A 63-year-old man was accused Wednesday of pointing a gun at ICE agents in West St. Paul this week.

The West St. Paul City Attorney’s Office charged him with obstructing legal process with force, a gross misdemeanor, and four counts of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault, saying he caused fear of bodily harm.

West St. Paul police responded Monday to a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that a man “just pulled a gun,” according to the criminal complaint.

Two Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents told police they were parked in the lot at Home Depot, conducting surveillance, when the man started following them in his vehicle. They tried to lose him, but he followed them for several minutes and had a firearm in his hand at one point, the complaint said.

Two other ICE agents told police they were driving a vehicle marked with “Police” and “ICE” when the man pulled next to them and “made a motion as if he was pulling a firearm from his waistband,” the complaint said. One of the agents pulled his service weapon, prompting the man to throw his firearm onto his own vehicle’s dashboard.

Attorney Claire Glenn, who is representing the West St. Paul resident, said they dispute the charges.

“ICE is essentially deputizing people that are kidnapping our neighbors and our community members,” Glenn said, adding that her client “was entirely within his rights to observe and document what people were doing. And in retaliation, this charge was brought, even though it was the ICE agents that pointed their weapons at him.”

The man is a decorated Navy veteran who worked for the U.S. Postal Service for decades and “is a concerned community member who cares about his neighbors,” Glenn said.

The man was arrested Monday and held in the Dakota County jail until Wednesday, when he posted $6,000 bond.

The incident came a day after a federal agent fired a service weapon in St. Paul. No one was struck. A DHS spokesperson said it happened when ICE officers identified a man illegally in the U.S. from Cuba. He drove off, struck two ICE officers and multiple vehicles before he was arrested, according to DHS.

ICE has stepped up its efforts in the Twin Cities with Operation Metro Surge beginning Dec. 1, and DHS said Friday that more than 670 people had been arrested. ICE operations ordered as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration have drawn observers and protesters.

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Every year around this time, the noise starts to drop. The pace eases a bit. Families gather, neighbors reconnect, and people who disagree on just about everything still manage to pass plates across the same table.

Something about late November into December nudges us toward reflection. Whatever you call it — holiday spirit, cultural memory, or just a pause in the chaos — it’s real. And in a country this divided, it might be the reminder we need most.

Because the truth is simple: America has never thrived by choosing one ideology over another. It has thrived because our competing visions push, restrain, and refine each other. We forget that at our own risk.

I grew up in a time when political conversations were part of life, not a reason to exile someone from it. You could disagree without severing the relationship. The center wasn’t seen as a weakness. It was maturity — the space where people with different temperaments and values tried to make something workable.

Today, we act as if our country must pick a single path and purge the rest. But that’s not how the United States was designed. It wasn’t intended as a pure libertarian project or a pure social democracy. It’s a deliberate blend — a push-and-pull system with enough room for Hamilton’s national strength, Jefferson’s local skepticism, Roosevelt’s compassion, and Reagan’s correction.

The very friction we complain about is the mechanism that keeps us balanced.

And you can even see that balance in our books. Wealthier, urban, blue-leaning states indeed tend to generate more federal revenue than they receive. But those same states depend just as heavily on the energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and natural resources that come from the rural, older, red-leaning states that receive more federal spending.

That’s not ideology — that’s geography, demographics, and economic interdependence. Neither side is self-sufficient, and neither thrives without the other. The numbers simply reveal how tightly woven the country really is.

Some Americans daydream about a national split — two countries, one red and one blue — each free to express pure ideology without interference. It’s a tempting fantasy until you follow the math. A “blue nation” might be wealthy on paper, but it would be burdened by the cost of living, bureaucracy, and a shortage of land-based industries. A “red nation” might feel culturally unified, but would immediately face fiscal strain, aging demographics, and the challenge of replacing the federal inflows that currently stabilize its budgets.

Cut the country in half ideologically, and each half becomes a weaker version of itself.

Together, they make the thing work.

This time of year has a way of softening the edges, even if only for a few weeks. It reminds us that the people who frustrate us most are often the same people we share a meal with, raise kids around, or bump into at the grocery store. We don’t disappear from each other in December. We draw a little closer, whether we like it or not. That closeness is a quiet lesson in what the country needs year-round.

