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My conversation with Anders Folk about his campaign for Hennepin County Attorney.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
Chair Latz, Senator Limmer, and members, thank you for inviting me to be here today.I am glad that we are here when, if the federal government is to be believed, Operation Metro Surge will soon be winding down. Tragically, whenever the real end to this surge finally comes, it will come too late for Renee Good and Alex Pretti and all who loved them. We will continue to seek justice for them.The surge will end too late for Liam Conejo Ramos and the other children who will have to live with the trauma of their detention.It will end too late for everyone who was wrongfully and illegally detained.It will end too late for Minnesotans who have endured racial profiling, for businesses that have closed, for children that couldn't go to school, for the people who have fallen behind on their rent because they couldn't safely go to work.The unprecedented, unconstitutional, and unnecessary exercise of force that is Operation Metro Surge leaves much pain in its wake.Despite this pain, when this surge ends, it will be a victory. It will be a victory for the rule of law, for the power of creative, lawful resistance, and for the strength of unity over division. Minnesotans organized themselves. They exercised their legal rights to observe and protest, by the tens of thousands, in sub-zero temperatures. They helped their neighbors who needed help. In the face of a massive display of force and acts of intimidation and violence, they held their — and our — constitutionally protected ground: bravely, creatively, and peacefully.I promised during the surge that I would match Minnesotans' bravery. My office and I did much to hold ICE, DHS, and the Trump Administration accountable under the law and the constitution.* On January 9, just two days after the death of Renee Good, my office joined forces with the Hennepin County Attorney's office to create a portal for witnesses to submit evidence.* This was necessary because almost immediately after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee, the federal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would not include the state in its investigation or share evidence with state investigators.* It is normal and routine for state and federal law enforcement and investigators to work together: in Minnesota, it happens all the time. The trained investigators of the Minnesota BCA are completely professional and non-political. I cannot stress enough how extraordinary it is for federal law enforcement to refuse to work with state investigators on this case.* On January 12, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to end the surge.* We argued — and continue to argue — that the surge is unconstitutional, violating the First and Tenth Amendments to the constitution and the Equal Sovereignty principle.* On January 15, my office launched a form on our website for Minnesotans to share the impacts of federal government actions, including DHS actions have had on them personally or someone close to them, or that they have personally witnessed.* To date, we have more than 1,500 submissions.* And on January 24, the day that Alex Pretti was killed, my office represented the BCA in filing a lawsuit along with Hennepin County to compel the federal government to preserve evidence.* We won a temporary restraining order just two hours after we filed the lawsuit.* Disappointingly, the FBI has announced that it will not cooperate with the BCA in the Pretti matter, either.Allow me to make clear that although the surge is winding down, the two lawsuits we filed during the surge continue. We will keep challenging the constitutionality of the surge, so that this administration — or any administration — cannot ever again attempt to compel a state to kneel to its policy demands. And we will keep fighting for truth and accountability for the killings of Alex and Renee.Minnesotans had a right to expect that their federal government would have a credible, rational basis for sending more than 3,000 federal agents to our state for the largest immigration-enforcement action in our nation's history. The federal government has never deployed as many immigration agents to one place at one time as it has here.Instead, every rationale the Trump Administration has offered is a pretext.The government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight unauthorized immigration. Yet Minnesota ranks 28th among all states in the percentage of undocumented immigrants: Florida and Texas alone have nearly as many undocumented people as the entire population of Minnesota.The federal government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight fraud in government programs. I abhor fraud, and my office is already in this fight: We have convicted 300 Medicaid fraudsters in the last seven years.But the government did not surge forensic accountants or computer scientists who could actually help us fight fraud. Instead, it sent 3,000 