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'Categorically wrong:' NRA, pro-gun groups push back on Trump officials' Minneapolis shooting takes

Gun advocacy groups, including the National Rifle Association, pushed back on claims from the Trump administration that the man fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis on Saturday did not have a right to possess a firearm at the protests.

A Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti after multiple officers wrestled him to the ground when he was seen filming them clashing with protesters. The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he "approached" officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun but that claim differs from bystander videos of the incident in which Pretti is seen holding a phone.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota. Videos of the incident show one of the officers removing what appears to be a gun from a holster near Pretti's waist just before gunshots are heard.

A top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, posted on social media that, "if you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you."

The post from Bill Essayli drew quick criticism from the NRA, which stated on X that his comments were "dangerous and wrong" and urged officials to resist "making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens."

RELATED STORY | DHS reviewing 'multiple angles' of body cam footage from Minneapolis protester shooting

Gun Owners of America also responded to Essaylis comments, stating the Second Amendment protects Americans right to bear arms while protesting a right the federal government must not infringe upon."

FBI Director Kash Patel said in an interview with Fox News, "You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. Its that simple. You don't have a right to break the law."

"No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines," Patel added.

To which the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus wrote on X in response to Patels comments: "This is completely incorrect on Minnesota law. There is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota."

The general counsel for the advocacy group also condemned Patel's comments on X, calling him "categorically wrong."

"Minnesota law does not restrict the number of firearms you can carry, and by extension the number magazines you can carry. We have no magazine restrictions at all on carry. We have no prohibition on carrying at protests," wrote Rob Daur.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino told CNN in an interview on Sunday, "We respect that Second Amendment right, but those rights dont count when you riot and assault, delay, obstruct and impede law enforcement officers and, most especially, when you mean to do that beforehand."

On Truth Social, President Trump posted an image of a handgun and said, "This is the gunman's gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go What is that all about?"

However, during Monday's press briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "the president supports the Second Amendment of law-abiding American citizens."

"And any gun owner knows that when you are carrying a weapon, when you are bearing arms and you are confronted by law enforcement, you are raising the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you," Leavitt added.

Small companies score big contracts to search for undocumented immigrants

The Trump administration has offered open-ended contracts to 13 private companies for help verifying where suspected undocumented immigrants live and work.

A Scripps News investigation found that some of the companies have no record of previously doing business with the government. Some also list post office boxes or residences as their main office addresses, raising questions about their qualifications to handle sensitive personal data and to conduct in-person surveillance of migrants.

Just before Christmas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded contracts potentially worth a combined $1.2 billion for the companies to provide "skip tracing services nationwide" during the next two years, according to federal contracting records reviewed by the Scripps News investigative team. The records show that most of the companies have not yet received any payments.

The Department of Homeland Security published a document in October saying ICE had an immediate need for skip tracing, a process described as using government data, the web, and physical surveillance to confirm the location of targeted immigrants.

The companies would be expected to send ICE a collection of photos and documents confirming the person's residence and/or place of employment.

RELATED STORY | As ICE puts immigrants in 'Lone Star Lockup,' companies quietly cash in

The contractors also may be asked to deliver official government documents to persons of interest, the document states. There is the possibility of monetary bonuses. The more undocumented immigrants they find, the more money the businesses can make.

The companies are essentially ICE bounty hunters, said Sharon Bradford Franklin, former chairwoman of the U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

"It's the same kind of incentive situation," Bradford Franklin said.

Some of the awarded contractors are linked to large corporations, like a company run by the GEO Group, which operates private ICE detention centers for the government.

Other grant recipients are much smaller companies, still able to make millions of dollars from the contract.

A business named Fraud Inc. is run out of an apartment in Conroe, Texas. Reached by phone, the company's president said he runs the business from home. He said that his aim is to find as many undocumented immigrants as possible to take advantage of the bonuses offered by the government.

Fraud Inc. could earn more than $25 million, according to contracting records.

Gravitas Professional Services LLC is an Ohio company that lists a post office box as its main address.

