MILWAUKEE (AP) — People living at a homeless camp in downtown Milwaukee have been told they have to leave by the end of the month.

The encampment is on state Department of Transportation property. Notices passed out Friday give the residents until Oct. 31 to move.

A DOT spokesman tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the occupants have to leave because work will begin soon on a joint DOT-City of Milwaukee green infrastructure project under the I-794 freeway.

More than 60 people live in the encampment beneath the I-794 overpass. The camp began with a few makeshift shelters that sprang up more than two years ago.

The notice cites a state law that prohibits camping on highways. It also reminds occupants that shelter and services for homeless people are available in the Milwaukee area.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Officials in St. Paul say no one was hurt Saturday after a vehicle drove into a Leeann Chin restaurant on University Avenue.

The St. Paul Fire Department tweeted about the crash just after 2:20 p.m.

@StPaulFireDept and @sppdmn responded to a vehicle into a building on the 1300 block of University today. There were no injuries and there was no damage done to the structural support for the building. pic.twitter.com/LSmvaZqjWy

— Saint Paul Fire Dept (@StPaulFireDept) October 5, 2019

Officials say no one was injured and no damage was done to the structural support of the building.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 42-year-old man from Scandia was hurt early Saturday morning in a UTV accident, according to St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and emergency responders were dispatched around 2:00 a.m. on a report of a UTV accident with injuries. Authorities say the UTV was traveling northbound on the 7300 block of County Road 422 when the vehicle drove straight off the road in a corner.

The driver, identified as Zachary Howell, was wearing a seat belt but sustained facial injuries. He was transported by ambulance to the Cook Hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities say speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors in the accident. No additional details are available at this time.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police say the death of a 28-year-old man who was shot on a north Minneapolis street corner in June has been ruled a homicide.

The Star Tribune reports Kibbie Walker had been on life support for several weeks while recovering from the June 12 shooting. Walker died July 8.

The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office determined that Walker died from complications of a gunshot wound and that his death was a homicide.

The death is Minneapolis’ 34th homicide of the year. No arrests have been made.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Authorities in western Wisconsin are investigating a person’s death as a possible drowning.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Sandhill Lake in Luck, Wisconsin around 4:45 p.m. Friday.

Upon arrival, emergency crews found a person unresponsive and began performing CPR. However, attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful.

Authorities say based on the preliminary investigation, it appears someone was fishing on Sandhill Lake and fell out of a boat and into the water, where they were submerged for several minutes.

The sheriff’s department is waiting until the family can be notified to release the name of the person who died.

No additional details are available at this time.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A woman is in custody following a double stabbing Friday night in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis Police Department says the stabbing happened around 10 p.m. on the 2700 block of 18th Ave. South.

Upon arrival, police found two individuals suffering from stab wounds. The victims, both adults, were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities say an adult female was arrested and taken into custody. Investigators believe this was a domestic situation.

The stabbing remains under investigation.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The centerpiece of DFL lawmakers’ plans to fight the climate crisis is a mandate that would make the energy grid carbon-free by 2050. But at the Minnesota Capitol, another climate measure, this one known as “Clean Energy First,” has drawn just as much attention — and may have better odds of becoming law.

The policy, which has been championed by clean energy advocacy groups, would make it tougher for power companies to add new fossil fuel energy sources. And unlike the 2050 plan proposed by Gov. Tim Walz, the basic premise of Clean Energy First has the support of Democrats and a sizable chunk of Republicans.

Sen. David Senjem, a Rochester Republican who sponsored a Senate version of Clean Energy First, said his bill would help make Minnesota a “national leader” in driving clean energy production and innovation. “We know it’s the future,” Senjem said of clean power. “We know it’s literally the cheapest option and we know politically and attitudinally, people prefer clean energy over dirty energy.”

___

The nonprofit news outlet MinnPost provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News.

___

Here’s a look at how Clean Energy First would work, and why the climate change proposal has gained some steam in St. Paul: There were multiple versions of Clean Energy First at the Legislature during the 2019 session. But the crux of each proposal is aimed at changing how regulators on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) can make decisions.

Every few years, utility companies like Xcel Energy submit plans to the PUC detailing the long-term makeup of their power sources. To approve them, state law says the commission must consider whether new energy projects proposed by utilities are in the public interest and whether they would help meet the state’s goals for reducing greenhouse gases.

Clean Energy First would beef up that preference for green technology. Senjem’s bill says the PUC would only be able to approve new fossil-fuel power if the utility is “unable affordably and reliably” to meet its power needs with new clean energy. It would also update definitions of clean energy to include energy storage systems and power-efficiency technology. Moreover, it lets utilities meet energy needs with a combination of different kinds of carbon-saving means.

Steve Kelley, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, said Clean Energy First policy would also “deemphasize” the idea that natural gas plants are the only way to replace coal plants and keep a reliable energy grid.

“There are still conversations about where do gas plants fit into the reliability and affordability picture, especially as the prices of renewables appear to continue to decline and we’re developing new opportunities in storage and demand management,” Kelley said. “So I think (Clean Energy First) helps us put the emphasis on those new tools.”

The proposals come at a pivotal moment for state energy policy. Many lawmakers are hoping to aggressively cut carbon emissions as the climate crisis escalates around the world. And in the next 20 years, 70% of the state’s electric generation will be eligible for replacement, says the Commerce Department.

Xcel has already pledged to be carbon-free by 2050 through an expansion of wind and solar power, an extension of its nuclear power and use of natural gas. They also plan to end use of coal by 2030. But there are other power companies still more reliant on fossil fuels.

Clean Energy First has won the backing of a swath of renewable-energy advocates in St. Paul and has been a top priority for many of them. First developed by the Center for Energy and the Environment along with a few other nonprofits, the policy is often billed as a flexible regulation that will guide the creation of clean energy without imposing stiff mandates.

Conservation Minnesota, a Minneapolis nonprofit with a mission to build bipartisan consensus on environmental legislation, says on its website that Clean Energy First is “not a one size fits all policy” and it “allows each utility to affordably maximize its use of clean energy while meeting the unique reliability needs of its customer base.”

The idea has also drawn the support of the Minnesota and North Dakota chapter of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, in part because the bills have provisions aimed at getting clean energy developers to hire local workers.

