Minneapolis Shooting, US Murder Rate Drop, Winter Storm, Alex Honnold's Taipei 101 Climb: AM Update

Anti-ICE Protestor Fatally Shot by Federal Agents

• 🎯 An anti-ICE activist, identified as 37-year-old Alex Prey, was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.
• ⚡ The incident occurred as agents were attempting to arrest an undocumented immigrant outside a doughnut shop, with Prey appearing to interfere with the operation.
• ⚠️ Video footage of the encounter shows agents deploying pepper spray and struggling with Prey before shots were fired; a 9mm handgun and loaded magazines were recovered.
• 🗣️ Interpretations of the event vary widely, with DHS initially suggesting Prey intended "maximum damage," a claim met with frustration by some federal sources who called the spin "catastrophic."
• ⚖️ DHS is investigating the shooting, with Secretary Mayorkas emphasizing Prey's actions constituted impeding a federal law enforcement operation, a felony.

US Murder Rate Hits Historic Low

• 📉 A new report from the Council of Criminal Justice (CCJ) indicates the U.S. murder rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1900.
• 📊 The average reported homicide rate in 2025 was 21% lower than in 2024, with an anticipated overall rate of 4 per 100,000 residents.
• 🚀 Denver, Colorado saw the largest decline at 41%, followed by Washington D.C. and Omaha, Nebraska at 40%.
• 📈 Aggravated assault, domestic violence, robbery, and carjackings also saw significant decreases, while drug offenses increased slightly.
• ❓ The report does not definitively pinpoint the causes of the decline, with various entities, including the White House and former President Trump's team, offering differing explanations.

Massive Winter Storm Grips the US

• ❄️ A powerful winter storm has impacted millions across 40 states, bringing snow, ice, freezing rain, and bitter cold.
• 🥶 Record low temperatures are expected in several regions, with wind chills reaching as low as -34°F in Watertown, New York.
• ⚠️ The storm has been deadly, causing hypothermia deaths in Louisiana, and has led to widespread power outages affecting approximately 1 million customers in the South.
• ✈️ Travel has been severely disrupted, with over 12,000 flight cancellations reported on Sunday alone, and numerous school districts announcing closures or remote learning.
• 🚨 Emergency declarations are in place in at least 24 states as crews work to clear roads and restore power.

Alex Honnold Free-Solos Taipei 101

• 🧗 Rock climber Alex Honnold, famous for free-soloing El Capitan, successfully scaled Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or safety gear.
• 🏢 The 1667-foot building presented unique challenges with its glass and steel surfaces, offering less friction than natural rock.
• ⏱️ Honnold completed the ascent in 1 hour and 32 minutes, broadcasting live on Netflix with a 10-second delay.
• ✅ He reached the summit, took a selfie, and then rappelled down to a staging area, much to the relief of onlookers and his wife.