RELATED STORY | Private prisons see record revenue growth under Trump administration's immigration surge

YouTube videos show Gravitas had been focused on much smaller jobs, including tracking down a client's biological father and catching people allegedly committing workers' compensation fraud.

"Gravitas is mostly in the insurance world but we've been known to locate people through infidelity and corporate investigations," owner Adam Visnic says in one video posted to YouTube.

The business could earn over $32 million searching for immigrants.

A.I. Solutions 87 is an LLC with an address of a single-family home in Wisconsin. The LLC could make more than $48 million dollars through its contract.

ICE did not respond to Scripps News' questions about how the agency picked the entities that won contracts.

The companies are required to follow federal, state and local laws, but because the contracts themselves aren't public, there are no published details about rules to protect government data and civil rights.

"When the government outsources this type of surveillance, it increases the risk of abuse," Bradford Franklin said. "There is even less ability to have oversight. There are rules that simply don't apply."

What to know about bigger refunds and this year's deadlines as tax season begins

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.

RELATED STORY | USPS clarifies postmark rules that could affect ballot and tax deadlines

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.

White House outlines conditions to scale back federal presence in Minnesota

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.

RELATED STORY | Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

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.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

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.

DHS reviewing 'multiple angles' of body cam footage from Minneapolis protester shooting

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Monday that the agency was reviewing officer body camera footage related to the death of Alex Pretti, who was shot while being apprehended by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis over the weekend.

There is body camera footage from multiple angles which investigators are currently reviewing," a DHS official said in a statement to Scripps News.

When asked Monday if the body camera footage would be made public, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said "that's not something I've heard the president commit to." According to court filings, DHS is leading the investigation into Pretti's death, with assistance from the FBI and other federal agencies.

RELATED STORY | Federal agents involved in Minneapolis shooting remain on duty

Up to this point, multiple videos circulating online have shown various different angles of the shooting, which occurred as demonstrators were protesting the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. Pretti, 37, was on hand apparently filming law enforcement activity, nearly one mile away from where Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement agent earlier this month.

Video footage from one bystander showed Pretti standing in the street recording federal officers with a cell phone. One agent can then be seen approaching another person and pushing them down onto the ground. At that point, Pretti jumps between the agent and the protester and is pepper sprayed in the face. Seconds later, several other officers jump in and attempt to apprehend Pretti and a scuffle ensues. Officers are then seen backing away from him after at least one shot was fired.

WARNING | GRAPHIC CONTENT

Bystander video of fatal shooting during federal immigration enforcement protest

Separate video captured by another bystander showed the same struggle ensue before four consecutive shots are heard.

Bystander video captures fatal shooting during immigration enforcement protest

The Department of Homeland Security said that Pretti approached agents with a firearm with two magazines and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. Pretti's family has said he owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed firearm. However, the footage only shows Pretti holding what appears to be a cell phone in his hand.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

In a sworn declaration filed in federal court, a civilian witness described what they said they observed moments before a federal agent shot and killed Pretti. The witness said they never saw him reach for any weapon.

"I didn't see him with a gun," the witness stated. "They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times."

Relatives of Pretti described him as a dedicated intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration, who was compassionate for others and deeply upset over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in his city.

At least 18 death reported after colossal winter storm sweeps across the US

The U.S. workweek opened with yet more snow dumping on the Northeast under the tail end of a colossal winter storm that brought lingering misery to parts of the South, where freezing rain left hundreds of thousands shivering without electricity Monday. Authorities reported at least 18 weather-related deaths.

Deep snow over a foot extending in a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England halted traffic, canceled flights and triggered wide school closures Monday. Up to two feet (60 centimeters) were forecast in some of the harder-hit places.

There were more than 800,000 power outages in the nation on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

RELATED STORY | FAA says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

Utility officials in New Albany, Mississippi, said some homes and businesses could be without electricity for at least a week. In nearby Oxford, where most residents and University of Mississippi students were without power Monday, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that it looks like a tornado went down every street."

Apparently, the new status symbol in this town is having electricity, said Marshall Ramsey, a University of Mississippi journalism professor whose family was running a generator at their Oxford home Monday to power a space heater and keep phones charged.

