2026.02.20
Feb. 20th, 2026 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lsandersonICE
Minnesota attorney general’s evidence portal draws nearly 1,500 submissions in first month
The portal launched Jan. 15 to gather evidence that could be used to hold federal immigration agents accountable for constitutional violations during Operation Metro Surge.
by Cleo Krejci
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/minnesota-attorney-generals-evidence-portal-draws-nearly-1500-submissions-in-first-month/
What’s it like to be trapped inside, hiding from ICE? “MPR News collected stories from several people under those circumstances across the state. They recorded voice memos or spoke to a reporter over three days between Jan. 24 and Feb. 4, sharing what their day was like.” As one person put it, “The most difficult part of this whole situation; it’s feeling like we’re nothing. It’s feeling like we’re unwanted.” Via MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2026/02/minnesota-prosecutors-worry-they-could-lack-the-staff-to-charge-serious-offenders/
Two polls conducted by NBC News Decision Desk are showing how immigration operations in Minnesota have led to a more polarized population. “After federal officers killed two U.S. citizens last month, self-identified Republicans in the state expressed stronger support for Trump’s immigration agenda than Republicans nationwide, while Minnesota Democrats and independents pulled more strongly the other way than their national counterparts.” Via MinnPost
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/poll-immigration-operations-minnesota-leave-polarized-populace-rcna258341
More News
US supreme court rules against Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs – live
Conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented in the 6-3 ruling
Shrai Popat (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/feb/20/us-iran-nuclear-deal-trump-agreement-strikes-latest-news-live-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-699877e88f0803e8d9610dc4#block-699877e88f0803e8d9610dc4
The regrettable failure of Northstar commuter rail
Other countries are efficiently building regional rail. Minnesota shouldn’t reject future lines because Northstar didn’t work out.
by Bill Lindeke
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2026/02/the-regrettable-failure-of-northstar-commuter-rail/
Bring Me the News has a compilation of images from social media taken after the massive snowfall in northern Minnesota this week. “While the official total is still being counted, it will be among the top 20 biggest 24-hour snowfalls in Minnesota state history, with the record still being the 36 inches recorded in Lake County in January 1994.” Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/scenes-from-minnesotas-north-shore-where-storm-dumped-over-3-feet-of-snow
New Mexico to reopen investigation on Epstein’s ranch amid pressure campaign
Criminal investigation to examine role Zorro ranch may have played in disgraced financier’s trafficking scheme
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/new-mexico-epstein-zorro-ranch-investigation
Jeffrey Epstein’s estate agrees to pay up to $35m to settle survivors’ lawsuit
Class-action suit accused Epstein’s lawyer and accountant of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking, filing says
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/jeffrey-epstein-estate-settlement
Why are so many academics in the Epstein files? It’s not just about money
Christopher Marquis
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/20/epstein-files-professors-academics
US economic growth slowed in fourth quarter of 2025 amid government shutdown
GDP grew 1.4% last quarter, down from economists’ forecast of 3%, though AI and tax cuts could boost growth this year
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/20/economic-growth-fourth-quarter-2025
A war foretold:
how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why nobody believed them
Drawing on more than 100 interviews with senior intelligence officials and other insiders in multiple countries, this exclusive account details how the US and Britain uncovered Vladimir Putin’s plans to invade, and why most of Europe – including the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – dismissed them. As the fourth anniversary of the invasion approaches and the world enters a new period of geopolitical uncertainty, Europe’s politicians and spy services continue to draw lessons from the failures of 2022
Written by Shaun Walker
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/feb/20/a-war-foretold-cia-mi6-putin-ukraine-plans-russia
Osaka stunned by anonymous gift of gold bars to fix ageing water pipes
Mayor says Japanese city will respect donor’s specification that £2.7m gift must be used to repair dilapidated system
Associated Press in Tokyo
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/20/osaka-stunned-by-anonymous-gift-of-36m-in-gold-to-fix-ageing-water-pipes
The Hunt for Gollum looks like a step too far for the endless Lord of the Rings franchise
Ben Child
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/20/the-hunt-for-gollum-lord-of-the-rings-franchise
Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star, dies aged 53
Actor who played ‘McSteamy’ died on Thursday, 10 months after he revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a type of motor neurone disease
Sian Cain
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/20/eric-dane-dies-aged-53-death-greys-anatomy-euphoria-star
Minnesota attorney general’s evidence portal draws nearly 1,500 submissions in first month
The portal launched Jan. 15 to gather evidence that could be used to hold federal immigration agents accountable for constitutional violations during Operation Metro Surge.
