News

Treasure Chest Games opens shop in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. — Treasure Chest Games has been open for just over a week, and business has been promising. They opened with a bang on New Year’s Eve with a tournament with some very lucky gamers getting some valuable cards. Previously operating as an online storefront, the brick-and-mortar storefront provides space for in-person play and the ability to browse the…

Judge to temporarily block effort to end protections for relatives of citizens, green card holders

A federal judge is expected to temporarily block efforts by the Trump administration to end a program that offered legal protections for more than 10,000 relatives of citizens and green card holders. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said Friday during a court hearing that she plans to issue a temporary restraining order but did not say when it would be issued. Plaintiffs want it issued by Jan. 14. That’s when protections end for people from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras who are part of the Family Reunification Parole program. Plaintiffs argue that many of these people have waited years for green cards, with some just weeks away from getting them.

Trump promises oil executives ‘total safety’ if they invest in Venezuela after Maduro ouster

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House looks to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to revive the country’s ability to fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum. Since the U.S. military raid to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has quickly…

Meta lines up massive supply of nuclear power to energize AI data centers

Facebook parent Meta has reached nuclear power deals with three companies as it continues to look for electricity sources for its artificial intelligence data centers. Meta struck agreements with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra for nuclear power for its Prometheus AI data center that is being built in New Albany, Ohio. Meta announced Prometheus, which will be a 1-gigawatt cluster spanning across multiple data center buildings, in July. It’s anticipated to come online this year. Financial terms of the deals with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra were not disclosed.

Fractures are starting to show in Trump’s GOP at the start of this election year

President Donald Trump gathered House Republicans this week at Washington’s Kennedy Center for a pep rally that kicked off the year. But by the time Republican lawmakers had completed their first week of work, fractures in the party were already showing. A few Republicans are pushing back on Trump’s aggression in the Western Hemisphere. The party is also not unified over health care benefits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says that Republicans are “going to be focused like a laser” on issues of affordability. But Democrats are making the case that Trump is becoming distracted from the needs of Americans, especially after the attack on Venezuela.

UW-Superior powering up new solar array project

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Superior is about to power up a new project. A solar array, two years in the making, is set to go live this spring, generating between five and fifteen percent of campus power needs. The 440-kilowatt, ground-mounted array was installed this summer southwest of Ross Hall on former soccer fields. Project leaders say it…

From climbing vacuums to cyber pets: Some highlights of CES 2026

CES 2026 showcased futuristic tech, from paper-thin screens to AI-driven gadgets. Meanwhile, robots were everywhere on the show floor, assisting and entertaining. Highlights of the annual tech trade show in Las Vegas included Lego introducing Smart Play, a blend of connected bricks with Star Wars themes. Clicks Technology also revived the digital phone keyboard with a magnetic QWERTY mode, while LG unveiled a TV as thin as paper. Roborock presented a vacuum that climbs stairs and Razer demoed AI-powered headphones similar to smart glasses. Strutt introduced a self-driving mobility chair and Uber revealed a premium robotaxi.

Minnesota prosecutor calls on the public to share Renee Good shooting evidence with her office

Federal law enforcement officers stand near a roadblock at Portland Avenue and East 32nd Street, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after reports of a shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis, where immigration enforcement has been conducting a major crackdown. (AP Photo/Tim Sullivan) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty on Friday called on members of the public to send any…

Packers’ Trevon Diggs wants to make the most of his unexpected playoff opportunity

Trevon Diggs couldn’t have imagined a couple of weeks ago that he’d have a chance to make an impact in the playoffs. The 27-year-old cornerback finds himself in this improbable position after the Green Bay Packers claimed him off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys last week. Diggs performed capably while playing nearly half of Green Bay’s defensive snaps in its regular-season finale Sunday. Packers coach Matt LaFleur didn’t rule out the possibility of starting him in their Saturday night wild-card matchup at Chicago.

