Matt Mikus
@mikusmatt.bsky.social
Digital producer and journalist at @mprnews.org. Off the clock, I'm a fan of board games, video games and curling. Will travel for breweries. Michigan State alum. Go Green.
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S.
Judge blocks Trump administration from ending protections for Haitians
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S.
www.mprnews.org
February 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S.
A Minnesota man convicted and imprisoned for assaulting police officers at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is running for a state Senate seat in western Minnesota. The district covers Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties and parts of Chippewa and Blue Earth counties.
Brian Mock seeks state Senate seat in Minnesota after prison time for Jan. 6 Capitol attack
Brian Mock, who was convicted and spent time in prison after the U.S. Capitol uprising on Jan. 6, 2021, is running for state Senate. He’s seeking the Republican nomination for an open seat in western ...
www.mprnews.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:51 PM
A Minnesota man convicted and imprisoned for assaulting police officers at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is running for a state Senate seat in western Minnesota. The district covers Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties and parts of Chippewa and Blue Earth counties.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Thousands showed up for the ride organized by Angry Catfish Bicycle, a community-based bike shop on the city’s south side.
Some riders wore yellow vests that read “Peaceful observer, don’t shoot” on the back.
Some riders wore yellow vests that read “Peaceful observer, don’t shoot” on the back.
Thousands join Minneapolis bike ride to honor Alex Pretti
Thousands rode through Minneapolis to honor Alex Pretti, killed by federal agents last week, as part of 250 events held worldwide.
www.mprnews.org
February 1, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Thousands showed up for the ride organized by Angry Catfish Bicycle, a community-based bike shop on the city’s south side.
Some riders wore yellow vests that read “Peaceful observer, don’t shoot” on the back.
Some riders wore yellow vests that read “Peaceful observer, don’t shoot” on the back.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
More than 400 people gathered outside of Minneapolis’ VA Medical Center, where Alex Pretti worked as a ICU nurse, for a vigil honoring his life. Coworkers shared memories of Pretti, who they described as someone who always showed up for his patients and colleagues.
Colleagues at Minneapolis VA Medical Center remember Pretti as a kind person, advocate for others
Hundreds of people turned out for a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was killed by two federal immigration officers Jan. 24.
www.mprnews.org
February 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
More than 400 people gathered outside of Minneapolis’ VA Medical Center, where Alex Pretti worked as a ICU nurse, for a vigil honoring his life. Coworkers shared memories of Pretti, who they described as someone who always showed up for his patients and colleagues.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Jodi Kantor in the NY Times reports that the Chief Justice requested Court employees sign nondisclosure agreements in November 2024 - moving to formal contracts requiring silence/confidentiality after Trump was reelected: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
February 2, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Jodi Kantor in the NY Times reports that the Chief Justice requested Court employees sign nondisclosure agreements in November 2024 - moving to formal contracts requiring silence/confidentiality after Trump was reelected: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Reposted by Matt Mikus
The Columbia Heights school district canceled classes Monday after what school officials are calling a “credible threat.” The district didn’t release further details about the nature of the threat. It said the move to cancel classes was out of an abundance of caution.
Columbia Heights schools closed Monday due to ‘credible threat’
The Columbia Heights school district canceled classes Monday after what school officials are calling a “credible threat.” The district didn’t release further details about the nature of the threat. It...
www.mprnews.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The Columbia Heights school district canceled classes Monday after what school officials are calling a “credible threat.” The district didn’t release further details about the nature of the threat. It said the move to cancel classes was out of an abundance of caution.
This feels so Minnesotan.
On Feb. 2, 1996, the town of Tower hit minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesota’s coldest-ever recorded temperature. But nearby Embarrass still believes it’s the state’s true cold spot and would have won the day 30 years ago if it weren’t for a thermometer malfunction.
On Feb. 2, 1996, the town of Tower hit minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesota’s coldest-ever recorded temperature. But nearby Embarrass still believes it’s the state’s true cold spot and would have won the day 30 years ago if it weren’t for a thermometer malfunction.
Coldest-ever in Minnesota? 30 years later, Tower and Embarrass still talk about who holds the crown
On Feb. 2, 1996, the town of Tower hit minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesota’s coldest-ever recorded temperature. But nearby Embarrass still believes it’s the state’s true cold spot and would have wo...
www.mprnews.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:25 PM
This feels so Minnesotan.
On Feb. 2, 1996, the town of Tower hit minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesota’s coldest-ever recorded temperature. But nearby Embarrass still believes it’s the state’s true cold spot and would have won the day 30 years ago if it weren’t for a thermometer malfunction.
On Feb. 2, 1996, the town of Tower hit minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Minnesota’s coldest-ever recorded temperature. But nearby Embarrass still believes it’s the state’s true cold spot and would have won the day 30 years ago if it weren’t for a thermometer malfunction.