The center isn’t a compromise of conviction. It’s the only place 330 million people with wildly different values can coexist without tearing the nation apart. It’s the adult table — the one where no single worldview gets everything it wants, but everybody gets enough stability to keep moving.

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As this season unfolds, I find myself hoping we rediscover that center. We don’t have to agree on every policy or election. But we do need to stop pretending one side can run the country alone. America’s strength has always come from its opposites — from the tension between compassion and discipline, progress and caution, liberty and responsibility.

That tension isn’t a flaw. It’s the American design.

Maybe this quieter stretch of the year gives us the breathing room to remember it. And maybe that’s enough to soften the tone, steady the hand, and remind us that disagreement is not the end of the relationship — it’s the beginning of the conversation.

Joe Palaggi is a writer and historian whose work sits at the crossroads of theology, politics, and American civic culture. He writes about the moral and historical forces that shape our national identity and the challenges of a polarized age. He wrote this column for The Fulcrum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news platform covering efforts to fix our governing systems.

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to take a look back on what happened in the east metro restaurant scene in 2025.

So here are restaurants past (closed this year), present (notable 2025 openings) and yet to come.

If you’re sad about any of the closings, remember that these restaurants can’t survive without us. Take this as a cue to make a reservation at your favorite place.

Merry Christmas! We hope your holiday table was full of all the delicious things.

Notable 2025 restaurant openings

The Commodore: This gorgeous art deco bar in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood has thrown open its doors again, and its fans are legion. Honestly, though, on the Saturday we visited, the staff did not seem quite ready for prime time, and they are not yet accepting reservations. The food and drinks are decent if you have the patience to wait for them. If you’re hoping to eat a full meal, arrive early and ask for a table that’s not made for children. We couldn’t see cutting into a steak at the tiny table we were able to procure. (79 N. Western Ave., St. Paul; 651-842-9098; thecommodorebar.com)

Mafaldine at Liliana in Woodbury. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Liliana: The people behind Estelle and Mario’s in St. Paul went full Italian with this suburban restaurant. They hired Kenzie Edinger, formerly of Saint Dinette and Mucci’s, to helm the kitchen, which is putting out creative pasta dishes, antipasti and even a few sandwiches and meat entrees. The space is airy and modern, and don’t skip dessert — pastry chef Nok Piyamaporn’s carrot cake and tiramisu are fantastic. (10060 City Walk Drive, Woodbury; 651-493-9089; lilianamn.com)

Indian Kitchen Bar & Grill: We were very sad to see Chip’s Clubhouse, home of my youngest’s favorite cheeseburger, go. But! When we visited the space, which has been transformed into a (maybe too) bright Indian restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the curries, house-made naan and floral, flavorful biryani. (272 S. Snelling Ave, St. Paul; 651-350-7111; indiankitchenmn.com)

The Perfect Coffee: It was great to see this iconic North End space (formerly Coffee Cup) back in business. They’re still serving excellent breakfast and lunch items, but have added a bit of a Latin flair, because of the new owners. Oh, and the coffee is now legitimately good — they’re serving Peace Coffee and espresso drinks along with fresh-squeezed juices. (1446 Rice St., St. Paul; 651-348-2971; theperfectcoffeemn.com)

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery: This was one of the first (and saddest) closures of 2025, but we are happy to include it in the newly opened category, too. Because chef Shane Oporto and the folks behind Can Can Wonderland and St. Paul Brewing decided to bring it back! And we’re sorry, former Dark Horse, we really did love you, but the food here is better than ever — particularly the burger, which has risen to the top of our list. The cocktails are super delicious, too. In other words, if you haven’t been yet, what are you waiting for? (250 E. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651- 478-7139; darkhorsestp.com)

