Minnesota

UMD students explore opportunities at Spring Volunteer Fair

DULUTH, Minn. — Students and organizations looking to do some good today gathered at UMD’s Kirby ballroom. Over 40 different groups were at the annual spring volunteer fair. The fair lets students see a variety of volunteer opportunities around the northland without having to go out and find them. Volunteering also gives students experience beyond what school and most students…

Owner of Lutsen Lodge suing insurance company for non-payment

DULUTH, Minn – North Shore Resort Company, the company that owns Lutsen Lodge, is suing Owners Insurance Company for not paying insurance claims from the fire that destroyed the historic resort. Lutsen Lodge Fire The suit, filed in federal court on January 23, 2026 says, “Plaintiff timely made a claim to Defendant for coverage under the Policy’s Building, Personal Property,…

Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar and is tackled at Minneapolis town hall

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man wearing a black jacket was tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis on Tuesday.  Click here to watch the encounter. The audience cheered as he was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of…

Northland lawmakers address increasing mistrust in law enforcement, amid ICE operations

DULUTH, Minn.–Four Northland lawmakers held a press event at Duluth City Hall to address their growing concerns around ICE operations in Minnesota and its effects on the Northland. Democratic representatives Liish Kozlowski, Pete Johnson, and Senator Jen McEwen of Minnesota joined Wisconsin Rep. Angela Stroud. Rep. Pete Johnson is a first responder as a longtime firefighter, and he said seeing…

Two federal officers fired shots during encounter that killed Alex Pretti

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two federal officers fired shots during an encounter that killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, a Customs and Border Protection official told Congress in a notice sent Tuesday. A photo of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer over the weekend, is displayed at the shooting scene Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in…

Judge issues temporary order barring removal of boy, 5, and father who were detained in Minnesota

(CNN) SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A federal judge has issued a temporary order prohibiting removal of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father whose arrest last week in Minnesota quickly become another lightning rod for America’s divisions on immigration under the Trump administration. U.S. Judge Fred Biery ruled Monday that any removal or transfer of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and…

DEED awards nearly $2.5 million in grants for Northland contamination cleanup

DULUTH, Minn. —  The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED) has awarded multiple Northern Minnesota communities nearly $2.5 million dollars in grants to clean up contaminated sites for redevelopment. These grants pay up to 75% of the costs to assess and clean up the sites. Communities in Northern Minnesota that received funds: The Duluth Economic Development Authority was awarded…

Judge orders ICE chief to appear in court to explain why detainees have been denied due process

Courtesy: Associated Press (file) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) — The chief federal judge in Minnesota says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt. In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge…

Pipe burst leaves Lakeside Early Learning with thousands of dollars in damage

DULUTH, Minn.– On Sunday afternoon, the extreme cold caused a pipe burst that has wrecked half of Lakeside Early Learning Center. We’re told, luckily no children or staff were harmed while this occured. However, the incident has left the daycare with at least $25,000 in damage so far. The executive director said, thousands of gallons of water soaked through all…

Walz and Frey both talk to President Trump today; Say positive conversations

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke to President Donald Trump about the immigration crackdown in his city and some federal officers will begin leaving. A photo of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer over the weekend, is displayed at the shooting scene Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. Frey…

Border Patrol commander Bovino and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A senior Border Patrol commander and some agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino walks with Federal agents outside a convenience store on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis) The departure of Border Patrol commander…

Publishers Clearing House scams making rounds in Northern Minnesota

Publishers Clearing House Logo DULUTH, Minn. –  The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says there have been numerous reports of scammers calling people claiming they had won a Publishers Clearing House prize. The calls have been made within the past week. Scammers are claiming the person won a cash sum and often a brand-new vehicle.  The caller then requests that they…