At a March hearing on Senjem’s bill, Joyce Peppin, general counsel for the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, which represents the state’s electric cooperative, said the organization had some reservations about Clean Energy First. But Peppin said it’s “a better approach than arbitrarily setting dates by which utilities must add specific amounts of renewable generation to their portfolios, regardless of need or their impact on grid stability.”

Senjem said Clean Energy First would ensure that research and investment in green technology would progress faster in Minnesota than it otherwise would. His bill, which was cosponsored by a handful of Republicans, was approved by the Senate’s Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee.

A similar measure was approved by the DFL-led House, although it was tied into the carbon-free 2050 plan and had stricter barriers to building fossil fuel projects, including a requirement that power companies establish “clear and convincing evidence” that renewable energy and clean energy technology can’t be done affordably or reliably to pursue fossil fuels.

Some large business and industry groups have balked at Clean Energy First, as well as some lawmakers. The Iron Mining Association, for example, says it’s dealt with rate hikes in the last decade and worries the cost of building new infrastructure and a faster transition to renewables could spike costs higher. In a global industry, rising prices could make Minnesota’s iron ore uncompetitive, said Kelsey Johnson, president of the association.

Lauryn Schothorst, who leads energy policy for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, told the Senate in March that her organization opposed Senjem’s bill and worried it could drive up power rates for business and other customers. The scope of the legislation and its effect on utilities, she said, “is actually enormous.”

Chamber members “support strategies that consider all of the energy resources available as long as those strategies result in cost-effective power, competitive rates, ensure system reliability and do not shift costs to others,” Schothorst said.

The Chamber’s board has representatives from a vast swath of powerful companies such as the Minnesota Vikings, UnitedHealthcare, U.S. Bank, Medtronic, Target, Delta Airlines, the Mayo Clinic, Cargill and 3M.

Andrew Moratzka, an attorney who represents large industrial companies like iron mines, paper mills and refineries, said at the March hearing that Senjem’s measure “is not a ‘light touch’ statute or bill” and noted it allows power companies to pass on costs for new provisions, such as hiring local workers, to customers.

Sen. David Osmek, a Mound Republican who chairs the Senate’s energy committee, said he doubts if Clean Energy First is necessary. Power companies are already working to rid fossil fuels from their systems, he said.

Osmek said he’s worried Clean Energy First “puts the thumb on the scale for renewables to the point where you’re going to create reliability issues on the grid.” He also said it does not allow natural gas to serve as a bridge from coal to renewable energy — a contentious topic in energy debates across the country — or address Minnesota’s moratorium on new nuclear power. Osmek has supported lifting that restriction.

Still, Osmek said he’s “not necessarily opposed” to some form of legislation and has worked in the interim to find a bill that can all can agree to. The measure passed by the DFL House had several differences from Senjem’s bill, including whether carbon-capture technology should be considered as a clean energy technology that can be used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Those differences between the House and Senate would need to be ironed out for a bill to pass the Legislature.

Kelley, the Commerce Department commissioner, said he still views Clean Energy First as one piece of Walz’s larger climate change agenda. But he said “it’s an important part,” since it drives the development of new power sources in Minnesota.

“It’s very important because there’s a lot of money that is affected by this,” Kelley said. “And the potential effect on greenhouse gas emissions is also significant.”

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Organizers say Saturday’s events for the Twin Cities Marathon have been cancelled due to lightning storms in the forecast.

Today's Events are Cancelled. The TC 10K, TC 5K, presented by Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., and the Medtronic TC Family Events have been cancelled due to lightning storms forecast throughout the morning.
Please follow the link to learn more. https://t.co/613i3GPww8

— TwinCities In Motion (@tcmarathon) October 5, 2019

That includes the 10K, 5K and family events at the State Capitol.  The health and fitness expo, which is indoors at the St. Paul RiverCentre, will still be open.

The marathon itself, and the TC 10 mile, are expected to proceed as scheduled on Sunday.

This is the first time in the event’s 38-year history they’ve had to cancel anything during marathon weekend.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — One month on, the search continues for 89-year-old Norbert Dantzman.

The Sawyer County Sheriff’s office says Dantzman, from California, was last seen on August 30 at about 9 a.m. leaving the Winter Northern Lights Motel in Winter, Wisconsin.

Norbert Dantzman (credit: Sawyer Co. Sheriff’s Office)

Dantzman is 5-feet-9 inches tall, weighs about 136 pounds, and has brown eyes and gray hair. He was last seen wearing a light-colored checkered shirt, black vest, black pants and a light-colored cap.

The sheriff’s office says Dantzman has dementia, as well as other cognitive issues.

Anyone who has information on his whereabouts is urged to call 715-634-5213.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Efforts to open Minnesota’s first black-led credit union are moving forward.

In August, Village Financial Cooperative fired its leader, Me’Lea Connelly, for alleged mismanagement.

Connelly says she is heartbroken that the conversation is not about the work the Association for Black Economic Power is doing by starting a credit union in north Minneapolis. She is speaking out to tell her side of the story, and she hopes people can move on, and that the work that’s being done can continue.

For three years, Connelly led the effort to bring a credit union to north Minneapolis. The opening was set for the end of 2019, until she was let go.

“I can say that it feels personal to me. You know, I don’t believe that it’s necessary to, you know, attack someone’s character or ruin their reputation in order to move on with the work,” Connelly said.

Me’Lea Connelly (credit: CBS)

ABEP says Connelly was removed from her position for organizational mismanagement, misconduct in regard to the organization’s finances and credit union’s application process.

“Those things are absolutely false,” Connelly said.

Connelly says she was let go because she reported and opposed discriminatory actions that were happening in the organization.

“There was discrimination against a high-ranking leader in the organization, and directly because of their concerns that this person was not black, and that their role in leadership was inappropriate due to the fact that they were white,” Connelly said.

Connelly said she was directed to fire the only white person in the organization. When she complained, she claims she was placed on leave, and then was fired.

“We are black-led, and that’s in the fact of honoring the community that the mission is driven towards, but that doesn’t mean we’re black only,” Connelly said. “It doesn’t mean we discriminate against other people within our organization because they aren’t black.”

The organization says it cannot comment because there is an active investigation. What it can say is major financial backers continue to support the movement, and Village Financial Cooperative will soon be a reality for people in north Minneapolis.

