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Trouble getting a Minnesota driver's license? Here's why.

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Trouble getting a Minnesota driver's license? Here's why.


Anisa Ali is a veteran of the rutted road to driver’s licensure in Minnesota.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Blaine, passed the written exam on her first try. Then, after months of the requisite practice driving, she took the road test for the first time in February, but didn’t pass. When she and her father, Abdi Hussein, tried to book a second try, the two watched as open times disappeared in the online booking system.

“The minute you click on it, it’s gone,” Hussein said.

It took weeks of repeatedly checking the Minnesota Division of Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) website before Ali was able to lock in an appointment. There was just one option: the following day at 3:20 p.m. “Book it,” Ali said her father quickly responded.

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Ali isn’t alone in this arduous journey to get appointments with DVS. Between last October and May, the agency had about 100,000 more requests for licensing services — including renewals — than in the same time period the year prior. As a result, DVS isn’t meeting the legal requirement to provide testing appointments within 14 days of a request for service.

There are multiple reasons for the congestion in the licensing system.

About 30% of the increase is attributed to standard ID applications and renewals. The Driver’s License for All law, which went into effect in October 2023, ended a 20-year requirement that people show proof of legal residency to test for a standard license. At the same time, DVS says there has been an uptick in requests for Real IDs, which will be required for domestic air travel starting next year. Top all that off with a years-old staffing shortage.

“We just don’t have enough examiners when compared to other states,” said driver services program director Jody-Kay Peterson. “We want to make sure we are meeting the demand and we’re not having the backlog get bigger and bigger.”

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DVS has filled 12 new positions for written and road test examiners, as well as four other clerical and behind-the-scenes staff, that were funded as part of the 2023 law. The agency secured money to hire 30 more examiners in the coming year, which Peterson said will go a long way toward meeting the goal of 160 examiners statewide. There are currently about 120. Most new and future examiners will work at metro exam locations, where the demand is highest.

Dale Robinson, owner and chief instructor at Ken’s Driving School, said it’s not uncommon for his students to wait months for a road test. He’s driven students from the Twin Cities as far as Grand Rapids to snag open appointments.

Ilyas Afrah drove the 95 miles from Blaine to Rochester for his daughter’s written test last week.

Forgetting to bring a second form of identification to Rochester, the two then had to travel to the Arden Hills DVS station for the paperwork proving she passed the exam.

“The system is still working the way it used to be with COVID,” Afrah said. “But COVID is done.”

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Some don’t have time for a road trip, like Sonya Calgren, who has been trying to book a road test for her 16-year-old daughter for about a month. Calgren said she’s been checking for available appointments online 10 or more times a day.

While some of her daughter’s friends have booked their tests as far away as Duluth, Calgren said she’s looking for something closer to Roseville, where they live.

“It’s been a nightmare,” Calgren said. “Maybe once in a while there will be one opening and it’ll be in two hours, but it’s four hours away.”

Students at Hot Seat Driving School, based in Apple Valley, have also struggled to book tests nearby, said owner Crystal McWaters.

“That doesn’t help with the testing anxiety,” McWaters said. “It’s already a pretty high-pressure situation, and then to have to drive three and a half hours one way. It puts the pressure on a little heavier.”

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McWaters and Robinson, both instructors who serve adult learners attempting to get licenses under the new law, said the system needs more support for English learners.

The DVS is translating its driver’s manual into additional languages and seeking multilingual examiners, but hasn’t been able to keep up with demand. In the three months after the new law went into effect, DVS gave about 42,000 written exams in Spanish. That’s almost 39,000 more than were given in the same time period the year before.

McWaters said she has seen more adults requesting lessons since October — particularly the six-hour supplementary lessons required if someone fails the road test four times. She said the current requirements for adult applicants don’t help them succeed. Adults aren’t required to take driver’s education courses that teach how to avoid some of the common mistakes that lead to automatic fails, such as parallel parking too far from the curb or not turning into the closest available lane.

