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Stories from February 17, 2026

A somber first day marks the start of the 2026 legislative session

A somber first day marks the start of the 2026 legislative session

The Minnesota Legislature began its new session by honoring the former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark after they were assassinated days after the last adjournment. Sen. John Hoffman returned to a standing ovation in the Senate.
by Clay Masters and Matthew Alvarez

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Minnesota man faces deportation to Laos for a crime he committed more than 30 years ago

Minnesota man faces deportation to Laos for a crime he committed more than 30 years ago

At “Ricky” Chandee pled guilty to assault when he was 18 and served a prison sentence in the early 1990s. Since his release, he has worked for the city of Minneapolis for nearly 30 years. His family says he is not a threat to public safety, despite the Trump administration’s portrayal of him.
by Alanna Elder

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Start of 2026 legislative session; Winter storm warnings

Former colleagues of Melissa Hortman paid tribute to the slain lawmaker today in a somber opening to the 2026 session. And winter storm warnings are posted across northern Minnesota — with blizzard warnings along the North Shore.
by Emily Reese

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'We're not free': The voices of Minnesotans in hiding

'We're not free': The voices of Minnesotans in hiding

N is a Mexican immigrant. MPR News is only using her first initial, due to fears of safety. N, hasn’t left her home in weeks. She said she doesn't trust what federal officials have recently said about a drawdown of ICE agents in Minnesota. She worries things may get worse before they get better.
by Cait Kelley, Alanna Elder and Ellen Finn

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What makes a good book-to-film adaptation? We have thoughts (and favorites)

What makes a good book-to-film adaptation? We have thoughts (and favorites)

NPR shares beloved books that made the transition to the big screen, and they’re prepared to discuss and debate why each of them works — and why they believe they’re the best of all time.
by Glen Weldon, B.A. Parker, Barrie Hardymon, Andrew Limbong, Carly Rubin, Liz Metzger, Mike Katzif and Jessica Reedy

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Kidney transplant recipient in ICE custody may be released soon

Kidney transplant recipient in ICE custody may be released soon

A kidney transplant recipient from Minnesota now in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Texas may finally be released on bond Tuesday. Javier Abreu-Vasquez has been held by ICE for nearly two weeks and he has not been regularly getting the medications he needs to keep his body from rejecting the donated kidney, according to his wife and his attorney.
by Molly Castle Work

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Court hearings Tuesday, Wednesday in lawsuit alleging ICE agents racially profiled U.S. citizens

Court hearings Tuesday, Wednesday in lawsuit alleging ICE agents racially profiled U.S. citizens

A federal judge is set to hear testimony Tuesday from U.S. citizens and immigrants in Minnesota — some of whom are asylum seekers or are lawful permanent residents — who say federal agents stopped and arrested them without warrants or probable cause. 
by Sarah Thamer

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Morning Announcements for Feb. 17

Morning Announcements for Feb. 17

These are the Morning Announcements for Tuesday, Feb. 17. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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Rev. Jesse Jackson’s connections to Minnesota go back decades

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s connections to Minnesota go back decades

Over his long career, civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson made many visits to Minnesota to champion causes, and work to empower people who were underrepresented.
by MPR News Staff

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Thousands flock to see Apostle Islands ice caves; access closed on Tuesday

Thousands flock to see Apostle Islands ice caves; access closed on Tuesday

Thousands of people visited the Apostle Islands ice caves on Monday — the first day they were open to access on foot in 11 years. But that excitement was quickly put on ice, with an approaching storm prompting officials to close the access on Tuesday.
by Andrew Krueger

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Minnesota lawmakers start new legislative session

As a new legislative session begins Tuesday, lawmakers will be carrying the weight of an incredibly difficult eight months since they last met. Tuesday, the Legislature will memorialize Melissa and Mark Hortman, who were killed in June.
by Jacob Aloi

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Minnesota Republicans defend their focus on fraud despite the ICE surge that followed

Minnesota Republicans defend their focus on fraud despite the ICE surge that followed

Minnesota Republicans say they were right to invite social media influencers into the state to highlight social service fraud, though Democrats blame Republicans for paving the way for the ICE surge.
by Dana Ferguson

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First of two winter storms moves in later Tuesday

First of two winter storms moves in later Tuesday

Two winter storms are taking aim at Minnesota. The first storm affects mostly northern Minnesota Tuesday night with southern Minnesota impacted Thursday night. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson has died. He was 84. Jackson was a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King and became a leader of the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King was assassinated in 1968.
by The Associated Press

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After his parents’ killing, Colin Hortman is working through grief, searching for ways to honor them

After his parents’ killing, Colin Hortman is working through grief, searching for ways to honor them

As the Minnesota Legislature prepares to honor Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, their son Colin shares in an MPR News interview how he’s coping with grief and hoping their deaths remain a clarion call for toned-down political rhetoric. 
by Cathy Wurzer, Brian Bakst and Lukas Levin

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After a series of tragic events, lawmakers return to the Capitol with grief and calls for action

After a series of tragic events, lawmakers return to the Capitol with grief and calls for action

Since last session, Minnesota has seen a political assassination, a deadly school shooting and an unprecedented and deadly immigration enforcement operation. Each of those tragedies have led to calls for change, and they bring a different focus to an election-year session.
by Peter Cox

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