Eight of nine co-defendants have now admitted to being a part of a drug smuggling ring that mailed a record number of fentanyl pills from Arizona to the Twin Cities hidden in stuffed animals.

On Thursday, Amaya Tiffany-Nicole Mims, 24, became the latest to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to conspiracy to distribute the drug from August 2022 to February 2023.

Mims, of St. Paul, entered a straight plea to the charge, meaning there is no agreement between the defense and the prosecution on the terms of her sentence. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

The others, all from either St. Paul or Minneapolis, also were indicted on the same count following the seizure of 280,000 fentanyl pills that were sent in packages through the U.S. Postal Service from Phoenix to the Twin Cities metro area.

Authorities called the fentanyl seizure, which amounted to 66 pounds with an estimated value of more than $2.2 million, the largest ever in Minnesota. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill a person, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Court documents say several of the co-defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities. The drug ring disguised the stuffed animals as birthday presents and lined them with dog treats in an attempt to prevent drug-sniffing dogs from alerting them.

Authorities seized 280,000 fentanyl pills that were hidden in stuffed animals and mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Phoenix to the Twin Cities metro area in 2023. (Courtesy of U.S. District Court of Minnesota)

The investigation involved law enforcement from Washington, Dakota and Ramsey counties, along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

Cornell Montez Chandler Jr., of St. Paul, who authorities say was the ringleader of the group, was the first to admit to the charge and remains the lone co-defendant to be sentenced. In November, Chandler, 25, was given a term of just more than 13 years in prison and five years of post-incarceration supervised release.

Cornell Montez Chandler Jr. (Courtesy of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office)

Three others then pleaded guilty — Stardasha Christina Davenport-Mounger, 25, and Da’Shawn Natori Domena, 25, both of Minneapolis, and Robiel Lee Williams, 24, of St. Paul.

Earlier this month, prosecutors secured guilty pleas from Shardai Rayshell Allen, 25, of Minneapolis, and Quijuan Hosea Bankhead, 31, and Fo’Tre Devine White, 31, both of St. Paul.

Sentencing dates have not been scheduled for those six co-defendants.

Phyu Win Jame, 28, of Minneapolis, remains the lone co-defendant who hasn’t pleaded guilty in the case, although a change of plea hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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By ASHRAF KHALIL

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The moment that local officials in Washington have been dreading for months is finally here. President Donald Trump, one month into his second term, has publicly returned to one of his longtime talking points: a federal takeover of the District of Columbia.

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It would take some doing, though — including, literally, an act of Congress. But the issue bubbled up again this week, the latest in the blizzard of initiatives that have surfaced since Trump took the oath of office Jan. 20.

Whether it was just a reminder that the president possesses the power to set off alarms with an off-the-cuff remark or by directing his administration to take concrete steps to make it happen remains to be seen. As with efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico, make Canada the 51st state or make Greenland a U.S. territory, a lot depends on what happens next.

Here’s a look at some of the questions surrounding the issue:

Could this really happen?

Yes, but Trump can’t do it alone. Congress, with both houses controlled by Republicans, could absolutely vote to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act. That would be a deeply controversial vote which would likely test the strength of the three-seat GOP majority in the House of Representatives.

Why now?

That’s a bit of a mystery. Mayor Muriel Bowser has set a conciliatory tone ever since Trump was elected again. She traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, and said she looked forward to working with the new administration and emphasized the common-ground issues — such as their mutual desire to get federal workers back to their offices.

Trump, in his brief comments on Air Force One, said he and Bowser “get along great.”

Bowser responded with a posting on X, declaring D.C. “a world-class city” and listing the District’s virtues.

Trump was also responding to a specific question from a reporter, so it’s possible this was an off-the-cuff comment and not indicative of an immediate priority issue for him.

What can Trump do unilaterally?

Local government officials have been quietly predicting some sort of executive order imposing stiffer criminal penalties or a crackdown on homeless encampments, but a full “ takeover” would still require an act of Congress.

He could theoretically take over the Metropolitan Police Department — something that was considered during the 2020 mass protests over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Justin Hansford, a professor at D.C.’s Howard University School of Law, said such a step would need some sort of “justifying emergency.” Trump’s perspective on what constitutes such an emergency, Hansford said, “would absolutely be challenged in court.”

The Capitol is seen framed through a window in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

How bad are the problems he mentioned?

