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Plymouth City Council rejects plans for Eagle Brook megachurch

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The Plymouth City Council on Tuesday night rejected a plan from Eagle Brook Church to build a new campus in the west metro suburb.

In a 6-1 vote, the council approved a resolution to come up with “findings of fact” to support its decision for denying the church’s request to build a worship center on the northwest corner of Chankahda Trail and Maple Grove Parkway. The council’s next meeting is in January.

Plymouth’s Planning Commission last month unanimously recommended the council approve the project that called for a 64,000-square-foot building and 685 parking spots. But council members voiced concerns about increased traffic and suggested that the last large remaining parcel of land in the city might better used for affordable housing.

Pushback from scores of neighbors and residents from both Plymouth and Maple Grove who spoke during Tuesday’s meeting also played into the council’s decision that came after nearly 3 12 hours of discussion. A few people spoke in favor of allowing the church.

“I struggle how traffic will impact people living in the area,” said council member Julie Peterson, who made the motion to reject the building. While acknowledging that roads immediately near the proposed church could probably handle additional vehicles, “the numbers undershoot what reality would be. Capacity is not the issue, but how does it affect livability. The scale and intensity of this is too much for this area.”

Council member Jim Willis said approving plans for the church would have an adverse effect on city’s ability to build affordable housing as called for in the city’s comprehensive plan.

“We must take robust steps to accelerate the development of more affordable housing to continue to attract and retain a broad base of residents of all income levels and backgrounds to meet our housing objectives,” he said while reading a letter he wrote.

A developer had previously proposed to build as many as 200 single-family homes on the roughly 56-acre site, but withdrew the plans. Eagle Brook then this fall signed a purchase agreement for the land about 2 miles north of Wayzata High School where the church currently holds services. The property, as it is zoned, would allow for a church.

Mayor Jeffry Wosje, who dispelled rumors that he was an Eagle Brook member, cast the lone vote in favor of the church.

“I can’t think of developments that we ever raise objection to to support affordable housing,” he said. “I question that when it comes up for a church.”

Plymouth is the third city to deny Eagle Brook, a megachurch with 11 campuses in the metro area and one in Rochester, a place to build a permanent home for its west metro campus. Last year, Eagle Brook withdrew plans to buy property in a Minnetonka neighborhood after residents pushed back over concerns about increased traffic. Corcoran has also said no.

It was not immediately clear what the church’s next steps will be. The Star Tribune reached out for comment but has not yet heard back.



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Klobuchar criticizes White for saying ‘bad guys won in World War II’

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The only debate between DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP challenger Royce White started Sunday on the street outside WCCO Radio.

As White approached the building, he loudly called some two dozen flag-waving and cheering Klobuchar supporters a “whole lot of commies.” The 33-year-old provocateur and podcaster also told them to thank Republican former Vice President Dick Cheney — who endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris — because there was “no chance in hell” that Harris would defeat Republican former President Donald Trump on Nov. 5.

Klobuchar, 64, had arrived moments earlier, smiling and wishing “good morning” to her supporters. Once inside, the two took questions for an hour from moderator Blois Olson. Their tone was generally polite with White often interrupting a Klobuchar response with, “rebuttal,” indicated he wanted to respond.

The senator repeatedly raised White’s claims on X, formerly Twitter, that “The bad guys won in World War II” and that there were “no good guys in that war.” She called that stance offensive to veterans.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar arrives at WCCO Radio for a debate with Royce White in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 27. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii)

Klobuchar, who is seeking a fourth six-year term, portrayed herself as a pragmatist. She opened by saying that we live in “incredibly divisive times politically” but that she has listened and worked with Republicans to bring down shipping costs, drug prices for seniors and to help veterans and push for more housing and child care.

“Courage in this next few years is not going to be standing by yourself yelling at people,” she said, her opening allusion to White’s rhetoric, which she said is often vulgar.

White, a former NBA player, is a political novice, but a close ally of Steve Bannon, the jailed former chief strategist for Trump and right wing media executive. Last summer, White won the state GOP endorsement to run against Klobuchar.

“Our country’s coming undone at the seams. I think we can change that,” White said in his opening statement. He said he threatens the status quo, decried the “permanent political class” and referred to the two major parties as the “uniparty.”



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Satellite images show damage from Israeli attack at 2 secretive Iranian military bases

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Other buildings destroyed at Khojir and Parchin likely included buildings where Iran used industrial mixers to create the solid fuel needed for its extensive ballistic missile arsenal, Eveleth said.

In a statement issued immediately after the attack Saturday, the Israeli military said it targeted ”missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year.”

Destroying such sites could greatly disrupt Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles to replenish its arsenal after the two attacks on Israel. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which oversees the country’s ballistic missile program, has been silent since Saturday’s attack.

Iran’s overall ballistic missile arsenal, which includes shorter-range missiles unable to reach Israel, was estimated to be ”over 3,000” by Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, then-commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command, in testimony to the U.S. Senate in 2022. In the time since, Iran has fired hundreds of the missiles in a series of attacks.

There have been no videos or photos posted to social media of missile parts or damage in civilian neighborhoods following the recent attack — suggesting that the Israeli strikes were far more accurate that Iran’s ballistic missile barrages targeting Israel in April and October. Israel relied on aircraft-fired missiles during its attack.

However, one factory appeared to have been hit in Shamsabad Industrial City, just south of Tehran near Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country’s main gateway to the outside world. Online videos of the damaged building corresponded to an address for a firm known as TIECO, which advertises itself as building advanced machinery used in Iran’s oil and gas industry.



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This Rochester MN school police officer used to be a narcotics cop

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Some take him up on it and fret when he’s not around.

“It is nice to be missed and be part of the school’s culture,” Arzola said. But mostly, he added, he wants kids to know that police aren’t around just for when the bad stuff happens. He’ll hand out his stickers and bracelets, even a trading card bearing his image. Then, they’ll talk about dogs and family.

School resource officer Al Arzola talks to students in his office at John Adams Middle School in Rochester on Oct. 11. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Two months ago, Rochester played host to a three-day training session for new SROs from across the state — an event organized by the Minnesota School Safety Center. On the final day, the 26 officers learned about surveillance challenges at the other school where Arzola works: Dakota Middle School.

It is a beautiful building with a scenic view. There is a lot of glass, too. Arzola, handling the role of instructor and tour guide, took the group outside and noted how one could look straight through the entrance to the large groups that gather inside. There were no curbs in front, either.

“There is nothing stopping any vehicle whatsoever from going through my front doors,” Arzola told the officers. “Law enforcement wasn’t talked to before this building was made. It was kind of like, ‘Here it is. You’re the SRO. Do what you do.’”

He showed them his office, too, which is separate from the main office and near those of other school support staff members. That makes sense, said Jenny Larrive, SRO coordinator for the Minnesota School Safety Center, given than SROs spend more time connecting with youth than on actual law enforcement.



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