President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair, replacing Jerome Powell. Warsh has previously called for a "regime change" with the Fed.

Despite Trump tapping a potential Fed chair who has been critical of Powell, Danny Moses, Scripps News financial contributor and host of the Danny Moses Show, said in an interview that Trump picked someone with global credibility.

"I think the belief is.. that it will remain somewhat independent, hopefully fully independent going forward, so I think people around the world are happy to see that," Moses said.

RELATED STORY | President Trump names Kevin Warsh as his pick to replace Powell as Fed chair

The Federal Reserve's most important function is setting the federal funds rate, which influences the interest rates banks charge each other for overnight loans. This indirectly affects consumer lending rates for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards, as well as borrowing costs for businesses.

Warsh and Trump share in their criticisms of Powell for not lowering interest rates fast enough.

Moses suggested that Warsh's selection won't have a major impact on the future of interest rates. Warsh's term would begin in June pending Senate confirmation. Powell had projected just one rate decrease in 2026.

"I think the belief is that he'll watch inflation carefully and not try to make a mistake here on policy," Moses said.

PAST REPORTING | Fed Chair Powell under fire from Trump ahead of tense Jackson Hole address

Low interest rates generally spur economic growth by making borrowing cheaper. However, Fed policymakers argue that keeping rates too low for too long can fuel inflation.

But Moses says Warsh's deregulatory stance could naturally lead to lower inflation.

"I think this is the best case scenario as far as the markets are concerned," Moses said.

The Danny Moses Show airs on Scripps News at 7 p.m. Eastern Fridays.

Canadian actress Catherine OHara, who entertained audiences for decades on television and in film, has died at 71, according to TMZ and Variety. No cause of death has been announced.

OHara rose to prominence in the 1970s with Torontos Second City comedy troupe before becoming a founding cast member of SCTV, earning an Emmy Award for writing.

She went on to star in several Tim Burton projects, including Beetlejuice and voicing Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

RELATED STORY | Chicago-area house from 'Home Alone' is back on the market

In the early 1990s, OHara became widely known as Kate McCallister, the mother in Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

She enjoyed a major career resurgence from 2015 to 2020, playing Moira Rose in Schitts Creek, a role that earned her Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Her contributions to entertainment and Canadian culture were recognized with her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

RELATED STORY | Macaulay Culkin gets emotional during Hollywood Walk of Fame speech

The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the death of a 37-year-old U.S. citizen who was killed by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis.

Alex Pretti was shot during a chaotic encounter with agents on Jan. 24.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday that the investigation will examine all available evidence to shed light on the incident.

"I expect that the folks that are doing this are the most experienced in the space and are doing that," Blanche stated.

In a letter to Congress, the Department of Homeland Security provided a timeline of the incident. At about 9 a.m. on Jan. 24, officials say a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was confronted by two women who were blowing whistles. The officer ordered them to move out of the roadway, but officials say the women refused.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Footage reveals Jan. 13 clash between Alex Pretti and immigration agents

After pushing the woman out of the way, Pretti intervened. Officials say officers then attempted to take Pretti into custody, at which point they allege he resisted. It was at that point at least two officers fired shots, killing Pretti.

Those two officers were placed on standard administrative leave following the shooting.

RELATED STORY | Bystander videos highlight Trump administration's pattern of deception in Minneapolis

Members of the Trump administration initially described Pretti as a would-be assassin who brandished a gun. Those claims, however, appear to be contradicted by witness video.

Pretti was a licensed concealed-carry permit holder and was armed, but video does not show him pointing the weapon at officers. Instead, footage shows an officer removing the gun from Pretti before shots were fired.

The Justice Department on Friday said it released more than 3 million additional pages of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Scripps News is going through the latest documents for any new revelations.

The DOJ says the newly published materials include more than 2,000 videos and about 180,000 images.

The records were collected from five primary sources, according to the DOJ: The federal criminal cases against Epstein in Florida and New York, the New York prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, investigations into Epsteins death, a Florida case involving a former Epstein employee, multiple FBI investigations, and a Justice Department inspector general review of Epsteins death.

