Minnesota Now

We're following a second shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security said the man who was shot and wounded in the leg was fleeing agents. It led to protests with chemicals deployed by law enforcement last night. President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to what he said would put an end to protests in the state. We learn the legal ins and outs of the Insurrection Act.And the family of Renee Macklin Good, the woman who was killed by an ICE officer last week, has hired a lawyer for an independent civil investigation of her death. Plus, we learn about how businesses and a church are responding to the flood of ICE agents to Minnesota.

Renee Macklin Good's parents, siblings and widow have hired the same law firm that represented the family of George Floyd. Their civil attorney Antonio Romanucci said his firm is launching a civil investigation into Good's death after she was shot and killed by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis last week. Lauren Bonds is the executive director of the National Police Accountability Project. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what the family's legal path could look like.

President Donald Trump threatened on social media Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act to stop resistance to ICE activity in Minnesota. United States presidents have used the act about 30 times in the past, according to NPR. The most recent was in 1992. That year, President George H.W. Bush invoked the law to quell riots in Los Angeles after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. Trump has talked before about using the law to support immigration enforcement. For perspective on the law, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with University of Minnesota law professor Ilan Wurman, who specializes in Constitutional law and presidential power.

Since federal immigration enforcement began in December, mutual aid networks have popped up across the state to support immigrant families. A church in south Minneapolis has been a hub for delivering groceries. DHH church serves primarily Hispanic families. But their community has grown. In total, they've delivered 12,000 boxes of groceries over about six weeks. They have more than 20,000 families registered to receive food. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Senior Pastor Sergio Amezcua.

On Wednesday a federal agent shot and wounded a man who the Department of Homeland Security said was fleeing federal officers in north Minneapolis. DHS said the officer fired a defensive shot because he was "ambushed and attacked" and feared for his life. That happened exactly a week after the deadly shooting of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with MPR's Estelle Timar-Wilcox to cover what is known about the shooting, and Dymanh Chhoun, a multimedia journalist at Sahan Journal, who spent the evening in north Minneapolis as protests erupted following the shooting. Also hear from Democrat State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion was also on the scene last night and live streaming what he saw.

Wednesday morning, people gathered at a vigil for Renee Macklin Good, a week after she was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. And the U.S. Department of Justice response to her death led six federal prosecutors in the state to resign. Owners of child care centers said they've faced safety concerns since the release of a viral video alleging daycare fraud. We talked with two in St. Paul who are asking the city for help.Plus, we talked to a Minneapolis city council member who is calling for an eviction moratorium during the ICE and Border Patrol operations. Social media feeds are full of videos of ICE encounters. Some are real and some are AI generated. We hear expert advice on how to tell the difference.

Childcare leaders in St. Paul said childcare centers are facing escalating safety threats. And now, they're calling on the city to provide clarity on what officials and police can do to keep childcare settings safe. The escalation follows the release of a video in December by content creator Nick Shirley, making yet-proven claims about fraud at childcare centers. And now, the immigration operation is having an impact too. A spokesperson for St. Paul Police told MPR News in a statement that here have been no threats or incidents occurring at child care centers in Saint Paul.“The safety of our children is of the upmost importance to us. We encourage community members to contact us immediately if they suspect suspicious activity.”MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Maria Snider, the vice president of the Minnesota Child Care Association and a director of a child care center in St. Paul as well as Dawn Uribe, CEO and owner of Mis Amigos Preschool, which has four Twin Cities locations, including one in St. Paul.

With federal agents in the streets, some Minneapolis council members said residents are reporting they can't safely go to work and pay rent. With increased federal law enforcement presence in the Twin Cities since December first, city leaders say the bills are piling up for people. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Minneapolis council member Robin Wonsley, who represents the eastern part of the city, to discuss this and other ripple effects of the immigration operation.

It's been one week since an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good in south Minneapolis. Community members are keeping up a growing memorial at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue South. Local activists and faith leaders met there Wednesday morning for a three-hour vigil. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox, who was present at the vigil.

Minnesota Now continues to cover escalating encounters between immigration law enforcement and Minnesotans. We have team coverage from MPR News, tracking all aspects of this operation. Including an on-the-ground report from our journalists documenting ICE.We talked with people who have had various encounters with immigrations agents, including two observers who were detained for more than eight hours and a Somali American Uber driver who went viral for his confrontation with border patrol. We also heard from an expert from the ACLU about what to do if you encounter ICE. Plus, a woman shares her experience being pulled over by ICE and how an observer on the sidewalk helped her remain calm during the intense experience.

