With many federal officers wearing face coverings during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance requiring law enforcement to be unmasked.

The city council has said they’re taking a phased approached to introducing a series of ordinances in response to the enforcement, and Wednesday’s was the third brought forward in as many weeks.

The city council discussion began after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Nov. 25 on Rose Avenue near Payne Avenue. St. Paul police said they were called to assist as protesters gathered. They used chemical irritants and less-lethal munitions, which drew criticism from all city council members and community members.

Since then, “federal immigration enforcement tactics have changed rapidly,” the city council said in a statement on Jan. 21. “As a result, residents and the City cannot wait for a single comprehensive update to the City’s existing separation ordinance. … The Council’s phased approach allows swifter action while providing stronger legal protection for ordinance changes.”

The city council unanimously approved on Wednesday an ordinance introduced on Jan. 21 to prohibit law enforcement from staging on city-owned property for federal immigration enforcement and to limit access to non-public spaces. It will take effect 30 days after publication.

Face masking, identification

An ordinance introduced by the council last week would require law enforcement officers to have the name of their law enforcement agency on the outermost layer of their uniform. It would also require either a name or badge number, or both, on the uniform.

Another ordinance brought forward Wednesday by the city council says a law enforcement officer “shall not wear a face covering … that conceals or obscures their facial identity in the performance of law enforcement duties.” There will be a public hearing on the matter during the city council’s meeting next Wednesday and the council will likely vote on it Feb. 18.

The city council says in the proposed ordinance that “the routine and ubiquitous use of facial coverings by law enforcement officers has a significant and unquestioned impact on public safety, including: implications for public perception, officer-community interactions, and accountability, and increases the risk of impersonation by unauthorized individuals.”

There are exemptions in the masking and identification requirements for undercover operations and, in the face-covering ordinance, when “protective gear is required for physical safety.”

California passed laws last year that ban federal law enforcement from wearing masks and require visible identification, which led to the U.S. Justice Department to file a federal lawsuit.

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement in November.

St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie said Wednesday she’s aware of legal challenges that masking bans have faced.

“But I think the biggest risk right now is making sure that our neighbors feel safe,” she said, adding they’re not tolerating “anyone to come into our neighborhoods and not show their face.”

Separation ordinance not yet taken up

Two St. Paul residents who testified at a public hearing Wednesday about the identification requirement urged the city council to make exemptions as specific as possible to avoid potential loopholes.

John Benda, co-chair of the Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, said he was present during the ICE operations in St. Paul in November at Bro-Tex Inc. and on Rose Avenue.

“I am disappointed that it’s taken this long for the City Council to get around to making some changes,” he said, but thanked the council for the actions they’re taking now. “… We’d like to see the council work within different levels of government and influence … them to do everything in their power to advocate for protections from ICE in our hospitals, schools, daycares and churches.”

The new ordinances introduced in St. Paul have not been part of the city’s separation ordinance, which was enacted in 2004 and “establishes a clear line of separation between the actions of local law enforcement and those of federal immigration authorities.”

The city council said in its statement last month that it would consider “key updates” to the city’s separation ordinance at the Feb. 4 meeting, but they did not come up Wednesday.

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City Council President Rebecca Noecker said the issue has been that the U.S. Department of Justice in September filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Hennepin County and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office over so-called “sanctuary city” policies that it alleges interfere with federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit is ongoing.

“What we are trying to do is find a way to strengthen it without endangering it wholesale,” Noecker said. “The concern from our attorneys is that any changes open us up to legal risk in that lawsuit.”

The council said in its statement last month that it would consider updates to its separation ordinance, including strengthening training and reporting requirements related to the ordinance; clarifying that the city’s policy is to not assist ICE or employ crowd control tactics during ICE operations; and clarifying that nothing in the ordinance prevents public safety officials from responding to calls for aid from St. Paul residents in the presence of ICE.

Perhaps Mike Conley’s departure will be short lived.

While a return is far from guaranteed, the pathway to one opened on Wednesday, a day after the Timberwolves dealt Conley to Chicago as part of a three-team deal that brought Minnesota nothing more than cash considerations and salary cap relief.

