Education

ICE detained four students in Columbia Heights, including a 5‑year‑old boy. A federal judge has issued a temporary order barring the removal of that boy and his father, illustrating that immediate legal action can halt rapid deportations and that litigation is beginning to catch up with Columbia Heights/Metro Surge child‑detention cases.

Immigrant families and supporters traveled to a Texas family detention facility where 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father are being held after a Minnesota immigration enforcement operation, protesting outside the center and coordinating with Minnesota‑based advocates and legal teams to demand their immediate release back to Minnesota. Organizers say Liam’s case — tied by protesters to Minnesota’s Operation Metro Surge — highlights the cruelty of detaining children with pending asylum claims, while the family says they entered the U.S. the “right” way.

Sherburne County authorities say a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl reported missing Wednesday evening was found alive after a statewide Amber Alert, and 29-year-old International Falls resident Joseph Andrew Bragg now faces felony kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. Investigators allege Bragg abducted the child after she got off her school bus, then used a Lyft ride from a Hamel/Corcoran-area residence to a Ramada Inn in Plymouth before driving south in a rented white Dodge Ram; hotel video shows him entering alone and booking a room. After an Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) alert in Sherburne County and cell-phone location tracking pointed to his truck heading toward Iowa, Albert Lea police spotted the vehicle near two truck stops around 12:34 a.m. and, during a traffic stop, found the girl in a back seat packed with belongings. The charging complaint also details a prior December Facebook contact in which Bragg allegedly befriended the child’s mother online, asked about her kids and expressed interest in working with children, prompting investigators to warn parents to tightly monitor kids’ social media and messaging app activity. Roughly 200 law enforcement personnel and more than 700 community members joined the search, which officials say was crucial to bringing the girl home quickly and keeping this from becoming another unsolved child-abduction horror story.

Renee Good’s family has retained Romanucci & Blandin—the civil‑rights firm that represented George Floyd’s family—to conduct an independent investigation, pursue civil litigation if warranted, and has sent a formal Preservation of Evidence Letter demanding that federal authorities preserve all physical and electronic evidence while urging the public to share video and information. The family also commissioned an independent autopsy that found Good was shot in the left temple, a result they say is inconsistent with DHS/ICE’s claim that her vehicle was “weaponized” and has bolstered the firm’s pledge of transparency and accountability.

A federal judge has lifted or significantly narrowed a prior order that had barred ICE, CBP and other DHS officers from retaliating against, arresting, detaining or using force or chemical agents on people peacefully protesting, recording, observing or safely following Operation Metro Surge—restoring broader authority for immigration agents to use certain crowd‑control tactics and arrests while the litigation continues. The suit, brought by Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul (and joined by Illinois), alleges the surge unlawfully targets Minnesota for its diversity and politics, violates the 10th Amendment and involves excessive, sometimes deadly, force in incidents that have sparked protests, school walkouts and business closures.

St. Paul Public Schools will offer temporary districtwide online learning beginning Thursday, Jan. 22 — after no school on Jan. 19 (MLK Day) and staff prep days on Jan. 20–21 — with families able to opt in and roughly 6,000 students choosing the virtual track that keeps them with teachers and classmates from their current schools rather than the separate SPPS Online School. District leaders say the move is a safety and stability response to increased immigration enforcement and the presence of federal agents in the Twin Cities (linked to Minneapolis’ e‑learning option after the ICE killing of Renee Good), and administrators have reassigned teachers, adjusted schedules and attendance policies, and distributed technology to support the sudden shift.

FOX 9 reports that dozens of Minnesota school districts, including some in and around the Twin Cities, are closing early on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 because of an incoming winter storm. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for southwestern Minnesota and a winter weather advisory for western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon, with visibility expected to drop to near zero at times in the blizzard zone. After the snow, temperatures across the state will plunge, with an extreme cold warning in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday through 11 a.m. Friday, bringing subzero air temps and dangerous wind chills. The station is maintaining a running list of districts altering schedules and is urging families to monitor official school communications and use the FOX 9 weather app for hyperlocal warnings while planning for both the early dismissals and the sharp cold snap that follows.

Child‑care providers across the Twin Cities say recent ICE enforcement actions are traumatizing the children in their care. In response, community leaders have used social‑media mobilization — including a coordinated "Taco Tuesday" campaign urging residents to eat at immigrant‑owned restaurants — to shore up businesses hit by the raids.

Several Twin Cities districts — including Minneapolis, St. Paul, District 196 (Apple Valley–Eagan–Rosemount), Fridley, Richfield and Robbinsdale — have opened opt‑in remote learning or e‑learning windows in response to a surge in federal immigration enforcement tied to DHS’s “Operation Metro Surge” (Minneapolis’ e‑learning began Jan. 8 and runs through Feb. 12; Fridley’s window is Jan. 20–Feb. 13, with St. Paul and District 196 also launching opt‑in tracks this week). Districts cite community fear after the Renee Good shooting and same‑day ICE incidents near schools, reporting widespread absences and students missing meals, while DHS says the operation has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests and denies “raiding” schools.

Savage police arrested 18‑year‑old daycare worker Theah Russell and charged her with second‑degree murder in the September death of 11‑month‑old Harvey Muklebust after investigators say she admitted to choking him and have also charged her with attempted murder in two earlier incidents involving an infant girl. State inspection records show Rocking Horse Ranch had prior safety violations, regulators suspended its license citing an imminent risk of harm, and investigators said a child‑abuse pediatric specialist flagged the pattern linking all three medical events to Russell.

