Minneapolis artist’s $1 vending machine has featured 80 artists, nearly 3,000 pieces since October

By Ray Campos

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    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (WCCO) — A miniature vending machine inside a Minneapolis bookstore is giving local artists a low-cost way to get their work in front of the public — one dollar at a time.

The $1 Mini Art Vending Machine, located inside Inkwell Booksellers at 426 E. Hennepin in Minneapolis, was created by local artist Lilyan Lauzon, who goes by OneTiredArtist online. Lauzon also serves as a community engagement manager and designed the project to give emerging and underrepresented artists a place to sell their work without financial barriers.

“For new and emerging artists ,it’s really hard to find spaces to sell your artwork, and I wanted to make a project that was fun and collaborative for local artists,” said Lauzon.

Artists pay no fee to participate, and the full dollar from each sale goes directly to them. Buyers get an original piece of art for four quarters.

Since launching in October, the machine has featured more than 80 artists and nearly 3,000 pieces of artwork. Each month, Lauzon restocks the machine with new work. Artists interested in participating can submit an application through an interest form linked on her social media.

The project has had a measurable impact beyond the vending machine itself. Lauzon said artists have reported new customers showing up to their art fairs after discovering their work through the machine, and some have landed larger commissions as a result.

“Artists have told me that people have come to their art fairs to buy more of their artwork because of what they got in this snapshot of their portfolio,” said Lauzon. “There’s also been a few people who have had larger commissions come out from the mini art vending machine.”

Following the project’s success, Lauzon said she hopes to find a second vending machine and expand to a different location.

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.

Over a dozen cases dropped against Minnesota protesters accused of assaulting federal agents during ICE operation

By Conor Wight

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    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (WCCO) — Federal prosecutors are continuing to dismiss charges initially brought against people in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal officers during the winter.

WCCO dug through court filings and identified at least 18 people whose cases are now dropped. A federal judge officially dismissed the charges for 15 of them; three are pending a judge’s approval after prosecutors filed motions to dismiss the charges. At least 17 cases are still pending, with judges denying defense dismissal motions in several of them.

Richard Painter, a legal expert with the University of Minnesota and former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, said that it’s clear to him that federal prosecutors brought several cases forward without sufficient evidence.

“It appears that the United States Attorney’s Office in Minnesota is bringing some weak cases against protestors,” Painter said, adding that he believes that there was pressure from the Trump administration to charge people.

According to court records, defense and government attorneys alike asked for case dismissals for a variety of reasons.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez Romero was accused in December of ramming into ICE vehicles in St. Paul, prompting an ICE agent to fire his weapon, hitting no one. On June 8, United States Attorney Daniel Rosen signed off on a dismissal motion based in part because prosecutors “thoroughly reassessed the evidence” and concluded that they were not confident that they could obtain and sustain a conviction against Rodriguez Romero.

In January, ICE leadership acknowledged that ICE agent Christian Castro may have lied under oath about what happened the night he shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in north Minneapolis. This led to the assault charges against Sosa-Celis and another man being dropped; Castro is now facing charges in Hennepin County for the shooting and for falsely reporting a crime.

Just a week after that incident, federal officers said Paul Johnson violently resisted arrest in north Minneapolis. On Thursday, Rosen signed a motion to dismiss the charges against Johnson. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota acknowledged issues raised by Johnson and his legal team, including allegations that agents shackled him to a bed at HCMC without access to his phone for days.

“Based on newly received discovery, the government intends to pursue an investigation into allegations raised in Mr. Johnson’s filings; therefore the interests of justice support dismissal of this case,” Rosen’s motion reads in Johnson’s case.

In the more than 30 cases WCCO reviewed, one name appeared across a variety of different cases. HSI Special Agent Richard Berger submitted sworn affidavits prompting probable cause for the arrest of Johnson and nine others, whose charges were ultimately dismissed. Berger submitted affidavits in at least 12 cases that are still ongoing.

In a hearing in Gillian Etherington’s case in April, which is still ongoing, U.S. District Court Magistrate David Schultz said that he became “concerned with the veracity” of multiple affidavits related to federal officer assault cases that came from Berger. Schultz said that in multiple instances, Berger “did not have any personal knowledge of the events described in the affidavits that he has submitted to this court as sworn affidavits.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security ignored questions from WCCO about whether there has been an internal review of incident reports or legal filings. The spokesperson instead provided a statement describing Johnson, who prosecutors are dropping the federal case against, as an “anti-ICE rioter.”

