President Biden announced nearly $6 billion in funding military aid package for Ukraine on Monday that Biden’s administration is sending to Ukraine ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
President Joe Biden announced on Monday nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, saying the assistance, which includes weapons, will go to giving Kyiv “the support it needs to prevail” against the larger and better-equipped Russian forces. Biden said in a statement: “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office. Since Russia launched its further assault against Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the Ukrainian people, and it has been a top priority of mine to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. [The aid] builds on this effort and will provide Ukraine with both an immediate influx of capabilities to use to great effect on the battlefield and longer-term supplies of air defense, artillery, and other critical weapons systems.”
Biden said the assistance includes a $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package (USAI) signed earlier this year, as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package that included nearly $61 billion in military and economic funding for Ukraine, $17 billion in military assistance for Israel, $9 billion for Gaza and other war-torn regions and $8.1 billion for Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific allies.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement that another $3.4 billion in “direct budget support” are the final disbursement appropriated under the bipartisan Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriation Act 2024: “our direct budget support continues to be conditioned on reforms related to strengthening law enforcement, improving transparency and efficiency of government institutions, and bolstering anti-corruption rules and procedures.”
On Monday, a federal appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict that found President-elect Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s, and denied his request for a new trial. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that a Manhattan jury granted to Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse, stating that Trump’s legal team failed to show any errors in the ruling that would lead to a new trial.
In the 2023 trial, the jury found Trump liable of abusing Carroll in a dressing room at Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman department store, and defamed her with comments he made in October 2022. That jury awarded Carroll $5 million. A separate jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million after finding Trump defamed her by denying the sexual abuse. Trump has also appealed that verdict, repeatedly denying the allegations since Carroll first made them and calling the judgments overly excessive.
Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan said (per NBC News): “[We] are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed. We look forward to uniting our country in the new administration as President Trump makes America great again.”
Actress Linda Lavin has died at the age of 87. Lavin’s representative announced that the Tony and Golden Globe Award winner had died unexpectedly Sunday due to complications from her recently diagnosed lung cancer.
Lavin was working at the time of her death, and had even promoted her role in the new Netflix limited comedy series No Good Deedon Instagram just days ago. Lavin attended the premiere of series at the streamer’s Tudum Theater in Hollywood as recently as Dec. 4.
Lavin was also currently filming the first season of the new Hulu comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ alongside Matt Bomer – from ‘Will & Grace’ creators/executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick and director-producer James Burrows. Kohan, Mutchnick and Burrows said in a joint statement: “Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers. She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician and a heat seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her beyond measure. We are better for having known her.”
Hulu and 20th Television also paid tribute to Lavin in a joint statement: “Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go to Linda Lavin’s family and loved ones. She was a legend in our industry, bringing her tremendous talent to audiences for over seven decades. She will be forever missed by her ‘Mid-Century Modern’ family, as we mourn this incredible loss together.”
Lavin won two Golden Globes for her performance in the popular sitcom Alice in 1979 and 1980, and earned a Tony Award for her work in 1987’s Broadway Bound. Other credits include Barney Miller, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Room for Two, Conrad Bloom, Sean Saves the World, Elsbeth, Being the Ricardos, Brockmire, Santa Clarita Diet, Madam Secretary, Mom, The Good Wife, Bones, The O.C., The Sopranos, Room 104, Girls Weekend, How to Be a Latin Lover and The Back-Up Plan.
Lavin was married to actor Ron Liebman from 1969-81, and actor Kip Niven from 1982-92. She is survived by her third husband, actor-drummer Steve Bakunas.
Dunkin has teamed up with Sabrina Carpenter to introduce ‘Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso’, a limited-time speciality drink described as ‘handcrafted iced beverage combining Dunkin’s bold espresso, brown sugar notes, and oat milk, shaken to perfection.’ Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso will be available at Dunkin’ stores nationwide starting Tuesday, Dec. 31. The cost of the drink will vary per market.
The drink is (obviously) inspired by Carpenter’s smash-hit single, “Espresso,” Billboard’s No. 1 Global Song of the Summer for 2024. Dunkin’s ad campaign for the specialty drink, dubbed ‘Shake That Ess,’ was created in partnership with Artists Equity (Ben Affleck’s and Matt Damon’s company) and directed by Dave Meyers. As the beat of “Espresso” plays in the background, a room filled with an eccentric cast of characters are all showed enthusiastically shaking their ess’.
You can check out Carpenter’s commercial for the new Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso – HERE.
The Crookston City Council had its final meeting of 2024 on Mondayand approved the 2025 levy, the 2025 budget, an IRP loan, and much more.