RELATED STORY | Limited Epstein files release includes extensive redactions, images of notable figures

The release was made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed by Congress in late 2025 and signed by President Donald Trump. It required the DOJ to release all of its investigative files related to Epstein within 30 days. Officials said it did not meet that deadline because of the number of documents it possessed.

The DOJ said some files were not being released, including those that depict violence. The department added that redactions were narrowly applied to protect victims and their families. Some pornographic images were also redacted, with officials saying the department treated all women depicted in such images as victims. The department said notable individuals and politicians were not redacted in any of the released files.

RELATED STORY | Epstein survivor says she's losing faith that all of the DOJ's files will be released

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed during a press briefing on Friday that there is an untrue narrative that the files contain hidden evidence of powerful men that the government is choosing not to pursue.

"There's this built-in assumption that somehow there's this hidden tranche of information of men that we know about, that we're covering up or that we're not, we're choosing not to prosecute. That is not the case," Blanche said. "I don't know whether there are men out there that abused these women. If we learn about information and evidence that allows us to prosecute them, you better believe we will. But I don't think that the public or you all are going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women."

Meanwhile, officials cautioned that some of the released material may contain false or misleading information, reflecting reports that were investigated but later cleared.

The death penalty is now off the table in the federal case against Luigi Mangione.

Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York in December 2024.

A federal judge on Friday dismissed two charges against Mangione, including a firearm-related murder count that made the case eligible for the death penalty.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | A man impersonating an FBI agent tried to get Luigi Mangione out of jail, authorities say

Mangione still faces federal stalking charges that carry a possible life sentence without parole.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty.

In addition to his federal case, Mangione is facing state charges related to the killing of Thompson. His attorneys have tried to get evidence thrown out ahead of a trial.

RELATED NEWS | Luigi Mangione's latest federal hearing focuses on officers' rules for searches

A key point of contention is the backpack Mangione was carrying at the time of his arrest. Defense attorneys are seeking to exclude its contents, arguing police searched the bag without first obtaining a warrant.

A judge is not expected to make a ruling about the evidence until March.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty in the state case as well.

President Donald Trump is suing the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion, as he accuses the federal agencies of a failure to prevent a leak of the president's tax information to news outlets.

The suit, filed in a Florida federal court on Thursday, was also brought by Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump organization as plaintiffs.

In 2024, former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington, D.C. who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense and national security tech firm was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to leaking tax information about Trump and others to news outlets.

Littlejohn gave data to The New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020 in leaks that appeared to be unparalleled in the IRSs history, prosecutors said.

Trump's suit states that Littlejohns disclosures to the news organizations caused reputational and financial harm to Plaintiffs and adversely impacted President Trumps support among voters in the 2020 presidential election.

RELATED NEWS | Trump sues JPMorgan for $5 billion, alleges bank closed his accounts for political reasons

The president's suit comes after the U.S. Treasury Department announced it has cut its contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton, earlier this week, after Littlejohn, who worked for the firm, was charged and subsequently imprisoned for leaking tax information to news outlets about thousands of the countrys wealthiest people, including the president.

Representatives of Treasury and the IRS were not immediately available for comment.

In 2024, the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania created a simulation to examine the potential for civil unrest surrounding a presidential election.

More than three dozen national security, military and election leaders used Philadelphia as a test case, asking what would happen if a newly elected president illegally ordered the National Guard to move in and stop protests.

Claire Finkelstein is the founder for the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law. She tells Scripps News what is happening in Minneapolis looks a lot like what their exercise found.

"We put together this exercise, want to be very clear, before the 2024 election," Finkelstein said. "So we did not know who would be the next president, but one of the things we were concerned about was for the possibility of the very kind of tension that we're seeing between federal authorities and state authorities in situations in which you want them, you hope, that they will be working harmoniously together to deal with the tensions that have crept up between federal authorities and the people in widespread demonstrations."

"We saw situations like this in Portland in 2020, in my own town of Philadelphia in 2020. And when there is something that goes wrong, like the killing of an American citizen, as has now happened twice, you really want to feel that federal and state law enforcement officers are working together. But the fact that they are not in this case is posing a significant threat that unfortunately our scenario did model," Finkelstein said.

