Author: CNN Newsource

By Anthony Bettin

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — As Minnesota continues to feel the aftershock of a federal immigration surge that sparked protests, traumatized families, devastated businesses and left two of its residents dead, the Department of Homeland Security is set to expand its presence in the state in a new capacity.

Tennessee-based CoreCivic announced Tuesday it has been awarded a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the use of its prison in Appleton, Minnesota.

In announcing the contract opportunity earlier this year, the federal government said it “needs to increase bed capacity to meet the administration’s interior enforcement and border decompression goals.”

Prairie Correctional Facility holds 1,600 beds and has been empty since 2010, according to CoreCivic. Under the new, five-year contract with ICE, it will begin housing detainees later this year.

CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle said he was “pleased to announce” the new contract, which the company touted will “generate total annual revenue of approximately $75 million.”

In a statement, Indivisible Twin Cities said it was “outraged and horrified” by the contract and called the facility a “detention camp.”

“After the siege on our state by out-of-control federal agents who flagrantly ignored the law, it is an insult to our communities to open a for-profit concentration camp in our state. We oppose any concentration camp in Minnesota, or anywhere else,” the group said.

When ICE and Border Patrol agents flooded into the state earlier this year, many detainees were held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis before being moved to facilities in other states. Minnesota officials, immigration lawyers and others alleged the conditions within the building were deplorable, citing a surfeit of beds and bathroom facilities, leg restraints for detainees and barriers to accessing legal aid.

Appleton is in western Minnesota, about 30 miles from the South Dakota border.

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 Ashley Grams

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Cameras in north Minneapolis have captured cars trying to beat trains across the tracks, people climbing between rail cars and ignoring stop arms.

The rail crossings at Lyndale Avenue North, 45th Avenue North and Humboldt Avenue North are known for long waits as trains run in and out of the rail yard.

“We live in the neighborhood, we go to the library often and I’m constantly stuck behind this train. There are times I have been stuck behind this train for 40 minutes,” said Sophia, who was waiting for the train on Tuesday. “I’ve been late to work. I’ve been late to social engagements.”

This week, Minneapolis City Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw said she’s helped secure $2 million in federal funding for a solution, adding the city and the railroad company are also pitching in another $500,000.

Vetaw said the long waits impact everyone living in the Camden area, including “emergency vehicles, school buses, metro transit, seniors.” She said some of the potential solutions are an overpass, underpass or pedestrian bridge.

“There’s not really anyone that you can talk to that’s lived in this area for a day or 50 years that doesn’t have a story about this railroad crossing,” Vetaw said. “I think the community is going to be excited about a solution to getting back and forth.”

The council member shared the city’s application for a Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant from 2024, laying out the safety concerns. The application also states the highest volume of traffic is on Lyndale Avenue at 10,765 vehicles per day.

“I’m usually walking to my boyfriend’s house, so I’m always waiting about 20 minutes,” said Philisha Givens, who grew up in the area, often waiting at the rail crossings.

Vetaw didn’t share a project timeline but said they want to engage with the neighborhood about possible solutions moving forward.

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 Beret Leone

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, plan to clear out the city’s largest encampment on Wednesday.

Crews are expected to begin clearing out the encampment at Pig’s Eye Park around 8 a.m. It will be the first of three sites to close under St. Paul’s new “Coordinated Transition Plan,” which has been controversial since the start.

Advocates are raising concerns about where people will go after the camp is cleared. Before crews move in, a community breakfast and demonstration was happening, with protesters attempting to block the closure.

The city said drug use, assaults and fires are driving up 911 calls and making it too dangerous for the roughly 140 people living at Pig’s Eye Park. City leaders initially said they planned to hold a news conference before the closure, but then canceled it.

Ahead of Wednesday’s closure, city officials said they’ve been focused on outreach, connecting people living in the camp with shelter, housing and health services. The city said it has added emergency shelter capacity through Ramsey County and outreach teams will work with residents to help them move and connect with resources.