As tensions flare in Minnesota, Treasury Secretary Bessent pushes a crackdown on fraud

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says his agency is taking a closer look at financial transactions between Minnesotan residents and businesses and Somalia. The actions come as the federal government ramps up its immigration crackdown in the state. The Treasury Department has ordered banks and businesses that people use to wire money to relatives abroad to scrutinize transactions. Bessent spoke to reporters during a Friday visit to Minnesota. Somali leaders and allies including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have vowed to protect the community. Bessent’s visit coincides with protests in Minneapolis after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a woman in a residential neighborhood on Wednesday.

Judge dismisses Salt-N-Pepa’s lawsuit to reclaim master recordings from Universal Music Group

A federal judge has dismissed Salt-N-Pepa’s lawsuit to reclaim ownership of their master recordings from Universal Music Group. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote sided with the recording giant, stating the group never owned the copyrights to their sound recordings. UMG argued the recordings were “works made for hire,” preventing rights reclamation. Salt-N-Pepa claimed their agreements indicated otherwise. The duo, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, became Salt-N-Pepa in 1985. They signed with Next Plateau Records, now under Universal’s Republic label. The judge found no evidence they granted the label copyright that can be reclaimed.

Federal officers are leaving Louisiana immigration crackdown for Minneapolis, documents show

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that federal border agents are pulling out of a Louisiana immigration crackdown and heading to Minneapolis. The shift appeared to signal a wind down of the Louisiana deployment that began in December and had been expected to last into February. The Trump administration has begun surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown that is tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. The Department of Homeland Security would not say Friday whether the Louisiana operation was ending in order to send officers to Minnesota.

Minneapolis schools will offer remote learning amid federal immigration enforcement

Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis school system will offer families the option of remote learning for a month amid federal immigration enforcement in the city, the district said….

T-wolves hold a pregame moment of silence for Renee Good, the woman fatally shot by an ICE officer

The Minnesota Timberwolves have held a moment of silence before their game for Renee Good, the 37-year-old woman fatally shot in her car by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Good was killed following a brief confrontation with ICE officers Wednesday morning on a Minneapolis street about 3 miles from Target Center. The shooting fueled further protests around the Twin Cities in light of a recent surge of ICE activity in the area as part of the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch says the Minneapolis community “has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy.”

Some flu measures decline, but it’s not clear this severe season has peaked

U.S. flu infections are showing signs of a slight decline, but health officials say it’s not clear that this severe flu season has peaked. New government data posted Friday covered flu activity through last week. It showed declines in medical office visits due to flu-like illness and in the number of states reporting high flu activity. But flu deaths and hospitalizations rose. By some measures this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter. That was one of the harshest in recent history. And experts believe there’s more suffering ahead.

Green Bay Packers versus Chicago Bears playoff preview

Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Chicago. SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will travel to the Chicago Bears in a wild-card game and rare playoff matchup. The NFL’s longest-running rivalry will only be televised on Amazon Prime. The two teams…

Rapper Fetty Wap released from prison early in drug trafficking case

Rapper Fetty Wap has been released from a federal prison to home confinement after serving just over half a six-year sentence for drug trafficking. The federal Bureau of Prisons says he was discharged from a Minnesota prison on Wednesday and transferred to community confinement overseen by a bureau office in Philadelphia. The agency did not explain the early release. Fetty Wap issued a statement thanking supporters and saying he is focused on family and giving back to his community. The New Jersey-born rapper had pleaded guilty after being charged in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine to dealers on Long Island and in New Jersey.

FACT FOCUS: Minneapolis shooting prompts spread of misrepresented and fabricated images online

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. Misrepresented and fabricated images spread widely on social media in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman, Renee Good, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday. Soon after the shooting,…

Duluth Schools take moment of silence as part of Minnesota Day of Unity

Duluth Schools Logo DULUTH, Min. – Secondary Schools in the Duluth School District took a moment of silence at 10am on January 9, 2026. It was part of Governor Tim Walz declaring it to be a “Day of Unity”. In the announcement Governor Walz, “encouraged individuals, businesses, faith institutions, and organizations to observe a moment of silence at 10:00 am,…

FACT FOCUS: Minneapolis shooting prompts spread of misrepresented and fabricated images online

Misrepresented and fabricated images spread widely on social media in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday. In some, photos of other women were wrongly identified as Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. Others were fabricated to falsely represent what happened at the scene of the shooting and an old video of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was said to show him speaking about the episode.