The meeting started with a presentation, and Council Member Wendy Ault was honored for her service at her last meeting. (Pictured below)
Crookston City Council’s Wendy Ault and Mayor Dale Stainbrook
2025 BUDGET AND LEVY APPROVED AFTER DISCUSSION The 2025 Levy and 2025 budget were both approved. The approved levy was a 27.4 percent increase, totaling $4,486,171 in tax revenue for the City of Crookston. “The reason it is 27.4 percent is because the property values, as a whole, came down for 2025,” said City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge. “It lays the foundation for us to move forward in a financially responsible way.” The budget is balanced, although it significantly reduces capital expenditures and does not contribute to the reserves as budgeted. “This budget is an operating budget only,” said Shoobridge. “We are committed to starting early in 2025 and moving forward with the 2026 budget so we can get into the details and have a zero-based budget. I will be asking the department heads to build from the ground up and not just add two percent to last year so we will be reassessing all the services so we can provide really good services to the residents and try to maintain the costs while rebuilding the city’s reserves.” One of the budget’s talking points was the $25,000 for pool repairs and $20,000 for pool maintenance, for a total of $45,000 in pool repairs/maintenance. The council discussed what would happen if the pool reached the $45,000 repair bill. The council said if they have a big repair cost that is well over $45,000, they would likely have to close down the pool for the rest of the year.
Mayor Dale Stainbrook mentioned that keeping the pool open costs five points to the levy, and they need to be cognizant of the costs. Councilmember Dylane Klatt said they have to start looking at making budget cuts in the future. Councilwoman Morgan Hibma said the council can’t be mad at previous councils for kicking the can down the road.
The council approved the levy for 2025 by a 5-2 vote, with Tim Menard, Clayton Briggs, Wendy Ault, Dylane Klatt, and Don Cavalier voting to approve the levy and Morgan Hibma and Henry Fischer voting against the 22.2 percent levy increase. Kristie Jerde did not attend the meeting.
The Council approved the 2025 budget by a 6-1 vote, with Hibma voting noand Klatt saying he will vote for it this year but might have to reconsider next year if the pool is still causing the levy to go up as much as it is in 2025.
COUNCIL APPROVES $1,198,000 SMALL CITIES DEVELOPMENT GRANT On September 10, 2024, the City of Crookston was awarded $1,198,000 from the Small Cities Development Grant (SCDG) from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The Northwest Community Action Agency (NWCAA) has agreed to administer the grant for the city. The SCDG will fund the Rehabilitation of 16 owner-occupied properties, 13 commercial properties, and 10 rental units (in mixed-use properties) and activity administration. Activities will be geared to correct and address lead-based paint hazards, code violations, energy efficiency, health and safety issues, structural repairs, and repairs to the building envelope, such as new windows, doors, siding, roof repairs, facades, etc. “We have almost $1.2 million that will most be invested in Ward 4, and if there isn’t enough there, in the Woods Addition, it will go down into a couple of other places,” said Crookston Development Coordinator Kari Kirschbaum.“We have a significant amount of applicants right now, and I am excited to help them.” Kirschbaum added there are other programs currently running to help storefronts in downtown Crookston. “We have a lot of meetings about downtown and the Highway 2 corridor is coming, and we have storefront grants going on,” said Kirshbaum. “Everybody loves the downtown and want to see it restored to its glory, whatever that looks like in this decade, so this will go a long way towards that. This will also go a long way towards fixing up apartments downtown, and it is forgivable after some time.”
2025 FEE SCHEDULE APPROVED The Crookston City Council unanimously approved the 2025 Fee Schedule. One of the big changes to the Fee Schedule is at the Crookston Community Pool, where Crookston residents will pay the same to use the pool, but in 2025, people from outside of Crookston will have to pay a few bucks extra to use the pool. “The Crookston residents pay for the pool through the tax base,” said Crookston City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge. “As a result, we are changing to a resident/non-resident fee schedule on that. It will be a two-dollar difference, and it will be a little more equitable for those supporting the pool.”(See resident vs non-resident at the bottom of the story)
5-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN APPROVED The City of Crookston 5-year capital improvement plan was unanimously approved by the Crookston City Council. “It will help us plan our future a little better by setting it to a matrix,” said Shoobridge. “We want to attract businesses to our industrial park, so we got a grant from the State of Minnesota to help us fund some infrastructure improvements in the industrial park so we can start bringing in some businesses, industrial entities to the City with the rail spur that the railroad is putting in.” Another huge future project in Crookston will be the Highway 2 corridor project,with the City of Crookston setting aside $5 million for the project, with the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation covering most of the project. “We are looking at between $5-6 million as the cities share of the State Highway 2 project, and what that will accomplish is a lot of the tertiary roads connecting Broadway and Main (for example, 2nd Street from Bremer to Erickson Embroidery),” said City Administrator Shoobridge. “We have to foot the bill for that, and the rest of it really is moving forward with infrastructure projects. I have between $9-12 million in the next five years to replace critical roads, cast-iron piping and replace it with plastic.”
