developing TC 2

A winter storm dropped roughly 5–7 inches across the Twin Cities metro — Burnsville 7", Maple Grove 6.2", MSP Airport 5.8" and Chanhassen 5.6" — while high winds produced white‑out conditions and slippery roads that snarled travel. I‑35 was closed between Albert Lea and Ames, Iowa, and no‑travel advisories were in effect across southern Minnesota; blizzard warnings covered much of western and southern Minnesota, with heavier totals reported in western Wisconsin (Haugen 9", Eau Claire 8.5") and final totals from blizzard‑warning zones still pending.

Weather Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Teen killed in drive-by-style shooting into Minneapolis home

Dec 29 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot Sunday evening while inside a house on Ilion Avenue North in the Jordan neighborhood, after someone fired multiple rounds into the home from outside. Officers responded around 6:30 p.m., found the teen with a life-threatening gunshot wound, provided aid and had him transported to a hospital where he died; no arrests or motive have been announced as investigators canvass for evidence and witnesses and Chief Brian O’Hara pledges to devote all available resources to the case.

Public Safety Legal

Two critically hurt in Ericsson house fire

Dec 29 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis firefighters rescued two people from a heavily cluttered, 'over packed' home near 30th Avenue South and East 43rd Street in the Ericsson neighborhood during Sunday’s winter storm, rushing both to the hospital in critical condition after flames burned through the first floor, basement, walls, and attic. Crews struggled to navigate piles of items inside, called a second alarm to rotate firefighters in the extreme cold, brought in a Metro Transit bus as a warming shelter, and later declared the house uninhabitable while investigators probe the cause.

Public Safety Weather

Man critically injured in Chicago Avenue shooting

Dec 28 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man is in critical condition after officers found him with life‑threatening gunshot wounds on the 2900 block of Chicago Avenue late Saturday morning. Officers responded around 11:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting, provided aid and had the victim transported to a hospital, and are now investigating the circumstances; no arrests or suspect information have been released.

Public Safety

West St. Paul man charged for pulling gun on ICE agents

Dec 27 Breaking TC 2

A West St. Paul man has been arrested and charged after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents say he followed them and pulled a gun. Authorities report the suspect admitted to pulling the weapon on the agents.

Public Safety Legal

Sunday storm to bring 2–4 inches, subzero wind chills to Twin Cities

Dec 27 Breaking TC 1

FOX 9 forecasts a Sunday storm that will bring accumulating snow and rapidly falling temperatures to the Twin Cities, with 2–4 inches expected in the metro and 4–6 or more inches in southeastern Minnesota as a strong northwesterly wind gusting up to 30 mph squeezes out snow from mid‑morning Sunday into early Monday. By sunset Sunday, wind chills are expected to fall below zero, and Monday’s high in the Twin Cities is projected around 13°F with continued breezy conditions making it feel even colder.

Weather Public Safety

Brooklyn Park man charged in Maple Grove Benihana shooting

Dec 25 Breaking TC 2

Deontae Creshaun Allen Coney, 31, of Brooklyn Park, has been charged in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree assault for a Nov. 14 shooting at the Benihana on Fountains Drive in Maple Grove that injured a man. Court documents and witnesses say video shows Coney retrieve a distinctive crossbody "man purse," return and fire one shot that struck the victim through the left groin and exited the right buttock, shout "And that’s why you don’t mess around!" as he fled in a white Jeep, and later search social media for the victim and relatives; he was arrested in Inver Grove Heights and is being held on $250,000 bail with an omnibus hearing set for next month.

Public Safety Legal

Dakota County sheriff warns of fentanyl‑linked overdose spike

Dec 25 Breaking TC 1

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert Wednesday reporting a spike in overdoses over the past week — with a sharp increase in the last 24 hours — that investigators suspect is tied to fentanyl being mixed into other street drugs like cocaine, crack and meth. Deputies are urging residents to recognize opioid‑overdose signs such as unconsciousness and slowed breathing, to carry naloxone (Narcan), and to use fentanyl test strips and local health services that are available across Minnesota.

Public Safety Health

St. Paul grocer adds free delivery amid ICE fears

Dec 25 Breaking TC 1

Bymore Mercado, a grocery store in St. Paul, says it lost about 75% of its customers within days of the federal immigration crackdown that began Dec. 1 in the Twin Cities, after many patrons — including U.S. citizens and legal residents — became afraid to leave home and risk encountering ICE agents. In response, the store launched a free delivery service with volunteer drivers and is using roughly $8,000 raised on GoFundMe to cover groceries for customers who cannot pay, pledging to continue the program as long as needed.

Business & Economy Public Safety Housing & Immigration

Eagan Grace Slavic Church fire forces Christmas and school relocation

Dec 24 Breaking TC 3

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.

Public Safety Local Government Community

Man killed, teen arrested in north Minneapolis shooting

Dec 24 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was fatally shot inside a home on the 1600 block of Thomas Avenue North around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday after an argument, and a 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with the killing. The victim, found with multiple gunshot wounds, died at the hospital, and investigators are examining whether the teen may be tied to other violent crimes in Minneapolis this year as Chief Brian O’Hara urges full use of juvenile-justice tools for dangerous youth offenders.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis man convicted in triple encampment murder

Dec 23 Breaking TC 1

A Hennepin County jury convicted a Minneapolis man of murdering three people in a shooting at a homeless encampment in Minneapolis, bringing to a close a high‑profile triple‑homicide case that rattled nearby neighborhoods and intensified debate over encampment safety. The verdict, delivered this week in Hennepin County District Court, finds the defendant guilty on all murder counts tied to the encampment shooting, which left three victims dead and drew a large investigative response from Minneapolis police.

Public Safety Legal

Federal judge rebukes DHS mandatory detention in Minneapolis case

Dec 23 TC 1

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.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Attempted break‑in targets St. Paul Rep. Samakab Hussein

Dec 23 Breaking TC 2

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association issues no‑confidence vote in DOC chief Schnell, urges Walz to remove him

Dec 23 Breaking TC 2

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."

Local Government Public Safety Legal

State warns to dispose Christmas trees to curb invasive pests

Dec 23 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is urging residents, including those in the Twin Cities metro, to dispose of Christmas trees and holiday greenery through curbside collection or official drop‑off sites rather than dumping them in woods or backyard compost, to prevent invasive insects and plant diseases from spreading. Officials cite risks from pests such as elongate hemlock scale, boxwood blight and round leaf bittersweet—especially on trees and boughs imported from other states—and ask anyone who suspects an infestation to contact the MDA’s Report a Pest line at 1‑888‑545‑6684.

Environment Public Safety

Nowthen standoff suspect Clinten Larson charged with arson and assault after 17‑hour barricade

Dec 22 Developing TC 2

Anoka County resident 39-year-old Clinten Michael Larson was arrested at about 1 p.m. on Dec. 19 after a roughly 17-hour standoff in which he was reported to be armed and barricaded in his Nowthen home, prompting shelter-in-place orders. Larson faces five felony charges — including first-degree arson, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence — and investigators say he allegedly fired at law-enforcement drones and that multiple points of origin and a propane torch were found, with fire damage rendering the home unsafe for a full search.

Public Safety Legal

Lyndon Wiggins gets life without parole in Monique Baugh murder after third trial bid denied

Dec 22 Developing TC 6

Lyndon Akeem Wiggins was sentenced on Nov. 13, 2025 to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a Hennepin County jury reconvicted him on multiple counts — including aiding and abetting first‑degree premeditated murder, first‑degree murder during a kidnapping, attempted first‑degree murder and kidnapping to cause great bodily harm — in the 2019 killing of Minneapolis real estate agent Monique Baugh. The verdict in the retrial followed a Minnesota Supreme Court-ordered new trial, and a last‑minute 13‑page bid by Wiggins’ defense for a third retrial was rejected at sentencing; Judge Mark Kappelhoff called Wiggins the “criminal architect” of a cold, calculated scheme, while other co‑defendants have received life terms and accomplice Elsa Segura pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years.

Legal Public Safety

Wintry mix creates slick Monday commute in Twin Cities

Dec 22 Breaking TC 1

A light overnight wintry mix has left ice and light slush on Twin Cities roads under a winter weather advisory until 8 a.m. Monday, causing some spinouts and crashes during the morning commute. MnDOT reports that travel is not advised on several highways just southwest of the metro, with closures on MN 19 between MN 5 and MN 93 and Highway 212 from Glencoe to Olivia, and multiple 'no travel advised' stretches on MN 5, MN 19 and MN 22 as of about 6 a.m.

Weather Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul police close I‑94 ramp for investigation

Dec 21 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police and other agencies closed the ramp from Highway 52 northbound to I‑94 westbound on Sunday evening for an active investigation, with police on scene since at least 4 p.m. The exact nature of the incident has not been disclosed; police tape is up and the ramp remains shut while investigators work.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Federal agent fires after vehicle strikes in St. Paul

Dec 21 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a federal agent fired their service weapon after being struck by a vehicle on the 1300 block of Westminster Street just after 8:20 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. The agent sustained non-life-threatening injuries, the suspect was uninjured and taken into custody by federal authorities, and SPPD says no city officers were involved in the use of force.

Public Safety Legal

Driver hits State Patrol car on I‑94, arrested

Dec 21 Breaking TC 1

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, a 24-year-old Toyota Camry driver struck an unoccupied Minnesota State Patrol squad car with emergency lights activated on I‑94 near Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, where a trooper was responding to a prior crash. The impact pushed the squad into a tow truck; a Camry passenger suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries and the driver was arrested on suspicion of DWI. MnDOT traffic cameras recorded the collision and the State Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.

Public Safety Legal Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul orders ICE to stop using city lots

Dec 20 Breaking TC 1

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.

Local Government Public Safety

Three wounded in Metro Transit bus shooting

Dec 19 Breaking TC 1

Authorities say a person exited a Metro Transit bus near 36th and Penn Avenues North in Minneapolis around 3:30 p.m. Friday and then fired into the bus, injuring three people. Two victims have non-life-threatening injuries and a third is in critical but stable condition; police are searching for the suspect and plan to release imagery.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Federal law expands first‑responder benefits

Dec 19 Breaking TC 1

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.

Public Safety Local Government

Ford recalls 270K F‑150 Lightning, Mach‑E, Maverick for park‑module rollaway risk (Recall 25C69)

Dec 19 Breaking TC 2

Ford is recalling more than 270,000 vehicles — 2022–2026 F‑150 Lightning BEV, 2024–2026 Mustang Mach‑E, and 2025–2026 Maverick — under recall 25C69 because an integrated park module may fail to lock into Park and allow the vehicle to roll away. Ford will provide a free park‑module software update; owners will receive interim letters in February and further notices when the remedy is available (anticipated February 2026), and can contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Trump suspends federal Diversity Visa lottery

Dec 19 Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of the Diversity Visa (green card lottery) program, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem directed USCIS to pause processing, after authorities said the suspected Brown University/MIT shooter entered the U.S. via the program in 2017. The move, announced Thursday, halts new DV processing nationwide and is likely to face legal challenges because the lottery was created by Congress, affecting prospective immigrants and families in the Twin Cities.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

Brooklyn Park man charged in St. Paul’s 13th homicide; drug robbery alleged

Dec 19 Breaking TC 5

St. Paul police say 49-year-old Michael Tucker was fatally shot Dec. 4 on the 900 block of Edgerton Street in the Payne‑Phalen neighborhood, the city’s 13th homicide of 2025. Authorities charged Ryshaun Ca'mia Rhodes of Brooklyn Park with second‑degree murder, alleging the shooting stemmed from an attempted drug robbery after an SUV delivered a package believed to contain drugs; investigators say witnesses, license‑plate reader data, phone/social‑media and cell‑site records tied Rhodes to the scene, a 9mm casing was recovered, and he was arrested Dec. 16 following a Brooklyn Park search warrant.

Public Safety Legal

Eagan teen charged with four felonies in ISD 196 threats; admits creating Snapchat account

Dec 18 Breaking TC 5

A 16-year-old Eagan boy has been charged with four felony counts of threats of violence after a Snapchat account posted a video threatening District 196 high schools, prompting Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Eastview and the School of Environmental Studies to close and dismiss students while police investigated. Investigators say they linked the account to the teen via a phone number and he admitted creating it; no weapons were found during searches, he is being held in juvenile detention and is due in court Dec. 23, and prosecutors and law enforcement warned such threats cause real fear, disrupt learning and will be prosecuted.

Education Legal Public Safety

Man dies in St. Paul Cook Ave. house fire; 4 displaced, space heater near origin

Dec 18 Breaking TC 2

Crews responding about 12:44 a.m. to the 400 block of Cook Ave. E. in St. Paul found heavy fire on the porch and first-floor interior and later extracted a man from a second‑floor bathroom who was in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Three men and one woman were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross; investigators found a space heater near the fire’s origin, the cause remains under investigation, the death has not been officially ruled a fire fatality, and the city has scheduled a briefing at 2 p.m. at Fire Station 7.

Public Safety

Defense seeks to suppress evidence in UHC CEO killing

Dec 18 Developing TC 7

Luigi Mangione has been fighting to exclude contested evidence in the New York murder case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, with a multiweek evidentiary/suppression hearing that included a Dec. 2 proceeding and a Day 4 postponement after Mangione fell ill. Police reported finding bullets in his bag and prosecutors disclosed handwritten “notes to self,” and the judge — who said he hopes to finish the hearing this week — has indicated he will rule on the exclusion motion in May; no immediate ruling has been issued.

Legal Public Safety

ICE pepper-sprays crowd in Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside

Dec 17 Developing TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 17 Developing TC 9

Federal officials say the infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart formula has grown to 51 confirmed or suspected cases in 19 states — all hospitalized and with no deaths — with illness onset dates from Aug. 9 to Nov. 19 after the CDC expanded its case definition to identify additional cases dating back to Dec. 2023–July 2025. ByHeart has recalled all products, testing has detected C. botulinum type A in some samples, and while officials earlier found recalled cans still on shelves, the FDA reported no new on‑shelf reports after Nov. 26; parents are urged to stop using and dispose of any ByHeart formula and seek medical care if infants show symptoms.

Public Safety Health

Deputies free ICE agents amid Karmel Mall protest

Dec 17 Breaking TC 2

ICE agents were swarmed during a chaotic protest outside Karmel Mall in Minneapolis, and DHS says protesters hurled chunks of ice and rocks, shouted death threats, deployed pepper spray, and two U.S. citizens arrested for assaulting agents remain in custody. DHS also says a woman seen being dragged was initially targeted for allegedly trying to vandalize a squad car but was released for safety reasons, a claim eyewitness Taneka Dortch disputes, calling the agents "forceful and brutal."

Public Safety Legal

Walz signs two gun‑violence executive orders, establishes Statewide Safety Council

Dec 16 Breaking TC 15

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.

Legal Elections Public Safety

DHS disputes Omar claim ICE stopped her son

Dec 16 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it has 'zero record' of ICE agents pulling over Rep. Ilhan Omar’s son after a Target trip, contradicting Omar’s Sunday WCCO interview in which she said he was released after showing a passport. The DHS statement, which also criticized the accusation as demonizing ICE, comes amid expanded immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities targeting the Somali community.

Public Safety Legal

Probation in White Bear Lake church threats case

Dec 16 Breaking TC 1

A Minnesota man was sentenced to probation on Tuesday, Dec. 16, for making threats tied to political banter during a concert at a White Bear Lake church. The case was adjudicated in the Twin Cities metro and stems from an incident at a church event where the man’s threatening conduct prompted criminal charges.

Legal Public Safety

Eden Prairie police chaplain charged in hit-and-run

Dec 16 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged Eden Prairie Police Department chaplain John Charles Brecount, 61, with multiple counts of criminal vehicular operation and leaving the scene after an Aug. 21, 2025 hit-and-run at Mitchell Rd. and Chestnut Dr. that critically injured a 2-year-old and hurt her mother. Brecount told police he was distracted by a text from his wife, initially thought he struck a crosswalk sign, later contacted authorities saying, "I think it was me," and forensic evidence linked his white sedan to the crash.

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 16 Breaking TC 4

Ramsey County Medical Examiner identified the woman found dead inside an apartment on the 500 block of Broadway Street in St. Paul as 23-year-old Shaniya Thompson; officers dispatched around 4:15 p.m. found her with a gunshot wound to the head, with evidence suggesting she had been shot the day before and a firearm recovered at the scene. Authorities say the killing — St. Paul’s 14th homicide of 2025 — is linked to suspect Wesley Koboi, who was arrested at a Toronto airport, charged in Thompson’s death and is expected to be extradited to Minnesota.

Legal Public Safety

Kia, Hyundai AG settlement: free ignition protectors, immobilizers going forward, up to $4,500 for MN theft victims

Dec 16 Breaking TC 2

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement with Kia and Hyundai requiring the automakers to repair millions of vehicles to fix anti-theft technology, include industry-standard engine immobilizers on all future vehicles, and offer eligible owners a free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector installed at authorized dealers; the companies will also pay up to $4.5 million in consumer restitution and $4.5 million to states to offset investigation costs. Victims of qualifying thefts occurring after April 29, 2025 (or before protector installation but by March 31, 2027) can seek up to $4,500 if the car had received the software upgrade or had a scheduled appointment, a settlement announced amid a surge in Twin Cities Kia/Hyundai thefts — 3,293 in 2022 with Minneapolis and St. Paul seeing 836% and 611% year-over-year increases.

Business & Economy Public Safety Legal

Third defendant convicted in 2024 Coon Rapids triple murder

Dec 16 Breaking TC 2

On Dec. 16, 2025, prosecutors reported that a Minneapolis man became the third defendant convicted in the Jan. 26, 2024 Coon Rapids home‑invasion triple murder. The latest verdict follows earlier prosecutions in the case, including a prior jury conviction of a second defendant.

Public Safety Legal

Rosemount woman detained at Minneapolis green card interview

Dec 16 Breaking TC 1

Attorney says Concepcion Macias-Pulido, 49, of Rosemount, was taken into ICE custody on Wednesday during a green card interview in Minneapolis because a 1998 false claim to U.S. citizenship makes her ineligible for permanent residency and subject to deportation. Family and counsel say she had a work permit and Social Security number but the prior misrepresentation and an alias bar adjustment; ICE did not comment.

