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Tag: Blaine News

  • Blaine brewery Invictus will close in December with no plans to reopen

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    Invictus in Blaine is the latest Minnesota brewery set to close its doors.

    Over the past couple of years, a number of breweries across the state have announced closures.

    Since Invictus Brewing opened in 2018, they’ve taken pride in their creativity.

    It was the dream of Previn Solberg and his business partner.

    “He and I started home brewing in his garage, and we just got to thinking Blaine needs a brewery, so we started a brewery,” said Solberg.

    They were part of the craft beer boom in Minnesota in the 2010s, which saw nearly 250 breweries open in the state. But within the past couple years, breweries in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chanhassen, Coon Rapids and a number of other cities have closed. In December, Invictus will join that list.

    “It became pretty clear that we weren’t really going to be involved with the redevelopment that was going on, so we just saw the writing on the wall that maybe it was time for us to exit,” said Solberg.

    Solberg said in some ways they got lucky, as a developer is buying them out. But when he looked to relocate, real estate costs were too high.

    “That’s the main reason why we aren’t moving, why we’re deciding to close our doors,” said Solberg.

    He said the cost of just about everything is 20% to 50% more expensive than when Invictus first opened its doors. That includes rising steel and aluminum costs for their cans and rising grain prices for their beer.

    “Tariffs aren’t helping. With the aluminum prices and everything, that’s certainly not helping things either,” said Solberg. “That’s the narrative that I hear, just like everybody else does, as we talk through things.”

    He doesn’t believe the market has become oversaturated, but he does believe consumer tastes and interests have changed, with THC drinks gaining popularity.

    “I’m just going to keep an eye on what’s going on in the market, whether it’s THC, beer or whatever. Make some decisions and see what’s going to happen. I’ve got some time to figure it out,” said Solberg.

    Invictus will close its doors in Blaine on Dec. 20. Their next-door neighbor, the Tipsy Steer, is planning to stay open.

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    John Lauritsen

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  • Manufactured home park residents fighting for bill of rights in Minnesota

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    Minnesota manufactured home park residents and lawmakers are speaking out against what they say are skyrocketing rents and unsafe living conditions.

    At the Minnesota State Capitol Thursday, they placed the blame on out-of-state private equity firms that have been purchasing these communities in recent years.

    State Sen. Liz Boldon and state Rep. Matt Norris, both Democrats, were authors of companion bills, introduced earlier this year, that would cap annual lot rent increases to 3% and give residents a chance to purchase the lot they live on.

    “I had to go back to work after 30 years of hard work at UPS to afford my lot rent now,” said Gwen Elliott, who lives in a manufactured home park in Blaine.

    Sammi Silver, who lives in a Lake Elmo community, said her rent went up more than 40% in the past five years.

    “When my lot rent goes up, I can’t just leave, it’s not that simple. My home isn’t truly mobile,” Silver said. “It costs thousands of dollars to move, and most parks won’t even take a house over five years old.”

    The lawmakers behind the bill for manufactured home park residents hope it gains some traction after getting stuck in committees last session.

    Over the next several weeks, hundreds of manufactured home park residents will be holding forums with lawmakers in at least 10 districts across the state.

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    Jason Rantala

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  • 22 arrested and charged in 2-day Blaine police child solicitation operation

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    President Trump says Charlie Kirk shooting suspect caught, and more headlines



    President Trump says Charlie Kirk shooting suspect caught, and more headlines

    05:51

    Twenty-two people were arrested and charged after they allegedly planned to pay for sex acts with a child, Blaine police said on Friday.

    The arrests were made as part of a two-day “juvenile suppression operation” that took place on Sept. 3 and 4 near Lexington Avenue and Main Street, according to officials.

    Officers posed as an underage female and sent text messages to more than 460 people. Police said that 22 people during the operation traveled to a “designated meeting location” with the intent to pay for sex acts with a child. 