A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips' new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said half of his neighbors had homes or vehicles damaged.

Its just one of those things that you try to prepare for, Phillips said, but this one was just unreal.

The U.S. had more than 6,400 flight delays and cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com.

More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.

New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with 11 inches falling on Central Park. Main roads throughout the city were largely clear Monday morning, but pedestrians had to plod through snow on some sidewalks and multiple subway lines with above-ground tracks saw delays.

Bitter cold grips much of the nation

Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storm's wake. Many communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F since January 2014.

Record warmth in Florida was the only thing keeping that average from going even colder, said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, who calculates national averages based on National Weather Service data.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Finding the sweet spot: HVAC experts reveal optimal winter thermostat settings to save money

From Montana to the Florida Panhandle, the weather service posted cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings as temperatures in many places dipped to zero and even colder. Wind made conditions even chillier and the overnight cold made roads freeze over anew early Monday in a cruel reprise of the weekend's lousy travel weather.

In the Nashville, Tennessee, area, electricity was back for thousands of homes and businesses Monday while more than 170,000 others awoke bundled up in powerless homes after subfreezing temperatures overnight. Many hotels were sold out overnight to residents escaping dark and frigid homes.

It already was Mississippis worst ice storm since 1994 with its biggest-ever deployment of ice-melting chemicals 200,000 gallons plus salt and sand to treat icy roads, Gov. Tate Reeves said. In Corinth, Mississippi, heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar told employees to stay home Monday and Tuesday.

Storm leads to deaths in a number of states

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation. Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, according to the state health department.

In Massachusetts, police said a snowplow backed into a couple walking in a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority parking lot in Norwood on Sunday. A 51-year-old woman was killed and her 47-year-old husband was hospitalized.

Three people died in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday after shoveling or removing snow during the recent storm, the county coroners office said. They ranged in age from 60 to 84.

Two teenagers died in sledding accidents, a 17-year-old boy in Arkansas, and a 16-year-old girl in Texas, authorities said.

A 28-year-old teacher was found dead and covered in snow after leaving a bar in Emporia, Kansas, as temperatures dipped below zero, Emporia police said in a news release after using bloodhounds to find her body.

A man employed by a snow plow company died Sunday in Dayton, Ohio, after a plow backed over him while clearing a private lot, local police said.

Three weather-related deaths were announced in Tennessee, authorities said. Further details were not immediately available.

Great Lakes ice coverage more than doubles in the past week following cold snap

The arctic weather that has been hitting Michigan and much of the Midwest has also led to a massive increase in Great Lakes ice coverage.

According to data from the NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the total Great Lakes ice coverage has more than doubled in less than a week.

Below is the percentage ice coverage for each of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair from Sunday, Jan. 25.

Lake Superior - 30.44% Lake Michigan - 31.25% Lake Huron - 51.61% Lake Erie - 92.15% Lake Ontario - 24.57% Lake St. Clair - 99.9% Great Lakes total - 41.29%

Looking back to a week earlier, on Jan. 18, these were the percentages:

Lake Superior - 7.05% Lake Michigan - 14.34% Lake Huron - 24.64% Lake Erie - 44.69% Lake Ontario - 4.19% Lake St. Clair - 93.84% Great Lakes total - 16.54%

The long-term average annual maximum ice cover for the Great Lakes is 52%

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

Gov. Tim Walz confirmed he received a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi outlining requests from the federal government to help bring back law and order to Minnesota.

The federal government has sent thousands of officers to Minnesota in what it describes as a crackdown on illegal immigration. Their presence has sparked protests and multiple shootings involving federal agents. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in separate incidents while monitoring federal officers.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

Bondi's letter asks the state to turn over records related to Medicaid and food and nutrition programs so the federal government can investigate fraud. Bondi also said Minnesota must end its sanctuary policies and work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove people from the country who are in state prisons or jails. A third request calls for the state to turn over voter rolls so the federal government can confirm that Minnesota is complying with federal election law.