Legal Public Safety

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

Dec 16 Developing TC 9

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.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Corcoran man Steven Endsley charged with second-degree murder in roommate’s shooting

Dec 15 Breaking TC 2

Corcoran man Steven Fredrick Endsley, 54, has been charged in Hennepin County with second-degree murder after his roommate was found dead from three gunshot wounds to the head — the body’s head was wrapped in plastic — during a welfare check Dec. 10 at a trailer on the 7800 block of Maple Hill Road. Officers found Endsley in the bathroom wearing only underwear and holding a loaded rifle; autopsy and ballistics tied the bullets to that rifle, and Endsley told police he hadn’t left the trailer except to get alcohol, admitted wrapping and moving the body, said he didn’t remember the shooting but that "it couldn't have been anyone else."

Legal Public Safety

ICE makes two arrests in Maplewood

Dec 15 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Dealer tied to two overdose deaths gets 17 years

Dec 14 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Dec 14 Breaking TC 2

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

Legal Local Government Public Safety

ICE arrests worker at Brooklyn Park business

Dec 14 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Richfield woman fatally shot; man arrested

Dec 13 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 13 Breaking TC 3

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

Legal Public Safety

FDA-posted recall of ReBoost nasal spray

Dec 13 Breaking TC 1

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

Health Public Safety

Lake Minnetonka sees earliest ice-in since 2019

Dec 13 Breaking TC 1

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

Weather Public Safety

St. Paul man gets 17 years for two rapes

Dec 13 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Mahtomedi woman killed on I-94 in east metro

Dec 12 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Pair charged after fleeing with HSI agent

Dec 12 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 12 Developing TC 4

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

Local Government Legal Public Safety

Eden Prairie High lockdown ends; 3 teens arrested

Dec 12 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Education

Ex‑Oakdale officer convicted of misconduct

Dec 11 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Dec 11 Breaking TC 4

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 11 Developing TC 3

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Dec 11 Breaking TC 2

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

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Minneapolis officer fires at armed suspect; no injuries

Dec 11 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Two killed in separate Minneapolis shootings

Dec 11 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety

Edina man charged after runway DWI at Flying Cloud

Dec 10 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Man killed by snowplow at MSP parking lot

Dec 10 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

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

Dec 09 TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Four ICE arrestees in Minneapolis sue over detention

Dec 09 Developing TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Arden Hills DUI crash: driver sentenced

Dec 09 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Augsburg says masked ICE agents targeted student

Dec 09 Developing TC 2

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

Education Legal Public Safety

Video shows ICE raid at Burnsville home

Dec 08 Developing TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Forest Lake man fatally hit on I-35E

Dec 08 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Fire destroys Prior Lake mosque, K–12 school

Dec 08 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Education

New Oakdale group home for trafficked youth

Dec 08 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Health

Fights end Hopkins–Tartan game; police clear gym

Dec 07 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Education

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

Dec 06 Developing TC 32

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

Government & Politics Transit & Infrastructure Government

St. Louis Park schools issue ICE guidance

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1

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

Education Public Safety

St. Paul school bus, LRT collide; student hurt

Dec 05 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Light snow causes 100 crashes, 1 fatality Friday morning

Dec 05 Developing TC 2

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

Transit & Infrastructure Weather Public Safety

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

Dec 05 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

DHS: Half of probed MN immigration cases fraudulent

Dec 05 Developing TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

Judge denies new trial in Minneapolis girl’s killing

Dec 04 Developing TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Chauvin files postconviction petition in Hennepin

Dec 04 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

Ex-Washington Co. deputy sentenced in DUI crash

Dec 04 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Eagan names Salim Omari police chief

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Local Government

Man indicted for ramming ICE vehicle in St. Paul

Dec 03 Developing TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Dec 03 Breaking TC 3

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

Public Safety Legal

Rosemount police chief placed on leave

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Local Government

Rosemount police chief Dahlstrom resigns

Dec 03 Developing TC 1

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

Local Government Public Safety

Plymouth officer shoots armed man after disturbance

Dec 03 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

South St. Paul teen charged after woman dragged

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul shooter Dejaun Hemphill gets 12 years

Dec 03 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Treasury orders probe of MN fraud–terror ties

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3

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

Public Safety Legal Local Government

MN GOP urges federal probe of alleged terror financing

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3

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

Public Safety Local Government Legal

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

Dec 02 Breaking TC 7

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

Local Government Education Legal

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

Dec 02 Breaking TC 3

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2

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

Elections Public Safety Local Government

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

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

Airbus orders urgent A320 safety fixes

Dec 01 Breaking TC 2

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure Technology

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

Nov 30 Developing TC 3

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

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Weather

Cottage Grove seeks regional EMS backup

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Local Government

DNR boosts security at St. Paul office

Nov 29 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul fire chief Butch Inks to retire

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

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

Local Government Public Safety

FDA flags cheese recall over Listeria risk

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

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

Health Public Safety

Minneapolis house fire seriously injures one, kills dog

Nov 28 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety

Washington County dad pleads in UTV crash case

Nov 27 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Daycare abuse, neglect cases surge in Minnesota

Nov 27 TC 1

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

Public Safety Health Legal

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

Nov 27 Developing TC 10

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

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Suicide investigation closes eastbound Hwy 36

Nov 27 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Cooper High custodian charged in restroom peeping

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Education Legal

Washington County alert system hit by cyberattack

Nov 26 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Technology

20-year-old charged in fatal Shakopee DWI crash

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Legal

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

Nov 25 Developing TC 2

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

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota ERPO gun cases set to double in 2025

Nov 25 TC 2

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

Public Safety Legal

Ex-Twin Cities teacher gets life for child abuse

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety Education

Bus driver rescues 4-year-old from Lake Owasso

Nov 25 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Education

78th defendant charged in Feeding Our Future case

Nov 24 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Bloomington sting nets 16 in minor-solicitation arrests

Nov 24 Developing TC 3

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Nov 24 Developing TC 2

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

Legal Public Safety

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

Nov 24 Developing TC 3

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

Local Government Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis police chief apologizes for comments

Nov 22 Breaking TC 1

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

Public Safety Local Government

Maplewood drive-by shooter gets 6-year sentence

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

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

Legal Public Safety

Met Council opens search for transit police chief

Nov 21 Developing TC 1

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

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Local Government

Minneapolis issues Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

Nov 21 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Fire Department, with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal, released holiday cooking safety guidance ahead of Thanksgiving, citing NFPA data that cooking is the leading cause of house fires and that 1,446 home cooking fires occurred nationwide on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Officials urge residents not to leave stovetop cooking unattended, keep combustibles away, verify smoke detectors, and, for turkey frying, never fry a frozen turkey and do it outdoors away from structures; they also outlined steps to handle small grease and oven fires.

Public Safety Local Government

Woodbury man gets 30 years for sextorting minors

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

A Woodbury man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after prosecutors said he posed as a teenager using 66 different Snapchat aliases to coerce sexually explicit videos from minors, at times sending gruesome violent videos and hateful threats to force compliance. U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell called it a “deliberate, persistent sextortion scheme,” and authorities including the FBI, Woodbury Police and Indiana State Police investigated; under federal rules the inmate is expected to serve at least 85% of the sentence.

Legal Public Safety

77th defendant in Feeding Our Future: Minneapolis grocer Ousman Camara pleads not guilty

Nov 21 Breaking TC 2

Ousman Camara, a Minneapolis grocer, was charged as the 77th defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme and entered a not guilty plea at his first court appearance Thursday. Prosecutors allege he used scheme proceeds to buy a north Minneapolis building and sent more than $100,000 abroad; the broader investigation has resulted in 56 guilty pleas and seven convictions so far, including Aimee Bock’s conviction on all counts.

Public Safety Legal

DOC reduces Stillwater prison population

Nov 21 Developing TC 2

The Minnesota DOC has reduced the population at MCF–Stillwater — now nearing half capacity as officials advance plans to close the facility in 2029 — and has been relocating inmates to other prisons. Ahead of the closure the agency is piloting "earned living units" and on a Nov. 20 tour showcased new inmate programming spaces, including an inmate-run barbershop, a licensed tattoo studio, an art studio, a greenhouse set up in an empty cell, ongoing SUD small-group therapy and a mural program, with Commissioner Paul Schnell and Warden William Bolin participating.

Public Safety Local Government

DOC pilots 'earned living units' at Stillwater

Nov 21 TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Corrections showcased 'earned living units' inside MCF–Stillwater during a Nov. 20 media tour in Bayport, unveiling inmate‑operated spaces such as a barbershop ('Street Cuts'), a licensed tattoo studio, a greenhouse and an art studio as the facility winds down toward a 2029 closure. Commissioner Paul Schnell and Warden William Bolin said inmates are being moved to other facilities as part of the transition, with ongoing SUD therapy and creative programs continuing on site.

Public Safety Local Government

Ramsey County drops final case against ex‑Bethel player

Nov 20 Breaking TC 1

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office on Monday dismissed its last remaining criminal sexual conduct case against former Bethel University football player Gideon Osamwonyi Erhabor, saying it could not prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The dismissed case alleged a 2018 assault at a Roseville house party; Erhabor had already been acquitted in two separate 2018 incidents after an October 2022 jury trial and a June 2025 bench trial.

Legal Public Safety

Hennepin touts data showing youth diversion works

Nov 20 TC 1

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the University of Minnesota presented new juvenile justice data indicating early‑intervention diversion programs reduce reoffending and teen auto thefts. Officials said that among 127 youths who received early intervention last year, fewer than one‑third reoffended, and teen auto‑theft cases are down 58% since the county launched a youth auto‑theft initiative.

Public Safety Local Government

Opioid settlement funds used for K-9s, admin

Nov 20 TC 1

A Minnesota Reformer analysis details how cities and counties spent opioid settlement dollars in 2024, including Hennepin County’s administrative hires and medical examiner costs and Minneapolis’ $500,000 grant to Turning Point. While most spending went to treatment, recovery and prevention, some counties used funds for law-enforcement K‑9 units and drug‑crime investigator salaries; overall local spending rose to more than $17 million in 2024 as settlements are set to deliver roughly $633 million to Minnesota, with 75% going directly to local governments.

Health Local Government Public Safety

Starbucks Red Cup Day strike includes Minneapolis

Nov 19 Developing TC 3

A nationwide Starbucks strike that has indefinitely shuttered more than 65 stores in about 40 cities coincided with the company’s busy Red Cup Day after bargaining broke down in April. Two Twin Cities locations — the unionized St. Anthony store at 3704 Silverlake Rd (unionized 2022) and the unionized Chanhassen store at 190 Lake Dr (unionized 2024) — remained closed after Thursday’s walkout, and there are currently no remaining unionized St. Paul locations while employees at Seventh & Davern have petitioned the NLRB. At the St. Anthony site police arrested a man and woman after super glue and expanding foam were found in the locks and demonstrators later blocked the drive‑through; Starbucks said it was on track to meet or exceed same‑day sales, touts its wages and benefits, and accused the union of walking away from talks.

Public Safety Business & Economy Legal

Two arrested after St. Anthony Starbucks vandalism

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

St. Anthony police arrested a man and a woman Wednesday morning after workers found the Silver Lake Road Starbucks’ door locks filled with super glue and expanding foam, preventing opening amid an ongoing strike. The pair allegedly fled in a vehicle, were stopped and booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center on suspicion of felony property damage, and police later returned when demonstrators blocked the drive‑through.

Public Safety Legal

FOF juror‑bribe defendant Ladan Ali jailed for probation violation

Nov 19 Developing TC 1

Court records indicate Ladan Mohamed Ali was arrested Nov. 9 and is being held in the Scott County jail after failing to appear for a probation‑violation hearing; she was ordered last week to serve 30 days in county jail after admitting to a violation. Ali previously pleaded guilty in Sept. 2024 to attempting to bribe a juror in the Feeding Our Future case and earlier received probation in a Scott County check‑forgery case.

Legal Public Safety

Ford recalls 229,609 Broncos, Bronco Sports

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Ford is recalling 229,609 U.S. vehicles — 101,002 Ford Broncos and 128,607 Bronco Sports from model years 2025–2026 — because the instrument panel may fail to display at startup, leaving drivers without critical safety information and increasing crash risk. NHTSA says owner notification letters begin Dec. 8 and dealers will install a software update at no cost; Ford reports no known injuries. Twin Cities owners can reference NHTSA recall 25V540 and contact local Ford/Lincoln dealers for repairs.

Public Safety Transportation

Capitol security officer pleads guilty to DWI

Nov 19 Developing TC 1

Cristian Orea, a Minnesota State Capitol security officer, pleaded guilty Monday in Hennepin County District Court to fourth-degree DWI tied to a July 14 incident at a Minneapolis Lake Street bar where he allegedly posed as an undercover officer. He’ll serve just under a month on house arrest and two years’ probation; the impersonating-a-peace-officer charge will be dismissed upon successful completion, prosecutors dropped third-degree DWI and carrying a pistol under the influence, and the State Patrol says he remains on paid investigatory leave.

Legal Public Safety

ICE deportation flight observed at MSP

Nov 19 TC 1

A Minnesota Reformer reporter and photographer documented about 20 ICE detainees in shackles boarding a Key Lime Air charter on the MSP tarmac the morning of Nov. 12, 2025, as three unmarked vans delivered them under federal escort. The Metropolitan Airports Commission said federal law prevents MSP from restricting such operations and that it receives no advance notice of non‑commercial flights; one detainee described being flown to Louisiana before removal to Ecuador amid an uptick in deportations.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul man admits 2022 fatal stabbing

Nov 19 Breaking TC 1

Maurice Angelo McClinton Smith, 42, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court to second-degree intentional murder for fatally stabbing 47-year-old Tina M. McCombs in her North End St. Paul apartment on Jan. 9, 2022. Appearing via Zoom from St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, Smith acknowledged drug and alcohol use before the attack and told his attorney he wrongly believed McCombs was his mother; sentencing is set for Feb. 13.

Legal Public Safety

Mpls man charged in New Hope burglaries

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Jonte Jamel Yates, 36, of Minneapolis, is charged in Hennepin County with one count of first‑degree burglary and four counts of second‑degree burglary tied to a string of New Hope break‑ins between Nov. 1 and 12. A court complaint says surveillance video led the Hennepin County Intelligence Unit to identify Yates; he was arrested after a pursuit, and a search recovered items resembling those seen in the footage, with phone data placing him near the scenes. The complaint notes Yates previously admitted in an earlier case to targeting Hispanic residents, believing they were less likely to report crimes.

Public Safety Legal

Honda recalls 256K Accord Hybrids for power-loss risk

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Honda is recalling 256,603 Accord Hybrids from model years 2023–2025 nationwide because a software error can reset the integrated control module CPU while driving, potentially causing a sudden loss of drive power, according to NHTSA filings on Nov. 18, 2025. Dealers will reprogram the software free; owner letters are slated for Jan. 5, and Honda reports 832 warranty claims and no injuries to date. Twin Cities owners can verify VINs on NHTSA’s recall site or Honda’s lookup and call 1-888-234-2138 for assistance.

Public Safety Technology

Mohamud Bulle sentenced to 19.5 years for 2013 Minneapolis park rape after DNA backlog testing

Nov 18 Breaking TC 4

Mohamud Bulle, 36, was sentenced to 235 months (19.5 years) — 187 months for first‑degree criminal sexual conduct and 48 months for kidnapping, to run consecutively — after a jury convicted him in the Oct. 13, 2013 rape of Melissa Zimmerman in a Minneapolis park. The case was solved after the BCA tested a 2013 sexual‑assault kit in 2020 under the federal SAKI backlog program, producing a DNA profile that linked to another case in May 2024 and to Bulle in October 2024 when his DNA was obtained in an unrelated matter; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty apologized for earlier delays, and Bulle, who received a separate 36‑month sentence in 2025, is incarcerated at MCF–Rush City with a projected release in March 2038 (248 days credit).

Legal Public Safety

White Bear Lake father gets 128 months for infant’s death

Nov 18 Breaking TC 1

Mark Russell Forster, 40, of White Bear Lake, was sentenced Monday to 128 months in prison in Ramsey County District Court after entering a Norgaard plea to second‑degree unintentional murder in the March 2024 death of his 8‑week‑old son, Jackson Dallas Forster. Prosecutors said medical findings showed injuries consistent with abusive head trauma; Forster received 460 days’ credit for time served and the negotiated term falls at the low end of state guidelines.

Legal Public Safety

U-Haul chase ends in St. Paul arrest

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office says a U-Haul van fled a traffic stop near Stacy on Sunday night for lane violations and no plates, leading to a multi-agency pursuit that ended in St. Paul when the driver ran and was arrested. Authorities attempted stop sticks multiple times; the driver, who had an outstanding warrant, was booked into the Chisago County Jail for fleeing, warrants, and traffic violations, with additional charges under review.

Public Safety Legal

South St. Paul woman critically hurt in hit-and-run

Nov 17 Breaking TC 1

South St. Paul police say a woman was found early Monday with life-threatening injuries consistent with being struck and/or dragged by a vehicle. Chief Brian Wicke said police believe the driver and victim knew each other; the driver fled before officers arrived, the vehicle was later found, and no arrests had been made as of Monday morning. Investigators are canvassing the area and ask anyone with information to call 651-413-8300.

Public Safety Legal

Wrong-way crash on Hwy 169 kills Shakopee woman

Nov 16 Breaking TC 1

A Pontiac Grand Am traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 169 in Bloomington collided with a Hyundai Sonata near Anderson Lakes Parkway just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, pushing the Hyundai into a Ford F-150. The Pontiac’s driver, 29-year-old Jasmine Jayde Nanclares of Shakopee, died at the scene; the Hyundai driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and those in the F-150 were unhurt. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating and said seat belt use and alcohol remain unknown.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Shakopee shooting critically injures 40-year-old man

Nov 15 Breaking TC 1

Shakopee police say a 40-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:13 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, on Grove Drive and was hospitalized in critical condition. Investigators believe the shooting was not random and report no ongoing danger to the area; no arrests or suspect information have been released.

