Federal government shut down after not reaching a spending agreement Tuesday

At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, much of the federal government shut down. Congressional Democrats and Republicans didn’t reach a spending agreement Tuesday night. Democrats chose not to budge on preserving expiring health care subsidies. Republicans have refused to negotiate. More voting is expected Wednesday.

Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed and many offices will be shuttered. The Trump administration has called for mass firings.

Minnesota is firmly in the bullseye of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. As reported by the New York Times, the administration says it found more than 200 incidents of suspected immigration fraud in the Twin Cities. The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in Minneapolis Tuesday that the enforcement operation was the “first of many” and other cities “should be prepared.”

In a separate challenge, the Justice Department sued Minneapolis, St. Paul and other Minnesota jurisdictions to block policies that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE — otherwise known as sanctuary city policies.

Tensions from negotiations over a special session have worsened as leaders of both parties accused the other of causing a stalemate. The Minnesota Legislature could be pressed into action to respond to the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in August.

Democrats released their proposal, which includes a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, additional school safety funding and increased penalties for violent offenses committed with a firearm. But the Republican leadership says the proposal ignores the regular committee process.

Democrats countered that Republicans will not take on any bills that would put any restrictions on guns — something families of the victims of Annunciation have been asking for.

Lynx star Napheesa Collier is calling on the WNBA to examine refereeing practices and said league leadership hasn’t taken the problem seriously. She spoke to reporters Tuesday after Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was fined and suspended from a game for criticizing a ref's calls. Collier said the officiating problems run deep.

Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.

Government shuts down after Congress fails to reach a funding agreement

What happens now that a government shutdown is underway

Minnesota leaders take spat public as they tussle over special session on gun violence prevention

Napheesa Collier tells of private chat with Engelbert that she said exposed a problematic leader

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