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
2 CBP agents identified in Alex Pretti shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.mprnews.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
We know that 4more children from Liam's school are still in ICE custody in TX. But we still do not know how many children from MN in total have been detained by ICE.
JUST IN: The five-year-old Columbia Heights Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, who have been in an ICE detention facility in Texas, are on their way home.
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have landed back in Minnesota following a judge's order
Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old whose detention by ICE sparked national fervor, returned home to Minnesota with his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, Sunday morning after a judge ordered their release.
www.mprnews.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:19 PM
We know that 4more children from Liam's school are still in ICE custody in TX. But we still do not know how many children from MN in total have been detained by ICE.
Two more Minnesota children — a second grader and a fifth grader — were taken into custody with their mother on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The children are from the same Columbia Heights elementary school as Liam Conejo Ramos.
The children are from the same Columbia Heights elementary school as Liam Conejo Ramos.
‘I don’t have words’: 2 more kids from Liam Ramos’ Columbia Heights school taken into ICE custody
The children were taken into ICE custody after their mother was detained at a court appointment. School leaders say the mother asked them to bring the kids to the detention center because there were n...
www.mprnews.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Two more Minnesota children — a second grader and a fifth grader — were taken into custody with their mother on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The children are from the same Columbia Heights elementary school as Liam Conejo Ramos.
The children are from the same Columbia Heights elementary school as Liam Conejo Ramos.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
“As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago, and now I’m being arrested for that,” Georgia Fort said in the video. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort arrested after covering Minnesota church protest
It was not immediately clear what charges that Minnesota independent journalist Georgia Fort and former CNN anchor Don Lemon were facing for the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church.
www.mprnews.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 PM
“As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago, and now I’m being arrested for that,” Georgia Fort said in the video. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Two women who were in the north Minneapolis home where a man was shot and wounded by an ICE agent last week are sharing what they witnessed that night — and it’s different from the initial reports provided by federal authorities.
Man shot in leg by ICE in Minneapolis did not attack officer, women say in court documents
Two women who were in the north Minneapolis home where a man was shot and wounded by an ICE agent last week are sharing what they witnessed that night — and it’s different from the initial reports pro...
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Two women who were in the north Minneapolis home where a man was shot and wounded by an ICE agent last week are sharing what they witnessed that night — and it’s different from the initial reports provided by federal authorities.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Some brutal temperatures are coming to Minnesota this weekend. Starting Thursday, Arctic air will blow across the state plunging temperatures to the lowest since January 2019. Here are some locations where you can escape the cold.
As temperatures plummet in Minnesota, warming centers offer relief
Arctic air is blowing across Minnesota creating the lowest temperatures since January 2019.
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Some brutal temperatures are coming to Minnesota this weekend. Starting Thursday, Arctic air will blow across the state plunging temperatures to the lowest since January 2019. Here are some locations where you can escape the cold.
VP JD Vance on Thursday called for more cooperation as a way to “tone down the temperature” during the federal government’s immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. But he also blamed Minnesota officials for the problems and defended the tactics of federal agents.
Vance calls for more local cooperation for ICE surge, defends agents' tactics
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said more cooperation state, local and federal cooperation could “tone down the temperature” during the federal government’s immigration enforcement surge in the Tw...
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:38 PM
VP JD Vance on Thursday called for more cooperation as a way to “tone down the temperature” during the federal government’s immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. But he also blamed Minnesota officials for the problems and defended the tactics of federal agents.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took an important step toward a campaign for Minnesota governor on Thursday, filing the paperwork to build out a campaign that is expected to launch in full in coming days.
From @elliemroth.bsky.social and Brian Bakst.
From @elliemroth.bsky.social and Brian Bakst.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar makes move toward Minnesota governor run after Walz exit
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar formed a campaign committee to run for governor as all signs point to an imminent entry into race to succeed Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 6:21 PM
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took an important step toward a campaign for Minnesota governor on Thursday, filing the paperwork to build out a campaign that is expected to launch in full in coming days.
From @elliemroth.bsky.social and Brian Bakst.
From @elliemroth.bsky.social and Brian Bakst.
MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advocates say it’s a clear violation of state law. Reporting from @jcollins.bsky.social.
Privacy advocates: ICE using private data to intimidate observers and activists
MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advo...
www.mprnews.org
January 13, 2026 at 1:29 PM
MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advocates say it’s a clear violation of state law. Reporting from @jcollins.bsky.social.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Gov. Tim Walz abandons reelection campaign amid unrelenting fraud attention, Trump clashes www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Gov. Tim Walz abandons reelection campaign amid unrelenting fraud attention, Trump clashes
Gov. Tim Walz was three months into a reelection campaign that has been plagued by criticism over his handling of fraud and political opposition stirred up by President Donald Trump.
www.mprnews.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Gov. Tim Walz abandons reelection campaign amid unrelenting fraud attention, Trump clashes www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz abruptly reversed course Monday and ended his campaign for a third term. Walz was three months into a reelection campaign that has been plagued by criticism over his handling of fraud and political opposition stirred up by President Donald Trump.
