Month: December 2025

By Jason Rantala

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Jim Bzoskie was more than the pastor at Cornerstone Bible Church in Hastings, Minnesota; he also selflessly donated his time, those close to him said.

The 76-year-old volunteered as a chaplain for 47 years with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.

“He didn’t do this to pad his pocketbook, he did it because he had a big heart,” Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said.

“Every Tuesday, typically, he would come into the jail, do a bible study for our inmate population,” Jacob Schak, a program sergeant at the Dakota County jail, said.

Bzoskie lent a helping hand to deputies and families experiencing a lost loved one, by their side during the darkest of times, Leko said.

“Some of the difficult things we’ve gone through with the tragedy in Burnsville, losing three first responders. We’ve had suicides in our own office that we’ve had to maneuver, and to not have Jim next to us, I couldn’t imagine going through those things without him,” Leko said.

The sheriff said Bzoskie’s final moments were spent helping free a motorist who’d spun out in the snow outside his church. It was just after that act of kindness last Friday, Bzoskie died, likely from a heart attack, his daughter, Sarah Lindner, said.

Bzoskie had been inside the church preparing gift bags for inmates in the county jail.

“He was helping people until those very last moments. I had a friend tell me he served right up to the bell, and I was like ‘I love that,’ and he would have wanted that,” Lindner said.

Bzoskie also worked as a chaplain for the Hastings police and fire departments.

He was an avid Wild fan, a season ticket holder for at least two decades, Lindner said, and a Minnesota State Fair fanatic, who never missed a day.

The holidays were his favorite time of year, Lindner said.

“His last words were ‘Merry Christmas,’ and we just see that as such a beautiful thing, knowing that dad loved Christmas and he’s going to have the best Christmas ever,” Lindner said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Bo Evans

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — Many families are celebrating their first Christmas this year with newborns, making the holiday extra special.

But there’s one family from Georgia that’s holding their new addition extra tight, celebrating a Christmas they never thought would come.

It was only possible because one North Texas hospital did something no other hospital was willing to try.

“We came to Fort Worth hopeful and prayerful that this would be the place,” said Sarah Ellen Beavers.

The Beavers’ family needs a miracle.

Sarah Ellen and her husband Zach Beavers, were expecting a baby girl due last spring when doctors discovered a problem.

“Her OBs had found that the left side of her heart had not developed,” said Dr. Kevin Wilkes, a pediatric and fetal cardiologist at Cook Children’s.

The baby had a rare combination of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Turner syndrome. The only real option was heart surgery.

“If a baby with Turner Syndrome did not get the Norwood surgery, in all likelihood, that baby is not going to survive,” said Dr. Vincent Tam, the Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cook Children’s.

But this particular combination of issues led hospitals in Georgia and around the country to be wary of attempting the surgery.

“About a month prior to her being born, we found out that Georgia was off the table and that we needed to look elsewhere,” said Sarah Ellen Beavers.

“We just felt like we were handed a death sentence and we were like, ‘God’s got something a lot more planned, so we got to go figure out what it is,'” said Zach Beavers.

Turns out, there was a plan involving a North Texas medical student.

“I was shocked, speechless because I wasn’t expecting such a quick turnaround,” Anisha Saripalli, a medical student, UNT Health Fort Worth.

Saripalli’s shock is because in March of this year, she presented her research about positive outcomes at Cook Children’s for newborns undergoing the Norwood surgery to rebuild their hearts.

“If it weren’t for that being published on March 5, then the hospital that had previously said no wouldn’t have known to refer us here,” said Zach Beavers.

The Beavers arrived in Fort Worth on March 14.

But getting here was just half the battle. Just hours after the Beavers welcomed Anna Claire to the world, she was rushed into open-heart surgery.

“We also knew there’s a chance you’re coming to Texas and you go home empty-handed,” said Sarah Ellen Beavers.

But two surgeries and 5 months later, Anna Claire was going home. Today she’s thriving.

“She smiles and giggles, and her smile covers her whole face, and she’s just joyful,” said Sarah Ellen Beavers.

Joyful is an apt word for the family of three celebrating their first Christmas together.

“I continue to just go back to, these are the days we prayed for. Each day, a sleepless night… It’s a joy because it’s a day we didn’t know or think we would have,” said Sarah Ellen Beavers.

Anna Claire will need one more heart surgery as she continues to grow, and one day will need a heart transplant.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Elyssa Kaufman

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Burglars left with $10,000 from a mini mart in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood early Thursday morning.

CBS News Chicago crews spoke with the owner of Lucky Mini Mart, at 4103 N. Lincoln Ave., who confirmed an ATM and cash register were stolen during the break-in.

He said the burglars pulled off the security fence to get inside the business. The owner estimates $10,000 was taken.

Video from the scene shows debris and merchandise scattered throughout the entrance.

Chicago police confirmed there was a call for service, but did not provide further details.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Rian Stockett

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    ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has begun a new phase of land acquisition for its Asheville I-26 Connector Project. The agency estimates that this will result in about 80 relocations.

“In hearing that, it was really hard for me to continue investing resources in the space when I’m thinking about this big mountain I’m going to have to climb, and what that’s going to take financially and just the longevity of things,” said Veronica Carlson, the owner of Asheville Kava X Coffee.

Carlson said that four months after taking over as owner of Asheville Kava X Coffee, she learned that this location would be affected by the Asheville I-26 Connector Project.

“It was going to be December, and then I heard that was being pushed back, from chatter around the community, to March, and I think there was a release about March. Recently, I heard that the building owner here is closing their contract with the DOT,” Carlson said.

On Monday, Dec. 22, NCDOT announced that they’ve started right-of-way acquisition for the north section of the connector project. They said in a press release that the right-of-way phase covers the area going from Haywood Road, up I-240 East, and across the French Broad River, plus Riverside Drive.

According to the agency, construction is anticipated to begin on the north section early next year.

Carlson, however, says she’s been given no timeline for relocation.

“I haven’t been served a notice, which will be when I can start doing things, because if I’m to act before that notice is served, I forgo the reestablishment benefits that would be paid out by the DOT,” said Carlson.

NCDOT says after an appraiser visits the property and the appraisal is complete, the agent will present a written offer of fair market value, much like a typical real estate transaction. It says that owners and tenants who must relocate will receive relocation assistance information and time to consider their options.

“If I can’t fight the DOT, and I can’t reason and say, ‘I really want to keep this space because people really like it, they hang out here, it’s awesome.’ They’re not going to listen to me. I’ve just got to go with the flow,” said Carlson.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.