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Stories from February 19, 2026

Hovland got 38.6 inches of snow but fell short of Minnesota's all-time record

Hovland got 38.6 inches of snow but fell short of Minnesota's all-time record

This week’s North Shore snow dump was a Minnesota record for any 24-hour period in February. But the storm fell short of the all-time state snowfall record from January 1994.
by Paul Huttner

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Local, state officials discuss economic impact of ICE in Minnesota

The Minneapolis City Council approved $7 million in funding today for small businesses that have lost money during the ongoing federal immigration operation. And at the state level, Minnesota legislators are discussing the potential economic impact of the recent immigration enforcement surge.
by Emily Reese

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Minnesota emergency room doctor served as medical consultant for 'The Pitt'

Minnesota emergency room doctor served as medical consultant for 'The Pitt'

Dr. Jacob Lentz works in the emergency room at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center. Before he was a doctor, he was a TV writer, making him the perfect fit as medical consultant for the show.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Minneapolis City Council renews liquor licenses for two hotels allegedly housing ICE agents

Minneapolis City Council renews liquor licenses for two hotels allegedly housing ICE agents

The Minneapolis City Council approved liquor license renewals Thursday for two hotels that protesters have targeted for allegedly housing federal agents. Some council members pushed to deny the licenses, pointing to public comment from staff at the hotels who said they felt unsafe.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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U.S. wins 3rd Olympic gold in women's hockey, beating Canada 2-1 on Megan Keller's OT goal

U.S. wins 3rd Olympic gold in women's hockey, beating Canada 2-1 on Megan Keller's OT goal

Defender Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third women’s hockey gold medal with a 2-1 victory over Canada at the Milan Cortina Games to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports most heated rivalries.
by The Associated Press

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Kidney transplant recipient is back home in Minnesota after two weeks in ICE custody

Kidney transplant recipient is back home in Minnesota after two weeks in ICE custody

A kidney transplant recipient who had been in ICE custody in Texas for two weeks without access to many of his life-saving medications finally returned home in Minnesota Thursday night.
by Molly Castle Work

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Coalition of more than 20 mayors ask for legislative support for ICE surge recovery

Coalition of more than 20 mayors ask for legislative support for ICE surge recovery

The Cities for Safe and Stable Communities Coalition includes more than 20 communities, mainly suburbs in the Twin Cities metro area. They are asking for monetary resources from state lawmakers.
by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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Tom Homan said ICE found more than 3,000 unaccompanied minors in Minnesota. What does that mean?

Tom Homan said ICE found more than 3,000 unaccompanied minors in Minnesota. What does that mean?

Unaccompanied minors describes children under 18 who don’t have lawful status in the country. A lawyer who works with unaccompanied minors in Minnesota said Homan’s claim is a mischaracterization.
by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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St. Paul declares snow emergency parking rules after latest storm

St. Paul declares snow emergency parking rules after latest storm

In the wake of the latest winter storm that dropped more than a half-foot of snow on parts of the Twin Cities, the city of St. Paul has declared a snow emergency beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday. At last report, the city of Minneapolis had not declared a snow emergency.
by MPR News Staff

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Tabitha Peterson and U.S. women reach Olympic curling semis with tight win over Switzerland

Tabitha Peterson and U.S. women reach Olympic curling semis with tight win over Switzerland

The United States has earned a spot in the women’s curling semifinals at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The U.S. beat Switzerland 7-6 on Thursday in a match that went to an extra end. The Americans will face the Swiss again in Friday’s semifinals.
by The Associated Press

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Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under a new immigration memo

Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under a new immigration memo

The move is another Trump administration effort to limit legal pathways to migration or resettlement, after already curbing the number of admitted refugees and re-reviewing those admitted under the Biden administration.
by Ximena Bustillo

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Here's how Lake Superior, terrain drive heavy snowfall on Minnesota’s North Shore

Here's how Lake Superior, terrain drive heavy snowfall on Minnesota’s North Shore

When winter storms move across northeastern Minnesota, snowfall totals along the North Shore are often higher than surrounding inland areas. The reason is a powerful combination of lake enhancement from Lake Superior and the areas orographic features.
by Mandy Thalhuber

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Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