masked, armed men.In fact, the surge has harmed the fight against fraud in Minnesota. Because of it, the federal government's work of fighting fraud in Minnesota has ground to a halt. The surge has triggered a wave of experienced prosecutors resigning from the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota, and the remaining staff are drowning under a flood of habeas corpus petitions.The government has also said the purpose of the surge is to fight violent crime and rid our streets of “the worst of the worst.” Yet violent crime rates in Minneapolis were falling before the surge. Furthermore, ICE's own data shows that 67% of those it has detained in Minnesota have no criminal records, and only a very small percentage have a record of committing violent crime.Notoriously, some of those detained have been children. Is five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos the worst of the worst? Or 10-year-old Elizabeth Zuña Caisaguano?The federal government has also said the purpose of the surge is to gain cooperation from state and local officials in immigration enforcement. Other elected officials in Minnesota have echoed those claims, saying that if only Minnesota had “cooperated” with ICE, the surge would not have been necessary and Renee's and Alex's lives would have been spared.So let me be perfectly clear: Minnesota already fully complies with the law when it comes to federal immigration enforcement.The Minnesota Department of Corrections already follows the state law — Section 631.50 — that requires it to notify federal authorities when a non-citizen convicted of a felony nears their release date. The federal government had to back off their false claims to the contrary when DOC presented the facts.Minnesota sheriffs and county attorneys already comply with state law that they may not keep someone incarcerated on an immigration detainer longer than they are otherwise legally allowed to incarcerate them. In February 2025, I issued a legal opinion that restated the law, which is supported by a noted Minnesota case called Esparza vs. Nobles County, as well as cases from other states. When I met in person with Border Czar Tom Homan, he acknowledged that this is the law.So Minnesota already follows the law.After dismissing all the pretexts, it's clear: This surge is about what President Trump said it was about. In a Truth Social post on January 13, he wrote that “retribution and reckoning” was coming to Minnesota. Operation Metro Surge was Trump's retribution for our policies, our values, and how we vote.In the face of Donald Trump's campaign of revenge and retribution against Minnesota, we as a state stood for the rule of law and our constitutional rights, and stood for what we believe in our beloved state: that we are stronger when we stand together, that we all do better when we all do better, and that everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and respect — no exceptions. Now, our attention turns to healing and to ensuring that what happened here over the past several weeks can never happen again — not to us, and not to any state, city, or neighborhood in this country. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com
State investigators are taking a new step to get evidence related to the federal law enforcement shootings that took place in Minneapolis during the ICE surge. The Hennepin County Attorney's office announced Wednesday morning that it is filing a formal request for evidence from the federal government in the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti and the shooting in north Minneapolis that injured Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.Estelle Timar-Wilcox was at the press conference and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what this means for the investigations.
My conversation with Francis Shen about his campaign for Hennepin County Attorney.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
The Hennepin County Attorney is objecting to ICE showing up at the courthouse to detain undocumented people who are there because they've been charged with other crimes. Should the County get first crack at convicting them before ICE takes them away?
Tuesday 4pm Hour: Jason talks about the Hennepin County Attorney objecting to ICE detaining undocumented people at the courthouse - should the County get to try them first? Then Jason talks with Vanessa Drews, owner of Cheesecake Funk, about her special offerings for Valentines Day
My conversation with Hao Nguyen about his campaign for Hennepin County Attorney.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
Anders Folk, former acting US Attorney for Minnesota, joins for two segments mainly about his goal to become the next Hennepin County Attorney before Chad and Dave get into an argument about Bill Belichick not getting selected for the pro football hall of fame on the first ballot.
Former acting US Attorney Anders Folk joins Chad to talk about his goal of becoming the next Hennepin County Attorney, turmoil happening inside the US Attorney's office today, ICE, immigration policy and more.