Minnesota Now spoke to Minnesotans who have had encounters with federal law enforcement. Listen to hear the stories of a mom pulled over by ICE on the way to drop kids off at school, a Somali Uber driver questioned by Customs and Border Patrol and observers who were detained for eight hours.

More and more Minnesotans are having escalating encounters with federal law enforcement agents.South Minneapolis residents Patty O'Keefe and Brandon Sigüenza had an encounter with ICE agents after observing the agents from their car and shared their experience. MPR News host Nina Moini then spoke to ACLU Minnesota attorney Ian Bratile about how to legally handle interactions with federal immigration agents.

On Minnesota Now this week, we're checking in with our journalists on the ground who are trying to get a handle on immigration operations. On Tuesday morning, ICE agents took two people into custody and used chemical irritants on a crowd in south Minneapolis. The incident occurred a block from where an agent killed Renee Macklin Good. MPR News photojournalist Ben Hovland was at the scene, and he joined host Nina Moini with more.

Minnesota Now is continuing to follow reports of ICE and Border Patrol agents stopping and detaining people in the Twin Cities region. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem more agents are being deployed to join at least two thousand who are already in Minnesota. MPR News photojournalist Ben Hovland shared what he saw as he reported in the field. Reporter Matt Sepic broke down a case where agents entered a home without a warrant signed by a judge. We talked to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. And we checked in with an attorney defending people who have been detained. Plus, an investigative journalist explained how ICE is using technology to track people. We also heard excerpts from Monday's 9 a.m. show, MPR News with Angela Davis. A therapist shared insight for living through intense emotions and listeners called in with their experiences.

Immigration enforcement has ramped up in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security says at least 2,000 ICE agents are in the state. In addition, Customs and Border Patrol agents are here arresting people. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said over the weekend that hundreds more agents would join them. As these agencies ramp up their activity in Minnesota, reports of detainments are almost too much to keep up with. David Wilson is an immigration attorney with Wilson Law Group. He joined Minnesota Now with Nina Moini to talk about what he's seeing with immigration cases.

The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that federal agents have arrested more than 2,000 people in Minnesota since the start of December. MPR News has received many reports of encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, along with questions about who will hold federal agents accountable for illegal activity, racial profiling and use-of-force incidents. After an ICE officer killed Renee Macklin Good last week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz have told the agencies to leave. To find out what actions state and local leaders may take to limit ICE and Border Patrol activity in the region, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

What acting ICE Director Todd Lyons called the “largest immigration enforcement operation ever” continues to unfold in Minnesota. And we are learning about the tools federal law enforcement agents use to track the people they're trying to arrest, as well as protesters. ICE recently purchased two programs called Tangles and Webloc, which are used to track the cell phone activity of entire neighborhoods and monitor people over social media and through internet data, according to reporting by 404 Media. 404 Media journalist Joseph Cox joined MPR News host Nina Moini with insight on those tools and how they're used to track people.

We are following the developing story of the ICE shooting in south Minneapolis. We'll take you to a vigil that is memorializing Renee Good, the woman who died in the shooting. And we'll have the latest from the scene of the shooting, which has now been barricaded and blocked to traffic by the public. The state of Minnesota has now been sidelined from the investigation by the federal government. We'll have the latest. And we'll talk to the Mayor of the city of Chicago, where ICE has also surged. And where nearby there have also been incidents of people being shot by ICE. Plus, we'll look at the legal precedent for an investigation into this shooting.

Minnesota Now followed breaking news of a woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. Hear a press conference from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. And hear the latest from reporters on the scene of the shooting.

The Trump administration reportedly kicked off another massive deployment of federal agents in the Twin Cities. They're expected to look into alleged cases of fraud, and a Minneapolis City Council member weighs in.A state law is now in effect to protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. Courts can now help prevent stealing or scamming older or disabled adults.Plus, Minnesota colleges are teaching students about how to become professionals in the state's new cannabis industry and cannabis education.And one Minnesotan who is skiing — and shooting — her way to the Winter Olympics as part of Team USA's group of biathletes.Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Gigawaabamin" by Bizhiki. Our Song of the Day was “Morning” by Chutes.