Public Safety

St. Paul police adopt first AI-use policy

Nov 15 TC 1

The St. Paul Police Department has implemented its first policy governing artificial intelligence, currently limiting use to automated transcription of interviews, and says it has no short‑term plan to adopt Axon’s Draft One report‑writing tool. Neighboring agencies differ: Eagan police use Draft One for non‑felonies (accepted by the Eagan City Attorney), while Hennepin and Dakota county attorneys won’t accept Draft One reports and Ramsey County requires notice when AI tools are used in investigations; civil oversight members and the ACLU of Minnesota are urging public input and guardrails.

Local Government Public Safety Technology

Couple pleads guilty in Twin Cities Lululemon thefts

Nov 15 Developing TC 1

A Connecticut couple, Jadion Anthony Richards, 45, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes‑Richards, 46, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court on Nov. 14 to one felony count each of organized retail theft in a global deal covering Ramsey and Hennepin charges tied to Lululemon thefts in Roseville, Edina, Minneapolis and Minnetonka. The case marks Ramsey County’s first convictions under Minnesota’s 2023 organized retail theft law; police previously recovered over $50,000 in stolen merchandise from a JW Marriott Mall of America hotel room after a Nov. 14, 2024 Roseville theft, and sentencing with restitution is set for Jan. 30, with stayed prison terms and probation expected.

Legal Public Safety

DNA IDs mother in 1983 Blaine infant case

Nov 15 Breaking TC 2

Forensic DNA analysis by Othram has identified the mother of the newborn found in 1983 on Main Street between MN 65 and Radisson Road in Blaine, confirming the infant as "Rachel Marie Doe." The mother told investigators she gave birth alone at home, found the baby unresponsive and believed it was stillborn before leaving the infant roadside; a community funeral was held in 1983 and the child was buried in a local church cemetery, authorities say the Midwest Medical Examiner’s re-examination could not determine live birth and relatives, including the father, were reportedly unaware of the pregnancy.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul death after Westminster St. assault

Nov 14 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a man died Friday after officers responding about 11:40 a.m. to an assault at an apartment complex on the 1500 block of Westminster Street found him with lacerations to his back and head. A woman who reported the assault was taken to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; no arrests have been made, police say there is no ongoing public threat, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner will identify the man and determine cause of death.

Public Safety

Fridley man charged with criminal vehicular homicide in I-94 Dale St. crash that killed St. Paul driver

Nov 14 Breaking TC 3

Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after his Tesla sped off I‑94, exited at Dale Street with its headlights reportedly turned off, and struck a Toyota RAV4 at Dale and Rondo Avenue in St. Paul, killing 31‑year‑old St. Paul baker Benjamin Michael Villano. A state trooper who followed the Tesla clocked it at 84 mph and later over 100 mph but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash; Kosar and a 19‑year‑old passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The passenger, who suffered fractures and a dislocated hip, told investigators she had asked Kosar to stop speeding and that they had broken up earlier that day, and the criminal complaint alleges Kosar’s operation was “grossly negligent.”

Transit & Infrastructure Legal Public Safety

Mounds View High teacher Ted Bennett resigns; judge sets $75K bail in sex‑crimes case

Nov 14 Breaking TC 6

Ted Bennett, a 58-year-old longtime English teacher at Mounds View High School, resigned this week after being arrested and charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor student; the school board accepted his resignation. Authorities allege he provided the student alcohol and Adderall, exchanged explicit messages, and had sexual contact on multiple occasions — including in vehicles and a school theater storage area — and he was arrested at his home, held in Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $75,000 and ordered to stay away from the victim; investigators say there may be additional victims and have opened a tip line.

Public Safety Education Legal

Marine on St. Croix getting first cell tower

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Marine on St. Croix is installing a 180‑foot cellular tower on city‑owned land near its compost site and septic drainfield, officials said November 13, 2025. AT&T will be the core tenant, other carriers may co‑locate, and the city will receive $22,000 per year for the land lease; the site lies outside the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway boundary and is intended to improve public safety communications on the river and in town.

Utilities Public Safety

Macalester senior dies after off‑campus fall

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Macalester College senior Binta Maina, 21, died after accidentally falling down a flight of stairs at an off‑campus residence in St. Paul’s Snelling‑Hamline neighborhood late Sunday, according to St. Paul police. Officers responded just before 11:30 p.m. to the 1500 block of Hague Ave.; medics transported Maina to a hospital, and the college said the community is “heartbroken” by the loss.

Public Safety Education

Woodbury son charged in father's neglect death

Nov 13 Breaking TC 1

Washington County has charged Michael Cornelius Dailey, 51, of Woodbury with criminal neglect after charging documents allege he mismanaged the care of his 80-year-old father, a vulnerable adult, who died April 28, 2025 following hypoglycemia from a severe insulin overdose. The complaint cites multiple recent hospitalizations tied to uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes, malnutrition concerns, a recommended facility placement Dailey allegedly refused, and an October 2024 incident where home health services were rejected.

Legal Public Safety

Metro Transit to increase winter officer presence

Nov 13 Breaking TC 2

Metro Transit will boost uniformed security across nearly every light‑rail route this winter, deploying agency police, community service officers, transit ambassadors and contract security beginning this weekend. Officials say serious crime has fallen but minor offenses such as drug use and vandalism have remained steady, driving rider safety concerns.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul passes contingent assault‑weapons ban; gun‑rights group files lawsuit

Nov 13 Breaking TC 7

St. Paul’s City Council unanimously approved a contingent ordinance (7–0) that would ban public possession of assault‑style firearms, magazines holding more than 20 rounds and binary triggers, require serial numbers to curb ghost guns, and bar guns in most city‑owned spaces — but the law is written to take effect only if state firearm preemption is repealed, amended or judicially invalidated. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus immediately sued in Ramsey County, calling the measure unlawful, while the city attorney says St. Paul is prepared to defend the contingent approach amid the broader push by about 17 Minnesota cities and significant public comment (including over 700 “vote no” emails).

Public Safety Legal Local Government

Judge grants TRO barring encampments on Sabri Minneapolis properties

Nov 13 Developing TC 8

A Hennepin County judge on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order barring homeless encampments on any Minneapolis properties owned by Hamoudi Sabri after negotiations between Sabri and the city broke down and following a Sept. 16 mass shooting near E. Lake St. that injured seven people. Mayor Jacob Frey said the TRO lets the city close encampments once services and shelter are offered; city crews cleared the site, estimate the cleanup cost about $50,000 and may seek reimbursement, and police have increased patrols and placed fencing around the area. Sabri says he plans to convert the cleared lot into a "hygiene and outreach hub," has not obtained required permits, faces possible citations if he violates the order, and is weighing further legal action while criticizing the city's homelessness response.

Housing Public Safety Legal

Parents plan suit in Stillwater AI child-porn case

Nov 13 Breaking TC 2

Parents are threatening to sue the Stillwater School District after former employee William Haslach was accused of producing AI child pornography, and the district now acknowledges some victims are Stillwater students. Facing scrutiny, the district has implemented new rules—no personal cell phones around students, photos only pre‑approved and taken on district devices, and mandatory sexual‑exploitation training—while attorney Imran Ali has launched a civil investigation citing outdated policies, training gaps and poor communication.

Education Public Safety Legal

Fridley teen sentenced to life with parole eligibility in 15 years for ex’s murder

Nov 12 Developing TC 2

A jury convicted 19-year-old Fenan Abdurezak Uso of Fridley of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend Jayden Kline, and Judge Jenny Walker Jasper imposed a mandatory life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years under a 2023 law for juveniles certified as adults. Prosecutors say Uso bought a stolen handgun the night before and planned the Dec. 21, 2023 shooting outside Kline’s Fridley home (captured in neighbor doorbell video showing a gold minivan); Kline died at North Memorial Hospital, Uso was initially charged by juvenile petition and later indicted for first-degree murder in July 2024, and Kline’s mother and brothers delivered victim impact statements at sentencing.

Legal Public Safety

Prosecutors turn over 130,000 pages in Boelter case; next hearing Feb. 12

Nov 12 Developing TC 3

Prosecutors have provided substantially all discovery in the case against Vance Boelter — more than 130,000 PDF pages as part of roughly 9 terabytes of material that the defense says includes about 800–825 hours of audio/video, roughly 2,000 photos and thousands of documents, though some lab reports remain pending. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster set the next status conference for Feb. 12 and requested updates on the DOJ’s undecided death‑penalty decision (which federal prosecutor Harry Jacobs said rests with AG Pam Bondi), while defense counsel Manny Atwal said downloading and reviewing the evidence — slowed by a federal shutdown and some 110 hours of work already — could push trial scheduling out at least six months.

Legal Public Safety

Police unions condemn $10K bail in deputy assault

Nov 12 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s two largest police organizations criticized a judge’s decision to allow a $10,000 conditional bail for Robert J. Kozicky, 41, charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree assault, and fourth-degree assault of a peace officer after a Nov. 6 incident in Ham Lake where a deputy was violently attacked. Prosecutors sought $150,000 unconditional or $75,000 conditional bail, but Judge Jennifer Peterson set $75,000 unconditional or $10,000 with conditions; Kozicky was arrested Nov. 7 and released Nov. 9, and unions MPPOA and LELS are calling for a review citing the deputy’s concussion and head laceration.

Public Safety Legal

IACP to review 43-hour response to June 14 lawmaker shootings; $429.5K cost

Nov 12 Developing TC 3

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Brooklyn Park, Champlin and New Hope police departments and Hennepin County have hired the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct an independent after-action review of the 43-hour law enforcement response to the June 14 lawmaker shootings — from the first 911 call just after 2:30 a.m. to the arrest of Vance Boelter — a manhunt DPS calls the largest in state history. The six-month review, announced in a DPS Veterans Day release, will cost $429,500 (the state covering $210,000 and Hennepin County $165,000), will be released publicly, and has drawn support and questions from officials including Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher about early communication to legislators.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

Minneapolis CM Jamal Osman carjacked amid spree; two teens arrested, VW recovered

Nov 11 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman was carjacked shortly before 8 p.m. at Lake St. & Portland Ave.; MPD says he was threatened with mace and his Volkswagen Atlas was stolen as part of a same-day spree that began with a 2 p.m. Subaru Outback theft and included an attempted carjacking and another vehicle theft earlier in the evening. Officers later spotted the stolen vehicles near Lake & Pillsbury, one car hit a hydrant during a pursuit, and two teens (15 and 16) were arrested after fleeing on foot and Osman's VW was recovered near Lyndale Place; police say one arrested teen has a prior history, and separately two adults were arrested in an unrelated early-morning carjacking near Penn Ave. N. and 26th Ave. N.

Local Government Public Safety

Five charged in Twin Cities odometer fraud

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged five relatives — Ilie Tudor, 27; Ionut Todur, 29; Florin Tudor, 31; Vasile Tudor, 26; and David Tudor, 22 — with odometer tampering, theft by swindle and concealing criminal proceeds after a scheme to buy vehicles cheaply, roll back miles and resell them on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators recovered a Toyota Tundra in north Minneapolis showing more than 110,000 fewer miles than previously recorded and say all five suspects have left Minnesota, with warrants issued and at least two believed to have fled the country.

Legal Public Safety

Two hospitalized after New Hope house fire

Nov 11 Breaking TC 1

West Metro Fire and New Hope police responded to a house fire around 6:12 a.m. Tuesday on the 8100 block of 38 ½ Avenue North, removing two occupants who were transported to North Memorial Hospital and Hennepin Healthcare. Their conditions are unknown; the cause is under investigation by West Metro Fire and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal.

Public Safety

Appeals court orders full SNAP funding; Supreme Court to decide whether 65% cap remains

Nov 11 Developing TC 71

After the federal shutdown prompted USDA to pause SNAP disbursements and initially push a roughly 65% partial‑payment plan, a coalition of states sued and district judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered USDA to use contingency and other funds to provide full November benefits. The 1st Circuit upheld the lower‑court order requiring full funding (after a brief Supreme Court stay), leaving some states that already issued full payments in limbo as the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether the administration may enforce the 65% cap.

Legal Government/Regulatory Politics

Swing‑district Sen. Seeberger backs assault‑weapon ban

Nov 11 TC 2

Swing‑district Sen. Seeberger told a Stillwater town hall with Gov. Tim Walz that “everything’s on the table” and she will vote yes on measures that save lives, signaling support for an assault‑weapons ban while noting she is a gun owner and unsure any Republicans would back such a ban. Her stance comes as her district stretches from Grant to Hastings amid razor‑thin legislative margins (an evenly divided House and a one‑seat DFL Senate majority) and with House Republicans pushing a counterplan focused on school security, school resource officers and more mental‑health treatment beds.

Local Government Public Safety

Two men wounded in separate St. Paul shootings

Nov 10 Breaking TC 2

Two men were wounded in separate shootings in St. Paul about 15 minutes apart that police say are believed to be unrelated. In the Payne-Phalen incident, a 43-year-old man was shot during an apparent carjacking, is recovering, could not describe his attacker, and investigators who have made no arrests are asking the public for tips (Sgt. Nichole Sipes, 651-266-5760).

Public Safety

Minneapolis vehicle break‑in spree: 124 cases in mid‑Oct; ~20 more in Lowry Hill on Nov. 9

Nov 10 Developing TC 2

Minneapolis police say a mid‑October spree damaged 124 vehicles over five days, and the rash continued with about 20 vehicles having windows smashed before dawn on Nov. 9 in Lowry Hill near Fremont Ave. S. and W. Franklin Ave. MPD noted the October surge followed a two‑month lull, cited an Aug. 19 arrest of three teens in north Minneapolis, and urged people to report incidents (911/311/online/in‑person) and to use well‑lit parking, remove or hide valuables, and never leave keys in vehicles.

Public Safety

Ex-Hennepin sheriff’s captain charged with stealing lab generator for ice fishing

Nov 10 Breaking TC 2

A former Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office captain, Labatt, has been charged with felony theft after a complaint says he took a department-owned generator from the HCSO forensic lab, used it while ice fishing Feb. 1–28 and left it on the lake. The complaint and records say lab staff sent multiple unanswered emails about the missing unit, Labatt did not offer to replace it until after a new generator ($1,209), a gas can and two gallons of gas ($26.97) and $80 for AirTags were purchased, and that Labatt — who joined HCSO in 1989 and became forensic lab director in January 2021 — was separated from employment on April 30, 2025; the HCSO crime lab serves 35 local agencies plus state and federal partners.

Legal Public Safety

Shepard Road lights still dark after thefts

Nov 09 TC 1

St. Paul officials say repeated copper wire thefts have kept roughly 250 streetlights dark along a four‑mile stretch of Shepard/Warner Road from Lowertown to Otto Avenue, despite citywide progress restoring lights. Public Works estimates it will cost $750,000 or more to fully restore the corridor; the city spent $2 million in 2024 replacing stolen wiring and installing high‑access poles, and 2025 service calls about dark lights are down about 30% year‑over‑year. Council President Rebecca Noecker is urging residents to press City Hall for dedicated funding, citing public‑safety concerns and recent related vandalism along the corridor.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Local Government

Columbia Heights home invasion injures man

Nov 09 Breaking TC 1

Columbia Heights Police and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office say two men followed a resident into his home on the 1400 block of 47th Avenue NE around 10:20 p.m. Friday and tried to rob him, leading to a struggle that left the victim injured. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition; other occupants were unharmed. The suspects fled and remain at large as the investigation continues.

Public Safety Legal

Man shot after dispute in downtown Minneapolis alley

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was shot just before 9:15 p.m. Nov. 8 in an alley behind a nightclub on the 300 block of 1st Avenue North after he asked a group of unhoused individuals to leave. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to survive; the group fled and no arrests have been announced as the investigation continues.

Public Safety

Man found shot dead in Columbia Heights car

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

Anoka County authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found with apparent gunshot wounds inside a vehicle around 6:31 a.m. Friday on the 500 block of 38th Avenue NE in Columbia Heights. No arrests have been made; anyone with information is asked to call Anoka County’s non‑emergency line at 763-427-1212.

Public Safety Legal

Marshals arrest Minnesotan in deadly Dallas RV arson

Nov 08 Breaking TC 1

U.S. Marshals arrested Lamont Curtis Richardson, 30, of St. Cloud, on I-94 near Sauk Centre Friday on a Texas arson charge tied to an Oct. 19 Dallas RV fire that killed 68-year-old Leslie Denise McBride. Apple Valley police executed search warrants at a Fjord Avenue address, seizing documents bearing Richardson’s name and seeking a woman’s DNA and cellphone data after investigators traced a Hertz rental from MSP and GPS logs to Texas and back. Surveillance captured a hooded, masked man igniting the RV before fleeing; motive has not been disclosed.

Public Safety Legal

3 charged in $564K immigration-services fraud targeting Spanish-language churches; 25 victims, ICE threats alleged

Nov 07 Breaking TC 4

Three people — Kira Romero Pinto, Denis Aquino Martinez and Luis Leiva Aquino — have been charged in a scheme that allegedly swindled about $563,700 from at least 25 victims, primarily Spanish-speaking churchgoers in the Twin Cities, by promising expedited citizenship through a fictitious attorney named “Isabella Jason” and threatening to call ICE on anyone who reported the scheme. Authorities say personal documents were seized, one defendant faces a racketeering charge, known Washington County losses exceed $118,000, the case is being prosecuted jointly by Washington and Dakota counties, and all three remain jailed with bail set at $500,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Public Safety Legal

Ex-wife of DOC chief gets 3-year sentence

Nov 07 Breaking TC 3

A Scott County judge, Joy Bartscher, sentenced Paul Schnell’s ex‑wife, Myhre‑Schnell, to three years in prison after she admitted on Dec. 3, 2023, to putting lorazepam and water into her disabled son’s feeding bag — filings quote her saying she hoped he would "go to sleep forever" and later telling investigators she intended to kill him, while the victim, who requires round‑the‑clock ventilator care for spina bifida, told investigators "I made it, I’m still here." The three‑year term was a downward durational departure from guidelines that drew criticism from prosecutors who had sought about 18 years; court records show she received 22 days credit for time served and is expected under Minnesota’s two‑thirds rule to serve roughly two years in custody with the remainder on supervised release, and Commissioner Schnell filed a memo abstaining from any DOC involvement in the case.

