WCCO

4 Things To Know from WCCO

News EN ↓ 301 episodes

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

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WCCO

Category

News

Podcast website

wcco.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Minneapolis City Council Honors 8-Year-Old Fletcher Merkel, Killed in Annunciation Shooting 19.02.2026

Thursday, February 19th — An emotional moment at Minneapolis City Hall as the family of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel receives a resolution honoring his life, nearly six months after the Annunciation school shooting that also claimed 10-year-old Harper Moyski. The Minneapolis City Council then turns to debate over liquor licenses tied to Operation Metro Surge, while new polling shows political fallou...

ICE Under Investigation, Schools Feel the Surge, Boundary Waters Battle 18.02.2026

Wednesday, February 18th — Investigators are looking into allegations that ICE officers severely injured a Mexican man during an arrest, while lawmakers hear new testimony about the growing impact of Operation Metro Surge on schools, students, and funding. We also remember the three Burnsville first responders killed two years ago and cover the latest push to protect the Boundary Waters from minin...

Remembering the Hortmans at the State Capitol, Major Blow for the Minnesota Twins 17.02.2026

Tuesday, February 17th — The Minnesota Legislature returns to the Capitol for the first time since last summer’s tragedy, honoring the lives of Melissa and Mark Hortman as a closely divided House and Senate begin a session that will require bipartisan cooperation. A new Ramsey County report finds a restorative justice approach is significantly reducing repeat youth crime. Today is also the deadlin...

FBI Declines to Share Evidence in Pretti Case, Two People Die After Falling Through Ice 16.02.2026

Monday, February 16th — The BCA says the FBI is refusing to share evidence in the Alex Pretti investigation, raising concerns about cooperation in several high-profile cases. Minnesota lawmakers push back against the federal immigration crackdown ahead of the legislative session, while the Capitol prepares to honor the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. We also cover two tragic ice-related deat...

Don Lemon and other Arrested Protesters Head to Court, Restaurant Owners Demand Answers as ICE Surge Ends 13.02.2026

Thursday, February 13 — Protesters and journalists arrested inside a church tied to a local ICE leader are in court today, and the controversial federal immigration surge that drew protests is now ending with mixed messages between state and federal leaders. Dozens of restaurant workers and owners, backed by the Restaurant Opportunities Center, rallied outside Hospitality Minnesota’s downtown Minn...

Operation Metro Surge Ends, Walz Warns of "Deep Damage" as ICE Agents Leave Minnesota 12.02.2026

Thursday, February 12th — The Trump administration announces the end of the federal immigration surge in Minnesota after more than two months and more than 4,000 arrests, with a drawdown of agents now underway. Governor Tim Walz reacts to the “deep damage” left behind and pushes for financial help for businesses, while state leaders testify in a high-stakes Senate hearing on Minnesota’s immigratio...

Inside Look Into Whipple Federal Building Holding ICE Detainees; Attorney Alleges Poor Conditions, Duluth Deputies Kill Man 11.02.2026

Wednesday, February 10th - Fresh concerns are raised about conditions at the Whipple federal building after new court filings describe detainees struggling to access legal help. Plus, the Attorney General testifies about the ongoing ICE surge in Minnesota, the BCA investigates a deputy-involved shooting in Duluth, and state leaders roll out a new Climate Action Framework. We also cover a Burnsvill...

Capitol Hill Hearing on ICE, Welch Ski Hill Death, St. Cloud Stabbing Jolts Minnesota Politics 10.02.2026

Tuesday, February 10th — Federal immigration enforcement is under intense scrutiny today as leaders of ICE, Border Patrol, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services testify on Capitol Hill following deadly shootings and weeks of unrest in Minneapolis. Lawmakers pressed agency heads on protests, agent conduct, training, and the rollout of body cameras, while officials pointed to a recent de-esc...

Governor's Race Upended After Candidate's Daughter Violently Killed, 'Worst of Worst' Debunked: New Data Shows Many ICE Arrests Involve No Criminal Record 09.02.2026

Monday, February 9th — Minnesota’s governor’s race is shaken by tragedy. Republican candidate Jeff Johnson has suspended his campaign after his daughter was killed in St. Cloud in what police say appears to be a domestic violence homicide. At the same time, another major shift in the race: Dr. Scott Jensen is dropping his bid for governor and instead running for state auditor, focusing his campaig...

“Devastating Blow to Minnesota”: Businesses Mobilize as ICE Surge Continues 06.02.2026

Friday, February 6 — Small business leaders across the Twin Cities are sounding the alarm over what they call a dire and accelerating financial crisis tied to Operation Metro Surge. For the first time, they’re sharing numbers: some individual businesses say they’re losing thousands of dollars a day, while they claim the City of Minneapolis is losing millions each week. Community leaders warn many...

U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis Says System “Sucks,” Trump Talks “Softer Touch” on Immigration 05.02.2026

Thursday, February 5 — Minneapolis City Council members spar over how to respond to the ongoing ICE surge in the Twin Cities, with sharp debate over whether rental assistance tied to immigration enforcement could help vulnerable residents or invite fraud. The fight comes as a new “Prosecute ICE” ice sculpture appears outside the State Capitol and federal officials confirm thousands of arrests duri...

ICE Scales Back Twin Cities Surge, Gender-Affirming Care Paused at Children’s Minnesota 04.02.2026

Wednesday, February 4 — Federal authorities are pulling hundreds of agents out of the Twin Cities as Border Czar Tom Homan announces the first major drawdown of Operation Metro Surge, crediting cooperation from local jails while warning that protests could delay a full exit. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz say the move is not enough, calling the operation harmful to residents an...