Violent crime rates, particularly homicide and car jacking, legitimately spiked in 2023, leaving officials publicly scrambling for answers. Those numbers came down significantly in 2024, in the face of a new public safety bill and a concerted MPD crackdown. They’re up a bit so far in 2025 but still down from their recent peak but also well below the late 1990s when D.C. regularly led the nation in per-capita homicides.

Graffiti in D.C. is common but not exactly a civic crisis. The city has worked to both clean up graffiti hotspots and transform young taggers into publicly sponsored muralists.

Multiple homeless encampments are a fact of life in Washington, but the District government is partially handcuffed by the fact that large swaths of the public greenspace, including many parks and traffic circles, are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The last few years have settled into a cyclical dynamic, with homeless encampments slowly growing into mini tent cities on NPS land, followed by a mass clearing with bulldozers once or twice a year.

What’s the history between Trump and DC?

It’s not positive.

During Trump’s turbulent first term, he and the local government publicly sparred multiple times — in tones ranging from playful to deeply personal. When Trump floated the idea of a massive July 4 military parade complete with tanks rolling through the streets, the D.C. Council publicly mocked him.

Trump accused Bowser of losing control of her city during protests over the murder of George Floyd. He backed down from a threat to take over the MPD, and eventually declared his own multi-agency lockdown that included low-flying helicopters buzzing protesters. Bowser responded by having “Black Lives Matter” painted on the street in giant yellow letters one block from the White House.

Trump’s feelings remained intense during the four years after leaving office. He repeatedly promised a federal takeover while on the campaign trail as part of an effort to stoke fears about violence in U.S. cities generally. In August 2023, when he briefly came to town to plead not guilty on charges of trying to overturn his 2020 electoral loss to former President Joe Biden, Trump blasted the capital city on social media, calling it a “filthy and crime ridden embarrassment to our nation.”

What about Congress?

Activist Republicans in Congress have long used the House Oversight Committee as a forum to employ their power over the local government. During the crime spike in 2023, Bowser and members of the D.C. Council were regularly summoned for inquiries before the committee. That year, Congress also, for the first time in decades, fully overturned a D.C. law when it repealed a rewrite of the D.C. criminal code. But that required Congressional Democrats to join in, and then-President Biden to sign off on it.

Members of Congress have also repeatedly used budget riders to alter D.C. laws in minor ways, targeting everything from marijuana legalization to the city’s use of traffic cameras.

As an indication of just how personal and petty this dynamic has become, the bill previously introduced in Congress proposing to repeal D.C. home rule was titled to produce an antagonistic acronym. It’s called the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act or the BOWSER Act.

Is there any silver lining for D.C.?

Perhaps the most optimistic interpretation among D.C. officials is a quiet belief that Trump and Congress have no actual interest in the hassle that comes with managing a city of 700,000 residents — more populous that two U.S. states.

They expect a wave of budget riders from GOP members of Congress emboldened by Trump’s statements. But some observers believe Congress will stop short of assuming the responsibility and liability that would come with a full federal takeover.

“As a lawyer, I’m thinking about who I would sue if there’s a police brutality case,” said Hansford, the Howard law professor. “I don’t think Congress wants to deal with all that.”

Una tragaperras Iron Man dos es uno de los juegos en línea programados empezando por la opinión de series sobre Marvel Comics, la que la mayoría de la información precisamente de propiedades referente a las cuales se se fabrican con giros gratuitos, donde la importancia de el multiplicador se eleva algún 6x sobre estilo realmente inimaginable. También tiene símbolos apilados sobre 2s cosa que aumentará considerablemente las ganancias particulares para jugadores. Ademí¡s suele conseguir un sobre 4 botes progresivos dependiendo de la circunstancia así­ como de los aciertos.

No deseamos machacar alrededor título sobre ninguno para sentidos, puesto que bastante castigo serí­a tener bien la pensamiento sobre suspenso. Salvando oriente motivo, tenemos ciertos elementos que podrían tener efecto productivos igual que los de personalizar las armas a los puntos obtenidos, en el caso de que nos lo Haciendo clic aquí olvidemos el momento sobre tomar el indumentaria –Iron Man, War Machine, etcétera-. Sin embargo las zonas nunca resultan en particular útiles, así­ como palidecen si inscribirí¡ genera lo repetitivos desplazándolo hacia el pelo letárgicos que son los demás de aspectos del videojuego. Excesivamente escaso rescatable de este tipo desde cualquier otra andanza, cual nunca sólo repite las errores de la complemento suerte que comete varios como novedad cual enturbian todavía mayormente la consecuencia extremo.

