CITY CASTTwin Cities
City Cast Twin Cities

City Cast Twin Cities

🎤 Nur-D speaks out after ICE detainment

January 30, 2026 · Anna Weggel and Sean McPherson edited the City Cast Twin Cities newsletter this week. Feedback? Email [email protected].

Good morning, Twin Cities – it’s Tiffany. Your resource of the day is Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis, which is hosting a book drive to support Minneapolis teachers and students. You can buy or donate books for students who can’t go to school right now. 📚

Today’s Must-Know

A screenshot of two men on an online call. Both of which with microphones in front of them
Host Sean McPherson speaks to rapper and hip-hop artist Nur-D. (City Cast Twin Cities)

Nur-D speaks out after aggressive ICE detainment

Hours after Alex Pretti was killed by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, hip-hop artist and rapper Matt Allen, a.k.a Nur-D, was among many other people gathered in protest at the scene. Video captured by MS NOW shows several agents holding Nur-D to the ground while his wife screams in the background. Allen talked to City Cast Twin Cities about fearing for his life as agents pinned him down. “My wife’s screams will live with me forever,” Allen said.

  • A day of death: Allen said he was walking away from agents with his hands in the air when he was hit in the back by projectiles. He can be heard on video shouting his full legal name and stating that he’s a U.S. citizen. “If I was going to die, I wanted to set the record straight on who I was and what happened,” Allen said.
  • What’s next: Allen and his wife, Sarah Allen, are seeking legal action against the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and other federal agencies for “violation of their civil liberties,” according to a public statement made by Matt and Sarah Allen. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

What the Cities Are Talking About

Ultimatum works: Remember when a federal judge ordered ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear in court this Friday, unless he released a detainee identified as Juan T.R.? Well, the agency has released T.R. in Texas, so Lyons got out of what could’ve been an embarrassing court appearance. [Minnesota Reformer]

Bye Bankas: Camp Bar has canceled six sold-out shows featuring comic Ben Bankas, who went viral after calling Renee Good names and saying she “should have been shot 10 minutes before.” Bar owner Bill Collins estimates he will lose about $18,000 for the cancellations. [Pioneer Press]

Pothole patched: You know things are bad when focusing on potholes is a relief. On Wednesday, St. Paul showed off its new Bagela Asphalt Recycler for filling potholes. Apparently, it’s more durable and efficient than the usual “cold mix.” [MPR]

A group of people in hoods and sunglasses protesting outside Target Center
Protesters at the Jan. 23 ICE Out rally head toward the Target Center. (Adam Sage / City Cast Twin Cities)

Rally funding: As I was thawing out my toes last week at the ICE Out rally, I moved indoors to the Target Center and wondered, “Who paid for this?” The answer is pretty straightforward – the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, with 175 affiliated unions. Target Corporation, despite being the namesake, was not involved. [MinnPost]

Surveillance dragnet: ICE is using technology once deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to monitor people at home. Among other tools, ICE uses an app that scans your face to determine if you’re a citizen and “stingrays” that track your device by mimicking cell phone towers. [Sahan Journal]

Hi to Portland: Our very own producer, Adam Sage, was on City Cast Portland to discuss the impacts of Operation Metro Surge on the Twin Cities. Federal immigration agents shot two people in Portland, who survived. [🎧 City Cast Portland]

What to Do

Friday, Jan 30

Saturday, Jan 31

Sunday, Feb 1

More Twin Cities Events

Twin Cities Job Board

More Twin Cities Jobs
A screenshot of a crossword puzzle. Four down and three

How about closing the week with a crossword from host Sean McPherson? Have a great weekend.

— Tiffany

Free · Daily

More from City Cast Twin Cities

Read latest