Good morning. Your commute might feel like an ice skating outing today.

Anybody remember Y2K and the arduous preparations that went into that? Certain corners of the Walz administration must have that feel as 2026 arrives. A paid family and medical leave program goes live on Jan. 1. The stakes as Gov. Tim Walz sets off on his fight for reelection that will culminate in November. Past tech-heavy launches have had a clunky start. This one affects every Minnesota worker because businesses and their employers are feeding into a fund to pay for the guaranteed time off for child bonding, long-term medical problems and caregiving for family members in peril. The Department of Employment and Economic Development, where the new benefit is housed, has begun a public awareness push to let people know more about what the program could mean for them. They’ll see the messages online, in movie theaters, on billboards, in medical offices and media channels. 

Some families are eager for the program to launch. Dana Ferguson spoke with several new or expectant parents who are planning to tap into the leave. Some are building on what their employers have offered or are looking forward to what’s a more-generous state benefit. Dana spoke to Allison and Luke Skansgaard in Moorhead as they await the birth of a child in February. Both plan to take extended time off to bond with the baby. Luke didn’t get that luxury when their first child was born. “Just being at work and not being able to help, but still, like, the emotion, you’re relied upon for emotional support, but I had no other option at the time, right?” he said. “You have to keep your job.”

The white-hot glow of tragedies eventually fade, but the important stories they reveal take persistence. Nicole Ki (who will be attached to our Capitol team in the months ahead) goes deep on a custody battle that normally wouldn’t get much notice . It involves a woman whose former boyfriend gunned down three first responders in Burnsville in 2024 before killing himself. The man gained the upper hand in the custody case partly because of his ability to afford legal representation and her inability to do the same. Ki describes how the case “provides a window into the challenges of the state’s family court system, where the majority of cases have at least one party not represented by a lawyer.”  

The sprawling federal government hunt for instances of fraud in Minnesota now includes the unemployment insurance program. The U.S. Labor Department said it is conducting a targeted review of Minnesota’s program, just the latest agency to cast a spotlight on the state as President Donald Trump feuds with DFL Gov. Tim Walz. Labor Secretary Linda Chavez-DeRemer said the review stems from reports of fraud in other programs managed by Minnesota using federal dollars. The Minnesota Reformer said Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development defends what it described as  strong controls it has in place. The Walz administration is citing new Vanity Fair reporting that Trump’s team is out for retribution on perceived political enemies and stepping up investigations in Democratic-led states. This month alone, a dozen new requests for information, initiations of investigations or threats of funding withholding have come from Washington.  

A dispute between Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and federal immigration authorities revolves around whether the Democratic congresswoman's son had an encounter with ICE agents.  Omar's son is a U.S.-born citizen. The lawmaker told WCCO-TV Sunday that he was pulled over last weekend as he was leaving a Minneapolis Target store but was allowed to move on after showing his passport ID. Omar alleges the weekslong operation in Minnesota involves racial profiling of people of Somali descent. ICE disputes that the congresswoman's son was pulled over and posted a social media statement yesterday that called it “shameful that Congresswoman Omar would level accusations to demonize ICE as part of a PR stunt.” Omar responded yesterday on CNN without directly addressing the matter in dispute. She said ICE officials have rebuffed calls by city, state and federal Democratic officials to disclose data about what the agency is calling “Operation Metro Surge.” Omar said, “It is amazing that they're able to put out this statement saying definitely they did not pull my son over when they haven't been able to answer anything else. And ICE has been known to lie when it comes to their enforcement.” Federal authorities have selectively released arrest data despite requests for a fuller disclosure of the operation's results. On CNN, Omar also reacted to repeated statements by President Donald Trump that her own status in the country be reviewed and that she possibly be deported to Somalia. “I am here to stay and Somali Americans are here to stay,” she said.

Nisswa’s city council isn’t dropping its scrutiny of Mayor Jennifer Carnahan and will consider a censure resolution next month. The former state GOP chair’s conduct is in question related to remarks she is alleged to have made in a Nisswa restaurant and a subsequent run-in with a person she accused of assault.  No charges have been brought. A few city council members say Carnahan has roiled city politics and one said she should resign as mayor. MPR’s Kirsti Marohn reported on a meeting Tuesday night in which Carnahan rejected any move to force her out. She said the censure motion is “performative politics,” and an effort to settle personal or political grievances against her. And she said she’s protected by the First Amendment. “That protection includes the ability to speak about public policy, government actions, other public officials — including through public statements, social media and interactions with members of the public,” Carnahan said. She declined to answer council member questions. The next hearing is in January.

A Republican effort to recruit a higher-profile U.S. Senate candidate could soon pay off — or reach an end that disappoints those cheering on the recruitment. All eyes are on Michele Tafoya, the veteran sports broadcaster who has dabbled in Minnesota politics but never gone ahead with a campaign. There are signs she’s on the cusp. Sourced reports coming out of Washington are that she has met with national GOP leaders who can help lift or sink campaigns. Conservative media is also reporting that she’s leaning toward running. Tafoya is publicly silent but those around her are pointing to a post Jan. 1 launch. The Star Tribune spoke to Republicans urging her on. If she runs, the race immediately climbs the ladder of those to watch in 2026 and will almost certainly attract national money into Minnesota. The seat is open due to Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s decision to step aside after this term, and so far a lot of focus has been on the Democratic tussle between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. On the Republican side there are multiple candidates: Royce White, Adam Schwarze and Tom Weiler among them.