In this episode, Jaansi and Dr. Francis Shen unpack neurolaw, the emerging field at the intersection of brain science, law, and public policy. Together, they explore how neuroscience can reshape ideas, what debates about free will mean for criminal justice, and how brain-based explanations can either challenge or reinforce stigma, especially for marginalized communities. Tune in to hear why rigorous science, transparency, and community engagement is essential to advance health equity with these tools!Dr. Francis X. Shen, JD, PhD is a Professor of Law and faculty member in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, and an Associate Professor in the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics and the MGH Department of Psychiatry. He directs the Shen Neurolaw Lab, co-directs the Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham, and is the Founding Director of the Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society.Check out Dr. Shen's work:Shen Neurolaw Lab: www.fxshen.com/shenlab/Dr. Shen for Hennepin County Attorney: www.shenforsafety.org/Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society: neuroxcareers.org/Neurotech Justice Accelerator: neurotechjustice.org/
Alan Rozenshtein, research director at Lawfare, spoke with Francis Shen, Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota, director of the Shen Neurolaw Lab, and candidate for Hennepin County Attorney.The conversation covered the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and criminal justice; how AI tools can improve criminal investigations and clearance rates; the role of AI in adjudication and plea negotiations; precision sentencing and individualized justice; the ethical concerns around AI bias, fairness, and surveillance; the practical challenges of implementing AI systems in local government; building institutional capacity and public trust; and the future of the prosecutor's office in an AI-augmented justice system.Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the KMOJ Morning Show, Freddie Bell and Chantel Sings speak with Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty about the joint effort between the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to collect and preserve evidence in the killing of Renee Nicole Good. Moriarty explains the decision to move forward after the FBI rescinded its cooperation agreement with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability. She discusses the public evidence submission portal, how evidence is reviewed, and why collecting as much information as possible is critical to building a complete case file. Moriarty also outlines the careful process prosecutors use when determining whether charges can be brought and the challenges involved in pursuing justice in high-profile cases.
Alan Rozenshtein, research director at Lawfare, spoke with Francis Shen, Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota, director of the Shen Neurolaw Lab, and candidate for Hennepin County Attorney.The conversation covered the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and criminal justice; how AI tools can improve criminal investigations and clearance rates; the role of AI in adjudication and plea negotiations; precision sentencing and individualized justice; the ethical concerns around AI bias, fairness, and surveillance; the practical challenges of implementing AI systems in local government; building institutional capacity and public trust; and the future of the prosecutor's office in an AI-augmented justice system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Newly leaked video from the MAGAT braintrust shows Renee Good telling Jon Ross "I don't hate you," followed by him calling his victim a "fucking bitch" after he murders her. Minnesota AG and Hennepin County Attorney open independent murder investigation. Nitwit Nero names a toilet salesman as NATO Ambassador. Oil barons tell him they can't just throw money down the Venezeulan rathole. Cankles Caligula sarcastically calls them "these geniuses." Whiskey Pete Kegbreath takes the Doomsday Plane out for a spin alongside Laura Looney and her lips.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says her office is seeking out evidence to conduct a local investigation into this week's fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.She says the office is asking for information, video and photos of the event to be submitted through a link on the office's website. And Minneapolis Public Schools will offer the option for remote learning for a month amid federal immigration enforcement in the city. The remote learning option currently extends until February 12.
Are license plate readers a beneficial tool for law enforcement or an invasion of our privacy? Adam Carter reaches out for your thoughts. Plus, U of M professor Francis Shen explains why he decided to run for Hennepin County Attorney.
How do you marry the law and neuroscience? U of M professor Francis Shen does that on a daily basis. He lets us know how that's informing his candidacy for Hennepin County Attorney.
There is a winter storm warning for northeast into southern Minnesota going into effect for Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday. There is a winter weather advisory for northwestern Minnesota spreading south for the same time period. Fog will turn to rain and snow. Some areas could get several inches in northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced the U.S. will end temporary protected status for migrants from Myanmar in January. Minnesota is home to about 22,000 people from Myanmar. Most arrived as refugees in the early and mid-2000s and would be unaffected by the policy change.Meanwhile, the temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota is still up in the air. The latest defendant to be sentenced in the Feeding Our Future case is headed to federal prison for 10 years.The Hennepin County Attorney's Office will charge the man accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend 10 times in Minneapolis in September with an additional two counts of first degree murder. A central Minnesota man charged with killing his coworker appeared in court Monday. Forty-year-old David Delong faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly killing 20-year-old Amber Czech with a sledgehammer while working at a manufacturing facility in Cokato. A judge ordered an evaluation of Delong's mental condition and competency to stand trial at the request of his attorney.
