Technology

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.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a consumer alert warning that DHS/ICE is reportedly using sophisticated commercial data streams—such as app‑location feeds, license‑plate reads, cell‑tower pings and brokered location data—to track people in the Twin Cities, even as the full scope of sources remains unclear. He urged Minnesotans to adopt technical privacy measures (privacy‑focused browsers, disabling location services and ad IDs, updating software, and using secure communications) and to use rights under the new Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act to request disclosure or deletion of personal data and opt out of its sale to blunt ICE’s phone‑tracking access.

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.

Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program logged 11,883 applications in its first week (including early bonding filings), and DEED has reviewed 6,393 so far, approving roughly two‑thirds of processed claims; early filings included about 1,448 bonding, 1,449 medical, 274 caregiving, 6 safety and 3 military‑family claims. The program — projected to serve about 130,000 claimants in year one at an estimated $1.6 billion cost and funded by a 0.88% payroll tax (employers may collect up to ~0.44% from employees) — requires $3,900 in prior‑year earnings, pays 55%–90% of wages up to $1,423/week with event caps (12 weeks per event, 20 weeks combined), and uses layered fraud controls including LoginMN ID verification with a live selfie, provider certification and EHR checks, unemployment‑data matching, analytics and random audits.

The FTC reached a settlement with Instacart over alleged deceptive practices, and the company is also facing a separate investigation into its pricing. Announced Dec. 18, 2025, the actions apply nationwide and could affect Instacart users in the Twin Cities through potential policy changes, refunds, or pricing adjustments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

After an April ruling that parts of Google's ad‑tech business constitute an illegal monopoly, Judge Leonie Brinkema held an 11‑day remedies trial this fall and heard closing arguments Friday in Alexandria, Virginia, with a ruling expected early next year. The DOJ urged structural divestitures, calling Google a "recidivist monopolist," while Google called such remedies legally unprecedented and risky for a system that handles roughly 55 million ad requests per second, citing AI‑driven market changes as a reason for caution and DOJ witnesses warning about subtle algorithm manipulation; for context, a separate search case saw Judge Amit Mehta reject a proposed Chrome divestiture and order reforms seen as relatively lenient.

Waymo has begun mapping and early testing in Minneapolis with a fleet of "less than 10" Jaguar I‑PACE and Zeekr RT vehicles driven by humans, using its sixth‑generation Waymo Driver and self‑cleaning sensors tuned for snow and ice after winter‑prep testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, California’s Sierra Nevada and upstate New York. The company says no permits are required for this mapping phase but will work with state and city officials as it seeks commercial approval and plans a phased expansion model like San Francisco aiming for airport and freeway connectivity, drawing support from state House transportation co-chairs and MADD Minnesota.

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.

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.

Disney and YouTube TV reached a new carriage agreement that ended a blackout that began the night of Oct. 30 and lasted just over two weeks, with ABC, ESPN and other Disney‑owned channels including NatGeo, FX, Freeform, the SEC Network and ACC Network restored over the course of Nov. 14, the companies said. The sides traded public accusations during negotiations — Disney executives Alan Bergman, Dana Walden and Jimmy Pitaro said YouTube TV refused fair rates and was leveraging its dominance, while YouTube TV said Disney's terms were costly and would reduce consumer choice — after a prior 2021 disruption that lasted less than two days.

MLS owners voted Nov. 13 to move to a late‑summer‑to‑spring calendar starting in 2027, aligning with international leagues and adding a long winter break—changes that will affect Minnesota United’s home schedule at Allianz Field. Separately, Apple said all MLS matches will be available to Apple TV subscribers without the separate Season Pass starting in 2026, changing how Twin Cities fans access broadcasts.

AT&T agreed to a $177 million settlement over two data breaches disclosed in 2024, and impacted customers — including those in the Twin Cities — have until Dec. 18, 2025 to file claims. The deal, reached in U.S. District Court in Texas, covers a dark‑web leak of data from 2019 or earlier affecting about 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders, and a separate breach of 2022 call/text records; payments of up to $5,000 or $2,500 are available depending on documented losses, with final court approval set for Jan. 15, 2026.

White Bear Lake–based Envoy Medical says the latest version of its fully implanted Acclaim hearing device has received FDA breakthrough device designation, placing it on a fast track and expanding clinical trials from 10 to 46 patients. The company, which earlier secured 2010 FDA approval for its Esteem implant, is targeting 2027 approval for the new system after roughly $250 million in cumulative investment.

The state’s Minnesota Forward Fund awarded $69 million across four projects — including a $50 million forgivable loan for North Wind’s $1 billion, 250,000‑sq.‑ft. Minnesota Aerospace Complex at the UMore site in Rosemount, $10 million for Niron Magnetics in Sartell, $5 million for the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and $4 million for Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie). The Rosemount project, which UMN sold 60 acres for and will partner on, will house three hypersonic wind tunnels, is backed by an additional $99 million U.S. Army contract and $85 million in company investment, targets completion in 2030–31, and has drawn some campus protests over military ties.