Khue’s Kitchen: If you haven’t yet found this little slice of Vietnamese heaven just off University and 280, I highly recommend going — but make sure you get a reservation, because there’s been a lot of (deserved) hype around it. Chef Eric Pham is putting out modern versions of the food he grew up eating, but with a modern, fine-dining bent. Pham’s mom, Khue Pham, is behind the Minneapolis institution Quang, and he cut his chops working for Gavin Kaysen at Spoon and Stable. The spicy chicken sandwich is legendary, but the sticky jicama ribs (more on those next week) are the sort of culinary wizardry that I’ve been thinking about for the entire six months since I tried them. (693 Raymond Ave., St. Paul; 612-600-9139; khueskitchen.com)

Petey’s BBQ in Alary’s: Unfortunately, this temple to smoked meats goes in both of the first two categories. It opened this spring and closes this week. It was great while it lasted. Alary’s is still kicking, though, and will announce a new culinary partner soon. (139 E. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-224-7717; alarys.com)

A mole and plantain dish at Xelas by El Sazon in Stillwater. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Xelas by El Sazon: This Stillwater restaurant is serving fantastically creative Mayan food, available in prix fixe or a la carte. It’s from chef Cristian De Leon, who earned a cult following for his excellent taco window, in an Eagan BP gas station. They were holding pop-up fine-dining dinners in the gas station and decided to take the concept brick-and-mortar. The creative cocktails here are excellent, too. (1180 W. Frontage Road, Stillwater; 651-571-3170; elsazonmn.com/xelas)

Steven D’s: This fall, Kim Reid and Steve Fiebiger decided to take things up a level — literally — when they turned their food truck, Steven D’s, into an everyday skyway lunch spot in the Town Square center. Now, they’re slinging burgers, crispy chicken, baked potatoes and more. (Real ones know: The true treats here are the soups, made fresh by Fiebiger every morning.) When longtime skyway lunch spot Cassie’s Deli packed up earlier this year, we weren’t sure how long its large footprint would remain empty — and we’re excited to see how Steven D’s continues to grow into the space. (444 Cedar St., St. Paul; 651-399-7459; facebook.com/StevenDsmn/)

A row of spirit bottles sit on a shelf at the new Volière Spirits distillery on Nov. 22, 2025, in a building within the historic Hamm’s Brewery campus. The distillery, which is also operating an attached cocktail room, took over barrel inventory from the now-closed 11Wells Spirits, allowing them to open with a broader range of products than most startup distilleries. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Volière and CrowBar: It’s no small feat to open a new distillery and cocktail lounge — and it’s more impressive still to create a space that feels homey, cozy, lived-in, already nostalgic from day one. Volière Spirits distillery and its counterpart CrowBar took flight just after Thanksgiving in the former Hamm’s Brewing blacksmith shop on the East Side, just across the parking lot from St. Paul Brewing. And, to put it quite simply, founders ReGina Clapp and Liza Sterletske, alongside lead distiller Seth Reid and beverage director Grete Bergland, make good drinks. (704 E. Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul; 651-571-9276; crowbarstp.com)

The Eagle Street: There’s no more Eagle Street Grille across the street from the Xcel Energy Center — now, The Eagle Street faces Grand Casino Arena. The restaurant’s original iteration closed in 2023 but was resurrected in September in the former Apostle Supper Club space, which has swapped out the tiki furnishings for plenty of TVs and sports memorabilia. It’s now run by the guys behind Pauly’s Pub and Grill, which includes original Eagle Street owner Joe Kasel, so it all feels very full circle, and very St. Paul. (253 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; 651-300-5740; theeaglestreet.com)

Río 1854: Based on the Ramirez family’s other projects — Taco Libre locations around the metro and the Mexatlan Supermercado in South St. Paul — it’s clear they know good Latin American food. And the menu at their new all-day spot Río 1854 in Stillwater pulls in a variety of influences, from classic Mexican flavors to Venezuelan and Colombian arepas to Peruvian ceviche. The space has been refreshed from its previous life as The Dock Cafe, and the owners have plenty of plans to use the large patio once the weather warms up, too. (425 Nelson St. E., Stillwater; 651-571-3103; rio1854.com)

