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Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents

Two downtown hotels could lose their liquor licenses for possibly housing ICE agents during Operation Metro Surge.

News

The Minneapolis City Council could decide Thursday whether two downtown hotels should lose their liquor licenses for possibly housing ICE agents during <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Operation Metro Surge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/trump-ice-metro-surge-ends-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="54e61ac8-1bf8-48ca-998c-5be6e77cca6d" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/trump-ice-metro-surge-ends-minneapolis" target="_self">Operation Metro Surge</a>.Why it matters: Hospitality advocates say revocations would send a chilling message to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a hospitality industry facing uncertainty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/04/hotels-suffer-ice-agents-protests-vandalism-events" data-vars-content-id="54e61ac8-1bf8-48ca-998c-5be6e77cca6d" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/04/hotels-suffer-ice-agents-protests-vandalism-events" target="_self">a hospitality industry facing uncertainty</a> in the aftermath of the Trump administration&#x27;s deportation blitz.<ul><li>But some hotel employees and union representatives argue federal agents&#x27; presence created safety concerns that justify a city intervention.</li></ul>

Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha to close for 2 years

The Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek will close for two years

The heavily used Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek will close on March 3 for major rehab and won&#x27;t reopen for two years. Why it matters: This <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/nicollet-ave-bridge/" data-vars-content-id="83be5056-132c-4258-a23b-05cf3b99ffdd" data-vars-headline="Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha to close for 2 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/nicollet-ave-bridge/" target="_blank">project</a> will send the roughly 14,000 vehicles that use the bridge on an average day to nearby streets, and also re-route users of the highly popular Minnehaha Parkway below.

Minnesota's Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women's hockey win

Minnesotans have several more shots to make the podium before the Games wrap Sunday.

Sports

The Minnesotan-powered <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. women&#x27;s hockey team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" target="_self">U.S. women&#x27;s hockey team</a> toppled Canada in overtime to win Olympic gold Thursday. Why it matters: The dramatic 2-1 victory is golden redemption for a team of stars — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eight of whom have Minnesota ties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" target="_self">eight of whom have Minnesota ties</a> — that came up short four years ago.<ul><li>The all-North American final — which ended on a sick dangle by Megan Keller — doubled as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="made-to-order marketing material" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/21/pwhl-olympics-womens-hockey-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/21/pwhl-olympics-womens-hockey-minnesota" target="_self">made-to-order marketing material</a> for the fledgling Professional Women&#x27;s Hockey League.</li></ul>

Restaurant Roundup: Dahlia debuts, Hey Y'all closes, Company Bar moves in

Here's some of the food news you may have missed this month.

Food and Drink

Plenty of restaurants have made moves in the new year. Here&#x27;s some of the food news you may have missed this month.

Kaohly Her pulls off upset in St. Paul mayor's race

She'll be the first woman and first Hmong American mayor of St. Paul.

State Rep. Kaohly Her pulled off a stunning upset in the St. Paul mayor&#x27;s race, ousting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="her former boss" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/08/04/st-paul-mayoral-race-kaohly-vang-her-announces-run" data-vars-content-id="30b0753f-851c-4a1b-a3d0-5e13a217f782" data-vars-headline="Kaohly Her pulls off upset in St. Paul mayor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/08/04/st-paul-mayoral-race-kaohly-vang-her-announces-run" target="_self">her former boss</a> — two-term incumbent Melvin Carter — just three months after launching her challenge.Why it matters: The 52-year-old Her, a Laos-born child of refugees, will be the first woman and first Hmong American to serve as mayor of St. Paul.

St. Paul mayor candidates debate Carter's leadership record

Melvin Carter's reelection likely hinges on whether voters buy state Rep. Kaohly claim's that City Hall is "not responsive."

Politics

State Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kaohly Her" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/08/04/st-paul-mayoral-race-kaohly-vang-her-announces-run" data-vars-content-id="5aec59dd-ee47-4585-814f-97884450cd5b" data-vars-headline="St. Paul mayor candidates debate Carter&#x27;s leadership record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/08/04/st-paul-mayoral-race-kaohly-vang-her-announces-run" target="_self">Kaohly Her</a>&#x27;s central argument against incumbent St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is that during his two terms, City Hall officials have been too slow to answer constituents, developers or lawmakers calling for help.Why it matters: Carter&#x27;s reelection chances likely hinge on whether voters buy this claim from his highest-profile challenger — especially with very little ideological daylight between the two Democrats.

Minnesota schools ask voters to OK property tax hikes to ease budget strains

Seventy school districts across the state have put a combined 96 funding measures  on the ballot.

Voters across Minnesota will decide Nov. 4 whether to raise property taxes to raise tens to hundreds of millions of dollars for their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local schools" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/29/twin-cities-open-enrollment-school-shift" data-vars-content-id="9218354e-c982-458e-becc-4a8ba6f5ae66" data-vars-headline="Minnesota schools ask voters to OK property tax hikes to ease budget strains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/29/twin-cities-open-enrollment-school-shift" target="_self">local schools</a>.The big picture: Budget pressures are prompting a growing number of districts to ask homeowners to chip in more for everything from building upgrades to classroom costs.

St. Paul voters will decide whether they're fine with fines

Most big Minnesota cities issue "administrative citations" to enforce the rules. St. Paul wants the same power.

