Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have returned home to Minnesota after being detained by federal immigration enforcement officials last month.

RELATED STORY | Federal officers detain a 5-year-old boy who school official says was used as 'bait'

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said in a statement on social media that he escorted Liam and his father back home from an immigration detention facility in Texas where they had been held for nearly two weeks. Their release comes after a judge ordered them freed.

"Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center," Castro said. "I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning. Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack. Thank you to everyone who demanded freedom for Liam. We wont stop until all children and families are home."

Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning. Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack. Thank you to everyone who demanded freedom for Liam. We pic.twitter.com/XmUvXEthma Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) February 1, 2026

Liams arrest drew national attention after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took the child from a running car in his driveway on Jan. 20 as he returned home from preschool. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said his father originally from Ecuador and the target of the operation had abandoned the boy.

School officials claimed agents used Liam as bait to try to get relatives to open the door of the home, refusing to leave him with another adult while pursuing his father.

Federal officials said Adrian Conejo Arias was in the U.S. illegally. However, the familys attorney said he had a pending asylum claim allowing him to remain in the country while his case is processed.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING | ICE's immigration raids target Minnesota's schools, forcing difficult questions

The case became a flashpoint in the debate over the Trump administrations immigration policies, which has also sparked widespread protests and calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

The DHS launched Operation Metro Surge in December a large-scale immigration enforcement effort reporting over 3,000 arrests, including suspects described as murderers, rapists and gang members.

Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam after securing the Australian Open title against Novak Djokovic, who had never lost in his 10 previous finals at Melbourne Park.

The top-ranked Alcaraz dropped the first set Sunday as Djokovic went out hard in pursuit of a record 25th major title, but he dug deep to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.

As he was leaving the court, he signed the lens of the TV camera with a note of recognition: "Job finished. 4/4 Complete.

The 22-year-old Spaniard scrambled to retrieve shots that usually would be winners for Djokovic, and he kept up intense pressure on his 38-year-old rival. There were extended rallies where each player hit enough brilliant shots to usually win a game, with neither player willing to give an inch or concede.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Serena Williams shuts down tennis comeback talk after rejoining drug-testing pool

Once he secured victory, Alcaraz let his racket slip out of his hand and fell to the ground on his back, putting his hands to his head.

He stayed there for a few seconds before going to the net to shake hands with Djokovic. Both players exchanged a few words and Djokovic smiled as he congratulated Alcaraz. The new champion then ran to hug his coaches in the courtside chairs and later his dad and other team members in the stands.

After paying tribute to Djokovic for being an inspiration, Alcaraz turned to his support team. He parted ways with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero at the end of last season and Samuel Lopez stepped up to head the team.

Nobody knows how hard Ive been working to get this trophy. I just chased this moment so much, Alcaraz said. The pre-season was a bit of a rollercoaster emotionally.

We just did the right work, you were pushing me every day to do all the right things, he added. Im just really grateful for everyone I have in my corner right now.

Djokovic joked about this showdown setting up a rivalry over the next 10 years with Alcaraz, but then said it was only right to hand the floor over to the new champion.

First and foremost, congratulations to an amazing tournament and amazing couple of weeks, Djokovic said at the trophy presentation. What youve been doing, the best word to describe is historic, legendary, so congratulations. I wish the best of luck in the rest of your career.

Both players were coming off grueling five-set semifinal wins and showed phenomenal fitness, athleticism and stamina for just over three hours in pursuit of their own historic achievements.

Neither player was willing to relent on the big points and there were many of them. In the end, Alcaraz was able to convert 5 of the 16 breakpoints he set up. Djokovic converted two of his six.

Djokovics push for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title has now been blocked by Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner for nine majors.

Djokovic edged Sinner in the semifinals and was aiming to be the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era, but didnt quite make it against Alcaraz.

Rafa in the house

Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played some epic matches, including the longest match ever at the Australian Open in a five-set final that lasted almost six hours in 2012.

Nadal was watching from the stands on Sunday night, and both players addressed the 22-time major winner.

