>>Border Zar Homan to Give Update on “Operation Metro Surge”
(Minneapolis, MN) — Border Czar Tom Homan is expected to give an update on Operation Metro Surge this morning. (8 a.m.) His briefing comes as Minnesota leaders continue calling for a significant drawdown of federal immigration agents across the state. Governor Tim Walz says he is hopeful today’s update will bring clarity on whether more federal officers will be removed or whether the surge could end altogether. Walz has said he expects the federal presence to wind down in “days, not weeks and months,” following conversations with Homan and the White House. Homan previously announced that 700 federal officers had already been ordered out of Minnesota, with around 2,000 remaining as part of the ongoing operation.
>>Minnesota Lawmakers Testify Today Before Senate Homeland Security Committee
(Washington, D.C.) – More of Minnesota’s top political leaders are in Washington, D.C. this morning for a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. The oversight hearing will focus on the cooperation efforts between state and local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities here in Minnesota. The scheduled list of testifiers includes Congressman Tom Emmer, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Republican House Floor Leader Harry Niska, and Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. our time.
>>Tuesday Shootings in Duluth were Likely Related
(Duluth, MN) — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Duluth Police held a joint press conference on Wednesday, saying two shootings on Tuesday are believed to be connected. Around 4 p.m., officers found a 33-year-old Darius Handy of Duluth dead from gunshot wounds. Police say he was shot by a suspect firing from a vehicle while Handy was stopped at an intersection. About five hours later, a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a reckless driver. The vehicle fled, and a second deputy used a pit maneuver to stop the vehicle. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said gunfire was exchanged after the car spun out, and the driver, the lone occupant, was killed at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.
>>Man Dies in Austin Mobile Home Fire
(Austin, MN) — An early morning fire at an Austin mobile home on Wednesday left one person dead and another injured. Fire crews were called to the Oakland Estates Mobile Home Park, where they found 76-year-old Ricky Lee Hofer dead inside the residence. Another occupant escaped the flames and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is now investigating what caused the fire.
>>Minnesota Traffic Deaths Dropped 20% in 2025
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota saw a 20 percent drop in traffic deaths last year, according to the annual Advisory Council on Traffic Safety report. Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says while the trend is encouraging, more than 370 families still lost loved ones, and that shows there’s plenty of work left to do. Hanson credits first responders, infrastructure improvements, focused enforcement, and driver education for the decline. He says Minnesota’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all; it takes engineering, enforcement, education, and strong public engagement. Adjusted for miles traveled, Minnesota is now the fourth safest state in the nation for traffic fatalities.
>>Four People Hurt in Crash Involving Brooklyn Park Police Squad Car
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — Police in Brooklyn Park say four people are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries suffered in a three-vehicle crash on Wednesday involving a patrol vehicle. Investigators say the squad car was responding to a call with its emergency lights on when the crash happened. The police S-U-V flipped upside down, and two officers were taken to the hospital. The Minnesota State Patrol is looking into the crash.
>>Governor Walz Authorizes Emergency Assistance Following Cyber Incident
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz has authorized emergency assistance in response to the cyber incident that disrupted digital services in the city of St. Paul last summer. On July 29, a digital security incident caused disruptions to critical systems in Ramsey County. The governor’s office says the magnitude of this incident exceeded the city’s ability to respond. In a statement, the governor said this state disaster assistance of $1.2 million will provide resources to respond and restore the safety and security of St. Paul residents.
