>>Thousands Gather in Minneapolis for ICE Out Event at Target Center
(Minneapolis, MN) — Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota shut their doors today as activists called on residents to stay home in protest of a federal deportation effort now entering its eighth week. The event, known as the “ICE Out! Statewide Shutdown,” was organized by labor and faith leaders. This afternoon, thousands gathered in Minneapolis, marching together toward Target Center as part of the large-scale demonstration. At last check, thousands are already packed inside Target Center for a unified rally,y and hundreds more continue to pack area streets.
>>Republican House Speaker Attended Roundtable Hosted by V.P. Vance
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth participated in Thursday’s roundtable in Minneapolis with Vice President J.D. Vance regarding ICE operations in Minnesota. Demuth says part of the conversation focused on how federal and local law enforcement agencies are working together. “They’re not asking local law enforcement to do the job of ICE. They’re just looking for local law enforcement to continue being the peacekeepers and protect our communities. Because there’s been so much resistance and pushback, is why you’ve seen things take longer here and escalate.” When asked how long the ICE operations will continue, Demuth said she wasn’t given a timeline, but added that if resistance continues, the process will take longer. Earlier this week, DFL House Leader Jamie Long said Democrats were not invited to the meeting with the vice president.
>>Suspect Charged with Kidnapping, Sexual Assault of 7-Year-Old Zimmerman Girl
(Elk River, MN) — A Maple Grove man is now charged with the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in Zimmerman that prompted an Amber Alert. Prosecutors say 28-year-old Joseph Bragg abducted the girl on Wednesday after she got off the school bus. Police learned that Bragg was driving a rental truck toward Iowa on Interstate 35. Officers spotted the vehicle at a truck stop in Albert Lea and located the girl in the backseat. Court records show Bragg initially brought the victim to a hotel in Plymouth. The girl told investigators that he sexually assaulted her.
>>Minneapolis Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival Canceled
(Minneapolis) – Due to the bitterly cold temperatures forecasted for Saturday, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation is canceling this year’s Lake Harriet Kite Festival. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold watch for Saturday with below-freezing wind chills, and the Parks and Rec board says that will lead to even colder conditions on the lake. Organizers say they will try to hold a different event on the lake later this winter.
>>ICE Detention Center Won’t Be in Shakopee
(Shakopee, MN) – An idea to bring an ICE detention center to Shakopee appears to have hit a roadblock. The Opus Group has decided against leasing its River Valley Business Park to the federal government as an ICE detention facility. DFL state Representative Brad Tabke of Shakopee issued a statement saying, “This is a step in the right direction, and it should be celebrated, but Shakopee won’t be the last place ICE tries to establish a detention center. More work remains to protect our immigrant neighbors, to strengthen our communities, and to get ICE out of Minnesota.”
>>Bremer Elected to Twins Hall of Fame
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins announced today that longtime television broadcaster and current special assistant Dick Bremer has been elected to the Twins Hall of Fame. Bremer, who served as the television voice of the franchise for more than four decades, will become the 42nd member of the Hall. Bremer said he was surrounded by family when he received the call from fellow Hall of Famer Rod Carew, a moment he described as especially meaningful. “They have really been the warriors through this, because there’s an awful lot of travel and an awful lot of separation when you do what we do for a living,” Bremer said. “And they were very supportive throughout. So I was just tickled on a personal level that they were all there to share the phone call.” Bremer will be formally inducted on Saturday, July 11, when the Twins host the Los Angeles Angels at Target Field.
