>>Gov. Walz Reiterates “Top 3 Priorities for MN” to Border Czar Homan
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz spoke to U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan this morning about ongoing ICE operations in the state. In a statement, Walz says he reiterated Minnesota’s priorities: “impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift, significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota.” The dialogue is “ongoing,” and Walz has tasked the state Department of Public Safety as the primary liaison to Homan. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is set to speak with Homan next today. This comes after Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and some of his agents were ordered to “leave Minnesota imminently,” and calls between Walz and President Donald Trump, as well as Frey and Trump. All three called the calls “productive conversations.”
>>26 Arrests at Border Patrol Protest Outside Maple Grove Hotel
(Maple Grove, MN) – Maple Grove Police say 26 people were arrested Monday night near a local hotel following a protest that escalated into property damage and violence. Demonstrators believed Border Control Commander Greg Bovino and other agents were staying at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Police say the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly, and dispersal orders were issued with clear instructions for people to leave. 13 individuals were arrested for gross‑misdemeanor riot, and 13 others for misdemeanor unlawful assembly. Two of those arrested also face charges of obstructing legal process. One additional suspect tied to property damage fled and remains under investigation.
>>DFL, Educators, Community Call for ICE Out of MN Schools
(St. Paul, MN) – Democrats joined educators and community members in calling for ICE agents to stay out of schools. DFL Senator Steve Cwodzinski of Eden Prairie says the threat of ICE is keeping kids home, and that’s setting back their education. In all his years of teaching, he says, “I tried to instill in my students senses of civic duty, civic efficacy, civic engagement, political efficacy, and all of those wonderful things our students are supposed to gain in a K-through-12 educational system; we can’t have them staying home.” Republicans were not at this meeting, but the senator says he has had a couple of lawmakers from the other side reach out and want to talk about this issue.
>>CAIR-MN Rally at State Capitol, Demands Charges, Arrests of Fed Agents Who Killed Good, Pretti
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) and allied community organizations are rallying inside the State Capitol today from noon to 5 p.m. outside of Governor Tim Walz’s doors, calling for accountability. Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said they’re demanding state leaders charge and arrest the federal agents who shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this month. He says all Minnesotans are standing up; “The resistance is in this. A whistle and a phone, and sometimes our car horns and our cars.” Good was killed on January 7th, and Pretti on Saturday, January 24th, both in Minneapolis.
>>Federal Judge to Weigh Bondi Letter to MN in Oregon Voter Rolls Case
(Undated) – At 5 p.m., a federal judge in United States v. State of Oregon will hear arguments on whether Attorney General Pam Bondi’s weekend letter to Governor Tim Walz is relevant to the DOJ’s push for state voter files. Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai ordered the parties to address how the letter bears on the Justice Department’s “basis and purpose” under Title 3 of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Bondi’s letter, sent Saturday, ties any reduction of federal immigration operations in Minnesota to several conditions, including giving the DOJ access to the state’s voter rolls. The Oregon case is one of several lawsuits where the DOJ seeks unredacted statewide voter registration data.
>>10-Mile Bicycle Ride Stopping at Pretti’s, Good’s Memorials in Honor of Pretti
(Minneapolis, MN) – This Saturday, cyclists are coming together to honor 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was an avid outdoorsman and mountain biker. Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop in South Minneapolis says Pretti was a regular customer and part of the community. The 10-mile bike ride in his honor stops at Pretti’s memorial at 26th and Lyndale and Renee Good’s memorial at 34th and Portland Avenue, before ending at the Minneapolis VA, where Pretti worked as an ICU nurse. The ride begins at 1:30 p.m. at Washburn Fair Oaks Park, across the street from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
>>Trampled by Turtles Playing Benefit Show Saturday in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) – Trampled by Turtles is playing a benefit show Saturday at the Turf Club in St. Paul. The Duluth-based bluegrass band calls it a “midday hootenanny celebrating the resilience and community that lies at the center of Minnesota’s unstoppable loving heart.” Money raised will go to the Immigration Rapid Response Team, and they’ll be collecting donations for Hennepin County Labor and Delivery. Bathtub Cig is opening for Trampled by Turtles at 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets went on sale today at 2:30 p.m. and sold out in less than 20 minutes.
>>Don Pablo’s Re-Opening After Closing Due to ICE
(Fergus Falls, MN) – A downtown Fergus Falls restaurant that suddenly closed earlier this month is back open, and its second location in Detroit Lakes will reopen later this week. Don Pablo’s initially cited “unforeseen circumstances” for the shutdowns, but management later acknowledged they stemmed from reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, and Pelican Rapids. The Fergus Falls Don Pablo’s reopened Saturday, according to a post shared by the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Detroit Lakes location is set to resume service on Thursday.
>>President Trump Has No Plans To Replace DHS Secretary Noem
(Washington, D.C.) – President Trump says he has no plans to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He made the comment while departing the White House for Iowa, as his administration appears to be shifting its approach to ongoing ICE operations in Minneapolis. The President said he expects an “honorable and honest” investigation into the ICE-involved shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti of Minneapolis. Trump again struck a positive tone toward the city, saying he recently had “good conversations” with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Meanwhile, top House Democrats have warned President Trump that unless he dismisses Secretary Noem, they will initiate impeachment proceedings against her. The administration has also dispatched Border Czar Tom Homan to the Twin Cities and removed top Border Patrol official Greg Bovino from his Minneapolis responsibilities.
>>Two Special Elections Today for Minnesota House Seats
(Undated) – Voters are heading to the polls today in two special elections to fill vacant Minnesota House seats. One seat was previously held by former Representative Kaohly Her, who was elected mayor of St. Paul in November. The other vacancy comes from Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger’s move to the state Senate following a special election win. In St. Paul, labor lawyer Meg Luger-Nikolai faces Republican Dan Walsh for Her’s former seat. And in the race to replace Hemmingsen-Jaeger, nonprofit executive Shelly Buck is running without a registered Republican opponent.
>>Southwest Prepares For Official End To Seating Policy
(Dallas, TX) – Southwest Airlines is officially ending its longstanding open-seating policy today. Customers booking flights are now instructed to select from three seating options, and the type of seat a passenger purchases will determine when they board, or whether they’re eligible for other perks. Southwest Airlines continues to maintain a steady presence at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The carrier operates exclusively out of Terminal Two, and it runs close to a hundred flights each week in and out of MSP. Currently, Southwest offers nonstop service to eight major U.S. cities, including Denver, Chicago Midway, St. Louis, Phoenix, Baltimore, Nashville, Austin, and Las Vegas.
>>Great Northern Festival Announces Schedule and Safety Updates
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Great Northern Festival is announcing several updates to its upcoming programming and operations due to ongoing public safety considerations. Organizers say they remain committed to prioritizing the well‑being of attendees amid ICE enforcement. Most live festival programming will now take place Saturday, January 31st, with select events either rescheduled or moved indoors where possible. Ticketholders can choose to attend, request a refund, or convert their ticket into a donation to the festival. For a full list of schedule changes, safety updates, and adjustments, visit their website.