Conley was then dealt to Charlotte in a move that also sent Coby White — a once rumored deadline acquisition for Minnesota — to the Hornets.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks to the locker room for half time during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Charlotte is reportedly likely to buy Conley out of his contract, which would allow the veteran guard to hit the free-agent market. And because another trade has taken place since Minnesota dealt him, Conley, 38, would be eligible to re-sign with the Wolves.

A lot has to happen between now and then for that to happen. First, Charlotte and Conley would need to reach their buyout agreement. Charlotte could still, in theory, find a trade partner for Conley between now and Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

But if a buyout occurred, Minnesota would need to deem Conley as the best man to fill the team’s open roster spot. Other options will exist, such as guard Lonzo Ball, who was reportedly traded from Cleveland to Utah on Wednesday and is expected to be waived by the Jazz.

Further, Conley would need to deem Minnesota as the best place to spend the remainder of his season. The Timberwolves have interest in welcoming the guard back on what would certainly be a pro-rated minimum contract, as the initial trade was merely to shed the remainder of his $10 million annual salary.

Conley is in Minnesota at the moment waiting to uncover his next true NBA destination. There certainly would be value for the veteran guard in re-joining his familiar teammates and organization. He knows his role and fit within the roster, and could resume his pursuit of a championship while remaining at home with his family.

But Conley had already heard from other players around the NBA as of Wednesday and is likely to have options to join other contenders. He’s the type of well-respected veteran every team would love to have.

Conley will have to at least briefly weigh other options — point guard-needy teams like Houston or Denver could serve as potential landing spots — before making a determination. And Minnesota’s roster remains in flux until a trade for Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo does or doesn’t happen on Thursday.

But a return would certainly be welcomed by the Wolves’ current players and coaches. Minnesota assistant coach Pablo Prigioni tweeted Wednesday morning that Conley is a “great player, huge impact on our team and a fantastic person.”

Speaking with reporters in Toronto, Wolves center Rudy Gobert said Conley’s departure was “tough.”

“We all know, we’re all aware it’s a business and those things can happen,” Gobert said. “But when it does happen, it’s always tough. For me, Mike has been a guy that I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and friendship and love for. So, obviously, this morning, you’re on the bus and you see an empty seat, it hits you a little bit.”

Donte DiVincenzo said he’d most miss Conley’s ear, noting he was always someone you could talk to for comfortable, constructive dialogue.

Gobert said Conley has been the example guys have needed, because the team knew he was going to compete, be there for his teammates and do anything he could to win — which is exactly the team identity for which the Wolves aim.

“He’s a guy that I think has brought a lot to this culture and this team, and whether he’s here or not … everything he has brought doesn’t leave with him,” Gobert said. “Hopefully, when we lift that trophy in June, he’ll be a big reason why.”

Who knows, maybe he’ll even be on the stage, lifting it along with them.

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Perhaps Mike Conley’s departure will be short-lived?

While a return is far from guaranteed, the pathway to one opened Wednesday, one day after Conley was dealt to Chicago as part of a three-team deal that brought the Timberwolves nothing more than cash considerations and salary cap.

Conley was dealt to Charlotte in a move that also sent Coby White – a once rumored deadline acquistion for Minnesota – to the Hornets.

Charlotte is likely to buy Conley out of his contract, which would allow the veteran guard to hit the free-agent market. And, because another trade had taken place since Minnesota dealt the 38-year-old, Conley would be eligible to re-sign with the Wolves.

A lot has to happen between now and then. First, Charlotte and Conley would need to reach their buyout agreement. Then, Minnesota would need to deem Conley as the best man to fill the team’s open roster spot, and Conley would need to deem Minnesota as the best place to spend the remainder of his season.

The Timberwolves have interest in welcoming the guard back on what would surely be a pro-rated minimum contract, as the initial trade was merely to shed the remainder of his $10 million annual salary.

Conley is in Minnesota at the moment waiting for his next true destination. There certainly would be value for the veteran guard in re-joining his familiar teammates and organization in the joint pursuit of a championship, all while staying at home with his family.

Brooklyn Nets’ Jalen Wilson (22) defends Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth came out on top in a crowded field of Republican candidates for governor in straw polls held across the state Tuesday night at GOP precinct caucuses.

Of the 12 candidates listed on the ballot, Demuth had around 32% of roughly 17,600 votes cast by Republican voters at local party gatherings across the state. Results were incomplete, but more than 96% of precincts had reported as of early Wednesday afternoon.