Golden Thyme(s): Longtime Selby Avenue staple Golden Thyme has had a bit of a bumpy couple of years but appears to be back on its feet, plural — because now there’s not just one Golden Thyme, but two. In 2023, Stephanie and Mychael Wright sold their cafe to the Rondo Community Land Trust, which tried a variety of ideas for both the original Golden Thyme space and another storefront a block away. But with the current arrangement, they appear to have found, well, the golden ticket: The original Golden Thyme space is now a New Orleans-inspired restaurant, a nod to the Wrights’ Selby Avenue Jazz Fest; nearby, Golden Thyme Cafe serves coffee and hosts the Rondo Exchange small-business incubator. (Golden Thyme Restaurant & Bar: 934 Selby Ave; Golden Thyme Cafe: 856 Selby Ave., St. Paul; goldenthymeco.com)

Potter’s Pasties in Beer Dabbler Depot: We love a pasty, and Potter’s Pasties are the best! The eatery moved into the former doughnut and coffee space in the Beer Dabbler Depot a few weeks ago, and though we haven’t gotten there yet, we’re told they have vegan and gluten-free options for the first time as well as their classic, delicious savory hand pies with creative flavors like Thai, Reuben and mac and cheese. (1545 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 763-447-8338; potterspasties.com)

Restaurants that closed in 2025

Guests enjoy brunch as they watch a late morning thunderstorm from the windows of Saint Dinette in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Saint Dinette: It still hurts to write that this finer diner in Lowertown is no more. But the burger did pop up recently for a few days at Nova Bar in Hudson, Wis., so it might not be dead forever.

Petey’s BBQ in Alary’s: As we stated above, this barbecue joint has decided to call it quits. It was good and we’ll miss it.

Tommy Chicago’s: This Mendota Heights pizza spot served neighbors and sports teams for 18 years before the owners retired and the restaurant closed this month.

LW’s Bierstube: This German-ish pub in Inver Grove Heights closed after 42 years. That’s a pretty incredible run by any measure. The Oakdale and Hastings locations are still kicking, though.

Osteria I Nonni and Buon Giorno: The upscale Italian restaurant Osteria I Nonni and its sister deli, Buon Giorno, opened in Lilydale in 2002 to great fanfare. In October of this year, both closed, but the owners said Buon Giorno was looking for a new location. Time will tell.

Owners Thomas Boemer, left, and Nick Rancone, surrounded by an antique capiz shell chandelier, leopard print wall paper and glass behind the bar at Revival on Selby Avenue in St. Paul on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Revival: The shocking closure early this year of the southern-themed restaurants from chef Thomas Boemer and front-of-the-house guru Nick Rancone was softened a bit by Jester Concepts acquiring the brand and recipes. The food truck was out and about this summer, and they’re reportedly looking for a brick-and-mortar location.

Apostle Supper Club: This “supper club” across from the Grand Casino Arena was a mishmash of bad ideas from the start. Poor execution, worse drinks and high prices were the nails in the coffin. The outfit finally closed in June.

The burger at Chip’s Clubhouse in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Chip’s Clubhouse: The burger at this Snelling Avenue restaurant was the stuff of dreams. Unfortunately, dreams don’t last forever. We’re loving Indian Kitchen, which has taken over the spot, but this closing will always leave a cheeseburger-sized hole in our hearts.

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery: We loved this Lowertown bar. It closed. We were sad. But now it’s open again, and it’s better than ever. We are happy. Long live Dark Horse!

Kopplin’s: The snug Marshall Avenue shop opened as an even more snug Highland Park cafe almost 20 years ago and was an early player in the local specialty coffee scene. Owners Andrew and Amanda Kopplin will still continue roasting coffee for wholesale, but the cafe and walk-up window days are over.

Big River Pizza: After 10 years, owner Steve Lott decided not to renew the lease on his Lowertown pizzeria Big River Pizza, blaming “the current political and policy landscape in St. Paul.”

Burning Brothers Brewing co-owners Dane Breimhorst, left, and Thom Foss toast with their Pyro American Pale Ale in their St. Paul brewery on Thursday, March 27, 2014. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)

Burning Brothers Brewery: The state’s only gluten-free brewery, run by longtime friends and former Renaissance Festival fire-breathers Dane Breimhorst and Thom Foss, poured its last pint in May.

Cassie’s Deli: The skyway lunch staple, around since 1997 — though until 2015 known as D. Brian’s — served its last sandwich in April, when owner Steve Olson retired.

