Thursday, February 5 — Minneapolis City Council members spar over how to respond to the ongoing ICE surge in the Twin Cities, with sharp debate over whether rental assistance tied to immigration enforcement could help vulnerable residents or invite fraud. The fight comes as a new “Prosecute ICE” ice sculpture appears outside the State Capitol and federal officials confirm thousands of arrests during Operation Metro Surge, even as forces begin to scale back.

We also hear from a government attorney who bluntly criticized the immigration court system after being assigned nearly 90 cases in under a month, highlighting staffing shortages at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, two Minneapolis firefighters are recovering from burns after a morning fire in the Phillips neighborhood leaves several residents displaced.

Plus, President Trump reflects on lessons learned from the Minnesota ICE operation, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan calls the situation a man-made crisis, and we track additional local headlines, from a narrowly avoided healthcare workers strike and Anoka opening the nation’s first city-run cannabis dispensary, to Children’s Minnesota pausing gender-affirming care services and the Timberwolves making a major trade ahead of the NBA deadline.

In our Bright Spot: the Puppy Bowl returns with more adoptable, senior, and special-needs dogs than ever.

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Wednesday, February 4 — Federal authorities are pulling hundreds of agents out of the Twin Cities as Border Czar Tom Homan announces the first major drawdown of Operation Metro Surge, crediting cooperation from local jails while warning that protests could delay a full exit. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz say the move is not enough, calling the operation harmful to residents and businesses and demanding it end altogether.

At the same time, Minnesota educators are suing to block ICE from school grounds, saying the presence of federal agents has created fear and cut attendance in half at some schools. We also hear reaction from state leaders after Children’s Minnesota announces it will pause some gender-affirming care for minors, citing threats and federal pressure, while Attorney General Keith Ellison weighs in.

Plus, investigators search for possible additional victims after an Amber Alert kidnapping case, police arrest a suspected hit-and-run driver in St. Paul, and new details emerge from a historic caucus night as Minnesota’s governor’s race begins to take shape.

At the White House, President Trump pushes to nationalize elections as funding deadlines loom and Democrats press for ICE body-camera mandates.

In sports, the Timberwolves make a cap-clearing trade, the Wild skate into the Olympic break, and we check in with Minnesota’s all-homegrown U.S. Olympic women’s curling team.

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Tuesday, February 3 — Classes resume today in Columbia Heights after a racially and politically motivated bomb threat forced schools to close Monday, as the district’s superintendent says the priority now is safely bringing home four other students currently in federal custody.
At the same time, a new lawsuit is raising serious questions about federal surveillance tactics in Minnesota. A Twin Cities protester alleges Border Patrol agents used facial recognition technology to identify her during ICE demonstrations, and that her Global Entry status was revoked days later without explanation. Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection respond as body cameras are rolled out to federal agents in Minneapolis amid growing scrutiny.
We also hear from Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison on the impact of federal detention of children, preview tonight’s party caucuses as Minnesota’s midterm election season begins and track multiple investigations into recent deadly shootings involving both local police and federal agents.
Plus, Quinn Hughes makes history, and an Olympic update from Lindsey Vonn.
In our Bright Spot today: A St. Paul firefighter is honored for his service.
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Monday, February 2 — Target’s new CEO faces a turbulent first day on the job as protesters rally outside company headquarters following a weekend of demonstrations tied to immigration enforcement and ICE-related concerns. The protests come amid heightened scrutiny of corporate leadership and its perceived role in federal immigration policy.

Meanwhile, relief and emotion in Columbia Heights as five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father return to Minnesota after a judge orders their release from a Texas detention facility. The case has drawn national attention, sparked community protests, and renewed debate over how immigration enforcement impacts children and families, even as officials say deportation proceedings could still lie ahead.

Also today, Columbia Heights Public Schools close after a bomb threat prompts a district-wide shut down, though authorities say no devices were found and classes are expected to resume tomorrow.

Plus, newly released video one year after a Hastings homicide. Police hope you can help them solve the case.

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Friday, January 30 — The Justice Department opens a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, shifting the case to the FBI and escalating scrutiny of federal agents involved in the fatal encounter. President Trump responds to newly surfaced video from days before Pretti’s death, while the Pretti family pushes back, saying nothing from that incident could justify what happened.

Protests continue to grow nationwide and across Minnesota, with calls for work stoppages, school walkouts, and renewed demonstrations against ICE activity.

Civil rights concerns also intensify after the arrest of journalist Don Lemon in Los Angeles. Federal prosecutors allege Lemon was involved in a church protest connected to an ICE official, while Lemon says he was there solely in his role as a reporter. Those again his arrest, along with others tied to the protest, say it raises new questions about press freedom, protest rights, and the role of journalists covering demonstrations.

Plus, major upheaval in Minnesota sports as the Vikings fire general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah less than a year after extending his contract. The move follows apparent internal disagreements over roster decisions, lingering criticism of draft results, and continued uncertainty at quarterback, all as the franchise faces mounting pressure from fans.