For anyone who refuses to leave, the city says it will continue its “Four Es” approach: Engagement, education, encouragement and enforcement as a last resort.

The city designated an area for protesters in anticipation, saying in part, “This is a difficult day” and “we ask that everyone present allow the process to proceed safely.”

“Our focus throughout the day remains connecting people to shelter and services,” the city added.

Emotions were high at a public hearing about the encampment on Tuesday.

“There are real people with real commitments that are ready to help,” one resident said.

“You just threw away $1 million from a city with a very large deficit that I just heard at a budget meeting,” said another resident.

The city said the clearout is expected to continue throughout the day and could last into early evening.

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 Nick Lunemann

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — A longtime Dairy Queen owner is raising concerns about a cannabis dispensary preparing to open next door to his business along Medicine Lake Road in Golden Valley, Minnesota.

Dan Lommen placed a message on the restaurant’s sign reading, “Weed shop, children don’t mix. Respect! GV.”

Lommen said his concerns are directed primarily at the City of Golden Valley and the location of the proposed dispensary, rather than the business itself or people who use cannabis.

“I’m just saying, Golden Valley, you could have handled this totally differently,” Lommen said. “It’s not even anything to do with the dispensary. It’s between me and Golden Valley and the community.”

Lommen said his family has operated the Dairy Queen since 1964 and that children and families make up much of its customer base.

Golden Valley requires cannabis retailers to be at least 500 feet from schools, playgrounds and athletic fields. Terra Linda Park, which is located across Medicine Lake Road in New Hope, is near the proposed dispensary.

The city said the buffer is measured from the cannabis business’s property line to the edge of a protected structure. Although part of Terra Linda Park falls within the 500-foot radius, Golden Valley said the park’s play structure and gazebo are approximately 60 feet beyond the required buffer.

The city said the proposed location therefore complies with its zoning and distance requirements.

“I believe that they’re at a gray line where they should be a little more careful, and they should have got a conditional use permit to ask the communities,” Lommen said.

In a statement, the City of Golden Valley wrote that the cannabis shop is “outside all applicable buffers, including those in the City of New Hope.”

“Cannabis retailers must complete two approvals before opening: licensing through the State’s Office of Cannabis Management and registration with the City of Golden Valley. These approvals are administrative and do not involve City Council action. As long as a proposed business meets the zoning and buffer requirements, the City may not prohibit the use,” the city added. “The business must still receive all applicable permits and a full license from the State. The City is working to ensure the business meets all safety, permitting, and regulatory requirements. Our role is to implement state and local regulations consistently and transparently.”

Golden Valley resident Sharon Baker said she does not oppose a dispensary opening nearby.

“I think it’s great for the community if it works for you,” Baker said. “I think it would be something great as long as it’s regulated and make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”

A spokesperson for the dispensary, Chillwater Cannabis, said that “both businesses can coexist” on the street and that they’d “rather be a good neighbor than a talking point.”

“On the concerns raised: on-site consumption is not permitted under Minnesota law, and it won’t happen at our store. Product is not visible from the street or from outside the building. Every customer is carded at the door. Twenty-one and over, no exceptions,” the spokesperson said. “If the owner of the Dairy Queen wants to talk directly, he’s welcome to reach out anytime.”

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 Doug Myers

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — A North Texas man allegedly gave drugs to a 14‑year‑old runaway and sexually assaulted her multiple times over three days at his Dallas home, arrest records show.

David Michael Klepak, 62, is charged with sexual assault of a child, the Dallas Police Department said. He is being held at Lew Sterrett Jail without bond on the second‑degree felony charge.

Detectives identified Klepak after the teen described several luxury vehicles at his residence. Officers later saw him driving a white 2015 Bentley and stopped him for a traffic violation, where they found 17 glass pipes with residue, police said.

Authorities say the alleged assaults occurred between July 29 and July 31 at a residence on Winton Street in Dallas.