U.S. prosecutors in Minnesota on Tuesday announced charges against 15 people they say conspired to “violently oppose immigration law enforcement,” though Rosen failed to describe a single example of injuries to federal agents when repeatedly questioned.

When asked what makes the latest slate of indictments different than other cases that have been dropped, Rosen said he doesn’t think any cases have “failed in any way.”

“Read the indictment and you’ll understand the magnitude of this case,” Rosen said. “You watch how this case plays out, you watch how the evidence plays out and the evidence will prove it all out.”

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North Texas church, Mark Cuban’s non-profit host 3,000 dads for Father’s Day

By Dawn White

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    DALLAS, Texas (KTVT) — It’s Dad’s big day, and a North Texas church is honoring the importance of fathers, bonus fathers, the community and faith leaders to raise children. The non-profit Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center hosted a special event on Father’s Day.

From free haircuts to hydration kits, about 3,000 dads and bonus dads got the star treatment on Father’s Day for a special event at Concord Church in south Dallas for the sixth annual He’s My Hero Father’s Day Photo Experience.

They took in live music and then photos with their kids at different stations throughout the church.

A caricature artist, a food truck and a barber helped dad feel his best. The event included three classic and sports cars for everyone to take in.

Cuban’s non-profit put on the event and mentors the next generation of young men and women. It provides basketball skills training from ages six to the semi-pro level, along with teaching skills such as etiquette, grooming and hygiene.

“I think it’s just critical for dads to know that they’re important, that we cherish them. We really appreciate all the sacrifice, all of the determination, the tenacity, the resilience that they have, and the things that they go through,” Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center CEO Trina Terrell-Andrews said.

“Every man can make a difference, right? Every man can influence a child’s life. Your niece and nephew. A young person in your community. We always need men to continue to answer that call. To make time to mentor, to coach, to develop a young person, to help them to be and become all that God has called them to be,” Concord Church Pastor Bryan L. Carter said.

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Mama bear and 4 cubs caught on camera in Lawrence County family’s yard

By Lauren Linder

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    LAWRENCE COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Across southwestern Pennsylvania, there have been multiple recent sightings of black bears. This week, in one of those sightings, the wild animals got extra close to a family in Lawrence County.

While she was asleep, little did Susan Zehetner know a baby black bear was invading her privacy.

“He kind of props himself up, and he was, he could have been looking in the bedroom window,” Zehetner said.

It wasn’t just one bear, but five.

“I see mama bear coming up, and I thought, ‘oh, wow, is that a baby next to her?’ And then I was like, ‘there’s another baby, oh my gosh, there’s three babies,’ and there were four babies,” Zehetner said.

They were captured on her surveillance camera in Slippery Rock Township just after midnight on Wednesday. She only checked the video after finding a planter in her front yard knocked over.

Nearly one week earlier, her husband came face-to-face with a bear by their garage. Zehetner said he heard a “loud snort.” But thankfully, it ran away.

Zehetner’s husband made the right choice, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Warden Lieutenant Andy Harvey said if you come across a black bear, stand your ground because usually they want to get away from people.

“Make noise,” Harvey said. “You don’t want to run from a black bear. A black bear is very fast. It can outrun a person. The important thing is, black bear attacks with people are very, very rare.”

Nonetheless, the Zehetners are being careful, putting away birdfeeders, and keeping their eyes and ears open.

“I just don’t want anybody to get hurt,” Zehetner said. “I don’t want problems. I don’t want any distractions, so, hopefully, mama keeps them in the woods. If they show back up, we just see them on the cameras. We don’t want to come face to face with them again.”

It is mating season, so it’s possible you can have a similar interaction. For more tips on what to do if you see a black bear and how to keep you and family safe, the Game Commission recommends visiting bearwise.org.

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4 sets of triplets born at hospital in Pittsburgh

By Michael Guise

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    PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Doctors at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital delivered four sets of triplets recently.

The hospital announced the baby boom in an Instagram post on Friday, saying it helped welcome “an astonishing four sets of triplets, bringing triple the joy to their proud parents.”

