JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1007

Minneapolis officials are asking federal courts to halt the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge after two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents, including the Jan. 24 killing of Alexander Pretti. State and city lawyers filed suits arguing the crackdown usurps local authority and restricts investigations. A federal judge will hear arguments Monday on whether to pause the operation; another judge will hear evidence-access claims in Pretti's death. Protests have spread nationwide, and local leaders demanded independent, transparent probes. Federal officials contend agents faced threats, while videos and local officials show conflicting accounts. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during a Department of Homeland Security enforcement operation on January 24, 2026. Officials from DHS and Customs and Border Protection described the incident as defensive, saying agents fired after a subject resisted disarmament. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara and family members reported Pretti held a legal permit to carry and had no serious criminal record. Governor Tim Walz activated the state National Guard and called for a state-led probe, while protests and statements from local officials followed nationwide. Based on 6 articles reviewed and research.

Columbus, Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency Saturday as Winter Storm Fern approached across the state, directing state emergency agencies to mobilize resources and support local communities and authorizing the Department of Administrative Services to temporarily suspend normal purchasing rules to procure necessary supplies. Forecasts warned of eight to twelve inches of snow with isolated higher totals and dangerously cold temperatures that could hinder travel and slow emergency response. The statewide winter storm warning remains in effect through Monday; at least fifteen other governors issued comparable declarations this week. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States emergency services and meteorologists warned this weekend that a major winter storm will bring heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and prolonged extreme cold across much of the country. Nationwide Forecasts issued Friday and updated through Sunday warned of catastrophic ice, widespread power outages, and travel disruptions; thousands of flights were canceled and states declared emergencies. Transportation agencies pretreated roads, utilities prepared for outages, and schools and events moved or closed. Regional forecasts projected localized totals from several inches to over a foot, with persistent below‑zero wind chills following the storm. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Minneapolis — City officials are investigating a shooting involving federal immigration officers that occurred Saturday morning near 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue. Publicly available video circulated shows a man wrestled to the ground before officers fired; witnesses reported bystanders and CPR performed on the individual. Governor Tim Walz said he spoke with the White House and demanded the federal operation end. A Department of Homeland Security official told reporters the person allegedly possessed a firearm and magazines; police confirmed they are on scene and gathering evidence. Federal and local accounts remain evolving. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California joined the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, making it the first U.S. state to do so after the federal government moved to withdraw from the WHO. Newsom met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the World Economic Forum in Davos and said the state would continue global partnerships to strengthen outbreak detection and response. The network includes more than 360 technical institutions that support rapid deployment for public health emergencies. The move follows U.S. withdrawal notices filed in 2020. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States: Multiple local governments declared snow emergencies this week as a major winter storm approached, triggering parking restrictions, towing, and alternate-side rules to allow curb-to-curb plowing and salting. Officials in Lancaster County, Altoona, Curwensville, Louisville, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County announced start and end times for emergency periods between Jan. 24–26, activated salt and plow operations, and warned drivers of fines, towing fees, and temporarily free county garage parking. Authorities provided maps, hotline numbers, and online updates. Municipal officials urged residents to move vehicles and stay off roads while crews worked. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Minneapolis — Authorities arrested clergy and demonstrators Friday during coordinated protests against federal immigration enforcement, as thousands rallied despite subzero temperatures. Organizers, including labor unions and faith groups, urged work and school walkouts to pressure ICE after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer. About 100 clergy were cited for trespassing at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport after exceeding protest permits; police also detained a civil rights attorney and others for disrupting a church service. Vice President J.D. Vance visited the city to consult with ICE officials this week. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

New York — Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency Friday as an Arctic storm and extreme cold swept the Northeast and other states, prompting multi-agency preparations. National Weather Service offices issued winter storm warnings and cold advisories; forecasts called for heavy snowfall ranging from 6 to 18 inches in affected zones and dangerous wind chills reaching well below zero. Ohio officials scheduled a Jan. 23 briefing and cautioned against travel ahead of predicted 8–12 inches there. Schools, churches and businesses reported closures in St. Louis. Travel outlets warned of major disruptions. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

PHILADELPHIA. The City of Philadelphia sued the U.S. Department of the Interior on Thursday after the National Park Service removed an outdoor slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park. The federal complaint names Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron and the agency, and seeks a preliminary injunction to restore interpretive panels that memorialized nine people enslaved at the President’s House Site. Video showed crews on Thursday dismantling display panels, and city attorneys argued removal constituted a material alteration. Officials cited a recent executive order reviewing interpretive materials. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.