"I think everybody understands what the last request was, totally unrelated to anything in the voter files," Walz said. "Donald Trump telling everybody that the election was rigged."

Walz called the requests unserious, saying the state is already investigating fraud, turns over undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and routinely works with federal officials on immigration enforcement.

In a blunt response, Walz said Bondi should address other issues in her purview.

I would just give her a pro tip to the attorney general There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.

RELATED STORY | Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

Bondis letter hasnt just drawn attention in Minnesota. Officials in Oregon have also taken note, and its now been referenced in a lawsuit there where state leaders are trying to block the Department of Justices access to their voter rolls. A hearing on that issue is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

HHS staffers call for halt to ICE, CBP operations after VA nurse's 'execution'

A coalition of current and former Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees is calling on Congress to freeze funding for federal immigration enforcement operations after what they describe as the "execution" of a Veterans Affairs nurse who was protesting the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

In a public letter released Monday, the group Save HHS said its members were deeply shaken by the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti who was fatally shot on Saturday while being apprehended by federal officers.

The letter accuses the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of creating a growing public health crisis through acts of violence, alleging that DHS agents are "murdering, assaulting, and terrorizing people who call this country home."

The employees urged lawmakers to block this weeks must-pass appropriations bills from funding ICE and CBP unless the agencies:

Immediately halt the invasion of American cities, submit to independent investigations, and adopt new protocols that do not violate the Constitution.

The Senate is expected to vote within days on a package combining funding for DHS, HHS, and other federal agencies. If Congress does not pass the legislation by Jan. 30, many HHS workers could face unpaid furloughs.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

Despite that risk, the letters authors argue ICE and CBP present a greater threat to the health of our nation than the lapse of HHS services, citing widespread fear among immigrant and U.S. citizen communities alike. According to the statement, families are avoiding medical care, skipping school, and going without food out of concern for deportation or assault when immigration authorities are present.

We urge you to act in the best interest of the American people, the letter concludes, noting that it was submitted in our personal capacities, on our personal time, and without the use of government resources, as protected by the First Amendment.

Owner of Detroit Free Press, USA TODAY Co., to acquire The Detroit News

USA TODAY Co., the current owner of the Detroit Free Press, has plans to buy The Detroit News.

In a press release Monday, USA TODAY Co., formerly known as Gannett, announced it has agreed to a binding letter of intent with MediaNews Group to acquire The Detroit News.

The acquisition of The Detroit News will be a strategic investment that strengthens the USA TODAY Networks audience and its portfolio of more than 200 local publications nationwide and reinforces our commitment to local journalism in the Detroit metropolitan area, said Michael Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of USA TODAY Co., in a statement. Welcoming The Detroit News

 

fully to our network will enable the continued delivery of trusted, high-quality news and content to our audiences and advertisers in the region.

According USA TODAY Co., the plan is to have the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News continue to publish separately.

Related Story: Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News JOA to end, papers announce Detroit Free Press and Detroit News joint operating agreement to end, papers announce

The news comes just over a month after the dissolution of a joint operating agreement between the papers, which started in 1989. The agreement allowed for both papers to combine advertising, printing and distribution services.

We are pleased to reach this agreement with USA TODAY Co. now that the Joint Operations Agreement has expired after decades of successful operations, said Guy Gilmore, COO MediaNews Group in a statement. Both companies have a mutual desire to ensure that these publications and their distinct journalism continue to serve the greater Detroit area.

Here's how many snow days Michigan schools are allowed & how more can be added

With the harsh winter weather that has hit Michigan so far this season, many schools are approaching their limit for snow days.

See the latest forecast for this week in the video below

Metro Detroit Forecast: Snow wraps up as bitter cold continues

With frigid temps on the way for the rest of the week, schools may be forced to close once again after closing on Monday and last Friday.

Most schools have a policy where they cancel classes if the wind chill is -20 degrees or colder. You can learn more about school policies here.

Under Michigan law, students must have a minimum of 1,098 hours of instruction each year. However, schools in Michigan are allowed six snow days, or days where schools are closed due to conditions not within control of the school.

Those days may be counted toward the days and hours of pupil instruction requirements.

