>>Credible Threat Cancels Classes at Columbia Heights Public Schools
(Columbia Heights, MN) — Classes are cancelled today (Mon) at Columbia Heights Public Schools due to a credible threat. School officials said no students or staff should report today “out of an abundance of caution.” Columbia Heights police haven’t commented about the threat. School administrators said at least four students were detained by ICE in January. Five-year-old Liam Ramos of Columbia Heights and his father were returned home from a Texas detention facility on Sunday.
>>Lawsuit Against ICE Continues Despite Ruling Denying Preliminary Injunction
(St. Paul, MN) — State and local officials are disappointed that a federal court denied their motion for a preliminary injunction to halt Operation Metro Surge. Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement, “We know that these 3,000 immigration agents are here to intimidate Minnesota and bend the state to the federal government’s will. That is unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment.” The judge said the state failed to prove that Minnesota’s sovereignty was infringed upon by immigration enforcement operations in the state. Ellison says the lawsuit is continuing despite the court’s ruling.
>>Agents Identified in Fatal Shooting of Pretti in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — According to government records reported by ProPublica, federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis are identified as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez. The Department of Homeland Security previously told Congress that two agents fired at Pretti, claiming one yelled “He’s got a gun!” before shots were fired. C-B-P officials say their analysis was based on body-camera footage. Multiple bystander videos contradict that account; in the footage, Pretti seems to intervene when agents sprayed a chemical agent at a woman, then struggled with officers before being shot. A congressional hearing on the incident and other uses of force by D-H-S agents is scheduled for tomorrow (Tues) at 3 p.m.
>>Morrison says Detainees Not Treated Humanely at Whipple Building
(Minneapolis, MN) — Congresswoman Kelly Morrison claims detainees are not being treated humanely at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Democrat and doctor says she was finally granted access this weekend to perform oversight at the ICE detention center. She said, “I got confirmation that the facility has no specific medical policy and no real medical care on site. There was not a nurse present at all. There are no beds, no real blankets, minimal food, extremely cold temperatures.” Morrison and Representatives Angie Craig and Ilhan Omar were denied access to the Whipple Building three weeks ago.
>>DEED Names February as “Shop Local, Stand Together” Month
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is designating February as “Shop Local, Stand Together” month. Commissioner Matt Varilek says federal immigration actions in the state are leading to big economic impacts, with some small businesses reporting revenue drops as high as 70 percent, and others closing their doors. He says both workers and customers are staying home out of fear, hurting local shops even further. The state has also set aside five-million dollars in grants to help businesses cover payroll, rent, staffing, and inventory as they work to stay afloat.
>>MnDOT, Bituminous Roadways Fined for Stormwater Violations
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is fining MnDOT more than 18-thousand dollars and Bituminous Roadways over 11-thousand dollars for stormwater permit violations at a Saint Paul construction site. An M-P-C-A investigation found the two failed to install proper stormwater protections at storm drains last May and June, allowing sediment-laden runoff to flow into the storm sewer system and nearby Round Lake. Both MnDOT and Bituminous Roadways have since taken corrective action, including recovering sediment from the lake and stormwater system, installing drain protections, and removing soil stockpiles near storm drains.
>>Wolves and Grizzlies Again Tonight in Memphis
(Memphis, TN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves plays the Grizzlies again tonight (Mon 6:30pm) in Memphis. The Wolves beat the Grizzlies 131-114 on Saturday night at FedEx Forum for their fourth straight victory. Anthony Edwards had 33 points and Julius Randle scored 27. Minnesota is 31-19 while Memphis has an 18-29 record.