Public Safety Legal

Retired Woodbury police chief Bill Hering dies at 76

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

William “Bill” Frederick Hering IV, former Woodbury police chief and public safety director, died Nov. 1, 2025 at age 76 following a brain cancer diagnosis. Hering led Woodbury Public Safety for 32 years and was praised by current Director Jason Posel for shaping a culture of respectful, service‑oriented policing; visitation is Nov. 13 in Stillwater and funeral services are Nov. 14 in Afton, with donations requested to the Public Safety Woodbury Community Support Fund.

Public Safety Local Government

Walz orders half‑staff flags for Farmington officer

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags at state buildings to fly at half‑staff on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to honor Farmington Police Officer Pete Zajac, a 15‑year veteran and former school resource officer who died by suicide on Oct. 28. The proclamation encourages all Minnesotans and organizations to lower flags; a Mass was held Friday in Hastings, and a GoFundMe has been set up for his family.

Public Safety Local Government

Two charged in Bar Zia killing; prosecutors cite security lapses, city shutters bar

Nov 07 Developing TC 2

Prosecutors say a July shooting at downtown Minneapolis’ Bar Zia left 21-year-old Damarco Fletcher Jr. dead and three others wounded (women, 35 and 22, and a 24-year-old man) and led to charges against Arlonzo Williams Jr., 26, for second‑degree murder, illegal gun possession and three counts of attempted murder, and Dantrell DaJuan Clark, 24, as an accomplice on murder and attempted murder counts. Charging documents allege coordinated, gang-related conduct and security lapses — including patrons being allowed to re‑enter without screening after suspects briefly exited to retrieve a gun — and the city closed Bar Zia three days later for a licensing violation tied to lack of insurance.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Four arrested after stolen Jeep chase in Minneapolis

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Task Force arrested four people Thursday after pursuing a white Jeep stolen in Maple Grove that was linked to auto-theft tampering, dangerous driving, and a report of a suspect pointing a gun. The pursuit ended near W. 28th St. and Aldrich Ave. S. in south Minneapolis after stop sticks were used; the driver fled on foot, the passenger moved to the driver’s seat and struck the original driver before the vehicle stopped. All occupants were arrested, two were hospitalized, and six guns were recovered, according to HCSO.

Public Safety Legal

Ramsey judge tosses 2021 St. Paul arson case

Nov 07 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro dismissed the first-degree arson case against Matthew Ryan Gieske on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence after prosecutors said their key eyewitness who could identify the arsonist left Minnesota and could not be located. The case stemmed from a Sept. 7, 2021 fire that severely damaged a North End apartment building on the 1600 block of Marion St.; the judge excluded body-cam clothing IDs as hearsay and found no remaining evidence tying Gieske to starting the blaze.

Legal Public Safety

Farmington officer Pete Zajac dies by suicide

Nov 07 Breaking TC 2

Community and state officials are mourning 41-year-old Officer Pete Zajac, a 15-year Farmington police veteran who was born in Hastings, grew up in Wyoming, Minn., lived in Hastings for the past 11 years and worked in Faribault from 2006–2010. Gov. Tim Walz ordered state and U.S. flags at government buildings to fly at half-staff on the day of Zajac’s funeral, and a GoFundMe has been established to support his family.

Health Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul renews call in 1990 cold-case killing

Nov 07 Developing TC 1

St. Paul police marked the 35th anniversary of the unsolved Nov. 6, 1990 homicide of Robert Spann, a 27-year-old William Mitchell law school graduate, with a renewed public appeal for tips. Spann was found shot and stabbed in the basement of his Marshall Avenue home between Milton and Victoria; robbery was a possible motive, and investigators ask anyone with information to call 651-266-5650.

Public Safety Legal

Peloton recalls 878K Bike+ units for seat-post hazard

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

Peloton is recalling about 878,000 Original Series Bike+ exercise bikes (model PL02) in the U.S. and Canada after reports that seat posts can break, posing a fall risk. The Nov. 6 action, announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, covers bikes sold from 2020 through April 2025; owners are urged to stop using affected bikes and contact Peloton for a free redesigned seat-post replacement.

Public Safety Health

Burnsville police seek more victims in sex case

Nov 06 Developing TC 1

Burnsville police are asking additional victims or witnesses to come forward after charging 19-year-old Teodros Raymond Pluntz with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct tied to two younger teens. A Sept. 13 incident allegedly occurred at his parents’ home on Sibley Court in Burnsville, with prosecutors citing video evidence and documented injuries; a second case involves a 15-year-old who says videos were posted online. Pluntz was charged in September by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office and remains jailed as the investigations continue.

Public Safety Legal

Judge admonishes Lazzaro over juror contact scheme

Nov 06 Developing TC 1

Minnesota’s chief federal judge Patrick Schiltz issued a sharply worded order Thursday admonishing convicted GOP operative Anton “Tony” Lazzaro over an alleged effort to “deceive and bribe” a former juror via a fake survey offering gift cards, and barred Lazzaro or anyone on his behalf from contacting jurors without court permission. The survey, titled “Gopher Women’s Institute 2025 Study,” asked sensitive questions about sexual abuse and was used to support Lazzaro’s bid for a new trial; prosecutors argue a juror’s answers could have changed over time, while defense claims the responses show dishonesty on the original juror questionnaire.

Legal Public Safety

DHS speeds up protest‑charge rules near federal sites

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

The Trump administration put into effect on Nov. 5 new DHS regulations expanding Federal Protective Service authority to arrest and charge a broader array of offenses on and off federal property, citing a surge in violence. The rules apply to federal facilities nationwide, including those in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and newly address conduct such as obstructing access, wearing a mask while committing a crime, drone use, and tampering with government IT systems; critics warn the changes could be used to target protesters.

Legal Public Safety

Woman fatally shot in Minneapolis apartment; man arrested

Nov 06 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a woman was shot and killed around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday inside an apartment on the 2600 block of W. Broadway; a 65-year-old Minneapolis man, described as an acquaintance, was arrested that evening and remains jailed with charges pending. Officers recovered a gun in the apartment and a knife on the living room floor; the victim’s identity has not yet been released. The killing is the city’s 59th homicide of the year and the fifth in the past week.

Public Safety

16-year-old charged in north Minneapolis birthday-party killing of Aundre Loyd

Nov 06 Breaking TC 4

Sixteen-year-old Raymond Valentino Bowser was arrested inside a north Minneapolis home and charged with second-degree murder after 15-year-old Aundre Loyd was fatally shot in the basement during a birthday party shortly after 10:45 p.m. on the 2900 block of Russell Ave. N. Charging documents say the shooting followed an “interaction” after Loyd complimented Bowser’s shoes, a semiautomatic handgun and a bullet hole were found at the scene, witnesses said they fled in fear, Bowser admitted touching the gun, and Hennepin County intends to prosecute him as an adult; the killing was one of three deadly shootings in Minneapolis over a four-day span.

Public Safety Legal

Lakeville man gets probation in FOF case

Nov 06 Developing TC 1

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel sentenced Lakeville resident Khadar Adan to one year of probation and $1,000 restitution on Nov. 5 after he pled guilty to misdemeanor theft of government property for allowing a sham meal site to operate out of his Minneapolis JigJiga business center and accepting $1,000 in proceeds. Prosecutors said Adan and co-defendants falsely claimed 70,000 meals via the Lake Street Kitchen site from Dec. 2020 to Apr. 2021; Adan is the third and final co-defendant from that site to plead guilty in the broader Feeding Our Future fraud probe.

Legal Public Safety

Lakeville booster treasurer charged in $80K theft

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

A former treasurer of two Lakeville gymnastics booster clubs was charged by summons with two felony theft counts after police allege she stole more than $80,000 — nearly $51,000 from one club between March 2021 and 2024 and just over $32,000 from the other between August 2022 and June 2024. Court papers say casino records show an estimated $41,000 in losses in 2022–2023, the defendant repaid about $30,300 (mostly by cashier’s check) after resigning, admitted taking the funds due to personal financial problems and gambling, and is set for a first court appearance Dec. 9, 2025.

Public Safety Education Legal

Roseville police: Two found dead in Best Buy parking lot, suspected murder-suicide

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Two adults were found dead inside a vehicle in the Best Buy parking lot on the 1600 block of County Road B2 in Roseville, both located in the front seats. A customer reported hearing multiple gunshots shortly before 2 p.m., and police are investigating the incident as a potential murder‑suicide.

Public Safety

Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley convicted of sex trafficking, assaults at Mahtomedi apartment; sentencing Jan. 7

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley was convicted of sex trafficking and sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old and a 20‑year‑old at a Mahtomedi apartment and is set to be sentenced Jan. 7. Prosecutors say Wiley recruited women and girls near Twin Cities streets and stores by offering rides, drugs or money; jurors answered yes to four special‑verdict questions allowing an upward departure, County Attorney Kevin Magnuson praised the victims and noted Wiley self‑represented and cross‑examined them, and investigators tied a June 13 assault video to the apartment, found a 14‑year‑old at Piccadilly Square Apartments on June 30 with condoms and drug paraphernalia, and arrested Wiley July 8 after a tracking warrant when a 17‑year‑old was in his car and drug paraphernalia was seized.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis police probe Drew Avenue murder-suicide

Nov 05 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis police are investigating a suspected murder–suicide on Drew Avenue near Cedar Lake after a welfare check was requested when the residents — an elderly man and woman in their 80s — hadn't been heard from for several days. Authorities say the deaths are being treated as a shooting, but have not released the victims' identities or said which person was responsible for the gunfire.

Public Safety

Bomb threat delays LaGuardia–MSP Delta flight

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Delta Flight 2313 from New York’s LaGuardia to Minneapolis–St. Paul was evacuated Tuesday evening after the crew reported a bomb threat around 8 p.m. ET, according to the Port Authority. Passengers deplaned while the aircraft was searched and cleared by about 10 p.m., but Delta delayed the flight until Wednesday morning.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Brooklyn Park clears officers in Hortman response

Nov 05 Developing TC 1

Brooklyn Park Police’s preliminary internal investigation cleared Officers Zachary Baumtrog and Jay Bloyer in their response to the June 14 slaying of Rep. Melissa Hortman, finding their actions and Baumtrog’s use of force consistent with policy and training. The review says officers attempted to aid Mark Hortman, were unaware of other victims, and waited to enter the home until 4:38 a.m. after deploying a drone; the department has requested a broader third‑party review of the response and communications. Suspect Vance Boelter is charged in the attacks on the Hortmans and an earlier shooting at Sen. John Hoffman’s Champlin home.

Public Safety Legal

Walz breaks ground on $67M Mankato BCA lab

Nov 05 Breaking TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz and state public-safety leaders broke ground Monday on a $67 million Bureau of Criminal Apprehension regional office and forensic lab at 2350 Bassett Drive in Mankato. The 56,000‑square‑foot facility, slated to open in early 2027 with about 50 staff, will handle up to 6,000 cases and 12,000 evidence items per year, expand DNA/firearms/drug testing and training, and is expected to ease caseload pressure on the St. Paul BCA lab that serves the Twin Cities.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Man critical after St. Paul hotel pool rescue

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say hotel staff pulled a man from the Quality Inn pool at University and Prior just after 4 p.m. Monday, began CPR, and St. Paul Fire medics transported him to a hospital where he remained in critical condition Tuesday. Police interviewed witnesses and said preliminary information indicates an accidental, but tragic, drowning.

Public Safety Health

Employee fatally shot after confronting theft suspect in Seward lot

Nov 04 Breaking TC 3

A Cornerstone Parking Group employee in his 40s was fatally shot in the fenced employee lot in the 2600 block of 32nd Ave. S. in Seward after confronting someone allegedly rifling through a vehicle; a brief struggle occurred around 6:30 a.m. and co-workers found him about 20 minutes later. Police say the killing — called "senseless" by Chief Brian O'Hara — appears tied to an attempted petty theft, and no arrests or suspect details have been released.

Public Safety

Dinkytown Halloween shooting kills 1, injures 2; MPD recovers 3 guns

Nov 04 Breaking TC 4

A Halloween-night triple shooting in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota left one man dead and two others — including a UMN undergraduate and a juvenile — wounded; the deceased is not believed to be a UMN student and the two survivors were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Minneapolis police recovered three guns at the scene, say officers heard two bursts of fully automatic fire and suspect illegal conversion devices, no arrests have been announced, and MPD will increase patrols (CrimeStoppers tip line: 1-800-222-TIPS).

Public Safety Education

Three Minneapolis homicides in four days

Nov 04 Developing TC 1

Minneapolis recorded three fatal shootings between Thursday and Sunday, including a teen killed during a basement birthday gathering on the 2900 block of Russell Ave. N., a Dinkytown shooting that killed one and injured two (including a UMN student), and a south Minneapolis worker fatally shot after confronting a prowler. MPD’s dashboard shows 54 homicides year-to-date — not including the Sunday teen — compared with 66 at this time last year and 37 in 2019; no arrests had been announced in the Dinkytown or worker cases at the time of this report.

Public Safety

Chrysler recalls 320K Jeep plug-in hybrids

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Chrysler (Stellantis) is recalling more than 320,000 Jeep Wrangler 4xe (MY 2020–2025) and Grand Cherokee 4xe (MY 2022–2026) plug-in hybrids nationwide due to faulty batteries that can fail and catch fire, the NHTSA announced Nov. 4, 2025. Owners are instructed to park outside away from structures and not charge their vehicles until a remedy is determined; VINs will be searchable Nov. 6 and interim owner letters mail by Dec. 2 under recall 68C.

Public Safety Technology

Austin man gets workhouse for MSP DUI crash

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Michael John Tindal, 33, of Austin, was sentenced Nov. 3 in Hennepin County District Court to six months in the county workhouse and five years’ probation after pleading guilty to four counts of criminal vehicular operation for a Jan. 30 head-on crash on 34th Ave. S. near I-494 in Bloomington that injured six, including two young children in his pickup. Judge Sarah West stayed a 15-month prison term; police said Tindal’s BAC was 0.281 and he was driving after his license was revoked from an earlier DWI.

Legal Public Safety

Arrest, charges in Nicollet Ave music‑video robbery

Nov 04 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a 20-year-old St. Paul man has been arrested and charged with two felonies after allegedly robbing two men at gunpoint while they filmed a music video on Oct. 18 near the 1800 block of Nicollet Ave. S. The robbery was captured on the victims’ video; hours later the suspect was seen on city cameras in the same clothing and arrested after a short foot chase, with a Glock handgun and 31‑round magazine recovered along with some stolen cash and jewelry. Due to a prior felony, the suspect is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Public Safety Legal

Construction mishap triggers Stillwater power outages near hospital

Nov 04 Developing TC 1

Xcel Energy says construction equipment at HealthPartners’ new Lakeview Hospital site in Stillwater struck power lines Friday, cutting electricity to about 3,000 customers for roughly two hours and damaging a power pole. A controlled outage Sunday affected about 300 customers for under an hour to complete repairs, and crews plan to replace the damaged pole on Tuesday; residents report multiple outages since work began this summer near MN 36 and Manning Ave.

Utilities Public Safety

Police ID men in St. Paul Front Ave. shootout: Lawrence Harris, 30, and Lasean Williams, 28

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul police identified the two men killed in an apparent exchange of gunfire on Front Avenue as Lawrence A. Harris, 30, of St. Paul, and Lasean T. Williams, 28, of St. Louis Park. Officers responded about 4:20 a.m. Friday to the 400 block of Front Avenue where Harris was found in the street and Williams was driven to a nearby fire station before being transported to a hospital; police say both — who knew each other — sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and their deaths are the city’s 10th and 11th homicides of 2025.

Public Safety

Tou Thao released from federal prison; now under Anoka County supervision

Nov 03 Developing TC 3

Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, was released Monday from a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. He is now under post-release supervision through Anoka County Corrections.

Public Safety Legal

Eagan HSI agent pleads to child-sex videos

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

An Eagan Homeland Security Investigations agent, Gregg, pleaded guilty after admitting he recorded sex acts with a 17‑year‑old and sent the videos to her; he met the victim on Tinder (where she was listed as 19), checked a law‑enforcement database after their fourth meeting and learned she was 17 but continued to see her. Court documents say they met at least nine times from early March to May, mostly at a local hotel, and the case began when the victim’s father found explicit images on her phone; Gregg pleaded to transportation of child pornography—avoiding a production charge with a 15‑year mandatory minimum—and faces a statutory range of 5–20 years (prosecutors suggest 14–17.5 years), with no sentencing date set.

Public Safety Legal

Second ambush reported at Minneapolis church

Nov 03 Developing TC 2

A second ambush was reported outside a Minneapolis Catholic church when would-be robbers staged an attack around 6:20 p.m. Saturday during evening Mass, police said. The suspects fled before officers arrived, neither victim required medical treatment, and police remained on-site for the rest of Saturday’s Mass and provided extra security on Sunday.

Public Safety

BCA says recalculations confirm DWI breath tests accurate; amended reports forthcoming

Nov 03 Breaking TC 6

The Minnesota BCA found operator data‑entry errors tied to dry‑gas cylinder changes that led to a temporary suspension and an initial estimate of at least 146 (later up to 276) potentially affected DWI breath tests in counties including Hennepin, Olmsted, Aitkin, Winona and Chippewa and ordered inspections and verification of DataMaster instruments. After mathematical recalculations, the BCA says the flagged results are accurate and within established margins, has secured more than half the instruments with full verification expected in weeks, will issue amended reports to law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys, and will restrict future cylinder changes to BCA personnel while defense attorneys press for transparency on the recalculations.