A community forum is planned two weeks from Friday.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — If you ever thought about going solar, this weekend is a perfect time to figure it out.

As part of a nationwide program, homes all around the Twin Cities will be on display as part of a solar energy open house.

Susan Clarke went solar, and her St. Paul house will be on tour.

“My panels generate energy, the electricity goes back to Xcel [Energy], and then I pay for anything over and above that I’ve used and not generated,” Clarke said.

She’s owned this century-old St. Paul home for more than 40 years.

“I walked in and it was just, ‘This is it,’ before I went anywhere else. I grew up in Victorian houses in England, and they just feel right,” she said.

(credit: CBS)

She quickly realized for all the charm it had, it lacked energy efficiency. So she decided to go solar which cost around $13,000.

“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for years and years and years, and then I finally got the money together to do it, and also there’s this program that the state had, you know, where you got a really generous tax write off and rebates from Xcel, and so it just made the whole thing very possible,” Clarke said.

Her bill went from about $250 a month to $150. She used the company All Energy Solar.

“A lot of people say, ‘What’s my return on my investment?’ And the simple answer to that is, ‘What’s your return on your investment right now? Nothing. You’re getting nothing. You are renting your electricity,'” said Michael Allen with All Energy Solar.

The return is tangible for Andy Flamm, who raised his family in a Highland Park home. In over six months, he made more electricity than he used, racking up $128 in credits.

“When we saw that half of it would be subsidized, and then we saw how much we would save in energy usage over the years, we think we’ll break even within maybe 10 to 12 years,” Flamm said.

Not everyone is a perfect candidate for going solar. You can call a company to get an assessment. It depends on the sun exposure of your home.

The home tour is this weekend all over the metro. Click here to find a solar tour. Attendees should visit and sign up directly with the home or business owner nearest you to visit their installation. Please check individual tour sites for specific dates and times.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – For one Farmington Family, a Twins bid to the playoffs and maybe the World Series has a whole new meaning.

A child was born in this family in 1965 when the Twins went to the World Series. The next generation was born in 1987 and then 1991 when the Twins won the World Series.

WCCO’s Marielle Mohs explains why this family has a good feeling about this year.

With the Twins starting their road to the World Series this Friday, Dawn Luedeman is remembering what this day was like 32 years ago.

“Justine’s the oldest and Mariah’s the youngest,” Luedeman said. “That was Justine in her bassinet with her Homer Hanky.”

Her daughter Justine was born on October 13 — a week before the Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the ’87 World Series.

“I really thought it was special that she had gotten the first Homer Hanky and that they passed it out in the hospital,” Luedeman said.

Then four years later in 1991, Mariah was born.

“I’m not going to tell the Twins, they’re going to want me pregnant every year!” Luedeman said.

It wasn’t a huge coincidence to her that her girls were born on Twins World Series wins.

“In 1965, I was born on September 1. The Twins went to the World Series and my mom went into labor with me, at a game,” Luedeman explained.

The ‘87 and ‘91 Homer Hanky’s now represent so much more to this family. And they are thinking the 2019 hanky will join the coveted lineup.

“My oldest one is pregnant, she’s due November 9,” Luedeman said. “She says if they win, her uterus is in big trouble.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A nonprofit will have a new look and feel at no cost thanks to the help of dozens of businesses. The idea is to give to those who always give to others while pushing their mission forward. It starts with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

A transformation is underway at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office in downtown Minneapolis.

The executive director admits someone called the former look tragic.

“I had no idea the potential of this space,” Joe Schwei said.

A few months ago, Anton Newman with Fluid Interiors approached the charity with an idea.

Change the space to create a better future.

“They do such great work but they’re underserved perhaps in the environment so how can we keep them longer in the environment, how can we attract the most talented people to come to the nonprofits,” Newman said.

It’s personal for his family. His daughter Bailey has CF.

“So 3 years ago this became part of our life and it’s our mission to cure this disease so when I picked up the phone to some of our key players I learned along the way they’ve all got some sort of connectivity to this disease as well,” Newman said.

Roughly 50 companies said yes to donating time, labor, services and materials. Tim Olsen negotiated the lease renewal which resulted in dollars from the landlord to put the project in motion,

“We’ve seen employees leave, probably due to the work environment. For me, it was super important to give back to people that are always asking others for help, but not asking help for themselves,” Olsen with Carlson Partners said

The renderings show the dramatic difference.

“It’s night and day,” Schwei said.

The hundreds of thousands of dollars of donated work will allow the foundation to do more to help kids and families.

“When you walk in the space, you’re going to feel our mission. You’re going to feel how dedicated we are to making sure that someday Cystic Fibrosis, CF, stands for cure found,” Schwei said.

The space will be done in early November. But the key partners say this is just the beginning. They plan to choose one nonprofit a year to help. They’re currently working on a way for charities to apply for next year. Click here to learn more.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota lawmakers have weighed in on a Trump Administration proposal to increase demand for ethanol with mixed reactions. 

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed new guidelines to increase demand for ethanol. These guidelines include enforcing a requirement, known as the Renewable Fuel Standard, that 15 billion gallons of ethanol be blended into the country’s fuel supply beginning in 2020. 

The new proposal is meant to offset waivers that exempt small refineries from blending standards. On Thursday, Democratic Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called on the Trump Administration to end misuse of these waivers, known as Small Refinery Exemptions, or SREs. 

Klobuchar cited economic hardships for ethanol farmers in states like Minnesota and Iowa. 

In response to the new EPA standards Friday, Klobuchar called the action “damage control” by the administration.  

“This rulemaking won’t recover the over four billion gallons of renewable fuel that we’ve lost to refinery exemptions in the last few years. Under this plan, those gallons—and the important impact they could have had on our environment—are gone forever,” Klobuchar said in a statement. 

Republican Minnesota Congressman Jim Hagedorn praised the policy, calling it a “win” for southern Minnesota, which he represents. 

“This agreement will help restore demand for grain farmers and provide stability for agri-businesses and biofuels operators,” Hagedorn said in a statement. “As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I will continue to monitor and weigh in on this issue as the administration administers these new ethanol program regulations.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Brooklyn Park couple now await sentencing after pleading guilty to the death of a foster child under their care.

On Friday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Sherrie Dirk pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder in connection to the November 2017 death. Bryce Dirk pleaded guilty to the same charge in September.

