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How the White House got involved in the border talks on Capitol Hill — with Ukraine aid at stake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House chief of staff Jeff Zients recently heard from a powerful Democratic senator that steep levels of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border had become, in a word, untenable. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, had signed onto a statement denouncing “reports of harmful changes to our asylum system” that were being proposed as part of a border deal on Capitol Hill. Yet Durbin, a veteran of numerous immigration battles, had also received concerning briefings from border officials and seen firsthand how the rising number of asylum-seekers had overwhelmed resources in his Midwestern state. So when Zients dialed Durbin one weekend this month for a temperature check on the ongoing border talks, the senator was candid.“I told him I thought the current situation is unsustainable, and the Democrats need to be part of the solution,” Durbin said. President Joe Biden’s top aide signaled the White House felt the same way, stressing to Durbin that “we have ...

A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers as war with Russia grinds on

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country.Despite a disappointing counteroffensive this summer and signs of wavering financial support from allies, Ukrainian soldiers say they remain fiercely determined to win. But as winter approaches, they worry that Russia is better equipped for battle and are frustrated about being on the defensive again in a grueling war. Some doubt the judgment of their leaders.Discontent among Ukrainian soldiers — once extremely rare and expressed only in private — is now more common and out in the open.In the southern city of Kherson, where Ukraine is staging attacks against well-armed Russian troops on the other side of the Dnieper River, soldiers are asking why these difficult amphibious operations were not launched months ago in warmer weather.“I don’t understand,” said a commander of the 11th National Guard Brigade’s anti-drone unit who is known on the battlefield as Boxer. ...

In Israel’s killing of 3 hostages, some see the same excessive force directed at Palestinians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israelis were left stunned and speechless when three hostages held by Hamas were killed by Israeli forces in the middle of an active war zone after they waved a white flag and screamed out in Hebrew to show they did not pose a threat.For some, the incident was a shocking example of the ugliness of war, where a complex and dangerous battlefield is safe for no one. But for critics, the incident underscores what they say is the excessively violent conduct of Israel’s security apparatus against Palestinians. Except in this case, it cut short the lives of three Israelis trying desperately to save themselves.“It’s heartbreaking but it’s not surprising,” said Roy Yellin, director of public outreach with the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. “We have documented over the years countless incidents of people who clearly surrendered and who were still shot.”Yellin said the killings violated basic military ethics and international law that prohibit shooting at pe...

Cathy Zielske will show you how to make a card — but don’t expect her to send you one for Christmas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

It’s noon on Wednesday, and Cathy Zielske is live from St. Paul.The 57-year-old YouTube personality is about to show people from Madrid to Massachusetts how to create a handmade card featuring a champagne flute, but first she has some housekeeping to address:“Hey everyone, it’s Cathy Zielske, welcome back to my channel and my studio and welcome to my weekly livestream, ‘Cathy Makes a Card,'” she said. “We’re going to get into it today because I have some plans — and then I’ll tell you the story about losing my bra and why that’s a problem.”The finished card that Cathy Zielske made from her home studio in St. Paul on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, as part of her weekly livestream, “Cathy Makes a Card.” (Courtesy of Cathy Zielske /CZ Design)(It was a problem, she told her followers later, because the Pioneer Press was coming to photograph her after the livestream.)Zielske’s signature sense of humor, the way...

St. Cloud’s Laundry Love program offers a fresh start

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Laundry machines were working tirelessly amid the friendly chatter of those crowded inside Kipp’s Laundry on a recent Tuesday.Volunteers were walking around handing quarters to people to start their laundry loads. Food was sitting on a table in a potluck-type offering. Donated boots and other winter gear were placed on a counter for those in need to take.It’s all part of a loosely organized nationwide initiative, Laundry Love, offering free laundry services to low or no-income residents.The service is held every first, third and fifth Tuesday of the month.Bags full of laundry sit in front of laundry machines inside Kipp’s Laundry in St. Cloud on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, during a Laundry Love event. (Trent Abrego / St. Cloud LIVE)The initiative started locally nearly 10 years ago after Nancy Dyson, who was living in Sartell then, saw a need in the community.Dyson, along with her daughter, began delivering coffee after church on Sundays to people living at Lake George. Eventually,...