According to the latest state school aid update guidance from the Michigan Department of Education, the state superintendent can grant up to three additional days or equivalent hours canceled, "provided the cancellation is due to unusual and extenuating circumstances resulting from conditions not within the control of school authorities."

The state said districts must provide a strong rationale supporting why they can't be rescheduled before the end of the school year.

Judge weighs bid to halt ICE operations in Minnesota

A federal judge is weighing whether to grant a temporary restraining order that would halt a surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents operating in Minnesota.

During a hearing, attorneys for the state asked U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino Menendez to immediately block what the administration calls Operation Metro Surge.

The lawsuit argues the expanded federal immigration enforcement presence is causing widespread harm and may violate the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

The state told the judge that since the lawsuit was filed, following the shooting of Renee Good, another person, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by federal agents.

Minnesotas attorney said the operation is leading people to forgo medical care. In one jurisdiction, the attorney said, learning has essentially stopped because families and students are afraid.

The state also cited economic impacts, with restaurants, businesses and events closing or altering operations. One person compared the disruption to the COVID-19 pandemic, the attorney said.

Judge Menendez questioned whether the federal governments actions violate the 10th Amendment and whether the court has the authority to intervene.

Justice Department attorneys, for their part, said the surge is not intended to enforce federal law. They argued the operation is tied to Minneapolis status as a sanctuary city.

Judge Menendez asked whether the surge would end if local governments complied with federal demands. DOJ attorneys did not say definitively what would happen next.

The hearing ended without an immediate ruling. Judge Menendez said the issue is a priority for the court.

If I had a burner, this would be on the front burner, she said.

Man dead after early morning house fire on Detroit's east side

One man was pronounced dead after being pulled from a house fire on Detroit's east side, the spokesperson for the city's fire department tells us.

DFD responded to the call of a house fire just before 5:20 a.m. at a home the 40 block of W Parkway. We're told that crews were able to knock the fire down and found the man on the first floor.

The spokesperson said the man was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead when he arrived at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

We're told that no one else was in the home at the time of the fire, and no firefighters were hurt in the rescue.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered

The remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, Israel's military said Monday, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that paused the Israel-Hamas war.

The announcement that the remains of Ran Gvili had been found and identified came a day after Israels government said the military was conducting a large-scale operation in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an incredible achievement for Israel and its soldiers, telling Israeli media that I promised we would bring everyone home and we have brought everyone home." He said Gvili, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war, was among the first to be taken into Gaza.

RELATED STORY | Netanyahu signs on to Trumps Gaza peace board as some allies decline

The return of all remaining hostages, living or dead, has been a key part of the Gaza ceasefires first phase, and Gvilis family had urged Israels government not to enter the second phase until his remains were recovered and returned.

Netanyahus office said Sunday that Israel would open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which Palestinians see as their lifeline to the world, once the search for Gvili was finished. It has been largely shut since May 2024, except for a small period in early 2025.

Israel and Hamas had been under pressure from ceasefire mediators including Washington to move into the second phase of the U.S.-brokered truce, which took effect on Oct. 10.

Israel had repeatedly accused Hamas of dragging its feet in the recovery of the final hostage. Hamas said it had provided all the information it had about Gvilis remains, and accused Israel of obstructing efforts to search for them in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control.

Israels military had said the large-scale operation to locate Gvilis remains was in the area of the Yellow Line that divides the territory.

The Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer known affectionately as Rani, was killed while fighting Hamas militants.

RELATED STORY | Baby dies of hypothermia in Gaza as winter conditions worsen

Before Gvilis remains were recovered, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others had been returned to Israel since the ceasefire, most recently in early December. Israel in exchange has released the bodies of hundreds Palestinians to Gaza.

The next phase of the 20-point ceasefire plan has called for creating an international stabilization force, forming a technocratic Palestinian government and disarming Hamas.

Palestinians killed in Gaza

Israeli forces on Monday fatally shot a man in Gaza Citys Tuffah neighborhood, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the body. The man was close to an area where the military has launched the search operation for Gvili, the hospital said.