Case dismissed for man arrested in Virginia ICE operation

Jose Espinoza-Espinoza DULUTH, Minn. – The criminal case against Jose Espinoza-Espinoza, accusing him of “assaulting, resisting, or impeding a Federal Officer,” has been dismissed. Espinoza-Espinoza was arrested on January 16, 2026, by federal agents near the Cazadores Mexican restaurant in Virginia. Agents said Espinoza-Espinoza was in a car they suspected was “transporting illegal aliens”. On the morning of January 26,…

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’ office says call with President Trump was ‘productive’

  ST. PAUL, Min — A Monday morning call between President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz about fatal shootings by immigration officers appears to have been well-received by both sides. Walz’ office said the call was “productive.” “The Governor made the case that we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need…

Positively 3rd Street Bakery to donate profits to Minneapolis families affected by ICE activity

DULUTH, Minn. — Positively 3rd Street Bakery announced a new campaign to raise donations for Minneapolis residents affected by ICE. The bakery announced that all profits until Feb. 1, will be donated to the International Institute of Minnesota, which will use the funds to buy groceries or provide rent relief for families affected by the ongoing ICE-related activity. The small…

Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate drops out, citing opposition to federal ‘retribution’

Chris Madel (CNN) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel, a Minneapolis attorney who provided legal support to the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good, ended his GOP campaign in a surprise video announcement Monday. Madel called the recent immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities an “unmitigated disaster.” “I cannot support the national Republican’s stated retribution…

Congressman Stauber calls on Gov. Walz, Minnesota elected leaders to ‘seek cooperation’

U.S. Representative Pete Stauber, a Republican representing Minnesota’s 8th congressional district, released a statement Sunday, one day after a second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal agents.  Stauber is calling on Gov. Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Frey to “seek cooperation” and avoid interfering with “legitimate law enforcement operations.” Below is Stauber’s full statement: “As a former law enforcement…

Sixty CEOs of Minneapolis-based companies call for ‘immediate deescalation of tensions’

Logos of Minneapolis-bases companies who signed letter The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released a letter Sunday on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies after the second death of a Minneapolis resident involving federal agents. The full text of the letter: The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong…

Mayor Reinert says Duluth stands with Minneapolis, calls for end of Operation Metro Surge

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert released a lengthy statement Sunday regarding the fatal shooting in Minneapolis Saturday involving federal agents.  Reinert also released a video message on the topic (see below).  Reinert said the city of Duluth stands with Minneapolis.  Reinert also said the city joins fellow Minnesotans in a call to de-escalate federal operations and end Operation…

Federal and state officials both claim moral high ground in immigration crackdown after shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In dueling news conferences, federal and state officials offered starkly different messages Sunday about the immigration crackdown that has swept across Minneapolis and surrounding cities, with both claiming the moral high ground after another shooting death by federal agents. Courtesy: Associated Press “Which side do you want to be on?” Gov. Tim Walz asked the public. “The…

Federal immigration enforcement focusing on Iron Range Mexican restaurant again

Cazadores Mexican Restaurant Logo VIRGINIA, Minn. –  Federal court records show Homeland Security were “conducting surveillance near the Cazadores Mexican restaurant” in Virginia. In October 2025, agents from Border Patrol and Enforcement Removal Operations raided El Charro Mexican Bar and Grill and La Tequila Taco Shop.  Both of those restaurants are in Hibbing. The new revelation comes from federal court…

The man killed by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis was an ICU nurse, family says

Alex Jeffrey Pretti MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Family members say the man killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday was an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital who cared deeply about people and was upset by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his city. Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting in adventures with Joule, his…

READ IT: Gov. Walz statement following Border Patrol killing Minnesota man

Gov. Tim Walz news conference following January 24, 2026 deadly shooting by federal officials ST. PAUL, Min – Governor Tim Walz today issued the following statement in response to a third shooting involving federal law enforcement agents in Minnesota. “The federal occupation of Minnesota long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. It is a campaign of organized brutality…

Saturday developments in deadly fed shooting

A person holds a Minnesota state flag as federal immigration officers deploy tear gas Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP) – Federal officers shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, according to a hospital record obtained by the Associated Press. Minneapolis Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said in a social media post that…

