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Stories from February 5, 2026

Politics Friday: Thousands attend Minnesota caucuses to weigh in on issues, governor candidates

Politics Friday: Thousands attend Minnesota caucuses to weigh in on issues, governor candidates

MPR News politics editor and his guests recap the results from Minnesota’s 2026 caucus night. The first votes — albeit unofficial — are cast in the governor’s race.
by Brian Bakst and Matthew Alvarez

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Hennepin County sheriff says department is a 'scapegoat' despite cooperation with ICE

Hennepin County sheriff says department is a 'scapegoat' despite cooperation with ICE

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said she has been cooperating with ICE and abiding by state law. Tom Homan has pushed for jails to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement about inmates who could be deported.
by Kelly Gordon and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Minneapolis allocates funds for emergency rental assistance

Minneapolis will allocate a million dollars in funding for emergency rental assistance, as some residents say they need help amid the ongoing federal immigration operation. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt says she is considering a change in policy at the county jail that would allow staff to notify federal immigration officials when someone they're seeking to detain is being released from custody.
by Emily Reese

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Thursday was warmest day in 3 weeks; even milder by Monday

Thursday was warmest day in 3 weeks; even milder by Monday

Thursday brought the warmest temperatures in more than three weeks to Minnesota. A cold front brings colder temperatures late Friday through Saturday.
by Paul Huttner

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Climate normals downplay just how fast Minnesota is warming

Climate normals downplay just how fast Minnesota is warming

As the climate warms up over time, the 30-year averages for climate variables like temperature and precipitation also increase. These new normals can be misleading of just how fast Minnesota is warming up.
by Paul Huttner and Sven Sundgaard

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Minneapolis allocates additional $1 million for rental assistance

Minneapolis allocates additional $1 million for rental assistance

The City of Minneapolis will allocate $1 million in funds for emergency rental assistance, as families impacted by the ongoing federal immigration operation seek help paying bills.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox and Cari Spencer

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Minnesota parents look for ways to help kids cope and process ICE trauma and chaos

Minnesota parents look for ways to help kids cope and process ICE trauma and chaos

As the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues across Minnesota, parents are increasingly worried about what their children, even preschoolers, might be seeing and hearing, and the harm the chaos and trauma may do to their mental and emotional well-being.
by Hannah Yang

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'We are stubbornly OK': A Somali Minneapolis artist on resilience during ICE surge

'We are stubbornly OK': A Somali Minneapolis artist on resilience during ICE surge

Over the last few months, there has been a heightened focus on the Somali community in Minnesota. Ifrah Mansour, a Minneapolis Somali American artist, reflects on the last few months and how her community is staying steadfast.
by Kelly Gordon and Ellen Finn

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Neighbors: Blockades are pop-up parties that also slow down ICE agents

Neighbors: Blockades are pop-up parties that also slow down ICE agents

Organizers are trying a new tactic to slow and deter federal agents from entering city neighborhoods: pop-up block parties in the middle of city streets. Tom Homan, the Trump administration border czar, calls the attempts by residents to prevent his ICE agents from doing their jobs “a joke.”
by Jon Collins

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Investment fund announced for downtown St. Paul projects

Investment fund announced for downtown St. Paul projects

The fund will support projects like office-to-residential conversions and pedestrian-focused street improvements, among other goals.
by MPR News Staff

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Boldy nets early hat trick and Spurgeon scores in OT as Wild beat Predators 6-5

Boldy nets early hat trick and Spurgeon scores in OT as Wild beat Predators 6-5

Matt Boldy scored three times in the first 13 minutes and assisted on Jared Spurgeon’s goal with 45.1 seconds left on the clock in overtime to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 6-5 victory over the Nashville Predators. 
by The Associated Press

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A weekend with wolves through the Minnesota Zoo

A weekend with wolves through the Minnesota Zoo

The Minnesota Zoo’s Travel EdVenture program is giving people the chance to step beyond zoo grounds and into the landscapes where wildlife actually lives. This weekend’s Wild Wolf experience takes learning north into Minnesota’s wolf country.
by Mandy Thalhuber

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Timberwolves acquire Ayo Dosunmu for scoring depth in trade-deadline deal with Bulls

Timberwolves acquire Ayo Dosunmu for scoring depth in trade-deadline deal with Bulls

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls. The move adds a proven scorer to bolster their depth for the stretch run in the stacked Western Conference playoffs race.
by The Associated Press

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Neighbors: Blockades are pop-up parties that also slow down ICE agents

Neighbors: Blockades are pop-up parties that also slow down ICE agents

Organizers are trying a new tactic to slow and deter federal agents from entering city neighborhoods: pop-up block parties in the middle of city streets. Tom Homan, the Trump administration border czar, calls the attempts by residents to prevent his ICE agents from doing their jobs “a joke.”
by Jon Collins

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Morning Announcements for Feb. 5