Minnesota Department of Human Services pausing provider enrollment for 13 Medicaid services

Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Human Services have announced in a press release that it is set begin a freeze on new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services which it deems at a high risk for fraud. A start date for the freeze is not yet determined, with the pause…

New Blackout and Retro license plates now available in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Retro & Black Out License Plates MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin’s newest state license plates, a Blackout design and a Retro butter yellow design, are now available for purchase at most DMVs. In making the announcement Gov. Tony Evers said, “I’m really jazzed folks will start seeing these new plates out on our roads that really showcase our proud Wisconsin…

Swiss prosecutors request male bar manager to be placed in pre-trial detention over fatal fire

Switzerland is holding a memorial service to honor the 40 people who were killed in an Alpine bar fire earlier this month during a New Year’s celebration. An additional 116 people were injured when the fire broke out less than two hours after midnight at the Le Constellation bar on Jan. 1. Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire in the resort town of Crans-Montana when they came too close to the ceiling. Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar managers. The memorial service Friday is part of a national day of mourning in Switzerland.

Trump meets with oil executives at the White House on Friday, seeking investments in Venezuela

President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House on Friday. He hopes to secure $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s oil industry. The goal rides on the executives’ comfort with investing in a country facing instability and inflation. Since a U.S. military raid captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has said there’s a new opportunity to use the country’s oil to keep gasoline prices low. The meeting is set for 2:30 p.m., and is currently set to occur behind closed doors. The full list of executives has not been disclosed, but Chevon, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend.

Takeaways from AP reporting on Trump administration cuts affecting US water systems

Deep funding cuts under President Donald Trump will make it more difficult for struggling communities to get help to fix sewer systems that put health and homes at risk. Cuts include grants, loans and technical help promised by the Biden administration to address racial and economic disparities. The cuts threaten to widen infrastructure inequality. Many cuts are part of Trump’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion. That includes a $14 million grant to help install septic systems in three majority-Black Alabama counties where many residents must pipe sewage from their homes onto their own property because it has nowhere else to go.

Broadband to finally reach rural St. Louis County

NORTH STAR TOWNSHIP, Minn. — After more than a decade of planning and persistence, broadband internet is finally expanding to four of St. Louis County’s most rural townships. In an era where internet access is often taken for granted, many families in rural parts of the county have long struggled with limited or unreliable service. Leaders say geography and distance…

Poor communities threatened by aging sewers see crucial aid slashed under Trump

Deep funding cuts under President Donald Trump will make it more difficult for struggling communities to get help to fix sewer systems that put health and homes at risk. Cuts include grants, loans and technical help promised by the Biden administration to address racial and economic disparities. The cuts threaten to widen infrastructure inequality. Many cuts are part of Trump’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion. That includes a $14 million grant to help install septic systems in several majority-Black Alabama counties where many residents must pipe sewage from their homes onto their own property because it has nowhere else to go.

As Trump promises Venezuelan renaissance, locals struggle with crumbling economy

President Donald Trump says American intervention in Venezuela will bring billions of dollars of investment in the country’s infrastructure, a revival of its once-thriving oil industry and a new age of prosperity for the Latin American country. But those pledges of future prowess can be hard to digest for Venezuelans living through today’s crumbling economy. The International Monetary Fund estimates Venezuela’s inflation rate is a staggering 682%, the highest of any country for which it has data. That has sent the cost of food beyond what many can afford. People typically work multiple jobs just to survive, and still cupboards and refrigerators are nearly bare. An estimated eight in 10 people live in poverty.

The Latest: Attorneys general sue Trump administration over freeze of public benefit programs

Attorneys general in five Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration after it said it would freeze money for several public benefit programs. The Trump administration has cited concerns about fraud in the programs designed to help low-income families and their children. California, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois and New York states filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit asks the courts to order the administration to release the funds. The attorneys general have called the funding freeze an unconstitutional abuse of power.

