4 Things To Know from WCCO

WCCO

Get your Minnesota news from WCCO all in one place with new episodes weekdays at 3 pm CST. Maria Lisignoli and Johnny Kahner cover the biggest stories, weather, sports, plus a bright spot to keep you connected to your community. Start your commute with 4 Things to Know: A Daily News Podcast from WCCO. Follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts. For more news coverage, check out WCCO.com.

  1. 1D AGO

    Capitol Hill Hearing on ICE, Welch Ski Hill Death, St. Cloud Stabbing Jolts Minnesota Politics

    Tuesday, February 10th — Federal immigration enforcement is under intense scrutiny today as leaders of ICE, Border Patrol, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services testify on Capitol Hill following deadly shootings and weeks of unrest in Minneapolis. Lawmakers pressed agency heads on protests, agent conduct, training, and the rollout of body cameras, while officials pointed to a recent de-escalation tied to Operation Metro Surge. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says that federal surge is causing “catastrophic” economic damage, citing lost business and declining demand as he signals optimism that the operation could be drawn down within days. We take you to Malcolm Yards, where the governor laid out his case and addressed uncertainty surrounding federal decision-making. Also today: a 25-year-old Minneapolis man dies in a heartbreaking incident at Welch Village ski area; a St. Cloud homicide leads Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson to suspend his campaign after his daughter is killed and her husband charged with murder; and police investigate a fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Burnsville. Plus, Minnesota Senator John Hoffman announces his return to the Capitol months after surviving a targeted shooting, a man convicted of straw purchasing dozens of guns is sentenced to prison, Target announces job cuts alongside a plan to boost in-store staffing, and the Senate could soon vote on lifting a decades-old ban on mining near the Boundary Waters. In sports, Team USA women’s hockey faces Canada, Minnesota goalies take the Olympic ice for Sweden, and we end with a bright spot: the remarkable survival of a tiny dog who endured nearly three weeks of brutal winter cold in North Dakota. Join Maria Lisignoli and Johnny Kahner for today’s episode of 4 Things to Know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min
  2. 2D AGO

    Governor's Race Upended After Candidate's Daughter Violently Killed, 'Worst of Worst' Debunked: New Data Shows Many ICE Arrests Involve No Criminal Record

    Monday, February 9th — Minnesota’s governor’s race is shaken by tragedy. Republican candidate Jeff Johnson has suspended his campaign after his daughter was killed in St. Cloud in what police say appears to be a domestic violence homicide. At the same time, another major shift in the race: Dr. Scott Jensen is dropping his bid for governor and instead running for state auditor, focusing his campaign on investigating fraud in state government. Plus, new internal data obtained by CBS News shows that fewer than 14 percent of people arrested by ICE in President Trump’s first year back in office had violent criminal charges or convictions, while nearly 40 percent had no criminal record at all, offering a clearer picture of who is being targeted under current enforcement. We also take you inside a Robbinsdale school where students turned plans for a walkout into a positive, student-led “chain of love” supporting families affected by immigration crackdowns, and attorneys conduct a court-approved inspection of the Whipple Federal Building following a lawsuit alleging inadequate conditions for detainees. Plus: new developments in high-profile Minnesota immigration cases involving detained students and families, upcoming congressional oversight hearings as a funding deadline for the Department of Homeland Security approaches, a new state effort using AI to detect Medicaid fraud, and growing concern over a proposed copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters. In sports and headlines, Lindsey Vonn suffers a serious crash at the Olympics, Team USA earns its first gold, and Budweiser tops the Super Bowl Ad Meter with a milestone anniversary spot. Join Maria Lisignoli and Johnny Kahner for today’s episode of 4 Things to Know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min
  3. 6D AGO

    U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis Says System “Sucks,” Trump Talks “Softer Touch” on Immigration

    Thursday, February 5 — Minneapolis City Council members spar over how to respond to the ongoing ICE surge in the Twin Cities, with sharp debate over whether rental assistance tied to immigration enforcement could help vulnerable residents or invite fraud. The fight comes as a new “Prosecute ICE” ice sculpture appears outside the State Capitol and federal officials confirm thousands of arrests during Operation Metro Surge, even as forces begin to scale back. We also hear from a government attorney who bluntly criticized the immigration court system after being assigned nearly 90 cases in under a month, highlighting staffing shortages at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. Meanwhile, two Minneapolis firefighters are recovering from burns after a morning fire in the Phillips neighborhood leaves several residents displaced. Plus, President Trump reflects on lessons learned from the Minnesota ICE operation, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan calls the situation a man-made crisis, and we track additional local headlines, from a narrowly avoided healthcare workers strike and Anoka opening the nation’s first city-run cannabis dispensary, to Children’s Minnesota pausing gender-affirming care services and the Timberwolves making a major trade ahead of the NBA deadline. In our Bright Spot: the Puppy Bowl returns with more adoptable, senior, and special-needs dogs than ever. Join Johnny Kahner for this episode of 4 Things to Know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min
  4. FEB 4

    ICE Scales Back Twin Cities Surge, Gender-Affirming Care Paused at Children’s Minnesota

    Wednesday, February 4 — Federal authorities are pulling hundreds of agents out of the Twin Cities as Border Czar Tom Homan announces the first major drawdown of Operation Metro Surge, crediting cooperation from local jails while warning that protests could delay a full exit. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz say the move is not enough, calling the operation harmful to residents and businesses and demanding it end altogether. At the same time, Minnesota educators are suing to block ICE from school grounds, saying the presence of federal agents has created fear and cut attendance in half at some schools. We also hear reaction from state leaders after Children’s Minnesota announces it will pause some gender-affirming care for minors, citing threats and federal pressure, while Attorney General Keith Ellison weighs in. Plus, investigators search for possible additional victims after an Amber Alert kidnapping case, police arrest a suspected hit-and-run driver in St. Paul, and new details emerge from a historic caucus night as Minnesota’s governor’s race begins to take shape. At the White House, President Trump pushes to nationalize elections as funding deadlines loom and Democrats press for ICE body-camera mandates. In sports, the Timberwolves make a cap-clearing trade, the Wild skate into the Olympic break, and we check in with Minnesota’s all-homegrown U.S. Olympic women’s curling team. Join Johnny Kahner for this episode of 4 Things to Know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    14 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Get your Minnesota news from WCCO all in one place with new episodes weekdays at 3 pm CST. Maria Lisignoli and Johnny Kahner cover the biggest stories, weather, sports, plus a bright spot to keep you connected to your community. Start your commute with 4 Things to Know: A Daily News Podcast from WCCO. Follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts. For more news coverage, check out WCCO.com.

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