RELATED STORY | Inside the underground network working to resist ICE in Minneapolis

The risk of a confrontation between two sets of authorities still exists despite recent efforts to draw down tension, Finkelstein said.

"There are signs that we may be facing an off-ramp, that things may be calming down," Finkelstein said. "The fact that we have Tom Homan stepping in now, that possibly Kristi Noem is is taking more of a backseat, that we see a little bit more collaboration and the conversation between Governor Waltz and President Trump. These are all good signs. We want that communication to happen."

"But the risk is that if federal agents continue to violate the law, which there's ample evidence they have been and if the National Guard troops backing up Minnesota police end up having to step in to protect Minnesota citizens, there could be a clash between the police, with National Guard troops backing them up, and ICE. If, further, President Trump goes ahead and calls out regular federal military such as the 11th Airborne, that is the sort of thing that in a worst-case scenario we were looking at and you could then have a moment of green-on-green violence in which you have a confrontation between the National Guard led by state authorities, the governor, and federal troops led by the president."

Watch the full interview with Finkelstein in the video above.

SEE MORE | Examining immigration enforcement in Minnesota and its impact

A huge range of popular brand-name products from food to pharmaceuticals, including Cheerios and Tylenol, have been recalled due to potential salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gold Star Distribution, Inc., which oversees distribution of a wide range of foods, drugs and other groceries, is recalling "All FDA-regulated products" that were sent from a specific holding facility "including drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, human food, and pet food," due to rodent and avian contamination.

The recall was first announced December 26, 2025.

The thousands of products recalled include Pringles snack chips, Maruchan ramen, Domino sugar, Arizona tea drinks, Gatorade drinks, Trojan condoms, Axe body spray, Colgate toothpaste, Tylenol pharmaceuticals, cereals including Cheerios and Lucky Charms, and pet foods including Purina puppy chow and Fancy Feast cat food.

A complete list of affected products is available on the FDA's website.

RECENT RECALLS | Gerber recalls snack food over possible contamination

The affected products were distributed to stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; suburbs of the Twin Cities including Burnsville, Bloomington and Eden Prairie; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

A full list of locations is available from the FDA.

The FDA directs consumers who may have purchased any of the goods to destroy them and says "Gold Star will provide refunds upon request."

No illnesses have been reported as a result of the contamination.

If the thought of ordering coffee or tea on a plane has ever crossed your mind, you might want to rethink that.

A new study looked at water quality onboard 10 major airlines examining factors such as violations, contamination levels for bacteria like E. coli, and cleaning standards.

The research, conducted by the Center for Food Medicine and Longevity, ranked water quality on a scale from zero to five, with five being the highest quality.

RELATED STORY | Passengers rate their favorite airlines. Heres who came out on top

Delta Air Lines topped the list with the cleanest water, earning a perfect score. Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Allegiant Air also fared well.

Top scores:

Delta: 5.0 (Grade A) Frontier: 4.80 (Grade A) Alaska: 3.85 (Grade B) Allegiant: 3.65 (Grade B)

Anything below a score of 3.5 was considered a poor water safety rating. According to the study, that includes Southwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, United, Spirit, JetBlue, and American Airlines.

Lower scores:

Southwest: 3.30 (Grade C) Hawaiian: 3.15 (Grade C) United: 2.70 (Grade C) Spirit: 2.05 (Grade D) JetBlue: 1.80 (Grade D) American: 1.75 (Grade D)

In their recommendations, researchers urge travelers to:

Never drink any water that isn't in a sealed bottle Don't drink coffee or tea Don't wash your hands in the bathroom instead use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcoholThis story was originally published by Susan El Khoury with the

Scripps News Group in Tampa.

Federal immigration enforcement officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol and other agencies have descended on cities across Minnesota, triggering weeks of protests and growing backlash from local communities.

President Donald Trump and the White House say the effort is focused on targeting criminals who are living in the U.S. illegally for deportation.

But the enforcement surge has also left two U.S. citizens dead. Rene Good was shot by an ICE officer on Jan. 7, and Alex Pretti was shot by federal agents on Jan. 24.

The operations have disrupted life in Minneapolis neighborhoods, affected local schools and fueled political fallout that now threatens a partial federal government shutdown as Democrats push back against the administrations immigration policies.

