Stories from February 10, 2026

After arrest, teen refugee held overnight in hotel room by ICE agents
A girl who entered the United States as a refugee alleges that immigration authorities separated her from her family and detained her overnight in a hotel, where she was forced to share a room with federal agents.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is predicting the surge in federal immigration agents is nearing its conclusion. At an event this morning to highlight business hardships, Walz said he believes a bigger drawdown could be just days away. And Minnesota business owners say even after ICE operations eventually end, recovery will take a long time.
Living through crisis: How to cope with grief, unrelenting stress and toxic positivity
Do you find yourself dealing with angry people, grief or toxic positivity right now? How are you doing when there is so much turmoil in Minnesota? MPR News talks with her guests about living through crisis.
Grassroots group Haven Watch grows to support released detainees from Whipple Building
In a little over a month, Haven Watch founder Natalie Ehret helped the organization grow rapidly to meet detainees released from the Whipple Federal Building at all hours of the day and night. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini for an update on what she has seen from the ground.
ICE chief defends his officers’ actions before Congress after the deaths of 2 protesters
The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is defending his officers, saying they won't be intimidated while carrying out President Donald Trump's deportation agenda. Todd Lyons, along with other agency leaders, faced tough questions from Democrats during a congressional hearing Tuesday.
Former Minnesota election chief: Take Trump's threat to nationalize with a grain of salt
Longtime Ramsey County elections manager Joe Mansky, now retired, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Tuesday to talk about the strength of Trump’s argument and what actions Minnesota can take to shore up election protections.
Walz expects big drawdown in federal agents within days
"We're very much in a trust but verify mode,” Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Tuesday. “But it’s my expectation … that we are talking days — not weeks and months — of this occupation.”
Charges filed against suspect in fatal stabbing of daughter of Minnesota governor candidate
Charges were filed Tuesday against a St. Cloud man for allegedly fatally stabbing his wife, the daughter of a candidate for Minnesota governor. Dylan Tobler faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Hallie Tobler.
North Dakota State, winner of 10 FCS titles, jumps to FBS to join Mountain West in football
Perennial FCS power North Dakota State will move up to the FBS level this season and join the Mountain West for football. North Dakota State won 10 of the last 15 championships in the FCS and will give the revamped Mountain West 10 football teams.
Duluth curling team claims silver medal at Winter Olympics
Duluth curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin claimed silver medals at the Winter Olympics in Italy on Tuesday, falling to the Swedish team 6-5 in the gold-medal game for the mixed doubles event.
Ukrainian trains in helmet honoring fellow athletes killed in war. IOC says it's banned for race
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will be allowed to wear a black armband at the Milan Cortina Games but the International Olympic Committee says he cannot wear a helmet painted to honor Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia.
A kidney transplant recipient arrested by immigration agents in Rochester last week is finally getting the medication he needs to keep his body from rejecting the organ. But his attorney says his client is not getting the correct dosages at the right times.
Target CEO reshapes his leadership team in first big move since taking over this month
Target CEO Michael Fiddelke is reshuffling his leadership team and making other changes shortly after stepping into the top job at the retailer that has struggled operationally. Rick Gomez, the 23-year Target veteran who oversees the chain’s vast inventory of merchandise, will leave the company.
Watch: Immigration officials testify before House as DHS funding deadline approaches
Congressional Democrats have a list of demands to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But tensions between the two parties are high and the timeline is short – the stopgap bill funding DHS runs out Friday.
Cooler Tuesday, but still warmer than normal
It’ll be a few degrees cooler today but still above normal. Wednesday will bring similar temperatures before we ramp up the warmth into the end of the week. 
Silicon Tundra? Tech startups eye testing autonomous vehicles in northern Minnesota
Anno.Ai and Spear.Ai want to build infrastructure to allow companies to test technologies ranging from unmanned submarines in Lake Superior to autonomous vehicles navigating abandoned underground mines on the Iron Range. 
Event shares what Indigenous resilience means during a time of immigration enforcement
Indigenous artists and performers recently held an event called "Stories for Indigenous Resilience" at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis to raise mutual aid funding for those affected by immigration enforcement activity. The event also highlighted Indigenous resilience and its meaning to performers.
‘He’s not the same’: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they saw the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show, but Liam is still in hiding with his family after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas detention center.