Minneapolis Newsroom Rises to Immigration Story Amid Digital Shift

Star Tribune covers unrest, ICE actions with expanded digital coverage and community connections

Jan. 31, 2026 at 11:47pm

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As the eyes of the nation have turned to the unrest in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Star Tribune has risen to the challenge, breaking major stories and providing comprehensive coverage of the immigration enforcement actions and public response. The newspaper, which has undergone a digital transformation under billionaire owner Glen Taylor, has leveraged its strong local reporting team and community connections to deliver impactful journalism during this pivotal moment.

Why it matters

The Star Tribune's coverage of the Minneapolis unrest highlights the importance of robust local journalism, especially in times of crisis. While national outlets have made their presence felt, the Star Tribune's deep ties to the community and its understanding of the local context have allowed it to provide nuanced, in-depth reporting that goes beyond the headlines. This story also underscores the challenges facing regional newspapers as they navigate the digital transition, with the Star Tribune serving as an example of a newsroom that has invested in its staff and digital capabilities to remain resilient.

The details

The Star Tribune has broken a number of key stories, including the identity of the immigration enforcement officer who shot Renee Good and the criminal backgrounds of the estimated 3,000 immigrants rounded up in Minnesota. The newspaper has also produced a variety of informative and instructive pieces, such as a study on the size of the federal force compared to local police and a report on the health consequences of chemical irritants used by law enforcement. The newsroom has reorganized to cover the story aggressively through a continuously updated live blog, with a greater emphasis on video and forensic analysis of footage from the incidents.

  • Over the past month, the Minnesota Star Tribune has broken stories and produced coverage of the unrest in Minneapolis.
  • The Star Tribune shut its Minneapolis printing plant in December 2025, laying off 125 people and moving print operations to Iowa as part of its digital-first transition.
  • Steve Grove, the publisher and chief executive, joined the Star Tribune in May 2025.

The players

Minnesota Star Tribune

A regional newspaper that has undergone a digital transformation under billionaire owner Glen Taylor, who has owned the paper since 2014. The Star Tribune has kept its staffing relatively steady and has been able to provide comprehensive coverage of the unrest in Minneapolis.

Glen Taylor

The billionaire owner of the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2014, who has supported the newspaper's digital transformation and investment in its newsroom.

Steve Grove

The publisher and chief executive of the Minnesota Star Tribune, who joined the newspaper in May 2025 and has overseen its digital-first transition.

Kathleen Hennessey

The senior vice president and editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune, who has praised the strength of the local journalism ecosystem in Minneapolis.

Richard Tsong-Taatarii

A photographer for the Minnesota Star Tribune who captured a defining image of a protester being sprayed with a chemical irritant by law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“If you hadn't invested in the newsroom, you wouldn't be able to react in that way.”

— Steve Grove, Publisher and Chief Executive, Minnesota Star Tribune

“The whole ecosystem is pretty darn good, and I think people are seeing that now.”

— Kathleen Hennessey, Senior Vice President and Editor, Minnesota Star Tribune

“I was just trying to document and present the evidence and let people decide for themselves.”

— Richard Tsong-Taatarii

What’s next

The Star Tribune will continue to closely monitor the unfolding events in Minneapolis and provide comprehensive coverage as the situation evolves. The newspaper's digital-first approach and investment in its newsroom will be crucial in its ability to respond to breaking news and deliver timely, in-depth reporting to its readers.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Star Tribune's coverage of the unrest in Minneapolis showcases the value of strong local journalism, especially in times of crisis. By leveraging its deep community connections, digital capabilities, and experienced reporting team, the newspaper has been able to provide essential reporting that goes beyond the national headlines, offering a nuanced understanding of the local context and the impact on the community.