READ IT: Initial statement from the Department of Homeland Security following deadly shooting

Picture released from Department of Homeland Security follow January 26, 2026 deadly shooting Below is the initial statement from the Department of Homeland Security following a deadly shooting on January 24, 2026: At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US…

Man shot during Minneapolis immigration crackdown has died

Man shot by federal agents has died, say Minneapolis police chief (January 24, 2026) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Federal officers shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, according to a hospital record obtained by the Associated Press. Minneapolis Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said in a social media post that he had been in contact with the…

Music fills Duluth City Hall as Lyric Opera of the North begins artist residency

DULUTH, Minn. — The rotunda at Duluth City Hall filled with music and voices from Lyric Opera of the North as Mayor Roger Reinert welcomed the 2026 Artists in Residence to the City Hall on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 21. This year marks the opera company’s 20th year of performances and education in the community. At the event, guests…

Mayor Reinert comments on Duluth City Hall protest

DULUTH, Minn. — As many Minnesotans participated in anti-ICE protests, and some businesses shut down for the day as part of statewide demonstrations. Nearly 100 community members gathered at the Duluth City Hall rotunda for a civil protest organized by Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America. Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert spoke on the protests and addressed the city’s role. “We…

Duluth man charged with 9 counts of ‘porch piracy’

Gerald August Mattson DULUTH, Min. –  A Duluth man has been charged with nine counts of felony mail theft. Duluth Police say Gerald August Mattson stole nine packages over the time span from December 31, 2025 to January 21, 2026. The packages were intended for various apartments in the Grandview Manor on East 2nd Street in Duluth.  That is where…

Large group of community members attend ICE out of Duluth Sit-in at City Hall

DULUTH, Minn.–Bright and early on a freezing Friday morning, a large group of community members, gathered in solidarity to protest against ICE escalations. “I was very impressed with the turnout. Our car didn’t start, so I didn’t know if it was going to be a little bit lower of a turnout, but everyone did definitely turn out,” said Kaylee Spencer,…

Duluth Human Rights Commission holds ‘ICE OUT’ press conference

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Human Rights Commission held a press conference at the city hall during an ‘ICE OUT’ sit-in that took place Friday. Members of the commission spoke before people gathered for the sit-in, calling attention towards the ongoing presence of ICE agents in Minnesota. The press conference focused on letting protesters know they are supported in their…

Police arrest protesters at airport as Minnesota gears up for anti-immigration enforcement protest

(CNN) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police arrested anti-immigration enforcement demonstrators at Minnesota’s largest airport Friday after they overstepped their permit, officials said, as a mass mobilization to protest the Trump administration’s crackdown began across Minnesota despite Arctic temperatures seizing the state. A network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy had urged Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and even shops…

Longstanding Downtown Duluth businesses to close for ‘ICE Out of Minnesota’ day

DULUTH, Minn. – At least two longtime downtown Duluth businesses, Sir Benedicts Tavern and Carmody Irish Pub, are closing Friday in support of the “ICE Out of Minnesota” day. The owners of both establishments released videos on social media Thursday evening with personal messages to their customers and the community. “Both my wife and I have worn the uniform of…

Driver injured after vehicle strikes moose on Highway 135

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — A driver was injured after a vehicle struck a moose in northern Minnesota. Minnesota State Patrol says a Lincoln Continental was traveling southbound on Highway 135 near Mile Marker 25 when it collided with a moose. The driver was transported from their residence to Essentia Health–Northern Pines with non-life-threatening injuries. Road conditions were snow- and…

Duluth businesses embrace the deep freeze with fun opportunities

DULUTH, Minn.– When it comes to experiencing the arctic-like air, many businesses decide to close their doors. However, a few of them around town see it as an opportunity. “Our hot shop comes in at a nice hot 2100 degrees,” said Katie Timmerman, Director of Operations at Lake Superior Art Glass. “Even though the ovens are hot, it’s colder than…

Minnesota Attorney General warning of crowdfunding scams tied to ICE activity in Minnesota