Bomb Threat Targets MN School District Where Students Were Detained by ICE 03.02.2026

Tuesday, February 3 — Classes resume today in Columbia Heights after a racially and politically motivated bomb threat forced schools to close Monday, as the district’s superintendent says the priority now is safely bringing home four other students currently in federal custody. At the same time, a new lawsuit is raising serious questions about federal surveillance tactics in Minnesota. A Twin Citi...

Target Under Fire with Anti-ICE Protesters, Five-Year-Old Liam Ramos Released, Still Faces Possible Deportation 02.02.2026

Monday, February 2 — Target’s new CEO faces a turbulent first day on the job as protesters rally outside company headquarters following a weekend of demonstrations tied to immigration enforcement and ICE-related concerns. The protests come amid heightened scrutiny of corporate leadership and its perceived role in federal immigration policy. Meanwhile, relief and emotion in Columbia Heights as five...

Trump Calls Pretti an “Agitator,” Don Lemon Arrested in Connection with St. Paul Church Protest, Vikings Fire G.M. 30.01.2026

Friday, January 30 — The Justice Department opens a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, shifting the case to the FBI and escalating scrutiny of federal agents involved in the fatal encounter. President Trump responds to newly surfaced video from days before Pretti’s death, while the Pretti family pushes back, saying nothing from that incident could justify what happen...

Border Czar in Minneapolis: Operation Metro Surge Gets New Leadership, Federal Charges Filed in Ilhan Omar Town Hall Attack 29.01.2026

Thursday, January 29 — A leadership shakeup is underway at Operation Metro Surge, as border czar Tom Homan outlines changes to the federal enforcement effort in Minnesota, even as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey travels to Washington pushing for its end. The announcement comes amid reports that the Department of Justice could face a wave of resignations, with prosecutors threatening to step down over...

Ilhan Omar Targeted with Liquid Substance, New Federal Memo Details Alex Pretti Shooting 28.01.2026

Wednesday, January 28 — Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she’s okay after being sprayed with a liquid substance during a town hall, as police arrest a man accused of the attack. Federal officials are condemning what they call an unacceptable act of political violence. The incident comes amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with Governor Tim Walz blaming President...

Border Czar Arrives in Minneapolis as Pressure Mounts After Alex Pretti Deadly Shooting 27.01.2026

Tuesday, January 27 — Major leadership changes and legal pressure mark a new chapter in Minnesota’s struggle with the federal immigration crackdown. This all comes following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents. President Trump has sent Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to coordinate operations as Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is reassigned amid mou...

Remembering Alex Pretti, the 37-Year-Old ICU Nurse Shot and Killed by Border Patrol, Operation Metro Surge Under Fire in Court 26.01.2026

Monday, January 26 — The world is watching Minnesota after Border Patrol shot and killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in South Minneapolis. We break down what federal officials say happened, why videos from the scene and sworn witness declarations directly contradict those claims, and where multiple investigations now stand. Plus, President Donald Trump and Governor Tim Walz speak by phone as...

No Work, No School, No Shopping; General Strike to Protest ICE 23.01.2026

Friday, January 23rd — Hundreds of Twin Cities businesses closed for the day as part of a statewide protest against ICE operations in Minnesota. Activists are calling it a “Day of Truth and Freedom,” urging people to skip work, school, and shopping while demanding state leaders limit federal immigration enforcement. We break down what business owners are saying, where today’s march and rally are h...

Klobuchar’s Governor Move, School Claims 5-year-old Was Taken By ICE; DHS Responds, Amber Alert Child Found Safe 22.01.2026

Thursday, January 22nd — Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar takes her first steps toward a run for Minnesota governor, according to a source close to the senator. We break down what today’s move signals for the 2026 race and what comes next. Plus, ICE responds after claims that a 5-year-old boy was taken during an arrest in Columbia Heights. School leaders say the child was used as bait, while Homel...

ICE Arrest Numbers Questioned, Man Shot by Agent Appears in Court, Vance to Visit Minnesota 21.01.2026

Wednesday, January 21st — Federal immigration enforcement is drawing controversy in Minnesota, with officials claiming record-high ICE arrests in the state even as the most recent publicly available data shows a much smaller share of people with criminal convictions. We break down what the numbers actually show, why the lack of transparent data matters, and how those figures compare nationally. Pl...

DOJ Subpoenas Offices of Walz, Ellison and Frey alleging Immigration Obstruction, Feeding Our Future's Aimee Bock Breaks Her Silence From Jail 20.01.2026

Tuesday, January 20th — The Justice Department on Tuesday served subpoenas to multiple Democratic officials in Minnesota, including the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her in connection with a probe into an alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration officers. We hear the reasoning and share Frey's response. Then...

ICE Arrest Numbers Released, MLK Day Observances in a Tense Minneapolis 19.01.2026

Monday, January 19th — New federal data shows thousands of arrests tied to expanded ICE operations in the Minneapolis area, as a legal showdown between Minnesota and the federal government reaches a critical deadline. Today, we break down new numbers from the Department of Homeland Security on “Operation Metro Surge,” the state’s lawsuit seeking to halt ICE activity, and why a federal judge says t...

Renee Good Case Update, ICE Protests, FBI Vehicle Break-In Charges 16.01.2026

Friday, January 16th — New details emerge in the fatal shooting of Renee Good and tensions continue in Minneapolis as protests and federal law enforcement activity persist. Today, we break down newly released incident reports and 911 transcripts showing that Renee Good was shot multiple times by an ICE agent during a January 7 enforcement operation, the timeline of emergency response, and how fede...

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