Civic Media Today - Jan. 26, 2026
Protests and reaction to the killing of Alex Pretti, a nurse in Minneapolis and a graduate of a Green Bay high school. Plus: Wisconsin joins a lawsuit challenging federal action in Minnesota.
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It’s Monday, Jan. 26, and here’s what’s happening in Wisconsin and across the Civic Media network today.
It was yet another harrowing weekend in America. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a VA hospital, was shot and killed by federal agents with U.S. Border Patrol in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.
The killing resulted in unrest near the site of Pretti’s death on Saturday. State and local law enforcement employed less-lethal weapons and chemical munitions and established a vehicle exclusionary zone in the area, said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Pretti is a graduate of Preble High School in Green Bay. He was also a member of the Green Bay Boy Choir, and part of a “tight-knit community” in Green Bay, says Mark Becker, former chairman of the Brown County Republican party and host of Civic Media’s “Rational Revolution,” who sang alongside Pretti in the choir.
“What he was doing when he was executed, was just helping someone who was being harassed by ICE,” said Becker. “That’s who I knew he was as a kid. It’s no shock to see that’s who he was growing up.”
Becker also joined “Civic Media Mid-Mornings” to discuss Pretti and the shooting (see: 5:40 mark):
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich has called for a “full, transparent, and independent investigation” of Pretti’s death.
“I mourn his tragic death with his friends and family, and join the chorus of Americans who are rightfully demanding the federal government change course and enforce immigration law in keeping with local, state, and federal laws and the U.S. Constitution,” said Genrich.
On Sunday, protesters took to the streets in Green Bay, with a march stretching all the way across the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge, over the Fox River. Protests also occurred in several other cities across Wisconsin, including in Wisconsin Rapids, where more than 75 people gathered for a prayer vigil at First Congregational United Church of Christ, WFHR’s Melissa Kaye reports. Rev. Caleb McGregor issued a local call to action asking those in attendance to contact their representatives and ask for reform or replacement of DHS and ICE and the immediate cessation of deployed ICE agents in cities and towns.
The increased presence of Border Patrol and ICE agents in Minneapolis are part of “Operation Metro Surge,” which began in December and ramped up in January, and according to data released by the Department of Homeland Security last week, has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests. Pretti’s death marks the third shooting by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis in seventeen days. An ICE officer shot and killed Renée Nicole Good on January 7. Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was shot by an immigration official but survived on January 14.
On Saturday, following the shooting, Gov. Tony Evers tweeted, “Wisconsin stands with Minnesota.” On Monday morning, the governor’s office released a statement saying Wisconsin is joining a coalition of more than a dozen states in a “new lawsuit filing in support of the state of Minnesota’s lawsuit challenging President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Administration’s deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol in Minnesota and petitioning for a temporary restraining order against the federal government’s actions.” The filing is available here.
“Wisconsin stands with our neighbors across the river in Minnesota,” Evers said in the statement. “American citizens are having their rights and freedoms violated and are being put in unsafe and life-threatening situations in their own communities. Two have already lost their lives. It has to stop.”
— Dan Shafer, Political Editor
Prayer vigil in Wisconsin Rapids for Alex Pretti (Melissa Kaye)
Green Bay residents protest killing of Alex Pretti, graduate of local high school (Andrew Kennard, Wisconsin Examiner)
As ICE surges next door, share your questions about immigration enforcement in Wisconsin (Paul Kiefer, Wisconsin Watch)
Why we still need heroes — even when they let us down (Teri Barr)
At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers (Tom Kertscher, Wisconsin Watch)
Hearing held on Republican bill to set wolf population number (Henry Redman, Wisconsin Examiner)
“NEW Top Dog” set to raise money for pet rescues and kids in need (Teri Barr)
Assembly passes pared down Knowles-Nelson stewardship bill that limits land acquisition (Baylor Spears, Wisconsin Examiner)
Michigan AG Dana Nessel sues big oil over ‘cartel’-like plot to kill clean energy (Simon D. Schuster, Kelly House, Bridge Michigan)
ICYMI:
Know-Your-Rights Education and Training Expands in Wisconsin (Teri Barr)
First ever Master Naturalist Training happening in central Wisconsin (Melissa Kaye)
Why has WisconsinEye gone dark and what can be done about it? (Brittany Carloni, Wisconsin Watch)
Microsoft proposes 15 more data centers at Mount Pleasant project (Teri Barr)
WisconsinEye currently shutdown, Sen. Howard Marklein weighs in (Adam D. Hess, Jo Ann Krulatz, Phil Nee)
Find daily news roundups from your community here.