I want to speak to the legendary Rafa, who is on the stands, Djokovic said. Obviously, it feels very weird to see you there and not here, you know?

But thank you for being present. Its too many Spanish legends... It felt like it was two against one tonight, you know, it wasnt fair, but OK.

Alcaraz said it was a privilege: I know you were watching me when I was like 15, 14 years old, so its been a long time. But, yeah, for me, its such an honor playing in front of you.

One for the ages

At 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz is the youngest man to complete a set of all four major singles titles. He broke the mark set by Don Budge in the 1938 French championships, when he was 22 years and 363 days.

Alcaraz now has seven major titles his first in Australia along with two each at Wimbledon and the French and U.S. Opens.

He's the ninth man to achieve the career Grand Slam, a list that also includes Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.

South Carolina is in the midst of a measles outbreak that health officials say is now worse than last years outbreak in Texas. The state has reported more than 600 new cases in the past month. Nationwide, cases are up 20%.

Outbreaks in Arizona and Utah also show no signs of slowing. Measles is highly contagious, though vaccination can help prevent its spread.

Its a virus that can stay in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves the room, and one person can infect 16 to 18 others, said Dr. Omer Awan, a Scripps News medical contributor.

Because the disease spreads so easily, even small drops in vaccination rates can dramatically increase case counts.

RELATED STORY | South Carolina measles outbreak shows little sign of slowing

This is precisely why we have all these outbreaks because vaccination rates are declining, not just in South Carolina or Utah, but throughout the United States, Awan said.

Although the measles vaccine is routinely recommended for children, older adults who arent up to date are also at risk.

Measles can infect elderly individuals, particularly those with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems, Awan said.

Awan acknowledged growing skepticism about the benefits of vaccines but urged people to seek trusted medical advice. Talk to your physician. Talk to your pediatrician. They understand the health of your child the best and will recommend vaccines as the best defense, he said.

RELATED STORY | This disease has no cure, and its suddenly spreading fast again

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles can cause:

Pneumonia Brain damage Blindness Deafness Diarrhea Premature birth or low-birthweight infants in unvaccinated pregnant women Loss of immunity to other deadly diseases

The World Health Organization says herd immunity against measles is achievable when 95% of a community is vaccinated. U.S. health officials estimate that 92.7% of kindergarten students were vaccinated last school year.

When turbulent weather with whipping winds and heavy snow is in the forecast, meteorologists sometimes warn that a storm could bomb out or become a bomb cyclone. But what exactly does this mean?

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, certain storms undergo bombogenesis, which happens when a storms central pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. These storms are sometimes called bomb cyclones. Storm intensity is measured by central pressure, so the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

Such rapidly strengthening storms are capable of producing heavy rain, blizzard conditions and intense winds that can create dangerous conditions such as downed trees and power outages.

RELATED STORY | Heavy snow, bitter cold expected as storm targets Southeast, East Coast

If youre watching TV at night and the weather report comes on and youre hearing bomb cyclone being used, that usually means theres quite a bit of active weather going on, said Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

Bomb cyclones can happen in any season, but mainly occur during fall and winter when frigid air from the Arctic can creep south and clash with warmer air masses.

Its really the clash of those air masses that really kind of helps to generate the areas of low pressure in the first place, said Orrison.

Regions in North America that are prone to seeing bomb cyclones include Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region.

For thousands of Haitian migrants living in Springfield, the possibility of federal agents coming to the city looms large.

According to the city's website, it's estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 migrants live in Clark County. A majority of them are from Haiti and fled to the United States because of safety concerns.

Many live under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that allows people from countries in conflict a chance to live and work in the U.S. for a period of time.

However, TPS for Haitian migrants is set to end after Feb. 3. That was announced in November, when U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that Haiti no longer meets the requirements for TPS.

We sat down with Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, to talk about the potential end of TPS.

"Folks will be feeling miserable," Dorsainvil said. "Not being able to leave their house, not being able to go to work."