Robbinsdale Area Schools says a parent was detained by ICE agents at a district bus stop on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 14, while children — including the detained parent’s child — were waiting to board. The district reports all students got on the bus and arrived at school safely, and says drivers are trained not to allow unauthorized adults onto buses. In a message to families, Robbinsdale emphasized that it does not collect or share immigration‑status information, reminded staff that ICE needs a judge‑signed warrant to enter school property, and instructed employees to call 911 if someone comes onto campus without a legitimate purpose. The district also pointed families to immigration‑resource links and said remote/online learning options are available for students who need to be absent for extended periods during the current federal enforcement surge. FOX 9 has asked DHS/ICE for details on why the parent was detained and whether they remain in custody, but the agency has not yet responded.

Gov. Tim Walz will deliver a primetime statewide address as Minnesota contends with a federal ICE crackdown and protests tied to recent ICE-related shootings. His speech comes as President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to Minneapolis unrest — a major federal escalation that could collide with state and local leaders already in court seeking to rein in Operation Metro Surge.

DHS data show that of more than 2,000 arrests tied to Operation Metro Surge, 212 people are on DHS’s “worst of the worst” list and 103 of those are classified as violent — roughly 5% of all arrestees. The surge, which officials say includes about 1,500 ICE officers and 600 HSI agents and brought Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the Twin Cities, has sparked large protests, security barriers and school disruptions, expanded community “constitutional observer” trainings, and figures in a proposed impeachment effort against Noem.

Education Minnesota has joined hundreds of students in demanding that ICE stay away from Minnesota schools, urging protections for classrooms and school communities. Students staged walkouts and rallied at the state Capitol, directly linking their actions to Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE incidents near Roosevelt High, Fridley and Columbia Heights, and calling on state officials to intervene.

Hundreds of Twin Cities students walked out of class and rallied at the Minnesota Capitol on Jan. 14 to protest ongoing ICE operations under Operation Metro Surge, saying raids and armed agents near schools are terrifying immigrant families and disrupting education. Organizers from multiple Minneapolis–St. Paul districts marched to the Capitol, where student speakers demanded that ICE stay away from school grounds and that state leaders do more to protect their communities. The walkouts follow earlier decisions by Minneapolis, St. Paul and Fridley to offer or shift to online learning because of ICE activity, and reports of sharp absentee spikes in schools serving large immigrant populations. With video of the protests spreading online, the student‑led action adds direct youth pressure on Gov. Walz, AG Keith Ellison and the Legislature as they battle the Trump administration in court over the Twin Cities enforcement surge.

After the fatal shooting of Renee Good, ICE intensified "Operation Metro Surge" across the Twin Cities—carrying out neighborhood raids and arrests that protesters say have disproportionately targeted Somali residents and that sparked large marches, school and business walkouts, reports of U.S. citizens detained, and pepper‑spray confrontations. Multiple immigrants have filed federal lawsuits challenging detentions and at least one habeas petition alleges a warrantless battering‑ram home entry, while Minnesota lawmakers and other members of Congress have backed an effort to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of constitutional violations and misconduct tied to the surge.

A Minnesota student survey shows overall improvements in student mental health, though social media use remains a key concern. Separately, the Minnesota Department of Health said it will not adopt the CDC’s Jan. 5, 2026 revised childhood immunization schedule—saying the CDC’s rollback “does not reflect the best available science”—and will instead follow AAP/AAFP/ACOG schedules under a Walz executive order, joining Wisconsin in rejecting the federal changes.

Fridley Public Schools has canceled all classes, activities and childcare for Friday with no online learning, citing 'fear and disruption' and a major spike in absences and staff shortages after heightened ICE enforcement in the area over the last 24 hours. Nearby Columbia Heights Public Schools will shift to district‑wide online learning Friday 'out of an abundance of caution,' keeping only Mini Adventures childcare open, as both north‑metro districts respond to families’ concerns about safety in traveling to school.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura visited Minneapolis’ Roosevelt High School on Thursday to show support for staff after a chaotic ICE enforcement incident outside the school at dismissal, where video shows agents and a crowd as a chemical irritant is deployed and a staff member is reportedly detained. Ventura, a Roosevelt alum, publicly praised staff for standing up for students, criticized federal tactics and called the separate deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis a needless tragedy, while DHS provided FOX 9 a detailed statement saying agents were pursuing a U.S. citizen who allegedly rammed a government vehicle and led a dangerous five‑mile chase into the school zone before a teacher assaulted an agent and officers used 'targeted crowd control' with no tear gas. Minneapolis Public Schools has confirmed the Roosevelt incident and says it is investigating, as the teachers union alleges an employee was detained by ICE and community concerns over federal operations near schools escalate.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District and Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota reached a tentative contract agreement around 5 a.m. Wednesday after a 20-hour mediation session, preventing a teacher strike that had been set to begin Thursday, Jan. 8. The deal, which still must be ratified by union members and approved by the School Board, covers about 3,200 educators across 52 schools and ensures classes and activities will continue as scheduled while detailed terms have not yet been released.

Federal officials have frozen Minnesota’s child-care funds amid allegations from senior HHS leaders — echoed by increased congressional scrutiny — that scammers and fake daycares siphoned millions over the past decade. In response, Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families says its Office of Inspector General, working with BCA agents, will begin immediate on‑site compliance visits at 55 providers now under investigation (including four featured in a viral video), and that DCYF and providers learned of the HHS freeze at the same time as the public while the state has until Jan. 9 to provide additional information.

Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law took effect Jan. 1, 2026, allowing most workers statewide to claim up to 20 weeks of paid leave per year—12 weeks for their own medical needs and 12 for family or safety reasons—with wage replacement generally between 55% and 90% of normal pay, capped at about $1,423 per week. Eligibility requires at least $3,900 in prior‑year earnings and excludes certain groups such as federal and tribal employees, postal and railroad workers, seasonal hospitality workers, independent contractors and the self‑employed, while a separate new law now guarantees at least a 15‑minute rest break every four hours and a 30‑minute meal break every six hours for Minnesota employees. Employers can withhold up to 0.44% of wages to help fund the program, leave can be taken in blocks or intermittently, and most workers are entitled to return to the same or an equivalent job after 90 days on the job, with retaliation prohibited.