According to court documents, police were called to the couple’s Brooklyn Park home on Nov. 6, 2017 because the 3-year-old foster daughter was not breathing.

Police said Sherrie Dirk had wrapped the girl with three sheets between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. and left her in a room with the door closed. The child was left unattended until just before the 911 call at about 6:30 p.m., when Bryce Dirk entered the room. One of the sheets was found around the girl’s neck.

When police arrived, the child was found severely dehydrated and malnourished. Police said since the girl had arrived at the couple’s home, she lost weight and gone from the 98th percentile in weight to beneath the 5th percentile weeks before her death.

The Dirks are parents to four other children. A petition to terminate their parental rights on those children was filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s office in late 2017. The children were removed immediately from their custody, but the trial for the petition was delayed. It will take place next month.

Bryce Dirk will be sentenced on Nov. 4 where he’s expected to receive 150 months in prison, or 12-and-a-half-years in prison.

Sherrie Dirk will be sentenced on Dec. 3 where defense and prosecution will argue the length of her sentence. She’s expected to receive 25 to 25 years in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A recent initiative by the the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is aiming to bolster suicide prevention efforts for farmers and agricultural workers.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced Friday a series of trainings called safeTALK, which will take place throughout the state starting next week. These trainings will discuss how to recognize and help someone at risk of suicide. The trainings will target both farmers and other community members, including social workers, educators and business people.

According to a Minnesota Department of Agriculture press release, this training can recognize risk in those as young as 15.

“Unfortunately, farming communities experience more than their share of suicide,” said Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen in a statement. “We want people to know what they can do to help when they see warning signs.”

Farmer suicide was a major issue during last legislative session at the Minnesota Capitol. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s director of mental health outreach Ted Mathews testified in March about a lack of mental health resources for farmers.

In the state’s most recent biennial budget, the Legislature approved $468,000 in funding to expand the state’s rural mental health programs, including the creation of a crisis hotline over the next four years. The budget also establishes funding for one additional mental health adviser for farmers.

The safeTALK trainings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

Oct. 10: Thief River Falls (Northland Community and Technical College)
Oct. 11: Moorhead (Minnesota State Community and Technical College – Moorhead)
Nov. 20: Faribault (South Central College)
Nov. 21: Austin (Riverland Community College)
Dec. 3: Marshall (MERIT Center)
Dec. 4: Waite Park (Quarry Center)

The race starts Sunday morning, with the better portion starting at 8 a.m. for the main race. (There is also a 10-mile that starts at 6:54 a.m.)

The race begins near U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, moving from there along Sixth Street, down Marquette Avenue, onto 12th Street and onto Hennepin Avenue. The race does deviate from the previous year’s route due to construction along Hennepin.

Here are the current road closures reported on the marathon’s website:

 Minneapolis: From 5th Avenue to 11th Avenue and from 7th Street to 3rd Street will be closed on Sunday, October 6 at 4:00 a.m. for start line setup and will reopen at approximately 9 a.m.

Minneapolis: Traffic turning onto the course on Sunday, October 6 will be shut down at 6:30 a.m. for the 10 Mile, and 7:30 a.m. for the marathon. Cross-traffic will be allowed to flow until the wheelchair athletes begin to approach.

Saint Paul: Traffic turning onto the course on Sunday, October 6 will be shut down at 6:30 a.m.

Saint Paul: Summit Avenue between Ramsey Street and Portland Ave will be closed from Saturday, October 5 at 6:45 a.m. through Sunday, October 6
at 6:00 p.m. Detour route on Portland Ave to Arundel Street.

(credit: Cass County)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Michelle Mae, of Outing, was last seen in the area Wednesday.

Mae is described as standing 5-feet, 1-inches tall, with green eyes. She drives a black 2004 Jeep Liberty.

Anyone with information on Mae or her SUV is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 218-547-1424.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Officials say the 13-year-old girl seen being arrested by St. Paul police in a video widely shared on social media is charged with assault.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said Friday that the teen is facing a count of fourth-degree assault in connection to her arrest last week.

According to a police incident report, officers arrested the teen after responding to the BP gas station at 1347 University Avenue West, an area described in the report as a “hotbed of criminal activity.”

The 13-year-old fled the gas station and assaulted one officer and tried to assault others, the report says.

Video of her arrest appeared on social media. Witnesses said it was shot at the UPS store across the light rail tracks from the gas station.

The video shows two officers holding the teen down on the ground while she refuses to follow their commands to turn over. A third officer steps in to get the teen into handcuffs.

Police said that the girl had been violating an order not to trespass and violently scratched and punched an officer as they tried to arrest her. The video, which only shows part of the arrest, does not capture what police described.

After the video gained traction on social media, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter called for an investigation into what happened. He urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the teen or officers in involved.

Davida Conover, the teen’s mother, told WCCO that her daughter has mental health issues, adding that police are aware of that due to prior contact with her daughter.

Conover said that she was “totally disgusted” when she watched the arrest video on Facebook. She said that one of the officers in the video has treated her daughter unfairly in the past.

Police say they offered family resources to the teen’s family the day before the arrest. The St. Paul Police Federation say it stands by the officers’ actions.

After her arrest, the teen was taken to a juvenile detention center. Her mother did not indicate whether or not she was still in custody.

The teen is slated to appear in court on Nov. 14. According to Minnesota statues, fourth-degree assault of a peace officer is a gross misdemeanor.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — St. Cloud police say a 37-year-old St. Cloud man is in custody after threatening another man with a loaded shotgun inside his residence, resulting in a standoff situation with police.

According to police, officers were sent at 3:32 p.m. Thursday to a residence located on the 300 block of 16th Avenue North. They were there responding to a report of an intoxicated man with a loaded shotgun in his home threatening to kill another man.

Shortly after arriving, police said the man who was threatened left the house and met with officers. He was uninjured.

Police say they then confirmed the suspect was still inside the house and no other people were inside. Attempts to contact the suspect through phone and megaphone were unsuccessful.

St. Cloud police’s SWAT team responded, reinforced the perimeter and continued negotiating with the suspect. Roads around the area were also shut down during the incident.

A search warrant was acquired and then executed on the residence at 9 p.m. by the SWAT team. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

The loaded shotgun was recovered inside the home. Roads were reopened by 9:30 p.m.

The suspect was taken to Stearns County Jail where he is being held for court on charges related to threats of violence.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say 16 people have been charged in a methamphetamine distribution operation in central Wisconsin.

The charges were announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Scott Blader in the Western District, the FBI, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and local officials.

A federal grand jury indicted 12 of the 16 people last month, including three individuals from St. Paul, Minnesota. The other federal defendants are mainly from Wausau. Charges include conspiring to distribute meth.

Four others, all from Wausau, are facing state charges in Marathon County, including delivery and possession of meth. Officials say the charges result from drug activity from November 2018 to June 2019.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota officially has some of the hardest-working parents in the nation.

According to a new study by Fabric Life Insurance, the average working parent in the United States works 40.6 hours a week. In the Twin Cities, parents work an average of 44.9 hours a week.

“It’s hard,” said mother of three Shoua Vang of St. Paul. “My husband works night shift and I have to work morning shift, and it’s hard.”

Jim Herbert and his wife, who live in Marine on St. Croix, both work full time, too, managing to raise four busy boys.

“Just to handle expenses of school and sports, and everything else to maintain the lifestyle that you want to live, you have to do it,” Herbert said.

The study shows 64% percent of parents in the U.S., on average, work full time. In the Twin Cities, 69.4% of parents work full time — ranking the highest of any major city.

Economics professor Dr. Caroline Krafft of St. Catherine University in St. Paul broke down the Twin Cities new ranking.

“I’m not sure this is 100% a good story because it may be driven both by the necessity of having two jobs,” Krafft said. “I think we’re number one in part because we have high rates of education, and women particularly getting a lot of education historically in Minnesota, and women tend to work more when they’re more educated because they can get better jobs.”

She also attributes the ranking to longer commute times for some, and to the low unemployment rate.

“It may be that Minnesota workplaces are pretty flexible for high-skilled jobs, and so you may have some working moms who can make it work because work places are ‘Minnesota nice’ and accommodating,” she said.

And for many parents, Dr. Krafft says it’s simply a numbers game. She says another reason some parents may feel more comfortable is because of the reputation the state has for high-quality childcare standards.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The mother of a 13 year-old girl arrested by St. Paul police is speaking out.

Video of her arrest has been circulating on social media. For many, it’s hard to look at.

READ MORE: ‘It Doesn’t Show The Whole Picture’: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter Calls For Investigation Of Teen’s Arrest

Mayor Melvin Carter called the video disturbing and has requested a formal internal affairs investigation.

Phone calls from Davida Conover’s family and friends alerted her to the fact that her daughter was arrested by St. Paul police, and the incident was caught on camera.

“I was totally disgusted when I found out about my daughter through Facebook,” Conover said. “She struggles with mental illness, and they are fully aware of that.”

Conover says police are aware of her daughter’s mental health issues, and she believes from looking at the video that they did not handle the interaction with her well.

A still frame from the video of the arrest (credit: Hellen Dillman)

“Especially with her having sensory [issues] or her struggling with other co-existing diagnosis, they were fully aware every time. I tell them, ‘This is the diagnosis that she have, you cannot grab her, you cannot lay on her, you have to talk to her and you can’t jump at her,’” Conover said.

Mayor Melvin Carter asked for the community to not pass judgement on the teen or the officers involved in the incident, and to wait until all the facts are in.

“It’s something we never want to see, and there could be many causes which led to it, all of which we as a community have to own and have to address so that we can ensure that we don’t find ourselves back in that situation,” Carter said.

Police say they have had run-ins with the teen in the past. Conover admits her daughter is no angel, but adds one of the officers seen in the video treats her unfairly.

“My daughter has had several run-ins with the same officer where he constantly harasses her, and he messes with her for no reason,” Conover said. “Now I have to just pray that I can get the services that she needs.”

Police say they have offered the family resources as recently as the day before the arrest was caught on camera. The St. Paul Police Federation says it stands by the officers’ actions. They say watching a person who is physically resisting arrest is hard, but they feel the officers did what was needed to control the situation.

Activists want action taken against officers they believe are not qualified to patrol neighborhoods that are predominately home to people of color.

Conover did not indicate whether or not her daughter was still in custody, and she didn’t say if she planned to take legal action or not.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — When Cole DeVries pitched for the Twins, he’d toss out a few balls out of the game before they were ever even used.

“I might throw it out if I didn’t like the feel of it,” he said.

Perhaps the rub made the ball too chalky. Sometimes, he felt a mark that made it hard for him to keep control over the ball.

“I rarely made that distinction,” he said. “If there were some scuffs on it, I knew how to use that to my advantage to get that ball to move more.”

The Twins use, on average, between 100 and 120 baseballs per game. That number doesn’t really change between the regular and post-season.

“Major League Baseball is pretty strict from Day 1,” said Matt Hodson, communications manager for the Twins. “It’s part, they feel, the integrity of the game.”

Some baseballs end up in the hands of fans as home runs or foul balls. Most, though, are tossed out by the umpire or pitcher once the ball hits the ground.

“There’s no seams on there [baseballs], so any scuff, any abrasion is really going to affect how the ball travels,” said DeVries.

DeVries said a scuff could allow the ball to catch more air or cause more resistance, depending on the pitcher. Both pitchers and umpires can decide to take a ball out of play.

“If they see anything, they’re not going to mess around, boom, toss it out,” said DeVries.

Milestone balls, like first hits or strikeouts or wins, are generally given to the players who earn them. DeVries threw his first strikeout to Joe Mauer in 2012, who tossed it into the dugout. That ball later ended up in DeVries’ cubby.

During the September 29 Twins game against Kansas City, the Twins scored three home runs. Those runs – 305, 306 and 307 – would be saved as well. The Twins exchanged an autographed bat and a player with a picture to put those milestone baseballs back in the hands of the Twins.

The Twins spend about $400,000 a year on baseballs, which breaks down to $9/ball.

And, if you’re wondering what happens to them when they’re tossed from the game: they’re used for batting practice for the Twins and their minor league team.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Rain is pushing back some road construction projects in the Twin Cities metro.

The ramp from Interstate 35 South to Interstate 94 West, and the ramp from I-35 North to Washington Avenue were set to close this weekend.

But because of the wet weather, the ramps will instead close the weekend of October 18.