In one month, the Olympic torch will be lit in Milano-Cortina, Italy for the 2026 Winter Games. Minnesotans always have a strong showing at the Winter Olympics, and another athlete has just been added to the roster. Margie Freed is an Apple Valley native. She's making her Olympic debut in biathlon. Freed spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about getting ready for her first Olympic games.

As the cannabis industry grows in Minnesota, there is a need for more skilled workers. Two Minnesota colleges are expanding their programs to help teach people the ropes of the cannabis industry. Starting next week, St. Cloud State University will have their first cohort of students enrolled in a new cannabis certificate program. Minnesota State Community and Technical College — or M State, which has schools across northwest Minnesota — will expand their offerings. M State was the first two-year college in greater Minnesota to offer cannabis education. Both schools are partnering with the company Green Flower to offer the courses. Max Simon the CEO of Green Flower, and Sean Collins, director of workforce development solutions at M State, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the programs and the budding industry.

Reports of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in Minnesota has steadily risen since 2021. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Human Services via the Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Dashboard, reports of abuse or exploitation have gone up from 55,000 to over 66,000. Vulnerable adult is a legal category for adults who have difficulty caring for themselves without help. It includes people with disabilities as well as older people in assisted living or nursing homes. A new state law allows a court to more quickly step in if an older adult is being scammed or stolen from — a judge can even freeze assets under the law, which took effect Jan. 1. Amanda Vickstrom is the executive director of the nonprofit Minnesota Elder Justice Center and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk more about the data.

The federal Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that Secretary Kristi Noem was in the Twin Cities, as a federal immigration crackdown continues.The agency posted a video to social media on Tuesday morning, showing Noem accompanying federal agents as they detained a man. The agency and Noem, in separate social media posts, labeled the video as being taken in Minneapolis — but it appeared to show the operation taking place at a building on Payne Avenue in St. Paul.DHS said the man is from Ecuador and is in the U.S. illegally, and that he's wanted for murder and sexual assault. Noem said that warrant is from Ecuador, and said he was also convicted of robbery and extortion. DHS and Noem did not provide further details on those cases.It was not immediately clear how long Noem would be in the Twin Cities. It's now been more than a month since federal officials announced an immigration operation targeting the Twin Cities. The agency has previously said that it's made hundreds of arrests.Gov. Tim Walz, who ended his bid for a third term Monday, sharply criticized the federal enforcement effort, raising concerns about both the scale of the operation and the lack of coordination with state officials. “We have a ridiculous surge of apparently 2,000 people not coordinating with us that are for a show of the cameras,” Walz said. “Why 2,000 folks? What are they coming to do? Do they want to coordinate with us?”MPR News contacted both ICE and the Department of Homeland Security to confirm the number of agents being deployed to Minnesota. DHS responded with a statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, saying, “While for the safety of our officers we do not get into law enforcement footprint, DHS has surged law enforcement and has already made more than 1,000 arrests of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang members.”Walz said the increased ICE presence is creating fear among immigrant communities, particularly communities of color. “What he's [Trump] doing to the Somali community is absolutely unconscionable,” Walz said, adding, "If you want us to fix fraud, come and help us do that. They're not interested in that.” Walz said he views the federal action as part of a broader political attack on Minnesota. Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez said he has not received confirmation from the federal government about the reported deployment of 2,000 agents but said the impact of increased enforcement is already being felt across the city.“There hasn't been information shared with me at the city level,” Chavez said. “But what we are witnessing on the ground, is that we have already seen an escalation of ICE agents across our city and across the state.”Chavez said community members in South Minneapolis are reporting agents stopping and detaining people early in the morning as they head to work. “We have already seen it starting really early in the morning as people were heading to work, getting stopped and being kidnapped by ICE,” he said.He described seeing agents in tactical gear and an increase in unmarked vehicles.“We're seeing the tactical gear all over Lake Street and across South Minneapolis,” Chavez said. “We're seeing a ton of unmarked vehicles and we have witnessed folks already being detained.”Chavez said he is particularly concerned about racial profiling and due process. Meanwhile, the Immigrant Defense Network — a statewide coalition of more than 100 organizations — is launching constitutional observer trainings across the state to help community members document and respond to federal enforcement activity.

