NPR News: 01-31-2026 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 9PM EST, February 1, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Luis Schiavone, delivers a concise roundup of major headlines: legal decisions on federal immigration actions in Minnesota, ongoing protests and calls to boycott Target, severe weather across the eastern U.S., the ending of women's and gender studies at Texas A&M University, and updates from the world of sports.

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Key News Segments and Highlights

1. Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota

[00:16–01:10]

• Court Ruling:

  • A federal judge rejected Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's bid to halt increased immigration enforcement resources sent by the Trump administration.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s response:
    • "We're grateful. When a court sees that the right thing has been done, we'll continue to focus on getting dangerous criminals, murderers and rapists and drug traffickers out of this country and bringing them to justice." (Kristi Noem, 00:33)

• Related Protests and Federal Investigations:

  • Secretary Noem confirmed the FBI is investigating the shooting death of Minnesota protester Alex Preddy.
  • Protests are occurring nationwide against immigration enforcement tactics and the death of Preddy.
  • Renewed calls for a boycott of Target (Minneapolis headquarters) tied to both law enforcement incidents and corporate policy changes.

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2. Protests at Target Stores

[01:10–02:01]

• Demonstrations in D.C. and Minneapolis:
  • Protesters demanded Target call for an independent investigation into the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy.
  • Signage at rallies emphasized community solidarity:
    • "I want them to see that we are not just standing idly while our neighbors are being kidnapped and we are standing up, standing for our brothers and sisters." (Protester, 01:33)
  • Target responded in a statement:
    • It does not have "cooperative agreements with ICE or any other immigration enforcement agency."

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3. Winter Weather Disaster in Kentucky

[02:01–02:55]

• Significant Death Toll:

  • At least 15 deaths attributed to severe winter conditions in Kentucky.
  • Notably, Marvin Nuckles, an inmate, died while working to clear ice and snow at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex.

• Prison Safety Questions:

  • There's scrutiny over why inmates were outside in sub-freezing nighttime conditions, despite a statewide stay-inside order.

  • Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has promised a "full and transparent investigation."

  • Prison officials state Nuckles volunteered for the ice removal assignment.

  • "Decisions made, good or bad, they deserve ... to be seen by that family and by everyone else." (Protester & Greenlight Representative, 02:40–02:46)

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4. Bomb Cyclone Impacts the Southeast

[02:55–03:28]

• Weather Update:
  • A “meteorological bomb cyclone” brings blizzard-like conditions to the Southeastern U.S.
  • Forecasts of 6–10 inches of snow in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Appalachians.
  • Frigid temperatures are expected along the entire East Coast.

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5. Texas A&M University Cuts Women’s & Gender Studies

[03:28–04:20]

• Academic Changes:

  • Texas A&M ends programs in women’s and gender studies; 100+ courses affected, 6 canceled.
  • Policy, adopted November 2025, prohibits teaching advocating for "race or gender ideology" or on sexual/gender identity issues.

• Faculty Reaction:

  • Ira Dworkin, associate professor and AAUP vice president, sharply criticized the decision:
    • "To have policies like this that allow politicians to determine what, you know, our kind of wonderful, brilliant students are allowed to study is a travesty." (Ira Dworkin, 04:01)
  • The university cited "low student interest and enrollment" as a factor.

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6. Sports News: Lindsey Vonn & Tennis Highlights

[04:20–04:55]

• Lindsey Vonn Injury:

  • She withdrew from a World Cup Super G race due to a left knee injury sustained in Switzerland.
  • Her coach says Vonn remains on track for the Milan Olympics.
  • Vonn posted on Instagram: "Doing My Best Right Now".

• Australian Open:

  • Elina Rybakina wins the women’s championship over Aryna Sabalenka.

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Notable Quotes

• Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary (00:33):

  • "We're grateful. When a court sees that the right thing has been done, we'll continue to focus on getting dangerous criminals, murderers and rapists and drug traffickers out of this country and bringing them to justice."

• Protester at Target Rally (01:33):

  • "I want them to see that we are not just standing idly while our neighbors are being kidnapped and we are standing up, standing for our brothers and sisters."

• Ira Dworkin, Texas A&M Professor (04:01):

  • "To have policies like this that allow politicians to determine what, you know, our kind of wonderful, brilliant students are allowed to study is a travesty."