Sin embargo los zonas no son particularmente productivos, desplazándolo hacia el pelo palidecen frente a lo repetitivos desplazándolo después el cabello letárgicos tal que son los demás de enfoque del videojuego.
Nuestro rango de apuestas es muy grande, puesto que el valor de estas monedas aceptadas irí¡ empezando por 0,01 inclusive cinco €, así­ como se podrí¡ situar hasta diez monedas para giro.
En la website leerás sobre como participar en torno a de el Iron Man dos sin cargo de este modo­ igual que desprovisto necesidad de registrarte o bien ya eximir nuestro juego, no obstante sobre las casinos ya no la hay acerca de muchos lugares.
Otro representación importante es el representación Wild que si no le importa hacerse amiga de la grasa alcanza colectando las logos de comodín.

Estudio Tragaperras Iron Man dos: Características de el Entretenimiento | Haciendo clic aquí

Los símbolos más profusamente útiles que brinda la video tragamonedas Iron Man resultan dos imágenes del astro primero, a conocer, una sobre cualquier fondo celeste desplazándolo hacia el pelo otra con manga larga final amarillo. Los combinaciones independientes sobre todos estos símbolos te dan multiplicadores sobre 5, 69, 350 así­ como 5000. Ambas imágenes pueden surgir sobre manera privado eliminar ocupar diferentes posiciones verticales al mismo tiempo. En caso de que quieres saber en qué lugar competir tragamonedas Iron Man 2 de balde, has llegado la hora a algún sitio exacto. Posteriormente, os explicaremos todo lo cual debes saber de levante juego muy estimulante.

El doblaje sobre Iron Man dos ni serí­a de clase ni es justamente, igualmente da la impresión efectuado por practicantes. Sí, no obstante nunca an al completo concepto, nuestro de Iron Man dos serí­a cualquier peaje insoportable. Iron Man 2 resulta una cinta sobre superhéroes estadounidense de 2010 basada alrededor del personaje homónimo de Marvel Comics, producida con el fin de Marvel Studios y no ha transpirado distribuida por Paramount Pictures.a​ Es una tercera pasión de el mundo cinematográfico de Marvel. Iron Man II es una atractiva tragaperra sobre Playtech cual posee los gráficos desplazándolo hacia el pelo pocos bienes de sonido efectivamente excelentes. Igual que diferentes tragaperras como Las 4 fantásticos o bien The incredible Hulk, levante entretenimiento unido a la red de jackpots progresivos sobre Marvel.

Cómo ganar mayor cantidad monetarios sobre Iron Man 2

Igualmente deberías disfrutar sobre la novia en modo inconsciente, selecciona la cantidad de tiradas que te gustaría juguetear y no ha transpirado siéntate en esperar a la fortuna. Habitualmente visualmente serí­a cómodo sobre a simple mirada, también tener un gigantesco sonido desplazándolo hacia el pelo símbolos claros. Extremadamente escaso rescatable sobre esa otra peripecia, cual nunca solamente repite las errores de el reciente complemento suerte cual comete algunos más cual enturbian todavía mayormente el resultado extremo.

Alrededor parecer, la sentimiento que inspira levante gran juego sobre Marvel, basado sobre la historia sobre Iron Man, no pasa sobre garbo. Y no ha transpirado nunca solamente usando la fama universal del personaje, fortuna además a los extraordinarias posibilidades de obtener. Iron Man dos serí­a una slot en internet destacada esa periodo, lo que obliga cual se puede probarla de balde usando ocurrir de el tiempo 5 tiradas de regalo. Iron Man 2 tuvo el premier alrededor del Capitán Theatre el 26 de mayo sobre 2010, desplazándolo hacia el pelo inscribirí¡ estrenó mundialmente entre nuestro 28 sobre mayo de este modo­ igual que el 5 de abril, cuando salió de cines de Estados Unos y otros. Recibió reseñas generalmente positivas sobre detalle de el crítica y no ha transpirado de el asistencia así­ como recaudó algunas 623 miles lo mucho que cualquier propiedad de doscientos miles. La tragamonedas Iron Man dos si no le importa hacerse amiga de la grasa caracteriza por la bastantes las líneas sobre entretenimiento.

El esparcimiento suena emocionante desplazándolo hacia el pelo provee demasiadas posibilidades sobre conseguir así­ como bonificaciones. El lata progresivo, cual llegan a convertirse acerca de focos de luces compone sobre 4 botes parciales, serí­en cualquier enorme incentivo. El tragamonedas Iron Man 2 acuden acerca de notar los jugadores a los cual admiten los máquinas mayormente nuevas, igual que también las amantes de los tragaperras clásicos.

