Free Republic

A Minnesota county prosecutor on Monday announced charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s crackdown in the state. The officer, Christian Castro, is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said at a news conference. A warrant was issued for his arrest. “Mr. Castro is an ICE agent, but his federal badge does not make him immune from state charges for his criminal conduct in...

The Minnesota House fraud prevention and oversight committee released its final report following a two-year investigation into the state’s fraud crisis, concluding this week that Gov. Tim Walz’s (D-MN) administration allowed fraud to persist by protecting Somali fraudsters from state regulators out of concerns for cultural sensitivity, even accusing rank-and-file investigators of racially profiling suspected scammers. According to the committee’s 84-page report on “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Minnesota,” adopted Wednesday, when government employees flagged suspicious billing patterns to their supervisors, officials in the Walz administration ignored, demoted, and retaliated against the whistleblowers, at times accusing them of being “xenophobic”...

What is it with Minnesota? Something in the air? Something in the water of those 10,000 lakes? Or is it the (let's say this softly) Third World people from low-trust cultures that they have been so freely importing? Whatever it is, Minnesota seems to be Fraud Central Station, and now we see another Minneapolis resident has been busted and is facing charges. This one is alleged to have engaged in a million-dollar Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) fraud rip-off. Authorities in Minnesota have filed criminal charges against a man accused of a food stamp fraud scheme that defrauded taxpayers out of...

The Trump administration scored a legal victory in combating illegal immigration when a federal judge cleared the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to operate near schools, for now. The lawsuit brought by Minnesota public school districts sought a temporary injunction against immigration enforcement agents having a presence near schools, claiming it increased absenteeism and disrupted learning. U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino of the District of Minnesota denied the schools’ request for a preliminary injunction while the case moves forward and said the plaintiffs likely lacked standing. Provinzino is a Biden appointee. “Accordingly, because the Court concludes that Plaintiffs...

Dustin Grage @GrageDustin 🚨 Democrats voted UNANIMOUSLY to not require the removal of dead people from Minnesota’s voter rolls last night. This is insane. Why would anyone oppose this? 🚨 Democrats voted UNANIMOUSLY to not require the removal of dead people from Minnesota’s voter rolls last night.This is insane.Why would anyone oppose this? pic.twitter.com/LYRn4HHiN3— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) May 7, 2026

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president last cycle, opted to fly to Maine to stump for Graham Platner, an oyster farmer who is running for Senate and who has a Nazi tattoo. Several members of Congress responded. “Don’t forget to ask him about his Nazi tattoo,” stated Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas). “Can you let him know there’s ways to remove the Nazi tattoos from his chest?” asked Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). “In case it wasn’t clear before why Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz over Josh Shapiro. This is who they are,” the Republican Jewish Coalition stated....

Minnesota’s new state flag, adopted after a public redesign process, is now at the center of a growing divide across the state. The debate traces back to 2023, when the DFL-controlled Legislature established a commission to overhaul both the flag and state seal. The move followed years of criticism that the old flag was overly complex and featured imagery seen by some as offensive to Native Americans. Over the course of the redesign effort, the commission received roughly 20,000 public comments and more than 2,000 design submissions before settling on a final version. “We were committed to maximum public input...

A seventeen-second video shows a dark-haired man rapping his pale knuckles gently below the tinted windows of a silver minivan. He stands back, shoving his hands into the pockets of his puffer coat, his boyish face twisted into a severe expression. The car drives off, and the camera pans to follow it down the suburban Minneapolis road. No words are spoken. Splashed across the screen, a bright red and white caption reads, “ICE was circling a local elementary school. I knocked on their door to have a conversation, but they ran away instead.” The man is Matt Little, 41, a...

A federal grand jury handed down indictments for two individuals connected to the assault on Turning Point USA reporter Savanah Hernandez at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest in Minneapolis earlier this month, Fox News Digital has learned. The suspects were indicted on Tuesday, federal sources told Fox News Digital, though their names have yet to be released. The sources said the indictment is expected to be unsealed later Wednesday. The incident happened on April 11 outside the Whipple Federal Building, where a protest was taking place over a local ICE field office that also serves as a detention...

Lame-duck Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made a stunning about-face after the federal raids on Minnesota day care centers Tuesday — after previously denouncing fraud investigations as “white supremacy.” In a thread on X, Walz — the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president — said he was putting criminals “on notice” and tried to take credit for the investigations. “If you commit fraud in Minnesota you’re going to get caught — and that’s exactly what we saw today. We catch criminals when state and federal agencies share information. Joint investigations work, and securing justice depends on it,” he wrote. “Today’s raids...