    All 22 were arrested and charged with solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct, officials said. Each individual was released after they were booked and assigned a future court date.

    “This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” Blaine police Deputy Chief Joe Gerhard said in a written statement. “We are grateful for the collaboration of our partner agencies, whose teamwork was essential to the success of this effort.”  

    Police in Bloomington, Coon Rapids and Fridley, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Anoka County Central Communications, the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Anoka County Attorney’s Office assisted in the operation. 

    Anyone who suspects a trafficking situation should call the BCA at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.You can also call the Day One Hotline at 866-223-1111 or contact them online if you or someone you know is being trafficked. Survivors and victims of human trafficking can call 888-373-7888 to reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or text HELP to 233733. 

    If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.

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    Nick Lentz

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  • Twin Cities teen discharged from Mayo Clinic with new heart after 246-day-long stay

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    A Blaine, Minnesota, boy is home after 246 days in the hospital with a new heart thanks to a donor.

    “Getting a heart is not an easy journey, I’d say. And it’s not a quick journey,” Konner Repp said.

    In January, WCCO told you about Konner and his brother, who were both born with heart defects. The Spring Lake Park High School junior was born with hypoplastic right heart, a rare syndrome where part of the heart doesn’t form completely. It led to three open-heart and over seven heart catheterization surgeries.

    “I don’t even know where to start,” said Jennifer Repp, his mother.

    After a recent decline, the 16-year-old went into the hospital on Jan. 6, 202,5 ultimately needing a new one. But with months and weeks of waiting for a match, June 24 brought a ray of hope.

    After 246 days in the hospital, 16-year-old Konner Repp was allowed to go home.

    Jennifer Repp


    “We are blessed beyond belief that Konner has a beautiful new heart beating thanks to a beautiful donor,” said Jennifer Repp.

    Konner Repp was discharged from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, coming home to the sights and sounds of a community that supported him all along.

    “They were all fighting with me during the whole thing,” Konner Repp said.

    Soon, he will get back to being the high schooler he is, after a good night’s sleep, of course.

    An online fundraiser for Konner Repp has raised over $26,000. His mom says it’s still a long road ahead. 

    No information on the heart donor has been provided.

    Frankie McLister

    Frankie McLister, originally from Middletown, Maryland, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

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    Frankie McLister

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  • Rare disease sidelines rising Blaine athlete, now on a mission to help other kids facing similar setbacks

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    Avion Dent was a rising star athlete with the Blaine Bengals back in 2021. 

    “I just finished up track season, and went to state as a freshman, and was on my way to play varsity football and basketball as a sophomore,” said Dent.

    Then, in the summer heading into his sophomore year, while in training for the football season, he was suddenly sidelined.

    “I kind of noticed that I had stomach pain,” said Dent.

    It was a pain so severe, he went immediately to the ICU at M Health Fairview Children’s Masonic Hospital. He soon became the patient of Dr. Robin Williams, who at first was stumped by what was causing Dent’s pain.

    “It wasn’t just one procedure that gave all the answers. It was slowly putting all the pieces together that we had in front of us to eventually get to his diagnosis,” said Williams.

    After about three months of trying to determine Dent’s illness, Williams and her team diagnosed Dent with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD). It was the hospital’s first and only confirmed case.

    Avion Dent


    “It is incredibly rare, more rare than even the things we consider to be rare,” said Williams.

    iMCD causes a patient to have enlarged lymph nodes, painful inflammation and problems with organ functions. Dent was hospitalized for several months, losing his chance at a football career and his identity.

    “When I couldn’t do any of my sports anymore, I didn’t really feel like myself,” said Dent.

    Through chemotherapy, Dent relied on friends and family who showed up in unexpected ways.

    “They always told me to keep my head up in situations, and they kept me happy through it all, and my family as well,” said Dent, through tears.