2025 WATER RATES INCREASED The City Council unanimously approved the 2025 Water Rate increase. “We have historically been at or near the lowest water rates in the state, and that is great when you are deferring the maintenance,” said City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge. “In the next five years, we have $21 million in infrastructure costs and what the raise in rates will allow us to do is to help us fund the bonds we will have to take out to replace our aging water and sewer lines so we can continue to offer service to our residents moving forward.”
DESIGNATION OF 2025 POLLING LOCATIONS The council designated the 2025 Election Precinct polling location (Wards 1, 2, and 6 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Wards 3, 4, and 5 at the First Presbyterian Church),
SURPLUS PROPERTY SALE APPROVED The council declared a 2010 Hurco Hydro Vac Trailer as surplus property and will sell it through the State of Minnesota online auction website MINNBID.ORG.
POLICE AND FIRE EMERGENCY RADIOS The City Council approved the purchase of radios and equipment for the Police and Fire Department. The City received a one-time Public Safety Aid funding in the amount of $320,851.00 from the Minnesota State Legislature, and the two departments received two quotes and they will go with Stone’s Mobile Radio. The Police Department quote is $157,150.30 and the Fire Department estimated quote of $115,400.32 for a total of $272,550.62.
SCRUFFY TAILS HUMANE SOCIETY CONTRACT The council approved amending its current contract with Scruffy Tails Humane Society. The City of Crookston agrees to pay$500 monthly for five kennels for impound use. The city will pay $18 per day for each individual animal impounded or sheltered, including weekends and holidays. After five Crookston Police Department business days of impoundment or sheltering, any animal that hasn’t been claimed by the owner or euthanized shall become the property of the Humane Society. The City will pay up to $150 for a qualified veterinarian’s evaluation of any animals deemed to be in immediate need of medical care. The Humane Society will provide a monthly statement/invoice of all charges incurred and deemed payable by the City per the agreement, including the monthly lease. A qualified veterinarian will need to evaluate and potentially examine each animal that appears to need immediate emergency medical care and treatment.
FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT FOR 2025-2027 APPROVED The Crookston Firefighters Union has agreed to a three-year contract with the City of Crookston. The base salary will increase by three percent each year.The graph is below-
2025
2026
2027
Firefighter I
$55,644.46
$57,313.79
$59,033.21
Firefighter II
$61,379.29
$63,239.21
$65,136.39
Firefighter III
$67,208.80
$69,225.06
$71,301.81
Firefighter IIII
$70,286.76
$72,395.36
$74,567.2
IRP LOAN APPROVED FOR VERTICAL MALT The IRP Committee met multiple times and forwarded a recommendation to approve a $100,000 loan to Adam Wagner of Vertical Malt. The loan funds will be used to refinance existing debt, with a focus on securing more favorable terms to improve cash flow and support business growth. The council unanimously approved the loan.
MISCELLANEOUS The consent agenda included approving the Truth-in-Taxation and City Council meeting minutes from December 9 and approving bills and disbursements for $396,528.10. The council accepted a $5,169 donation from Fit and Fin for the Crookston Community Pool and a $200 donation from the Iris Eisert estate for the Crookston Fire Department.
2025 POOL FEES – – Crookston Residents • Ages 4 & under: $2.00 • Ages 5-18: $5.00 • Ages 19 & older : $6.00 • Family of Five: $20.00- additional family members $2.00 • One person Swim Pass- 1 Month $40.00 • One person Swim Pass- 3 Months $ 110.00 • One person Swim Pass- 6 Month $200.00 • One person Swim Pass- 1 year $360.00 • Family up to 5 membership: Additional family Members $10.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 1 Month $75.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 3 Months $200.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 6 Months $360.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: One Year $650.00
Non-Residential Prices Cost • Ages 4 & under: $4.00 • Ages 5-18: $7.00 • Ages 19 & older : $8.00 • Family of Five: $25.00- additional family members $2.00 • One person Swim Pass- 1 Month $45.00 • One person Swim Pass- 3 Months $ 120.00 • One person Swim Pass- 6 Month $220.00 • One person Swim Pass- 1 year $400.00 • Family up to 5 membership: Additional family Members $10.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 1 Month $80.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 3 Months $220.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: 6 Months $400.00 • Family up to 5 memberships: One Year $720.00
Pool Rental • plus deposit ($100.00 deposit refundable if clean and undamaged)$65.00 per hour 20 & under swimmers • $80.00 per hour 21 & over swimmers
Theresa “Terry” Leah Fellman, 67, passed away peacefully at RiverView Health in Crookston, MN, on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Terry was born, the second oldest of seven children, on July 18, 1957, in Staples, MN to her loving parents, Andrew and Bonnie-Lee (Hipple) Fellman.