WATCH: Haitian migrants in Springfield express anxiety over potential end to TPS

Haitian migrants in 'constant fear' of ICE raids as temporary protected status expected to end

Dorsainvil said many Haitian migrants are anxious about what next week's deadline means for their future in the country.

He said there has been a constant fear for Haitian migrants in Springfield ever since President Donald Trump made unfounded claims during his 2024 campaign that migrants were eating animals.

"Since then, the fear has been there," Dorsainvil said.

RELATED STORY | Civil rights investigation opened into killing of Alex Pretti

Dorsainvil said many Haitian migrants fled their home country due to fear for their lives. He said Haiti is not a safe country to return to right now.

"The weak government cannot control the gang members," Dorsainvil said.

He said that he and other migrants fear that if they are sent back to Haiti, they will be hurt or killed by gang members.

According to the State Department's website, Haiti is currently under a Level 4 travel advisory for U.S. citizens. No one is currently recommended to travel to the country due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care.

"It's a state of lawlessness where somebody can come to you and shoot you, and there is no investigation, there is no follow-up," Dorsainvil said.

Dorsainvil said many migrants, including himself, have been spooked by national stories of ICE agents arresting people throughout the country. He pointed to the recent situation in Minnesota, where federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti last week.

"It has been a constant fear," Dorsainvil said.

It's possible TPS won't end next week, as a federal judge is expected to rule on a temporary pause status any day.

RELATED STORY | Arrests linked to Minnesota church protest raise constitutional concerns

Still, Dorsainvil said he's worried federal agents will target Springfield if it does end.

"If you speak in a different accent as me, automatically you are a target," Dorsainvil said. "So, it is a very unusual time."

He said many Haitian migrants boost Springfield's economy by opening businesses, buying homes and paying taxes.

Vice President JD Vance said the growing immigration population has strained local resources and pushed up housing costs.

The potential impact on Springfield's economy is something that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has also expressed concern over. Over the past few months, DeWine has repeatedly questioned how the end of TPS could impact a city like Springfield.

"It is not in the best interest of Ohio for these individuals, who are workers and who are working, to lose that status," DeWine said.

However, DeWine acknowledged that the decision comes down to the federal government. He said his office has no indication that federal agents will come into Springfield.

DeWine added that local and state law enforcement will cooperate with federal authorities. We reached out to the City of Springfield about what the end of TPS would mean for the city.

A spokesperson tells us they, too, have no confirmation that ICE will come to Springfield. They add that immigration policy and enforcement decisions rest with the federal government.

The city spokesperson said Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott has been in ongoing dialogue with federal immigration officials to establish clear lines of communication.

ICE did not respond to our request to comment on this story.

Dorsainvil said his center is continuing to help people in the community prepare for the end of TPS. He said his office is offering resources and advice on how to behave with federal agents.

He said his main advice for the community is to lie low.

"If there is a possibility for them to stay home and call us, we ask of them to call us for any type of service in need instead of putting themselves in danger," said Dorsainvil.

This article was written by Alex Null for the Scripps News Group in Cincinnati.

Intensive care nurses immediately doubted the word of federal immigration officers when they arrived at a Minneapolis hospital with a Mexican immigrant who had broken bones in his face and skull.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially claimed Alberto Castaeda Mondragn had tried to flee while handcuffed and purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall, according to court documents filed by a lawyer seeking his release.

But staff members at Hennepin County Medical Center determined that could not possibly account for the fractures and bleeding throughout the 31-year-old's brain, said three nurses familiar with the case.

It was laughable, if there was something to laugh about, said one of the nurses, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss patient care. There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall.

RELATED STORY | ICE in America: Examining immigration enforcement in Minnesota and its impact

The explanation from ICE is an example of recent run-ins between immigration officers and health care workers that have contributed to mounting friction at Minneapolis hospitals. Workers at the Hennepin County facility say ICE officers have restrained patients in defiance of hospital rules and stayed at their sides for days. The agents have also lingered around the campus and pressed people for proof of citizenship.