    Treatment eventually allowed him to return to Blaine High School and graduate this spring. Now, he’s in his first week at Concordia University, St. Paul, which was a moment that felt impossible at times.

    “I just wanted to make my whole family proud. Not that many people in my family go to college, so it’s great,” said Dent.

    He hopes to use the marketing degree he’s studying for to lead to a new career in sports, where he can open a gym someday for student athletes who face similar setbacks.

    “If those kids can have someone helping them that already went through it, then it can change their lives,” said Dent.

    Marielle Mohs

    Marielle Mohs is thrilled to be telling stories in her home state of Minnesota. She grew up in Eden Prairie and South Minneapolis.

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    Marielle Mohs

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  • Twin Cities body shop holding car for $30K, woman says

    Twin Cities body shop holding car for $30K, woman says

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    BLAINE, Minn. —  It was back in April when Lyra Robinson said her 2019 BMW X5 was stolen from her home in suburban Chicago.

    While her vehicle was recovered by authorities in Minnesota, it wouldn’t start, so she brought it to Best Auto Body in Blaine.

    To get the problem diagnosed, Robinson assumed the cost would be a few hundred dollars.

    When the body shop found out Robinson had insurance, she said she found out the shop was charging $2,500 just for a diagnostic.

    Robinson said her insurance company, Trexis Insurance, conducted a four-month investigation into the charges.

    “During this investigation, Best Auto Body never called me and said, ‘oh we’re going to charge you. We’re going to start charging you storage, because they’re taking too long doing your investigation,’” said Robinson.

    Robinson alleges she then received another price tag and an ultimatum: Pay $30,000 for the cost of storing her car for several months, or Best Auto Body will send it to auction.

    Robinson alleges none of the paperwork she received had written notice of storage fees.

    The owner of Best Auto Body, Kiril Sheyman, would not answer questions, but did send a written statement, which said in part, “We have been working with insurance for months. While the matter is still pending with insurance, we don’t feel that it is appropriate to comment.”

    E-mails between the insurance agent and Best Auto Body show the first mention of storage fees came in July. In that exchange, Robinson’s insurance agent appeared to point the finger at her own client, writing that Robinson was not authorized to take her vehicle to the shop until the insurance investigation was complete.

    According to Minnesota’s Law, “At the time a shop provides a customer with a written estimate, the shop shall inform the customer that any charge for storage or care…shall be in addition to the estimated price for the repairs.”

    A spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau in Minnesota and North Dakota wrote in an e-mail, “From a standpoint of ethics and transparency, BBB’s expectation of any business charging “storage fees” would be that those fees are conspicuously disclosed, so that the customer can make an informed decision on how and whether to proceed.”

    All of this while Robinson deals with heart-related health issues, requiring doctor’s appointments twice-a-week. She said she’s had to rely on rideshares in the meantime.

    Robinson says her next step is reaching out to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

    “I’m just praying that I can get some help to help me resolve this issue,” said Robinson.  

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    Jason Rantala

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  • Woman who crashed car into Blaine restaurant patio took Oxycodone an hour prior, charges say

    Woman who crashed car into Blaine restaurant patio took Oxycodone an hour prior, charges say

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    Morning headlines from Sept. 26, 2024


    Morning headlines from Sept. 26, 2024

    03:43

    BLAINE, Minn. — A 36-year-old Isanti woman is suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance after she crashed into a Blaine restaurant’s patio Tuesday night, just weeks after a deadly patio crash in St. Louis Park.

    The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 6:30 p.m. at Clive’s Roadhouse off Highway 65 near the National Sports Center.

    The woman drove off the road and rolled after going into a ditch, landing in the restaurant’s patio area.

    Two other people were in her car, both suffering minor injuries. The woman was arrested and has been charged with criminal vehicular operation under the influence of a controlled substance.

    Charging documents say the woman told a state trooper she had taken Oxycodone “like an hour ago.” A preliminary breath test confirmed she had not consumed alcohol.