by Cleo Krejci
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/minnesota-attorney-generals-evidence-portal-draws-nearly-1500-submissions-in-first-month/
What’s it like to be trapped inside, hiding from ICE? “MPR News collected stories from several people under those circumstances across the state. They recorded voice memos or spoke to a reporter over three days between Jan. 24 and Feb. 4, sharing what their day was like.” As one person put it, “The most difficult part of this whole situation; it’s feeling like we’re nothing. It’s feeling like we’re unwanted.” Via MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2026/02/minnesota-prosecutors-worry-they-could-lack-the-staff-to-charge-serious-offenders/
Two polls conducted by NBC News Decision Desk are showing how immigration operations in Minnesota have led to a more polarized population. “After federal officers killed two U.S. citizens last month, self-identified Republicans in the state expressed stronger support for Trump’s immigration agenda than Republicans nationwide, while Minnesota Democrats and independents pulled more strongly the other way than their national counterparts.” Via MinnPost
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/poll-immigration-operations-minnesota-leave-polarized-populace-rcna258341
More News
US supreme court rules against Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs – live
Conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented in the 6-3 ruling
Shrai Popat (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/feb/20/us-iran-nuclear-deal-trump-agreement-strikes-latest-news-live-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-699877e88f0803e8d9610dc4#block-699877e88f0803e8d9610dc4
The regrettable failure of Northstar commuter rail
Other countries are efficiently building regional rail. Minnesota shouldn’t reject future lines because Northstar didn’t work out.
by Bill Lindeke
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2026/02/the-regrettable-failure-of-northstar-commuter-rail/
Bring Me the News has a compilation of images from social media taken after the massive snowfall in northern Minnesota this week. “While the official total is still being counted, it will be among the top 20 biggest 24-hour snowfalls in Minnesota state history, with the record still being the 36 inches recorded in Lake County in January 1994.” Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/scenes-from-minnesotas-north-shore-where-storm-dumped-over-3-feet-of-snow
New Mexico to reopen investigation on Epstein’s ranch amid pressure campaign
Criminal investigation to examine role Zorro ranch may have played in disgraced financier’s trafficking scheme
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/new-mexico-epstein-zorro-ranch-investigation
Jeffrey Epstein’s estate agrees to pay up to $35m to settle survivors’ lawsuit
Class-action suit accused Epstein’s lawyer and accountant of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking, filing says
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/jeffrey-epstein-estate-settlement
Why are so many academics in the Epstein files? It’s not just about money
Christopher Marquis
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/20/epstein-files-professors-academics
US economic growth slowed in fourth quarter of 2025 amid government shutdown
GDP grew 1.4% last quarter, down from economists’ forecast of 3%, though AI and tax cuts could boost growth this year
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/20/economic-growth-fourth-quarter-2025
A war foretold:
how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why nobody believed them
Drawing on more than 100 interviews with senior intelligence officials and other insiders in multiple countries, this exclusive account details how the US and Britain uncovered Vladimir Putin’s plans to invade, and why most of Europe – including the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – dismissed them. As the fourth anniversary of the invasion approaches and the world enters a new period of geopolitical uncertainty, Europe’s politicians and spy services continue to draw lessons from the failures of 2022
Written by Shaun Walker
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/feb/20/a-war-foretold-cia-mi6-putin-ukraine-plans-russia
Osaka stunned by anonymous gift of gold bars to fix ageing water pipes
Mayor says Japanese city will respect donor’s specification that £2.7m gift must be used to repair dilapidated system
Associated Press in Tokyo
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/20/osaka-stunned-by-anonymous-gift-of-36m-in-gold-to-fix-ageing-water-pipes
The Hunt for Gollum looks like a step too far for the endless Lord of the Rings franchise
Ben Child
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/20/the-hunt-for-gollum-lord-of-the-rings-franchise
Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star, dies aged 53
Actor who played ‘McSteamy’ died on Thursday, 10 months after he revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a type of motor neurone disease
Sian Cain
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/20/eric-dane-dies-aged-53-death-greys-anatomy-euphoria-star