Robinson said language barriers can make it particularly difficult. “If they knew what they did wrong if they fail their first road test … well, maybe when they take the second road test, they’ll pass instead of continuing to fail over and over again,” he said.

Having to “start from square one” costs applicants money and time, Robinson said.

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Test takers can bring translators to testing sites. But translators, who must be licensed and at least 21, can’t be in the car during the road test. Peterson said they can talk with the examiner and test taker before and after the road test. They can accompany the test taker during the written exam.

With backlogs affecting applicants of all ages, the victory of securing a license is sweet — especially after the struggle.

Ali passed her driving test last week, a month after her 17th birthday. “It feels amazing, honestly,” she said, beaming on the sidewalk after coming out of the Arden Hills testing center.

Now, she’ll get to drive to school for her senior year.

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Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar attacked during town hall meeting

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Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar attacked during town hall meeting


BREAKING,

Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during the attack by a man, who was then tackled to the ground.

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar has been attacked by a man while hosting a town hall meeting in Minneapolis.

Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance by the man before he was tackled to the ground on Tuesday.

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The Reuters news agency said that Omar was not injured in the attack, and authorities have not said what substance was sprayed or whether charges have been filed against the assailant.

The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In a video clip of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her”, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room.

Just before the attack, she had called for the abolishment of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

“ICE cannot be reformed,” Omar said.

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A man shouts at U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after spraying her, during a town hall meeting days after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 27, 2026 in a still image from video. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
A man shouts at US Representative Ilhan Omar after spraying her with a substance during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday, just days after Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents in the city, in Minnesota [Screengrab: Maria Alejandra Cardona/Reuters]

Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident and whether anyone was arrested.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message from the AP seeking comment.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow soon…



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Trump makes changes on the ground in Minnesota and doctors break with the CDC: Morning Rundown

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Trump makes changes on the ground in Minnesota and doctors break with the CDC: Morning Rundown


In today’s newsletter: Some Trump administration advisers and allies say the optics of the immigration operation in Minneapolis have led Trump to make some changes. An influential group of doctors has split with the CDC over shot recommendations for children. And the downfall of China’s top general could have implications for Taiwan.

Here’s what to know today.

Trump reshuffles his Minnesota operation after backlash from second fatal shooting

President Donald Trump has made significant changes of leadership in the Minnesota immigration operations after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, according to administration officials and allies.

“The visuals were not playing well. He understands TV. … He saw it for himself,” said a Republican lawmaker who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

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This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Saturday’s shooting has prompted a leadership shakeup, a reduction of agents in the city, a reset with key Democratic officials in the state, and an attempt to distance the president from some of the more extreme comments from some of his top advisers.

More than 3,000 federal agents have been sent to Minneapolis, and they currently outnumber the local police force nearly five-to-one. One adviser said that while immigration enforcement will not end, the shooting is forcing the administration to rethink what operations will look like going forward.

Trump said he and Gov. Tim Walz spoke by phone Monday, calling it a “very good call” in a social media post.

Walz said Trump agreed to talk to the Department of Homeland Security about allowing state officials to conduct their own independent shooting investigations and decreasing the number of federal agents in his state.

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Read the full story here.

More news out of Minneapolis:

  • Democrats are pushing to drastically slash funding for ICE and Border Protection, or totally gut the agencies after the shooting death of Pretti.
  • Investigators are reviewing body-camera videos that captured Pretti’s fatal shooting. Analysis shows witness video contradicts the Trump administration’s description of the event.
  • A growing number of Senate Republicans are calling for an investigation into the shooting.
  • FBI Director Kash Patel says the agency is investigating Minnesota Signal chats that are tracking ICE.
  • A Minnesota Republican dropped out of the governor’s race, citing his party’s handling of immigration enforcement in the state.

Doctors break with CDC on vaccine guidance for children

A child is seen from behind while being vaccinated by a nurse on his left arm.
A child is vaccinated during an immunization event in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles on October 24, 2025.Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images file

The nation’s leading group of pediatricians released its annual children’s vaccine recommendations — and for the first time in 30 years it significantly broke from the government’s proposed vaccine schedule.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance largely reflects what has previously been recommended, no longer completely aligning with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently reduced the number of diseases on the vaccine schedule. The AAP additionally recommends shots against Covid, RSV, the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, and meningitis.