Public Safety Legal

Man shot inside St. Paul Saloon; suspect sought

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

A man was shot in the leg inside the St. Paul Saloon and chased and returned fire at the suspected gunman, Sgt. Toy Vixayvong said. Officers applied a tourniquet and St. Paul Fire medics transported the victim with non-life-threatening injuries; as of Monday morning police had not located the suspect and it was unclear whether the suspect was struck.

Public Safety

Ex-Lakeville dance teacher sentenced for assault

Nov 03 Breaking TC 2

A former Lakeville dance instructor, Olson, was sentenced to two months in jail after being accused and later admitting to sexually assaulting a former teen student. Probation bars him from holding positions of authority over minors or vulnerable people and includes monitoring of his internet use; the complaint says he began messaging the student on Instagram when she was in ninth grade, later gave private lessons in 11th grade, allegedly threatened suicide to coerce contact, and had five to eight sexual encounters with her at his home before she turned 18.

Public Safety Legal

AAA: 36% ignore Move Over; 1,500 MN citations

Nov 02 TC 1

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 36% of drivers observed at roadside incident scenes neither slowed down nor moved over, based on traffic‑camera analysis of 12,360 motorists in 13 states. Minnesota’s Move Over (Ted Foss) law requires motorists to change lanes—or slow down if they cannot—when passing emergency, maintenance, and, since 2023, stalled or disabled vehicles with hazards flashing; state records show nearly 1,500 Minnesotans have been cited so far in 2025 (about 1,680 in 2024 and 1,400 in 2023). Officials and AAA Minnesota say increased awareness and consistent messaging could improve compliance and protect responders and stranded motorists on Twin Cities roads.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Isanti man gets 4 years in Forest Lake teen kidnapping

Nov 02 Breaking TC 1

Shawn Patrick Bellach, 39, of Dalbo was sentenced Friday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in a case involving a Forest Lake teen who was found living with him in a tent near Grasston in July 2023. The Tenth Judicial District Court imposed four years on each count to run concurrently, credited 25 days served, dismissed three other charges under an August plea deal, and ordered lifetime predatory‑offender registration.

Legal Public Safety

White Bear Lake stabbing nets 7½-year sentence

Nov 01 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County District Court on Oct. 31, 2025 sentenced 20-year-old Jeffrey Thomas Rice to 90 months in prison for repeatedly stabbing 22-year-old Mason Fike during a July 27, 2024 confrontation on Southwood Drive in White Bear Lake, after Rice pled guilty to first-degree assault. An attempted murder charge was dismissed under the August plea agreement; Fike’s victim-impact statement detailed life-threatening injuries as police records describe Rice fleeing before being stopped and a pocketknife recovered nearby.

Legal Public Safety

Tristen Leritz charged in Vadnais Heights sexual assault; DNA match, confession cited

Oct 31 Breaking TC 4

Tristen Alan Leritz, 21, of White Bear Township was arrested Oct. 30 on the 5100 block of Mead Road and charged Oct. 31 in Ramsey County with one count of criminal sexual conduct after a woman was tackled and assaulted near Centerville Road and Pond View Court in Vadnais Heights. Authorities say a hospital sexual-assault exam produced DNA matching Leritz, he confessed when confronted and admitted ambushing the victim after riding ahead on a bicycle, and investigators credited the victim’s actions (knocking off his glasses, biting his hand), community tips and BCA crime-lab processing for the arrest; he faces up to 30 years and has a prior 2024 motor-vehicle theft conviction and a pending 2025 burglary case.

Legal Public Safety

Ex-Minneapolis council member Espejel charged with 3rd-degree DWI refusal; $6K bond, Nov. 13 hearing

Oct 31 Breaking TC 3

Former Minneapolis City Council member Espejel was charged with third-degree DWI for refusing a breath test (and a related fourth-degree DWI for driving under the influence) after a crash just before 11:15 p.m. on the 300 block of 4th Street South near City Hall, during which police say she recorded officers, refused to provide license/insurance, put her Honda CR‑V in drive and attempted to leave before officers stopped the vehicle. Officers reported slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and inability to complete sobriety tests; Espejel refused a breath test at the station, was released on $6,000 bond and is due in court Nov. 13, 2025.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul charges Eh Doe Soe; off-duty officer halted assault on 13-year-old

Oct 31 Breaking TC 2

St. Paul police arrested Eh Doe Soe on Oct. 3 and charged him after an off-duty officer intervened Sept. 30 to stop an attempted sexual assault of a 13-year-old on the Earl St. and York Ave. overpass above Phalen Boulevard. Authorities say a second related encounter occurred Oct. 2 near Phalen Boulevard and Johnson Parkway when the suspect approached the girl on a bicycle, ditched the bike and fled into nearby woods; bail was set at $70,000, his first court date is Nov. 12, and records show a Dec. 2023 fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction for lewd conduct before children.

Legal Public Safety

MSP starts weekly food aid for unpaid feds

Oct 31 Developing TC 2

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has launched a weekly food aid program for unpaid federal workers affected by the government shutdown. AFGE leader and MSP TSA agent Neal Gosman said TSA employees took home donated food boxes after their shifts, and AFGE representative Mark Johnson said many workers cannot pay rent due Nov. 1 and face $50/day late fees.

Health Public Safety Business & Economy

MPD orders review and retraining after Willard-Hay domestic-violence killing

Oct 31 Breaking TC 6

After Mariah Samuels was fatally shot in her Willard‑Hay home on Sept. 14 — allegedly by ex‑boyfriend David Wright, who has been arrested and charged with second‑degree murder and was under a court order to stay away — reviews found MPD failed to assign an investigator after an August assault despite a risk assessment, witness statement and surveillance video, and body‑camera footage contradicted an officer’s report. Chief Brian O’Hara has ordered a thorough review and department‑wide retraining on domestic‑violence protocols to be completed by the end of 2025 amid criticism over understaffing in the domestic assault unit, numerous unassigned “gone on arrival” cases, City Council demands and public rallies by the victim’s family.

Public Safety Legal Local Government

St. Paul chiefs warn pay gaps risk retention

Oct 30 TC 1

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry and Fire Chief Butch Inks say they now earn less than their potential pensions and below market for their roles, as the city raised non‑union manager salary ranges by 9% in Dec. 2024 but has not moved managers within those ranges pending union negotiations. Henry earns $207,688 and Inks $201,968, while the new top ranges would be $226,387 (police) and $220,147 (fire); Henry cites a city job study suggesting about $256,000 as market. Mayor Melvin Carter acknowledges budget pressures — including a $7.5M lawsuit payout, cyberattack costs, and threatened federal funding — and proposed limited raises as top police and fire staff consider unionizing.

Local Government Public Safety

CDC: Listeria in pasta kills six

Oct 30 Developing TC 1

The CDC says a listeria outbreak tied to recalled pre‑cooked pasta meals has grown to 6 deaths and 27 illnesses in 18 states, with the latest case on Oct. 16. The outbreak is linked to pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods (Roseville, Calif.) used in heat‑and‑eat meals made by FreshRealm and sold at national retailers including Trader Joe’s and Walmart; multiple specific products and best‑by dates have been recalled, and consumers are urged to discard or return affected items.

Health Public Safety

Alleged mass shooter charged in Hennepin jail escape bid

Oct 30 Breaking TC 2

Around 4:17 p.m. at the Hennepin County jail, alleged mass shooter Ortley pushed past a professional visitor in the visiting area, grabbed a wall-mounted fire extinguisher, used its base to break an exit door near public elevators and sprayed deputies with its contents. Five deputies were evaluated at HCMC for chemical exposure to swollen, burning eyes, and Ortley is charged with five counts of assault, one count of property damage and one count of attempting to flee custody after he reportedly lay down and shouted, "I'm done! I'm done! Lock me up!"

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul probes suspected carport arson

Oct 30 Developing TC 1

St. Paul police are investigating a suspected arson that ignited around 5:50 a.m. Oct. 29 at a carport, destroying at least three vehicles; surveillance video shows people near the structure moments before the fire. A property manager said the group appeared to have a lookout, and police are examining possible links to a similar early‑morning garage fire last week on Birmingham Street; no arrests have been made and investigators are seeking tips.

Public Safety Legal

Sheriffs warn of SNAP 'emergency relief' text scams amid shutdown (now includes Anoka County)

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to Minnesota SNAP recipients offering fake $1,000 "emergency relief," with some messages using the phrase "Food Debit Emergency Relief" and appearing amid a shutdown. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office warned about the scam on X, noting roughly 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP and may be targeted.

Public Safety Local Government Government

St. Paul man charged in Pride, anti‑Trump vandalism; phone evidence shows address list, rally link

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

A St. Paul man was charged after authorities allege he vandalized LGBT Pride flags and anti‑Trump signs in a spree that also included broken windows at two businesses and a school. Police say a seized cellphone contained GPS‑tagged photos tying him to vandalism sites and a June 4 note listing 69 addresses (some later damaged), and that he described himself in texts as a “right‑wing libertarian,” attended the June 14 “No Kings” Capitol rally with a Trump sign, installed the Neighbors app and shared a Ring video link before a July 2 traffic stop and search recovered clothing matching surveillance; charges were issued by summons and his first court date is Nov. 13.

Legal Public Safety

Man admits killing mother in Minneapolis Uptown

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man admitted to killing his mother in the city’s Uptown neighborhood, according to court records cited by the Star Tribune. The victim had twice sought court protection from him before the homicide; authorities are proceeding with the case as investigators and prosecutors continue their work.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota Capitol to add 20 officers, threats investigator as threats surge

Oct 29 Breaking TC 2

Facing a surge in threats — roughly 50 reported in under 10 months this year, with 13 leading to charges and on pace to triple 2024’s 19 — Minnesota’s Capitol will add 20 security officers (training begins mid‑ to late‑November) and a dedicated threats investigator by year‑end. Since August all but four public entrances have been closed, further enhancements and a legislative vote on additional security changes are expected in February, while the building still lacks metal detectors and allows firearms, a policy Republicans are not backing to change.

Local Government Public Safety

Crystal daycare teacher charged in child slap

Oct 29 Breaking TC 1

Javell Lena Cooper, 24, of Coon Rapids, has been charged in Hennepin County with two counts of malicious punishment of a child after surveillance video allegedly showed her slapping a 3-year-old’s ear at a church-based daycare in Crystal. The incident occurred July 25, 2025, at a facility on the 5000 block of West Broadway; the child’s parent reported finding their child crying, and later the family and church provided video to police. The complaint also notes the child previously came home with ear bruising about a year earlier.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul man sentenced in neighbor’s fatal stabbing

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A 65-year-old St. Paul man was sentenced for fatally stabbing his 70-year-old apartment neighbor during a dispute over money, according to a report on Oct. 28, 2025. The case stems from a confrontation inside a St. Paul apartment building that ended in the neighbor’s death; sentencing concludes the criminal proceedings against the defendant.

Legal Public Safety

Wisconsin man killed in I-94 Afton crash

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

A Wisconsin man died in a two‑vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Afton, Minnesota, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. The collision occurred in Washington County on the east‑metro interstate corridor; authorities are investigating the cause and have not yet released further details.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Hwy 65 closed after bridge strike in Spring Lake Park

Oct 28 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT closed Highway 65 in both directions between Highway 10 and 85th Avenue NE in Spring Lake Park on Tuesday after a semi hauling a metal pedestrian bridge struck the County Road 10 bridge deck around 11:25 a.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says the impact disconnected the trailer, which was then hit by another vehicle; no injuries were reported. The closure was announced just before noon with an estimated reopening by 4 p.m.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Eastside Food Co-op restores operations after rooftop copper theft

Oct 27 Breaking TC 2

A rooftop copper theft knocked out refrigeration at the Eastside Food Co-op, leaving shelves bare and causing a large loss of food that management called a “massive hit.” The co‑op says it has largely bounced back, with affected departments reopened and products restocked as normal operations are restored.

Business & Economy Public Safety

Edina police seek Hwy 169 shooting suspect

Oct 27 Developing TC 1

Edina police are searching for a man who fired a shot at a woman’s SUV on northbound Highway 169 just north of I‑494 around 7 a.m. on Oct. 11; no one was injured. On Oct. 27, police released photos of the suspect’s older sedan with tinted windows and asked anyone with information to email EdinaPoliceTips@EdinaMN.gov after the victim reported the sedan was weaving and the driver pointed a gun and fired as she passed.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Judge lets Kirk murder suspect wear street clothes

Oct 27 Developing TC 1

A Twin Cities district court judge granted a defense request allowing the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk to appear in street clothes and without visible restraints during court proceedings, citing the case’s 'extraordinary' public attention. The order, issued Oct. 27, aims to mitigate potential juror prejudice and security concerns as the high‑profile case proceeds.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis clears 234 OPCR misconduct cases backlog

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

The Minneapolis Office of Police Conduct Review said Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, it completed investigative work on 234 backlogged police‑misconduct complaints received on or before May 23, 2024, after hiring/reassigning 12 staff, adding supervisors, and restructuring investigations. Cases now move to panel review and a final decision by the police chief, and OPCR will focus on newer complaints as the city works toward compliance with its Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement.

Local Government Public Safety

Suicidal man shuts Highway 61 in Forest Lake

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

Forest Lake police closed Highway 61 late Sunday after a man threatening suicide prompted an emergency response on the roadway. Officers shut the highway to protect the public and manage the situation in Forest Lake, Washington County; the report details how police handled the incident.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul man charged over TikTok bounty on AG

Oct 27 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged St. Paul resident Tyler Maxon Avalos in October 2025 with making an online threat after a TikTok post offered a $45,000 'dead or alive (preferably dead)' bounty on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Investigators say they traced the 'Wacko' account to Avalos via a Samsung phone and IP address at his Hyacinth Avenue West apartment; he was arrested and released on recognizance, and the complaint includes screenshots of the post.

Legal Public Safety

32 newly planted trees cut along Shepard Road

Oct 26 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Parks and Recreation says 32 recently planted trees were found cut a few feet above the ground along Shepard Road south of the Smith Avenue High Bridge on Friday, Oct. 24. The trees were planted last fall with nonprofit partner Tree Trust; officials are determining replacement options but no funding source is identified. Police are investigating, and the city notes a similar November 2024 incident in the same area destroyed 60 trees, causing roughly $40,000 in damage.

Public Safety Environment

Attempted St. Paul carjacking sparks gunfire, injures one

Oct 26 Breaking TC 1

An attempted carjacking in St. Paul on Friday night escalated to gunfire, leaving one person injured, according to an initial report. Police are investigating; details about suspects or arrests were not immediately available.

Public Safety

Delta flight to Portland aborts MSP takeoff after aircraft fire

Oct 26 Breaking TC 2

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Portland aborted its takeoff at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after flames were seen shooting from an engine. Authorities and reports described the incident as an "aircraft fire."

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Afton, William O’Brien parks closed for hunts

Oct 25 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota DNR will close Afton State Park and William O’Brien State Park in Washington County to the public for a weekend deer hunt. The temporary closures are intended to facilitate the controlled hunt and maintain visitor safety, with normal access resuming after the weekend.

Public Safety Environment

2M pounds of pork jerky recalled

Oct 25 Breaking TC 1

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Oct. 24, 2025, that a South Dakota manufacturer is recalling about 2 million pounds of Korean barbecue pork jerky due to possible metal wire contamination. The recall is nationwide and may affect Twin Cities retailers and consumers; FSIS advises not to eat the product and to discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Health Public Safety

Gun found at Champlin Park High; 2 arrested

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

Brooklyn Park police say a handgun was recovered from a backpack at Champlin Park High School around 8:45 a.m. Friday after a tip led the school resource officer and staff to the students involved. Two 15-year-old boys, both students, were arrested and booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center; the investigation is ongoing.

Public Safety Education

Fridley man charged with two counts in Fletcher’s firebombings; community rallies

Oct 24 Breaking TC 4

Prosecutors have charged a Fridley man with two counts of first‑degree arson after two Molotov cocktail attacks on Fletcher’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis — one Sunday night that broke a window but was extinguished and a second in daylight Monday that failed to ignite when the wick fell out. A witness photo of a suspect in a minivan helped police make an arrest about a half‑mile away, and the community, joined by Mayor Jacob Frey and others, rallied at the shop Thursday while officials say motive — including whether it was related to the shop’s pride flag — remains undetermined.

Public Safety Legal Business & Economy

State investment board cites safety, moves online

Oct 24 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota State Board of Investment delayed parts of its agenda and shifted its Oct. 23 meeting to a virtual format, citing concerns about political violence and safety. The board, which oversees public pension investments for state and local employees including many in the Twin Cities, said the changes were precautionary as it conducted business remotely.

Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul family seeks DOC accountability after prison death

Oct 24 Developing TC 1

The family of Stephen Williams, a St. Paul man who died while incarcerated at the state’s Rush City prison, is calling for accountability from the Minnesota Department of Corrections. In reporting published Oct. 23, 2025, relatives urged transparency and action regarding the circumstances of his death at MCF–Rush City.

Public Safety Legal

Southwest LRT begins on‑track testing

Oct 23 Breaking TC 2

Trains on the Southwest Light Rail have begun moving along the new tracks for on‑track testing. The Metropolitan Council says the Green Line extension to the west metro is still targeted to begin service in 2027, reaffirming that timeline after testing started.

Public Safety Local Government Transit & Infrastructure

Eagan man pleads guilty in apartment rape

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

An Eagan man pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2025, to raping a woman after sneaking into her first‑floor apartment in Eagan. The plea resolves a violent sexual assault case in the Twin Cities suburb and advances the case toward sentencing in Dakota County.

Legal Public Safety

Tesla recalls 63,000+ Cybertrucks for bright headlights

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Tesla has issued a nationwide recall of more than 63,000 Cybertrucks because the front lights are too bright and can cause glare for other drivers, a violation of federal safety standards. Announced Oct. 23, 2025, the recall affects owners in the Twin Cities; Tesla says it will provide a free remedy (expected via software update) and notify owners and dealers.