St. Paul voters will decide in November whether to greatly expand the city&#x27;s ability to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hand out punitive fines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/06/06/st-paul-city-fines-administrative-citations-rental-wage-code-violation" data-vars-content-id="968ef20d-fc87-43e0-8726-ec68b97e849f" data-vars-headline="St. Paul voters will decide whether they&#x27;re fine with fines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/06/06/st-paul-city-fines-administrative-citations-rental-wage-code-violation" target="_self">hand out punitive fines</a> for breaking municipal codes.Why it matters: The city charter change would give St. Paul officials a powerful tool to, for example, pressure a landlord to clean up a neglected property or a business to quickly resolve a wage theft case.<ul><li>However, opponents fear that without safeguards, the city could turn its new powers against ordinary citizens for petty violations.</li></ul>

Minnesota's days of swing U.S. House seats appear over for now

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, the sole incumbent running in a swing district, won by double digits.

Minnesota may no longer be the land of competitive congressional races.State of play: All eight of Minnesota&#x27;s U.S. House districts were won by double-digit margins this year.<ul><li>DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, the sole incumbent running in a swing district, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sailed to a fourth term" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/06/angie-craig-minnesota-election-results" data-vars-content-id="0f3c5c6b-97c1-4d52-91f0-e19c7a65f198" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s days of swing U.S. House seats appear over for now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/06/angie-craig-minnesota-election-results" target="_self">sailed to a fourth term</a> with a 13-point victory.</li></ul>

How a deadlocked Minnesota Legislature could work

Legislative leaders from both parties pledged Wednesday to negotiate a power-sharing agreement in preparation for a likely <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="67-67 tie in the Minnesota House of Representatives" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/06/minnesota-house-tie-trifecta-control-results" data-vars-content-id="5549f3e5-bd23-47b4-bbf6-fae1f9b0deb5" data-vars-headline="How a deadlocked Minnesota Legislature could work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/06/minnesota-house-tie-trifecta-control-results" target="_self">67-67 tie in the Minnesota House of Representatives</a>.Why it matters: While Minnesota is used to divided government, the state is poised to enter relatively uncharted waters next year.

Battle for control of Minnesota House could result in rare tie, as GOP wins bring end to DFL trifecta

Two close races where Democrats have a narrow lead appear headed for a recount.

Election

The battle for control of the Minnesota House was headed for a potential 67-67 tie as of early Wednesday morning.The big picture: Any return to divided government would be a blow to legislative Democrats, who used the &quot;trifecta&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="they won in 2022" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/11/09/minnesota-legislature-democrats-election-results" data-vars-content-id="4a5aab08-3ac2-457b-9657-37202d980f4f" data-vars-headline="Battle for control of Minnesota House could result in rare tie, as GOP wins bring end to DFL trifecta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/11/09/minnesota-legislature-democrats-election-results" target="_self">they won in 2022</a> to pass a sweeping list of progressive policies.<ul><li>Legislative Republicans centered their bid to retake the chamber on an argument that Democrats went too far, saying more balance was needed.</li></ul>

Live results: Kamala Harris wins Minnesota

The last time the state voted for a GOP presidential nominee was 1972.

Vice President Harris and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="running mate Tim Walz" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/21/tim-walz-vice-president-timeline" data-vars-content-id="652c01bf-71b2-4465-8170-91591e3fac3a" data-vars-headline="Live results: Kamala Harris wins Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/21/tim-walz-vice-president-timeline" target="_self">running mate Tim Walz</a> won Minnesota in the 2024 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="presidential election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/23/2024-election-how-to-vote" data-vars-content-id="652c01bf-71b2-4465-8170-91591e3fac3a" data-vars-headline="Live results: Kamala Harris wins Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/23/2024-election-how-to-vote" target="_self">presidential election</a>, per an early Wednesday call from the Associated Press.Zoom in: Minnesota has voted for the Democratic nominee in every election since 1972.

St. Paul voters reject tax hike for child care program

Supporters had worked for years to craft a local solution to a nationwide child care crisis.

St. Paul voters rejected a property tax hike that would have funded a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city-run child care program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/10/01/st-paul-child-care-tax-ballot-november" data-vars-content-id="c2176466-c466-40ed-958d-00b6963e9698" data-vars-headline="St. Paul voters reject tax hike for child care program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/10/01/st-paul-child-care-tax-ballot-november" target="_self">city-run child care program</a>.Why it matters: Supporters had worked for years to craft a local solution to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide child care crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/15/child-care-daycare-costs-states-parents" data-vars-content-id="c2176466-c466-40ed-958d-00b6963e9698" data-vars-headline="St. Paul voters reject tax hike for child care program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/15/child-care-daycare-costs-states-parents" target="_self">nationwide child care crisis</a> that&#x27;s left parents struggling to afford tuition and providers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="straining to keep their doors open" data-vars-click-url="https://childcaredeserts.org/#!" data-vars-content-id="c2176466-c466-40ed-958d-00b6963e9698" data-vars-headline="St. Paul voters reject tax hike for child care program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://childcaredeserts.org/#!" target="_blank">straining to keep their doors open</a>.

Live results: Democrats maintain Minnesota Senate majority in special election

The Senate District 45 race pit former DFL state Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart against Republican Kathleen Fowke.

Minnesota Democrats will maintain their narrow majority in the state Senate next year.Why it matters: The outcome dashes Republicans&#x27; hopes of winning back control in both chambers this year.

Election 🗳️

Kaohly Her pulls off upset in St. Paul mayor's race

St. Paul mayor candidates debate Carter's leadership record

Minnesota schools ask voters to OK property tax hikes to ease budget strains

St. Paul voters will decide whether they're fine with fines

Minnesota's days of swing U.S. House seats appear over for now