After being born, the babies were taken to the neonatal intensive care unit to get extra support from Allegheny Health Network’s team.

“West Penn Hospital is home to a Level 3 NICU and provides tiny patients like these the specialized care they need to start their amazing journeys,” the Instagram post added.

From 1998 to 2023, the triplet and multiple birth rate in the United States declined 62%, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report says the birth rate went from 193.5 per 100,000 total births to 73.8 per 100,000 total births.

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Teen drowns at Houghton’s Pond less than 2 weeks after graduating from Quincy High School

By Matt Schooley

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    MILTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A teenager drowned Saturday at Houghton’s Pond in Milton while swimming with a group of friends less than two weeks after graduating from Quincy High School.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey confirmed Sunday that 18-year-old Kayron Costa of Quincy was swimming around 7 p.m. when he went under and did not resurface.

A Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Team and other crews searched Costa. He was pulled from the water and brought to a Boston hospital but did not survive.

Police and the Norfolk District Attorney’s office are investigating Costa’s drowning.

Quincy High School principal Keith Ford wrote in a letter to families that Costa was there with fellow members of the Class of 2026. Quincy just held its high school graduation on June 9.

Ford said that a crisis clinician and Quincy High School staff will be on hand Monday at the school to support current students and recent graduates.

In a post on social media, Ford said Costa was an “awesome student” who was a “man of great character.”

The principal said that Costa was a Recognition of Effort Award recipient. Ford said when he had lunch with Costa, he expressed how much Quincy High School meant to him and his family.

“My prayers go out to his family during this difficult time. Kayron thank you for allowing us to get to know you during your time at QHS,” Ford wrote in his post. “To everyone who knew Kayron, May his legacy live on. We ask for peace that passes all understanding. As a school community let us come together in unity to honor the life of Kayron Garcia Costa. May he rest in peace!”

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Tartan Army devastated to leave Boston after World Cup matches, “You’ve been the best hosts”

By Penny Kmitt, Paul Burton

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Scotland may have lost 1-0 to Morocco in a World Cup match at Boston Stadium on Friday, but the thing the Tartan Army was most upset about? Leaving New England.

“The Boston people have been extra special and the police. The police have stood back and let us enjoy ourselves, and it’s been fantastic,” said Tartan Army member Raymond Hadden.

Scots said they were “gutted” to leave Massachusetts, which has welcomed them with open arms. The Tartan Army has brought kilts, bagpipes, and even temporary changes to public drinking laws in Boston. There is no doubt that the Scots have left their mark. They have even drunk bars out of beer, placed cones on top of statues, and brought cheer to the entire region.

“Love you guys, love this place. Brilliant. You’ve been the best hosts,” said Paul Morton from Edinburgh.

“Boston’s gonna miss us,” one Scot laughed.

“It’s been amazing. The atmosphere has been incredible and everyone has been so lovely,” Hailey Valentine said.

The Dubliner bar located right next to the FIFA Fan Festival on City Hall Plaza certainly agreed. The owner, Oran McGonagle, said that St. Patrick’s Day is typically their most popular time of year and that the summer months can be incredibly slow. But the Scots began lining up hours before the bar opens at 10 a.m., and the line never ceased.

“We are all pretty tired, so maybe a day without them wouldn’t be too bad, but we hope to see them again,” Dubliner owner Oran McGonagle said. “Yesterday was our biggest day in our history of four years, so God bless the Scottish.”

The Scotland National Men’s team gave a heartfelt thank you to Boston on social media on Saturday.

“You’ve made us feel more than welcome in the time we’ve spent with you; you’ve made us feel part of your incredible city. Thank you for your generosity and your wonderful hospitality,” they said.

But the Tartan Army must move on to Miami to support their team. The next match is scheduled for Wednesday against Brazil, but they are hoping that Scotland moves on to the Round of 32 so they can come back to Boston.

“We’re gutted, but I think we’re still gonna go through so it’s all good,” said Morton.

“It’s been a dream. It’s like being in a movie. Every time you walk around a corner now, everything is so big. The plan now is to go to Miami and beat Brazil,” said Andy Glass, who was boarding a flight at Logan Airport heading to Florida.

Morocco’s fans rode the high of the team’s first 2026 World Cup win. The team had previously tied against Brazil.

