Breaking News in America Today: Minneapolis Shooting, Winter Storm, and Tax Season Kickoff
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The most urgent breaking news in America today centers on the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 34-year-old ICU nurse from Minneapolis, by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026. Pretti, who had a valid permit to carry a firearm, was killed during what federal officials described as an operation to intercept suspected illegal border crossers. No video footage has surfaced showing him armed, and witnesses say he was walking his dog near a rural checkpoint when agents opened fire. The incident has ignited nationwide protests, with crowds gathering in Minneapolis, Washington D.C., and Albuquerque. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland called the shooting a "cruel and unchecked" act, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche admitted Pretti was lawfully armed but defended the agents’ "split-second decision." Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are split: Senator Bill Cassidy demanded a joint federal-state investigation, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Pretti an "assassin" and "domestic terrorist"-a term echoed by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on social media.
Winter Storm Paralyzes 15 States, Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power
At the same time, a historic winter storm has slammed across the U.S., stretching from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service called it a "2,000-mile-wide catastrophe," with ice accumulation so severe that power lines snapped under the weight. As of January 25, nearly 478,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, especially in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. In upstate New York, temperatures plunged to minus 49 degrees Fahrenheit in Copenhagen, and minus 34 in Watertown-record lows for the region. President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for 15 states, and FEMA has deployed rescue teams and emergency supplies to every affected area. Governors from Vermont to Oklahoma are criticizing federal coordination, with Vermont’s Phil Scott calling the response a "complete failure of leadership." Utility crews are working around the clock, but officials warn it could take days to restore power in rural zones where ice damage is worst.
Native News Online Recovers After Major Facebook Hack
Native News Online, a vital source of Indigenous community reporting, is still recovering from a December 2025 hack that flooded its Facebook page with offensive content. The breach caused its follower count to drop from 411,000 to 334,000 by January 26. The site’s editorial team spent weeks removing false posts, resetting security, and rebuilding trust. They’ve since launched a new verification system and partnered with cybersecurity firms specializing in tribal digital infrastructure. "This wasn’t just a technical attack-it was an attempt to silence Native voices," said editor Leona Redfeather in a January 26 statement. The FBI is investigating the origin of the hack, but no arrests have been made.
U.S. Department of Education Targets New York School District Over Mascot Change
On January 23, the U.S. Department of Education accused the Massena Central School District in upstate New York of violating federal civil rights law. The district had removed its Native American mascot in compliance with a 2025 New York state ban on Indigenous imagery. But the Education Department argues the change was done without consulting local Haudenosaunee communities and now discriminates against students who identify with the cultural heritage tied to the former mascot. The district says it was following state law and that no students were harmed. The case could set a national precedent for how schools handle cultural symbols under federal civil rights enforcement.
Tax Season Begins Amid Unclear Cuts and Legal Pressure on the Fed
The 2026 tax filing season officially opened on January 26, with the IRS expecting to process 164 million returns by the April 15 deadline. Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent touted "the One, Big, Beautiful Bill" as delivering "tax cuts for working families," but the Treasury Department refused to release specifics on how much those cuts amount to. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is under renewed legal pressure. Grand jury subpoenas, served in January 2026, threaten criminal indictment of Chair Jerome Powell over his June 2025 testimony about renovations at Federal Reserve office buildings. Powell has called the investigation "politically motivated," and no charges have been filed yet.
Travel Ban Blocks Student’s Return to U.S. After Internship Abroad
University of Michigan junior Allison Voto, a 21-year-old political science major, is stranded in Canada after being denied re-entry to the United States on January 25. She completed a semester-long internship in Germany and returned to the U.S. border on January 20, only to be turned away under a new travel restriction targeting students who studied abroad in countries deemed "high-risk" by the Department of Homeland Security. Voto’s home state of Michigan has filed a formal complaint, and her legal team is preparing a federal lawsuit. The White House has not commented on her case, but similar denials have been reported for at least 12 other U.S. students since December 2025.
Public Opinion Shifts on Immigration Amid Rising Tensions
According to the January 2026 AP-NORC survey, President Trump’s approval rating on immigration policy has fallen to 38%, down from 49% in March 2025. The Minneapolis shooting is the biggest driver of this decline. A majority of respondents-58%-said they believe federal immigration agents are too aggressive, and 61% support independent oversight of Border Patrol operations. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt captured the mood when he asked on CNN, "Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want."
What happened in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026?
On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a licensed firearms carrier and ICU nurse from Minneapolis, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents near a rural checkpoint. He was walking his dog and had no criminal record. No video shows him armed, and witnesses say he was unarmed. Federal officials claim he interfered with a law enforcement operation, but his family and civil rights groups say the shooting was unjustified and part of a broader pattern of excessive force.
How many people are without power due to the winter storm?
As of January 25, 2026, approximately 478,000 homes and businesses across 15 states are without electricity due to ice accumulation from the winter storm. The hardest-hit areas include Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York. Utility crews are working to restore power, but some rural areas may remain without electricity for several days.
Why is the Department of Education investigating a New York school district?
The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Massena Central School District for allegedly violating federal civil rights law after removing its Native American mascot. While the district followed New York State’s ban on Indigenous imagery, the Education Department claims the change was made without consulting local Haudenosaunee communities and now discriminates against students with ties to that heritage. The case could influence how schools nationwide handle cultural symbols under federal law.
Is the IRS offering tax cuts in 2026?
Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent said tax cuts were delivered through "the One, Big, Beautiful Bill," but the Treasury Department has not released specific numbers or details. Taxpayers are seeing changes in withholding tables and standard deductions, but exact savings vary by income and family size. Many are still waiting for clarity on how much they’ll actually get back this year.
Why can’t Allison Voto return to the U.S.?
Allison Voto, a University of Michigan student, was denied re-entry at the Canadian border on January 25 after returning from a semester-long internship in Germany. Under a new Trump administration policy, students who studied in countries labeled "high-risk" are barred from returning unless they pass additional vetting. Voto’s case is one of at least 12 similar denials reported since December 2025. Her legal team is preparing a federal lawsuit, arguing the policy violates constitutional rights to education and travel.
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