Public Safety Technology

St. Paul meeting addresses racist fliers

Oct 23 Developing TC 1

About two dozen St. Paul residents met with police and Mayor Melvin Carter Wednesday night at Bethlehem Lutheran Church to discuss racist fliers found Oct. 2 in several Merriam Park locations targeting Black and Somali people. Police said they are investigating who distributed the fliers—tossed on the ground at four spots—and noted it is unclear whether a crime occurred, though littering or trespassing could apply.

Public Safety Local Government

Brooklyn Park police search for missing boy

Oct 23 Breaking TC 1

Brooklyn Park police issued a public alert Wednesday night for a missing 10-year-old boy last seen near Single Creek Drive and Hampshire Avenue. He was wearing green pants, a green sweater, a blue Ralph Lauren jacket with patches, an army backpack, and tan shoes. Police ask anyone who sees the child or knows his whereabouts to call 911.

Public Safety Legal

MPD seeks two cyclists in Temple Israel bias‑graffiti case; asks public for video

Oct 22 Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis police are treating anti‑Semitic graffiti at Temple Israel as a bias crime and are seeking two cyclists seen leaving the scene — both wearing dark hoodies, masks and blue surgical gloves — and have issued a public appeal for tips and surveillance footage. The pair were observed arriving and leaving via 24th St W to Fremont Ave S, seen near 25th St W & Humboldt Ave S and last seen southbound at 26th St W & Irving Ave S; residents with video from Oct. 8 between 2–3 a.m. are asked to contact policetips@minneapolismn.gov, 612‑673‑5845 or CrimeStoppersMN.org/1‑800‑TIPS.

Legal Local Government Public Safety

I-94 downtown St. Paul closed this weekend

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

MnDOT says sections of I-94 through downtown St. Paul will be closed from Friday through Monday for construction work, with posted detours and significant travel delays expected. The shutdown affects a core interstate corridor used by commuters and event traffic, and is part of ongoing road and bridge work in the downtown St. Paul area.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Brooklyn Center school bus fire; 8 evacuated

Oct 22 Breaking TC 1

The Brooklyn Center Fire Department extinguished a school bus fire near 55th Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard shortly before 3 p.m., safely evacuating eight children with help from the driver and bystanders. Metro Transit provided a bus to keep students warm and Brooklyn Center police coordinated reunification at a nearby elementary school; the bus was a total loss and the cause is under investigation, with an initial suspicion of a mechanical issue near the engine.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

East Bethel mom alerts driver, saves bus riders

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A school bus caught fire in East Bethel, and parent Kari Thorp alerted the driver after spotting flames near a tire, allowing all 22 children and the driver to evacuate safely, according to FOX 9. The bus tires later exploded after firefighters arrived; a week later, the community presented thank‑you baskets to both the driver and Thorp for their actions.

Public Safety Education

Hennepin County releases 911 call transcript

Oct 21 Developing TC 1

Hennepin County has released the 911 transcript from an attempted political assassination in Minnesota after a legal fight, making the emergency call record public. The newly released transcript pertains to a case involving Vance Boelter and follows a dispute over access to the document.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul man charged in teen sex assault

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he allegedly met through a dating app, according to a Tuesday report. The case, filed in Ramsey County, involves an alleged assault of a minor and remains under investigation by authorities.

Public Safety Legal

State lifts cap on Hennepin jail capacity

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Department of Corrections has approved an increase in the Hennepin County jail’s allowable population after a hiring spree boosted detention staffing, officials said this week. The change, affecting the Adult Detention Center in downtown Minneapolis, relaxes earlier limits tied to staffing shortfalls and enables the county to hold more detainees locally under DOC standards.

Public Safety Local Government

Rollover crash shuts I-35W in Burnsville

Oct 21 Breaking TC 1

A rollover crash closed a stretch of I-35W in Burnsville during the morning commute, forcing traffic to divert, according to a local report. Authorities warned of significant delays as detours were set up; no immediate information on injuries or a reopening timeline was available.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Supreme Court to review federal gun ban for marijuana users (922(g)(3))

Oct 21 Breaking TC 2

The Supreme Court will decide whether the federal ban on firearm possession by "unlawful users" of controlled substances (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3)) applies to people who regularly use marijuana, a question arising after a Texas man's gun conviction was overturned post‑Bruen because he wasn’t found actively using while armed. The Biden administration argues the prohibition is justified for "regular drug users" on public‑safety grounds, while challengers point to historical laws that punished carrying while intoxicated rather than mere use; the case also underscores ATF and DOJ reminders that combining guns and marijuana remains illegal under federal law despite state legalization, with arguments likely early next year.

Public Safety Legal

Maple Grove woman takes lesser plea after appeal

Oct 20 Developing TC 1

A Maple Grove woman who fatally shot her boyfriend pleaded to a lesser charge in Hennepin County District Court after the Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned her murder conviction. The plea, reported Oct. 20, 2025, resolves a high‑profile domestic violence case rooted in allegations of abuse and shifts the outcome from a prior murder verdict to a reduced offense.

Legal Public Safety

Bemidji teen, infant may be in St. Paul

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota BCA issued an alert Monday for 17-year-old Laura Wright and her 7-month-old son, Kylo, reported missing from Bemidji after they were last seen Saturday entering a sedan with LED lights. Authorities say the pair may be in the St. Paul area and released physical descriptions to aid the search. Anyone with information is asked to call 218-333-9111.

Public Safety

Bouncer charged in Rick's Cabaret shooting that critically injured man

Oct 20 Breaking TC 3

Andrew Jordan Thompson, 30, a bouncer at Rick’s Cabaret, has been charged with second-degree assault in the Oct. 5 shooting outside the downtown Minneapolis strip club that left a man hospitalized with potentially life‑threatening injuries; police have released the victim’s identity and said the incident occurred near 300 3rd St. S. Witness video and accounts show a fight in which Thompson was knocked down before he allegedly followed the pair clutching his waistband and fired a shot, then three more; officers recovered multiple shell casings and a live round, found handgun ammunition in Thompson’s apartment, and booked him into Hennepin County Jail where he is also being held on a 2023 Hopkins weapons case.

Public Safety Legal Crime

Speeding motorcyclist dies on Minneapolis ramp

Oct 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota State Patrol says a motorcyclist who was speeding crashed on a downtown Minneapolis freeway ramp and died. The fatal single-vehicle crash occurred on a ramp serving the city’s downtown; the State Patrol is investigating and has not yet released further details.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Former Minnesota Teacher of the Year Abdul Wright sentenced to 14 years

Oct 20 Developing TC 3

Abdul Wright, a former Minnesota Teacher of the Year, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Oct. 17, 2025, in Hennepin County District Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student. During the sex-crimes trial the judge found that Wright lied while testifying.

Public Safety Education Legal

Group attacks, robs men outside Minneapolis church

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say two men leaving St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church were attacked around 8 a.m. Sunday by a group of 7–8 men who jumped out of two gray vehicles near 3rd Ave. S. and E. 46th St. One victim was pushed to the ground and robbed while the other was injured dodging objects thrown by the group. The suspects fled in the vehicles; no arrests have been made and the victims chose private transport to a hospital after on‑scene evaluation.

Public Safety

Minneapolis raid seizes nearly 10 pounds fentanyl

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies executing a search warrant Oct. 16 at a home on Fremont Ave. N near Lowry Ave. in Minneapolis’ Folwell neighborhood recovered about 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) of suspected fentanyl, 726 g of meth, 13 lb of cannabis, three firearms and $46,000 in cash. Kiron Jamoll Williams, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged with first-degree drug and weapons offenses after allegedly trying to dump a bag of white powder into a toilet as officers entered; deputies initiated exposure protocols due to airborne powder. Investigators also found a kilo press, blender with residue, ammunition and packing materials; a neighbor reported another man jumped from a window and has not been identified.

Public Safety Legal

Body found in Richfield’s Wood Lake Saturday

Oct 19 Breaking TC 1

A pedestrian reported a body floating in Wood Lake in Richfield just after 10 a.m. Saturday, and responders recovered an unidentified adult male. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation while the Medical Examiner works to determine the man’s identity and cause of death; police have not said whether the death appears suspicious.

Public Safety Legal

Off-duty St. Cloud officer Ryan Ebert dies after Apple Valley bus crash

Oct 18 Breaking TC 2

Ryan Ebert, 44, an 18‑year veteran of the St. Cloud Police Department, died Oct. 18 at Hennepin County Medical Center after being gravely injured in a crash Oct. 13 on northbound Highway 77 just south of I‑35E in Apple Valley. The Minnesota State Patrol report says Ebert’s pickup struck a transit bus and a cable barrier, the 65‑year‑old bus driver suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, the report lists alcohol as a factor and notes Ebert was not wearing a seat belt, though St. Cloud Chief Jeff Oxton said medical records showed only a trace amount well below impairment levels; family members have authorized organ donation and final MSP findings are pending.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

BCA: Twin Cities violent crime up 1% in 2024

Oct 17 TC 2

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reports violent crime in the Twin Cities rose 1% in 2024, even as statewide data show murders and assaults continued to decline, extending a post‑pandemic downward trend. The BCA framed 2024 as a continuation of post‑pandemic normalization in key violent‑crime categories.

Public Safety Local Government

Ford recalls 290,000 U.S. vehicles for camera issue

Oct 17 Breaking TC 1

Ford Motor Company announced a U.S. safety recall affecting more than 290,000 vehicles due to a rearview camera system issue that may impair the display of the rear image. The recall applies nationwide, including Twin Cities owners, with Ford indicating affected vehicles will be eligible for a no‑cost remedy at dealers and advising owners to check their VINs for recall status.

Public Safety Business & Economy

Burned body found at Lake Minnetonka dock

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

South Lake Minnetonka police launched a death investigation after a badly burned body was found in Lake Minnetonka beside a smoldering dock on the 4500 block of Enchanted Point in Shorewood just before 2 p.m. on Oct. 14. A Hennepin County search warrant cites signs of accelerants near the body, notes a possible fractured leg and burned dock canopy, and lists seized items including laptops, phones, paperwork that may include a note or will, and a can; court records show one person tied to the property was under an Extreme Risk Protection Order earlier this year and was civilly committed.

Public Safety Legal

Lakeville I-35W stop nets 200-pound meth haul

Oct 16 Breaking TC 1

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper conducting a Sept. 26 traffic stop on I-35W in Lakeville found about 200 pounds of methamphetamine in a commercial truck after a K9 alert, according to Dakota County charges. Driver Jonathan Israel Tirado-Juarez, 43, who lacked required commercial paperwork and produced only a photo of a Mexican CDL, was charged with possession and intent to sell and is detained pending further proceedings.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis mayoral hopefuls split on policing

Oct 16 Developing TC 1

At a Wednesday forum at The Capri Theater in Minneapolis, mayoral candidates outlined contrasting approaches to policing and public safety with less than three weeks before Election Day. All agreed the city needs officers for violent crime, while diverging on funding priorities and responses to non‑violent calls, with Mayor Jacob Frey emphasizing hiring more officers and others focusing on reallocating resources toward behavioral crisis response and alternatives to police.

Elections Public Safety Local Government

Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus lockdown lifted after bomb threat

Oct 16 Developing TC 1

Fridley Police say the Allina Health Call Center received a bomb threat around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, targeting Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus in Fridley. The campus was placed on lockdown while police and security searched the area; the lockdown was lifted after the search, and the investigation is ongoing with a public tip line open.

Public Safety Health

Minneapolis crash with train critically injures driver

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

A chain-reaction collision in Minneapolis involving two SUVs and a moving train left one driver in critical condition, according to the Star Tribune. The crash occurred at a rail crossing in Minneapolis; emergency responders transported the critically injured driver as investigators worked to determine how the sequence of impacts unfolded.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul teen admits fatal University Ave. shooting

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul teenager has admitted to killing a man with a shot to the head along University Avenue in St. Paul, according to the Star Tribune. The admission marks a major development in the homicide case tied to the University Avenue shooting; further court proceedings, including sentencing, are expected to follow.

Public Safety Legal

Two killed in wrong-way crash on U.S. 52

Oct 15 Breaking TC 1

Two drivers were killed in a wrong-way collision on U.S. Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Authorities responded to the scene in Dakota County and have opened an investigation into how the wrong-way vehicle entered the roadway.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Ex-St. Paul police employee Jamond Glass charged after 11-lb meth, fentanyl seizure at Woodbury home

Oct 14 Breaking TC 2

Ex-St. Paul police employee Jamond Leroy Glass, 34, a former civilian worker in the SPPD non-fatal shooting unit who has been fired, was charged after detectives seized about 9.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.68 pounds of fentanyl, 10.5 grams of cocaine and several firearms from a Woodbury home. The package was intercepted by Minneapolis Airport Police and a controlled delivery was made to a Woodbury address listed to “Kay Wilson”; Glass was formally charged Oct. 13 in Washington County with first-degree possession, posted a $50,000 bond and is next due in court Dec. 1.

Legal Public Safety

Search warrant: 22-year-old who posed as White Bear Lake student allegedly received nude images from a student

Oct 14 Breaking TC 10

Authorities say 22-year-old Kelvin Luebke (aka "KJ Perry") enrolled at White Bear Lake High School Sept. 3–29, 2025 using fraudulent documents — including a Liberian birth certificate listing a 2007 birth year — and registered for football practices while the district, citing McKinney‑Vento rules, says it followed enrollment procedures and has launched a review; FOX 9 reported he has a prior conviction for sending explicit images to a 15‑year‑old and was previously enrolled at Forest Lake Area High School. A Ramsey County search warrant alleges Luebke received nude photos from a student, investigators have sought his phone and other records and say multiple parents came forward, and authorities are probing possible fraud, forgery and criminal sexual conduct while no school‑related charges had been filed as of mid‑October.

Public Safety Education Government/Regulatory

Maple Grove seeks SUV in Oct. 2 hit-and-run

Oct 13 Developing TC 1

Maple Grove Police are asking the public to help identify a newer black Dodge Durango that allegedly struck a motorcyclist and fled around 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 2 at the four-way stop in front of the Sam’s Club and Walmart in Maple Grove. Police say the motorcyclist, a woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but lost her leg; anyone with information is urged to call (763) 494-6100.

Public Safety

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner to retire Dec. 31; to lead Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Oct 12 Developing TC 2

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, who began his Minneapolis Fire Department career in 1995 and was appointed the city's second Black fire chief in December 2020, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2025, to become executive director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. During his 30-year career—raised in North Minneapolis and holding an Executive Fire Officer certification—Tyner led the department through COVID-19 and civil unrest, increased firefighter staffing, launched EMS Pathways and Safe Station programs and a nationally recognized commercial building inspection program; a national search for his successor is underway and an interim chief will be appointed.

Public Safety Local Government

Two men shot in St. Paul Battle Creek

Oct 12 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say two men were shot just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Battle Creek area, with one found in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Suburban Avenue and another located near White Bear Avenue and Old Hudson Road. Both were transported to Regions Hospital; investigators believe the shooting occurred in the parking lot and no arrests have been made as the probe continues.

Public Safety

Lakeville wrong-way crash kills man, injures woman

Oct 11 Breaking TC 1

An 85-year-old Lakeville man died and a 44-year-old Farmington woman was critically injured after a wrong-way crash around 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on Cedar Avenue just south of 185th St. W in Lakeville. Police say preliminary information indicates the man was driving south in the northbound lanes when the vehicles collided; both were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, and investigators report no signs of impairment at the scene as the probe continues.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

FOF defendant accused of tampering pleads guilty

Oct 10 Developing TC 1

A defendant in Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud case who had been accused of witness tampering pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court ahead of trial. The plea is the latest development in the wide‑ranging prosecution over alleged misuse of federal child‑nutrition funds tied to operations in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota.

Legal Public Safety

Shakopee neighbor feud triggers 232 police calls

Oct 10 Developing TC 1

Shakopee police say a long-running shared-driveway dispute between neighbors Juan Salas and Jessica Keil generated 232 calls and 260 officer hours over the past year in Shakopee, with Police Chief Jeff Tate estimating the saga has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Both parties hold harassment restraining orders against each other and accuse the other of violations, as the city and courts seek a resolution to the escalating conflict.

Public Safety Local Government

Family sues Eagan, Dakota County over jail death

Oct 10 Breaking TC 1

The family of Kingsley Bimpong, 50, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging Eagan police and Dakota County jail staff ignored signs he was suffering a massive stroke after a Nov. 16, 2024 traffic stop, delaying medical care for more than three hours before he was taken to a hospital where he died three days later. Court filings cite surveillance video of his collapse and body‑camera audio suggesting an officer suspected a stroke; Eagan’s attorney called the death tragic but said he did not exhibit an obvious emergent condition, while Dakota County declined comment.

Legal Public Safety

Jerrod Rentist Johnson charged with attempted murder after St. Paul Green Line table-leg attack

Oct 09 Breaking TC 2

Jerrod Rentist Johnson, 20, of Minneapolis, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly using a large wooden table leg to repeatedly beat a woman at the Fairview and University Avenue Green Line platform in St. Paul about 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2025; surveillance footage reportedly shows initial swings, 21 additional strikes and about 17 seconds of continued blows after the victim lost consciousness. The victim suffered a fractured skull, multiple fractures in her right arm, a swollen‑shut eye, a concussion and head wounds closed with staples; officers found a bloodied table leg on the platform and arrested Johnson with blood on his hands, and he faces a separate pending assault charge in Hennepin County.

Legal Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

St. Paul officers give CPR to collapsed 10K runner

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

During the Twin Cities Marathon 10K on Oct. 9, 2025, a runner collapsed and was given CPR by a St. Paul police officer and three other officers. The officer told reporters, 'God put us there,' describing the on-scene lifesaving effort; the incident prompted an emergency medical response at the race in St. Paul.

Public Safety Health

Walz Threatens Lawsuit if Federal Troops Are Sent to Minnesota

Oct 09 Developing TC 2

Gov. Tim Walz warned he would sue the Trump administration if it sent federal troops to Minnesota, directly tying the threat of legal action to suggestions President Trump might deploy National Guard forces to the state. His statement follows reporting that the administration could consider such deployments.