In "ICE in America," Scripps News reporters on the ground in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., listen to affected communities and their leaders, pressing for answers about what federal authorities are doing and how those actions are impacting not only Minnesota, but the nation as a whole.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad.

Blatter was the latest international soccer figure to call into question the suitability of the United States as a host country. He called for the boycott in a post on X that supported Mark Pieth's comments in an interview last week with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

Pieth, a Swiss attorney specializing in white-collar crime and an anti-corruption expert, chaired the Independent Governance Committee's oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago. Blatter was president of the world's governing body for soccer from 1998-2015; he resigned amid an investigation into corruption.

In his interview with Der Bund, Pieth said, If we consider everything weve discussed, theres only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! Youll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they dont please the officials, theyll be put straight on the next flight home. If theyre lucky.

In his X post, Blatter quoted Pieth and added, I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.

The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.

The international soccer community's concerns about the United States stem from Trump's expansionist posture on Greenland, and travel bans and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis.

Oke Gttlich, one of the vice presidents of the German soccer federation, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper in an interview on Friday that the time had come to seriously consider boycotting the World Cup.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

Travel plans for fans from two of the top soccer countries in Africa were thrown into disarray in December, when the Trump administration announced an expanded ban that would effectively bar people from Senegal and Ivory Coast following their teams unless they already have visas. Trump cited screening and vetting deficiencies as the main reason for the suspensions.

Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will be barred from entering the United States as well; they were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

The Justice Department has withdrawn its request for five arrest warrants tied to a protest at a Minnesota church during a demonstration against immigration enforcement.

The protest followed the killing of Renee Good, who was shot by a federal officer during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Protesters appeared to be attempting to confront a pastor who is reportedly affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

RELATED STORY | Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers' rights after protesters interrupt service

Three people have already been charged in connection with the protest. The Justice Department had sought additional arrest warrants for others, including journalist Don Lemon. A magistrate judge previously rejected charges against Lemon.

The Justice Department did not say why it withdrew the request for the arrest warrants or whether it still plans to pursue charges.

RELATED STORY | Don Lemon believes DOJ will try to charge him, calls Nicki Minaj 'racist' in exclusive Scripps News interview

In an exclusive interview with Scripps News on Friday, Lemon said he believed the Justice Department would still try to charge him, despite insisting he was at the church in his capacity as a journalist.

I was not a protester, Lemon said. Its very clear about that. If you look at all the evidence, Im not a protester.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Eagle County, Colorado, following reports that agents left ace of spades playing cards inside the vehicles of people they detained.

The ace of spades playing card has long been associated with racism and death, dating back to the Vietnam War.

The ace of spades card reads ICE Denver Field Office, according to Alex Snchez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Voces Unidas. He said the cards were left inside at least two vehicles last Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

Voces Unidas is a nonprofit based in the Western Slope. We have physical offices in Frisco, Avon, and Glenwood Springs, and soon in Grand Junction. We have been operating in the 15 counties of the traditional Western Slope since January 2025. We have been operating a 24/7 hotline. It is fully staffed with paid employees, and we are providing services and support for families and individuals who are detained at the Aurora Detention Center. Last week, on Wednesday, we had an uptick in activity in the Eagle-Vail valley, Snchez said.

Snchez said they received several calls from the family members of people who ICE agents detained.

We did independently verify that at least nine individuals were detained that Wednesday by ICE in the Eagle-Vail Valley. There are eight individuals who were detained in what we refer to as fake traffic stops, and one individual who was detained as he was walking to a bus stop, Snchez said. We started to hear from at least two families in two different vehicles, suggesting that they had found this card, and they wanted to know the significance of it."

Snchez said ICE agents decision to leave those cards inside the vehicles of those they detained constitutes psychological harassment.

This is disgusting. This is sickening. This is not law enforcement. This is not dignified public servants doing their job on behalf of the American people as federal law enforcement agents; we absolutely call on our congressional delegation for accountability. We want our Colorado congressional delegation to use their powers as members of Congress to demand accountability from the federal government, Snchez said. Is this a practice of the Denver field office? Is this a policy of the Department of Homeland Security? Is this just rogue agents who happen to have extreme views that probably don't belong in law enforcement?