Every weekday, these news/talk broadcasts air on the Civic Media network:
“Civic Media Mornings” (6-8 a.m.); “The Rick Smith Show” (8 a.m.-9 a.m.); “Civic Media Mid-Mornings” (9-11 a.m.); “The Thom Hartmann Show” (11 a.m.-2 p.m.); “The John and Gordy Show” (2-5 p.m.); “Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba” (5-8 p.m.); “Native Roots Radio” (8-9 p.m.); and “The Rick Smith Show” (9-10 p.m.).
Listen / Watch
On “Civic Media Mornings”:
Guests include: Connie Fellman, WGBW reporter from Green Bay, retired Lt. Diane Goldstein, executive director for Law Enforcement Action Partnership, on ICE and warrants; and Susie Jones, WCCO radio anchor/reporter from Minneapolis.
On “Mid-Mornings with Greg Bach”:
Guests include: “Rational Revolution” host Mark Becker about his friendship with Alex Pretti, a man fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis; Wisconsin State Sen. Dora E. Drake on the proposed constitutional amendment on DEI and the need for social programs; Aja Barber, writer, stylist and consultant focusing on the intersections of sustainability, fashion, and the textile industry.
See video livestream above.
Stream on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
ICYMI:
On “The John & Gordy Show”:
Today’s episode: Reflections on the latest events and news from across the region.
ICYMI: On Friday’s show, John and Gordy were joined by Jim Santelle, host of “Amicus: A Law Review,” and Rokker, host of WMDX’s “Max Ink Radio.”
Stream on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
On “Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba”:
Guests include: Comedian and ChipsMoneyTips.com founder Chip Chinery, and American singer/actor/writer Shaun Cassidy, and Civic Media sports reporter Mike Clemens.
ICYMI: On Friday’s show, Pete was joined by Madison-based film critic Rob Thomas and “Barr Band Friday” with Teri Barr.
Stream on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
If the first round of reported fundraising numbers suggested there are seven viable Democratic candidates seeking to be Wisconsin’s next governor, last week’s 2026 Main Street Governor Candidate Forum confirmed it. This is a strong group, and Democrats have a deep bench in Wisconsin. Dan Shafer recombobulates:
If you weren’t able to attend the event, you’re in luck! Civic Media provided an exclusive livestream of the event. You can find the full recording of the Main Street Governor Candidate Forum here and additional coverage of the event here:
On “The Dr. Kristin Lyerly Show,” Dr. Kristin Lyerly sits down with Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin’s first Black lieutenant governor and a candidate in the 2026 race for governor, to discuss his run for governor in 2026, his 2022 Senate loss, and the lessons shaping his campaign. The conversation covers crime attacks, healthcare and reproductive rights, and Barnes’ vision for education, working families, climate change, and Wisconsin’s future.
On “Rational Revolution,” host Mark Becker is joined by former journalist Pauleen Le to discuss her work with Project for Pride in Living in Minneapolis, the uncertainty created by a constant ICE presence, and how ICE raids impact the community she serves. Le also shares the personal heartache of deciding to carry her passport despite being a U.S. citizen.
On "Raised in the Woods," host Joel Kleefisch is joined by co-hosts Mike Kretschmer and Sarah Marenes to talk about the fun to be had when visiting Canada, along with highlights from his recent stop at the All-Canada Show in Milwaukee. Later, color guard coach Lynn Morris joins the show to discuss her work in Wisconsin and why Midwest lovers should consider visiting Canada for themselves.
On “Make The Call,” the roundtable dives into trade season, including the Brewers’ move involving Freddy Peralta, how it fits into broader conversations about a potential MLB salary cap, and the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal — and what it could mean for Wisconsin sports fans.
For more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube. You can find all of our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on Civic Media’s official website.
I called my Senator today, but the phone mail boxes are full now. The Senator is not hearing from the thousands of constituents who are begging for votes AGAINST the budget that would give more money to the murdering, fascist ICE arm of the current regime. Politicians who fund ICE now are guilty of the crimes ICE is committing.