overnor Walz hints at a possible upcoming end to Operation Metro Surge, the Duluth City Council considers a proposal to temporarily halt evictions, and Minnesotans take medals at the Milan Winter Olympics.
Transcript
I’m Xan Holston with today’s headlines. Tempers erupt at a Duluth City Council meeting, the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge, and Olympic curlers make U.S. history. But first:
--WALZ SUGGESTS END TO SURGE & ECONOMIC UPDATE--
Governor Tim Walz says he’s hopeful Operation Metro Surge will end sooner rather than later.
At a press conference Tuesday, Walz said he believes the federal immigration enforcement operation that brought 3,000 agents to the state was nearly done.
[TIM WALZ: We’re very much in a trust but verify mode, but it’s my expectation […] that we are talking days, not weeks and months, of this occupation.]
Walz said that assessment is based on recent conversations with Border Czar Tom Homan and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Walz also suggested the pullback could allow state agencies to gain access to investigations into the fatal shootings of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti — cases where federal authorities had blocked state investigators.
But the governor made clear the shift isn’t just about enforcement — it’s about what comes next.
[TIM WALZ: I think by next week they’re going to be significant, where all of us can measure that. And then I hope that we are pivoting correctly on this, to the recovery phase that’s going to be ongoing.]
[NAT: Music interlude]
Walz initially called the press conference to talk about the tremendous economic fallout Operation Metro Surge is having on Minnesota — especially on small businesses.
[MATT VARILEK: The scale of the harm being inflicted by our own federal government is beyond what they can handle.]
That’s Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek:
[MATT VARILEK: We’ve been hearing heartbreaking stories — not just of dollars and cents — but of livelihoods that are interrupted.]
Varilek joined Governor Walz at the press conference. He says the state is still waiting on U.S. Department of Labor data, but early indicators from Minnesota agencies are already concerning.
Restaurants and bars report drops in business of 50 to 80 percent. Manufacturers warn of supply-chain disruptions. Employers describe workers staying home out of fear.
[MATT VARILEK: Our job then is to do the best we can with the hand we’ve been dealt, and try to mitigate those impacts for our businesses and our workers as fast as we can.]
The state plans to release its updated budget and economic forecast at the end of February.
--FREY ON ECONOMIC IMPACT--
Echoing state concerns, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says businesses in the city are losing tens of millions of dollars each week.
A new survey from Meet Minneapolis found that 90 percent of respondents — including hotels, restaurants, retailers and arts organizations — report negative impacts since Operation Metro Surge began in December.
[JACOB FREY: Businesses along cultural corridors are down at least 50 percent, and the Latino-owned businesses and Somali-owned businesses are drastically below that.]
Business leaders cite lost bookings, staffing disruptions and widespread anxiety.
Officials hoping to revitalize the economy stress that Minneapolis remains open for business, with major events continuing and most attractions still operating.
--DULUTH CITY COUNCIL--
[COUNCILMEMBER DURWACHTER: This resolution is to request that the governor declare an emergency and institute a program of financial assistance to anyone directly affected by this recent ICE corruption, who is in danger of losing their home during this time.]
[DROP AUDIO BENEATH NARRATION]
In Duluth, that call for action sparked open frustration at City Hall.
A City Council resolution urging Governor Walz to declare an emergency and temporarily halt evictions was tabled — prompting an angry response from the crowd.
[NAT: SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!]
[FADE UNDER AND OUT]
The council said it needed more time to consider the issue.
Landlords and tenants clashed over the proposal’s potential impact.
Some landlords warned a rent moratorium could harm small property owners. Advocates argued it was necessary to prevent displacement tied to immigration enforcement.
While Duluth has not experienced federal immigration operations at the scale seen in the Twin Cities, councilmembers said they are concerned about the ripple effects.
In January, both Minneapolis and St. Paul passed resolutions urging the governor to halt evictions statewide.
The council later passed a separate resolution clarifying how Duluth city staff should interact with federal immigration agents.
--MN OLYMPIANS TAKE MEDALS--
And finally, Duluth’s curling pride made U.S. Olympic history — twice.
The two Coreys took the silver medal — narrowly losing to Sweden in a thrilling match.
Corey Thiesse and Korey Dropkin are the first U.S. mixed doubles team to win an Olympic curling medal, and Thiesse is the first U.S. woman to medal in curling.
With North Star Stories, I’m Xan Holston.