City Cast Twin Cities
🤖 AI misinformation after ICE shooting
January 12, 2026
Good morning, Twin Cities. Tiffany here. Minneapolis Public School students are back in class today. The district is also offering students the option to learn from home until Feb. 12, in response to parents’ fears about sending kids to school during this tense time.
Today’s Must-Know
How AI misidentified the agent who killed Renee Macklin Good
Although the team has been doing our best to stay on top of the news, I was admittedly confused when I saw the Star Tribune put out a statement that the ICE agent has “no known affiliation” with the news organization. Turns out, internet sleuths attempted to unmask the shooter from witness video using generative AI. The inaccurate image circulated on social media, along with names unrelated to ICE. [WIRED]
- How’s the Star Tribune involved?: Weirdly, one of those names was Steve Grove, also the name of the newspaper’s publisher. A Steven Grove in Missouri also came under online attack, and told NPR: “I'm not in Minnesota. I don't work for ICE, and I have, you know, 20 inches of hair on my head, but whatever.” [NPR]
- Timeline: This all happened within hours of the shooting. Fortunately, the intrepid reporters at the Star Tribune uncovered the agent’s real identity as Jonathan Ross on Thursday – without relying on AI. [Star Tribune]
- More misinformation: The Star Tribune also reported that shortly after the shooting, social media users began spreading the wrong image of a woman attributed to Macklin Good. [Star Tribune]
Sponsored Content
Aaron Parks Trio Ignites Berlin
Pianist-composer Aaron Parks joins bassist Ben Street and drummer Eric McPherson at Berlin Music Lounge, performing music from Parks’ third Blue Note release, By All Means, expanding a vibrant palette inspired by Wayne Shorter, Kenny Wheeler, Horace Silver, and Duke Ellington. Seats are limited. Book now.
What the Cities Are Talking About
More ICE: Expect “hundreds” more ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis, according to an announcement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday. CBS Minnesota reports there are more than 2,400 agents in the Twin Cities area. [CBS Minnesota]
Transforming Northeast: MNDOT is looking to completely redesign Central Ave. in Minneapolis, and neighbors view it as a “once in a century” opportunity to change it for good. Northeast business owner Seth Stattmiller joins the show to present his vision for an “Art Walk” along the street. “This should be our Chicago ‘Bean,’” Stattmiller said. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
Grieving family: Renee Macklin Good’s wife, Becca Good, shared a statement with MPR. The two and their son had recently moved to Minnesota. “Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.” [MPR]
Hate campaign: Carson Hartzog reports that Somali businesses have faced a wave of harassment following a viral YouTube video purporting fraud at Somali-owned daycares. Albi Kitchen has also been targeted just for being in the same building as one of the daycares featured in the video. [Star Tribune]
New heights: Alex V. Cipolle interviewed the new owners of The Heights Theater – Ryan Oestreich and Music Box Theatre, a Chicago arthouse cinema. Among their changes: the theater will have family-friendly showings on Saturdays as part of their “Cartoons & Classic” series. [MPR]
Moules frites: Every Wednesday for the rest of January, Meritage’s pop-up will be serving pretty much just steak and mussels. Called Steak Frites, the pop-up features a straightforward prix fixe menu that offers a choice of steak or mussels and bottomless fries. I know what I’m getting. [Pioneer Press]
What to Do
Monday, Jan 12
- ❄️ Noon Nature Stroll | Wirth Lake Beach Parking Lot
- 📚 Allen Esken Presents The Quiet Librarian 🆓 | University Club of Saint Paul
- 🎷 David Binney Action Trio | Dakota
- 🎿 Melanin In Motion Nordic Skiing | The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth
- 💃 Queer Contra | Eagle 34
- 🎶 The Cactus Blossoms with Betty Won’t | Turf Club
Tuesday, Jan 13
- 🌲 Winterscapes: Beyond the Leaves | The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth
- ❄️ World Snow Celebration 2026 (Opening Day) | Lowell Park, Stillwater
- 🎯 Skee-Ball Tournament | Up-Down Minneapolis
- 🔔 Meditative Sound Journey | The Arthouse
- 🚫 Banned Book Club: The 1619 Project | Penumbra Theatre
- 🎶 Buffalo Show | Bryant Lake Bowl
- 🎼 Travis Anderson Trio: The Music of Studio Ghibli, Disney & Pixar | Dakota
Twin Cities Job Board
- Vice President of National Advancement at Artspace Projects | $80k - $100k per year
- Immigration Organizer at Minnesota Freedom Fund | $61k per year
- Natural Resources Volunteer Coordinator at Saint Paul Parks & Recreation Dept | $63k - $86k per year
- Human Rights Investigator at City of Saint Paul | $71k - $97k per year
- Data Analyst, Principal at Hennepin County Health and Human Services | $70k - $111k per year
We’re continuing to monitor how federal immigration enforcement is impacting our cities. You can send us tips at [email protected]. Take care.
— Tiffany
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