Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis' new strategy to thwart copper thieves targeting street lights
Thieves dismantle, sell streetlight copper
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have been dealing with streetlights going dark due to thieves stealing copper from them.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Carole Anne Broad walks her dog Chloe along West River Parkway in South Minneapolis at least once a day.
But for the past few months, she’s noticed the streetlights have been out, thanks to copper thieves.
“It’s been very dark and as I walk my dog, I see the wires just hanging out. At night, driving is a little bit like could really use some light on this road,” said Broad.
City officials say Minneapolis spent $250,000 last year to replace copper wires stolen from light posts.
And when city crews replace them, thieves frequently steal the copper wires again.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had that happen when our crews get out there quickly, and we replace the missing copper and then within a few days, the thieves have hit the same area, which I know is really frustrating for the residents as well,” said Allan Klugman, Director of Traffic and Parking services for the City of Minneapolis.
So the city bought 5 miles of aluminum wiring to use in place of the copper wiring in about 125 light poles to deter people from stealing it.
City officials say aluminum is only worth about a quarter of copper’s value on the salvage market and weighs about half as much, meaning it would fetch far less money because scrapyards pay by the pound.
“The aluminum is much less expensive on the resale or salvage market. so who’s ever taken these wires? We want them to know that it’s really not going to be worth their time to address these new ones,” said Klugman.
City officials say if this test run along West River Parkway goes well, they could add aluminum wiring to streetlights in other parts of the city as well.
“I think it’s a great idea. I think lights deter riffraff, maybe. I can certainly tell who’s coming,” said Broad.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis College teams up with Toys for Tots to provide holiday gifts for student parents
For many student parents at Minneapolis College, the holiday season arrives during one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year.
Final exams, work schedules and family responsibilities often collide in December. This week, a Toys for Tots giveaway on campus offered some relief.
The college partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program to provide gifts exclusively for student parents. School officials say more than 145 student parents signed up for the event, representing nearly 270 children.
Veronica Krawiec is a nursing student at Minneapolis College and the mother of a young son, Christopher. She said balancing school, work and parenting can be overwhelming, especially around the holidays.
Krawiec said she was able to find a Lego set her son specifically asked for this Christmas, something she was not sure she would be able to afford on her own.
She said the support she receives on campus has made a significant difference, pointing to resources like the Student Support Center and food pantry. Krawiec said those services help her focus on school without feeling ashamed for asking for help.
“As a mom most of the time I feel like I’m failing but like this this helps me a lot to not feel as bad,” she said.
Sharita Jackson, a first semester addiction counseling student and single mother of two, also attended the giveaway. She said resources like the Toys for Tots event help ease some of the pressure that comes with being a student parent.
Minneapolis College staff say the need among student parents has grown this year, in some cases doubling. The college estimates nearly 20% of its students are parents, and more than 70% of students identify as Indigenous or people of color, international, low income or first generation.
In addition to holiday giveaways, the college offers a Student Parent Center, a food pantry, basic needs support and access to housing, financial and veterans resources. Staff say those services are designed to help students stay enrolled and succeed while raising families.
College officials say events like the Toys for Tots giveaway help reduce stress during the holidays and allow student parents to focus on finishing the semester strong.
A tense situation developed in South Minneapolis Monday afternoon, where dozens of residents confronted ICE agents operating in the streets near Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue, not far from the Karmel Mall.
WCCO reporter Esme Murphy was also on the scene and reported that chemical irritant had been deployed. Murphy and a WCCO photographer were among those who were hit with the irritant.
Murphy reported seeing at least three people in handcuffs, but it was not immediately clear for what reason they were being detained. The scene seemed to have cleared by 2:30 p.m.
Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies were observed at the scene. Local law enforcement have been deployed to control crowds since the Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Metro Surge in recent weeks. One of the recent ICE operations in the metro area was a raid at a construction site in Chanhassen over the weekend.
The Karmel Mall is the nation’s first Somali shopping center. The enhanced ICE actions came just after President Trump said, “I don’t want [Somalis] in our country” and claimed Somalis are “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.”
Few other details were immediately available, but WCCO crews on the scene noted that many of those protesting against ICE were using whistles, which in many prior confrontations have been used to try to warn neighbors that ICE agents were in the vicinity.
This story is developing and will be updated.
The World Junior Championships are less than two weeks away, but Team USA starts training camp on Monday in Duluth. FOX 9 Sports Director Jim Rich caught up with Team USA coach Bob Motzko Sunday night in St. Paul as the Americans are looking for a three-peat.
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