🍔 8 bucks for a Big Mac? In this economy?

Plus: Wolves back (at Target Center) [Plus: Wolves back (at Target Center)] View this email as a [web page]( [Star Tribune]( [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! I skipped lunch yesterday and missed out on meeting Iron Man himself 🦸🏽 ♂️ On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [Target's quarterly sales are down as Walmart, Amazon post gains]( - [PWHL Minnesota beats Boston 3-0 to take Game 2 of Walter Cup finals]( - [More turmoil at St. Cloud State as acting president resigns]( - [New Minnesota law will require salary ranges in job postings]( - [Family of slain Minneapolis football player speaks out following charge dismissal]( Eight bucks for a Big Mac? In this economy? Vincent Thian/Associated Press A Big Mac from McDonald's cost $3.99 in 2019. A Crunchwrap Supreme from Taco Bell would run you $2.49. Those fast food staples have doubled in price since then, making customers more budget conscious as they consider whether to swing by the drive-thru. (La jefa and I are on a 10-day streak of making dinner at home. Please clap.) Fast food company CEOs say supply chain troubles fueled the initial surge in prices and a competitive labor market has kept them high as workers seek livable wages. Now they're leaning into value menus to lure us back. Business reporter Brooks Johnson has the story [here](.     more from the star tribune - [St. Cloud's 'Barbie House' crowned Ugliest House in America, gets major makeover]( - [Proposal to use Target Field sales tax for Hennepin County health care facilities stalls at the Capitol]( - [Robert Downey Jr. spotted at downtown Minneapolis Target]( The Wolves are so back (at Target Center) Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune The Timberwolves return to Target Center tonight for the first game in a best-of-seven playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. This marks the Wolves' first Western Conference finals appearance since 2004 and the team has pulled out all the stops — they've once again partnered with a handful of downtown bars and restaurants for watch parties. Team officials also tell us they're taking over an entire parking lot for a fan event Friday. Nur-D and DJ Cav will provide the entertainment. The event is free but you'll have to register. And here's a handy link for you to do that [here](. [image] Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune The Star Tribune sports desk has the rest of your pregame needs covered in the links below: - [Timberwolves-Mavericks Game 1 preview: TV-radio information, injury report, statistics]( - [Timberwolves-Mavericks matchups: Position-by-position comparisons and series prediction]( - [Scoggins: Anthony Edwards has great season for Timberwolves ... and adds great candor to his game]( - [Timberwolves land Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels on NBA's all-defensive teams]( don't worry, this is only gonna stink a little Shari L. Gross/ Star Tribune For weeks, we've been enraptured by the possibility that the corpse flower at Como Park Conservatory and Zoo might maybe someday bloom, bringing with it the stench of rotting flesh. That's a very strange thing to anticipate, but it happens so rarely that you can't help but be enthralled. Now, the flower is finally on the cusp of unfurling and attacking our nasal passages with its putrid scent. The conservatory even has a live feed so you can watch it in action. If you want to actually smell the noisome event, better act fast: peak stench only lasts about 12 hours. Watch it bloom [here](. IN OTHER NEWS - [‘Something from our small hometown’: Palestinian man opens first Middle Eastern nut shop in Columbia Heights]( - Sahan Journal - [Working tirelessly to keep the lights on and the news flowing]( - MinnPost - [You should listen to this week's episode of "The Weeds" podcast about delivery app fees](     the minnesota ... hello? We have a Charles Barkley sighting. Lots of them, actually. The NBA legend and TNT commentator landed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last night and was promptly the subject of several candid photos and at least one selfie, above. If you'll recall, Anthony Edwards beckoned Barkley to the Land of 10,000 Lakes with a cheeky taunt after the Wolves ousted the Denver Nuggets from the NBA playoffs. Now someone get this man a well-done steak. Thanks for reading Eder Campuzano, reporter David Taintor, editor [Email]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]([Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Manage]( your preferences | [Opt Out]( using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? [Sign up]( to receive our future emails. View this email [online](. 650 3rd Ave. S. Suite 1300 | Minneapolis, MN 55488 US This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.