Since the start of Operation Metro Surge, President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown in Minnesota, ICE officers have become such a fixture at the hospital that administrators issued new protocols for how employees should engage with them. Some employees complain that they have been intimidated to the point that they avoid crossing paths with agents while at work and use encrypted communications to guard against any electronic eavesdropping.

Similar operations have been carried out by federal agents in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities, where opponents have criticized what they say are overly aggressive tactics. It's not clear how many people have required hospital care while in detention.

Injuries appeared inconsistent with ICE account

The AP interviewed a doctor and five nurses who work at HCMC, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about Castaeda Mondragns case. AP also consulted with an outside physician, and they all affirmed that his injuries were inconsistent with an accidental fall or running into a wall.

ICEs account of how he was hurt evolved during the time that federal officers were at his bedside. At least one ICE officer told caregivers that Castaeda Mondragn "got his (expletive) rocked after his Jan. 8 arrest near a St. Paul shopping center, the court filings and a hospital staff member said. His arrest happened a day after the first of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis by immigration officers.

The situation reached a head when ICE insisted on using handcuffs to shackle his ankles to the bed, prompting a heated encounter with hospital staff, according to the court records and the hospital employees familiar with the incident.

At the time, Castaeda Mondragn was so disoriented he did not know what year it was and could not recall how he was injured, one of the nurses said. ICE officers believed he was attempting to escape after he got up and took a few steps.

We were basically trying to explain to ICE that this is how someone with a traumatic brain injury is theyre impulsive, the nurse said. We didn't think he was making a run for the door.

Security responded to the scene, followed by the hospital's CEO and attorney, who huddled in a doctor's office to discuss options for dealing with ICE, the nurse said.

We eventually agreed with ICE that we would have a nursing assistant sit with the patient to prevent him from leaving, the nurse said. They agreed a little while later to take the shackles off.

RELATED STORY | Organizers call for Friday boycott and protests after deaths of Good, Pretti

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Castaeda Mondragn's injuries. A deportation officer skirted the issue in the court documents, saying that during the intake process at an ICE detention center, it was determined he had a head injury that required emergency medical treatment.

Gregorio Castaeda Mondragn said his older brother is from Veracruz, Mexico, and worked as a roofer. He has a 10-year-old daughter living in his hometown he helps support.

According to his lawyers, Alberto Castaeda Mondragn entered the U.S. in 2022 with valid immigration documents. Minnesota incorporation filings show he founded a company called Castaeda Mondragn the following year with an address listed in St. Paul.

He appears to have no criminal record. His lawyers told a court that Castaeda Mondragn was racially profiled during the crackdown, and that officers determined only after his arrest that he had overstayed his visa.

He was a brown-skinned, Latino Spanish speaker at a location immigration agents arbitrarily decided to target, his lawyers wrote in a petition seeking his release from ICE custody.

Hours after arrest, immigrant has eight skull fractures

Castaeda Mondragn was initially taken to an ICE processing center at the edge of Minneapolis. Court records include an arrest warrant signed upon his arrival by an ICE officer, not an immigration judge.

About four hours after his arrest, he was taken to a hospital emergency room in suburban Edina with swelling and bruising around his right eye and bleeding. A CT scan revealed at least eight skull fractures and life-threatening hemorrhages in at least five areas of his brain, according to court documents. He was then transferred to HCMC.

Castaeda Mondragn was alert and speaking, telling staff he was dragged and mistreated by federal agents, though his condition quickly deteriorated, the documents show.

The following week, a Jan. 16 court filing described his condition as minimally responsive and communicative, disoriented and heavily sedated.

AP shared the details of Castaeda Mondragns injuries with Dr. Lindsey C. Thomas, a board-certified forensic pathologist who worked as a medical examiner in Minnesota for more than 30 years. She agreed with the assessment of hospital staff.

I am pretty sure a person could not get these kinds of extensive injuries from running into a wall, Thomas said, adding that she would need to see the CT scans to make a more definitive finding.

I almost think one doesnt have to be a physician to conclude that a person cant get skull fractures on both the right and left sides of their head and from front to back by running themselves into a wall," she said.

