Immigration officials have promised to not target metro area churches this holiday season, according to the metro’s Catholic leader.

In a statement Tuesday, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Department of Homeland Security officials recently reiterated to archdiocesan representatives that action would not be taken unless there is an imminent public safety threat.

“We are unaware of any enforcement actions in our parishes and schools in these past weeks and months and have no reason to believe that will change,” Hebda said.

Gov. Tim Walz, joined by faith leaders and other public officials at a press conference on Tuesday, said he would “not put it past” immigration officials to target midnight Mass services or to step up actions during other parts of the holiday season, according to KARE 11.

“Public safety is strongest when law enforcement can focus on real threats and when communities trust that they will be treated fairly and with dignity,” Walz said. “What we are seeing from the Trump Administration is not about safety — it is political theater that creates fear and weakens trust.”

Hebda emphasized the role of Catholic churches as places of refuge for all.

“We are at a moment in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God,” Hebda said. “That is as true for our immigrant sisters and brothers as it is for our elected officials and those who are responsible for carrying out our laws.”

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Waiting for a mentor: Mason

In an alternate universe, quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn’t suffer a small hairline fracture in his right hand, which meant he was able to continue his upward trajectory for the Vikings last weekend in a win over the New York Giants.

Let’s continue to play out the string.

If that were indeed the case, McCarthy would be able to start for the Vikings on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Detroit Lions. Then, assuming he got out of that game unscathed, once more next weekend against the Green Bay Packers.

That would pave the way for the Vikings to bring in a veteran quarterback in free agency as insurance on McCarthy, who, for all the strides he’s taken, has not yet proven he can be consistently available.

As much as that hypothetical scenario might’ve been great for McCarthy, the butterfly effect could have resulted in rookie quarterback Max Brosmer never playing in the NFL again.

The only line on Brosmer’s résumé would’ve been his start for the Vikings last month, when they got demolished by the Seahawks in Seattle. He looked completely overwhelmed by the moment amid a disastrous display that threatened to shake his confidence. He wasn’t going to let that happen.

“My dream has been to play in the NFL,” Brosmer said. “To define myself by that game wouldn’t be fair to the younger me.”

Luckily for Brosmer, he has been given a chance to atone. Coming on in relief last weekend, he showed the composure that earned him a roster spot after initially signing as an undrafted free agent. Not only did Brosmer effectively manage the game last Sunday, completing 7 of 9 passes for 52 yards, he led the Vikings down the field in the final minutes for a scoring drive that held up as the difference in a 16-13 win.

“It was a good feeling to be in the huddle with the guys,” Brosmer said. “We’ve got to see the fruits of our labor a little bit towards the end.”

Now, Brosmer is in line to to start for the Vikings against the Lions in a nationally televised game on Christmas, and perhaps even against the Packers depending on how McCarthy’s hand responds to treatment over the next week or so.

It’s a crossroads for Brosmer that has the potential to shape his life in the NFL. If he plays well over the next couple of games, he could carve out a niche as a reliable backup with room to grow. If he struggles, he might not be given another chance to prove himself.

There is precedence to suggests Brosmer will only get better the more he plays.

You don’t have to go back far to find the last time Brosmer made a pretty bad first impression. He was largely ineffective in his debut with the Gophers on Aug. 29, 2024, when his play contributed to a disappointing loss to North Carolina. He completed only 13 of 21 passes for 165 yards, got sacked a handful of times, and had a costly fumble in the final frame.

It was fair to wonder if Brosmer had bitten off more than he could chew as a graduate transfer jumping from the FCS level to the FBS level. His response was immediate, however, as he led the Gophers to a pair of wins to close out the nonconference schedule before he and the Gophers upset Southern Cal.

It was a steady build from there as Brosmer went on to put together the best campaign the program had seen from a quarterback in more than a decade. It would not have been possible had he not been given the chance to push through adversity early.

That mental toughness has been apparent with the Vikings.

“There are going to be games throughout the rest of my career where I might have a few picks, or we might lose a game where I felt like maybe I could’ve done something better,” Brosmer said. “I’m going to use that and continue to build and know that whenever that comes, next time in my career I’ll be ready to handle that.”

Is that easier said than done?

“It’s way easier said than done,” Brosmer said with a laugh. “I’ve had some really helpful people in my ear a little bit continuing to push me along and make sure that I’m staying on the right track.”

That tenacity has led Brosmer to this point. Perhaps this NFL journey is just beginning.

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By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge’s ruling clears the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

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U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake on Tuesday denied a request seeking to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.

In the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation in May that raises tax revenue to deal with eroding shorelines, wildfires and other climate problems. Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually.

The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, starting next year, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in a lawsuit, along with a Honolulu company that provides supplies and provisions to cruise ships and tour businesses out of Kauai and the Big Island that rely on cruise ship passengers. Among their arguments is that the new law violates the Constitution by taxing cruise ships for the privilege of entering Hawaii ports.

Plaintiff lawyers also argued that the tax would hurt tourism by making cruises more expensive. The lawsuit notes the law authorizes counties to collect an additional 3% surcharge, bringing the total to 14% of prorated fares.

“Cruise tourism generates nearly $1 billion in total economic impact for Hawai‘i and supports thousands of local jobs, and we remain focused on ensuring that success continues on a lawful, sustainable foundation,” association spokesperson Jim McCarthy said in a statement.

According to court records, plaintiffs will appeal. They asked the judge to grant an injunction pending an appeal and requested a ruling by Saturday afternoon given the law takes effect Jan. 1.

Hawaii will continue to defend the law, which requires cruise operators to pay their share of transient accommodation tax to address climate change threats to the state, state Attorney General Anne Lopez said in a statement.

The U.S. government intervened in the case, calling the tax a “scheme to extort American citizens and businesses solely to benefit Hawaii” in conflict with federal law.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and SEUNG MIN KIM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that finishing the release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein files could take a “few more weeks,” further delaying compliance with a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress.

The department said the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, as well as the FBI, found more than a million more documents that could be relevant to the Epstein case. It did not say in its statement when it was informed of those new files.

The Justice Department insisted that its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and make the redactions required under the law, passed nearly unanimously by Congress last month.

“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A dozen U.S. senators are calling on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine the department’s failure to release all records pertaining to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline, saying victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined 11 Democrats in signing a letter Wednesday urging Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to audit the Justice Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to open its files on Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell.

“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

Murkowski and Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., led the letter writing group. Others included Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, a co-sponsor of the transparency act, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.”

Despite the deadline, the Justice Department has said it plans to release records on a rolling basis. It blamed the delay on the time-consuming process of obscuring survivors’ names and other identifying information. More batches of records were posted over the weekend and on Tuesday. The department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

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“The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that to protect victims,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “So the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don’t want us to protect victims.”

Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.

Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”