Gov. Tim Walz has ended his bid for a third term, saying he wanted to spend his final year in office focused on fighting fraud in state programs instead of campaigning. It comes after mounting criticism and a viral video that brought the ire of the federal government. We'll talk to a Democrat and Republican analyst about what this means for the election.Plus, we'll hear from the chair of the Minnesota GOP, Alex Pleshach about how his party is now approaching the race. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic will break down how fraud played a role in the end of the governor's campaign. And a professor joins to talk about the impact Nick Shirley's viral video had on this moment.

The Trump administration is halting money for child care in Minnesota. It's a response to a YouTube video that accused daycare centers of fraud. State officials say they're investigating but so far haven't substantiated the allegations. We'll talk with a childcare provider about the impact.It's the last day of 2025, a year that brought swift and constant changes to immigration policy. immigration reporter Sarah Thamer joined the program to explain. And to wrap up the year, we're sharing some of our favorite conversations. 50 years since the first Hmong refugees arrived in Minnesota, we'll talk about Hmong representation and culture. We'll revisit interviews with Minnesota basketball stars' childhood coaches. And we go back out to lunch with Anton Treuer.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Auld Lang Syne” by Coyote.

On the last day of 2025, the Minnesota Now team looked back on some of our favorite conversations of the year. We heard from Hmong Minnesotans commemorating 50 years of Hmong immigration to the state. We talked to the childhood coaches of Minnesota-raised basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Chet Holmgren. And we sat down with Ojibwe language and culture professor Anton Treuer over a meal in our “Out to Lunch” series.

Child care centers in Minnesota are in limbo, after President Donald Trump's administration announced it is freezing federal child care funds to the state. The decision stems from a YouTube creator, Nick Shirley, who visited daycares run by Somali Minnesotans, alleging that they are acting fraudulently. State officials say they are looking into the allegations but so far haven't substantiated the fraud claims. And Governor Tim Walz, pushed back on the move saying that Trump is “politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” Maria Snider is the director of Rainbow Child Development Center in St. Paul and also the vice president of the Minnesota Childcare Association. She joined Minnesota Now to share how the federal reimbursement process works and the impact of the freeze.

The Trump Administration set out to implement its immigration agenda on day one and made major changes to the U.S. immigration system. That included halting the resettlement of refugees, ending temporary protections for certain groups, and initiating a widespread deportation effort. In just this last month, at least 670 people in Minnesota have been arrested by ICE.These actions have left many immigrants across the state feeling fearful and uncertain about their futures. MPR News immigration reporter Sarah Thamer sat down with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to look back on the year and what unfolded.

As 2025 comes to a close, we are reflecting on the stories that impacted Minnesotans most this year. The Annunciation Church and School community is working towards healing following a mass shooting. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with two Annunciation parents who are helping lead the community forward.2025 was also a difficult year for state lawmakers following the killings of House leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson explained how the tragedy is still impacting the legislature. And Minnesota saw an explosion of data center proposals this year. MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn broke down where things stand.Plus, Minneapolis was the center of reality TV this year. We're talking about Love is Blind! We heard from the only married couple from the show, Daniel and Taylor.

If you think back to Valentine's Day 2025, you may remember the release of a dating reality show featuring a group of Minnesotans.‘Love is Blind: Minneapolis' portrayed the relationships of five couples who got engaged after a short, but intense period of dating, without ever seeing one another. Later in the show, the couples came back to the Twin Cities and put places like Buck Hill, Bryant Lake Bowl and the Como Conservatory on screens around the world. MPR News mapped the filming locations, talked to cast members and heard mixed reactions from fans.At the end of the season, just one couple said “I do” at the altar. Taylor and Daniel Hastings renewed their vows this summer and recently celebrated their favorite holiday, Christmas, together for the first time since their relationship became public. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about life after the show.

Minnesota may be known as the land of ten thousand lakes, but an explosion of proposals for data centers this past year has some wondering if it could soon become the land of ten thousand data centers. From Faribault to Hermantown, places across the state are facing the possibility of a data center coming to their community. With cool temperatures and favorable tax exemptions, Minnesota has become an attractive place for tech companies searching for a place to build their data storage houses. MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn has been following the data center beat. She joined Minnesota Now to recap all that happened in 2025.

The shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses was one of the most impactful stories of 2025. On June 14th, a shooter killed DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot. They survived. Six months later, lawmakers are still grappling with the attacks. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined Minnesota Now to talk about the tragedy and its lasting mark on the legislature.