ICE officers stay with hospitalized detainees for days

ICE officers have entered the hospital with seriously injured detainees and stayed at their bedside day after day, staffers said. The crackdown has been unsettling to hospital employees, who said ICE agents have been seen loitering on hospital grounds and asking patients and employees for proof of citizenship.

Hospital staff members said they were uncomfortable with the presence of armed agents they did not trust and who appeared to be untrained.

The nurses interviewed by AP said they felt intimidated by ICEs presence in the critical care unit and had even been told to avoid a certain bathroom to minimize encounters with officers. They said staff members are using an encrypted messaging app to compare notes and share information out of fear that the government might be monitoring their communications.

The hospital reminded employees that ICE officers are not permitted to access patients or protected information without a warrant or court order.

Patients under federal custody are first and foremost patients, hospital officials wrote in a bulletin outlining new protocols. The hospitals written policy also states that no shackles or other restraints should be used unless medically necessary.

We have our policies, but ICE personnel as federal officers don't necessarily comply with those, and that introduces tension, said a doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment for the hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Alisa Harris said ICE agents have not entered our facilities looking for individuals."

On Saturday, more than two weeks after Castaeda Mondragn was arrested, a U.S. District Court judge ordered him released from ICE custody.

We are encouraged by the courts order, which affirms that the rule of law applies to all people, in every corner of our country, including federal officers, said Jeanette Boerner, director of Hennepin County Adult Representation Services, which filed the lawsuit on Castaeda Mondragns behalf.

To the surprise of some who treated him, Castaeda Mondragn was discharged from the hospital Tuesday. A hospital spokeswoman said she had no information about him.

The Justice Department filed court documents this week affirming Castaeda Mondragn is no longer in custody. Prosecutors did not respond to a request for comment on the man's injuries.

Castaeda Mondragn has no family in Minnesota and coworkers have taken him in, the man's brother said. He has significant memory loss and a long recovery ahead. He won't be able to work for the foreseeable future, and his friends and family worry about paying for his care.

He still doesnt remember things that happened. I think (he remembers) 20% of the 100% he had, said Gregorio Castaeda Mondragn, who lives in Mexico. Its sad that instead of having good memories of the United States, youre left with a bad taste in your mouth about that country because theyre treating them like animals.

It's not every day a NASCAR racer pulls into an elementary school, but Tablo TV car driver Ryan Ellis rolled in to talk to students about something just as powerful as racing: Reading.

Ellis is part of the Scripps Howard Fund's national "If you Give a Child a Book" campaign, which focuses on getting books into kids' hands to help them discover a love for reading early on.

"If you want to be a race car driver, or a teacher or an astronaut whatever you want to do in life, you have to have that good foundation. And it starts with page one," Ellis said.

"It puts a lot of knowledge in your head and you learn new things that probably you've never seen or heard of before," one student said.

"Electronics make my head hurt after a while, and real books I think the feeling of having a book in my hand is comforting," said another.

RELATED STORY | How books help break the cycle of poverty

Ellis feels it also gives parents and kids a time to connect.

"Just to remind them that we're there for them and we're willing to slow down and understand who they are as humans," he said.

Ellis told students that reading helped fuel his own journey a reminder that the road to big dreams doesn't always start with an engine. Sometimes it starts with the book.

"Growing up, I remember Harry Potter books come out and I would try to tear through it in a day," Ellis said.

Along with receiving free books, students entered a contest to design a book-inspired helmet, with the winning design becoming a real NASCAR helmet worn by Ellis in Atlanta.

Educators hope tying literacy to something as exciting as NASCAR will help students see reading in a whole new light.

"If you give a child a book, you open up their life to endless potential," Ellis said.

Tablo TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The U.S. Senate voted Friday afternoon to pass an amended minibus appropriations bill that will temporarily fund major government agencies.

The bill received bipartisan support. The final vote in the chamber was 71-29.

The bill now returns to the House of Representatives, which will consider its new amendments for final passage.

Despite the Senate passage on Friday, a brief lapse in government funding is still possible: The budget faced a Friday night deadline, and House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Thursday the House will not return to Washington until Monday, which could result in some agencies being shuttered at least through the weekend.

