Stories from December 11, 2025

The already crowded race for Minnesota governor got more so today. MyPillow executive Mike Lindell's formal entrance pushes the Republican field above a dozen candidates. An NBC report says ICE has arrested more than four hundred people in Minnesota since December 1, when the Trump administration stepped up immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
Training teaches ICE observers how to document immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota
As Minnesota’s Somali communities deal with the threat from increased ICE enforcement in the state, some citizens have decided to monitor ICE agents. A training program from States at the Core, or STAC, teaches them how to do it.
Holiday Train begins annual journey across Minnesota on Friday
A colorful holiday tradition is set to begin its annual journey across Minnesota on Friday. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway’s Holiday Train has 21 stops planned across the state in the coming days.
Podcast 'Cardiac Cowboys' tells captivating story of Minnesota's open-heart surgery pioneers
The six-episode documentary series, narrated by actor Chris Pine, tells the story of the birth of heart surgery and all the drama and scandal that went along with it.
A green light shot across Minnesota's sky. An MPR News reporter saw it and sought to learn more
More than 100 people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada reported the sighting to the International Meteor Organization. But after doing some digging, MPR News reporter Dan Kraker found out it wasn’t a meteor after all.
'Do's and don'ts' if you monitor ICE agents, immigration actions in Minnesota
To share more about Minnesotans’ rights while observing immigration actions and ICE agents, Erika Zurawski, co-founder of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Thursday.
‘We’ve been made invisible’: Hmong parents call for student stay-home day to demand action from St. Paul Public Schools
Parents at Txuj Ci HMong Language and Culture School want the school board to vote on a short-term solution to ease overcrowding — and are tired of feeling invisible.
Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans
The Senate has rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year. 
The special election for District 64A takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 27. St. Paul mayor-elect Kaohly Her previously held the role as state representative for the area.
The special election for District 47A takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The seat became vacant after Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger decided to run for state Senate. The candidate running for the special election for State Representative District 47A is DFLer Shelley Buck.
Snowpack to lock in extreme cold as arctic air arrives
A surge of the season’s coldest arctic air is set to grip the region this weekend, producing dangerously low wind chills and brutally cold temperatures. The region’s snowpack will only intensify the cold, helping to lock in the frigid conditions.
Morning Announcements for Dec. 11
These are the Morning Announcements for Thursday, Dec. 11. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
Redistricting in Indiana was supposed to be a slam dunk. It has proven anything but
Republican-led states have raced to redraw congressional lines to advantage their own party. But the effort has hit unexpected pushback in Indiana, and become a test of Trump's grip on his party.
‘MyPillow Guy’ and Trump supporter Mike Lindell says he’s running for Minnesota governor in 2026
Mike Lindell, the fervent supporter of President Donald Trump known to TV viewers as the “MyPillow Guy,” says he’s running for Minnesota governor in 2026. 
Homeland Security Secretary Noem defends Trump’s hard-line immigration policies under scrutiny
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Trump administration's immigration policies during a contentious House committee hearing. Noem faced tough questioning Thursday from Democrats, some of whom called for her to resign.
Nisswa Mayor Jennifer Carnahan faces criticism, call to resign
The city’s four council members spoke critically of Carnahan in the wake of allegations that a Nisswa restaurant employee overheard her disparaging a city council member. Carnahan later went on to allege that the woman assaulted her.
Author and activist john a. powell on 'The Power of Bridging'
Scholar and author john a. powell returned to Minnesota on Dec. 2 to talk about his new book, “The Power of Bridging.” In a deeply divided world, what can be done to create a sense of belonging for everyone?
Will U.S. military strikes slow drug overdose deaths? Experts say no
President Trump says U.S. strikes on supposed drug-smuggling boats will save Americans from overdose deaths. But most experts worry the strategy is counterproductive.
What to know as trial nears for the Wisconsin judge accused of helping an immigrant dodge agents
Defense attorneys and prosecutors are set to choose the jurors who will decide whether a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal officers broke the law. Federal prosecutors charged Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan in April with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
Masked immigration agents forcibly arrested a Somali American U.S. citizen in Minneapolis for no apparent reason other than his ethnicity. Authorities held the man for two hours even as he tried to show them his passport.
More snow for southern Minnesota Thursday followed by a frigid weekend
Another round of snow is moving across southern Minnesota Thursday. It will be followed by some very cold air this weekend for this early in the winter season. 
U.S. judge rules Trump administration’s freeze on wind energy permits is unlawful
A federal district court judge in Massachusetts this week ruled in favor of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and 17 other attorneys general, and vacated President Trump’s executive order banning new federal permits for all offshore and onshore wind energy projects.
Duluth musical mainstays Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles team up to perform new songs in St. Paul
Thursday night’s sold-out show at the Fitzgerald Theater is the only date the musicians have scheduled in Minnesota. They’re performing songs from their self-titled album released over the summer. 
Art Hounds: Holiday folk concerts, a beloved musical and symphonic cheer
Art Hounds recommend Red Thread and others at the Cedar, “Little Women: The Musical” and the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Concert.
Night sky fallings: Spotters document space debris over northern Minnesota
This past Saturday people around Lake Superior saw a long flash of sparkling white and green light trail across the night sky. Was it a meteor? Santa’s sleigh? Turns out, it was a piece of “space junk.”
ICE agents tackle, arrest American citizen in Minneapolis
Federal immigration agents tackled and arrested a Somali American man in Minneapolis on Tuesday and detained him for about two hours for no apparent reason other than his ethnicity.