>>Federal Judge Orders ICE, DHS Not to Destroy Evidence in Pretti Fatal Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — A federal judge has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security not to destroy or alter any evidence connected to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. The order comes in response to a temporary restraining request filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Ellison said during a Sunday press conference that if federal officials defy the judge’s order, the state will pursue additional legal action. Minneapolis police had asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the shooting. The BCA says it obtained a search warrant for the scene, but federal agents blocked its investigators from entering the area. Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday morning near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street.
>>Operation Metro Surge is Sending Minnesota Law Enforcement into Uncharted Territory
(Undated) — Operation Metro Surge is sending Minnesota law enforcement into uncharted territory. The killing of a Minneapolis man by federal agents is escalating a standoff between state and federal officials over the Trump administration’s massive deportation operation in the state. In the wake of Alex Pretti’s killing on Saturday, Minnesota leaders sounded alarms about federal agents violating Minnesota law while they carry out Operation Metro Surge. On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the shooting, saying the agents feared for their lives and that her office would lead the investigation of their use of force. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called for ICE agents to leave Minnesota, saying the federal agents are violating the civil rights of Minnesotans.
>>AG Ellison Goes Before Federal Judge to Halt Operation Metro Surge
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security heads to federal court this morning, where Attorney General Keith Ellison will ask a judge for a temporary restraining order to halt Operation Metro Surge, the deployment of 3,000 ICE agents across the Twin Cities. Ellison said the state is seeking immediate relief because the federal operation represents an unprecedented overreach. “The unprecedented nature of this surge causes the lawsuit we filed. It is a novel abuse of the Constitution that we are looking at right now. No one can remember a time when we’ve seen something like this,” Ellison said. He also argued that the federal government is intruding on state authority. “It is in the DNA of American history that the federal government cannot trample over the prerogatives of the state,” he said. Homeland Security officials have defended Operation Metro Surge, saying the additional agents are focused on locating and arresting “the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota.” This morning’s 9 a.m. hearing will determine whether the court temporarily halts the federal operation while the broader lawsuit moves forward.
>>CEOs of Top Minnesota companies Urge Cooperation to Help Businesses Navigate Immigration Crackdown
(Undated) — More than 60 Minnesota business leaders signed an open letter Sunday on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website. The message urges collaboration among state, local, and federal officials as companies across the state struggle with rising tensions following two deadly shootings carried out by federal agents during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation that has sparked protests. “In light of Saturday’s tragic events, we are urging an immediate reduction in tensions and calling on leaders at all levels of government to come together to develop meaningful solutions,” the letter states. Among the executives who endorsed the statement were 3M CEO William Brown, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry, General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Helmsley, and several others.
>> Senator Klobuchar to Vote Against DHS Funding Bill
(Minneapolis, MN) — Senator Amy Klobuchar says she will vote against a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security following another deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday. Klobuchar also called for ICE to leave Minnesota, arguing the agency has made the state “less safe.” Her remarks follow a statement from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who wrote on X that Democrats will not provide the votes needed to advance the appropriations bill if DHS funding remains included. Schumer described the situation in Minnesota as “appalling” and “unacceptable in any American city.”
>>Family Detained in Texas Returning to Minnesota from Texas
(Hopkins, MN) — A family of four detained in Hopkins and sent to Texas is returning to Minnesota. Mayor Patrick Hanlon posted on social media. “Luis and Maria are coming back home to Hopkins!” Hopkins Public Schools officials said a mother and two students were detained at home Thursday morning. An attorney at Lockridge Grindal Nauen said the family had properly filed for asylum, and he successfully challenged their unlawful detention. A court requires that they be returned home by today.
>> Former Track Coach and Teacher Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct
(St. Paul, MN) — A former high school track coach has been convicted of criminal sexual conduct. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says 31-year-old Eric Birth has been convicted on three counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct involving three different victims in Winona. Birth was the Winona Senior High School Track Coach from 2016 until about 2024, and taught physical education starting in 2021. In a plea agreement, Birth admitted to sexually assaulting three different high school students in 2016, 2017, and 2022. Attorney General Keith Ellison, who prosecuted, says Birth’s crimes are appalling, and his heart breaks for the students he assaulted. The Winona Police Department assisted in the investigation and prosecution of the crime.
>>Energy Saving Tips During Cold Snaps
(Undated) — CenterPoint Energy is offering tips to help customers cut heating costs during the winter. The utility says lowering your thermostat at night or when you’re away can reduce heating bills by up to ten percent. They also recommend setting water heaters to 120 degrees to save energy and reduce the risk of burns. Homeowners are encouraged to replace furnace filters regularly for better efficiency, use window coverings to help regulate indoor temperatures, and check for drafts around doors, windows, and pipes to prevent heat loss. A full list of energy‑saving tips is available on CenterPoint’s website.
