HERMANTOWN, Minn. — A new obstacle confronting potential plans to bring a data center to the rural southwest corner of this community emerged in the form of a lawsuit Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Opponents challenge whether the sprawling proposed data center — which could reach 1.8 million square feet in size when fully developed — has undergone adequate environmental review.

The case was brought by two plaintiffs: the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) and a group of concerned citizens who united to form a nonprofit called Stop the Hermantown Data Center, or SHDC for short.

The suit against Hermantown is the fifth case involving data centers proposed across the state that MCEA has now joined.

“The reason we have multiple lawsuits on this is because of this troubling trend of secrecy we’re seeing across the state, and not just in Minnesota but nationally, as well, in the way that data center proposals are brought forward,” said MCEA CEO Kathryn Hoffman.

The complaint alleges that Hermantown has known since at least September 2024 that the site’s would-be developer hoped to construct a data center facility. Yet the type of operation proposed for the property was not publicly disclosed and confirmed until October.

Likewise, the suit contends that the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) conducted to identify potential environmental impacts was inadequate because it “avoids studying known and anticipated environmental impacts of a large data center.”

For instance, Hoffman questioned whether water consumption estimates for the proposed development could be trusted. The AUAR predicts the fully developed data center site would use no more than 50,000 gallons of water per day, which Hermantown officials say is roughly comparable to the daily water consumption of 160 homes.

She also noted the lack of specific information regarding the power that will be required to operate the data center, the impact it will have on carbon emissions and whether the additional load could drive energy rates higher for area residents.

Joe Wicklund, Hermantown’s assistant city administrator and communications director, declined to comment on the merits of the suit, except to acknowledge the city had received the complaint and was reviewing it at present. He stressed that Hermantown officials “will follow the legal process,” whatever shape that may take.

The suit brought Wednesday is separate and distinct from another effort to slow the issuance of permits for the project. Concerned citizens recently also brought forward a petition to the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, prompting Hermantown to put plans for the data center on hold until it could determine whether additional environmental review beyond what was conducted under the initial AUAR should be required. If so, an environmental assessment worksheet or an even more rigorous environmental impact study could be mandated before permits could be issued.

Jonathan Thornton, a member of SHDC who lives about 1 1/2 miles from the site of the proposed data center, said the lawsuit was “not a knee-jerk reaction.” He said it was a bit of a last resort when other efforts to persuade the city to slow down the project failed.

Among other things, Thornton questions a change to Hermantown’s comprehensive land use plan that led to a quiet rezoning of the Adolph area for future development uses such as a data center.

Characterizing the questionable procedure used to bring the project forward, Thornton said: “They’re building this project on a foundation that’s fundamentally flawed.”

Hoffman acknowledged that the developers of data centers have been prone to operate in secret out of their concern of putting clients at a competitive disadvantage compared with rival companies. Just who stands to benefit from the proposed new Hermantown facility has yet to be disclosed. But big players in this arena include Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon.

She said the privacy desires of the developer must be balanced against the public’s right to know what is being proposed for the site, as well as how it may impact the area.

“From our perspective, our environmental review laws mandate transparency. And that’s a value that’s reflected in our Minnesota law that outweighs that interest in secrecy,” Hoffman said.

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FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Police in a Dallas suburb say 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide after evading authorities in his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on foot.

Frisco police said Thursday they are investigating the possible suicide. They said Kneeland didn’t stop for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in a chase that was joined by Frisco police on Wednesday night.

Authorities lost sight of the vehicle before locating it crashed minutes later. During the search after Kneeland fled the crash site on foot, officers said they received word that Kneeland might be suicidal. He was found dead early Thursday morning, about three hours after the crash. Police didn’t say where Kneeland’s body was found.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.

Kneeland’s death came just days after he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Kneeland was in his second season with the Cowboys. He was a 2024 second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan.

“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, said in a statement that asked for privacy. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”

Kneeland was a second-round draft pick in 2024. His rookie season was off to a promising start before he was sidelined for five games by a knee injury.

Kneeland had his first career sack in the season opener this season against Philadelphia. He played in seven games this season, missing two with an ankle injury.

“Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization,” the Cowboys said. “Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

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The Cowboys have frequently sought pass rushers and other defensive linemen in the first two rounds of the draft. Kneeland was drafted a year after defensive end Sam Williams was taken by Dallas in the second round. Williams blocked the punt that Kneeland recovered against the Cardinals.

