Fidel Castro, who defied US for 50 years, dies at 90 in Cuba

North Dakota officials: Protesters should leave federal land

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on the protest against the Dakota Access oil pipeline (all times local): 11 a.m. North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple says the federal government must take the lead in any action to close land where thousands have camped for months in protest of the four-state, $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to a tribal leader Friday, saying it would close the Corps land to protesters on Dec. 5. The letter says anyone on the property north of the Cannonball River after that date will be trespassing and subject to prosecution. Dalrymple says he supports the Corps' decision, citing public safety concerns and health risks due to camping in winter conditions. Dalrymple says that the federal government has allowed protesters to camp on Corps land for more than 100 days, so it is the government's responsibility to lead the camp's peaceful closure. ___ 10:40 a.m. U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to close federal land where protesters of the Dakota Access pipeline have camped is a needed step to keep residents, workers, protesters and authorities safe. The North Dakota Democrat said Saturday that it's critical for protesters to peacefully and lawfully move off the land north of the Cannonball River. She issued her statement a day after the Corps sent a letter to Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman Dave Archambault that said the federal land about 50 miles south of Bismarck on which the vast majority of protesters have gathered at the Oceti Sakowin camp will close Dec. 5. Heitkamp has been pressing the White House to make a decision on an easement for the pipeline. She says people are "waiting in limbo" and that the issue needs to be put to rest in the interest of public safety. ___ 10:15 a.m. North Dakota U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says opponents of the Dakota Access oil pipeline should respect the law and leave the protest area. The Republican made the statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter Friday to Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman Dave Archambault that said the federal land about 50 miles south of Bismarck on which the vast majority of protesters have gathered at the Oceti Sakowin camp will close Dec. 5. Archambault says the letter cites the oncoming winter and confrontations between protesters and police. He also says, "our resolve to protect our water is stronger than ever." Hoeven is calling for the Obama administration to approve the easement for the pipeline, saying the situation needs to be resolved.

The Latest: Dalrymple: Feds must lead effort to close camp