Month: January 2026

The Justice Department has issued a series of grand jury subpoenas to top Minnesota officials, dramatically escalating a federal investigation into whether state and local leaders interfered with immigration enforcement during a sweeping federal operation in the Twin Cities.

According to documents and multiple people familiar with the matter, subpoenas seeking records were delivered to the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and officials in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The subpoenas were served the same day Attorney General Pam Bondi visited Minnesota, underscoring the growing clash between federal authorities and Democratic leaders in the state.

Federal prosecutors are examining whether public statements or directives from state and local officials amounted to a conspiracy to obstruct federal officers carrying out immigration duties. Sources say the investigation centers on a rarely used federal conspiracy statute, 18 USC 372, a Civil War-era law that was also applied in cases tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The subpoenas themselves do not spell out specific criminal charges.

The probe follows weeks of tension after the Department of Homeland Security launched a massive immigration enforcement push in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Roughly 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents were deployed — a force far larger than the Minneapolis Police Department — as part of what the administration calls Operation Metro Surge. Federal officials say more than 3,000 people suspected of being in the country illegally have been arrested.

The crackdown intensified public outrage after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, on Jan. 7. Authorities say the officer, Jonathan Ross, fired in self-defense, though video of the encounter shows Good’s vehicle slowly turning away at the moment she was shot. The killing sparked sustained protests, frequent confrontations between residents and federal agents, and the use of tear gas and chemical irritants by officers.

Frey and Ellison both confirmed receiving subpoenas and sharply condemned the Justice Department’s actions. Frey accused federal officials of abusing their authority, saying, “When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned. We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with. In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong and, as Mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values.”

Ellison said the subpoena directed to his office seeks documents, not his personal testimony, and suggested it was retaliatory. “Everything about this is highly irregular, especially the fact that this comes shortly after my office sued the Trump Administration to challenge their illegal actions within Minnesota,” he said. “Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way.”

Her said she is “unfazed by these tactics” and vowed to continue advocating for her community.

The subpoenas require Frey’s office to produce records and provide testimony on Feb. 3, including communications related to cooperation — or lack thereof — with federal immigration authorities and guidance issued to residents about interacting with immigration officers.

Minnesota and several cities have asked a federal judge to halt or limit the enforcement surge, arguing it violates constitutional protections and relies on what Ellison has described as poorly trained, heavily armed officers. Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high. Local police leaders say federal agents have stopped U.S. citizens and even off-duty officers without cause.   President Donald Trump last week floated the idea of invoking an 1807 law to deploy troops to Minnesota, though he has since softened those remarks publicly.

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South Carolina’s measles outbreak continues to intensify, with state health officials confirming 88 additional infections this week, pushing the total to 646 cases since October. The South Carolina Department of Public Health said the vast majority of cases remain concentrated in the Upstate region, particularly Spartanburg County near the North Carolina border.

Health authorities have identified numerous public exposure sites tied to the outbreak, including elementary and secondary schools, two grocery stores, a Publix supermarket, the South Carolina State Museum, and college campuses. Clemson University reported that 34 students are currently quarantined, while Anderson University has placed 50 students in quarantine following confirmed exposures. The department has posted specific dates and times of potential exposure events on its website.

The expanding outbreak has added to growing concern among public health experts that the United States may be at risk of losing its measles elimination status. The World Health Organization defines measles elimination as having “no locally transmitted measles infections or outbreaks lasting 12 months or longer.” The U.S. achieved that benchmark in 2000, but sustained outbreaks in recent years have raised doubts about whether it can be maintained.

In 2025, the U.S. recorded more than 2,240 measles cases — the highest total in three decades — with many linked to a large outbreak in West Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far in 2026, 171 cases have been reported nationwide as of Jan. 13, with updated figures expected later this week from the CDC.

Measles is among the most contagious viruses known and can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization and death. Public health officials note that declining vaccination rates have fallen below the herd immunity levels needed to prevent sustained transmission.

The Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Americas, is scheduled to meet in April to review measles elimination status for both the United States and Mexico. Canada lost its elimination status in November, nearly three decades after the disease was declared eliminated there.

Health officials stress that vaccination remains the most effective defense. One dose of the MMR vaccine is about 93% effective against measles, while the full two-dose series offers roughly 97% protection, according to the CDC. Vaccines are available through primary care providers, pharmacies, and local health departments.

People who believe they may have been exposed are urged to monitor for symptoms, which typically appear seven to 12 days after exposure, though they can take up to 21 days. Early signs include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that usually begins on the face and spreads.

Anyone experiencing a fever of 101°F or higher with these symptoms should contact a health care provider before seeking in-person care so precautions, such as masking or isolation, can be arranged to limit further spread. Patients may be advised to remain at home until medically cleared.

Editorial credit: Jarun Ontakrai / Shutterstock.com