Kneeland’s mother, Wendy Kneeland, died suddenly while he was preparing for the draft. He had his mother’s ashes in a necklace he wore after joining the Cowboys, according to The Dallas Morning News.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said. “We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB, Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli jets struck several towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday after urging residents to leave, marking an escalation in their near-daily strikes on the country.

The airstrikes came hours after militant group Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government not to enter negotiations with Israel.

Israeli Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents in Tayba near the border, Teir Debba located just east of the coastal city of Tyre, and Aita al-Jabal in southern Lebanon, to flee 500 meters (about 1,600 feet) away from residential buildings they are targeting, which they say have been used by Hezbollah. It later issued more warnings for the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Kfar Dounin.

The Israeli military said it targeted military infrastructure for Hezbollah in those areas. It accused the group of rebuilding its capabilities almost a year after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect that ended a monthslong war. While most residents evacuated the threatened areas ahead of the strikes, Lebanon’s health ministry reported one person wounded.

“We will not allow Hezbollah to rearm themselves, to recover, build back up its strength to threaten the state of Israel,” Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said at a briefing Thursday.

The strikes came as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his government met in Beirut to follow up on a plan drafted by the Lebanese military to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups in the country.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has been critical of Israel’s strikes and ongoing occupation of five hilltop points on Lebanese territory but has said he is open to negotiations with Israel to end the tensions.

Israel says its near-daily strikes have targeted Hezbollah officials and military infrastructure, while the Lebanese government that has backed disarming Hezbollah say the strikes have targeted civilians and infrastructure unrelated to the Iran-backed group.

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The powerful group’s military capabilities were severely damaged in Israel’s intense air campaign over the tiny country in 2024, but Hezbollah have yet to disarm and its leader Sheikh Naim Kassem has said that the group will be ready to fight no matter how limited their capabilities might be.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which nominally ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war last November. The conflict started after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians, prompting Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in return. The low-level exchanges escalated into full-scale war in September 2024.

Lebanon’s health ministry has reported more than 270 people killed and around 850 wounded by Israeli military actions since the ceasefire took effect. As of Oct. 9, the U.N. human rights office had verified that 107 of those killed were civilians or noncombatants, said spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan.

No Israelis have been killed by fire from Lebanon since the ceasefire. Hezbollah has claimed one attack since the agreement took effect.

Also Thursday, the U.S. Treasury announced a new set of sanctions that it said target “financial operatives who oversee the movement of funds from Iran” to Hezbollah, including through licensed and unlicensed money exchanges shops that it said “fail to conduct adequate screening on their customers” and allow Hezbollah “to take advantage of Lebanon’s largely cash-based economy to launder illicit money.”

Associated Press journalists Areej Hazboun in Jerusalem and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.

Election wins for two state representatives Tuesday put Minnesota on track to beat its record of most special elections in one year.

Reps. Kaohly Her, who was elected St. Paul mayor, and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, who was elected to the Senate, leave two open House seats in St. Paul and Woodbury, respectively, that will drive Minnesota to eight special elections in 2025 alone — topping the state’s record of six in 1994.

The six special elections held this year were triggered by the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, the death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn, the residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson and the death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic.

While the two open seats could potentially swing the chamber’s tie, in 2024, Her won the House seat in District 64A with 83% of the vote, and Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the House seat in District 47A with 61%.

House DFL Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, said he expects to retain both of the seats, preserving the 67-67 House tie, after Gov. Tim Walz sets the special elections.

“The House DFL Caucus is full of talent, and I am pleased the voters of St. Paul, Maplewood and Woodbury recognized that,” Stephenson said. “The two vacant seats are in strong DFL areas where Kamala Harris defeated Donald Trump by 70 and 25 points, respectively. We take nothing for granted and will run vigorous campaigns, but at the end of the day we will retain both seats.”

With the House tied, legislation must have bipartisan support to pass. If Republicans can flip just one of the DFL seats in St. Paul and Woodbury, House Republicans would have a majority and would therefore be able to pass more of their priorities.

It would also mean more leverage in negotiations and the ability to deny a quorum, like House Democrats did at the beginning of the 2025 session. Still, any bills passed by House Republicans would need to make it past a DFL-controlled Senate and Walz’s desk to become law.

While lawmakers passed a state budget and a bonding bill in the 2025 session, several pieces of big legislation are already being pitched for the 2026 session, including gun control and efforts to bar transgender women and girls from female sports.

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