Government/Regulatory Legal Public Safety

Former Minnesota trooper pleads guilty

Oct 09 Developing TC 1

Jeremy Plonski, a former Minnesota state trooper and National Guard member, pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography after investigators say he made and shared video(s) showing sexual abuse of an infant. The federal plea was filed this week; separate Scott County charges for first‑degree criminal sexual conduct related to the same alleged video remain pending. Authorities including the FBI and state law‑enforcement leaders have described the allegations as horrifying and say the case remains under active review ahead of sentencing and state proceedings.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

Isanti sheriff’s foundation treasurer charged in $100K swindle

Oct 09 Breaking TC 1

Isanti County Sheriff's Foundation treasurer Kim Nordenstrom has been charged with two counts of theft by swindle after a criminal complaint alleges she diverted nearly $100,000 in grant money that was to be stewarded for Project 612, a Minneapolis nonprofit serving at-risk youth. Investigators from the Chisago County Sheriff's Office say Nordenstrom used funds for personal debt and farm equipment; the case is filed in Isanti County District Court and could carry up to 20 years on the theft count.

Legal Public Safety

Shipt driver accused of stealing $16K from Target orders

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis man, Khang Huu Hoang, 25, was charged in Hennepin County with theft by swindle after court documents say he marked Target deliveries as delivered then took the merchandise himself. Investigators found empty Target boxes in an apartment building tied to Hoang and recovered more than $6,000 during a search; total undelivered items linked to him are valued at about $16,541.69. Hoang is in custody and has a first court appearance set for Oct. 27, 2025.

Public Safety Legal

Hundreds of Minnesota clergy demand assault-weapons ban

Oct 08 Developing TC 1

About 750 clergy from across Minnesota gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul, delivering a letter to Gov. Tim Walz and lawmakers calling for a special legislative session to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The group — representing more than 60 of the state's 87 counties — launched a "Seven Days of Prayer and Action," holding noon prayer vigils on the Capitol steps for a week; the action was organized in response to the Annunciation Church mass shooting that killed two children and wounded dozens.

Local Government Public Safety

Robbinsdale agrees $3.2M police-shooting settlement

Oct 08 Developing TC 1

The City of Robbinsdale has agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve a civil lawsuit arising from a police shooting, the Star Tribune reports. The settlement covers claims tied to the incident in Robbinsdale and represents a significant municipal liability with implications for the city's budget and police oversight.

Legal Public Safety

Daniel Rosen confirmed as U.S. Attorney for Minnesota

Oct 08 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Senate confirmed Minneapolis attorney Daniel Rosen as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota by a 51-47 vote. Rosen, principal of Rosen LLC with about 30 years of federal and state litigation experience and a University of Minnesota graduate, was nominated by President Trump in May after recommendations from Minnesota's Republican congressional delegation; he will take over federal prosecutorial leadership previously handled by acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson following Andy Luger's resignation.

Legal Public Safety

Frost advisory for Twin Cities; freeze warning for central and northern Minnesota

Oct 08 Developing TC 3

A frost advisory is in effect for the Twin Cities until 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, and a freeze warning covers most of central and northern Minnesota until 10 a.m.; overnight lows are expected in the 30s in the Twin Cities and the 20s farther north (the Twin Cities’ average first 32°F day is Oct. 18). Daytime highs Wednesday should rebound to about 64°F in the Twin Cities and generally the 50s–60s statewide with southwestern Minnesota near 70°F, with a warming trend into the upper 60s–low 70s Thursday and back into the 70s by Friday and through the weekend.

Public Safety Weather

Anoka extends downtown social district through 2025

Oct 07 Developing TC 1

The Anoka City Council voted Oct. 6, 2025 to extend its downtown 'social district' open-container rules through the end of 2025, allowing patrons to legally carry beer, wine and cocktails within a defined area of downtown and Riverfront Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The program includes a color-coded sign system for participating businesses, requires drinks to be served in special recyclable plastic cups, and excludes use during the city's Halloween parades; the council also approved allowing the expanded hours annually going forward.

Local Government Public Safety

St. Paul bar customer dies after security guard’s punch; charges filed

Oct 07 Breaking TC 3

A St. Paul bar customer, 33-year-old Melvin A. Martinez Altamirano of Madison, Wisconsin, has died after suffering a devastating brain bleed following a punch by 28-year-old security guard Jose Eucario Conejo Marquez of North St. Paul, with surveillance video showing Marquez step between the couple and strike Altamirano in the parking lot as pepper spray was deployed. Marquez was arrested Sunday night, remains in custody at the Ramsey County Jail, and has been formally charged with one count of first-degree manslaughter.

Public Safety Legal Courts/Legal

USDA warns HelloFresh spinach may contain listeria

Oct 07 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a warning that HelloFresh meals containing spinach may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. The advisory was reported Oct. 7, 2025 by TwinCities.com and affects HelloFresh customers nationwide, including residents of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, who should check USDA and HelloFresh notices for product details and safety instructions.

Health Public Safety

St. Francis police: school threat claims fabricated

Oct 07 Developing TC 1

St. Francis police investigated reports that a middle school student threatened the school after a loaded rifle magazine was found near the football bleachers following a Thursday night sporting event; by Monday officers said the threat claims — including an alleged Snapchat post — were fabricated by other students and that the magazine belonged to a person who said they unintentionally left it at the event. The department says there is no evidence of any real threat to students, staff or the public, though the rumors prompted some parents to keep children home.

Public Safety Education

Former Golden Valley chief alleges department racism

Oct 06 Developing TC 1

Virgil Green, who resigned as Golden Valley police chief after four months and a period on paid administrative leave, told FOX 9 that he felt unsupported and believes racism remains within the city’s police department. His resignation followed two internal investigations — one into the alleged improper release of body-worn-camera footage and another into alleged interference with an internal probe — and comes amid deep staffing turnover at the department.

Local Government Public Safety

WalletHub: Minnesota ranks eighth-safest state

Oct 06 TC 1

A WalletHub study released Oct. 6, 2025 ranked Minnesota the eighth-safest state in America for 2025, citing 52 indicators across personal/residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety and emergency preparedness. The analysis puts Minnesota at No. 2 for road safety but flags lower performance in residential safety and emergency preparedness, with WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo quoted describing the methodology and factors.

Public Safety Health

Man critically wounded after strip-club fight

Oct 06 Breaking TC 1

A dispute inside a Minneapolis strip club spilled into the street, where a man was shot and critically wounded, Minneapolis police told the Star Tribune. Police say investigators are on scene and the shooting remains under investigation; the victim was taken to a hospital and no further details or arrests have been publicly announced.

Public Safety Local Crime

Minnesota wildland firefighter dies during Idaho burn

Oct 06 Breaking TC 2

Isabella "Bella" Oscarson, 26, of Watertown, Minnesota, died while participating in a prescribed burn in Idaho. Oscarson began her career with the Wildland Fire Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, was trained by the Minnesota DNR and served as a lead firefighter near Grand Rapids before taking a job with the Idaho Department of Lands in March; Minnesota has honored her with flags at half-staff as officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and state DNR supervisors, praised her service.

Government/Regulatory Public Safety

Ramsey deputies dodge gunfire; man shot

Oct 05 Breaking TC 1

Ramsey County deputies investigating a reported stolen vehicle in a parking lot off Maryland Avenue East near Herbert Street in St. Paul were forced to take cover Friday evening when someone opened fire across the lot. A 39-year-old man was shot in the chest; deputies applied chest seals and transported him to a hospital, and the St. Paul Police Department is leading the investigation. At least one bullet struck a squad car; officials say the shooting appears unrelated to the traffic stop and the victim is expected to survive.

Public Safety Law Enforcement

Blue, green ribbons along TC Marathon for Annunciation

Oct 05 Developing TC 1

Organizers and volunteers have installed hundreds of blue and green ribbons along about four miles of Summit Avenue in St. Paul to honor victims of the Annunciation Church mass shooting during this weekend’s Twin Cities Marathon. The display — organized by Kristen Lyrek with help from volunteers and coordinated with group Bows of Love — runs up to the marathon finish line; family members of one victim will run in tribute during the race.

Public Safety Education

Twin Cities hit record 90°F Saturday; cooler weather expected Sunday

Oct 05 Developing TC 3

Forecasts had warned of record warmth — even a possible 91°F — and gusty 30–40 mph winds Saturday with overnight lows in the low 70s Friday night. Saturday’s high reached 90°F in the Twin Cities, topping the previous 89°F record, and other Minnesota locations also set records (Hibbing 83°F, Brainerd 86°F, Rochester 86°F, Duluth 84°F); cooler weather is expected Sunday with highs near 78°F and a further cooldown into the 60s next week as winds shift.

Public Health Public Safety Environment

Andrew Nietz charged with murder, arson in NE Minneapolis duplex fire that killed Housten Housley

Oct 04 Breaking TC 3

Around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, a fire on the 900 block of 22nd Avenue NE gutted a northeast Minneapolis duplex, killing 39-year-old Housten Housley — firefighters found him on the first floor, three other residents were displaced and aided by the Red Cross, and the unit where Housley was found sustained extensive damage and heavy flames. Authorities have charged longtime friend Andrew Nietz with second-degree murder and arson, saying surveillance showed him returning to the scene while crews were present, police recovered Housley’s car being driven by Nietz and observed scratches on his hands, arm and face, and court records list prior arson convictions in 2012 and 2023.

Legal Public Safety

Hennepin County seeks help identifying two 1990s bodies

Oct 04 Developing TC 1

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner this week released details and images seeking public help to identify two men found dead in the Mississippi River in 1995 and 1996 in Minneapolis. Officials provided forensic approximations, clothing and personal-item descriptions, locations where the bodies were recovered, and a contact number for tips as part of an active effort to close the cold cases.

Public Safety Local Government

Twin Cities Marathon adds heat preparations as yellow-flag alert issued

Oct 04 Developing TC 2

Twin Cities Marathon organizers and Twin Cities in Motion medical directors have issued yellow‑flag heat conditions for Saturday and Sunday but say the races are still a "full go" while adding extra preparations. Measures include 14 water stations along the courses and planning "as though they’re going to be red flag conditions," with organizers noting Saturday events finish by noon while Sunday’s marathoners are expected to finish around 2:30–3 p.m., affecting heat exposure.

Events Weather Public Safety

Golden Valley police chief resigns after probe

Oct 03 Developing TC 1

Golden Valley announced the resignation of Police Chief Virgil Green after internal investigations concluded he released confidential body-worn camera footage from an active criminal investigation to a local news outlet and improperly attempted to interfere with an internal affairs probe. Green was placed on administrative leave in June (initially placed on leave in late May), and a city memorandum says he acknowledged the mistake; City Manager Noah Schuchman thanked assistant chiefs for interim leadership and said a search for a new chief will be announced.

Local Government Public Safety

Driver sentenced for deadly Lyndale Avenue crash

Oct 03 Developing TC 1

Talon Covie-Cadrell Walker, 30, was sentenced Oct. 2, 2025 to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and related counts for an October 2024 DWI crash on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis that killed 26-year-old Natalie Gubbay and injured 10 others. Authorities say Walker was driving over 100 mph, over the legal alcohol limit, and an open bottle of liquor was found in his Chevy Avalanche; the collision involved seven vehicles and produced significant force that spun two cars 180 degrees.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul man jailed 10 years for I-94 crash

Oct 03 Breaking TC 1

A St. Paul man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after driving about 100 mph and causing a deadly crash off Interstate 94 in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities news site reported on Oct. 3, 2025. The sentencing resolves a criminal case tied to a fatal motor-vehicle collision that occurred on the I-94 corridor in Minneapolis and is being reported as a matter of public safety and legal accountability.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

Fridley man indicted in thallium poisoning death

Oct 03 Developing TC 1

Stuart Hanmer, 35, a Fridley resident, was indicted by a grand jury on a count of premeditated first-degree murder and faces an existing second-degree murder charge after his roommate Cody Ernst, 33, died of thallium poisoning. Court records say Ernst fell ill May 15, was hospitalized and died June 22; prosecutors cite internet searches and three purchases of thallium found in connection with Hanmer, and bail was raised to $5 million without conditions ($2.5 million with conditions). Hanmer remains in custody at the Stearns County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Public Safety Legal

Minnesota doctors demand assault-weapon ban

Oct 02 Developing TC 1

At a news conference at the State Capitol, physicians who treated victims of the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church mass shooting in Minneapolis urged lawmakers to call a special legislative session and enact statewide gun measures, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, mandatory locked-and-unloaded storage, and removal of the state preemption preventing local governments from adopting stricter firearm rules.

Public Safety Health Government/Regulatory

West St. Paul police add therapy dog Rocky

Oct 02 Developing TC 1

West St. Paul Police Department has adopted an abandoned eight-month-old black lab found in April at the Thompson Park pavilion and named him Rocky. Officer Isabelle Lalor is training Rocky with Soldier’s Six to serve as a therapy dog on the department’s peer-support team; training is ongoing and a K-9 foundation fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 5 in Lilydale.

Public Safety Community

ICE detains roofing crew in St. Paul

Oct 02 Breaking TC 1

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained an entire roofing crew working in St. Paul’s North End neighborhood on Thursday morning, witnesses and immigrant-advocacy groups said. Advocacy organizations and state Rep. Athena Hollins condemned the action and organized a 5:30 p.m. vigil at Marydale Park while FOX 9 has sought confirmation from DHS/ICE.

Public Safety Legal

Driver in Andover school bus crash identified as Dustin King

Oct 02 Breaking TC 2

Authorities identified the pickup driver killed in the head-on Andover crash with a school bus as Dustin King, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. Deputies said the pickup, which was towing a trailer, crossed the center line on Roanoke Street at 175th Avenue NW (just south of the Rum River) and struck the school bus; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and two people on the bus were injured.

Public Safety Education Transit & Infrastructure

Best man arrested after Maplewood wedding shooting; stolen gun recovered

Oct 02 Breaking TC 2

Authorities say a 36-year-old wedding guest was shot in both legs during an argument at a Sept. 27 wedding in Maplewood. Ramsey County deputies arrested a 34-year-old South St. Paul man identified as the wedding's best man on Oct. 1 in St. Paul and recovered two guns — including one reportedly stolen — and he has been arrested but not yet formally charged.

Public Safety Legal

Roseville parents charged after toddler falls from balcony

Oct 02 Developing TC 1

Roseville parents Aisha Ali, 30, and Hanad Hassan Jama, 35, were charged with manslaughter after their 15-month-old daughter fell from a two-story apartment balcony on July 6, 2025, and died the following day. Police and a criminal complaint say property management warned the couple in 2024 after seeing children hanging from the balcony, and investigators found a torn screen door and a partially open sliding door at the Lexington Avenue North apartment building.

Public Safety Courts/Legal

50 sticks of suspected dynamite prompt Medina evacuation

Oct 01 Breaking TC 1

A Medina resident discovered a container holding 50 sticks of suspected dynamite in an old garage on the 4600 block of Mohawk Drive just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, prompting an immediate evacuation of the immediate area. The Minneapolis bomb squad responded, removed the explosives, and police said there was no danger to the public once the scene was cleared, according to a Medina Police Department press release.

Public Safety Local Government

South St. Paul council member's daycare license reinstated

Oct 01 Developing TC 1

South St. Paul City Council member Pam Bakken had her in-home daycare license conditionally reinstated after appealing the state's revocation tied to a Dec. 6, 2024 incident in which a 3-year-old tested positive for methamphetamine. Dakota County prosecutors rescinded a maltreatment determination, saying they could not prove exposure occurred at the daycare beyond a reasonable doubt, but a separate DHS order keeps the facility closed pending conditions; residents have launched a recall petition with over 2,500 signatures.

Local Government Public Safety

Omar Jamal released after settlement following ICE arrest

Oct 01 Breaking TC 2

Omar Jamal, a Somali community advocate who has served as a civilian Community Service Officer and liaison to the Somali community with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office since 2020, was arrested by ICE in Minneapolis on Aug. 29 and later released after a mutually agreed-upon settlement that resulted in a court order directing his release, prompting a lawsuit over his detention. DHS said Jamal had a final order of removal issued in 2011 and publicly listed alleged prior offenses, while Jamal’s attorney thanked the local U.S. Attorney’s Office and ICE personnel for their cooperation.

Local Government Legal Public Safety

Feds uncover immigration‑fraud ring in Twin Cities

Sep 30 Breaking TC 1

Federal authorities — USCIS, ICE and the FBI — said Operation Twin Shields, conducted in the Twin Cities Sept. 19–28, flagged roughly 1,000 suspect cases involving about 900 people for sham marriages, forged documents and fake death certificates. Officials reported four arrests, 42 notices to appear in immigration court, and highlighted abuses tied to Uniting for Ukraine sponsorships and a fake Kenyan death certificate used to allege a spouse was deceased.

Legal Public Safety

New Brighton man charged in Frogtown fatal shooting

Sep 30 Breaking TC 1

TwinCities.com reports that a man from New Brighton was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal shooting in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul. The arrest and charges were reported Sept. 30, 2025; police say the incident involved a deadly shooting in the neighborhood and authorities have moved to file criminal charges against the suspect.

Public Safety Legal

MnDOT holds first-ever statewide safety stand-down Sept. 29 after two Twin Cities work-zone deaths

Sep 30 Developing TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will hold its first-ever statewide safety stand-down on Sept. 29, pausing projects and requiring all employees to reflect and recommit to work-zone safety in honor of two contractors killed in Twin Cities work zones last week. One worker was struck by a construction vehicle with a boom on I-35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24 and another by a dump truck on Hwy. 610 in Maple Grove on Sept. 26; MnDOT says it is coordinating with the State Patrol and Minnesota OSHA on investigations, noting the deaths are Minnesota’s fifth and sixth construction-related fatalities this year.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Driver charged in Maplewood fatal hit-and-run; intoxication alleged

Sep 29 Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County prosecutors have charged a driver in a Maplewood fatal hit-and-run that killed a 31-year-old man around 4:30 a.m. on the 2300 block of Maryland Avenue East; the complaint alleges the driver was intoxicated, fled the scene, and then drove roughly two hours to work. Police say a witness saw a large conversion van with a ladder rack near the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators obtained suspected vehicle information and surveillance video, with the Minnesota State Patrol assisting.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis man admits twice trying to join ISIS

Sep 29 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis resident pleaded guilty in Minnesota court to twice trying to join the Islamic State group, concluding the guilt phase of a terrorism-related case tied to the Twin Cities. The plea was entered in Minneapolis, with sentencing to follow.

