>> Border Czar Says More Than 1,000 Federal Immigration Agents Have Left Minnesota
(Undated) — White House border czar Tom Homan says more than one thousand federal immigration agents have already left Minnesota. The move follows last week’s announcement that the Trump administration is winding down Operation Metro Surge.
In an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Homan praised what he described as stronger coordination with Minnesota authorities. As the bulk of federal agents depart, he says smaller teams will stay on the ground to support ongoing operations.
>>St. Cloud Woman Loses Unborn Baby in Crash
(St. Cloud, MN) — A St. Cloud woman who was trapped in her burning van after a head-on crash Friday has lost her unborn baby. Police say 34-year-old Nastaho Amare was in the late stages of pregnancy when 32-year-old Christopher Otte of Avon crossed the center line and hit her minivan. Firefighters freed Amare from the burning vehicle, and she remains in critical condition at St. Cloud Hospital. Otte suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was later booked into the Stearns County Jail. Police believe he was impaired; a warrant-authorized blood draw is pending.
>>New Security Measures Rolled Out at Minnesota State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — Visitors to the Minnesota State Capitol will encounter new security measures this year, including weapons screening at entrances and a prohibition on firearms in the Senate gallery. Rob Doar, vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center, says the change raises legal questions the organization is reviewing. He notes that while permit holders are screened upon entering the Capitol, the Senate plans to add its own additional screening process for the gallery. “They’re going to be setting up their own screening, which is not going to be managed by State Patrol,” Doar said. “And they’re apparently seeking to exclude permit holders who have already gone through screening at the entrance from being able to participate in the Senate gallery.” Doar points out that the Minnesota House is not imposing the same restriction on those with valid permits.
Minnesota joins at least 38 states that already conduct weapons screening at their Capitol buildings.
>>Senator Hoffman Dedicates Work to Fallen House Speaker Hortman
(Champlin, MN) — State Senator John Hoffman is remembering the late Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman on the eve of the new legislative session. Hoffman posted a video on social media showing stacks of Hortman campaign signs that he found in storage. Hoffman said, “As the 2026 legislature reconvenes Tuesday, I dedicate the work ahead to my colleague and political kid sister, Melissa.” Prosecutors say the gunman who shot Hoffman and his wife in Champlin on June 14th later killed Hortman and her husband in Brooklyn Park.
>>Boy Dies After Falling Through the Ice In Bloomington Pond
(Bloomington, MN) — Authorities recovered the body of a boy from a pond in Bloomington on Saturday, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and first responders were dispatched to Bass Pond shortly after 1 p.m. on a report that two people were in the water. The Bloomington Fire Department rescued an adult man who had been clinging to the ice. Using sonar and an airboat, the sheriff’s water patrol located the boy in about eight feet of water just before 4 p.m. The incident remains under investigation.
>>Officials Identify Deputies Involved in Fatal Shooting of Duluth Man
(Duluth, MN) — Authorities have released the names of the two St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies who shot and killed a man in Duluth last week. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Sunday identified Sergeant Joshua Berndt and Deputy Matthew Sobczak (SOB-zack) as the officers who fatally shot Donald Felver III. Investigators say Felver fled from law enforcement before deputies forced his SUV off the road. According to the BCA, Felver then fired multiple rounds toward the deputies from inside the vehicle, prompting Berndt and Sobczak to return fire. County officials believe Felver is also responsible for the shooting death of Darius Handy, who was killed just hours before the confrontation with deputies.
>>Moorhead Man Arrested After Pursuit With Police
(Moorhead, MN) — A Moorhead man was arrested early Saturday after leading law enforcement on a pursuit that started in North Dakota and ended in Minnesota. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies learned during a traffic stop that 39- year-old Nicholas Wessels had active arrest warrants. When told he was under arrest, Wessels fled, sparking a pursuit. The chase continued into Minnesota, ending after tire-deflating devices disabled Wessels’ vehicle. His vehicle later crashed. Wessels briefly ran from the scene but was quickly taken into custody. Two female passengers were in the vehicle; neither was hurt during the pursuit or crash. Wessels is being held in the Clay County Jail.
>> ACLU Lawsuit Against Federal Immigration Agents Is Growing
(Undated) — An ACLU(American Civil Liberties Union) lawsuit against federal immigration agents continues to grow. The case centers on how agents treated observers and protesters during Operation Metro Surge. According to the lawsuit filed Friday, more than 80 Minnesotans have provided eyewitness statements. Their accounts describe federal agents using chemical irritants, less‑lethal munitions, and physical force against people who were watching or protesting immigration enforcement actions.
>>OTS Credits New Programs for Decline in Traffic Deaths
(Undated) – Minnesota traffic deaths fell for the second year in a row, with 370 fatalities in 2025, a 20 percent drop from 2024. The Office of Traffic Safety credits new teen-focused education programs. Director Mike Hanson says Project Teen Impact is changing driving behavior by sending trained troopers into 10th-grade classrooms. Another program, the Teen Total Zero Death Chapters, spreads safety messages through peer-to-peer youth groups. Hanson says improved data technology will help drive future safety efforts. Minnesota now ranks as the fourth safest state for traffic fatalities.
>>Presidents Day
(Undated) — Presidents’ Day, observed on the third Monday of February, is a federal holiday that celebrates the leadership and history of the U.S. presidency. Originally established in 1885 to honor President George Washington’s birthday, the holiday has grown into a broader recognition of all U.S. presidents and their contributions to the nation. Many city, state, and government offices, along with many schools and banks, will be closed.
>>Apostle Islands Ice Caves Open for First Time in More Than a Decade
(Bayfield, WI) — For the first time in over ten years, the Apostle Islands ice caves could officially open to the public. The National Park Service announced Saturday that conditions on Lake Superior are finally stable enough to allow safe access, beginning today.
Visitors will need to trek roughly two to six miles across the frozen lake from the Meyers Beach parking lot to reach the caves. Rangers say the ice shelf must extend several miles from shore to shield the lake ice from open‑water waves, a key safety requirement before opening the route. Entry to the area costs five dollars per person.
>>Faber Scores in Team USA’s Olympic Prelim Win Over Germany
(Milan, MN) — The U-S men’s hockey team secured a spot in the Olympic quarterfinals with a 5-1 win over Germany on Sunday in Milan. Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber scored the third goal for the Americans, and teammate Quinn Hughes assisted on one of Auston Matthews’ two goals. Team U-S-A clinched Group C and earned a buy-in in the first round of the playoffs. They will play the winner of the Sweden vs. Latvia game.