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

DHS condemned the alleged actions in a statement to the Scripps News Group. They released the following statement:

ICE is investigating this situation but unequivocally condemns this type of action and/or officer conduct. Once notified, ICE supervisors acted swiftly to address the issue. The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a thorough investigation and will take appropriate and swift action. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is held to the highest professional standard. As our brave law enforcement arrests and removes dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and gang members from our communities, America can be proud of the professionalism our officers bring the job day-in and day-out.

Sanchez said Voces Unidas has not been contacted by DHS, but they hope to speak with the department about the investigation.

DHS investigates 'death cards' ICE agents reportedly left inside detainees' cars in ColoradoThis article was written by Micah Smith for the Scripps News Group in Denver.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have a security role during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, according to information shared with local media by sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The Associated Press independently confirmed the information with two officials at the embassy.

The officials who confirmed ICE participation on Tuesday said that federal ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations.

During previous Olympics, several federal agencies have supported security for U.S. diplomats, including the investigative component of ICE called Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the officials said. They could not be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

HSI has a global footprint, and its common for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide security support at major international events.

The State Departments Diplomatic Security Service does this as well, routinely supporting events like the Olympics. The use of U.S. law enforcement agencies in these contexts isnt unusual. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Transportation Security Administration deployed officers to assist with airport screening due to the surge in visitors and the potential threat of attacks.

Citing images of masked ICE agents that have dominated coverage of unrest in Minneapolis, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said that ICE would not be welcome in his city, which is hosting most ice sports during the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games.

"This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,'' Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE's deployment to the Games was confirmed.

ICE's role had been reported over the weekend by the Italian daily il Fatto Quotidiano, prompting conflicting statements from Italian authorities who did not want to appear to confirm the agency's role.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Saturday he had not received confirmation of ICE's deployment, but added that "I don't see what the problem would be,'' the news agency ANSA reported.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

The Interior Ministry on Tuesday repeated that the U.S. has not confirmed the makeup of its security detail but insisted that at the moment there are no indications that ICE USA will act as an escort to the American delegation."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation attending the Feb. 6 opening ceremony. The delegation will also include second lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the White House announced earlier this month.

The confirmation of ICE's role in Olympic security comes after RAI state TV aired video Sunday of ICE agents threatening to break the glass on the vehicle of a RAI crew reporting in Minneapolis, where ICE operations have sparked mass demonstrations. In the past three weeks, federal officers in Minneapolis have shot and killed two protesters against deportations and immigration enforcement.

A federal judge in Oregon dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon's unredacted voter rolls on Monday in another setback to wide-ranging efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to get detailed voter data from states.

In a hearing, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai said he would dismiss the suit and issue a final written opinion in the coming days. The updated docket for the case showed that Oregon's move to dismiss the case was granted.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the move.

The court dismissed this case because the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records in the first place, he said in an emailed statement. "Oregonians deserve to know that voting laws cant be used as a backdoor to grab their personal information.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

RELATED STORY | Walz rejects Bondi's voter roll demands, says she should focus on Epstein files

Kasubhai scheduled the hearing after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dated Saturday, the same day federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which has seen widespread protests over increased immigration enforcement and the previous killing of Renee Good by an immigration officer.

In her letter, Bondi asked the Democratic governor to support immigration officers and shared three simple steps to help bring back law and order" including by giving the Justice Department the ability to access voter rolls to confirm that Minnesota's voter registration practices comply with federal law.

Bondi also asked for the state's records of its Medicaid and food assistance programs, and for the repeal of sanctuary policies that limit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The Justice Department has been seeking detailed voter data that includes names, dates of birth, residential addresses, drivers license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Officials in many states have said turning over such information would violate both state and federal privacy laws.

RELATED STORY | Justice Department sues Connecticut and Arizona as part of effort to get voter data from the states

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits against at least 23 states and the District of Columbia as part of its effort to collect such data. Last week a federal judge in Georgia dismissed such a suit after ruling the federal government had sued in the wrong city, and earlier this month a federal judge in California dismissed a suit there after finding the governments request was unprecedented and illegal.

The department has said it needs to access detailed voter data to ensure election officials are following federal election laws. Election officials have disputed that and raised concerns that federal officials are trying to use the sensitive data for other purposes, such as searching for potential noncitizens on the rolls.