Legal Public Safety

Woman killed as car hits St. Paul yard

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a vehicle left the roadway around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and crashed into a backyard along Stinson Street near Oxford Street North, striking and killing a 36-year-old woman. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating; the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Public Safety Transportation

Pedestrian killed by car and bus in Minneapolis

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man died after being struck by a white sedan and a bus while crossing mid-block near Franklin Avenue East and Cedar Avenue South just after 3 p.m. Saturday. Both drivers remained at the scene and are cooperating; no arrests or citations have been issued. The victim’s identity and official cause of death have not yet been released.

Public Safety

Bicyclist seriously injured in Stillwater Township crash

Sep 28 Breaking TC 1

A bicyclist was struck and seriously injured in a crash in Stillwater Township on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, according to a Pioneer Press report. The incident occurred in Washington County within the Twin Cities metro; authorities are investigating and additional details were not immediately released.

Public Safety

Pedestrian killed in St. Paul Maryland Avenue crash

Sep 27 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a male pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle near Maryland Avenue and Clarence Street around 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. The driver, who reported traveling westbound on Maryland and not seeing the victim, showed no signs of impairment, is cooperating with investigators, and has not been arrested as the investigation continues.

Public Safety

Three wounded in downtown Minneapolis shooting

Sep 27 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say three men were shot just after 6:30 p.m. Friday on the 700 block of Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, and all are expected to survive. The shooter fled before officers arrived, and no arrests have been announced as MPD investigates.

Public Safety

Woman dies after Lake Street encampment shooting; victim identified

Sep 26 Developing TC 7

A woman shot during a Sept. 15 mass shooting at a homeless encampment near E. Lake St. and 28th Ave. S. in Minneapolis died Sept. 18; police identified her as 30-year-old Jacinda Oakgrove, while several others were wounded and tents caught fire during the gunfight. Investigators say the violence stemmed from a drug-territory dispute; Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Trivon D. Leonard Jr., 31, of Illinois, with first-degree riot resulting in death and illegal gun possession after he admitted firing before his gun jammed. The city has increased patrols and erected fencing along the corridor, and MPD is examining whether this shooting is connected to another Lake Street shooting earlier that day.

Legal Local Government Housing

Minnetonka ex-CBP agent pleads to child porn

Sep 26 Developing TC 1

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent from Minnetonka admitted in court to possessing child pornography, according to the Star Tribune. The plea resolves the guilt phase of the case, with sentencing to be scheduled by the court.

Legal Public Safety

Man arrested in Missouri after Waite Park Elementary threat; MPD used license plate reader

Sep 26 Breaking TC 2

A man who allegedly called in a threat to “shoot anything that moves” with an AR-15 at Minneapolis’ Waite Park Elementary just before 11 a.m. on Sept. 25—prompting a lockdown—was tracked using a license plate reader and arrested in Missouri with assistance from the ATF and local police. Investigators say he lived about two miles from the school and had ties to two people there; he was booked into the Jackson County Jail and could face a terroristic threats charge as the investigation continues.

Legal Public Safety Education

Minneapolis gang member pleads to federal fraud

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

A member of the Minneapolis 'Lows' gang pleaded guilty in federal court to a fraud scheme that used money mules to steal about $220,000, according to federal prosecutors and court filings. The plea resolves part of a case tied to organized criminal activity in Minneapolis and details how proceeds were moved through recruited intermediaries.

Legal Public Safety

Second Twin Cities work-zone death in two days

Sep 26 Developing TC 1

A second highway construction-zone worker has been killed in the Twin Cities on successive days, the Star Tribune reports, one day after a worker died on I-35W in Burnsville. Authorities are investigating both crashes amid renewed concerns about driver behavior and safety in active work zones across the metro.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Inver Grove Heights man sentenced to 20 years

Sep 26 Breaking TC 1

An Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for coercing and manipulating girls to send nude photos, the Pioneer Press reported Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The case stems from conduct involving minors and concludes with a lengthy prison term for the Twin Cities resident.

Legal Public Safety

Judge rules DJ stalker not guilty by mental illness

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

A Twin Cities judge found that a person who stalked a DJ at The Current violated a restraining order but entered a verdict of not guilty due to mental illness on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The ruling acknowledges the conduct occurred while concluding the defendant is not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Legal Public Safety

1.2M Oster French-door ovens recalled nationwide

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of more than 1.2 million Oster French‑door countertop ovens on Sept. 25, 2025, due to a safety hazard. The recall applies nationwide, including the Twin Cities; consumers are advised to stop using the product and follow recall instructions for a remedy from Oster/Sunbeam.

Public Safety Health

I-94 eastbound closed at Hwy 610 in Maple Grove

Sep 25 Developing TC 1

MnDOT says eastbound I-94 at Minnesota 610 in Maple Grove is closed Thursday afternoon due to a traffic incident, with reopening estimated around 6 p.m. A separate crash on westbound MN 610 between Fernbrook Lane N and Maple Grove Parkway is contributing to major backups amid ongoing construction lane closures.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

89-year-old dies in Oak Park Heights crash

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

An 89-year-old man from New Richmond, Wisconsin died in a vehicle crash in Oak Park Heights in Washington County, according to authorities. The fatal collision occurred in the east Twin Cities metro and remains under investigation; officials did not immediately release additional details on circumstances or other injuries.

Public Safety

Texas brothers hit with federal kidnapping charges in Grant crypto case; feds value theft at $8M

Sep 25 Breaking TC 3

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed federal kidnapping charges against Texas brothers Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, in a Sept. 19 Grant, Minnesota, home invasion, valuing the stolen cryptocurrency at $8 million—far above the $72,000 cited in county filings. Authorities say the men bound a family with zip ties, used an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun, and forced transfers at the Grant home and a Jacobson cabin before their arrests in Texas; they face the federal counts in addition to state charges of kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and first-degree aggravated robbery, with a first federal court appearance set for Thursday.

Legal Public Safety

Fateh campaign reports vandalism, hate message

Sep 25 Breaking TC 1

Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral campaign says it found a message outside its office reading 'Somali Muslim — this is no joke' and filed a police report on Wednesday. The campaign called it the latest hate incident and said it will not be deterred, as Fateh challenges incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in November.

Elections Public Safety

Lake Street restaurant owner gets 8-month sentence

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

The owner of a Lake Street restaurant in Minneapolis was sentenced to eight months in an immigration-related case, following an earlier federal raid at the business. The federal sentencing closes a local investigation tied to immigration violations at the establishment, according to the Star Tribune.

Legal Public Safety

Charges filed in U of M Rapson Hall gunfire

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged 18-year-old Anas Mursal Mohamed after two shots were fired outside the University of Minnesota’s Rapson Hall around 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 18, causing panic and the evacuation of hundreds with no injuries. A criminal complaint cites surveillance video showing Mohamed firing twice, 10mm casings at the scene, recovery of a discarded hoodie and a 10mm Glock near the area, and his arrest the next day during a traffic stop where a loaded 9mm was found under the driver’s seat.

Public Safety Legal

Construction worker killed on I-35W in Burnsville

Sep 24 Breaking TC 1

A construction worker was fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24, 2025, authorities said. The incident occurred within a work zone on the core Twin Cities freeway and remains under investigation.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Mahtomedi homecoming canceled amid manhunt for Grant kidnapping suspects

Sep 24 Breaking TC 3

Mahtomedi High School canceled its homecoming football game on the advice of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office due to ongoing law enforcement activity near campus, with electronic ticket purchases to be refunded. The cancellation coincided with a shelter-in-place as authorities searched for Texas brothers Raymond and Isiah Garcia, who are charged in Washington County in a Grant home-invasion kidnapping and robbery involving armed suspects, a hostage, and the forced transfer of more than $72,000 in cryptocurrency.

Public Safety Education

Arrest made in Aug. 26 Minneapolis mass shooting

Sep 24 Developing TC 1

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Tuesday that officers arrested 24-year-old Trayveion Alvin Green on a murder warrant in the Aug. 26 mass shooting near Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and a nearby encampment. Green is the third suspect charged, following Ryan Timothy Quinn and Tiffany Lynn Marie Martindale; the shooting involved a .223 rifle and left seven people shot, including one man who died.

Public Safety Legal

St. Paul driver gets workhouse in fatal crash

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

A driver who was traveling 77 mph on a St. Paul city street when he fatally struck a pedestrian was sentenced to serve time in a workhouse on Sept. 22, 2025. The case concludes with a non‑prison sentence following the deadly collision on a St. Paul roadway.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul man sentenced in White Bear shootout

Sep 22 Developing TC 1

A St. Paul man was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2025, for his role in a 2023 shootout at Doc's Landing bar in White Bear Lake. The case stems from gunfire inside or near the bar that year and concludes with a district court sentence handed down in the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

Court: Bus stop arms must be fully extended

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned a driver’s school‑bus stop‑arm conviction and ruled that motorists are required to stop only when the bus’s stop sign/arm is fully extended. Issued this week, the decision clarifies statewide enforcement and applies to drivers, police, and school transportation across the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

Man killed in shooting near Peavey Field Park

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was shot just before midnight Saturday near Chicago Avenue and E. Franklin Avenue by Peavey Field Park in the Ventura Village neighborhood and later died at the hospital. MPD says an altercation preceded the gunfire, a possible suspect ran from the scene, and no arrests have been made; Chief Brian O’Hara is asking anyone with information to contact police or CrimeStoppers.

Public Safety

Maplewood rollover kills baby; driver arrested

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

A black Chevy Tahoe rolled off the eastbound Hwy 36 to southbound Hwy 61 exit ramp in Maplewood around 6:25 p.m., landing upside down in 1–2 feet of water, the Minnesota State Patrol said. One-year-old Revon Melvin Anthony Todd was extricated and later died; two boys, ages 5 and 6, and a 32-year-old man were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Driver Rachale Francine Peloquin, 28, of St. Paul, was arrested after medical clearance, suspected of alcohol use, and booked into Ramsey County Jail on criminal vehicular homicide.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis opens shooting assistance center

Sep 20 Developing TC 1

The City of Minneapolis has opened an assistance center to support people affected by recent shootings in the city, providing a centralized place to access victim services and other resources. The move follows multiple high-profile shootings and is intended to streamline help for victims, families, and impacted community members.

Public Safety Local Government

Man dies after Lake Street transit station shooting; victim identified as Adam Peterson

Sep 20 Breaking TC 4

Five people were shot near the Midtown Greenway by Lake Street and Stevens Avenue, steps from the transit station, shortly after 11 a.m. on Sept. 15; one victim, 46-year-old Adam John Peterson, died at the hospital Saturday. Investigators say shots were fired near the Greenway and on a walkway by the I-35W exit ramp, with victims found at multiple nearby locations; no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Police Chief Brian O’Hara has linked the violence to nearby encampment activity and signaled increased enforcement.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Hennepin County halts charges from minor stops

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced her office will no longer charge cases arising from low-level traffic stops — such as equipment or registration violations — across Minneapolis and its suburbs. The policy, which effectively limits felony prosecutions stemming from these stops, drew swift criticism from multiple police officials, who warned it could hinder prosecutions and harm public safety.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

BB guns found at St. Paul school

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say preteen boys brought BB guns to Creative Arts Secondary School in St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Police responded and the BB guns were found on campus; the incident involves juveniles and is under investigation.

Public Safety Education

Hennepin County charges Mora man for email threats

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County charged John Allen Sandeen Jr., 64, of Mora with four counts of terroristic threats for emails sent Sept. 13–16 that threatened a Maple Grove church music director and another person, referencing retaliation for the killing of Charlie Kirk. Maple Grove police took the report on Sept. 15; Sandeen is in Ramsey County custody on a related matter, and a Hennepin County arrest warrant is active. County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the threats “chilling” and vowed to pursue accountability.

Public Safety Legal

Columbia Heights man Abdullahe Nur Jesow pleads guilty in Feeding Our Future scheme tied to S&S Catering

Sep 19 Developing TC 2

Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, of Columbia Heights, pleaded guilty in federal court in Minnesota to money laundering in the Feeding Our Future fraud case, becoming the 56th defendant to do so. Prosecutors say he was linked to the S&S Catering group that stole and laundered $17.4 million, operating the Academy For Youth Excellence site that claimed more than 1.7 million meals from Dec. 2020 to Sept. 2021, resulting in $4,286,088 in inflated reimbursements, of which he kept about 5% and returned most via cash or checks to launder proceeds. He had been set for trial Oct. 14; sentencing will be scheduled later.

Legal Public Safety

Second defendant gets 12½ years in South St. Paul killing

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

On Sept. 18, 2025, a second defendant was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a South St. Paul father during a marijuana robbery. The accomplice received nearly the same prison term as the shooter, indicating little disparity between the codefendants.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis hires firm for neighbor shooting audit

Sep 19 Developing TC 1

The City of Minneapolis says it has contracted an independent law firm to assist with an audit related to the shooting of Davis Moturi by his neighbor, John Sawchak, and anticipates releasing findings in February 2026. Moturi, who was shot in the neck while trimming a tree and says MPD took five days to arrest Sawchak, continues to seek accountability as Chief Brian O’Hara has previously said the department failed him.

Public Safety Local Government

Toyota, Hyundai recall 1.1M vehicles for defects

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

On September 18, 2025, Toyota and Hyundai announced nationwide vehicle recalls totaling more than 1.1 million vehicles to address seat belt and panel display problems. The recalls affect owners in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro due to their national scope and will require affected vehicles to be serviced to remedy the defects.

Public Safety Business & Economy

Duluth man charged in Mariucci upskirt case; 144 victims, CSAM alleged

Sep 18 Breaking TC 2

A Duluth man, Benjamin Thomas Goldsmith, 32, has been charged in Hennepin County via warrant with three counts of possessing pornographic work and three counts of interfering with privacy after prosecutors say he filmed under the skirts of high school graduates at Minneapolis’ Mariucci Arena on June 1–2, 2024. Authorities say there are 144 alleged victims; witnesses reported Goldsmith for avoiding metal detectors, leading to his arrest and the discovery of a concealed camera, and a vehicle search turned up a hard drive with 151 child sexual abuse material images and videos. Investigators also found programs from other graduations and are examining whether additional victims or locations are involved; the criminal complaint was filed Sept. 16, 2025.

Legal Education Public Safety

Carver man indicted on 16 animal-crushing counts

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged Bryan Wesley Edison, 32, of Carver, with 16 counts of animal crushing for allegedly creating nearly 350 pay-per-view YouTube videos showing animals being tortured and killed since 2022. The DOJ says YouTube has removed the accounts; Edison made his initial appearance Wednesday and remains jailed in Sherburne County. Prosecutors cited the 2019 federal PACT Act expansion in announcing the case.

Legal Public Safety

Mahtomedi crash driver sentenced for killing two classmates

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

A driver who killed two Mahtomedi classmates in a crash was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in the Twin Cities metro. Families addressed the court during sentencing and expressed grace toward the driver, according to the report.

Legal Public Safety

DPS, State Patrol join MPD patrols after shootings

Sep 17 Developing TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will partner with the Minneapolis Police Department under a Joint Powers Agreement to boost patrols, with Minnesota State Patrol troopers assigned to the Lake Street corridor following two mass shootings on Monday. MPD has further increased its own presence, and the city has erected fencing and barriers along parts of Lake Street to control access, measures officials say aim to deter further violence and stabilize the area. DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson announced the deployment, while MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the BCA are assisting and the National Guard is not currently needed.

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul budget leaves 16 police vacancies

Sep 17 Developing TC 1

The Pioneer Press reports that under Mayor Melvin Carter’s proposed city budget, 16 vacant St. Paul Police Department positions would remain unfilled as part of the spending plan outlined Wednesday in St. Paul. The move affects police staffing levels and is part of the administration’s budgeting decisions for the upcoming year.

Local Government Public Safety

East Ridge High placed on lockdown

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on lockdown Wednesday following a report of a weapon. Authorities responded to the campus as the situation was assessed; the school and district communicated the lockdown to families.

Public Safety Education

UMN ends ICE contract, closes range access

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

The University of Minnesota has ended its contract allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use the campus shooting range and will no longer permit outside law enforcement agencies to train there, the university said. The change affects metro-area agencies that previously used the facility and limits access to university purposes.

Education Public Safety

GOP seeks Annunciation shooter toxicology

Sep 16 Developing TC 1

Minnesota Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Steve Drazkowski sent a letter to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension requesting the Annunciation Church shooter's complete autopsy and toxicology reports and asking for an expanded screen for antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, cannabinoids, psychoactive substances, and gender‑transition medications. The request follows the Aug. 27 Minneapolis mass shooting during morning Mass that killed two children and injured 21 before the gunman died by suicide.

Public Safety Local Government

Shakopee crash kills 83; driver suspected drunk

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Shakopee police say an 83-year-old motorist died after a suspected drunk driver caused a collision at a city intersection in the Twin Cities metro. Police reported the fatality and indicated alcohol was a factor as they investigate; additional details on any arrest or charges were not immediately released.

Public Safety Legal

Blaine child-solicitation sting nets 22 arrests

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The Blaine Police Department led a child-solicitation operation in Blaine, resulting in 22 arrests, according to police and local reporting. The enforcement action targeted adults attempting to solicit minors in the north metro suburb; authorities said the investigation continues and announced the results publicly.

Public Safety Legal

Man killed, another hurt in Lake Street shooting

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a shooting on the 1500 block of East Lake Street just before 1:50 a.m. Sunday left one man dead and another with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation; the fatally wounded man died at the hospital, and a second victim arrived separately. No arrests have been announced, and Chief Brian O’Hara urged anyone with information to come forward.

Public Safety Legal