    A passenger in the vehicle told authorities they got into a fight with the woman driving, which resulted in her suddenly turning the wheel and driving off-road, crashing the car.

    Inside the vehicle, authorities found Buprenorphine, marijuana, a pill grinder and a pen shell that appeared to be used as a snorting straw, according to the complaint.

    Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that the person charged was under the influence of alcohol. The story has been updated to reflect that the person was under the influence of Oxycodone, according to the complaint.

    Stephen Swanson

    Stephen Swanson is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. A 21-year WCCO-TV veteran, Stephen was a floor director for a decade before moving to the newsroom, where he focuses on general assignment reporting.

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    Stephen Swanson

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  • 2 men dead in Blaine, police investigating

    2 men dead in Blaine, police investigating

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    Minnesota State Patrol gets new logo, and more headlines


    Minnesota State Patrol gets new logo, and more headlines

    03:37

    BLAINE, Minn. — Two men died in what authorities believe to be related incidents in Blaine on Tuesday morning.

    According to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Blaine officers arrived to the 200 block of Territorial Road Northeast around 9 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man outside of his residence suffering from gunshot wounds.

    He died at the scene.

    A short while later, police found a suspect vehicle near the 11900 block of Seventh Street Northeast. Inside, a man was dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

    Authorities say there are no additional suspects, and there is no known danger to the public.

    — 

    If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.

    In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.

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    WCCO Staff

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  • Parents fighting for justice, answers after Blaine daycare workers charged in child abuse case

    Parents fighting for justice, answers after Blaine daycare workers charged in child abuse case

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    BLAINE, Minn. — There are new disturbing details, from a north metro family who say their daycare center betrayed them.

    The Blaine Police Department says it received a report of potential child abuse from the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis last Tuesday. The hospital reported a 5-month-old child had unexplained bruising and they believed the abuse occurred at Small World Daycare Center in Blaine.

    Janice and Tony Degonda don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt their 5-month-old baby.

    “She’s bright and bubbly and loves to smile,” Tony Degonda said.

    In April, they enrolled her in Small World Daycare Center in Blaine. They say in May, they started to notice bruising all over her body.

    After reviewing surveillance footage from the daycare, police arrested two caretakers: A 22-year-old woman from Coon Rapids and a 24-year-old woman from Andover.

    The women were each charged on Friday with three counts of malicious punishment of a child and one count of third-degree assault. Two of those charges are felonies.

    According to charging documents, surveillance footage shows Chloe Johnson and Elizabeth Wiemerslage violently flipping and aggressively shoving not only Degonda’s daughter who is “Infant 1” in charging documents.

    Detectives detailed what the video showed to the family.

    “When they went to do tummy time again, she got close to the ground, and she dropped her face bounced off the mat,” Janice Degonda said.

    Police say that while looking at the footage, two other victims of abuse were identified.

    At one point, investigators say video shows Johnson holding a cloth over another infant’s mouth and nose for several seconds

    Johnson admitted her behavior could have led to baby Degonda’s bruising and Wiemerslage also admitted to her behavior.

    Rep. Nolan West’s daughter also attended this same daycare before he pulled her out earlier this year. He said he received incident reports for bruising.

    “She had a really weird bruise on her back they said she rolled on a magnet,” he said. “You are paying for your baby to be abused.”

    West says he met with investigators and showed pictures his wife took but was upset when he found out the daycare also stores footage for seven days.

    West is calling for change so children can be protected from their abusers and he believes video evidence will do just that.

    “Six months of retention is reasonable, if there is ever an incident keeping that for 3 years because it matches up with mandatory reporting guidelines,” West said.

    On Wednesday, he plans to hold a 4 p.m. news conference at Blaine City Hall, offering legislative solutions so that what happened at Small World Daycare Center doesn’t happen again. He will be joined by other parents of Blaine daycare abuse victims.

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    Ubah Ali

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