In a July letter, the department asked Oregon for an electronic copy of its statewide registration list and details on the steps it has taken to remove ineligible voters, court filings show. It sent another letter in August saying it needed the voter list to assess compliance with federal law, and that the list must include information such as full names, birth dates, drivers license numbers or partial Social Security numbers.

Oregon officials responded in August that the department lacked the authority to request the list and offered to provide the publicly available list, court filings show. The department argued it has the authority to request the data under multiple federal laws and is complying with privacy laws.

Kasubhai called for the Monday hearing in Oregon's lawsuit so that attorneys on both sides could provide additional arguments on how Bondi's letter was relevant in interpreting the basis and purpose of the department's request for voter data.

The department argued it had authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to request voter records, as the law says such records are to be made available to the U.S. Attorney General upon a demand in writing that states the basis and purpose of the request. Yet Kasubhai said the department's August letter did not satisfy the law's requirement for stating a basis and purpose when requesting voter records. He added that he read the congressional record of the time when the law was passed, and found it was unequivocal on the release of records being associated with investigations involving discrimination in elections.

The Justice Departments outreach has raised alarm among some election officials because the agency doesnt have the constitutional authority to run elections. That power is granted to states and Congress. Federal law also protects the sharing of individual data with the federal government.

The chief federal judge in Minnesota says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. Schlitz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, the judge wrote.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

The order comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of a person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.

Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward," Schlitz continued in the order. "Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

The judge said he recognizes that ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally was extraordinary. But the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, Schlitz wrote.

Schlitzs order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan T.R. It says the court granted a petition on Jan. 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On Jan. 23, the persons lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.

RELATED STORY | Border Patrol commander Bovino and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis

The order says Schlitz will cancel Lyons appearance if the petitioner is released from custody

A senior Border Patrol commander and some agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The departure of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who has been at the center of the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement surge in cities nationwide, comes as President Donald Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

The person familiar with the matter was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the operation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Bovinos departure marks a significant public shift in federal law enforcement posture amid mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents.

His leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Criticism has increased around Bovino in the last few days after his public defense of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the confrontation that led to his death.

Trump and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz spoke in a phone call and later offered comments that were a marked change from the critical statements they have exchanged in the past. Their conversation happened on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit aimed at halting the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, the president wrote in a social media post.

Walz, in a statement, said the call was productive" and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed. Trump said his administration was looking for any and all criminals the state has in their custody. Walz said the state Department of Corrections honors federal requests for people in its custody.

It was unclear whether the new tone would lead to changes. Attorneys for the administration, the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, who is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the immigration operation.

She said the case was a priority, though she issued no immediate ruling.

Lawyers for the state and the Twin Cities argued the situation on the street is so dire it requires the court to halt the federal governments enforcement actions.

If this is not stopped right here, right now, I dont think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said.

The judge questioned the governments motivation behind the crackdown and expressed skepticism about a letter recently sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The letter asked the state to give the federal government access to voter rolls, to turn over state Medicaid and food assistance records, and to repeal sanctuary policies.

I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law? Menendez asked. She noted that the federal requests are the subject of litigation.

Brantley Mayers, a Justice Department attorney, said the government's goal is to enforce federal law. Mayers said one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.

I dont see how the fact that were also doing additional things that we are allowed to do, that the Constitution has vested us with doing, would in any way negate another piece of the same operation, the same surge, Mayers said.

Menendez questioned where the line was between violating the Constitution and the executive's power to enforce the law. She also asked whether she was being asked to decide between state and federal policies.

That begins to feel very much like I am deciding which policy approach is best, she said.

At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.

I cant be the global keeper of all things here. Like, presumably that will be litigated," she said to the state's attorney.

Menendez made it clear that she was struggling with how to rule because the case is so unusual, and there are few precedents.

"Its because this is important that Im doing everything I can to get it right, she said.

The state of Minnesota and the cities sued the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs officer. The shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday added urgency to the case.

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Border czar to Minnesota

In other developments, Trump said he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. The president's statement came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who has become the public face of the crackdown, answered questions at news conferences over the weekend about Pretti's shooting. Trump posted on social media that Homan will report directly to him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued operations by federal immigration officers.

