>>Coon Rapids Teen Missing, Reportedly Shot at, Crashed Stolen Vehicle
(Coon Rapids, MN) – Coon Rapids police are searching for a 14-year-old boy who’s been missing for over 30 days and has a long criminal history. Olavion Washington ran away from his guardian’s residence and has a documented record of stealing vehicles and evading law enforcement, including in police pursuits. He’s described as Black, five feet three inches tall, 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement says recent credible information indicates imminent risk to life and safety. Over the past weekend, Washington was reportedly shot at, operated and crashed a stolen vehicle, which caused serious injuries to another person, and posted all related content to social media. Anyone with information should call 911.
>>Minneapolis Apartment Fire Displaces 22 Residents
(Minneapolis, MN) – 22 people are displaced, and two people are injured after a fire at a Minneapolis apartment building. Crews responded to reports of heavy smoke around noon on Wednesday. Firefighters say black smoke poured from the second floor, with flames spreading from the back of the 11-unit building to the front. Residents were evacuated, and three residents and a dog were rescued from the third floor. An adult resident and a firefighter were brought to the hospital for burns and minor injuries, respectively. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
>>Local Civil Rights Groups Say ICE Drawdown Isn’t a Win or Enough
(Undated) – Local justice advocates say the limited ICE drawdown announced this week of 700 officers is the result of public resistance, but accountability needs to come next. Nekima Levy Armstrong, Civil Rights Attorney and Leader, says this is not a win; it’s a compromise, entered into by Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt. She says, “This blood is on your hands, because you are choosing to compromise with evil, and sell away the rights of the people of Minnesota.” Armstrong and many others are calling for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents to be investigated independently, and for the agents responsible to be charged and arrested. A protest will take place outside the Governor’s Mansion tomorrow at 5 p.m. This weekend in Minneapolis and St. Paul, there will be public memorials for Good and Pretti.
>>Congresswoman Omar Calls to Abolish ICE on U.S. House Floor
(Washington, D.C.) – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL, Minneapolis) took her fight to abolish ICE and end the federal operations in Minnesota to the House floor in Washington, D.C. She says, “Minnesota was once known as a place of refuge. Now it has been turned into a war zone by a federal government that has lost sight of the values that make America great.” Omar continues to call for an independent investigation into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and wants Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held accountable for federal D-H-S actions in Minnesota.
>>Greater Minnesota Cities Urge Lawmakers to Pass Bonding Bill
(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota cities from outside the metro are hoping their needs won’t be forgotten when it comes to the new legislative session. The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) held a news conference this morning to urge lawmakers to pass a bonding bill this session to cover $225 million for water and wastewater projects, and another $250 million for lead service line replacement. CGMC lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel says state aid is desperately needed. Wefel added, “Our cities are willing to step up and do their part in addressing water infrastructure and lead line replacement, but it is incredibly difficult to pay for these massive projects without financial assistance from the state.” The CGMC represents 110 cities around the state.
>>SEIU Strike Averted at HealthPartners
(St. Paul, MN) – Nearly 2,000 HealthPartners workers avert a potential strike after union members voted 99 percent in favor of authorizing a tentative agreement (TA) with their employer. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa say the deal was reached late last night following another all-day bargaining session. Workers say they successfully protected their industry-leading health benefits and secured wage increases, including a 4% raise in year one and 3% raises in years two and three. Additional pay bumps were also won for nurses, medical assistants, and EMTs, along with higher bonus pay for weekend shifts. Members will vote on the contract in the coming days, and the bargaining team is recommending a “yes” vote.
>>AWC Protests U.S. Bombing of Venezuela, Kidnapping of Pres. Maduro
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Anti-War Committee is holding an emergency protest in Loring Park today at 4:30 p.m. against the U.S. bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Proclaiming “No War on Venezuela!,” leaders say the Trump Administration has been escalating the war against the country since August 2025 under claims of false drug trafficking and has killed over 100 fishermen in these bombings. It’s been over a month since “Operation Absolute Resolve,” and President Donald Trump has yet to outline the next steps.
>>Mille Lacs Lake Yellow Perch Limit Dropping to Five
(St. Paul, MN) – Starting February 9th, the daily and possession limit for yellow perch on Mille Lacs Lake will be reduced from ten to five. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is adjusting the limit to help maintain a healthy perch population for the future and stay within the state’s share of the harvestable surplus. Besides being a prized fish for anglers, the DNR says perch are also a key species in the ecosystem and a primary food source for predators, especially walleye. This new regulation will be in place through November 30th.
>>Six-Sleddin’, O’ Brother, Where Art Plow?, and AI: Arctic Intelligence: Vote on MN’s Name a Snowplow Finalists
(St. Paul, MN) – There’s a new list of finalists for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 2025-2026 Name a Snowplow contest. You can find the entire list on MnDOT’s website. (https://www.dot.state.mn.us/nameasnowplow/) MnDOT got over 6,750 submissions in December, which officials whittled down to 30 finalists, including Six-Sleddin’, Oh Brother, Where Art Plow?, AI: Arctic Intelligence, and K Pop Blizzard Hunter. This is the contest’s 6th year running.
>>EagleCam Pair Preparing Nest for Egg-Laying
(St. Paul, MN) – The EagleCam pair is spending more time at their nest, adding grasses and new sticks, a strong sign they’re preparing for egg-laying. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) says viewers can expect more courtship behavior and increased nest activity in the coming weeks. In past seasons, eggs have typically been laid in mid-February. Female bald eagles usually lay one to three eggs. Both parents share incubation duties. Eggs generally hatch after 34-39 days, meaning signs of a chick could appear by mid-March. You can watch the nest live on the Minnesota DNR website and YouTube channel.
>>Gophers Women’s Basketball at Number 10 Iowa Tonight
(Minneapolis, MN) – The University of Minnesota Gophers Women’s Basketball team plays at number 10 Iowa tonight. The Gophers will be looking to extend their winning streak to five games tonight against the Hawkeyes. Minnesota is 16-6 and tied for sixth place in the Big 10. Iowa is 18-4, but coming off two straight losses on the West Coast. The game starts at 6 p.m. in Iowa City.
