>>Congresswoman Omar Attacker Charged in Hennepin County
(Minneapolis, MN) – The man accused of attacking Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a town hall meeting has now been charged in Hennepin County. County Attorney Mary Moriarty has charged 55-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault. Right now, Kazmierczak is being held in federal custody, where additional charges could be filed. Moriarty says her office will prosecute Kazmierczak when he’s made available to appear in Hennepin County District Court.
>>Senate Hearing on Impact of ICE Operations in MN
(St. Paul, MN) – A Senate Subcommittee is hearing testimony today on the impact of ICE actions in Minnesota. Linus Chan from the Detainee Rights Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School testified that there’s always been an ulterior motive to the federal agents being in Minnesota. He says, “If they wanted to enforce immigration law, they would not try to make it difficult for people to go to their hearing. They would not try to make it more difficult for people to access and actually present themselves both in court and to ICE.” Fifty state lawmakers from 15 states are in St. Paul for this hearing and a Day of Solidarity with Minnesota. Besides the hearing, today has been declared a Day of Solidarity with Minnesota at the state capitol.
>>Senate Leader Murphy Reacts to Border Czar in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) – President Donald Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan has been on the ground in the Twin Cities now for several days. He says the number of federal agents will be reduced, and the operation will become more targeted under his watch. But DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy says there’s still so much work to feel peace again in Minnesota. Murphy says Democrats have a number of anti-ICE proposals ready for the upcoming legislative session that include a pathway to sue for civil rights violations and banning face masks and unmarked vehicles for federal agents. She says once the ICE operation is over, Minnesotans will need time to repair the damage. House Speaker Lisa Demuth has told MNN it will be tough to pass these bills in a tied House.
>>MN Student, Community Orgs Call for National Shutdown Friday
(St. Paul, MN) – Tomorrow, Americans are being called to participate in a national economic shutdown by Minnesota community organizers in protest of ICE occupation in the state. New Justice Project M-N Founder Rod Adams says this is directly in response to Saturday’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Patrol officers. He says we have much more work to do and “It will end when ICE is abolished.” Pretti’s murder happened the morning after thousands of people rallied in downtown Minneapolis and a day-long, city-wide general strike. 37-year-old Renee Good was killed on January 7th.
>>Mankato Man Arrested For Posing as FBI Agent to Free Mangione
(Brooklyn, NY) – A man is jailed in New York after posing as an FBI agent to get accused killer Luigi Mangione out of jail. Mangione is charged with fatally shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson of Maple Grove outside a Midtown hotel in December 2024. Police say 36-year-old Mark Anderson of Mankato went to the Metropolitan Detention Center and claimed he had an order “signed by a judge” to free Mangione. He allegedly took out a Minnesota driver’s license and said he had weapons in his bag when he was asked to show his credentials. Anderson was arrested and charged with impersonating an FBI agent.
>>Minnesota Ranks Second Nationwide For Violent Injuries To Hospital Workers
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota ranks near the top in the nation for violent injuries involving hospital workers. A new study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the state had the second-highest rate of hospital employees injured on the job due to violence. The report estimates that, on average, one to two hospital workers in Minnesota are violently injured each day. Only Connecticut recorded a higher rate than Minnesota during 2023 and 2024.
>>St. Joseph Man Charged With Sexual Assault
(St. Cloud, MN) – A 19-year-old St. Joseph man is facing felony charges after a woman reported being sexually assaulted early Tuesday. Stearns County court documents say the woman told police she awoke to the suspect assaulting her in a residence shortly after 3 a.m. She reported struggling to get away and called for help. Officers say the woman had visible injuries, including scratches and bruising, and reported throat pain. Police arrested Brian Kimithi, who they say admitted to sexual contact during a Mirandized interview. Kimithi is charged with criminal sexual conduct.
>>Zimmerman Mom Releases Statement After Daughter’s Safe Recovery
(Zimmerman, MN) –The mother of a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl who went missing last week is thanking law enforcement and the community. The girl disappeared after school on January 21st, prompting an AMBER Alert and a massive search involving more than 700 community volunteers and 200 law enforcement personnel. Investigators later tracked a vehicle on I-35 near Albert Lea, where they conducted a traffic stop and recovered the girl safely. In a statement shared through the family’s attorneys, the girl’s mother said she is “beyond grateful” for everyone who helped bring her daughter home, and they’re now focusing on healing and recovery. Authorities arrested 28-year-old Joseph Bragg, who is now charged with kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