2025 brought many moments of grief and trauma for Minnesotans. That included the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis on Aug. 27. Harper Moyski,10, and Fletcher Merkel, 8, were killed. Twenty-eight others were injured. And hundreds of families now grappling with a very different reality. Kristen Neville and her fiancé Michael Burt together have five children who attend Annunciation. All five survived the mass shooting. Kristen and Michael have both taken on leadership roles in helping the Annunciation community move forward and they sat down to talk about those efforts with MPR News host Nina Moini.

Federal prosecutors announced new fraud charges Thursday related to state programs. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic broke down what prosecutors have alleged so far in other fraud cases ahead of the announcement.Minnesota's construction industry has continued to fare better than the overall economy. But a new survey shows the outlook within the industry is less optimistic than previous years. MPR News reporter Melissa Olson dove into another study showing the economic value of tribal gaming for the state of Minnesota.Plus, a holiday edition of professional help explored how to give money to causes you care about instead of spending it this season.

A choral music nonprofit focused on reflecting the racial and cultural diversity of the the Twin Cities is holding its annual holiday concert this weekend. The show will focus on music from Latin America in a performance called “Navidad Nuestra.”Border CrosSing artistic director Ahmed Anzaldúa, executive director Matthew Valverde joined YourClassical host Tom Crann in studio for a conversation and preview of the program.

A new study from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association looks at the impact of tribal gaming for the first time in seven years. According to the study, in 2023 tribal casinos employed more than 10,000 people statewide, about 70 percent of whom worked full time jobs. The report also found tribal casinos in Minnesota purchased more than $600 million in goods and services for ongoing operations, and more than half of that amount was purchased from Minnesota vendors. In total, tribal casinos generate $1.7 billion in economic activity for the state.MPR News Native News reporter Melissa Olson broke down the details of the report with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.

Some 140,000 Minnesotans work in construction. And job growth in the construction industry has continued to outpace the overall economy in recent years, according to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development. A survey of more than 170 construction businesses shows a slightly less optimistic outlook from within the industry for 2026 than previous years. The survey was carried out by the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, a trade group for contractors across the state. Tim Worke heads the organization and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk more about the results.

Chances are, you're getting a lot of ads right now inviting you to celebrate the holidays by spending money. The U.S. economy is lopsided toward this time of year. Retailers rely on holiday shopping. And nonprofits, too, depend on end-of-year donations. For the latest in our series Professional Help we asked an expert how to prioritize giving back during the holidays.Our ask: Help me give back during the holidaysOur professional: Nathan Dungan, president and CEO of Share Save SpendHandsOn Twin Cities has this guide for volunteering during the holidays.

Increased Immigrations and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota this month have drawn, likely, thousands of community protesters and observers. And confrontations between ICE agents and community members have been chaotic. Today, six Minnesota residents along with the ACLU of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against ICE, alleging that agents have interfered with their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly and have subjected them to harassment, intimidation and unlawful detentions. For more information on the legal case, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Alicia Granse, an ACLU of Minnesota staff attorney who is leading the lawsuit.

Six Minnesota residents and the ACLU of Minnesota are suing Immigration and Customs Enforcement alleging agents violated rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The lawsuit comes after recent immigration enforcement actions resulted in chaotic confrontations between community members and federal agents. Minnesota's restaurant industry is on edge as ICE continues to detain and arrest scores of people in the Twin Cities. A prominent chef and restaurant owner shared how he is dealing with the situation.And lawyers for a couple charged with driving off with a Homeland Security agent in their vehicle are disputing prosecutors' version of events. Plus, we met a local musician creating original Hanukkah music.

Prints from a Minnesota studio are among those on display as a part of novel exhibit at the Print Center New York. The project, called “Data Consciousness: Reframing Blackness in Contemporary Print,” is inspired by the ground-breaking data visualization work of W.E.B. Du Bois presented at the 1900 Paris Exposition, which sought to present various aspects of Black life after Reconstruction. This contemporary exhibit draws on updated data from official records, archives and oral testimonies to provide a contemporary look into the same themes explored by Du Bois.MPR News host Nina Moini talked with one of the artists behind the show, William Villalongo, along with Alex Blaisdell, gallery director at Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis.