Category: CNN Regional

By Jeff Wagner

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    MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL, Minnesota (WCCO) — Just days away from being deported, a glimmer of hope comes through for a Minnesota man in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention.

At Chandee, known by family and friends as Ricky, had a hearing Friday before the state’s Clemency Review Commission. It’s the first step to potentially receive a pardon for a crime he committed over 30 years ago when he was 18.

The assault conviction is the reason ICE agents picked him up during Operation Metro Surge in January. At Chandee, a refugee from Laos, was sent to a detention facility in Texas. If his conviction is pardoned, family members hope it will lead to his release.

Dozens of family members, friends, and coworkers packed the hearing room to the point that more chairs were needed to accommodate everyone. Several testified before the commission about At Chandee’s character. That included coworkers from the City of Minneapolis where At Chandee has worked as an engineer technician for the past 27 years.

“It’s hard to believe that somebody like Ricky was taken away. He was such a contributor to work, and not just the work itself but just the atmosphere of work,” said Bob Ervin, the engineering manager at the city’s water treatment plant.

After serving his sentence and paying restitution, At Chandee has had zero run-ins with the law. Family members shared stories of how he grew into a loving father, volunteered and was dedicated to public service.

At Chandee’s son, Alex, testified via Zoom from an Air Force base where he’s currently serving.

“I would not be half the man I am today without my father,” he said.

Chandee’s wife, Tina Huynh-Chandee, fought through tears as she began to testify, ultimately leaning on At Chandee’s lifelong friend, Tim Blaylark, to finish reading her statement as the moment became overwhelming.

At Chandee himself was supposed to testify via Zoom, but he was transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana the night before the hearing. Blaylark read a statement At Chandee prepared.

“Over the years, I have worked hard to grow into a better person. I often remind myself and others to think before acting and not to make decisions based on emotion, lessons I wish I had understood at 18,” Blaylark read aloud.

The commission voted 6-0 in favor of recommending that the Minnesota Board of Pardons grant At Chandee a pardon. After the vote, Commissioner Zach Lindstrom thanked At Chandee’s supporters for sharing his story while denouncing the current presidential administration for locking him up.

“A man that’s now 52 years old has been ripped away from his family for absolutely no reason,” said Lindstrom. “My hope is that this can set him on the path back to getting his life back and getting reunited with you as soon as possible.”

The moment, however, is bittersweet. Huynh-Chandee said that upon being transferred to a new facility, her husband was given a deportation date of Tuesday. That’s weeks before the Board of Pardons has its next meeting in June, which is when At Chandee’s pardon could be made official. Huynh-Chandee isn’t giving up.

“I’m still hopeful that maybe we can hopefully stop the flight, for him to hopefully stay in the U.S., so we can continue to fight for him,” she said.

If the pardon is granted, a law expert told WCCO that the deportation order attached to the pardoned conviction could possibly be rescinded.

“The person [would then be] restored to the prior status that they had before the removal proceedings occurred, whether that’s going back to permanent resident status or maybe they were here as an asylee or refugee that never became a permanent resident,” said attorney Nico Ratkowski.

Ratkowski is not connected to At Chandee’s case, but he does have experience helping immigrants successfully seek pardons for convictions related to fraud.

“In those situations, the Board of Pardons has been a great help in terms of helping offset these really severe collateral consequences, especially for people who paid all of their restitution and have no criminal history since,” Ratkowski 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 Ubah Ali

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Minnesota’s statewide average price for a gallon of gas is the highest consumers have seen in four years.

Data from the American Automobile Association shows the cost of a gallon of regular is now above $4 for the first time since 2022.

With gas prices at an all-time high, drivers say they hesitate because they know it’ll cost a lot to fill up.

Betsi Thomas says she’s making changes.

“Cutting down on commutes and going out a little bit less,” Thomas said.

Others are ditching gas engines for electric vehicles. The switch can lead to more than $2,000 a year in savings for a fully electric vehicle and $1,500 for a hybrid, according to the U.S Department of Energy.

Pavel Ihnatovich owns GS Motors, a used EV-focused dealership in Hopkins, Minnesota. He said rising gas prices are one reason why his vehicles are a hot commodity.

“Sales are double, busier than ever. Lot of foot traffic, lot of people calling, lot of people coming for test drives and a lot of people buying,” said Ihnatovich.

A study done by Cox Automotive shows that used EV sales are up more than 25% from this time last year.

According to experts, used‑EV growth is expected through the end of the year.

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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    BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota (WCCO) — On a rainy spring day, residents from Friendship Village of Bloomington, Minnesota, spent time brushing, walking and connecting with horses as part of an equine-assisted therapy experience at Hold Your Horses.

The visit came ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May and focused on supporting emotional well-being through mindfulness, connection and hands-on interaction with animals.

For resident Karnie Moesenthin, the experience was calming.

“Calm and very, very happy, because it’s just so nice to be able to touch an animal,” Moesenthin said.

Moesenthin, who lives with Parkinson’s disease, said brushing the horses gave her a chance to do something she cannot easily do on her own.

“This is fun. It’s things that I can’t do on my own,” she said.

Hold Your Horses is a local nonprofit that provides therapy alongside horses and the natural world for people of all ages and abilities. Kenz Becco, its executive director, said the organization works with people navigating physical disabilities, trauma, grief, loss, major life transitions and other challenges.

Becco said horses can help people slow down and focus on the present moment.

“Being present, being grounded with the horses, letting the past be the past, letting the future be the future and just being in the moment,” Becco said.

According to information provided by Friendship Village, more than 5.5 million older adults in the U.S. report frequent mental distress. The World Health Organization also reports more than 14% of adults age 70 and older live with a mental health condition.

For Friendship Village residents, the visit offered a quiet way to connect with animals, nature and each other. Resident Barbara Bartholomew said the experience brought back memories from her years around horses.

“It feels good,” Bartholomew said.

Moesenthin said her favorite part was brushing the horses.

“Oh, it’s very smoothing, very soothing. It’s just, it’s soft,” she said.

Hold Your Horses offers programs for people of all ages, including children, adults and seniors. With its herd of therapy horses aging, the organization is working to bring in new horses to continue providing services in the years ahead.

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 Derek James

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    MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL, Minnesota (WCCO) — Rising gas prices are putting financial pressure on rideshare drivers in the Twin Cities, with some drivers saying the increased costs are making it difficult to earn a living.

Steven Mayer, who drives full-time, said the jump in gas prices has been significant.

“Going from $2 and now you’re at what, $4.09,” Mayer said.

Mayer explained that the higher prices add up quickly for drivers who are on the road every day.

“I would say about $20 a day. Add that on to possibly one to two fill-ups a day. So that’s $40 a day. You do that five days a week. It definitely can impact,” Mayer said.

While Uber and Lyft offer fuel rewards and other relief programs, drivers say these measures are not enough to offset the rising costs. Romeo Tillman, a longtime driver, said, “I’m not even making half of what we did a year ago today.”

Tillman also noted that the problem goes beyond gas prices, with fewer rides available.

“Within the three hours I’ve been out here working, I’ve made zero dollars,” Tillman said.

Lyft said it recognizes the financial pressure on drivers and pointed to a 60-day relief program that offers cash back rewards and fuel savings. In a statement, the company said, “When costs spike, we want drivers to choose Lyft because they feel like the platform works for them, not against them.”

Despite these programs, drivers like Tillman say the support is not enough.

“If we get anywhere beyond where we are right now, it’s going to be catastrophic. These drivers right now, none of us are making it at all. It’s a huge struggle,” Tillman said.

With gas prices still climbing, some drivers say they are reconsidering how long they can continue working in the industry. Rideshare drivers in Minnesota are also pushing for a change in the law to allow them to unionize and bargain for better wages.

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 Molly McCrea

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    SAN FRANCISCO, California (KPIX) — At the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, an incredible collaboration is taking place between a 16-year-old high school student and the medical staff.

The ReCap Project, founded by Brandon Lin in 2023, was formed to keep certain medical plastics out of landfills and incinerators.

“So far, I’ve saved over 2,100 pounds of plastic out of the landfills,” said Lin. “And that’s the equivalent to over 1 million actual, like, pieces of plastic.”

Medical plastic waste is a massive, growing problem, generating microplastics and toxins. A 2025 study found there are 2.1 million metric tons of single-use plastics used every year in healthcare across North America and Europe, with less than 5% recycled, resulting in 9.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

“It gives me nightmares,” said Karen Ceresnak, pediatric ICU nurse at Packard Hospital and a founder of the hospital’s Eco-Green team. “There is a lot of plastic waste here in every hospital.”

Some medical waste is necessary to keep things sterile and prevent the spread of infections. Lin collects uncontaminated plastics which include needle and medication caps, as well as plastic containers.

“It hasn’t touched anybody. It’s not a biohazard, and it’s really clean, and frankly ideal for recycling,” said Lin’s father, Dr. Ken Lin, pediatrician at Sutter Health San Carlos.

Lin’s collaboration with Packard Hospital is key. Instead of throwing away the “safe” plastics, the staff now puts them into recycle bags found in each patient’s room. There are also recycled plastic containers in supply rooms that serve as receptables for used plastic tips and medication caps. When they are full, the Lin family picks them up.

The collaboration has raised awareness within the hospital community.

“It’s been very rewarding since we started working with him,” said Ceresnak.

Once the boxes are loaded into the car, they head back to the Lin home where the entire family helps to sort the plastic by size, type, and color.

“Because each type of plastic needs to be processed a little bit differently because of its different properties,” explained Lin.