The Dock: Once a car wash building transformed in the 1980s by late architect Michael McGuire, The Dock Cafe was a longtime Stillwater favorite that had a bit of a rocky ending. After a two-year closure spurred by Covid, it reopened as The Dock in 2022 but closed less than three years later.

Handsome Hog: This Cathedral Hill restaurant, formerly linked to disgraced celebrity chef Justin Sutherland, will close Dec. 30. Sutherland has not been associated with the restaurant for more than a year. He moved to Los Angeles shortly after his felony conviction related to charges of pointing a gun at his girlfriend.

Restaurants we’re looking forward to in 2026

Bjorn and Megan Jacobse of Aubergine, the upcoming French restaurant on Selby Avenue in St. Paul. (Courtesy of Aubergine)

Aubergine: This French restaurant from Gavin Kaysen protégés Bjorn and Megan Jacobse is expected to open in the former Revival space early in 2026. (525 Selby Ave., St. Paul; restaurantaubergine.com)

Maison Rose: The gorgeous Lilydale building that long housed Osteria I Nonni and Buon Giorno Deli is becoming a cafe and bakery from chef John Kraus and Elizabeth Rose, the team behind Rose Street Patisserie in St. Paul and Patisserie 46 in South Minneapolis. The space will also be home to the Bread Lab, Kraus’ wholesale production and experimentation headquarters. Look for a spring opening. (981 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Lilydale; patisserie46.com)

Jenni’s Cafe: A new breakfast and lunch spot is getting ready to set up shop in Landmark Center downtown. Expect a sizable menu of paninis, quiche, soups, ice cream, and plenty of baked goods, plus an espresso bar. An exact opening date has not been announced but appears likely to be in the near future. (75 W. Fifth St.; jennis-stp.com)

Pho Oanh: Details about this new University Avenue spot are few and far between, but it appears set to open soon in a remodeled office building with traditional Vietnamese fare. (774 W. University Ave., instagram.com/phooanhmn)

New OG Zaza on Grand Avenue: The local pizza chain OG Zaza has announced it will take over the spot next to Grand Ol’ Creamery that was formerly occupied by Big E, chef Justin Sutherland’s egg sandwich restaurant. They were aiming for a Jan. 1 opening. (750 Grand Ave., St. Paul; ogzazamn.com)

Gambino’s Coal Fired Pizza (formerly known as Prince Coal Fired Pizza): The folks behind Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks are behind this new restaurant in the former Black Sheep space on Robert Street in downtown St. Paul. It’ll be a full-service establishment, offering a full bar. (512 N. Robert St., St. Paul)

Savory Bake House: This Longfellow neighborhood bakery recently announced via social media that they will be moving across the river to St. Paul. No word on where or when yet — we’ll let you know as soon as we know.

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Today is Thursday, Dec. 25, the 359th day of 2025. There are six days left in the year. This is Christmas Day.

Today in history:

On Dec. 25, 2009, passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 foiled an attempt to blow up the plane as it was landing in Detroit by seizing Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO’-mahr fah-ROOK’ ahb-DOOL’-moo-TAH’-lahb), who tried to set off explosives in his underwear. (Abdulmutallab later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.)

Also on this date:

In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned King of England.

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In 1818, “Silent Night (Stille Nacht)” was publicly performed for the first time during the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.

In 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional pardons to “every person who directly or indirectly” supported the Confederacy in the Civil War.

In 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1926, Hirohito became emperor of Japan, succeeding his father, Emperor Yoshihito.

In 1989, ousted Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu (chow-SHES’-koo) and his wife Elena were executed following a populist uprising.

In 2021, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope, was rocketed aloft from French Guiana in South America on a quest to see light from the first stars and galaxies and search the universe for signs of life.

Today’s Birthdays:

Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka is 79.
Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 77.
Actor Sissy Spacek is 76.
Former White House adviser Karl Rove is 75.
Actor CCH Pounder is 73.
Singer Annie Lennox is 71.
Country singer Steve Wariner is 71.
Model and businesswoman Helena Christensen is 57.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 54.
Actor Jeremy Strong is 47.