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Don Lemon to appear in federal court over charges stemming from Minnesota church storming

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Don Lemon to appear in federal court over charges stemming from Minnesota church storming

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Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon is scheduled to appear in federal court on Friday to face charges related to the viral takeover of a Minnesota church by anti-ICE agitators. 

Lemon, who last month livestreamed aggressive agitators storming St. Paul’s Cities Church under the suspicion that its pastor had collaborated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is charged with conspiracy to deprive religious freedom rights and a violation of the FACE Act. He is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. for an arraignment before Minnesota Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko. 

Lemon has insisted he was working as a journalist and was not part of the group that harassed churchgoers. He is represented by Abbe Lowell, who previously represented Hunter Biden, and Joe Thompson, who was the lead prosecutor who helped uncover the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future food fraud case tied to the state’s Somali community. Thompson resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January. 

DON LEMON TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN LIVESTREAMING PROTEST AT MINNESOTA CHURCH

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Former CNN anchor and journalist Don Lemon speaks to the media after a hearing at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. (AFP via Getty)

While documenting the hostile invasion of the church, Lemon called it a “clandestine mission.”

“You have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That’s what this country is about,” Lemon said.

Agitators disrupted the religious service and “intimidated, harassed, oppressed, and terrorized the parishioners, including young children, and caused the service to be cut short,” according to a federal affidavit. 

Churchgoers told law enforcement that members of their parish attempted to retrieve their children from a childcare area located downstairs, but the agitators were blocking the stairs, and the parents were unable to get to their children. One churchgoer later expressed fear that the agitators may have guns underneath their jackets and noted that aisles were blocked, making it difficult to leave. 

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Lemon has seen a spike in social media subscribers, appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and been feted at the Grammy Awards since his arrest.

DON LEMON RESPONDS TO TRUMP DOJ’S THREAT, STANDS BY COVERAGE OF ANTI-ICE PROTEST AT MINNESOTA CHURCH

Ex-CNN host Don Lemon recalled his arrest in Los Angeles during his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Screenshot/ABC)

The FACE Act makes it a federal crime, with potentially steep fines and jail time, to use or threaten to use force to “injure, intimidate, or interfere” with a person seeking reproductive health services, or with a person lawfully trying to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. It also prohibits intentional property damage to a facility providing reproductive health services or a place of religious worship.

Lemon previously told Fox News Digital that he stands by his reporting and has faced online threats as a result. 

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“It’s notable that I’ve been cast as the face of a protest I was covering as a journalist — especially since I wasn’t the only reporter there. That framing is telling. What’s even more telling is the barrage of violent threats, along with homophobic and racist slurs, directed at me online by MAGA supporters and amplified by parts of the right-wing press,” Lemon said in a statement.

DON LEMON’S LENGTHY HISTORY OF ANTI-ICE RHETORIC

Don Lemon has told Fox News Digital that he stands by his reporting. (Don Lemon/YouTube)

“If this much time and energy is going to be spent manufacturing outrage, it would be far better used investigating the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good — the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place,” Lemon continued. “I stand by my reporting.”

Far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was one of the organizers of the church protest, is also expected in court on Friday in connection with the incident. She appeared in Lemon’s footage. 

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Cleveland, OH

Community rallies for victims of Lakewood double murder-suicide

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Community rallies for victims of Lakewood double murder-suicide


LAKEWOOD, Ohio — It was Sunday morning when Lakewood police discovered a man and woman shot dead inside a home. The shooter then turned the gun on himself.

On Monday, we learned the victims were 33-year-old Amanda Wakut and 35-year-old Richard “Ricky” Eastin. Police say the shooter was 45-year-old Stephen Davis. On Wednesday, friends and family spoke with us about the life Eastin lived.

We interviewed Ricky Eastin’s younger brother, Ian Eastin, over Zoom because he’s currently on his honeymoon in Thailand. You could easily see the resemblance between him and his big brother.

“He was one of the kindest people I know. He would be willing to give his own shirt right off his back,” Eastin continued. “We just got married last week, so I just saw him.”