A surprise participant in Wednesday’s action at the Milan Cortina Olympics had four legs and zero concern for race times. As elite cross-country skiers pushed to the finish in the women’s team sprint heats, a dog wandered onto the course and ran with athletes down the straightaway.
by The Associated Press

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Here's how much snow fell in Minnesota

Here's how much snow fell in Minnesota

The top snowfall total award goes to Hovland on the North Shore, which recorded 40.4 inches of snow around 7 a.m. Friday. Here’s a look at how much snowfall has been recorded by weather watchers across the state.
by Matt Mikus

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ties to Epstein

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
by The Associated Press

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Finding harmony and a home in the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus

Finding harmony and a home in the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus

For 45 years, the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus has created a place to sing, belong and spread a little joy. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how music can heal and bring people together through hard times.
by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

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As political pressure prompts exodus of Minnesota prosecutors, some defendants catch a break

As political pressure prompts exodus of Minnesota prosecutors, some defendants catch a break

The federal prosecutor’s office in Minnesota has been gutted by a wave of career officials resigning or retiring over objections to Trump administration directives. The diminished U.S. Attorney's Office has been forced to dismiss some cases, kill others before charges are filed and seek plea agreements and delays.
by The Associated Press

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Federal judge considers whether to temporarily restrict ICE practices in Minnesota after lawsuit

Parts of the North Shore will be digging out from close to 3 feet of snow Thursday in the wake of Wednesday’s blizzard. Meanwhile, a federal judge is considering whether to temporarily restrict immigration enforcement practices in Minnesota after a lawsuit accused federal agents of racial profiling and unlawful arrests during the enforcement surge.
by Emily Bright

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Long-lost footage of Sven Sundgaard's dad, Kip Sundgaard, in the 1976 Winter Olympics

Long-lost footage of Sven Sundgaard's dad, Kip Sundgaard, in the 1976 Winter Olympics

50 years ago, MPR News Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard’s dad, Kip Sundgaard, was a ski jumper in the 1976 Winter Olympic. But Sven and his family had never seen Kip’s Olympic jump or him in the opening ceremonies until just recently when someone in Austria reached out with long-lost video footage.
by Sven Sundgaard

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As 1 storm system departs, another grazes southeastern Minnesota

As 1 storm system departs, another grazes southeastern Minnesota

Snow showers will wind down on the North Shore Thursday. Another system will graze southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin Thursday night. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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North Shore digs out from more than 3 feet of wind-whipped snow; difficult morning drive in Twin Cities

North Shore digs out from more than 3 feet of wind-whipped snow; difficult morning drive in Twin Cities

Parts of the North Shore are digging out from more than 3 feet of wind-whipped snow Thursday, in the wake of a blizzard that pummeled northeast Minnesota on Wednesday. Some school districts are delaying the start of classes.
by Andrew Krueger

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‘This isn’t living, right?’: Minnesota immigrants share their stories while in hiding from ICE

‘This isn’t living, right?’: Minnesota immigrants share their stories while in hiding from ICE

MPR News connected with five immigrants across Minnesota who have been scared to leave their homes over the last six weeks, due to fears of encountering ICE. Each person recorded voice memos or spoke to a reporter for three days, sharing their experiences of living locked inside.  
by Cait Kelley, Alanna Elder, Ellen Finn and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Hughes and Tkachuk brothers make U.S. Olympic men's hockey team a family affair

Hughes and Tkachuk brothers make U.S. Olympic men's hockey team a family affair

Brothers being teammates at the Olympics is rare — and as if chasing what would be the first gold medal for the U.S. men since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 wasn't special enough for the next couple of weeks, it's a chance for those four players to do so alongside a sibling.
by The Associated Press

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Holdingford fire highlights the importance of small-town grain mills as community hubs

Holdingford fire highlights the importance of small-town grain mills as community hubs

The Holdingford Mill, which stood for over a hundred years, burned down on Feb. 15, leaving only a warehouse behind. While the business is not shutting down for good, it will never operate at the same scale it used to.
by Noah Bloch

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Art Hounds: Spirituals, stand-up and a bold 'Salomé'

Art Hounds: Spirituals, stand-up and a bold 'Salomé'

Art Hounds recommend “VocalEssence WITNESS: Symphony of Spirituals,” “Oasis Laugh-Battle” and “Salomé.”
by Emily Bright

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