Inver Grove Heights residents clashed Monday night over the Minnesota state flag. It's the latest community divided over the statewide symbol. Plus, a DFL lawmaker has introduced a bill that would penalize cities refusing to fly the official state flag. Ashley Grams reports from Inver Grove Heights where city officials opted to display the old design.

The Energy Department is announcing a $325 million investment in new battery types that can help turn solar and wind energy into 24-hour power it said Friday morning. The funds will be distributed among 15 projects in 17 states and the Red Lake Nation, a Native American tribe based in Minnesota. Here is some of what is being funded, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021: A project led by Xcel Energy in partnership with long-term battery manufacturer Form Energy will deploy two 100-megawatt battery systems at the site of coal plants that are closing in Becker, Minnesota and Pueblo,...

A top North Dakota lawmaker was killed in a small plane crash just moments after takeoff, police said. Rep. Liz Conmy and a pilot died on Saturday afternoon after the aircraft crashed into a nearby park in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, around noon, state Sen. Tim Mathern told the Star Tribune. The mother of four was aboard a Beechcraft BE33 on the runway at Crystal Airport when the aircraft suddenly 'couldn't get up in the air,' Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesperson Jeff Lea said, the outlet reported. Conmy, 67, and the unidentified pilot were pronounced dead after the fiery crash, the Brooklyn...

Rep. Ilhan Omar gave her blessing to her top congressional aide marrying a young underling – and even promoted the bride a month before the wedding, The Post has learned. The lefty “Squad” member from Minnesota attended the Dec. 19 nuptials in the Virginia countryside, lending her seal of approval to the union between her longtime Chief of Staff Connor McNutt, 36, and legislative aide Tahreem Alam, 27. They both still work in Omar’s office. The whole staff got invited, according to sources, and images reviewed by The Post indicate festive wedding ceremonies, including one where the bride and groom...

Video Transcript and SummarySummary of the video/transcript:This is an on-the-ground investigative-style video by a conservative-leaning content creator (likely Angela Rose or similar) visiting 326 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood (a heavily Somali/East African area). The creator accuses Rep. Ilhan Omar of attempting to direct $1.46 million (later reduced to $1.03 million) in federal taxpayer funds via a DOJ earmark to Generation Hope MN, a nonprofit described as a substance abuse/addiction recovery clinic for the East African community.Main allegations:The listed address (326 Cedar Ave) is primarily a Sagal Restaurant (Somali food: rice, meat, goat kidneys/liver, etc.), not a medical or...

Another city is choosing to fly the old Minnesota state flag in what appears to be a growing trend. Elk River is the latest city to opt for the 1983 design in the flag debate. It follows the cities of Champlin, Zumbrota, Plainview and others in reverting to the old state symbol that was originally adopted in 1957. Elk River Mayor John Dietz said over 1,000 Elk River residents weighed in and about 75% of responses were in favor of the old flag. "I have been on the city council for 32 years, 16 as a council member and 16...

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is attributing her alleged inflated net worth to an accounting mistake. Earlier this year, reports showed that Ms. Omar had accumulated significant wealth, with a net worth in the millions, which raised questions about possible fraud. Subsequently, Nick Shirley’s investigation into a web of Somali-led scams brought new attention to her financial dealings. If that’s a true accounting error, then I’m Somali, too. Are you kidding me, lady? There was an error that inflated your assets to $30 million? Please, also, one of the ventures that The Washington Free Beacon investigated in January, a winery, is...

A simmering feud between Reps. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has roared back up to a boil, escalating to tit-for-tat threats of expulsion as each lawmaker publicly lobs attacks on the other’s character. Mace on Monday filed a resolution to expel Mills, citing allegations of dating violence and campaign finance laws — a move that comes amid renewed scrutiny of sexual misconduct by House members after Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) resigned last week. “Cory, your days are numbered. Start packing,” Mace said in a statement announcing the expulsion resolution.But Mills is pointing the finger...

The Republic of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa is once again offering the United States a military base in a strategic area with access to critical minerals, this time reminding the USA that this could be the perfect foothold from which to counter terrorist operations from the Iranian regime and the Houthis. On Monday, the Republic of Somaliland's X account shared a Fox News headline about how a potential U.S. base in the African nation could be crucial in combatting the jihadis who terrorize the area: The Republic of Somaliland is seeking international recognition and is offering the United...

A majority of U.S. Catholic voters supported Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential victory. Yet across the broad Catholic political spectrum – even among conservative-leaning bishops – there is dismay over Trump’s unprecedented verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead their church. Leo says he is sharing a Gospel message and not directly attacking Trump or anyone else with his appeals for peace and criticism of attitudes fueling the war. Criticism of Trump came from Archbishop Paul Coakley, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and from Minnesota-based Bishop Robert Barron, who only a few...