“These recent changes to the CDC schedule are a strong departure from the medical evidence and no longer offer the optimal way to prevent illness in children,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the AAP’s committee on infectious diseases.

Read the full story here.

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The downfall of China’s top general

China Military
Chinese President Xi Jinping poses with Zhang Youxia in Beijing on Dec. 22, 2025.Li Gang / AP

The investigation into China’s top general, once a close ally of President Xi Jinping, has thrown the leadership of the country’s military into turmoil and raised questions about Taiwan’s future.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement that Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, which controls the armed forces, was under investigation and accused of serious “violations of discipline and law.”

An editorial in the Liberation Army Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the country’s armed forces, suggested that Zhang, 75, was accused of corruption and possibly disloyalty to Xi.

Zhang was previously considered “untouchable,” according to Alessandro Arduino, an expert in Chinese security at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. “This is a reminder coming directly from President Xi Jinping that political loyalty stands well before combat readiness,” he said. “Political disloyalty is a cardinal sin inside the party. I think the message is extremely clear: No one is safe.”

Of the six generals the president appointed to the commission in 2022, only one is left, allowing Xi to consolidate power but also heightening the risk of a military miscalculation when it comes to Taiwan, according to Steve Tsang, the director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London. “Removing generals like Zhang means that there will not be any general who would dare to advise Xi against a military adventure when the time comes, and this increases the risk of a miscalculation,” he said.

Read All About It

  • TikTok says widespread disruptions were caused by a power outage, after users voiced concerns that they were being politically censored under the app’s new U.S. ownership.
  • India and the European Union have finalized a landmark trade deal that will represent a quarter of the world’s economy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
  • It’s officially tax season, and there are several new deductions going into effect this year that could change how Americans file their returns.
  • People are opting for the cheapest available Affordable Care Act plans, but that could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs later.
  • The remains of the last hostage held in Gaza were identified by the Israeli military, paving the way for the next phase of the ceasefire.
  • Alex Vindman, an Army veteran who was a key witness during Trump’s first impeachment, will run for the Florida Senate as a Democrat.
  • Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, apologized for his history of “reckless” antisemitic comments in a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal.

Staff Pick: Some prediction market traders find a lucrative niche: Betting against Elon Musk.

Elon Musk
On websites such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can place bets on what Elon Musk might do next.Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images

As a tech reporter, I’ve seen Elon Musk fall short on a lot of promises. The Tesla CEO has failed, for example, to deploy fully self-driving cars. And since entering the political world, he has made one pledge after another that haven’t come true, such as his 2024 vow to find $2 trillion in federal budget waste.

Musk is also a master at evading scrutiny. Tesla’s sky-high share price is evidence of that, and he is still the world’s wealthiest person. But now, prediction markets are providing at least a small measure of accountability. These markets are rising in popularity, as people turn to sites such as Kalshi and Polymarket to wager on current events. Recently, I spoke with some users who bet against Musk’s predictions coming true — a strategy that has worked out pretty well for them.

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David Ingram, tech reporter

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Staying hydrated should never fall to the bottom of your to-do list. One easy way to drink more water is to invest in a water pitcher with expert-approved filtration systems. You can also carry around a reusable water bottle to help hit your hydration goals—one of our editor favorites, the Yeti Rambler, is on sale right now for a limited time only.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Kaylah Jackson, Marissa Martinez and David Hickey. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.



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Video: Border Patrol Official Gregory Bovino Is Set to Leave Minnesota

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Video: Border Patrol Official Gregory Bovino Is Set to Leave Minnesota


new video loaded: Border Patrol Official Gregory Bovino Is Set to Leave Minnesota

The Trump administration is planning to move Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official whose tactics in major American cities have drawn controversy, out of Minneapolis, according to two officials.

By Jackeline Luna

January 26, 2026

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