After a weekend blizzard that produced heavy snow, high winds and hundreds of crashes, Interstate 35 was closed south of Albert Lea — between I‑90 and Highway 30 in Ames, Iowa — stranding motorists and prompting Minnesota National Guard assistance in Freeborn County and southern Minnesota. The corridor has since reopened in far southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, but state DOTs say crews will work through the morning of Dec. 29 to remove disabled vehicles and finish snow-and-ice clearing and advise motorists not to detour around I‑35 until conditions improve.

A winter storm warning in effect from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday brought a changeover to snow across the Twin Cities (generally 3–5 inches, locally higher to the north), with wind gusts up to about 40–45 mph causing blowing snow, low visibility and snow‑covered roads through the Wednesday morning commute. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 255 crashes and 375 vehicles off the road (including 13 jackknifed semis), 19 injury crashes and one fatal wreck, and a multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy. 52 near the Concord Blvd. exit in Inver Grove Heights that snarled traffic in both directions.

Lakeville Area Schools is proposing district‑wide attendance boundary changes for the 2026–27 school year—its second major redraw in two years—that would reassign students at all nine elementary schools and four middle schools to relieve overcrowding and plan for growth. Board Chair Matt Swanson says the district has added 800 students in five years and expects 500 more in the next five, while parents worry about repeated school moves for their children; a public feedback meeting is set for Jan. 6 ahead of a Jan. 13 board vote.

Investigators say Christmas lights likely sparked a blaze that heavily damaged Eagan’s Grace Slavic Church — leaving a hole in the roof, burned gutters and boarded windows while the sanctuary cross remains — and forcing the congregation to relocate Christmas services, with another church offering space and revised schedules. The fire also displaced Baitul Hikmah Academy classes, which shifted to e‑learning and temporary host/interim spaces, as leaders and families (including many Ukrainian immigrants the church has served) cope and a recovery GoFundMe has raised about $3,700.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary restraining order barring ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia, finding officials lacked legal authority to re‑detain him and had “affirmatively misled” the court; ICE released him from the Moshannon Valley facility and he returned to Maryland, where he was ordered to check in with immigration officials about 14 hours after release. The order — along with a prior immigration-judge release — keeps him free pending further proceedings (including upcoming hearings and a joint status report due Dec. 18), allowing him to remain with his family through the holidays while litigation over removal and related matters continues.

Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota has filed a formal intent-to-strike notice with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, setting Jan. 8 as the earliest possible date for a teachers’ strike if no contract agreement is reached. The union, representing educators in the Twin Cities’ largest district, says rising health-insurance costs and pay are the main sticking points, while the school board says it remains committed to negotiating through mediation and will hold a special meeting to discuss the labor situation.

Inver Grove Heights Schools (ISD 199) Superintendent Dave Bernhardson announced his retirement on Dec. 21, 2025. The leadership change affects the Dakota County district serving Inver Grove Heights; details on timing and next steps for selecting a successor were not immediately provided.

The Knight Foundation awarded a $2 million grant to the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, according to a Dec. 21 report. The funding supports the nonprofit partner of the city’s public library system in St. Paul; details on specific uses were not included in the report.

The St. Paul School Board voted on Dec. 19, 2025 to keep the district’s Hmong language and culture school/program at its current campuses, declining proposals to relocate or consolidate. The decision affects Saint Paul Public Schools students and families and settles immediate questions about facility changes for the program.

A 16-year-old Eagan boy has been charged with four felony counts of threats of violence after a Snapchat account posted a video threatening District 196 high schools, prompting Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Eastview and the School of Environmental Studies to close and dismiss students while police investigated. Investigators say they linked the account to the teen via a phone number and he admitted creating it; no weapons were found during searches, he is being held in juvenile detention and is due in court Dec. 23, and prosecutors and law enforcement warned such threats cause real fear, disrupt learning and will be prosecuted.

Teachers in Minnesota’s largest district are voting through Saturday on whether to authorize a strike after working without a contract since June 30. Union leaders cite no agreed pay increase and an average 22% jump in health insurance costs that could cut take‑home pay by $95–$400 per paycheck; if approved, more than 3,000 teachers and licensed staff could strike in early January, as talks stalled after a Dec. 3 mediation session.

A school in Woodbury announced on Dec. 16, 2025 that it will temporarily shift to online classes due to an influenza outbreak, citing high illness levels. The move comes as multiple schools have reported flu outbreaks, affecting families and instruction in the east‑metro.

The Robbinsdale School Board voted to advance a plan to close Noble Elementary, Sonnesyn Elementary and Robbinsdale Middle School to address a roughly $20 million deficit the district attributes to an accounting error and declining enrollment. A final draft will be reviewed Jan. 5 with a final vote set for Jan. 20 under a plan that keeps Lakeview and Neill elementaries open, and parents raised concerns about the closures’ community impacts.

St. Paul’s Rondo Community Library will close on Dec. 15 for up to a year while it undergoes planned facility and safety upgrades. The temporary shutdown, which began ahead of some planned improvements, has prompted community concerns about the loss of library space and services during the renovation.

Eden Prairie police placed Eden Prairie High School on hold, then a roughly 30‑minute lockdown around 10:30 a.m. Friday after a rumor that a student brought a gun to campus. Three 16‑year‑old students were arrested; a firearm was recovered off campus with two of the teens, while a third was arrested at the school. Officials say no threats were made, the lockdown is lifted, and investigators are determining whether the gun was ever on school grounds.

ISD 831 opened applications to fill Luke Hagglund’s vacant school board seat, accepting submissions through 4 p.m. Nov. 20 and scheduling interviews for Dec. 4; eleven people applied. After the Dec. 4 interviews the board deadlocked and made no appointment, and on Dec. 11 the board named three finalists to advance the selection process.

The Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 10 against Minneapolis Public Schools, challenging contract provisions that protect teachers of color in layoffs and recalls. The complaint alleges the layoff protections constitute unlawful race‑based discrimination under federal law and asks a judge to block enforcement and declare the provisions illegal.

Augsburg University says masked ICE agents targeted a student on campus. DHS/ICE disputes that account, saying an Augsburg administrator and campus security tried to obstruct officers who identified themselves and had a warrant, that agents used “minimum” force to clear vehicles, and that the person arrested is unlawfully in the U.S., a registered sex offender with a prior DWI (not independently confirmed), Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, also citing a reported 1,050% increase in assaults on officers during such arrests.

An overnight fire around 2 a.m. Monday destroyed the Masjid Hamza Al‑Mahmood Foundation and Baitul Hikmah Academy in Prior Lake, with firefighters arriving to flames through the roof and a partial roof collapse. No one was inside; about 200 K–12 students move to e‑learning as the cause remains under investigation and the school seeks temporary space at other campuses or a rented site.

Police cleared the gym and ended a basketball game early at Hopkins High School on Saturday night after fights broke out during a matchup between Hopkins and Tartan, officials said. The event was hosted by Breakdown Sports under a rental agreement that required a security plan, which included two on‑site officers; school leaders reported no serious injuries and noted a similar third‑party tournament in August also saw fights at the same venue.

The University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services and M Physicians agreed to resume talks over the medical school’s future funding and clinical partnership with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison managing the negotiations and naming a team to assist and help select a mutually agreed mediator. The move follows a contentious standoff — Fairview and M Physicians had announced a roughly $1 billion, “foundational and binding” framework they aim to finalize by end of 2025, while UMN regents unanimously criticized the pact as an overreach (calling it a “hostile takeover”), passed a resolution directing negotiations with the university and prompted the removal of M Physicians leader Dr. Greg Beilman from a UMN vice president post.

After rumors on Thursday that ICE agents were outside St. Louis Park school buildings, the district said it found no evidence of ICE presence, increased supervision, and sent families guidance on what would happen if federal agents do come to schools. Officials said schools do not collect immigration status, visitors must use main entrances, and only a judge‑signed order would compel action; they urged families to keep contacts updated and consider a preparedness plan (including DOPA, reconnection steps, and emergency kits).

A new federal program will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts for all U.S. babies born 2025–2028 once parents open an account, with funds invested in low‑fee U.S. stock index funds and accessible at age 18 for restricted uses such as tuition, a home down payment or starting a business. Michael and Susan Dell also pledged $6.25 billion to add a $250 seed for some children age 10 and under in lower‑income ZIP codes who don’t qualify for the $1,000, changes that directly affect eligible Twin Cities families.

St. Paul Public Schools says its 2026 property tax levy is on track to rise about 15% following the district’s Truth-in-Taxation hearing. The update, given after the Tuesday hearing, signals the School Board will likely adopt the levy later this month for taxes payable in 2026.

The Department of Education/Federal Student Aid will finish implementing changes in December that remove the “partial financial hardship” requirement to enroll in Income‑Based Repayment (IBR), a move that can let higher earners newly qualify, while also eliminating the SAVE plan and phasing out PAYE and ICR. IBR payments remain capped at the equivalent of the 10‑year standard plan with existing calculation percentages unchanged (generally 10% for new borrowers after July 1, 2014; 15% for older loans), and borrowers with eligible loans before July 1, 2026 can access IBR/ICR/PAYE on or after that date — FSA urges consolidations be completed at least three months prior.

Jonathan Weinhagen, the former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber who had been a Mounds View school board member (he has resigned), pleaded guilty to mail fraud and could face nearly three years in prison and more than $200,000 in restitution. Prosecutors allege he diverted Chamber funds — including about $30,000 earmarked as Crime Stoppers rewards for unsolved 2021 Minneapolis child shootings — through a sham consulting firm called Synergy Partners and an alias “James Sullivan,” opened a Chamber line of credit and drew over $125,000, signed sham contracts generating more than $100,000 for himself, and attempted a fraudulent SoFi loan in a scheme said to have run from December 2019 to June 2024.

Hennepin County prosecutors charged John Ezekiel Brown, 51, of Brooklyn Center with felony interference with the privacy of a minor after a 15-year-old reported he looked over a bathroom stall at Cooper High School in New Hope on Oct. 28. Surveillance video reviewed by New Hope police shows Brown entering the restroom before the student and remaining inside for nearly three minutes; the student ran out after seeing him, and the principal notified families, noting he was a temp-service custodian, not a district employee.

Stillwater Area Public Schools will sell the current Lake Elmo Elementary property at 11030 Stillwater Blvd. N. to Valley Community Center Partners, Inc. for $4.25 million, with plans for an indoor pool and community center on the 12.86‑acre site. The nonprofit has a 210‑day due‑diligence period, and closing is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026; demolition costs are covered by voter‑approved bond proceeds, and the new Lake Elmo Elementary opens next fall at 10th St. and Lake Elmo Ave.

Former Twin Cities teacher and coach Aaron Hjermstad was sentenced Monday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for sexually abusing 12 additional boys, adding to a prior 12-year sentence tied to four victims. Prosecutors say the abuse occurred while he worked at Excell Academy in Brooklyn Park and Mastery School/Harvest Best Academy in Minneapolis; a search warrant cited a catalog of videos labeled with 127 sets of initials, and Hjermstad pled guilty to the new counts in September 2025.

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office says a nonverbal 4-year-old who wandered from home in Shoreview was saved by school bus driver Mebal Kaanyi, who jumped into Lake Owasso during her Thursday route to pull the child from neck‑deep water. Deputies and medics met them at the scene and took the child to a hospital, where he met his mother and is expected to recover; Roseville Area Schools students later honored Kaanyi for her actions.