During interviews at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, the juvenile reported sexual assault and drug use while she was a runaway.

According to arrest records, she described Klepak’s home as a messy duplex and said he had three vehicles – a Bentley, a Lexus, and two BMWs. She later identified him from an ID photo shown by detectives.

When interviewed separately, Klepak confessed to having sex with the juvenile, authorities said.

The teen told interviewers she ran away on July 29. She said Klepak approached her in a vehicle and offered her a ride, then gave her “Ice,” which she smoked from a glass pipe. She said he took her to his residence, where she stayed for about three days and was sexually assaulted multiple times.

After leaving, she was homeless for one day before being located, police said.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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 Jonathan Ayestas, Jeremiah Martinez

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    CALAVERAS COUNTY (KCRA) — A Calaveras County wildfire that crews are trying to gain control over has led to school closures Wednesday as smoke is affecting nearby air quality. Evacuations also remain in effect.

The Calaveras County sheriff on Tuesday also proclaimed a local state of emergency due to the fire that continues to burn thousands of acres and has burned at least two homes.

The Gann Fire started shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday near Hogan Dam and Gann roads near New Hogan Lake.

Latest key updates

Fire activity decreased Tuesday evening and helicopters will be supporting crews throughout the night, according to Cal Fire. Gov. Gavin Newsom announces federal funding is secure to support response efforts The Calaveras County Sheriff proclaimed a local state of emergency, which allows the county to request additional assistance and resources from state agencies. The county board of supervisors will review the proclamation. All Calaveras Unified School District school sites will be closed on Wednesday, the district said. The city of Jackson said it will close its public pool on Tuesday because of poor air quality and ash at the pool. KCRA 3’s Peyton Headlee saw at least two homes that have burned.

Gann Fire evacuations Evacuation orders have been issued for zones CCU-147, CCU-139, CCU-110 and CCU-109. On Tuesday, evacuations expanded to include CCU-130-B.

An evacuation order means people need to immediately move out of the area due to an imminent threat. Under an advisory, residents should follow local recommendations or watch for further instructions.

Evacuation Centers

An evacuation shelter is located at Jenny Lind Memorial District at 189 Pine Street, Valley Springs, California 95252, according to the Red Cross. The organization said volunteers will provide water, meals and emotional support.

Community members displaced by the fire are encouraged to bring the following for each member of their family and small pets:

Prescription and other emergency medication Extra clothing Pillows and blankets Hygiene supplies Important documents Diapers, formula and toys for children The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said all displaced livestock can be taken to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds at 2465 Gunclub Road in Angels Camp. An emergency shelter is set up at 300 W Daphne Street in Valley Springs where domesticated animals are welcomed, according to the sheriff’s office.

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 Ricardo Tovar

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    SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KSBW) — Shots fired near the Santa Cruz Boardwalk on Monday night caused panic and a brief lockdown, according to Santa Cruz police.

The incident occurred just after 9 p.m. in the parking lot across the street from the boardwalk. Authorities confirmed that no one was hurt and there is no active threat to the public. The lockdown was implemented to ensure safety.

Witnesses described the chaotic scene.

“We just got off of a ride and we saw people running. We were honestly freaking out, we didn’t know why. People were hiding, mothers were clutching onto their children, so that was honestly pretty alarming,” Kamryn Main, a visitor, said.

Another witness shared their experience during the lockdown.

“With the rides and music and everything, it was just too loud to hear anything. And there were rides that were stopped up in the air with people until the lockdown was lifted,” Laura Albrecht, a Santa Cruz local, said.

A third witness expressed their fear and uncertainty about the situation.

“I was really scared. We didn’t know if it was a mass shooting or personal type beef between a few people. We treated it as the most dangerous situation possible so that we could stay safe,” Bahar Jazani, a visitor, said.

At this time, two people have been arrested in Ceres in this shooting, and the investigation remains active.

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.