RELATED NEWS | As Senate reaches deal to fund DHS for two weeks, government shutdown looms

The latest vote comes after the Senate reached a deal Thursday night to fund the Department of Homeland Security, following high-profile negotiations over whether and how the agency should spend its money. Democrats say Thursday's agreement marks progress toward their goals of oversight for DHS.

Democrats have made clear since last weekend's shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota that they want major changes to the Department of Homeland Security, specifically to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their proposals include banning masks for agents, requiring body cameras and identification, and ending some roving patrols seen throughout mostly Democrat-run cities like Minneapolis.

The White House supported Friday's amended bill.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The arrests of journalists and protesters in Minnesota are raising legal and ethical concerns.

Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are facing federal charges tied to a protest that took place Jan. 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul.

After Lemons arrest, a panel of journalists and other figures went live on his YouTube channel to discuss the case. During the livestream, they said Lemon is charged under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, including Section 241, conspiracy against rights, and Section 248, which prohibits obstructing individuals lawfully exercising their right to worship.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Don Lemon believes DOJ will try to charge him, calls Nicki Minaj 'racist' in exclusive Scripps News interview

In the indictment, prosecutors allege Lemon and Fort attended a "pre-op" briefing about the protest, which was described as a "takeover-style attack."

"The pastor and congregation were forced to terminate the Church's worship service, congregants fled the church building out of fear for their safety," the indictment states. "Other congregants took steps to implement an emergency plan and young children were left to wonder as one child put it if their parents were going to die."

Along with Lemon and Fort, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were arrested in connection with the protest.

Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the arrests, saying they were necessary to protect religious freedom.

Make no mistake under President Trumps leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely, Bondi said. If you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.

Another man, who identified himself as Ian Austin, was arrested Friday. A Scripps News crew witnessed FBI agents exit a vehicle near a federal building in the Twin Cities and detain him. Austin said he is an Army veteran and claimed he was being targeted because of a recent livestream. He also said he was at the church, which could be related to the protests that led to the charges against Lemon and the three others.

FBI agents hopped out of a vehicle and arrested a man who said his name is Ian Austin right in front of a Scripps News Group team at the Whipple Building in Minneapolis after a confrontation. (Video: Scripps Producer Cam Couvillion) pic.twitter.com/On9PYQgdYk Scripps News (@scrippsnews) January 30, 2026

Critics say the arrests reflect a broader pattern by the Trump administration.

"We've seen the administration very aggressively go after critics, go after folks who are dissenting, go after folks who are reporting the news," said First Amendment attorney Will Creeley. "That's of deep concern and it should be a deep concern to all Americans. First Amendment designed to protect us from exactly that kind of government retaliation."

Prior to the latest arrests, three others were taken into custody last week in connection with the church protest.

One of them, Nekima Levy Armstrong, is accused of leading the demonstration against a pastor whom protesters say is affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In each instance, the Trump administration has defended its actions, saying no one is above the law.

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 age 71.

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 of "Kevin" in Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Macaulay Culkin, who played Kevin, paid tribute to O'Hara.

"Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. Ill see you later," he posted on social media.

OHara 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.

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.

One document comes from a special inspectors report involving Jeffrey Epstein. It summarizes an interview with an air traffic controller who said they observed Epstein on an airport tarmac in 2018 accompanied by underage girls.

The report says that in one instance, two girls who appeared to be about 11 and 12 years old were present. In a separate incident, the inspector described another girl who appeared to be in her mid- to late teens.

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."

The released materials include uncorroborated allegations involving President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, both of whom have previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

One document includes an email from Jeffrey Epstein to a lawyer, an apparent close personal friend, who previously worked in the Obama administration. In the email, Epstein makes an allegation that Trump who was a private citizen at the time had sex with an underage girl. The document provides no supporting evidence or additional context for the claim.

Justice Department officials cautioned that some of the released material may contain false or misleading information, noting that the disclosure includes reports that were investigated and 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.