The sorted plastics are brought to a local plastic recycler Peninsula Precious Plastics, where they’re shredded and made into things like combs and clipboards.

Lin donates the combs to Samaritan House in San Mateo. He also brought some of the clipboards to Packard’s pediatric ICU as a “thank you.”

Registered nurse Clayton VanLiere picked the purple and white model, which was made from the ubiquitous Super Sani-Cloth germicidal disposable wipe containers found in hospitals.

“These are from the purple wipes,” said VanLiere, marveling, “These things are sick.”

Pediatric ICU nurse Uriel Contreras selected a bright orange clipboard, made from the tops of insulin caps.

“To see it just come to life like in a clipboard, it’s just crazy that we can recycle them and put it to a good use,” Contreras said.

It’s a good prescription for a healthier planet Earth.

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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    DALLAS, Texas (KTVT) — A suitcase that broke open onboard a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas Love Field exposed a significant stash of marijuana, prompting an investigation that led to the arrest of a 25‑year‑old woman, authorities said Friday.

Jennifer Manzanares‑Herrera was arrested before she left the airport and charged with possession of marijuana between 50 and 2,000 pounds, a second‑degree felony, according to the Dallas Police Department.

Airline staff alerted officers on Thursday Police said the department’s Narcotics Unit maintains a presence at Love Field to prevent drug trafficking through the airport.

Officers were alerted Thursday when airline staff reported that a suitcase on the Las Vegas flight had broken open, revealing a large quantity of marijuana.

Two more suitcases discovered Narcotics detectives later found two additional suitcases containing vacuum‑sealed packages of the drug.

In total, detectives recovered 75 pounds of marijuana, police said.

CBS News Texas will provide updates should additional information become 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 Jermont Terry

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    ALBANY PARK, Illinois (WBBM) — The woman who was pistol-whipped during an armed robbery at a Family Dollar store in Albany Park last weekend said she was horrified to learn one of the two men who were arrested was also accused of later shooting two Chicago police officers, killing one of them.

Maria Velezquez was still badly bruised nearly one week after the attack, but despite her physical scars, she was speaking out, because she wants people to hear what she endured while simply working at her job; a job she’s terrified of returning to now.

Velezquez was working at the Family Dollar store at the corner of Lawrence and Sawyer avenues on April 25, when two men robbed the store. One of them hit her three times in the face with a gun, breaking her nose.

Her bruises are undeniable.

“My physical is not good; and me and the health, it’s too much pain,” she said.

The pain is much deeper than the scars. Velezquez said, right after opening the store, two men walked in, one of them armed with a gun, and demanded money from the safe and registers.

When she told them she didn’t have keys for the safe, one of the men immediately hit her in the face with a gun.

The man accused of beating her – 26-year-old Alphanso Talley – is the same man police said was spotted on scooters with his accomplice soon after the attack and robbery.

Talley was arrested and claimed to have ingested drugs, so police took him to Swedish Hospital. While there, investigators said when police removed his handcuffs for a medical scan, Talley pulled out a concealed gun, and shot and killed Officer John Bartholomew, and critically wounded his partner.

“He no have heart … for police, for mine, because I have family,” Velezquez said.

As Velezquez recovers from her own injuries, she was horrified to learn Talley was on electronic monitoring at the time of the robbery and his alleged accomplice, Jeron Tate, was on parole following an earlier conviction for multiple robberies when he was a juvenile.

“It’s crazy. I’m sorry, but it’s crazy,” Velezquez said.

She said she doesn’t buy Talley’s family’s defense that he has mental health issues. Yet she’s in disbelief a judge refused to keep Talley behind bars despite his history of repeatedly violating electronic monitoring.

“If they didn’t let him out or let him free, the cops wouldn’t be in that situation, and neither would I,” she said through a Spanish interpreter

For 13, years the single mother of three worked at Family Dollar to care for her children, but now she’ll be out at least two months as she recovers. Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical bills until she feels safe going back to work.

Velezquez said she’s scared to leave the house, reflecting on what happened to the officers, and thankful she survived her attack. She said, every time she closes her eyes, she sees her two attackers.

Despite the robbers wearing face coverings, she said she was able to identify Talley from his large size. It’s that same size investigators believe helped him hide the weapon he used to shoot Bartholomew and his partner.

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 Shannon Delcambre

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Doctors at UAB have completed Alabama’s first bone marrow transplant using preserved stem cells from a deceased donor, marking a major breakthrough in the treatment of life-threatening blood cancers.

Experts said one of the biggest challenges has been finding a matching donor in time.

This new approach allows doctors to use preserved stem cells, cutting delays and giving more patients a chance at life-saving treatment.

“This advancement reflects our commitment to ensuring more patients have access to curative therapies when they need them most,” Omer Jamy of the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center said. “Expanding the donor pool helps us reach patients who may not otherwise have a viable donor option.”

Jamy encourages younger patients from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to join the registry to improve match rates and save lives.

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.