Growing up, Terry attended Fosston High School and shortly after entered the Army National Guard where she met Barnett Howland, the two married in 1977, and moved to Michigan where they started a family of their own. Terry gave birth to four children: Joe, Cory, Kimberly, and Brian; sadly, Kim passed away at a young age. In 1996, Terry moved back to Minnesota.
Terry absolutely loved animals and had a gift for relating to them. Terry spent many hours reading; books filled with pages of adventure were a big part of her life. She also enjoyed embroidery, puzzles, crafts, and spending time with people in general. Terry endured many struggles in her own life but found it in her to be a companion and caretaker to her mother in the last few years of Bonnie-Lee’s life. Terry had a very compassionate heart and continued to show it in her care for her long-time companion, Pat. As he struggled with the fight of cancer, Terry was at his side until the last day.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Terry’s niece, Amy Scott, for caring for Terry up until her final moments.
Terry is survived by her children: Joseph “Joe” Howland, of Grand Rapids, MI, Cory (Sarah Byle) Howland, and Brian (Gabrielle) Howland; Grandchildren, Castiel Howland and Isaiah Howland; Brothers and Sisters: Julie (Chuck) Weems, Nonna Fitch, John Fellman, Lisa Bodnar, and Andrea (Bertram) Bendickson; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kim; Parents, Andrew and Bonnie-Lee Fellman; brother, Daniel Fellman; longtime partner, Pat; as well as many other family members.
A service will be planned at a later date in spring. Stenshoel-Houske funeral home is assisting the family with arrangements.
The storm system that has produced multiple tornadoes and hazardous conditions in the South has caused the death of at least four people through the weekend.
Two deaths were reported with several more injured as multiple tornadoes touches down in Natchez and Lowndes County, Mississippi, while one death was reported in Brazoria County, Texas. A fourth death was reported in Iredell County, North Carolina, after a tree fell on a vehicle, killing a man on Landis Highway on Sunday morning. Madison Polston, spokesperson for the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, said there were “multiple touchdown points” in the county between Liverpool and Hillcrest Village and Alvin. She said that so far officials knew of around 10 damaged homes but were still working to determine the extent of the damage.
Saturday’s storms produced 36 preliminary tornadoes across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with the National Weather Service’s severe storm tracker indicated the system was moving east through Alabama into Georgia shortly before 4 a.m. The agency issued severe thunderstorm warnings with the possibility of tornadoes in western Georgia and the northwestern tip of Florida directly above the Gulf of Mexico.
As of Sunday, the storm system pushed its way east, leaving over 20 million people from the eastern Gulf Coast to the Carolinas at risk of extreme weather. Tornado watches are in effect from North Carolina to north Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina. Storms that form through Sunday afternoon will be capable of producing 70 mph wind gusts as well as small hai; severe risk will diminish by Sunday evening.
Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at the age of 100. Carter had been in hospice care at his home in Plains, Ga., since February 2023; his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away on Nov. 19 at age 96.
The former president’s death was confirmed in a brief statement from the Carter Center, which read: “our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia.”
Carter, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a member of a Georgia farming family and served as a state senator and governor before defeating incumbent Gerald Ford in a close 1976 presidential election. He served one term, from January 1977 to January 1981, before losing his bid for re-election in 1980 in a landslide to Republican Ronald Reagan, gaining just 49 electoral votes to Reagan’s 489.
Carte wonton to redefine his life after the White House as a global humanitarian. Carter returned to Georgia and win 1982 founded The Carter Center, an Atlanta-based nongovernmental organization dedicated to peace and human rights. Carter’s work through The Carter Center was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Carter became the nation’s longest-lived president on March 22, 2019, surpassing George H.W. Bush’s lifespan. Bush died in November 2018, having lived 94 years and 171 days. Carter celebrated his 99th birthday on Oct. 1.
Carter is survived by three sons — Jack, Chip, Jeff — a daughter, Amy, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com
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