The White House has begun dismantling the Education Department by signing six interagency agreements that shift most K–12 and higher‑education programs and school funding/support to the Department of Labor and other agencies (HHS, State, Interior), with adult education already moved; Education will retain policy guidance and oversight of Labor’s education work and continue to administer FAFSA, Pell Grants, federal student loans and college accreditation. Secretary Linda McMahon says the transfers won’t disrupt funding and will give states more flexibility, but officials and state leaders warn of added bureaucracy and confusion, staff retention remains unclear, and the department—hobbled by mass layoffs upheld by the Supreme Court—now sits in a limbo only Congress can resolve.

The Education Department finalized a rule, taking effect July 1, 2026, that bars employers from qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if the department finds they are substantially involved in certain alleged illegal activities—ranging from aiding or abetting illegal immigration, supporting terrorism or violence, trafficking children across state lines, or illegal discrimination, to providing gender‑affirming care (the rule defines “chemical castration” to include puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth)—with the education secretary having final authority under a preponderance‑of‑the‑evidence standard; PSLF credit earned before the effective date is preserved and disqualified employers may reapply after 10 years or sooner via an approved corrective action plan. The rule, which stems from a March executive order, has prompted multiple legal challenges from more than 20 Democratic‑led states (led by New York, Massachusetts, California and Colorado), several cities and nonprofit and advocacy groups that say the standard is vague and exceeds the department’s authority.

A Minnesota Senate subcommittee heard testimony that federal agencies have terminated or suspended more than $50 million in higher‑education awards statewide, including 101 University of Minnesota research awards worth $33 million and five St. Catherine University grants totaling $2.4 million, with Augsburg University’s McNair Scholars program among those defunded. The hearing, held last week, examined how Trump administration policy shifts canceling or suspending awards—some tied to diversity or antiracism references—are affecting research, workforce pipelines, and first‑generation and underrepresented students at Twin Cities institutions.

The Wayzata School Board voted 6–1 on Nov. 10, 2025, to hold a special election April 14, 2026, with three ballot questions: an extension of the tech levy, $465 million in general obligation bonds for new schools and upgrades, and a separate $31 million GO bond for an eight‑lane pool with a diving well at Wayzata High School (contingent on passage of the second question) that would be permitted for community use. The district—enrollment topped 13,000 and is projected to exceed capacity at every grade level by 2027–28—has submitted the proposal to the Minnesota Department of Education for approval; Director Valentina Eyres cast the lone no vote questioning the pool and the April special election, and Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson plans to retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year.

Ted Bennett, a 58-year-old longtime English teacher at Mounds View High School, resigned this week after being arrested and charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor student; the school board accepted his resignation. Authorities allege he provided the student alcohol and Adderall, exchanged explicit messages, and had sexual contact on multiple occasions — including in vehicles and a school theater storage area — and he was arrested at his home, held in Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $75,000 and ordered to stay away from the victim; investigators say there may be additional victims and have opened a tip line.

Macalester College senior Binta Maina, 21, died after accidentally falling down a flight of stairs at an off‑campus residence in St. Paul’s Snelling‑Hamline neighborhood late Sunday, according to St. Paul police. Officers responded just before 11:30 p.m. to the 1500 block of Hague Ave.; medics transported Maina to a hospital, and the college said the community is “heartbroken” by the loss.

Parents are threatening to sue the Stillwater School District after former employee William Haslach was accused of producing AI child pornography, and the district now acknowledges some victims are Stillwater students. Facing scrutiny, the district has implemented new rules—no personal cell phones around students, photos only pre‑approved and taken on district devices, and mandatory sexual‑exploitation training—while attorney Imran Ali has launched a civil investigation citing outdated policies, training gaps and poor communication.

Stillwater Area Public Schools outlined three attendance-boundary scenarios to prepare for new Lake Elmo and Bayport elementary schools opening next fall, with scenarios affecting either 135 or 39 students. An open house is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Oak-Land Middle School, a School Board study session is Dec. 2, and a final decision is expected Dec. 16; the district also listed the current Lake Elmo Elementary for $5 million and plans to consolidate central services into the current Andersen Elementary building in Bayport.

Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis Federation of Educators reached a tentative agreement late Saturday covering three contracts for more than 4,300 employees that includes a 2% pay increase this year and enforceable smaller class sizes and special-education caseload limits. The deal, which averts a planned Nov. 11 strike, goes to union ratification votes Thursday–Friday and then the School Board for approval amid district warnings of a roughly $75 million shortfall this year and further projected deficits.

The state’s Minnesota Forward Fund awarded $69 million across four projects — including a $50 million forgivable loan for North Wind’s $1 billion, 250,000‑sq.‑ft. Minnesota Aerospace Complex at the UMore site in Rosemount, $10 million for Niron Magnetics in Sartell, $5 million for the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and $4 million for Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie). The Rosemount project, which UMN sold 60 acres for and will partner on, will house three hypersonic wind tunnels, is backed by an additional $99 million U.S. Army contract and $85 million in company investment, targets completion in 2030–31, and has drawn some campus protests over military ties.

Minnesota’s largest college financial-aid program is projecting a $102 million deficit in the current biennium, and officials say awards may need to be reduced again in coming semesters. The Office of Higher Education cites higher enrollment (+4,000 students), more recipients (+2,200), and FAFSA-driven need and Pell changes as key drivers, following July fixes that boosted funding by $44.5M but cut average awards by $475 after addressing a prior $239M shortfall. Lawmakers signaled hearings are likely, with Rep. Marion Rarick warning rationing may be unavoidable while OHE advises families not to be overly worried.