Families and advocates Thursday said they were still trying to reach loved ones detained during an ICE operation at a St. Paul manufacturer this week. Three former employees of a Sherburne County town are charged with embezzling 20 percent of the community's budget. Twin Cities-based Target is partnering with Open AI to allow people to find and buy Target merchandise through ChatGPT. The retailer issued its latest earnings report Thursday showing a drop in sales, and a challenging outlook for the holiday shopping season. The White House has announced six new interagency agreements intended to break up the federal Education Department. One of those agreements will move Native American programs to the Department of the Interior. There are now at least five candidates in next year's election for Hennepin County Attorney. St. Cloud State University will have a new president starting in early January. The Minnesota State board of trustees agreed to name Gregory Tomso for the open position.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
More Epstein documents released that look bad for Trump; Jeff Stein joins to continue the discussion around the Epstein files vote; northern lights; underage drunk driver crashed with care home passengers; in Duluth; Hennepin County Attorney’s Office shortcomings; Maren Ward pf zAmya Theater speaks with Matt.
HC Attorney Mary Moriarty announced today that her office will no longer prosecute low-level traffic stops. Given the shooting spike in Minneapolis, is this the right time for that kind of announcement?
3pm Hour: Jason talks about an announcement today from the Hennepin County Attorney - bad timing? Then our friend Tracy Perlman joins the show to talk about a poll that says Americans don't like to speak ill of the dead - is that fair?
He is seeking to replace Mary Moriarty as the County Attorney in Minnesota's most populated county. Why? Cedrick Frazier joined Vineeta to discuss his candidacy on The WCCO Morning News.
Blois Olson joins Dan Cook to chat the local politics scene Governor Walz is wavering on potentially running for a third gubernatorial term. Gov. Walz is scheduled to join Vineeta on the first day of the fair, Blois gives his thoughts on Walz's strategy and potential head space especially after the murder of his close friend and colleague Speaker Melissa Hortman. They also discuss the Hennepin County Attorney race with news of Rep. Cedrick Frazier throwing his hat in the ring and how he could differentiate himself from the incumbent platform.
Dan Cook and Lindsey Brown in studio today as Jason DeRusha returns from dropping his son off at college. We're three days away from the start of the Minnesota State Fair so Dan and Lindsey discuss the best ways to get to the fair. They also discuss safety considerations around the fair. Then, Blois Olson joins Dan Cook to chat the local politics scene Governor Walz is wavering on potentially running for a third gubernatorial term. Gov. Walz is scheduled to join Vineeta on the first day of the fair, Blois gives his thoughts on Walz's strategy and potential head space especially after the murder of his close friend and colleague Speaker Melissa Hortman. They also discuss the Hennepin County Attorney race with news of Rep. Cedrick Frazier throwing his hat in the ring and how he could differentiate himself from the incumbent platform.
Metro Transit officials are recommending the closure of the Northstar Commuter Rail in early January. A key player in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme was sentenced yesterday to 28 years in prison.New security measures are in place at the state Capitol. The number of doors through which the public can enter the capitol is now limited to just two entrances, including just one of the three doors at the top of the capitol stairs. Visitors will encounter more security guards at each of those entrances as well. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will not run for reelection in 2026. In a statement, Moriarty said she is choosing to focus on reforms and wants to spend the next 17 months "running the office, rather than running for office." Moriarty was elected in 2022 following Mike Freeman's retirement from the position after 24 years of service.The city of St. Paul says Mayor Melvin Carter's 2026 budget address, originally scheduled for next week, has been postponed. That's due to the city's ongoing efforts to respond to a cyberattack on its computer systems. Some city services, including online bill payments and public internet access in libraries, remain unavailable. The city says the mayor's budget address will be rescheduled for sometime in September.