The pope in a major foreign policy address blasts how countries are using force to assert dominion

Pope Leo XIV has denounced how nations are increasingly using force to assert their dominion worldwide. He says such warmongering is “completely undermining” peace and the post-World War II legal order. Leo didn’t name names, but his speech Friday amounted to his most substantial critique of U.S., Russian and other military incursions in sovereign countries. The occasion was the pope’s annual audience with the Vatican diplomatic corps, which traditionally amounts to the pope’s yearly foreign policy address. Leo delivered the bulk of the speech in English, in a break from the Vatican’s traditional diplomatic protocol of Italian and French.

Trump pick for Gaza board Nickolay Mladenov frequently worked to ease Mideast tensions

Nickolay Mladenov, the man chosen to serve as the director-general for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza, is a Bulgarian politician and former U.N. envoy to the Middle East who frequently has worked to ease tensions between Israel and Hamas. His appointment — announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and confirmed by a U.S. official — makes him the top official in an unproven international body tasked with governing the Gaza Strip under the next phase of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire after two years of war.

Hiring was likely modest in December to end a year of weak job growth

Hiring likely remained subdued last month as many companies have sought to avoid expanding their workforces, though the job gains may be enough to bring down the unemployment rate. December’s jobs report, to be released Friday, is likely to show that employers added a modest 55,000 jobs, economists forecast. That figure would be below November’s 64,000 but an improvement after the economy lost jobs in October. The unemployment rate is expected to slip to 4.5%, according to data provider FactSet, from a four-year high of 4.6% in November. The figures will be closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington because they will be the first clean readings on the labor market in three months.

Russia says it used new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine

Russia says the military has used the new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in a strike on Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday that the overnight attack was a retaliation to what Moscow said was a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month. Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected the Russian claim of the attack on Putin’s residence. The ministry said the latest strike also involved other ground- and sea-launched missiles to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Four people were killed and at least 22 wounded in the capital, Kyiv.

Federal immigration officers shoot and wound 2 people in Portland, Oregon, authorities say

Federal immigration officers have shot and wounded two people in a vehicle outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon. Thursday’s shooting comes a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a driver in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security described the vehicle’s passenger as “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring” who had been involved in a recent shooting in Portland. The statement said that when agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver tried to run them over and an agent shot. There was no immediate independent corroboration of those events. The FBI’s Portland office says it is investigating.

Anthony Edwards, the 3rd-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points: ‘It’s cool.’

Anthony Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points when the Minnesota Timberwolves star swished a 13-foot fadeaway jumper from the baseline in the fourth quarter against Cleveland. Edwards at 24 years and 156 days old was beaten to the mark by LeBron James and Kevin Durant. He is one of seven players who’ve hit 10,000 points before age 25. Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony are also in that group. Edwards had 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as the Timberwolves beat the Cavaliers 131-122.

Luigi Mangione heads to court as he fights to block death penalty, murder charge and key evidence

Luigi Mangione is due in federal court for a pivotal hearing in his fight to bar the government from seeking the death penalty against him in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Garnett has said she also plans to set a trial date during Friday’s proceeding. Mangione’s lawyers contend that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his December 2024 arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed even before he was formally indicted. The charge that has enabled the government to seek the death penalty is murder by firearm. His attorney’s say it’s legally flawed. Federal prosecutors say Mangione’s lawyers are wrong.

Patrick Kane becomes 50th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals

Patrick Kane became the 50th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals, scoring his second goal of the game into an empty net with 3:53 left to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday night. The 37-year-old Kane is the fifth U.S.-born player to reach the milestone, following Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513) and Joe Mullen (502). Brett Hull, a dual citizen who was born in Canada and played internationally for the United States, had 741 goals. Kane opened the scoring on a two-man advantage with 29 seconds left in the first period. Kane has 1,369 points, five behind Modano for the U.S.-born mark.

Tarik Skubal asks for record $32 million in arbitration while Detroit Tigers offer $19 million

Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal asked for a record $32 million in salary arbitration while the Detroit Tigers offered the left-hander $19 million. Skubal was the most prominent of the 18 players who swapped figures with their teams. Those without agreements face hearings before three-person panels from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13. A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. He is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons. Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena was among 148 players reaching deals, agreeing at $15.65 million).