Minnesota voters approved 60 of 96 school referendum questions (just over 62%) across roughly 70 districts in the 2025 election, the Minnesota School Boards Association said, OKaying about $1 billion of the roughly $1.6 billion districts sought. MSBA cautioned results are unofficial until certified; local outcomes include St. Paul Public Schools’ levy, confirmed to generate about $37.2 million annually for 10 years, and high pass rates in many rural districts as districts contend with inflation and the 10‑year referendum limit.

A former Minneapolis substitute teacher, identified as Palmer, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and solicitation of a minor after an anti-child-porn vigilante’s sting that lured him to a park, where a child reportedly said, "That's my teacher." Palmer — who originally faced 14 counts — is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3, 2025, and Minneapolis Public Schools issued a statement emphasizing student safety and reporting channels.

A former treasurer of two Lakeville gymnastics booster clubs was charged by summons with two felony theft counts after police allege she stole more than $80,000 — nearly $51,000 from one club between March 2021 and 2024 and just over $32,000 from the other between August 2022 and June 2024. Court papers say casino records show an estimated $41,000 in losses in 2022–2023, the defendant repaid about $30,300 (mostly by cashier’s check) after resigning, admitted taking the funds due to personal financial problems and gambling, and is set for a first court appearance Dec. 9, 2025.

FOX 9 reports that only one of 11 Minnesota Parents Alliance–endorsed school board candidates won on Nov. 4, 2025 — incumbent Matt Audette in Anoka‑Hennepin District 4 — while all others, including candidates in Lakeville, South Washington County, Wayzata and Fridley, lost. The report notes heavy outside spending, including more than $100,000 by Excellence Minnesota in Anoka‑Hennepin, amid heightened post‑pandemic interest in school board races.

In a nine-candidate race for the South Washington County Schools board, voters elected Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg (15.4%), Kathleen (Katie) Schwartz (15.2%), Sharon H. Van Leer (14.5%) and Louise Hinz (14.5%), returning three incumbents to the board. Eckberg was endorsed by the United Teachers for South Washington County; the district covers parts or all of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Island Townships.

Mahtomedi Public Schools voters on Nov. 4 approved raising the operating levy from $1,570 to $2,145 per pupil (64% yes) and a $28 million capital referendum (59% yes) for school security, classroom, mechanical and athletic field upgrades. Passage of the second question depended on the first; district officials estimate taxes on a $500,000 home will rise about $382 per year starting next year.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Ramsey County communities reported municipal and school election results and levy outcomes. White Bear Lake’s mayoral race showed Mary Nicklawske leading 64%–36% with 3 of 6 precincts reporting; Falcon Heights council leaders were Georgiana May (42%) and Jim Mogen (40%) with 1 of 2 precincts; St. Anthony’s two council seats were uncontested. School board outcomes included SANB reelecting Annie Bosmans, Laura Haas and Prachi Striker, with Daniel Turner leading a special race; Mounds View, Roseville and North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale posted partial board tallies, and levies passed in Mounds View (64%) and Roseville (68%) but failed in North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale (56% No).

Dakota County voters approved school levies in three districts: Farmington’s operating levy passed with more than 57% support, providing $1,236.60 per student (about $8 million a year for 10 years) and raising taxes on a median $350,000 home by roughly $534 a year; Lakeville renewed its 2015 capital projects levy with nearly 70% support, continuing about $4 million a year for 10 years with no new tax increase; and Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan (ISD 196) voters renewed and increased the tech levy from 3.015% to 5.015% (about 68% approval), adding roughly $6.4 million a year to reach about $15.5 million annually for 10 years. In board races, Tony Reichenberger defeated Lakeville incumbent Brett Nicholson 51%–48%, and Elaine K. Mikel‑Mulder won a Hastings ISD 200 special election with more than 60% of the vote to fill a seat through Jan. 1, 2029.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Dakota County voters approved school funding measures in Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan and chose new school board members in Hastings and Lakeville. Farmington’s per‑pupil operating levy will raise about $8M annually (adding ~$534/year for a median $350,000 home), Lakeville renewed its tech levy with no tax increase, ISD 196 expanded its tech levy to ~$15.5M/year, and Elaine K. Mikel‑Mulder and Tony Reichenberger won board seats in Hastings and Lakeville, respectively.

St. Paul Public Schools used taxpayer funds to conduct outreach about a special levy ahead of the Nov. 4 referendum. As of Oct. 29 the district had spent $59,977 on outreach materials and $108,257 in total including the required mailing.

St. Paul Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $1,073-per-pupil levy referendum that would generate about $37.2 million a year; district officials say failing to pass it would force at least $37 million in budget cuts for 2026–27. The district reported spending roughly $60,000 on levy communications ($108,257 including the required mailed notice), estimates the median homeowner would pay about $309 per year if it passes, and warns that percentage property‑tax increases would vary by neighborhood, with the North End, Payne‑Phalen, Thomas‑Dale/Frogtown and the West Side facing the largest increases.

Kacy Deschene (55.95%, 3,441 votes), Matt Audette (56.56%, 5,115 votes) and Jeff Simon (50.56%, 3,232 votes) won Anoka-Hennepin School Board seats. Simon’s 87-vote margin over Tiffany Strabala (3,145 votes; 49.2%) is likely to trigger an automatic recount amid increased outside involvement in the races, including MN Parents Alliance endorsements and more than $100,000 in spending by Excellence Minnesota.

A Halloween-night triple shooting in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota left one man dead and two others — including a UMN undergraduate and a juvenile — wounded; the deceased is not believed to be a UMN student and the two survivors were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Minneapolis police recovered three guns at the scene, say officers heard two bursts of fully automatic fire and suspect illegal conversion devices, no arrests have been announced, and MPD will increase patrols (CrimeStoppers tip line: 1-800-222-TIPS).

FOX 9 reports a surge of outside spending in Anoka-Hennepin’s school board races ahead of the Nov. 4 election, with campaign finance records showing Excellence Minnesota has spent over $100,000 statewide and is linked to the Minnesota Parents Alliance. The local teachers union president warns of unprecedented out-of-district and out-of-state money as three seats could shift the six-member board’s balance; the Minnesota School Boards Association urges voters to research candidates and issues.