On "The Lead" - Jason talks with attorney and Democratic analyst Abou Amara about Mary Moriarty's decision not to run for a second term as Hennepin County Attorney. Plus, MNGI CEO Dr. Scott Ketover talks about catching colon cancer cases earlier and more often. Then on "Page 2" - yesterday screen time wasn't so bad... today? It's awful.
David Zimmer's editorial on the Hennepin Attorney's lack of using stricter carjacking sentencing elicits a response from Mary Moriarty. Plus. Author Leslie Corbly joins Jon to discuss the Russian-Collusion Hoax and modern progressivism.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has charged two people in what officials are calling a "massive" methamphetamine seizure. A Columbia Heights man is now charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 16-year-old son. Jordan Collins Sr. was charged in Anoka County and made his first court appearance this morning.
The embarrassment that has become High School graduation ceremonies.Wayzata graduation shooting suspect faces stiffer sentence after prosecutor filingThe Hennepin County Attorney's Office will seek an enhanced sentence against the man suspected of shooting two people following the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.Hamza Abdirashid Said, 20, of Coon Rapids, is charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possessing/operating a machine gun in connection to the May 30 shooting.The Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed a "notice of intent to seek an upward sentencing departure" in the shooting that injured two people outside the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.This means prosecutors will seek a legal penalty that goes beyond the state's typical sentencing guidelines. The filing states that the victims in the shooting "were particularly vulnerable based on the location of the incident on a university campus," adding that "the Victims were particularly vulnerable based on the large scale of attendees at the public event, besides the intended Victim there were numerous people present besides the intended victims and Defendant created greater-than-normal danger to the safety of these other people."The document states that the "sentencing departure issues should be decided by the trial jury." The maximum sentence for first-degree assault in Minnesota is 20 years. Trans pitcher hits 2 doubles, throws another complete game to send team to Minnesota state championshipSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The embarrassment that has become High School graduation ceremonies. Wayzata graduation shooting suspect faces stiffer sentence after prosecutor filingThe Hennepin County Attorney's Office will seek an enhanced sentence against the man suspected of shooting two people following the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.Hamza Abdirashid Said, 20, of Coon Rapids, is charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possessing/operating a machine gun in connection to the May 30 shooting.The Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed a "notice of intent to seek an upward sentencing departure" in the shooting that injured two people outside the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.This means prosecutors will seek a legal penalty that goes beyond the state's typical sentencing guidelines. The filing states that the victims in the shooting "were particularly vulnerable based on the location of the incident on a university campus," adding that "the Victims were particularly vulnerable based on the large scale of attendees at the public event, besides the intended Victim there were numerous people present besides the intended victims and Defendant created greater-than-normal danger to the safety of these other people."The document states that the "sentencing departure issues should be decided by the trial jury." The maximum sentence for first-degree assault in Minnesota is 20 years. Trans pitcher hits 2 doubles, throws another complete game to send team to Minnesota state championshipSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On today's show, we spend the hour looking back at the five years of abolitionist and community organizing since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th, 2020. First, we speak with Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney. Hennepin County's most known city is Minneapolis. Then, we're joined by Melina Abdullah, a professor and the chair of pan-African studies at Cal State Los Angeles, as well as the co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Grassroots. Alongside Melina Abdullah, we speak with Chauntyll Allen, a longtime front-line community organizer and educator who leads Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, founded Love First Community Engagement, and works as the Director of Criminal Justice and Activism at the Wayfinder Foundation — among many other community leadership roles. Then, we're joined by Alex Vitale, a Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center. He has spent the last 30 years writing about policing and consults community-based movements, human and civil rights organizations, and governments internationally. He is also the author of The End of Policing. —- Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post 5 Years Since George Floyd w/ Mary Moriarty, Melina Abdullah, Chauntyll Allen & Alex Vitale appeared first on KPFA.