Another man was killed in the eastern side of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, which received his body. The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear.

More than 480 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire since Oct. 10, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

Israel's top court considers petition to open Gaza for international journalists

The Foreign Press Association on Monday asked Israels Supreme Court to allow journalists to enter Gaza freely and independently.

The FPA, which represents dozens of global news organizations, has been fighting for more than two years for independent media access to Gaza. Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which triggered the war, saying entry could put both journalists and soldiers at risk.

The army has offered journalists brief, occasional visits under strict military supervision.

FPA lawyers told the three judge panel that the restrictions are not justified and that with aid workers moving in and out of Gaza, journalists should be allowed in as well. They also said the tightly controlled embeds with the military are no substitute for independent access. The judges are expected to rule in the coming days.

Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

Questions are mounting about how the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent could affect immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

President Donald Trump said Monday that he spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

It was a very good call, and we actually seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Earlier, Trump said he was sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota. According to the White House, Homan will lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations on the ground.

Trump said Walz was receptive to the move.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

"He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I! We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have touched and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!" Trump said.

Walz, for his part, also described the call as "productive."

"The President agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case," the governor's office said. "The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals."

Trumps shifting tone in the wake of Prettis death comes as both Democrats and Republicans call for a thorough investigation.

In a Sunday interview with "

The Wall Street Journal

," Trump said his administration was reviewing everything related to the shooting which was recorded by multiple bystanders and appears to contradict initial federal accounts. He also suggested the possibility of pulling federal agents out of Minnesota.

"At some point we will leave," he said. "We've done, they've done a phenomenal job."

The political fallout from Prettis death is expected to ripple through Washington this week. Democrats are threatening to withdraw support for a previously negotiated deal funding the Department of Homeland Security and roughly 75% of the federal government. Current government funding runs out later this week, raising the prospect of a partial shutdown.

Michigan gas prices down 10 cents since last week, down 2 cents in metro Detroit

The state average for gas prices in the state of Michigan is at $2.86 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, down 10 cents from last week, according to the American Automobile Association.

That price is 1 cent more than this time last month, but 24 cents less than this time last year.

This means that for a full 15-gallon tank of gas, drivers are paying an average of $42, down $8 from last year's highest proces.

Prices at the pump are also down in metro Detroit, albeit more slightly. Metro Detroit drivers are paying an average of $2.90/gallon, down two cents than this time last week and down 29 cents from this time last year.

Here's a look at the priciest and cheapest gas prices across the state:

Most expensive gas price averages:  Ann Arbor ($2.96), Metro Detroit ($2.90), Benton Harbor ($2.84) Least expensive gas price averages: Traverse City ($2.54), Jackson ($2.72), Marquette ($2.75)

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FAA says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private business jet crashed in a snowstorm at Maines Bangor International Airport.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying eight people crashed on takeoff at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday night as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. The airport, about 200 miles north of Boston, shut down after the crash. Snowfall was heavy at the time in many other parts of the country, but accumulation had just started in Bangor and other planes had been taking off safely.

The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address in Houston, Texas as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, and one of the law firms founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB said preliminary information shows the plane crashed upon departure and experienced a post-crash fire, but that it would have no further statement until after investigators arrive in a day or two.

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The NTSB said it has no role in the release of information about victims and that such information is handled by local authorities. But airport director Jose Saavedra refused to comment, saying at a news conference Monday that he was awaiting guidance and support from federal partners.

An audio recording of air traffic controllers includes someone saying "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down, about 45 seconds after a plane was cleared for takeoff. First responders arrived less than a minute later, Saavedra said.

Bangor International Airport offers direct flights to cities like Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, and is located about 200 miles north of Boston. It was closed shortly after the crash and will remain closed until at least noon Wednesday.

The crash happened as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. Bangor had undergone steady snowfall Sunday, though planes were landing and departing around the time of the crash, Saavedra said.

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The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, said the airport received nearly 10 inches of snow in total, though the snowfall was just beginning at the time of the crash. About a tenth of an inch of snow fell between midnight and 7 p.m. Sunday, and snowfall was light but steady at the time, the service said.