In court Monday, an attorney for the administration said about 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were on ground, along with at least 1,000 Border Patrol officers.

The lawsuit asks the judge to order a reduction in the number of federal law enforcement officers and agents in Minnesota back to the level before the surge and to limit the scope of the enforcement operation.

Other state implications

The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations. Attorneys general from 19 states plus the District of Columbia, led by California, filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Minnesota.

"If left unchecked, the federal government will no doubt be emboldened to continue its unlawful conduct in Minnesota and to repeat it elsewhere, the attorneys general wrote.

Menendez ruled in a separate case on Jan. 16 that federal officers in Minnesota cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including people who follow and observe agents.

An appeals court temporarily suspended that ruling three days before Saturdays shooting. But the plaintiffs in that case, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, asked the appeals court late Saturday for an emergency order lifting the stay in light of Pretti's killing.

The Justice Department argued in a reply filed Sunday that the stay should remain in place, calling the injunction unworkable and overly broad.

In yet another case, a different federal judge, Eric Tostrud, issued an order late Saturday blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Saturday's shooting. Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty asked for the order to try to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities have not yet been able to inspect.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Monday afternoon in federal court in St. Paul.

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Hotel where federal agents believed to be was targeted

On Sunday night, protesters targeted a Minneapolis hotel where federal agents were believed to be staying, blocking a major avenue on the edge of the University of Minnesota campus.

A freelance photographer working for The Associated Press saw smashed glass in the hotel lobby, as well as graffiti with obscenities and threats directed at ICE.

A Minneapolis police officer was inside the hotel and tried to provide aid to a federal agent who was injured. More officers from local and state agencies planned to move in to deescalate the situation, and make arrests, Minneapolis police said Monday in a statement.

But as they began to reach the scene and arrested two people, federal agents arrived and deployed chemical munitions, the police statement said. A DHS spokesperson said a statement on the situation would be provided later Monday.

The filing window for 2025 federal tax returns opened on Monday January 26, starting a day earlier than last year and extending through the deadline of April 15, 2026.

This year will see new deductions available, including for certain tips and overtime pay and up to $6,000 for seniors over 65 who paid taxes on Social Security payments. These deductions will be managed through a new form called Schedule 1-A.

These changes may result in higher tax refunds for certain filers.

For tax year 2025, the standard deduction has also been adjusted:

$31,500 for married couples filing jointly $15,750 for single filers and married individuals filing separately $23,625 for heads of household

This year the IRS is operating with less budget than expected and "a significantly reduced staff," according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

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Filing early in the tax window may see your refund delivered sooner  but it may make sense to wait to file until later in tax season if you're expecting more specialized tax documents like a Schedule K-1 or Form 1099.

Most refunds sent digitally to a bank account will be processed within 21 days, the IRS says. Refunds can be tracked online within a few days of online filing.

Individuals who need an extension on their taxes can request a wider window, through October 15, to file their return. The IRS has a guide for different methods to request extension.

The White House on Monday laid out conditions it says Minnesota and local leaders should comply with for federal officers to be withdrawn from the state, amid growing scrutiny of the administrations expanded immigration enforcement presence.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Customs and Border Protection officers would no longer be needed if state and local officials agree to a series of cooperation measures.

Leavitt said the administration is demanding that Minnesota and local leaders first turn over all undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions who are currently held in state prisons and jails, as well as undocumented immigrants with active warrants and known criminal histories, to federal authorities for deportation.

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She said state and local law enforcement should also turn over all undocumented immigrants arrested by local police.

In addition, Leavitt said local police must assist federal law enforcement in locating, apprehending and detaining undocumented immigrants who are wanted for crimes, particularly violent offenses.

Walz previously addressed a similar request from Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying Minnesota is already doing much of what the federal government is requesting.

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During Mondays White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump wants officials to let a full investigation play out before drawing conclusions about the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, who was killed by a federal agent Saturday during ongoing immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.

Her remarks marked a more tempered tone from earlier comments by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who on social media called Pretti a would-be assassin, and by Homeland Security officials, who portrayed Pretti as a violent threat.