Nigeria Massacre, Team USA Smashes, Minneapolis Fights & Crisis Teams Crumble

Nigeria Attack Leaves Over 160 Dead, Raising Security Concerns

More than 160 people were killed in a single attack in western Nigeria, raising concerns about the country's security situation, according to NPR Politics. The attack, suspected to be carried out by Islamist militants, occurred as Nigeria grapples with multiple security crises.

The specific location and timing of the attack were not detailed in the provided sources. However, the high death toll underscores the severity of the security challenges facing Nigeria. According to NPR Politics, the attack "raises new questions about who's really in control."

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, tensions remained high following the death of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal agents on January 24, according to Time. The incident sparked protests and a growing memorial at the site of the shooting on Nicollet Avenue. Alex Hand, a caregiver who placed flowers at the memorial, told Time, "Alex Pretti stood up for what is right. He stood for all of us."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described his reaction to the shooting in an interview with Time. "Federal agents had shot someone," Frey recalled being told by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. "It was bad." Frey rushed to the scene, leaving his daughter's ballet class without saying goodbye. "I didn’t say goodbye, which I felt really badly about," he said.

Frey's tenure as mayor has been marked by a series of tragedies, according to Time. The circumstances surrounding Pretti's death and the involvement of federal agents were not fully detailed in the provided sources.

In other news, Team USA athletes were settling into the athletes' villages for the Winter Olympics in Italy, according to NPR News. Curler Cory Thiesse described arriving at the village in Fiames, part of the Cortina d'Ampezzo competition cluster, at night and seeing "the mountains around you."

Additionally, NPR News reported on the challenges faced by mobile crisis teams, which assist police with mental health calls. These teams have faced funding troubles, impacting their ability to provide crucial services.

The various news items highlight a range of challenges and events occurring both domestically and internationally.