Click here for more information on this construction project, and click here for updates on road and ramp closures.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A video of police arresting a teenage girl has captured the attention of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.

That video has been circulating around social media, and police admit that arresting someone who is physically resisting is hard to watch.

Mayor Carter agreed, and he told WCCO Thursday why he asked the police chief for a formal internal affairs investigation into the circumstances surrounding this arrest.

“The video that’s emerged, as some have pointed out, it’s a snippet,” Carter said. “It doesn’t show the whole picture. That’s why we need an investigation.”

Carter says the city does not have the answers as to why this happened, but he believes an investigation into this arrest is needed.

A still frame from the video of the arrest (credit: Hellen Dillman)

“The relationship between our officers and our neighbors is a critical public safety asset that we have to protect and preserve at all times. And that’s why for me it’s disheartening to see people jumping out to try to villainize the minor child involved in this,” Carter said. “That’s also why it’s disheartening for me to see people trying to jump out to try to villainize the officers involved in this before we have a full reading of the facts. We don’t know. What we do know is that we’re committed to transparency, we’re committed to accountability and we’re committed to getting to the bottom of this.”

The St. Paul Police Department tells WCCO the girl was resisting arrest, and that they have had problems with her in the past. The St. Paul Police Federation does stand by the actions of the officers.

Not only will there be a formal internal affairs investigation, Mayor Carter says that he also hopes to use use-of-force experts and people from the community to review the video to get to the bottom of what happened.

Police say this all started because the girl was trespassing at a gas station. During the confrontation, they say she punched an officer in the head.

The officers in the video will work their regular shift during the internal affairs investigation.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (AP) — Trump Victory is organizing a counter-impeachment protest outside the Detroit Lakes office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, of Minnesota.

The Republican National Committee says Friday’s event is part of a nationwide effort to hold vulnerable Democrats accountable for the impeachment push.

Among those appearing will be former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach, who’s running against Peterson.

Peterson, who represents a pro-Trump district, is the only Democrat in Minnesota’s congressional delegation who’s resisted the impeachment push. He’s called the process a waste of time and divisive because it lacks bipartisan support.

Trump Victory is a joint effort by President Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee.

The RNC says its nationwide push against more than 60 Democrats it considers vulnerable also includes a $2 million TV and digital ad buy.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — On October 10, President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally at Target Center. The event starts at 7 p.m., but the doors open at 4 p.m., right around the start of rush hour on a workday.

Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan suggests that people show extremely early to hold their place in line to get in.

“If people think showing up at 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. that they will get in, I think they will have a very difficult time,” said Carnahan, “So we always encourage people to go as early as possible, maybe 9 a.m. or 10 in the morning.”

Carnahan says the people who will get to stand behind the President as he speaks at the podium during the rally will all be Minnesotans.

“There are some VIP allotment tickets given out to people across the state for their contributions and efforts, and also on the day of, there will be staffers from the Trump Campaign that will select people to be back there,” said Carnahan.

This rally is on a Thursday, a workday, so people who work in downtown Minneapolis are bracing for the influx of people.

Gluek’s is the oldest bar in downtown Minneapolis, and across the street from the Target Center. The current owner Lee Holcomb has been working there for 60 years and he welcomes any size crowd.

“We like it when it’s mayhem downtown and everybody, hopefully, is having fun,” said Holcomb, “It doesn’t matter, as long as they act like normal people and they’re not disruptive in any way.”

Gluek’s is preparing for more business than usual.

“On Thursday night we’ll for sure double our normal staff,” said Holcomb.

Karen Bair works downtown and she is already trying to work out her plan to avoid the crowds on a workday.

“I think they’ll probably, fingers crossed, let me work from home, I’ll double-check on that, otherwise I’ll probably take public transportation just to avoid parking,” said Bair.

A protest against President Trump is being planned already. It is expected to happen outside the Target Center leading up to the start of the rally.

Minneapolis police also said to expect an enhanced presence by them.

MNDOT has not announced road closures downtown yet. They plan to announce them early next week.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Authorities say a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office official admits he was drinking before he drove into a ditch.

A Wisconsin deputy discovered Robert Staupe’s work SUV in a ditch in Rusk Township last Saturday night.

When the Burnett County deputy searched the black Chevy Tahoe, among the things he found were a bag of Hennepin County Sheriff’s stars, a Hennepin County jacket, a gun locker safe that was locked, a bottle of Tito’s Vodka and a black purse.

Inside the purse was a Minnesota driver’s license belonging to Susan Staupe, wife of Major Robert Staupe.

According to the incident report, when reached by phone Susan had slurred speech and was argumentative. She told the Burnett County deputy that someone from Northwinds Bar had been driving the SUV when it went in the ditch.

But the next morning Major Staupe himself called asking to get his vehicle out of the impound lot.

During the conversation, Major Staupe admitted he was the one who drove into the ditch and that he had been drinking, though he said it was not that much.

Property records show Staupe owns a cabin near the Northwinds Bar.

Investigators said the lieutenant and his wife also tried to have the SUV towed before the deputy arrived.

Hennepin County retrieved the SUV on Monday.

In a statement, Sheriff Dave Hutchinson said, “I am aware of the incident that occurred in Burnett County, Wisconsin involving one of our vehicles. We have launched an internal employment investigation into this incident.”

According to a Hennepin County Sheriffs’ spokesperson, on Tuesday Staupe resigned his appointed position of Major and returned to the rank of lieutenant. He is currently on personal leave.

We called the Staupes for comment, but nobody answered.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It began as a conversation about “threat perception” but evolved into something much more. Humanize My Hoodie became a campaign, mixing fashion with activism, and its designs were featured during New York’s Fashion Week.

As Minnesota celebrates Black Fashion Week, St. Paul’s Jason Sole and business partner Andre Wright are reflecting on the week that changed their lives, and how they hope their experiences help others turn dreams into something real.

“We want to be humanized and what’s a better place to bring that message but New York? Fashion Week is a huge platform,” Sole said.

Wright says what you see on stage is a movement to destigmatize fashion trends worn by people of color.

“We had a subject matter, we had a vision; a way to prove that vision was to use the Fashion Week as a platform to really express ourselves,” Wright said.

Sole says the activism part is built on love and the hope that through conversation hearts and minds can change.