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Timeline of Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------|-------------------| | Immigration ruling in Minnesota | 00:16–01:10 | | Target protests and boycott | 01:10–02:01 | | Kentucky winter storm fatalities | 02:01–02:55 | | Southeast/East Coast blizzard | 02:55–03:28 | | Texas A&M policy changes | 03:28–04:20 | | Lindsey Vonn/Australian Open | 04:20–04:55 |

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This episode delivers fast-moving, headlining news snapshots, with direct voices from both officials and protestors. It captures the urgency and broad scope of ongoing debates—from policy to weather to sports—across the U.S. on February 1, 2026.

Transcript

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[Luis Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Luis Schiavone. A federal judge today rejected an effort by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to block the surge of immigration resources that the Trump administration has sent to the state. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem welcomed the decision.

[Kristi Noem]

We're grateful. When a court sees that the right thing has been done, we'll continue to focus on getting dangerous criminals, murderers and rapists and drug traffickers out of this country and bringing them to justice.

[Luis Schiavone]

Speaking to reporters in Miami on a related subject, Noem says the FBI is leading the current investigation into the shooting and death of Minnesota protester Alex Preddy. Protests against the federal government's immigration enforcement tactics are happening across the country this weekend. Once again, some demons are calling for a boycott of Target, which is headquartered in Minneapolis. NPR's Kristen Wright reports.

[Unidentified Speaker]

Ace, Ace.

[Kristen Wright]

Protesters picketed each of Washington, DC's Target stores demanding the company publicly call for an independent investigation into the killings of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy. Target's been faced with repeated calls for boycotts in recent years, including after its rollback of diversity programs. Slobo Milich held a sign saying don't buy where you're not respected.

[Protester]

I want them to see that we are not just standing idly while our neighbors are being kidnapped and we are standing up, standing for our brothers and sisters.

[Kristen Wright]

In Minneapolis, videos widely shared earlier this month show federal agents tackling and briefly detaining two Target employees at a store near Minneapolis. In a statement to npr, Target said it doesn't have, quote, cooperative agreements with ICE or any other immigration enforcement agency. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Luis Schiavone]

Severe winter weather is attributed to at least 15 deaths in Kentucky in the last week, including an inmate at a Kentucky prison. Karen Zarr with member station WUKY in Lexington reports.

[Karen Zarr]

48 year old Marvin Nuckles was part of a crew of inmates who were clearing ice and snow at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex when he fell down a 40 foot embankment and died. Kentucky State Police are investigating the death, but questions have been raised as to why this group was out in sub freezing temperatures at night when Governor Andy Beshear had given a statewide order to stay inside. Beshear has promised a full and transparent investigation.

[Protester]

Decisions made, good or bad, they deserve.

[Greenlight Representative]

To be seen by that family and by everyone else.

[Karen Zarr]

Officials at the medium security prison say Knuckles volunteered for the ice removal assignment. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington.

[Luis Schiavone]

The southeastern US Is beginning to feel the effects of a meteorological bomb cyclone ushering in blizzard like conditions and for the east coast in general, very frigid temperatures. Six to 10 inches of snow could fall in Georgia, the Carolinas and parts of the Appalachians. This is NPR News in Washington. Texas A and M University is ending its programs in women's and gender studies. NPR's Alyssa Nadworny reports its of a broader effort to eliminate teaching on diversity, equity and inclusion.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

The university says it has also modified hundreds of courses and canceled six to comply with a policy adopted last November. That policy prohibits teaching that advocates race or gender ideology or covers topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Ira Dworkin, an associate professor of English at Texas A and M and the vice president of the American association of University Professors there, says that the move was an unprecedented political interference by the university's Board of Regents, who are all appointed by the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott.

[Ira Dworkin]

To have policies like this that allow politicians to determine what, you know, our kind of wonderful, brilliant students are allowed to study is a travesty.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

The university says low student interest and enrollment also factored into the decision. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Luis Schiavone]

Champion American skier Lindsey Vonn passed on a World Cup Super G race today after crashing an inj her left knee yesterday, but her coach is telling the Associated Press Vaughn remains on track for the Milan Olympics. Vaughn ended up in the safety nets yesterday after a major tumble in Switzerland. Today on Instagram, she posted Doing My Best Right Now. Women's Championship tennis. Elina Rybakina took the Australian Open crown Saturday in play against Aryna Sabalenka. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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