Omar Boutahar, from Saudi Arabia, brought his sons to the match. He said that watching the match with them made the win all the more special.

“The memories being built up. They will remember this. The tickets were so expensive. I don’t want to tell my wife how much it cost,” Boutahar said.

Morocco will face Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday.

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3-year-old dies after being hit by stolen car driven by 14-year-old in Baltimore, police say

By Kaicey Baylor

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A three-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run in Southwest Baltimore Saturday afternoon, according to police.

Baltimore police rushed to West Pratt Street near South Monroe Street for a pedestrian crash just after 1 pm.

There, officers found the little girl with severe, life-threatening injuries. Medics took her to the hospital, where she later died.

Police said the driver, a 14-year-old boy, left the scene.

According to detectives, officers found the 14-year-old after receiving a description of his vehicle over a broadcast. Later, police learned that the vehicle was reported stolen by a family member just before the crash.

Southwest Baltimore resident Bobbye Williams’ heart aches knowing a family lost their three-year-old girl.

“I’m sorry for the mother, definitely for those children,” she said.

Williams said she wasn’t at home during the time of the crash. She later learned about it from her neighbors.

“I’ve been here for 37 years,” she said. “We hear about a lot of things.” She add that she’s never heard of a hit-and-run involving a young girl and a teenager.

Williams believed both families are in pain right now as detectives search for more answers in this investigation.

“It’s just so sad that a 14-year-old child, he’s a child himself, to do something like that,” she said. “That’s why I say my heart goes out to both of them.”

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Stabbing at Bronx juvenile center leaves 11 staff members, residents hurt

By Elle McLogan

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Eleven people were stabbed inside a juvenile detention center in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx on Sunday, police said.

A facility source at Horizon Juvenile Center told CBS News New York the incident happened close to 5:30 p.m. and involved dozens of young people, some wielding contraband surgical scalpels, which they allegedly turned on staff who tried to intervene.

Cellphone video shows a staff member with a bloodied mouth climbing into the back of an ambulance.

According to police, both staff and residents were hurt, and none of the injuries are life-threatening.

“The situation at Horizon Juvenile Center has been resolved and the facility is now secured. The safety and security of young people and staff in our secure detention facilities is our top priority,” an Administration for Children’s Services spokesperson said in a statement.

Frightened parents of residents said they rushed over when they heard about a knife fight inside.

“I just got word my son is fine,” one parent said. “There was no kids, like, really badly hurt.”

Horizon is one of the city’s two secure detention facilities for young people with the most restrictive security features.

Families want to know how this violence happened and what’s being done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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Man falls to death during Goose concert at Madison Square Garden, NYPD says

By Mark Prussin, Elle McLogan

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — A concertgoer fell to his death during rock band Goose’s performance Saturday at Madison Square Garden, the New York Police Department said.

The victim has been identified as Paul Kueker, 51.

Connecticut father dies at concert Police said Kueker fell from an elevated surface inside the Garden just before 10 p.m. According to police sources, he fell from the arena’s 300 level.

Cell phone video shows first responders at the scene, the section cleared out moments after the tragic fall. Police said he was unconscious and unresponsive.

Kueker was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the NYPD said.

A witness told CBS News New York the concert resumed about half an hour after the incident.

Police said Kueker was at the concert with his wife. The couple was from Connecticut, and they have two children.

Police sources say no criminality is suspected. The investigation continues.

“While we await the police report on the tragedy at last night’s Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fan’s life at Madison Square Garden. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the concertgoer,” MSG said in a statement to CBS News New York.

Band reacts to tragedy “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support,” Goose said in a statement on the band’s Instagram account Saturday night.

Goose performed Sunday at SummerStage in Central Park. They addressed the death at the beginning of their concert.

“We just wanted to take a moment to address some of the tragic events that happened at last night’s show, and extend our deepest condolences to Paul, his family, his friends and everybody who was affected by what happened,” band member Peter Anspach said.

They then held a moment of silence for Kueker.

“In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile, we’re so lucky to have an incredible community here around us. Everybody, if you’re struggling with something, please don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message. You know, please,” Anspach continued. “We got to help each other out. That’s why we’re here. People are meant to talk and be with people, so thank you everybody for coming tonight, and we really appreciate you guys so much. We love you.”

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