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, the Pioneer Press lists Ramsey County ballots: St. Paul and White Bear Lake mayoral races; city council contests in Falcon Heights, St. Anthony and White Bear Lake; and school board races in St. Anthony–New Brighton, Mounds View, North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale and Roseville. St. Paul voters will also decide a St. Paul Public Schools levy that would raise $37 million annually for 10 years (inflation‑adjusted) and a charter amendment allowing administrative citations; several districts also have levy questions.

Furloughs tied to the government shutdown have hit Education Department offices that oversee special education and civil‑rights enforcement (OCR), coming after staffing at the department fell from about 4,100 to roughly 2,400 since the Trump administration began and leaving only about 330 employees deemed “essential.” The cuts have halted new grants and frozen competitions, slowed reimbursements—raising concerns about school‑meal reimbursements and Head Start funding—while Pell Grants and FAFSA processing have continued.

A judge dismissed an alum’s animal‑welfare lawsuit against Macalester College, throwing out two of three counts without prejudice and prompting plaintiff Dr. Neal Barnard to say he plans to refile; Judge Karen Janisch found Barnard had conducted an independent investigation and could not reasonably rely on alleged misrepresentations, and noted the college had made no promise to change its practices. Macalester says its psychology program still uses operant‑conditioning "Skinner box" experiments and about 100 rats a year (many used in multiple activities and living 2–3 years) that are euthanized by an experienced technician with carbon dioxide, and President Suzanne Rivera said the ruling affirms academic freedom and prevents outside groups from dictating curriculum.

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced Oct. 28, 2025 a settlement with a former Osseo Area Schools student who, at age 9, was sexually harassed by an assistant principal; documents say the district knew of the conduct and did not act until after the family withdrew the student in March 2022. The district issued a written reprimand in June 2022 and the administrator resigned that August; the student’s parents filed an MDHR complaint in September 2022, and the district agreed in July 2025 to pay $61,500 while denying wrongdoing and citing increased staff training.

The University of Minnesota said this week it will no longer host high school commencement ceremonies at any campus venue, ending more than 20 events each spring at 3M Arena at Mariucci and other sites. Citing an unsustainable strain on resources—and following heightened security after a May 30 shooting outside a graduation—the decision leaves Twin Cities districts that relied on Mariucci’s 6,000+ indoor capacity scrambling to secure new locations, adjust dates, or implement ticketing.

A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from pulling federal funding from sex‑education programs that include instruction on gender diversity. Announced Oct. 28, 2025, the ruling preserves funding while litigation proceeds and could affect Twin Cities school districts and nonprofits that rely on federal grants for sex‑education programming.

Jonathan Weinhagen has resigned from the Mounds View (ISD 621) school board amid federal fraud allegations. The departure changes leadership for the Ramsey County district and follows his recent federal indictment tied to his prior role outside the district.

Brooklyn Park police say a handgun was recovered from a backpack at Champlin Park High School around 8:45 a.m. Friday after a tip led the school resource officer and staff to the students involved. Two 15-year-old boys, both students, were arrested and booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center; the investigation is ongoing.

A school bus caught fire in East Bethel, and parent Kari Thorp alerted the driver after spotting flames near a tire, allowing all 22 children and the driver to evacuate safely, according to FOX 9. The bus tires later exploded after firefighters arrived; a week later, the community presented thank‑you baskets to both the driver and Thorp for their actions.

Minneapolis Public Schools said it does not restrict class enrollment by race or gender after course guides at South and Roosevelt high schools listed Black culture courses as open only to Black boys or Black girls. The district said the posted language is not reflective of actual practice and will be updated, while an attorney interviewed by FOX 9 argued race-based restrictions would violate Title VI and risk federal funding.

Abdul Wright, a former Minnesota Teacher of the Year, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Oct. 17, 2025, in Hennepin County District Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student. During the sex-crimes trial the judge found that Wright lied while testifying.

The Minneapolis School Board signaled on Oct. 20, 2025, that school closures are on the table, according to a Minnesota Reformer report. The indication suggests the district may pursue consolidation or closures, with details, affected schools, and a decision timeline not yet specified.

USDA inspection reports cite 'critical' animal‑welfare and compliance problems at University of Minnesota animal research labs, according to the Star Tribune. The findings, classified at the most serious level by federal regulators, concern UMN facilities in the Twin Cities and could require corrective actions under the Animal Welfare Act.

Edina High School has adopted a new policy allowing students in grades 9–12 to carry and administer Narcan (naloxone), making the district one of the early adopters in Minnesota after a 2025 state revision that built on a 2023 law requiring at least two doses per school. Superintendent Dan Bittman said he expects other districts may consider similar policies; the Minnesota Department of Education does not track district-level student-carry naloxone policies, and Edina reports overwhelmingly positive parent feedback with no negative responses so far.

Federal Student Aid opened the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid on Oct. 15, 2025, allowing Twin Cities students and families to begin applying for federal, state, and institutional aid for the 2026–27 academic year. Applicants use FSA IDs, invite required contributors (such as a parent) to consent to IRS data sharing, and should file ahead of college and state priority deadlines.

Authorities say 22-year-old Kelvin Luebke (aka "KJ Perry") enrolled at White Bear Lake High School Sept. 3–29, 2025 using fraudulent documents — including a Liberian birth certificate listing a 2007 birth year — and registered for football practices while the district, citing McKinney‑Vento rules, says it followed enrollment procedures and has launched a review; FOX 9 reported he has a prior conviction for sending explicit images to a 15‑year‑old and was previously enrolled at Forest Lake Area High School. A Ramsey County search warrant alleges Luebke received nude photos from a student, investigators have sought his phone and other records and say multiple parents came forward, and authorities are probing possible fraud, forgery and criminal sexual conduct while no school‑related charges had been filed as of mid‑October.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted 9-2 on Oct. 9, 2025, to transfer Eastcliff to the University of Minnesota Foundation. The approval clears a $2.2 million sale of the property to the Foundation.

