💃🏆 The U of M dance team showed out at nationals once again. They took home gold in pom with an incredible routine.

Government

Twin Cities Leaders Hold Firm Despite Calls For Accelerated Deportation From Trump

The Summary: The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a memo directing federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who impede the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. This move has heightened tensions between sanctuary cities like Minneapolis and the federal government.

Minneapolis Officials Stand Firm: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has reiterated that immigration enforcement is not the role of local law enforcement. He emphasized that the department's focus is on serious crime and maintaining community trust. Mayor Jacob Frey echoed this sentiment, stating that Minneapolis will remain a welcoming city.

Legal Challenges and Uncertainties: Legal experts suggest that prosecuting city leaders over their immigration stance would be difficult unless they actively block federal enforcement. The memo's implications remain unclear, and it is uncertain when federal prosecutors might launch investigations into state and local authorities.

Impact on Immigrant Communities: Local organizations report increased anxiety among immigrant communities. Concerns include fear of driving, taking children to school, or reporting crimes. Advocates stress the importance of immigrants knowing their rights, including the right to refuse entry to ICE agents without a judicial warrant.

Business

❯ Revival Shuts Down: Twin Cities restaurant Revival, known for its fried chicken and Southern cuisine, abruptly closed all its locations in the Twin Cities on Monday. Owners Thomas Boemer and Nick Rancone announced the closure on social media, citing the challenges of restaurant ownership and expressing heartbreak over the decision to shut down after nearly a decade in business.

❯ UHC Names New CEO: Tim Noel has been announced as the new CEO of UnitedHealthcare following the tragic killing of former CEO Brian Thompson in December. Noel, a longtime UHG employee who previously led UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, takes on this role as the company continues to navigate the aftermath of Thompson's murder.

❯ Start-Up Founder Running For Mayor: Jazz Hampton, co-founder of TurnSignl, an app that connects drivers with lawyers during traffic stops, has announced his candidacy for mayor of Minneapolis. Hampton, a Twin Cities native and former attorney, aims to address issues such as education, housing, and policing while tackling what he perceives as "gridlock" at city hall.

Politics

Minnesota Supreme Court Hears Arguments on House Control Dispute 👩‍⚖️

The Summary: The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Thursday regarding the legitimacy of House sessions conducted solely by Republicans, who have assumed chamber control while Democrats boycott.

Quorum Dispute: Republicans argue 67 members constitute a majority in the 133-member House (one seat vacant). Democrats and Secretary of State maintain 68 members are needed for a quorum.

Constitutional Interpretation: Debate centers on the meaning of "a majority of each house" in the state constitution. Questions arise about whether quorum requirements change with vacancies.

Potential Outcomes and Timeline: The court's decision could range from dismissing the challenges to ruling in favor of the petitioners, with significant implications for House operations and leadership. No specific timetable for a decision has been set, but given the urgency of the matter, a ruling is expected relatively quickly.

What Else We’re Reading…

At Least 15 Minnesotans Are Being Pardoned After Involvement With January 6 Insurrection

President Trump granted clemency to approximately 1,500 defendants involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including at least 15 Minnesotans. The pardons, issued just hours after Trump's second-term inauguration, cover various charges ranging from entering restricted areas to assaulting officers, with some Minnesota defendants already sentenced for their roles in the riots.

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Sports 🏀

🏀 The Gopher Men’s basketball team have now won two Big 10 conference games in a row after beating Iowa on the road. They face #15 Oregon at home on Saturday.

🏈 The Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell have agreed to a multi-year extension. (NFL)

🏀 The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks on the road thanks to a career night from Jaden McDaniels.

🏀 The Gopher Women’s basketball team lost a close one to #24 ranked Michigan at home.

🏒 The Minnesota Frost are on a three game losing streak after losing to Ottawa. They still sit in second place in the PWHL standings.

🏒 The Minnesota Wild lost to the Utah Hockey Club last night by a score of 4-0.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota ✔

❯ A family is suing Mayo Clinic after claiming surgeons paralyzed their daughter (Yahoo)

❯ Minneapolis police officers were not charged after fatally shooting an armed man in June (Bring Me The News)

❯ The Twin Cities population is expected to continue growing over the next 25 years, especially in the suburbs (Axios)

❯ MnDOT has advanced I-94 reconstruction plans, eliminating options that would have removed the highway (Sahan Journal)

❯ Opponents of the new St. Thomas University arena are putting up more fight (yahoo)

The Final Word: Pizza Chasers 🍕

Thanks to an MPR article, I discovered a Facebook group called Twin Cities Pie Chasers that is entirely dedicated to finding the best pizza in the Twin Cities. The creator of the group, which has 19,000 members, said one of the best pies he has had recently came from Farina Rossa.

-Patrick