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Today’s newsletter is 1,126 words — a 4-minute read.

President Trump's promotion of Stephen Miller to chief of staff could keep Minnesota under fire from the federal government.

Why it matters: Miller has been a driving force behind investigating the Somali community over the past year, according to a Washington Sun report on Friday and a Wall Street Journal report in February.

• In response to the Sun story, a White House spokesperson said Trump is fighting an "all-out war on fraud across the entire federal government."

Catch up quick: Miller's connection to Minnesota dates back to 2007, when he became then-Rep. Michele Bachmann's press secretary. He has a long history of attacking Minnesota's Somali community of about 87,000 people.

In the lead-up to last winter's Operation Metro Surge, Miller tied fraud by Somali Minnesotans, most of whom are U.S. citizens, to illegal immigration.

• "We should not be shocked, when you import a population whose primary occupation is pirate, that they are going to come here and steal everything we have," Miller said in a December 2025 interview, before adding, "They have to go home."

Operation Metro Surge eventually brought thousands of federal agents to Minnesota and sparked fierce opposition in the state.

• Not long after agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had been the face of the immigration crackdown.
• "Everything I've done, I've done at the direction of the president and Stephen (Miller)," Noem told a person who relayed her remarks to Axios back in January.

Beyond Operation Metro Surge, the federal government has frozen or delayed hundreds of millions in funds tied to programs suspected of fraud.

• Most of the defendants in the $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal were Somali Minnesotans. As of May, 65 had pleaded guilty or been convicted.

The other side: Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chaper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Axios he's "deeply worried" that the promotion of Miller will lead to more targeting of Somali Americans and their businesses.

• "Now you have the chief architect being the chief of staff at the White House."

The bottom line: While Trump is taking a softer tone about immigration after last week's big midterm wins for Democrats, his new chief of staff may not back off one of his top issues.

Full story

Here's some good news for Split Rock Lighthouse State Park patrons who don't feel like roughing it in a tent.

Driving the news: Four new camper cabins will open next year in the popular state park, the DNR tells the Star Tribune.

• Two dozen other state parks already feature the rustic lodging options.

What's next: There's no opening date yet, but the DNR typically allows reservations 120 days in advance.

🍫 Prosecutors have charged the owner of Minnesota's Largest Candy Store in Jordan with selling alcoholic beverages without a license or permit after investigating a tip that some of his chocolates had alcohol in them. (KSTP)

• The owner told state agents he thought he was allowed to sell the products.

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the family of Ricky Cobb, who was shot to death by a Minnesota state trooper during a traffic stop in 2023. (Star Tribune)

🏈 The Vikings lost to the Buffalo Bills last night, falling to 6-2 on the season amid an offensive drought. (ESPN)

🏀 In better sports news, check out the Gopher men's game-winning buzzer-beater vs. Cincinnati last night.

Jujube, a full-service "Chinese-Texas barbecue" restaurant from the team behind Saturday Dumpling Co., will open in the old Izzy's Ice Cream spot in Minneapolis on Nov. 18, per a release.

• Signature dishes include cornbread shrimp roast, smoked cumin lamb chow fun and congee grits, owners said. 

🍽️ Martiya, a fine-dining Somali restaurant from the founder of Afro Deli, officially opened on Nicollet Avenue over the weekend.

• The restaurant is serving dinner daily, with what's believed to be the Twin Cities' first halal brunch coming soon, founder Abdirahman Kahin told Sahan Journal.

🍻After 10 years in the North Loop, Inbound Brew Co. is shutting down at the end of the year, owners announced last week. Distribution to other restaurants and liquor stores will continue until supply runs out.

🥧 Front Porch Pies, a popular vegan bakery that sold at farmers' markets and local coffee shops, is opening a permanent shop in the Longfellow space formerly home to Savory Bake House.

• The grand opening is Saturday from 12-5pm.

🥯 TikTok-famous bagel shop PopUp Bagels is now open in the North Loop. The chain is known for its "grip, rip and dip" bagels, meant to be torn and dunked in schmear rather than sliced into sandwiches.

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Homelessness among Minnesota veterans has declined by close to 50% over the last 15 years.

By the numbers: Roughly 220 former service members lacked housing in January 2025, per federal estimates. That's a rate of 4 per 10,000 veterans.

• In 2011, the tally was nearly 450.

Between the lines: State officials say even more progress has been made in the last year.

• Gov. Tim Walz recently announced an "effective end" to veteran homelessness statewide, meaning those in need of help can be quickly identified and offered permanent housing or other social services.

What they're saying: "It's not something you just say, 'Oh, we fixed it. Veterans' homelessness is over,'" Walz said at an October news conference.

• "But the state of Minnesota has made sure there's a net underneath that, that there is a safety net to make sure that [any period of homelessness] is brief."

Explore the interactive map

This Veterans Day week, walk through Minneapolis City Hall, and you'll find a "table, set for one" meant to honor veterans' service and sacrifice.

Zoom in: Each item on a traditional "Memorial Table" is symbolic.

• Lemon slices symbolize "the bitter fate of those who will never return."
• The candle is "reminiscent of the light of hope" for the safe return of prisoners of war.

To all veterans, thank you for your service.

💦 Nick is wondering if the Buffalo Bills fans he saw at Minnehaha Falls on Sunday were underwhelmed.

💸 Torey purchased a new dishwasher and new rear brakes in the last 48 hours.

🫠 Audrey is getting a cavity filled.

🍷 Kyle isn't a big wine-o, but really liked "Somm: Into the Bottle."

This newsletter was edited by Larry W. Graham.