ICE

“The Trump administration has formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to information and evidence from the FBI investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. “The [Bureau of Criminal Apprehension] and other law enforcement offices in Minnesota have longstanding ties to the FBI and a history of working together on criminal investigations of all sorts. The rupture in the relationship first became apparent after the killing of [Renee] Good, when Trump administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, quickly branded Good a domestic terrorist, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the federal government was not investigating” the agent who allegedly shot Good. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/trump-administration-formally-denies-minnesota-investigators-access-to-evidence-in-alex-pretti-shooting/601583232?utm_source=gift

FBI won’t share Alex Pretti shooting evidence, Minnesota authorities say
State’s governor had demanded impartial inquiry into the shooting of the VA nurse by federal immigration agents
José Olivares
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/16/fbi-alex-pretti-minnesota-authorities-information-sharing

“Dozens of Minnesotans are sharing their experiences of violent interactions with ICE agents during the surge,” MPR News reports. “A class-action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota added sworn declarations from more than 80 observers or protesters who allege First Amendment violations.” Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/16/more-than-80-minnesotans-detail-useofforce-intimidation-by-ice-agents-in-lawsuit

More News

Minnesota lawmakers are tapping campaign funds to bolster their security
Although Congress has boosted the amount of money provided for members’ security, some Minnesota lawmakers are spending more for their personal safety.
by Ana Radelat and Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/02/minnesota-lawmakers-are-tapping-campaign-funds-to-bolster-their-security/

With the Minnesota Legislature set to return, DFLers are on the offensive. Republicans have a leaner agenda.
GOP leaders seek a bonding bill. Democrats want that too, plus an assault weapons ban and immigration enforcement reform.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/with-the-minnesota-legislature-set-to-return-dflers-are-on-the-offensive-republicans-have-a-leaner-agenda/

‘I feel like I’m in a financial prison’: Trump Wall Street plan puts ‘mom and pop’ investors at risk, advocates say
Trump says everyday Americans deserve a chance to buy higher-risk ‘alternative’ investments. Critics say this could lead to big losses for small investors
Susan Antilla
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/17/trump-wall-street-plan-mom-and-pop-investors-risks

Colbert accuses Trump administration of censorship after CBS pulls interview
Host says lawyers barred him from discussing decision to drop Texas Democrat segment amid FCC rules scrutiny
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/17/colbert-trump-administration-censorship-cbs
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A&pp=ygUaY29sYmVydCB0YWxhcmljbyBpbnRlcnZpZXc%3D

More than 600 people were fired or punished for posting about Charlie Kirk’s death. They want justice
Acolytes of the far-right activist urged employers to fire his critics. Now those who were terminated are suing and claiming their right to free speech
John Semley
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/17/people-fired-punished-posting-charlie-kirk-death

France issues red flood alerts after ‘exceptional’ rainfall
Aftermath of Storm Nils causes chaos across country with flooding under way or expected on Garonne, Maine and Loire rivers
Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/17/red-flood-alerts-storm-nils-exceptional-rainfall

The Blood Countess review – Isabelle Huppert reigns supreme in a surreal vampire fantasia
Vienna turns into a playground of camp, cruelty and aristocratic disdain in a blackly comic take on the Báthory legend – with Huppert gloriously suited to the title role
Peter Bradshaw
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/16/blood-countess-film-review-isabelle-huppert

Tent painting, sand wrestling and year of the horse: photos of the day – Tuesday
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world
Eithne Staunton
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2026/feb/17/tent-painting-year-of-the-horse-photos-of-the-day-tuesday

Me

TurboTax & Me
I owe! I owe! I owe! Less than my first rough through, but more than I wish. My hope that the solar panel installation credit would cover my last estimated tax payment fell foul to a large unexpected capital gains tax hit. The host of medical bills I’d expected never materialized.

Theophylline & Me
Ive taken theophylline, an ancient and now little-prescribed drug from a tree in India, since before the dinosaurs vanished. Over the years, cost and sense never went together. Various weight pills of the drug varied wildly and were not related to the dose. A 200 MG pill might cost 30 times as much as a 600 MG pill. Right now, it has just vanished. CVS just fails to fill it. Walgreens and Amazon think they can provide it. Amazon claimed they can get 200 MG pills with a 3-month supply for only $1,028 and change. My BC & BS insurance formulary doesn’t cover the 200 MG dose, and they denied my first request for a waiver. I reapplied, and they approved it. The Amazon price dropped to only $450! A Canadian pharmacy can provide it for $177.40 ($23.03 to Herr Trump’s tariffs). Cost Plus, which ustta not have much, has 300 MG for $15.12 for 90 pills. Of course, this is three prescriptions I’ve not filled, and I don’t have a paper prescription for that dose. (A downside to theophylline is you need blood tests for aminophylline levels to determine if you’re taking enough to be effective and too little to be toxic. A couple of years ago, I went too high in the range, which I can’t recommend.)

Happy Lunar New Year!
It’s the year of the horse, and given I am not chemically compatible with horses, who knows what the year holds? Sure hard to beat the last one though.

Ramadan
Starting today or tomorrow as determined by a moon-sighting committee.

Shrove Tuesday

Git yer pancakes ready!