Gov. Tim Walz abandons reelection campaign amid unrelenting fraud attention, Trump clashes
Gov. Tim Walz was three months into a reelection campaign that has been plagued by criticism over his handling of fraud and political opposition stirred up by President Donald Trump.
www.mprnews.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz abruptly reversed course Monday and ended his campaign for a third term. Walz was three months into a reelection campaign that has been plagued by criticism over his handling of fraud and political opposition stirred up by President Donald Trump.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Minnesotans and players on Minnesota's pro teams made Team USA's hockey rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Minnesota Frost players Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein and Wild players Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes are all in.
Olympic rosters for ice hockey include a slew of Minnesotans
With the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan just weeks away, the rosters for U.S. ice hockey and Paralympic Sled hockey have been announced. The ice hockey teams host a slew of Minnesotans and...
www.mprnews.org
January 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Minnesotans and players on Minnesota's pro teams made Team USA's hockey rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Minnesota Frost players Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein and Wild players Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes are all in.
A Minnesota grocery distributor has recalled hundreds of products sent to dozens of stores in the state, after unsanitary conditions were found in the company’s facility in Minneapolis.
The recall affects products handled by Gold Star Distribution.
The recall affects products handled by Gold Star Distribution.
Minnesota grocery distributor recalls hundreds of products
A Minnesota grocery distributor has recalled hundreds of products sent to dozens of stores in the state, after unsanitary conditions were found in the company’s facility in Minneapolis.
www.mprnews.org
January 2, 2026 at 2:12 PM
A Minnesota grocery distributor has recalled hundreds of products sent to dozens of stores in the state, after unsanitary conditions were found in the company’s facility in Minneapolis.
The recall affects products handled by Gold Star Distribution.
The recall affects products handled by Gold Star Distribution.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
History will be made in St. Paul Friday when Kaohly Her becomes the city’s first Hmong mayor and the first woman to hold the title. With her inauguration, all of St. Paul’s elected city leaders will be women.
Kaohly Her makes St. Paul mayoral history as she looks toward the future
History will be made in St. Paul on Friday when Kaohly Her becomes the city’s first Hmong mayor and the first woman to hold the title. On top of all that, St. Paul’s entirely elected leadership is now...
www.mprnews.org
January 2, 2026 at 1:04 PM
History will be made in St. Paul Friday when Kaohly Her becomes the city’s first Hmong mayor and the first woman to hold the title. With her inauguration, all of St. Paul’s elected city leaders will be women.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Our photographer Alex Kormann captured the exact moment the presses stopped for the last time in Minneapolis, ending a 158 history of locally printed newspapers.
December 28, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Our photographer Alex Kormann captured the exact moment the presses stopped for the last time in Minneapolis, ending a 158 history of locally printed newspapers.
Might get bad out there, folks. If you don't have to go anywhere, stay home.
More than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region, and it's expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
More than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region, and it's expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
Dangerous travel expected as winter storm takes aim at Minnesota
A strengthening winter storm swept toward Minnesota on Sunday — with more than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region — on what was expected to be one of the bu...
www.mprnews.org
December 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Might get bad out there, folks. If you don't have to go anywhere, stay home.
More than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region, and it's expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
More than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region, and it's expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
A pair of Duluth music scene mainstays will perform new songs Thursday night to a sold-out crowd at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Alan Sparhawk of slowcore band Low and the progressive bluegrass group Trampled by Turtles put out a self-titled record together this summer.
Duluth musical mainstays Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles team up to perform new songs in St. Paul
Thursday night’s sold-out show at the Fitzgerald Theater is the only date the musicians have scheduled in Minnesota. They’re performing songs from their self-titled album released over the summer.
www.mprnews.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:35 PM
A pair of Duluth music scene mainstays will perform new songs Thursday night to a sold-out crowd at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Alan Sparhawk of slowcore band Low and the progressive bluegrass group Trampled by Turtles put out a self-titled record together this summer.
Reposted by Matt Mikus
Another round of snow is moving across southern Minnesota Thursday. It will be followed by some very cold air this weekend for this early in the winter season.
More snow for southern Minnesota Thursday followed by a frigid weekend
Another round of snow is moving across southern Minnesota Thursday. It will be followed by some very cold air this weekend for this early in the winter season.
www.mprnews.org
December 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Another round of snow is moving across southern Minnesota Thursday. It will be followed by some very cold air this weekend for this early in the winter season.