A coalition of school board members from 40 Minnesota districts sent a letter this week to the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota State High School League, the attorney general and the governor, asking state leaders to bar transgender athletes assigned male at birth from competing in girls' sports. The move follows a recent U.S. Department of Education finding that Minnesota is in violation of Title IX and comes amid a separate lawsuit by an advocacy group challenging current participation policies; the case has seen a denied emergency injunction and an appeal to the Court of Appeals.

St. Francis police investigated reports that a middle school student threatened the school after a loaded rifle magazine was found near the football bleachers following a Thursday night sporting event; by Monday officers said the threat claims — including an alleged Snapchat post — were fabricated by other students and that the magazine belonged to a person who said they unintentionally left it at the event. The department says there is no evidence of any real threat to students, staff or the public, though the rumors prompted some parents to keep children home.

Organizers and volunteers have installed hundreds of blue and green ribbons along about four miles of Summit Avenue in St. Paul to honor victims of the Annunciation Church mass shooting during this weekend’s Twin Cities Marathon. The display — organized by Kristen Lyrek with help from volunteers and coordinated with group Bows of Love — runs up to the marathon finish line; family members of one victim will run in tribute during the race.

Forest Lake Schools Superintendent Steve Massey announced plans to retire, according to a TwinCities.com article published Oct. 3, 2025. The announcement concerns leadership at the public school district serving Forest Lake in Washington County and is expected to prompt local officials and the school board to begin transition planning.

Students at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis created cards and acts of service to mark the school’s feast day as part of healing after an August mass shooting that killed two students and injured nearly two dozen. Archbishop Bernard Hebda personally delivered the students' cards and a centennial button to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, and said the Pope promised prayers for the families and the Archdiocese.

Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis reports enrollment reaching a 17-year high as of an Oct. 2, 2025 report, with college leaders attributing the surge to strengthened industry partnerships and demand for technical-skills programs. The growth is presented as bolstering the Twin Cities skilled-trades pipeline and meeting employer needs for machinists and other technicians.

Authorities identified the pickup driver killed in the head-on Andover crash with a school bus as Dustin King, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. Deputies said the pickup, which was towing a trailer, crossed the center line on Roanoke Street at 175th Avenue NW (just south of the Rum River) and struck the school bus; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and two people on the bus were injured.

Katie Voigt, a former teacher at Lil' Explorers Child Care Center in Plymouth, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of malicious punishment of a child after videos showed her yelling at and pushing toddlers. Hennepin County court documents filed Sept. 30, 2025 say she received stayed sentences (no jail if no further violations), must complete 10 days of community service within six months, undergo anger-awareness training and therapy, and is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults; 16 families have since hired a law firm to investigate.

Paul Ripon, the franchise owner of multiple Sylvan Learning centers in the Twin Cities, filed for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and listed more than a dozen creditors after reporting debts exceeding $600,000 — including about $205,000 owed to Sylvan Corporation and an estimated $100,000 owed to individual customers. Sylvan revoked Ripon’s tutoring licenses, forcing closures of centers in Edina, Maple Grove, Roseville and Woodbury as the Minnesota school year begins; in an owner email he wrote, "There are no funds available at this moment."

A man who allegedly called in a threat to “shoot anything that moves” with an AR-15 at Minneapolis’ Waite Park Elementary just before 11 a.m. on Sept. 25—prompting a lockdown—was tracked using a license plate reader and arrested in Missouri with assistance from the ATF and local police. Investigators say he lived about two miles from the school and had ties to two people there; he was booked into the Jackson County Jail and could face a terroristic threats charge as the investigation continues.

Mahtomedi High School canceled its homecoming football game on the advice of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office due to ongoing law enforcement activity near campus, with electronic ticket purchases to be refunded. The cancellation coincided with a shelter-in-place as authorities searched for Texas brothers Raymond and Isiah Garcia, who are charged in Washington County in a Grant home-invasion kidnapping and robbery involving armed suspects, a hostage, and the forced transfer of more than $72,000 in cryptocurrency.

St. Paul police say preteen boys brought BB guns to Creative Arts Secondary School in St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Police responded and the BB guns were found on campus; the incident involves juveniles and is under investigation.

Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota’s Universal Free School Meals program served 151 million meals in its second year, bringing the total to more than 302 million since the program launched in 2023. The statewide program provides free breakfast and lunch to all K–12 students regardless of income, with the governor’s office estimating about $1,000 in annual savings per student; a State Fair House poll found most respondents opposed an income cap. Parents interviewed praised access while noting some portion-size concerns requiring paid seconds.

A Duluth man, Benjamin Thomas Goldsmith, 32, has been charged in Hennepin County via warrant with three counts of possessing pornographic work and three counts of interfering with privacy after prosecutors say he filmed under the skirts of high school graduates at Minneapolis’ Mariucci Arena on June 1–2, 2024. Authorities say there are 144 alleged victims; witnesses reported Goldsmith for avoiding metal detectors, leading to his arrest and the discovery of a concealed camera, and a vehicle search turned up a hard drive with 151 child sexual abuse material images and videos. Investigators also found programs from other graduations and are examining whether additional victims or locations are involved; the criminal complaint was filed Sept. 16, 2025.

East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on lockdown Wednesday following a report of a weapon. Authorities responded to the campus as the situation was assessed; the school and district communicated the lockdown to families.

The University of Minnesota has ended its contract allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use the campus shooting range and will no longer permit outside law enforcement agencies to train there, the university said. The change affects metro-area agencies that previously used the facility and limits access to university purposes.