Photos show Cirque du Soleil rehearsing for upcoming show ‘Ovo,’ on the life cycle of insects

LONDON (AP) — Cirque du Soleil’s show “Ovo,” Portuguese for “egg,” brings to life a colorful ecosystem teeming with insects. Set around the arrival of a mysterious egg, the production explores the life cycle of insects, celebrating biodiversity and transformation, while weaving in a playful love story between a quirky insect and a ladybug. “Ovo” is currently in Britain for…

ICE shooting reinforces Minnesota’s grim role as Trump’s target

This week’s fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an immigration agent had grim echoes in Minnesota. It took place in a state that’s seen daily conflicts with the Trump administration. And it happened only a few blocks from the site of the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. That slaying sparked the biggest civil unrest of Trump’s first term. The president often talks about how protests over Floyd’s death needed to be met with more force. That approach is what led to the administration announcing the launch of its biggest immigration operation ever in Minnesota this week.

Man arrested for murder of Chazz Toney

Branden Russell King DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Police Department says they arrested 32-year-old Branden King for pending charges of 2nd Degree Homicide. He’s accused of killing 35-year-old Chazz Toney. Duluth Police say on October 10, 2025 at 12:25am officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 200 block of West 3rd Street. Officers arrived on scene…

Federal immigration officers shoot and wound 2 people in Portland, Oregon, authorities say

2 people shot and wounded by federal immigration officers in Portland, Oregon, authorities say PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The FBI’s Portland office says it is investigating a shooting that happened around 2:15 p.m. Thursday “involving Customs and Border Patrol Agents in which 2 individuals were wounded.” The Portland Police Bureau said its officers responded and found a man and woman with…

Inside the Indictments: Twin Ports anti-drug trafficking operation

John Deon Herring DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Police Department announced on January 7, 2026 they were, “executing a series of narcotics-related search warrants and arrests in connection with the trafficking of controlled substances in the Duluth/Superior area.” We are now getting a first look into the charges via a “Statement of Probable Cause”. It says the main target was…

Trina Swanson announces campaign for congress

Trina Swanson, Congressional District 8 Candidate DULUTH, Minn. — Trina Swanson has announced her campaign for congress in northern Minnesota. The Hermantown native has previously held senior leadership roles in U. S. Citizenship and Immigration services. Swanson says her campaign will focus on affordable healthcar,e including rural access, protecting working families, and education-to-career pathways. “I’m running because too many people…

Photos of the latest tech at the CES trade show in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The annual CES trade show displays the latest from tech companies at a multiday event in Las Vegas. The show highlights consumer products in robotics, health care, vehicles, wearables and gaming. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US & World News

Vance calls killing of Minneapolis woman by an ICE officer ‘a tragedy of her own making’

Vice President JD Vance is blaming a federal immigration officer’s fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman on “a left-wing network,” Democrats, the news media and the woman who was killed. Vance said Thursday he wasn’t worried about prejudging the investigation into the death of 37-year-old Renee Good. He said the videos he’d seen of the Wednesday incident show that “What you see is what you get in this case.” He said he was sad about her death but called her “brainwashed” and “a victim of left-wing ideology.” Vance also said the administration would name a prosecutor to investigate fraud in government assistance programs, starting in Minnesota.

North Carolina may lose $50M in federal funds over flawed immigrant trucker licenses

The U.S. Transportation Department says North Carolina could lose nearly $50 million in federal funding if the state doesn’t revoke commercial driver’s licenses from immigrants who aren’t qualify to hold them. North Carolina is the ninth state to be targeted since Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched the nationwide review last year to make sure only qualified drivers hold licenses to drive semitrailer trucks or buses. The issue started to generate headlines after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August. An audit of 50 commercial driver’s licenses that North Carolina had issued to immigrants found that there were problems with more than half of them.

Piedmont Youth Hockey Association preps for annual Jamboree

DULUTH, Minn. — The Piedmont Youth Hockey Association is gearing up for its annual outdoor jamboree. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year. From a full day of hockey, food, and family fun, this event is a great way to support the community rink while enjoying what it has to offer. “This is Piedmont’s weekend to come and celebrate,…