Morning Announcements for Feb. 5

These are the Morning Announcements for Thursday, Feb. 5. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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Anoka opens Minnesota’s first government-run cannabis dispensary, one of few of its kind in country

Anoka opens Minnesota’s first government-run cannabis dispensary, one of few of its kind in country

The city of Anoka held a soft opening for its new dispensary, Anoka Cannabis Company, on Thursday. It’s believed to be one of the only city-operated cannabis stores to open in the U.S. since a city in the state of Washington opened a dispensary back in 2015.
by Nicole Ki

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Amid the ICE crackdown: How artists are responding to this moment

Amid the ICE crackdown: How artists are responding to this moment

How are artists responding to the continued presence of federal immigration enforcement? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a poet, a ceramic artist and a graphic artist about what they’re seeing, feeling and creating in this moment. 
by Angela Davis and Nikhil Kumaran

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ICE attorney who told judge 'this job sucks' removed from her post

Julie Le had been working for the Justice Department on a detail, but the U.S. attorney in Minnesota ended her assignment after her comments in court on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

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Minnesota Secretary of State responds to Trump’s pitch to ‘nationalize’ elections

President Donald Trump’s pitch on a podcast Tuesday to “nationalize” elections is garnering mixed reactions. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joined Morning Edition Thursday to talk about what this means ahead of midterms.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lukas Levin

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Poll: Two-thirds of Americans say ICE has 'gone too far' in immigration enforcement

In addition to the two-thirds who said ICE has gone too far, 6 in 10 also said they disapprove of the job ICE is doing overall, and almost the same number think the agency is making Americans less safe.
by Domenico Montanaro

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The Olympics arrive with the U.S. a favorite, rekindling fond memories of 1980’s ‘Miracle on Ice’

The Olympics arrive with the U.S. a favorite, rekindling fond memories of 1980’s ‘Miracle on Ice’

Members of the gold-medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team get recognized around the towns they now call home. They’re never the ones to bring up beating the Soviet Union in a game now known as the “Miracle on Ice.” 

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Drawdown could mean nearly one-third fewer federal agents working in Minnesota

If the drawdown happened as announced Wednesday, there should be nearly a third fewer federal agents working in Minnesota Thursday. Meanwhile, the City of Anoka is opening its cannabis dispensary Thursday, making it the first municipal cannabis store to open in Minnesota.
by Emily Bright

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Minnesota upsets No. 10 Michigan State 76-73, fending off late Spartans surge to stop 7-game skid

Minnesota upsets No. 10 Michigan State 76-73, fending off late Spartans surge to stop 7-game skid

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had 22 points and seven rebounds to help Minnesota fend off a late surge by 10th-ranked Michigan State and secure a 76-73 upset. Cade Tyson scored 17 points and Langston Reynolds added 14 points and eight assists for the Gophers. 
by The Associated Press

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Temperatures climb above freezing for the first time in 20 days

Temperatures climb above freezing for the first time in 20 days

Temperatures should climb into the 30s for most of the state Thursday with 40s in southwest Minnesota. Cooler air moves in for Friday and Saturday, but we’re mild again next week. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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Uncertainty looms large for Minnesota businesses amid ICE surge

Uncertainty looms large for Minnesota businesses amid ICE surge

While it’s too early to draw firm, data-driven conclusions, no one is going out on a limb by saying the combination of turbulence and uncertainty seen in Minnesota right now will exact an economic price on the state.
by Chris Farrell

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Lady Macbeth as rockstar — Guthrie opens 'Macbeth' with Kiss the Tiger frontwoman 

Lady Macbeth as rockstar — Guthrie opens 'Macbeth' with Kiss the Tiger frontwoman 

Meghan Kreidler, best known as the frontwoman of Kiss the Tiger, reflects on her long personal connection to Lady Macbeth and how playing the role at the Guthrie has deepened her engagement with Shakespeare, her own ambitions and the play’s contemporary political resonance.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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The history of activism and protest in Minnesota

The history of activism and protest in Minnesota

Minnesota is at the center of a federal ICE operation and some people are responding as protesters, volunteers or legal observers. MPR News host Catharine Richert and her guests talk about what the tactics reveal about the future of protests.
by Catharine Richert and Cari Dwyer

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Two Minnesota boys from Liam Ramos’ school released from ICE custody

Two Minnesota boys from Liam Ramos’ school released from ICE custody

The siblings from Liam Ramos’ Columbia Heights elementary school were detained last week and returned to Minnesota Wednesday. District officials, though, warn they’ve lost contact with other students who may be in ICE detention.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Two Minnesota boys from Liam Ramos’ school released from ICE custody

Two Minnesota boys from Liam Ramos’ school released from ICE custody

The siblings from Liam Ramos’ Columbia Heights elementary school were detained last week and returned to Minnesota Wednesday. District officials, though, warn they’ve lost contact with other students who may be in ICE detention.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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