ICE finally captures an Illegal Alien set free by the Hennepin County Attorney's office. Plus, Walz slammed over Trump's “Gestapo” comments and details on the end of the legislative session.
Former US Attorney Andy Luger answers questions from Chad about Mary Moriarty's work as Hennepin County Attorney, the Trump administration and more.
Hope Walz believes running is a privilege. Obit describes a glorious life. Robots go crazy. Gov Tim Walz wants to balance the budget on the backs of private grade school kids. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Heard On The Show: 38-year-old accused of injuring multiple pedestrians in 2 separate hit-and-runs Department of Justice launches investigation into Hennepin County Attorney's Office After Buffett's 5,500,000% Run, a New Era for Berkshire Begins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hope Walz believes running is a privilege. Obit describes a glorious life. Robots go crazy. Gov Tim Walz wants to balance the budget on the backs of private grade school kids. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Heard On The Show: 38-year-old accused of injuring multiple pedestrians in 2 separate hit-and-runs Department of Justice launches investigation into Hennepin County Attorney's Office After Buffett's 5,500,000% Run, a New Era for Berkshire Begins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The DOJ says they're going to investigate the Hennepin County Attorney's Office over their race policy. Jason talks to University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran to find out more.
Former judge Kevin Burke joins Chad to weigh in on another controversy with Mary Moriarty and her policies as Hennepin County Attorney. Later, we share the details and take sides in a lawsuit between neighbors in St. Louis Park all stemming from a driveway basketball hoop.
The Trump Administration is continuing to target international students attending college in Minnesota and across the U.S. The University of Minnesota says it's now aware of three students across its system who've had their visas canceled.Minnesota State University, Mankato says the Department of Homeland Security has terminated the visitor records of five MSU students. An immigration law expert says that's a likely prelude to canceling their visas.Protestors are mobilizing across the country for an anti-Trump protest this weekend. Large numbers of demonstrators are expected at the Capitol in St. Paul.The Hennepin County Attorney's office is pausing prosecution against John Sawchak, the man who allegedly shot his next-door neighbor in October. The decision follows a doctor's determination that Sawchak is incompetent to stand trial. Sawchak, who is white, allegedly used racial slurs to harass and threaten his neighbor Davis Moturi, who is Black, for months leading up to the shooting.A stretch of Interstate 94 in Minneapolis and St. Paul will be closed this weekend as work begins on a bridge repair project. The transportation department says the eastbound lanes of 94 will close at 10 p.m. Friday night between Interstate 35W and Highway 280. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.Visas revoked, records terminated for more students at U of M, MSU MankatoProsecution of man accused of shooting neighbor paused after 2nd incompetency findingRead the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.
Mary Moriarty joins John for a conversation reflecting on her first two years as Hennepin County Attorney. We talk about navigating politics as an elected prosecutor; her approach to a recent spate of reckless driving and vehicular homicide cases; how to fix the problem of extremely low rates of police solving certain crimes; her occasionally strained relationship with Chief O'Hara; how we went from a commitment to reform in 2020 to a hypersensitivity and anger over any police criticism in 2025; how to ensure systemic change enacted under her leadership are durable and lasting; and much more.John expresses frustration about the case of state trooper Ryan Londregan, who shot and killed Ricky Cobb. Why is more attention not being paid to the fact it was a botched traffic stop? Is Governor Walz doing anything to ensure the state police receive proper training? Moriarty talks about her decisions in that case and why she ultimately dropped the charges.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
The Minnesota Supreme Court Thursday hears arguments on whether Republicans are conducting lawful proceedings in the state House. The anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life held its annual "March for Life" at the State Capitol yesterday. The group has denounced the rise in abortions in the state.And the Hennepin County Attorney's Office says it will not file charges against three Minneapolis police officers who fatally shot a man last June. County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the decision in the shooting of 39-year-old Michael Warren Ristow, who was shot police near the intersection of 33rd Street and Hiawatha Avenue.This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.5 key questions as Minnesota Supreme Court weighs who controls the HouseOfficers won't face charges in fatal police shooting in MinneapolisRead the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.
