It's coming home 🏀

Plus: Malls are making big moves [Plus: Malls are making big moves] View this email as a [web page]( [Star Tribune]( [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! High stakes all around for sports fans throughout the state this week 🏒 On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [PWHL Minnesota sets aside heartbreak to prepare for decisive Game 5 in Walter Cup finals]( - [Appeals court throws out conviction in shooting death of North football star Deshaun Hill Jr.]( - [Pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers now law after two-year fight]( - [Meet the man who resuscitated St. Paul's Grand Old Day street festival]( - ["The mall's still here": A day inside Burnsville Center]( So you're sayin' there's a chance? Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune The Timberwolves pulled off a narrow victory in Dallas last night, forcing a Game 5 in the Western Conference finals and bringing the action back to downtown Minneapolis for at least one more game. An NBA team has never come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a conference championship, but I like to imagine Naz Reid channeling a certain scruffy nerf herder and saying, "Never tell me the odds." While there was enough action on the court throughout the evening to keep the ol' heart rate up, we couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when Charles Barkley, an avowed enthusiast of well-done steaks, sounded less than cheery at the prospect of coming back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Apparently he saw a recent photo from Minneapolis online and mistook fluffy seeds from cottonwood trees for ... snow? [image] Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune Pardon me while I pop an antihistamine. Weather tomfoolery notwithstanding, you'll want to make sure to check out all of the excellent Wolves coverage below. I'm particularly fond of reporter Louis Krauss' interview with a season-ticket holder from Japan who, and I mean this in the kindest way, is objectively a way bigger Wolves fan than you are. (Or me, for that matter.) Full Timberwolves coverage: - [This diehard Timberwolves fan flies from Japan every year to see them play]( - [Souhan: When Anthony Edwards "plays with joy," Timberwolves teammates and fans follow his lead]( - [Ten clutch points: Timberwolves deliver in Game 4, Luca Doncic on the blame. Charles Barkley on the weather]( - [KAT roars back, Wolves live to see at least one more game](     GOING OUT - [The big gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week]( - [Minneapolis kids ask for neighborhood ice cream shop, Sebastian Joe's delivers]( - [TV review: "Lillian Hall" confirms Jessica Lange is the greatest Minnesota actor of all time]( Kowalski's comes full-circle with Southdale Center opening Jim Kowalski got his start in the grocery business at the Red Owl across the street from Edina's Southdale Center in the early '80s. Now, the regional chain is preparing to open its first outpost inside the mall, closing the loop on this part of the family history. "What's meant to be is meant to be," Chief Executive Kris Kowalski Christiansen said. She also mentioned that her father would "say we're nuts" for taking on the endeavor. Reporter Nicole Norfleet has the full story [here](. Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune more from the star tribune - [High voltage technician severely burned when EV charging station explodes in Baxter, Minn.]( - [2-year-old girl dies in Minneapolis shelter of suspected fentanyl poisoning, police say]( - [Children's Theatre gets an 'extraordinary' $1 million gift]( the wolves made it, after all Eder Campuzano/Star Tribune At least they didn't get swept! Local textile artist Lorri Talberg yarnbombed the Mary Tyler Moore statue in downtown Minneapolis ahead of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals and gave the Minnesota icon her own custom Wolves jersey. Unfortunately, Talberg spent part of Memorial Day weekend tending to her work after someone practically ripped the garment off. Remember to respect your local artists, folks. IN OTHER NEWS - [Millions of dollars are available in federal and state energy rebates. How can you take part?]( - Sahan Journal - [Theater company's "Laughing Matters" discusses mental illness — with humor]( - MinnPost - [Dueling visions for Lyndale Avenue before reconstruction plan is announced]( - Southwest Voices     The Minnesota Goodbye Today we take “the Minnesota goodbye” literally. That’s because our esteemed digital sports editor Howard Sinker bids us farewell. He’s been with the Star Tribune for 45 years and held what seems like as many roles in reporting and editing during that time. From our assistant managing editor for sports, Chris Carr: “He is an essential part of what we do today. They were saying the same thing about him in the '80s. What a run.” We couldn't have said it better. Kudos, Howard, and happy retirement! 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.