“I had the dream of making Humanize My Hoodie a brand that would actually make people feel it and make people create less harm and more love,” Sole said. “When you have an idea and you believe in it, put all your energy into that versus all of the things that pull you away from your vision.”

Each piece had its own formula, and the designs were meant to be impactful.

“We took 55-millimeter shells and 9-millimeter shells and we adorned those to the hoodie and we had a conversation around what it means about gun violence in this country,” Wright said. “I spent a lot of days on my table putting each bullet on each hoodie, so I had to think about that everyday and I would call Jason like, ‘Hey man, I’m in tears right now because I know what this does to the human body.'”

(credit: CBS)

Sole and Wright say these hoodies were meant to shift paradigms and prevent future officer-involved shootings, taking the fear out of seeing a person of color in a hoodie.

The fashion activist duo says the big stage in New York is not their finale, they want to mentor others, and get more people inspired to create their own movement.

“This is the year of the giveback, so we are going to show people how you take an idea and turn it into a project and ultimately make it a movement,” Wright said.

Sole wore a hoodie while teaching criminal justice classes as a professor at Hamline University. The idea was to help his students become more comfortable with black men in hoodies.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — At the south Minneapolis restaurant, All Square, the motto is “don’t judge, just eat.”

The business model was created out of simple fairness, where one’s past offenses won’t keep a prospective employee with a criminal background from getting hired.

“Once you have a record you’re virtually excluded from everything in society. And so we’re here to flip that paradigm and invest in those who do have records,” explained founder Emily Hunt Turner.

Sadly, too many people with minor criminal records face discrimination in many aspects of their lives long after their sentence or punishment is served.

They face discrimination in housing, finding meaningful employment, even getting barred from accessing student financial aid.

“Our practices in the criminal justice system must account for reconciliation, rehabilitation and redemption,” explains Ramsey County Attorney, John Choi.

That’s why Ramsey and Washington counties are launching a website to help those with offenses like minor drug, theft and property crimes navigate the expungement process.

Prosecutors say the state expungement law is both cumbersome and costly. It involves a court hearing and often requires a client from hiring an attorney just to apply. Not to mention the added cost of a $300 court filing fee.

So the new website will help clients cut through the red tape and speed the process, allowing them to get on with their lives.

“This is all about doing the right thing,” said Washington County Attorney, Pete Orput.

Expungement has been available to qualifying offenders since 1996 and has recently been reformed by the legislature. It does not apply to those who are convicted of violent offenses and serious felonies.

Orput says the website is intended to help those ease the process of sealing records and by so doing is restoring fairness in the criminal justice system.

“This is going to help those who’ve done one offense, one mistake and they want to have it over, and I want it over. That’s doing the right thing,” added Orput.

Judges still have to approve the expungement. But the message is clear, punishment should end when a sentence is served.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A GoFundMe has been launched to benefit a local musician battling pancreatic cancer.

Ed Ackerson has been a central figure in the Minneapolis music scene for decades. Just over a year ago, the singer was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

A GoFundMe page is seeking donations to help the family get through this difficult time:

Ed would never ask for help in this way, so I’m starting this GoFundMe campaign to raise money for my best friend and his family.  Just over a year ago Ed was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. He is tough as nails and he has fought back with everything he’s got, but this is a deadly disease with a low survival rate. Ed, his wife Ashley and their beautiful 4-year-old daughter Annika all need your help to keep fighting for now and for the future. 

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Hy-Vee is offering new details on a security breach that affected the system that processes payments at its fuel pumps, coffee shops and restaurants.

According to the company, they detected unauthorized activity on payment processing systems on July 29 and recruited cybersecurity firms to assist in their investigation, and notified federal law enforcement.

The malware searched for track data — such as card numbers, cardholder names, expiration dates and internal verification codes.

“However, for some locations, the malware was not present on all (point-of-sale) devices at the location, and it appears that the malware did not copy data from all of the payment cards used during the period that it was present on a given POS device. There is no indication that other customer information was accessed,” the company reported in a release.

Hy-Vee said that customer data could have been accessed from as long ago as Dec. 14, 2018 at some locations’ fuel pumps, and as long ago as Jan. 15, 2019 at restaurants and drive-thru coffee shops.

“There are six locations where access to card data may have started as early as November 9, 2018, and one location where access to card data may have continued through August 2, 2019,” Hy-Vee reported.

Hy-Vee said that customers with concerns about their information can check which locations were affected; you can access that site by clicking here.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Nineteen teenagers involved in a melee last week at St. Cloud’s Tech High School are facing criminal charges.

The Stearns County Attorney’s office says the students — ranging in age from 14 to 17 — have all been charged with either second- are third-degree riot. One 16-year-old student was also charged with making terrorist threats and possessing a dangerous weapon on school property, which authorities identified as a knife. Four other students — one 15-year-old and three 17-year-olds — also face third-degree aiding and abetting assault.

(credit: CBS)

The melee, which police described as “several large fights,” broke out last Wednesday at about noon. Twenty St. Cloud police officers responded to the school to quell the violence. Police say one student suffered a broken nose.

Officials from St. Cloud Area School District 742 say the 19 students, who are all from St. Cloud, will not be allowed back for the rest of the school year. Some of them may also face expulsion.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minnesota Twins are just a day away from their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade. The team plays the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS Friday evening at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

As such, this year fans will have a brand-new Homer Hanky to wave around. The new hankies were revealed Thursday. The tiny towels are bright red and include the Twins’ rally cry this year: “Welcome to Bomba SZN.”

“After hitting a Major League baseball record, 307 bombas during the regular season … it’s bomba season,” Twins Communications Manager Matt Hodson said.

(credit: The Star Tribune)

The line into the Twins Clubhouse Store started at 10 a.m., with fans lining up hours early in the cold to grab their Homer Hanky.

“It’s the Twins, I’ve been a longtime Twins fan and I’ve got brothers to send them to,” Tara Rourke said.

For some, it’s about nostalgia. The first Homer Hanky debuted back in 1987. It was the brainchild of the Star Tribune during the Twins Postseason run to their first World Series title. Fans waved their hankies to create a sea of white at the Metrodome.

For others, it’s about family. One fan WCCO talked with was sending the Homer Hanky to her nephew in Germany.

