โLight shamingโ letter targets Christmas displays
Letter sent to group of neighbors in St. Anthony, Minnesota asks for removal of Christmas lights, claiming in part they "are a reminder of divisions in our society " and show bias against "who don't celebrate Christmas, or who can't afford to." (NBC NEWS) โ At least four residents of one Minnesota town have received a letter shaming them for putting up Christmas light displays and asking for their removal. The letter went on to ask those who received it, โto respect the dignity of all people.โโI think the letter in itself was absurd, but I think the sentiment is incredibly valid. I just donโt think that it was gone about in the correct way,โ Blodgett says. At least one of the recipients filed a police report, but St. Anthony police say, because the letter was not threatening, no crime was committed.
Judge rejects Dakota Access request for emergency order
(Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File)FARGO, N.D. A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request for an emergency order to delay the process of shutting down the Dakota Access pipeline while attorneys appeal a ruling to shutter the pipeline during the course of an environmental review. Pipeline attorneys filed the motion along with a notice of appeal late Monday after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled to stop the flow of oil by Aug. 5. In denying the request for an expedited ruling, Boasberg said he will scheduled a status hearing to discuss scheduling when he receives the Dakota Access motion to keep the pipeline running. The $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometer) pipeline crosses beneath the Missouri River, just north of the reservation. Backers of the pipeline say it's state-of-the-art equipment that has function for three years without any issues.