Keith Ellison at news conference announcingMinnesota and Twin Citiesare suing Trump administration over widespread immigration operations ST. PAUL, Min. – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning people of crowdfunding scams purporting to help those impacted by immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota. The Attorney General’s Office is saying “bad actors” are taking advantage of people’s generosity.  The Attorney General’s Office…

BCA: Feds have not given them name of officer that shot man following chase

Law enforcement uses flash bang before entering home in search of suspect following ICE-involved shooting (January 14, 2026) ST. PAUL, Min. – Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) say federal authorities are not cooperating with their investigation into a January 14, 2026 shooting involving federal officers. Minneapolis Police Department asked the BCA to investigate.  In a…

Hoops Brewing set to close after nearly 10 years of business

  DULUTH, Minn. —  Hoops Brewing is set to close after nearly 10 years of operation. In a video posted to Facebook, owner Dave Hoops announced that the brewery would close on February 23. “For more than 10 years, this place has been bigger than beer. It’s been a community, neighbors, friendship, and it’s been home,” said Hoops. The Duluth-based…

Vance heads to Minneapolis and says ‘far left’ should stop resisting immigration enforcement

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Vice President JD Vance, speaking in his home state of Ohio before visiting Minnesota on Thursday, blamed the “far left” for turmoil surrounding the White House’s deportation campaign. “If you want to turn down the chaos in Minneapolis, stop fighting immigration enforcement and accept that we have to have a border in this country,” Vance said in Toledo. “It’s not…

A woman who led a protest at a Minnesota church service has been arrested, Bondi says

Cities Church is seen in St. Paul, Minn. where activists shut down a service claiming the pastor was also working as an ICE agent, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A woman who led an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church has been arrested, Attorney General Pam…

Cold weather to temporarily close Second Harvest Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Upcoming cold weather on Friday has temporarily closed Second Harvest Duluth. In a post to Facebook, the organization said that due to the upcoming weather, they will be closed on Friday, January 23. The post states it is for the safety of their staff, volunteers, and neighbors. The Grand Rapids location of Second Harvest will remain open….

Minnesota Twins players meet with fans in Duluth during Winter Caravan tour

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth welcomed in some extra special visitors today as part of their Winter Caravan Tour throughout the state. Wednesday morning, Minnesota Twins players Justin Topa and Mick Abel, stopped by the Elite Sports Complex in West Duluth. The turf was filled with excited community members, ready to get their winter baseball fix. Fans got to check out a…

45th annual Arrowhead EMS Association draws in around 700 attendees

DULUTH, Minn.– For 45 years, first responders, medical professionals, and EMS from all over the region have met to collaborate and learn from one another. This year, the DECC is expecting to welcome in nearly 700 first responders. Each attendee will participate in a series of classes, keynote speakers, as well as the national expo. Getting familiar with one another…

2026 National Blood Donor Month press conference highlights blood emergency

DULUTH, Minn. — The 2026 National Blood Donor Month press conference highlighted a critical blood shortage in Minnesota. Over the past few weeks, blood donations fell 40% below hospital needs, leaving less than a two day supply of blood available for patients across the state. Blood donations are typically down during the winter season, but this year’s donation rate is…

Lifelong skier shares video of chair lift rescue at Lutsen Mountains

LUTSEN, Minn. – It was a wild ride, of sorts, in the stand-still position over the weekend for a few dozen skiers and snowboarders at Lutsen Mountains. The chair lift malfunctioned, leaving people stuck in the air for hours during dangerously cold air and wind. Courtesy: Andrew Schultz The Lutsen Fire Department said nobody was seriously injured as crews worked…

House Republicans vote to lift 20-year ban on mining near pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area

  Congressional Republicans moved closer Wednesday to lifting a 20-year ban on mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, pushing a resolution to end the moratorium through the House despite environmentalists’ warnings that it could devastate a premier destination for campers, kayakers and canoeists. The resolution now goes to the Senate, and approval there would send it to President…