While you can buy a Homer Hanky, every Twins fan who comes to Monday’s game against the Yankees at Target Field will get one for free. As will the fans if there needs to be a Game 4 in the series.

The hankies cost $3 and the proceeds go to the Twins Community Fund. Fans can get them at Cub Foods locations, the Majestic Twins Clubhouse or on StarTribune.com. However, many Cub Foods are reporting they’re sold out, and the Star Tribune says they are on back order, so your best bet is probably to come down to the Twins Clubhouse.

The Twins will also host a viewing party at Target Field for tomorrow night’s game. Tickets are free, but you do have to register online to get in.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say a vulnerable adult who went missing over the weekend at the Renaissance Festival was found Thursday morning in Minneapolis.

(credit: Scott County Sheriff’s Office)

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office says that 41-year-old Michael Grossoehme, of Pine River, was found at the Salvation Army and that arrangements are being made to reunite him with family.

Grossoehme went missing Saturday from the festival in Shakopee. In the days since his disappearance, he was believed to have been spotted several times in the Twin Cities using public transit.

Earlier Thursday, authorities said there was concern for his welfare as Grossoehme had been days without his medication and the chilly overnight temperatures.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Fire crews in the west metro knocked down flames Thursday morning in a vacant home.

(credit: CBS)

The Minnetonka Fire Department says crews responded shortly after 6 a.m. to a fire reported at a home on the 16000 block of Limerick Lane.

Firefighters found the home’s roof engulfed in flames and quickly extinguished the blaze.

No one was hurt battling the flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

BAXTER, Minn. (AP) — Diabetes activist Quinn Nystrom is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Rep. Pete Stauber in northeastern Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.

(credit: Quinn Nystrom/ Facebook)

Nystrom said Thursday that she’s running to bring down the costs of health care and prescription drugs. She says Stauber has failed to follow through on his promise to help struggling Minnesotans afford their health care.

The 33-year-old Nystrom previously served on the Baxter City Council. The Type 1 diabetic has lobbed the Minnesota and other state legislatures and Congress about ways to reduce the cost of insulin.

Another Democratic candidate, Soren Sorenson, of Bemidji, filed last month. He finished last in the 2018 Democratic primary.

Stauber is serving his first term, representing a district that was once a Democratic stronghold but has become increasingly Republican over the years.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — October is here, and the holiday shopping rush will be on before we know it.

A new survey shows that, for the first time, online shopping is expected to overtake in-store business.

In its annual Holiday Outlook, PricewaterhouseCoopers says 54% of shoppers will go online for the holidays. That’s up from 50% last year.

The survey reported also that sustainability is a factor among younger gift buyers. Almost 36% of millennials say they will shop for resale or rental items this holiday season.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A man convicted of rape and murder when he was a teenager whose story was documented in the 2015 Netflix series “Making a Murderer” asked Wisconsin’s governor for a pardon or commutation of his life prison sentence on Wednesday.

The request from Brendan Dassey came as his advocates launched yet another attempt to free him, this time outside the court system. His latest appeal was not considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dassey’s chances of getting a pardon from Gov. Tony Evers appear remote. Evers’ rules for a pardon forbid anyone still serving their prison sentence from being considered and he’s also not issuing any commutations.

Dassey, now 29, was 16 years old when he confessed to Wisconsin authorities that he had joined his uncle, Steve Avery, in the 2005 rape and murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, before burning her body in a bonfire.

“I am writing to ask for a pardon because I am innocent and want to go home,” Dassey said in a handwritten note to Evers that accompanied his application. Dassey congratulated Evers, a Democrat who took office in January, on becoming governor. Dassey also listed things he enjoys including Pokemon and hamburgers and drew a pair of hearts with the word “hugs” in one and “love” in the other.

Evers re-started Wisconsin’s pardons board this year after his Republican predecessor Scott Walker stopped it, but to be considered the applicants must have completed their prison sentences. Anyone not meeting that criteria will be rejected as ineligible with no review, the application form says.

Evers has no public rules for commuting a prison sentence, but his spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said in June that he is not considering doing that “at this time.” Commutations in Wisconsin are rare. No governor since Tommy Thompson, who left office in 2001, has issued one.

Still, Dassey’s attorney Laura Nirider said she hoped Evers would make an exception for Dassey.

“What we’re hoping to do is to take this moment to ask the governor to hold off, to look at this case as a perfect example for that kind of relief,” she told reporters following a news conference. “We look forward to working with Governor Evers to help him understand this case, to help him see that it’s time to bring Brendan home.”

Evers on Wednesday didn’t rule out the Dassey request, saying he hadn’t seen it yet. The governor has yet to act on any pardon requests.

“We’ll deal with it just like we do any communication we receive,” Evers said. “We give consideration to all sorts of things that we reject. Whether there’s criteria or not, we’ll consider it and respond back to them.”

The pardon request argues that Dassey was the victim of a “uniquely and profoundly flawed legal process.” It says seeking clemency from the governor is “one of the last remaining legal options” available.

“By his prison conduct and his gentle, patient insistence of his own innocence, Brendan has shown himself to be the rare person who is worthy of clemency,” the application said.

Dassey’s attorneys say he’s intellectually impaired and that he was manipulated by experienced police officers into accepting their story of how Halbach’s murder happened. They wanted his confession thrown out and a new trial.

Avery and Dassey are serving life sentences. The U.S. Supreme Court last year, without comment, said they would not consider Dassey’s appeal of his conviction. He could request another trial if a judge agrees he has new evidence that warrants it.

At Dassey’s trial, video of his confession to investigators played a central role. Authorities had no physical evidence tying Dassey to the crimes, and he testified that his confession was “made up,” but a jury convicted him anyway. He will be eligible for parole in 2048.

Wisconsin prosecutors have long held that Dassey’s confession was voluntary. Prosecutors noted that Dassey’s mother gave investigators permission to speak with him, that Dassey agreed as well and that during the interview investigators used only standard techniques such as adopting a sympathetic tone and encouraging honesty.

Dassey’s mother and cousin attended a news conference in Madison where the pardon application was announced. They did not speak to reporters.

Avery spent 18 years in prison for a different rape before DNA testing exonerated him. After his release, he filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over his conviction, but he was arrested in 2005 and later convicted of Halbach’s murder as that lawsuit was still pending. Avery maintains he was framed.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)