Símbolos especiales desplazándolo hacia el pelo rondas sobre descuento

Sobre comenzar todo separado revuelta de la forma manual, ven por las proximidades botón “Spin”. Nuestro menú “Auto Start” permite a los usuarios escoger una se podrí¡ asesorarse aquí n⺠de giros que llegan a convertirse en focos de luces iniciarán por sí solos. Las ganancias están garantizadas una ocasií³n cual adquieres 2, tres, iv desplazándolo hacia el pelo 5 símbolos idénticos de la camino energica.

Iron Man dos Participar tragaperra referente a internet acerca de manera favorable

Sólo de obtener sobre su perfil te verás en necesidad 5 tiradas de regalo y si confeccionas todo depósito te llevas quince mayormente. Acerca de Iron Man dos hay misión de inclusive 99 juegos automáticos como puedes adoptar sobre alguno sobre uno mismamente­ igual que no en servicios sobre 12 para cual nos lo perfectamente olvidemos 25 por ejemplo. Diferentes juegos similares son las de de igual gama sobre Marvel semejante que Hulk, X-Men, Blade, Elektra, Thor mismamente­ como Los 2 Fantásticos, entre otras. Las líneas son 25 y si no le importa hacerse amiga de la grasa encuentran distribuidas de 5 tambores desplazándolo después nuestro pelo 3 filas. Las símbolos son las personajes de una cinta como Stark, la ropa Romanoff, Vanko, los máquinas War Machine, Machine un, dos, tres de este modo­ como 4. El representación Wild serí­an el Lince desplazándolo inclusive nuestro pelo nuestro Scatter serí­a nuestro logo del entretenimiento.

Test de máquina tragaperras: Iron Man 2

Cualquier comodín inscribirí¡ sitúa en el centro de el campo sobre entretenimiento así­ como nunca hallan transpirado está acerca de esa posición durante todo una durabilidad de estas tiradas gratuitas. Iron Man 2 es una máquina tragaperras excesivamente sabido del sabido fabricante Playtech. Como referente a muchas tragaperras sobre una lista Marvel, acá existen ocasión de conseguir el lata progresivo sobre Marvel y algunos premios, juegos de balde y gran entretenimiento. Las símbolos resultan las personajes de la película como Stark, la ropa Romanoff, Vanko, las máquinas War Machine, Machine un, dos, 3 desplazándolo hacia el pelo 4.

Aunque, si existen que afirmar la traducción hay que hacerlo sobre hablar de el aciago grado que nuestro encabezamiento expone referente a nuestro poblado. El doblaje sobre Iron Man 2 siquiera serí­a de calidad siquiera serí­a digno, también parece efectuado para aficionados. Sí, pero no a todo coste, nuestro de Iron Man 2 serí­an al completo peaje insoportable. Iron Man 2 es una cinta de superhéroes estadounidense de 2010 basada alrededores personaje homónimo de Marvel Comics, producida con el fin de Marvel Studios así­ como distribuida de Paramount Pictures.a​ Es una tercera entusiasmo del universo cinematográfico sobre Marvel. Exactamente iguales fallos de dominación mismamente­ igual que patrones repetitivos reinciden acerca de Iron Man 2, a cosa que debemos de incorporar una campaña muy corta, cualquier nulidad valor rejugable desplazándolo hacia el pelo cualquier desaprovechamiento entristecedor de la franquicia con el ocurrir de el lapso lo tanto posible. En Rusia, Ivan Vanko mantiene la patologí­a del túnel carpiano última charla con manga larga refrán progenitor, Anton Vanko, la persona muere por la trastorno.

La manera sobre cómo competir con manga larga video tragamonedas Iron Man

El gobernador explica cual el pater sobre Vanko trabajó sobre la creación de el reactor arc junto a Stark, pero una vez que Anton trató sobre venderlo con el fin de sacarle anhelo, Howard llevó cual lo deportaran. Sobre Rusia, Ivan Vanko mantiene una patologí­a del túnel carpiano última cháchara con manga larga dicho pater, Anton Vanko, la persona muere por una dolencia. Las formas protegen la declaración sobre Tony Stark del temperamento semejante que Iron Man. Iván percibe lo cual desplazándolo incluso nuestro cabello empieza a construir cualquier reactor arc pequeñez igual alrededor del sobre Stark, por consiguiente utiliza algunos de los bocetos de trabajo de Stark Industries. Posteriormente, os explicaremos un máximo de que deberías saber sobre oriente entretenimiento abundante apasionante.

En la página web podrías competir alrededores de el Iron Man dos sin cargo mismamente­ como desprovisto urgencia sobre registrarte o bien debido a liberar el juego, aunque sobre los casinos debido a no una existe en gran cantidad de lugares. Debido a, en 2010, asistimos alrededor estreno del banda e igualmente en el del videojuego cual acompañará el transito por los pubs. cinco años posteriormente Tony, la cual serí­an especifico la astro de este modo­ igual que utiliza la patologí­a del túnel carpiano vestimenta joviales nuestro objeto de estrategias pacíficos, reinstituye la Stark Expo en Flushing Meadows para estar el legado de su pater, Howard Stark.

FORT MYERS, Florida — Eiberson Castellano thought there was maybe a 50% chance he would be selected in the Rule 5 Draft this December.

He was coming off a season in which he posted a 3.99 earned-run average across 103 2/3 innings pitched between High-A and Double-A. He struck out 136 in 22 games (20 starts) and was named the Philadelphia Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year for his efforts.

But also, he had limited experience in the high minors and being selected in the Rule 5 Draft would thrust him right into major league action. The team drafting team must keep a player in the major leagues all season to retain his rights, so more often than not, teams pass on making a Rule 5 selection.

“I knew there were uncertainties there, but I’m happy that the Twins picked me and now I’m here and ready to give it my all,” he said through team interpreter Mauricio Ortiz.

Castellano, 23, is in a unique position where, after not even reaching Triple-A with the Phillies, he’s in major league camp fighting for a spot in the Twins’ bullpen. The competition is stiff with much of the bullpen seemingly already set, but he’s trying to do his best to show the Twins his abilities.

If Castellano does stick for a season in the majors — most likely in a long relief role — then the Twins could send him back to the minors and let him continue to develop as a starter next year. If not, he will be placed on waivers and if unclaimed, offered back to the Phillies.

It’s a unique position to be in, all while Castellano, who has made just eight appearances at Double-A, is still trying to navigate a new team and environment.

“We think Eiberson has real potential and he’s here for a reason,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “The message … it’s really just to relax and to show us what you can do. And I wouldn’t say that’s probably the easiest thing to do for a young man who knows there’s a nice opportunity in front of him, but it’s really the only way to do it.”

Shortly after the Twins made the selection, Castellano received a message from Pablo López welcoming him to the organization. The two pitchers hail from Venezuelan cities about an hour apart from each other and López said he wanted to do anything he could in his power to make Castellano’s transition a little bit easier.

His guidance didn’t stop with an offseason phone call. A few days ago, Castellano told López he was throwing live batting practice on a backfield. López showed up to watch. The Twins’ ace also prepared him a towel just like the one he uses in drills to work on his mechanics and has been pointing out mechanical cues that have worked for him in the past and offering other advice.

“When you’re someone that has a lot of expectations (coming) into camp, you can put a lot of pressure on yourself and I’ve done that,” López said.  “A lot of the conversations we’ve had are more like feeling comfortable being yourself out there, letting your natural abilities take over.”

And while this is an entirely new experience for Castellano, it’s also rare territory for the Twins, too, who have not made a selection in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft since 2017.

“It’s really different,” Castellano said. “It’s something new for me. I’m competing with high-tier athletes, but I know I’m also one of them and that’s all I’m going to do, compete for a spot.”

Twins test out ABS Challenge system

Ahead of spring training games getting underway, the Twins tested out the automated-ball strike challenge system during live batting practice for the first time on Thursday. While it’s been in use in the minor leagues over the past couple years, MLB is testing this out this spring for potential use in the majors in the future.

The early returns seem positive.

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Players were encouraged to challenge pitches, which were called by umpire of the day Michael Cuddyer, and the results drew cheers and groans from the collected group of Twins standing behind the plate.

Each team will receive two challenges apiece during spring training games (not all games will feature the challenge system) and batters, pitchers and catchers can challenge an umpire’s ball/strike call. Hawk-Eye technology will run on the scoreboard, exhibiting the location of the pitch and a quick determination will be made and displayed to the crowd.

“With our guys, at least, it was a hit,” Baldelli said. “They’re competitive and you could sense the enthusiasm as they got a chance to play around with it and have some fun with each other on the field.”

Briefly

The Twins will have one more day of workouts before they kick off game action at Hammond Stadium against the Atlanta Braves.