We have crews on site that respond to weather storms on a regular basis, Saavedra said. This is normal for us to respond to weather events.

Throughout the weekend, the vast storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the eastern half of the U.S., halting much air and road traffic and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Southeast.

Commercial air traffic was also heavily disrupted around much of the U.S. Some 12,000 flights were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed, according to the flight tracker flightaware.com. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were among those impacted.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured for nine to 11 passengers. It was launched in 1980 as the first private jet with a walk-about cabin and remains a popular charter option, according to aircharterservice.com.

The airport in Bangor is by far the largest city in Maines northern and eastern reaches. Its longstanding joint use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard means runways are ready rain or shine or snow, an airport website says, under the phrase: A Little Snow Doesnt Scare Us.

Businessman Perry Johnson announces 2026 candidacy for Michigan Governor

Perry Johnson, a Republican businessman, announced his candidacy for Governor of Michigan on Monday morning.

Michigan families and small businesses deserve a government that works as hard as they do, Johnson said. We can deliver better services at lower cost by running state government with the same efficiency, accountability, and a results-driven mindset we used to help save the auto industry and businesses across the country.

Johnson previously ran for President of the United States in March of 2023, before dropping out six months later. He also ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan in 2021, with a $1.5 million ad campaign that was featured in Super Bowl LV. But he was left off the ballot after the state Court of Appeals denied his request to be reinstated, following disqualification after Perry was one of five GOP candidates accused of using fradulent ballot petition signatures.

You can learn more about Perry at his campaign website.

Related election information Check if you're registered to vote in Michigan Find your polling location How to get an absentee ballot  View your sample ballot  More information about early voting

Saving your credit card means a faster checkout, but is it worth the risk?

Do you ever save your credit card with online retailers?

One shoppers warning about storing your credit card information on retail websites could save you from becoming the next victim of online hacking.

Jerry Rouse said he discovered his Gap account was compromised when he woke up to a series of emails showing unauthorized purchases being shipped to California on his credit card.

"I woke up to a series of emails from Gap saying I had placed an order," Rouse said. "It came in at 4:47 in the morning, and then I got another email at 4:48 saying my order had changed its shipping address."

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Rouse immediately recognized the hack and is blaming himself, not Gap.

He admitted to using an old password and storing his credit card information on the retailer's website.

"They just got into my Gap account, and my credit card was stored on my Gap account," Rouse said.

WATCH: Online shopping customer shows how thieves got into his account:

Should you store your credit card info wit online retailers?

Should you store credit card information online?

Similar incidents of fraud actually surge after the holidays, according to Kristin Lewis, digital privacy expert and chief product officer for Aura.

"Part of it is the abundance of new data and transactions and accounts that get created in November and December during the holidays," Lewis said. "People forget about those accounts. Their new data is circulating, and scammers take advantage of that."

While most online accounts remain secure, she warned against saving credit card information for one-time transactions.

"When people have that information once, they can use it to target any type of account that you have," Lewis said.

When saving your credit card information in online accounts, Lewis strongly advised against using the same password across multiple retail websites and encouraged consumers to use password managers for better security.

"You wouldn't leave your house keys all over the place and not change your locks if you lost them," Lewis said.

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Potential fraud is not the only downside to think about:

Impulse purchases: Credit bureau Experian points out that when your credit card information is entered automatically, theres less of a barrier making it easier to spend.  The kid factor: When payment information is stored, tiny hands can make purchases, whether by accident or on purpose.   

What about two-factor authentication?

Rouse said he wishes Gap had offered a two-step login, or an extra security measure that would have required confirmation before processing the fraudulent order.

"There was no two-factor authentication," Rouse said. "There was never an email before that saying we noticed an unusual login."

According to the media and research company PYMNTS, only 53% of merchants use per-transaction two-factor authentication.

Without that additional security layer, Rouse said he will no longer store credit cards on retail websites.

"If you find yourself not seeing those extra security measures, I would think long and hard about storing that credit card on that website," Rouse said.

And that way, you dont waste your money.

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