Ramsey County delivered St. Paul’s ranked‑choice outcome around midnight using new open‑source tabulation software, while Minneapolis waited for a Hennepin County file and then followed a city‑ordinance process requiring manual write‑in review and spreadsheet‑based reallocation, finishing late Wednesday morning. Officials detailed exact timelines, software used, and legacy costs that shaped how quickly results were posted in each city.

Epic Games and Google told a federal judge in San Francisco they’ve reached a comprehensive settlement resolving Epic’s antitrust case over the Google Play Store, proposing terms that align with Judge James Donato’s prior order to open Android to competing app stores and lower fees. The sealed deal, which requires court approval, includes reducing in‑app payment commissions to 9%–20% and obligates distribution of rival third‑party app stores, following a Ninth Circuit decision upholding a jury verdict against Google and the Supreme Court’s refusal to block remedies.

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.

The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require facial recognition and photo capture for all non‑U.S. citizens, including green‑card holders, at all ports of entry and departure starting Dec. 26, 2025. The Federal Register rule expands CBP’s existing program to land, sea, and air locations, authorizes biometric capture for children under 14 and adults over 79, and aims to combat document fraud and enhance border security.

After the Trump–Xi meeting, China’s Commerce Ministry said it would work with the U.S. to resolve TikTok-related issues but provided no details and said no ownership agreement was reached. That statement contrasts with U.S. reports — including Trump saying Xi approved a proposed U.S. ownership deal, the White House suggesting the transaction could be finalized in South Korea, and earlier plans for Oracle to manage TikTok’s U.S. algorithm — as negotiations continue under U.S. divestiture requirements.

President Donald Trump said Thursday after a 100‑minute meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in Busan that the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, lowering one tranche tied to fentanyl-chemical sales from 20% to 10% and cutting the combined rate from 57% to 47%. China agreed to allow rare earth exports and resume U.S. soybean purchases, and Trump said Nvidia will hold talks on advanced chip exports as both sides work toward a trade deal.

Microsoft reported on Oct. 29 that issues with its Azure Front Door content delivery network are causing access problems to Azure and services like Office 365, Minecraft, Xbox Live and Copilot. The company says it is investigating and mitigating; outage reports surged on Downdetector, and Microsoft acknowledged the incident on its status page and social media. The disruption could affect Twin Cities businesses and consumers that rely on Microsoft cloud services.

Private equity firm Francisco Partners will buy Minneapolis-based Apple device‑management software maker Jamf in a $2.2 billion deal announced Oct. 29, 2025. Jamf, which went public in 2020 at $26 per share, is a prominent Twin Cities tech employer; the transaction would transfer ownership of the company, with further details on closing and any local impacts not yet disclosed.

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.

A major Amazon Web Services outage on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, disrupted Snapchat, Ring and other online services nationwide, affecting users in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro. The scope extended across multiple AWS-reliant apps and sites, with service interruptions reported as restoration efforts proceeded.

Minneapolis‑based medtech HistoSonics raised $250 million to scale its noninvasive ultrasound tumor‑treatment platform globally, according to the Twin Cities Business Journal on Oct. 16, 2025. Investors include Bezos Expeditions and Thiel Capital, and the company says the financing will accelerate commercialization and expansion of its histotripsy technology, with implications for its Twin Cities operations.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, has purchased additional land near its prospective data center site in Rosemount, Minnesota. The acquisition expands Meta’s footprint in Dakota County and signals continued movement on the potential data center project.

Plymouth-based sports-media company Prep Network announced its first private-equity investment Oct. 3, 2025, a deal the company says will fund expansion of its sports-media operations. The business, which began as a side hustle and now employs about 60 full-time staff, intends to use the capital to scale content, technology and distribution from its Twin Cities base.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, one of downtown Minneapolis’ largest employers, has mandated a full-time return to the office, reversing hybrid or remote arrangements. The policy goes further than other large organizations that have recently tightened remote-work rules, signaling a notable shift for the downtown workforce.

Amazon agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit alleging it used deceptive tactics to enroll customers in Prime and made cancellation onerous. The deal resolves a case that a judge had ruled would go before a jury, averting a federal jury trial.

St. Paul has restored public internet access at its libraries and recreation centers after a cyberattack disrupted services, officials announced Sept. 18, 2025. Mayor Melvin Carter said the city did not pay a ransom in the summer ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost well over $1 million, with teams working around the clock to back up data and restore services.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in a Sept. 22 FOX 9 interview that the city did not pay a ransom after this summer’s ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost 'well over $1 million.' He added teams worked around the clock to back up data and restore services as systems came back online.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that a Twin Cities dentist’s defamation lawsuit over a negative Google review may move forward, allowing the case to continue in district court. The decision clarifies that claims tied to allegedly false online statements can proceed past initial challenges in Minnesota.