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Thursday, January 29 — A leadership shakeup is underway at Operation Metro Surge, as border czar Tom Homan outlines changes to the federal enforcement effort in Minnesota, even as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey travels to Washington pushing for its end. The announcement comes amid reports that the Department of Justice could face a wave of resignations, with prosecutors threatening to step down over concerns immigration actions in the state may be unlawful.

Meanwhile, newly released video shows a separate encounter involving Alex Pretti and federal agents days before his death, prompting renewed scrutiny as DHS reviews the footage and Pretti’s family rejects any suggestion it justifies the fatal shooting.

Minnesota’s political landscape is also shifting. Senator Amy Klobuchar announces a run for governor, citing the need for independence from President Trump, while Governor Tim Walz says he will never seek elected office again.

Plus, a man faces federal charges after spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall, health officials confirm Minnesota’s first measles case of the year, protests at Target over ICE activity, and sports and entertainment headlines round out the day.

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Wednesday, January 28 — Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she’s okay after being sprayed with a liquid substance during a town hall, as police arrest a man accused of the attack. Federal officials are condemning what they call an unacceptable act of political violence. The incident comes amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with Governor Tim Walz blaming President Trump’s rhetoric.

We also break down new details in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, revealed through a federal memo outlining the moments leading up to the encounter and raising new questions about the use of force. As investigations continue, Pretti’s family, colleagues, and community remember a man described as generous, compassionate, and committed to helping others.

Plus, immigration remains at the center of the state’s political battle: a young boy and his father remain in ICE custody, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey trades sharp words with Trump over enforcement, food banks call for an end to federal targeting, and educators warn fear is reshaping classrooms across Minnesota.

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Tuesday, January 27 — Major leadership changes and legal pressure mark a new chapter in Minnesota’s struggle with the federal immigration crackdown. This all comes following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents. President Trump has sent Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to coordinate operations as Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is reassigned amid mounting criticism and protests over how enforcement has unfolded.

We break down where multiple investigations now stand, including federal court hearings over efforts to halt Operation Metro Surge and preserve evidence in Pretti’s death, as state officials accuse federal authorities of blocking access to the scene and mischaracterizing what happened.

Plus, Minnesota pushes back legally and politically: a judge is weighing arguments over the constitutionality of the federal operation, demands from the Department of Justice, and claims from the state that Operation Metro Surge was designed to punish sanctuary policies.

We also remember the life of Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse remembered by colleagues and family as compassionate, community-minded, and devoted to helping others. And as vigils grow and memorials fill South Minneapolis, Minnesotans continue to grapple with outrage and calls for accountability.

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Monday, January 26 — The world is watching Minnesota after Border Patrol shot and killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in South Minneapolis. We break down what federal officials say happened, why videos from the scene and sworn witness declarations directly contradict those claims, and where multiple investigations now stand.

Plus, President Donald Trump and Governor Tim Walz speak by phone as Minnesota presses for independent investigations and a reduction in federal agents. We take you inside federal court, where Attorney General Keith Ellison argues to end “Operation Metro Surge,” and why a judge zeroed in on demands from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, including requests for voter data and changes to state policy.

We also cover a separate court order barring DHS from destroying evidence, allegations that state investigators were blocked from the scene, and new developments in hearings happening today.

And we remember the life of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, described as compassionate, selfless, and devoted to veterans, as vigils grow, a memorial fills 26th and Nicollet, and Minnesotans show up to grieve together.

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Friday, January 23rd — Hundreds of Twin Cities businesses closed for the day as part of a statewide protest against ICE operations in Minnesota. Activists are calling it a “Day of Truth and Freedom,” urging people to skip work, school, and shopping while demanding state leaders limit federal immigration enforcement. We break down what business owners are saying, where today’s march and rally are happening, and what comes next.
Then, hundreds of people gather at Temple Israel in Minneapolis for a multi-faith prayer service focused on unity, dignity, and support for immigrant communities. We hear from faith leaders across traditions, including Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Bishop Mariann Budde, and explain why more than 700 clergy members from around the country are now in Minnesota.
We also have new details after ICE detained a U.S. citizen at gunpoint while searching for two men, including confirmation from the Minnesota Department of Corrections that one of those men has actually been in prison the entire time, raising new questions about how the operation unfolded.
Plus, as the bitter cold grips the state, doctors warn frostbite can happen in just minutes. We explain the warning signs you should never ignore and how emergency rooms are already seeing the impact of this winter’s repeated cold snaps.
More to know: Federal charges tied to a church protest in St. Paul, a joint ICE and Border Patrol press conference outlining recent arrests, updates in the Amber Alert case involving a 7-year-old girl, healthcare workers picketing amid a statewide boycott, major winter sports events moving to Minnesota, and a bright spot — Lego’s new Golden Retriever puppy set.
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