>>Ellison Applauds Order Blocking Feds from Withholding $10 Billion for Social Services
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison is cheering a federal judge for temporarily blocking the Department of Health and Human Services from withholding 10-billion dollars in social services funding. Minnesota and four other Democratic states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from freezing federal funds, calling the move “unconstitutional.” Ellison says Minnesota’s childcare system generally could have suffered immensely without this funding. H-H-S officials want to withhold the federal grants due to the fraud investigations in Minnesota into multiple programs. The restraining order will last two weeks.
>>USDA Suspending $129 Million in Payments to Minnesota and Minneapolis
(Washington, DC) — The U-S-D-A is suspending all funding to Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis due to ongoing fraud investigations. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said she’s suspending payments on all active and future awards totaling more than 129 million dollars. Rollins writes in a letter to Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, “while your administrations have turned a blind eye to documented fraud, the Trump administration has made clear that fraud, waste, and abuse are unacceptable.” She also accuses the state of blocking U-S-D-A efforts to recertify SNAP recipients.
>>Flags at Half-Staff for Fallen Milaca Firefighter Ziegler
(St. Paul, MN) — Flags are flying at half-staff today (Sat) in Minnesota in honor of Milaca Firefighter Andy Ziegler. Governor Walz’s order says Ziegler served 15 years with the department and tragically passed away December 28th at age 44. Ziegler was a husband, father, and grandfather. Walz said Ziegler lived every day with “courage, compassion, and commitment to others that few could match.” There’s a celebration of life from 3 to 7pm in Milaca.
>>MN BCA Helping Gathering Evidence in ICE Shooting Investigation
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says it’s not conducting a full investigation into the January 7th ICE-involved shooting that killed Renee Nicole Good. Superintendent Drew Evans says the B-C-A needs full access to evidence and witnesses to meet Minnesota’s investigative standards, and that hasn’t been provided. The F-B-I is leading the case, but the B-C-A has offered to help preserve video and other evidence for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and will share that evidence with federal investigators. Evans says the B-C-A remains open to a full investigation if federal agencies agree to share all evidence or resume a joint probe.
>>ICE Protest Scheduled Today in Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) – A protest and march are scheduled this afternoon (Sat 1pm) in Minneapolis by immigration rights advocates to demand ICE leaves the state. The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) says it will speak out against the announcement that thousands of more federal agents would be sent to Minnesota. This comes following the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent on Wednesday. The protest is going on in the northwest corner of Powderhorn Park.
>>Anti-War Rally Planned in Minneapolis Sunday
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Anti-War Committee is hosting a rally tomorrow (Sun 1 pm) in Loring Park to show solidarity with Palestine and protest U-S foreign policy. Organizers say the event will feature speakers from several advocacy groups, including American Muslims for Palestine and Women Against Military Madness. The committee cites ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank despite a ceasefire and calls for an end to U-S military aid to Israel. The rally also aims to highlight connections between U-S actions abroad and immigration enforcement at home.
>>Pedestrian Killed by Train in Owatonna
(Owatonna, MN) — Police say a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train Friday afternoon in Owatonna. Few details have been released, and the victim’s identity has not been disclosed . Officers say the railroad crossing remain closed until late Friday night as investigators work the scene. The investigation is being handled jointly by the Owatonna P-D and Union Pacific Railroad Police.
>>Brooklyn Park Police Search for Missing 16-Year-Old
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — A 16-year-old boy from Brooklyn Park is missing. Police say Remi D’Janie was last seen in Plymouth on Friday. He’s described as Black, five feet six inches tall, weighs around 120 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. D’Janie was last seen wearing a backpack.
>>Last Weekend of Twin Cities Auto Show in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — This is the final weekend of the Twin Cities Auto Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Scott Lambert of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association says there are hundreds of new vehicles to check out this year. He says they’ve had good crowds and lots of buyers. They’re welcoming Lamborghini to the state for the first time and have a vehicle priced at $860 thousand. The Cars Against Crime display features a Batmobile, Back to the Future DeLorean, and Scooby Doo Mystery Machine.
