Minneapolis, MN

Operation Metro Surge leading to budget concerns for City of Minneapolis

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

Operation Metro Surge leading to budget concerns for City of Minneapolis

There are concerns in the City of Minneapolis that Operation Metro Surge could lead to higher property taxes.

According to Budget Director Jayne Discenza, the city spent at least $5 million in just a couple of weeks in January in response to the federal immigration enforcement operations. She told City Council members that all of the 26 city departments are contributing to the response, from staffing to time.

“For just the police department, I think we’re at $4.3 million in overtime associated with this response,” said Discenza. “If you project that out, certainly over budget.”

After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the department did an emergency recall of all sworn personnel back to duty. Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette has also shared the stress the federal operation is having on city emergency response overall.

MPLS safety commissioner: Current conditions aren’t ‘sustainable,’ stress and cost mounting

In December, the city approved a 2026 budget that eliminated critical staffing overtime. It was considered a $3.6 million cost savings at the time.

The city has a $2 billion budget overall with a $700 million general fund, according to Discenza. The city is required to have a contingency fund of 1% of the general fund balance. The 2026 budget lists the general fund contingency this year as $7.46 million.

“Previously, we have a small cushion between where our general fund balance is expected to sit at the end of 2026, assuming departments don’t overspend their budgets this year and, again, that might be difficult because of what they’re forced to do because of federal incursion,” said Discenza. “If we are to deplete our resources this year, we’ve been put on notice by bond agencies they are watching our use of fund balance. We have a AAA rating, and that matters to constituents because that allows us to borrow at a lower rate to do our capital work, so I think the concern long term would be without raising property taxes, we would be dipping below that minimum fund balance.”

Operation Metro Surge started Dec. 1, 2025. Homeland Security has not indicated when it will end.

Minneapolis City Council considers $1M in rental assistance for families facing eviction during ICE operations

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Minneapolis, MN

San Antonio visits Minnesota with 2-1 series lead – WTOP News

Published

3 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday,…

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.

The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.

The Timberwolves’ 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Minneapolis, MN

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Published

15 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Student journalists at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis witnessed federal agents shove staffers and students and deploy pepper spray on school grounds last January. That inspired them to report stories of how that event and the ICE surge impacted their colleagues and communities.

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