Brainerd lakes area grocery workers announce intent to strike this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, representing grocery workers at five Brainerd lakes area union grocery stores, announced the intention to have a four-day unfair labor practice strike from Dec. 22-25.“Last week, our coworkers stood together and demonstrated our power as a union and voted to authorize a strike,” the union announced in a news release and via a YouTube video. “Quisberg’s and Miner’s have engaged in unfair labor practices meant to stop us from exercising our rights, despite our tireless efforts to serve customers every day. We are calling for an Unfair Labor Practices strike to be held from December 22 through Christmas at Cub Foods Brainerd and Baxter, Super One in Baxter and Crosby, and Pequot Lakes SuperValu,” the union stated in a news release Tuesday, Dec. 12. “We keep Cub Foods, Super One and SuperValu running through the busy holiday seasons, and customers notice. We are proud of the communities we serve.“The decision to call a strike is not an easy ...

Police say officer shot and killed man who was stabbing woman in Marshall, Minn.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Police in Minnesota say an officer shot and killed a man early Sunday after spotting him stabbing a woman.Marshall police said in a news release that the officer responded around 2:40 a.m. to a domestic disturbance. Authorities said the officer used a Taser on the man after seeing the woman was being stabbed. Ultimately, shots were fired, although the news release provided few details.The news release said the suspect died at the scene and that the woman was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in critical condition. Neither of their names were immediately released.Police asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate. The agency confirmed in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, that it is looking into what it described as a “use-of-deadly-force incident.” It provided no other details.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Minnesota postal carriers deliver concerns on workload, conditions as holiday packages pile up Cri...

Superior, Wis., gas plant gets federal approval

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Federal regulators awarded a key approval to a natural gas-fired power plant planned for Superior.The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, a 625-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas facility planned by Minnesota Power, Dairyland Power and Basin Electric Power Cooperative. It’s meant to provide power when solar and wind sources need backup.The agency had previously issued a finding of No Significant Impact in May 2021 but revisited its finding after petitions from environmental groups.“(The Rural Utilities Service) has determined that the environmental effects of the proposed project have been adequately addressed and that no significant impacts to the quality of the human environment will result from construction and operation of the proposed project,” the agency said in its supplemental finding of no significant impact released this month.Minnesota Power said construction could b...

Minnesota postal carriers deliver concerns on workload, conditions as holiday packages pile up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Like many postal workers, a mail carrier in northern Minnesota makes his way through his route in a small truck with balding tires.It’s almost three decades old and was designed to carry letters and magazines along with some parcels. But the capacity is nothing on the scale of today’s mounds of packages from Amazon, Target and other retailers.This mail carrier offered MPR News a look into his job provided his name won’t be made public.“There is retribution out there,” he said, expressing fear management would make his job even more difficult if they knew he was speaking out.He’s been a letter carrier for several years. Like others who have gone to lawmakers, the media or post office brass to raise concerns about delivery volume and working conditions, he’s fed up with the U.S. Postal Service for letting things get to this point.“Most of my concerns are just prioritization of parcels over mail. The mail is second rate,” said the letter carrier, who maintains management has taken on t...

Family of teen killed in violent hit-and-run speaks out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

A 22-year-old man has been arrested for murder in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 15-year-old father-to-be over the weekend in the San Fernando Valley, leaving his family devastated. The deadly crash occurred on Dec. 16 around 11:15 p.m. at Strathern Street east of Craner Avenue in Sun Valley, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.  Authorities said North Hills residents Joseph Delgado was driving recklessly at a high rate of speed in a silver 2007 Cadillac SUV when he lost control and hit several parked vehicles and a victim walking in the roadway.  Debris from the violent crash also struck a pedestrian who was walking on the sidewalk.  “The driver and sole occupant of the Cadillac exited his vehicle momentarily then fled the scene on foot eastbound on Strathern Street, failing to identify himself or render aid as required by law,” the release noted.  Family members identified the victim struck in the roadway ...