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Eastin said he last talked to his brother on Saturday.

“He was sending us some pictures of- that he took at our wedding, and just asking how our honeymoon was going,” said Eastin.

Then, at 2 a.m., Eastin learned he would never hear from his brother again.

“I just didn’t believe it. I still feel like how is this even possible,” said Eastin.

Police say Ricky Eastin and Amanda Wakut were found shot and killed inside a home on Chesterland Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

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3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide

3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide

“You’d see stuff on the news, people get shot or people get killed, you don’t believe it, like it just is unreal,” said Ian Eastin.

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When officers arrived at the scene, police said the shooter, Davis, believed to be Wakut’s boyfriend, drove off in a truck. He was later stopped on Warren Road, where he took his own life.

“Ricky was there supporting her because I guess Amanda was going to break up or end stuff with that guy, and I guess he didn’t take the news well, and just started shooting,” said Eastin.

Ricky Eastin’s boyfriend shared photos with us, including one Eastin sent earlier that Saturday. We also spoke to Eastin’s friend Gwendolyn McCrary Williams.

“That really hurt and I’m angry, he didn’t deserve it, they didn’t deserve that,” said Williams.

The two worked on home improvement projects together and had been making plans just last week.

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“Everybody just loved Ricky, soon as you cross his path, it was just something about him that just made you want to just always be connected,” said Williams.

That love has shown in a GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and support his mother, whom Eastin was caring for.

“It’s crazy how many people, how many lives he’s touched in that just short period of time that he’s lived,” said Ian Eastin.

While Ricky Eastin may be gone, his friends and family say the love and impact he left behind will never fade.

“This wonderful vibrant full of life young guy, loves everybody, he’s gone and I’m going to miss Ricky,” said Williams.

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For more information on the GoFundMe for Ricky, click here.

Earlier

On Monday we spoke to Wakut’s friend and business partner, Megann Galehouse, about her. She described Wakut as a mother, athlete and someone filled with joy and laughter.

Galehouse told News 5 she had just talked to her in the days before she was killed, saying what happened seemed surreal.

“She said, ‘Happy Birthday, I love you so much,’ and I said, Thank you, I love you too,’” Galehouse said.

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As police search for answers to what happened, Galehouse mourns Wakut and Eastin and is raising money for funeral costs. She’s also raising money to support Wakut’s 7-year-old son, who was with his grandmother when the shooting happened. While it still doesn’t feel real, she hopes people remember Amanda for her light and her spirit.

“She was always joking. I don’t think I will ever forget her laugh. Her laugh was really, really good,” Galehouse said.

For more information on the GoFundMe for Wakut, click here.

Nadeen Abusada is a Cuyahoga County and immigration reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Instagram NadeenAbusada or email her at Nadeen.Abusada@wews.com.





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Illinois

Man buys winning $1.3 million jackpot ticket at suburban gas station

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Man buys winning .3 million jackpot ticket at suburban gas station


OSWEGO, Ill. (WLS) — A Chicago-area man claimed a $1.3 million jackpot prize during an ordinary stop at a local gas station.

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The newly-minted millionaire said he bought the ticket while stopping to buy a drink.

“‘Why not?’” the winner said. “I played a Quick Pick, and it turned out to be a lucky day.”

His ticket matched all five numbers in the Thursday, June 11 evening Lucky Day Lotto drawing. The winning numbers were 1-13-19-27-35.

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The ticket was purchased at Oswego BP, located at 2791 US Highway 34.

Overjoyed, he wasted no time sharing the big news with his wife.

“She was thrilled,” he said. “It’s funny-I actually won a $45,000 prize playing this same game 15 years ago when it was called Little Lotto.”

The winner plans to use the prize money to buy a new house and secure his and his wife’s retirement.

For selling the, the Oswego BP will receive a bonus of $13,000.

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Indiana

‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say

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‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say


WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.

Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.

Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.

The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.

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The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.

This remains an active investigation.

News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.



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