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‘This has been an awful day’ | Devastated by hurricane, Minnesotans react to living in Fort Myers

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One fire department in Fort Myers said it has conducted more than 200 water rescues.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — For some Minnesotans living in Florida, Hurricane Ian is the first hurricane they’ve ever experienced.

And one couple from Lino Lakes just found out their house, in the hard hit city of Fort Myers, is a total loss. 

“It is a catastrophe,” said Linda Kieger, who lives in the area with her husband, Dan, for part of the year.

“It wasn’t just Fort Myers Beach, it’s not just certain areas, the state is in very dire need of help,” said Kieger, who moved to Florida in 2019.

About 160 miles away in Winter Park, near Orlando, another Minnesotan is battling wind and rain still battering that area. 

“I’ve just never seen or experienced so much water in my life,” said Krista Kretman, who moved to Florida from Prior Lake two years ago. 

She says officials issued a curfew, while neighbor kids kayaked down the street. Thirteen inches of rain fell overnight, overflowing the lake behind her house, pouring onto sidewalks and covering picnic tables.

“Instead of a snowstorm and playing in snow, you go play in the rain,” said Kretman. “With it being so high, the water moccasins and alligators are going to come out and up through streets and that’s definitely a fear.” 

Kretman says a local man, who was draining his pool, fell down a ravine and drowned. On Thursday, President Joe Biden said that the loss of life will be “substantial”. 

“We’re just breathing a bit of a sigh of relief, we’re not out of the woods yet, but I think hearing locally these freshwater casualties is what’s really sad,” said Kretman.

One fire department in Fort Myers reports making more than 200 water rescues and those efforts are continuing.

“We’ve always called it paradise,” said Kieger. “Our paradise, and many other Floridians, are just devastated.”

Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries



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Kare11

MN nonprofits say December is a crucial time for donation

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Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress.

MINNESOTA, USA — Despite Give to the Max Day breaking donation records, nonprofits tell us they still need help to keep up the demand for their services.

According to a recent survey by the Council of Nonprofits, 73 percent of Minnesota organizations reported they have grown programs and services to meet the demands of Minnesotans. 

Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress. 

Open Arms is a nonprofit that delivers food to critically ill people. It said December is a crucial month for donations, because they will make decisions on their programs and services for the next year.

“Wages and the cost of ingredients have gone up 30% since the end of COVID or the end of the COVID years, and so that is really, really hard on all nonprofits,” said CEO Leah Hébert Welles. “And then the second thing, government funds have dried up.”

“It’s almost kind of like the way that the tide works and a big body of water where there is still significant need, but that wave of resources from 2020 has backed up, and the need for nonprofits is still right there,” said Jake Blumberg, the executive director of GiveMN, the organization in charge of Give to the Max Day. 

Blumberg says 30% of donations for nonprofits happen in the last six weeks of the year. 

“We have to make really hard decisions about what we can do next year, how many more people we can help, how many more staff we can hire,” said Welles,

To consider donation or volunteering to Open Arms of Minensota, click here.

To explore more nonprofits, visit GiveMN.org. 



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Brooklyn Park Police ask for help finding missing 57-year-old

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According to the report, the BPPD said Andre Lane has been missing since 11 a.m. this morning.

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The Brooklyn Park Police Department is asking for the public to help find a missing man who has Alzheimer’s.

According to the alert, the BPPD said 57-year-old Andre Lane has been missing since 2 p.m. this afternoon.

He stands at 5’9″ and weighs roughly 250 pounds. Lane suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia and may not be able to take care of himself, said the BPPD.

Lane was last seen wearing grayish-blue Levi’s jacket, black hat, black sweatpants, a gray long sleeve t-shirt and black Jordan shoes, according to the report.

Officials believe Lane left his residence, near the 6600 block of Tessman Terrace, on foot.  The BPPD is asking people who live near Tessman Farm Road/85th Avenue North to check yards and properties. 

Anyone who sees Lane is asked to contact the Brooklyn Park Police Department at 763-493-8222.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.



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Woman dies after being struck by vehicle in Knollwood mall parking lot

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The driver in the vehicle involved is reportedly cooperating with police and the investigation remains open and active.

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A woman has died after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of St. Louis Park’s Knollwood Mall.

A city spokesperson told KARE the incident happened Friday afternoon in the parking lot of The Shoppes at Knollwood. The city said despite life-saving efforts by emergency responders and paramedics, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver in the vehicle involved is reportedly cooperating with police and the investigation remains open and active.

The victim, an adult woman, has not yet been identified.



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