MPR News

01/13/2026

A restored ancient bronze owl artifact has returned to the Minneapolis Institute of Art nearly three years after a visitor accidentally knocked it off its plinth.

The sculpture — a Chinese zun wine vessel that is upwards of 3,200 years old, dating to the Shang dynasty — raises questions about risk, conservation and how museums display their most fragile treasures.

Read the full story here: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/13/mia-restores-and-returns-3200yearold-bronze-owl-to-public-display

📸 Alex V. Cipolle | MPR News

01/13/2026

The day before Renee Macklin Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, a St. Paul couple were observing ICE agents in St. Paul.

Noah and Judy Levy were told agents were staging at a nearby parking lot. They got in their car and followed when eight SUVs filled with masked and armed men peeled out of the parking lot. After failing to shake the observers, the agents halted their caravan in the middle of traffic and surrounded observers’ cars, threatening them with arrest for impeding law enforcement.

Agents took photos of Levy and other observers’ license plates. Then a masked agent walked up to Judy Levy’s passenger side window and greeted her by name. The couple continued following the caravan and the ICE vehicles turned on Levy’s street.

To read more about federal agents accessing private data to track and intimidate, follow the link in our bio.

Story by Jon Collins
Interview video captured by Anne Guttridge
Video edited by Tony Xiao

01/13/2026

Hundreds of Twin Cities high school students walked out Monday to protest ICE operations in Minnesota. Some schools are reporting 30% drops in attendance as families fear leaving their homes, with districts pausing field trips and offering virtual learning options.

Hundreds of Twin Cities high school students walked out of school Monday to protest federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Officials are increasingly concerned about high absenteeism in some schools with families fearing being caught up in ICE operations.

01/13/2026

Activists allege ICE tracked and intimidated Minnesotans observing their operations using private data like license-plate and car-registration info — data that, advocates say should only be accessed during active criminal investigations. The ACLU of Minnesota calls for answers and accountability.

MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advocates say it’s a clear violation of state law.

01/13/2026

Can I stay silent? What kind of warrant do they need? What documents should I carry? We asked an attorney what to do if you get stopped by ICE.

With immigration enforcement activity increasing across Minnesota, many people are asking a simple but urgent question: What are my rights if ICE or other federal agents approach me?

01/13/2026

ICE is using an array of tools and programs to track people's social media activity and location. But 404 Media journalist Joseph Cox told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini that there's a "solid and robust" way to help combat even more surveillance: turning off your phone's location services.

ICE recently purchased two programs called Tangles and Webloc, which are used to track the cell phone activity of entire neighborhoods and monitor people over social media and through internet data, according to reporting by 404 Media.

01/13/2026

In light of reports that multiple tribal members had been detained by ICE, several tribal nations are hosting drop-in hours this week for band members and eligible family members to get tribal IDs. Here's where they're being hosted and when.

Several tribal nations will hold drop-in hours for citizens living in the Twin Cities to obtain or renew their tribal identification this week.

01/12/2026

Angela Davis is back!

Today on MPR News, Angela and her guests talk about how to manage fear, anxiety and emotional overload during stressful times.

If you missed her show today at 9 a.m., listen here or on the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast.

Find it here:
https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/01/12/how-to-cope-with-stress-fear-and-anger-during-uncertain-times

01/12/2026

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. today regarding the federal immigration enforcement agents deployed to Minnesota.

Federal officials said Monday that more than 2,000 immigration arrests have been made in Minnesota since the enforcement surge began in December.

On Sunday, DHS officials announced they are sending hundreds of additional immigration enforcement officers to the state.

01/12/2026

Here’s the latest around the increased federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and the killing of Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis last week by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Here’s the latest Monday around the increased federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and the killing of Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis last week by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

01/12/2026

Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen announced Monday that he's tapped a Hennepin County sheriff's deputy, Phouthaivanh Wilkerson, as his running mate.

Jensen announced on Monday that he picked lieutenant governor candidate Phouthaivanh Wilkerson to run with him for the Republican Party’s endorsement.

01/12/2026

After closing due to safety concerns last week, several Twin Cities school districts reopened their doors Monday to students with added safety measures amid a surge in immigration enforcement. The districts are offering extra security measures this week.

After closing due to safety concerns last week, several Twin Cities school districts reopened their doors Monday to students with added safety measures amid a surge in immigration enforcement. More student walkouts protesting ICE operations are expected across the region.