The straw poll offers an early look into the 2026 contest for the GOP endorsement, and could inform candidates on whether they should remain in the race. The party describes participants as representing “the most politically active Republicans in Minnesota” and calls the poll the “first major test of grassroots support.”

Precinct caucuses are often described as the starting line for Minnesota elections.

Other candidates

In second place was Kendall Qualls, who had close to 26% of caucus-goers’ support. Qualls sought the GOP endorsement in 2022 and previously ran for Congress. Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and noted supporter of President Donald Trump, had 17% support.

Scott Jensen, a doctor who rose to prominence for his criticism of state COVID policy, had 6% of the vote. None of the other candidates had more than 1,000 votes in the straw poll.

The others listed on the ballot included businessman Patrick Knight, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, and former St. Cloud City Council Member Jeff Johnson.

Besides the straw poll, precinct caucuses also elect convention delegates and consider changes to party platforms. It’s the first stop on the way to the state party conventions in May.

What’s next?

The first caucuses kick off a series of spring conventions of growing scale and stakes. The first will be local organizational conventions, which handle endorsements for state Legislative candidates. Then come Congressional District conventions, where party members endorse candidates for the U.S. House.

The Republicans’ statewide endorsement convention for governor is scheduled for the last weekend in May in Duluth. Candidates don’t always honor their party’s endorsement and will sometimes advance to the August primary election, which officially determines the party nominee. Demuth has pledged to honor her party’s endorsement, though other GOP candidates, such as Lindell, have left their options open.

In a statement late Tuesday, Demuth thanked caucus-goers for giving her and running mate Ryan Wilson a strong start.

“In just three months since I announced my campaign for governor, our team has focused our efforts on organizing and empowering Minnesotans who are looking for a strong conservative and proven leader to get our state back on track after two disastrous terms of Tim Walz,” she said, then turning to her new Democratic-Farmer-Labor opponent. “We know Amy Klobuchar would give us nothing more than a rubber stamp Walz third term.”

As of the beginning of 2026, Demuth had more money on hand than any other GOP candidate for governor, with around $447,000. Robbins had about $353,000, though she had raised and spent more than Demuth did in 2025. Qualls, Jensen, Knight and Lindell were the only other candidates who had raised or spent six-figure sums.

Demuth is campaigning on fighting fraud in state government, improving education outcomes, and taking a tougher stance on crime and public safety. When Gov. Tim Walz announced his would not seek reelection, he pledged to seek stronger gun control laws and resist the Trump administration.

The parties held straw polls for gubernatorial races during district caucuses but not other races.

DFL caucuses

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party also held precinct caucuses Tuesday night, though they only have one major candidate for governor — U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

With 84% of precincts reporting as of early Wednesday afternoon, 79% of DFL caucus-goers supported her while 16% were uncommitted. The rest of the votes were write-ins, abstentions or in support of Christopher Seymore.

Klobuchar has performed well statewide in every election since she first won office in 2006 and has always led her Republican competitors by double-digit percentage margins. No Republican has won an election for statewide office since 2006.

While Klobuchar has not filed paperwork for her gubernatorial campaign committee yet — she officially entered the race in 2026 — she has a strong fundraising record. At the end of 2025, her Senate committee had more than $2 million on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings. It had raised more than $2.4 million and had spent close to $2.2 million.

DFL Chair Richard Carlbom said he expected a significant turnout at Tuesday’s local party meetings as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues in Minnesota, something he called an “unprecedented retribution campaign.”

Total attendance at DFL caucuses statewide was roughly 30,000, the party said, claiming that many were first-time attendees.

In response to Demuth’s win at the precinct caucuses, Carlbom tied the Republican frontrunner to Trump, describing her as having “fully embraced the most destructive Trump policies” like tariffs and a hardline stance on immigration.

“As Trump unleashed his retribution campaign on Minnesota, Demuth defended Donald Trump instead of her state and blamed local law enforcement for the crisis,” Carlbom said in a statement. “She has continued to chase Trump’s endorsement — even as his

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agenda increases prices and explodes health care costs for Minnesotans. Lisa Demuth has chosen Trump over our state, and Minnesotans won’t forget it.”