A new winter storm is closing in on the East Coast, meteorologists warn, with some forecasts calling it a possible bomb cyclone. The system could bring blizzard conditions from parts of the Southeast through New England, and forecasters say wind gusts may reach 50–65 mph in places such as the Outer Banks. Many communities are still recovering from the last storm, which has been tied to at least 65 deaths and widespread power outages. National Guard units have been mobilized in Mississippi and Tennessee as crews work to restore electricity and repair damage. New York City is using snow-melting machines to chip away at towering, hard-packed piles while subfreezing temperatures persist. FEMA has delivered generators to the hardest-hit areas, but local officials report some towns have been without running water for days. Our weather team, led by Rob Marciano, says the cold and unsettled weather will linger through the weekend and into next week, keeping temperatures well below normal in many places.
In Minneapolis, the federal immigration enforcement operation has taken on a new and contentious tone after violent clashes and the deaths of two U.S. citizens. President Trump dispatched border enforcement official Tom Homan to the city, where he said ICE and CBP officers must act professionally and suggested that roughly 3,000 agents could be scaled back if local leaders allow access to jails. Minneapolis officials have called for the federal operation to end. State prosecutors are investigating the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Reiten, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has warned that federal agents do not have absolute immunity, saying the state is weighing criminal charges. Court orders have limited some detentions and required the release of certain detainees. Reporting from Lilia Luciano indicates that legal immigrants and U.S. citizens were swept up in the sweep and that local judges have accused ICE of violating judicial orders.
In Washington, President Trump convened his first cabinet meeting of 2026 as lawmakers raced to avoid a partial government shutdown. Democrats say they will block any short-term funding bill unless it includes reforms to how ICE and Border Patrol operate — proposals include banning the use of masks by agents, requiring body-worn cameras, and holding federal officers to local policing standards. The White House signaled it is open to negotiations on some changes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew scrutiny for her remarks about the death of Alex Reiten and did not speak at today’s meeting amid calls for her resignation. The president also said he plans to announce his pick for Federal Reserve chair next week.
In Georgia, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Fulton County’s election hub and removed roughly 700 boxes of ballots and voter records. The warrant cites possible violations of federal election-records laws and procurement fraud statutes. County officials protested the seizure and said they have not been told where the boxes are being taken. The search escalates federal scrutiny of aspects of Georgia’s 2020 election and follows other probes into efforts to overturn the results.
In criminal justice developments across the country: a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, received the maximum 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a woman who had called 911 to report a prowler. Body-camera footage showed the deputy fatally shooting Massey in her home; Grayson, who is battling cancer, apologized in court and his defense has filed a motion to reconsider the sentence. In New York, federal authorities arrested a man accused of trying to free Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Officials say the suspect posed as an FBI agent and was armed with weapons including a large barbecue fork and a pizza cutter; Mangione remains in custody with a hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
Dallas police say two young men have been arrested in connection with an incident on New Year’s Eve in which assault-style rifles were fired from a bridge. Investigators recovered more than 100 shell casings; no one was injured. Police say one of the rifles may be linked to a separate road-rage shooting. And in Fairfax County, Virginia, a high-profile murder trial continues: former IRS special agent Brendan Banfield is accused of staging a double homicide, killing his wife Christine and attempting to frame another man while allegedly engaged in an affair with the family’s nanny. Prosecutors say Banfield lured the other man to the house through a catfishing scheme; the nanny has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is cooperating with prosecutors. Banfield says he shot an intruder in defense of his wife; if convicted he could face life behind bars.
On science and health, new research in Nature suggests the amount of vigorous physical activity needed to reduce the risk of death may be far lower than commonly believed. The study found that as little as 15 minutes a week of vigorous exercise was associated with about an 18 percent lower mortality risk. Short, intense bursts of effort — a couple of minutes of stair climbing or carrying heavy groceries, for example — also appeared to provide benefits. The takeaway from researchers: small amounts of higher-intensity movement can have meaningful health payoffs.
A surprising climate-related study from the Norwegian Arctic reports that some polar bears appear to be gaining weight and showing signs of improved condition by foraging on land, preying on reindeer and walrus as sea ice retreats. Scientists caution that the overall outlook for polar bears remains concerning, but the findings highlight complex, region-specific responses to shrinking sea ice.
And a human-interest story: a group of Buddhist monks launched a 2,300-mile walk for peace last October from Fort Worth, Texas. Ninety-six days into their journey, the monks and their dog, Aloka, have attracted millions of online followers and warm welcomes from crowds in multiple states. They aim to reach Washington, D.C., where they plan to carry their message of peace to members of Congress.
That’s tonight’s roundup from CBS News in New York. I’m Tony Dokoupil. Good night.