This episode of Conversations with Chanda takes you inside the mind of a prosecutor who is challenging the status quo and redefining what true public safety looks like. Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney, shares a refreshingly honest and nuanced perspective on the criminal justice system - one that moves beyond simplistic notions of punishment and instead seeks to address the root causes of crime through compassion, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions. Her insights on the importance of early intervention, restorative justice, and empowering the community to engage with the legal process will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the role of a prosecutor. www.hennepinattorney.org YT: @HennepinAttorney www.conversationswithchanda.com IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker
Minnesotans who lost a home for failing to pay property taxes in the past few years could be entitled to compensation. A statewide legal settlement provides more than $100 million for former homeowners who lost out on equity after their property was sold for more than they owed in taxes and fees.And Minneapolis police say they misidentified a man accused of pistol whipping two residents of a north Minneapolis shelter. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office says investigators informed prosecutors of the error immediately.This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.Find these headlines and more at Mprnews.org.Minnesotans who lost their home to tax forfeiture may be entitled to money. Here's how to claim itProsecutors drop shelter attack charges against ‘misidentified' suspectRead the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.
Minnesota State University, Mankato announced a five-year agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield to open The Rural Behavioral Health Clinic this year. Rural patients living in greater Minnesota often encounter barriers to receiving services including having to travel great distances to see mental and behavioral health care providers.And the Hennepin County Attorney's Office today dismissed charges against a man accused of attacking residents of a north Minneapolis homeless shelter after police misidentified the suspect. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.
A 40-year-old Minnesota man, Matthew Scott Brenneman, has been sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Danicka M. Bergeson, just days after being released from jail for previous assaults against her. Brenneman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday, with the Hennepin County Prosecutor's Office agreeing to drop first-degree murder charges in exchange. Brenneman admitted to two aggravating factors: killing Bergeson in a "zone of privacy" and treating her with "particular cruelty" by leaving her body to decompose. The sentence means Brenneman will likely serve just over 15 years in a state correctional facility. Under the plea agreement's terms, Brenneman would serve 23.75 years in a state correctional facility. Individuals convicted of felonies in Minnesota typically serve two-thirds of their sentence, which in this case would be just over 15 years. The Hennepin County Attorney, Mary Moriarty, emphasized the need for aggressive prosecution of domestic violence cases to ensure the safety of victims and survivors. “We were hoping for a plea with a much stronger sentence, you know, upwards, closer to the 30. But maybe some play in there. But, you know, we certainly thought that we could get stronger sentencing,” she said. “There's frustration with the way the system works. I mean, even if you're charged with first-degree murder, you only serve two-thirds of that, which is 20 years. And that in and of itself is a painful revelation.” Brenneman had only been released from jail on June 27, 2023, after pleading guilty to attacking Bergeson in April and May, when he punched, bit, and choked her in their home — and threatened to kill her. Under his guilty plea in that case, prosecutors agreed “to no additional time” in jail if Brenneman did not violate a no-contact order — but two days later, according to cell phone records, he was near their apartment. On July 8, 2023, officers from the Hopkins Police Department were called to an apartment complex after a downstairs neighbor reported yelling and banging from the unit above. Upon entering the apartment, police found Brenneman in the bathroom, where they detected a strong smell of bleach; he had ingested it in a suicide attempt. He was subsequently arrested at the scene. Bergeson was discovered lying in her bed, wrapped in blankets and a plastic garbage bag, with numerous abrasions and bruises. Authorities believe she had been dead for at least a day. Investigators also recovered a series of notes that were written by Brenneman, including an apology and what appeared to be a confession. Bergeson's family expressed frustration with the sentencing, hoping for a longer term. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com