A near dead-heat in Minnesota's presidential race

Plus: How to catch a free fire dancing performance [Plus: How to catch a free fire dancing performance] View this email as a [web page]( [Star Tribune]( [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! I botched a brake job on my bike last week and now I can't slow down 🚲 On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [How did a roller rink end up in Uptown?]( - [Fourth man dead after shooting that led to Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell's deat](h - [How the FBI, and a buried pig, helps local law enforcement sharpen skills at finding bodies]( - [Bye-bye, cubicles: Reserving a desk for the day is the new work trend]( - [PWHL draft comes to St. Paul with some new (and old names) to watch](   Biden narrowly leads Trump in Minnesota Associated Press One of Minnesota's most intriguing political claims to fame is that it's the only state in the U.S. that's voted for a Democrat to take the White House in every election dating back to 1972. Yes, even when Ronald Reagan won every other state during the 1984 campaign. Donald Trump came within striking distance of breaking that streak in 2016 when he lost to Hillary Clinton by 1.5 percentage points. And a new Star Tribune/KARE 11/MPR News poll shows Trump and President Joe Biden in a near dead heat for Minnesota's 12 electoral votes as summer and the presidential election heat up. Biden leads Trump 45% to 41% among 800 likely voters polled between June 3 and June 5. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. While the survey found Trump lags by a wider margin than he lost here in the 2016 election, he's proved much more motivational than Biden among supporters, according to the poll. This story is just the first in a series. Future installments will explore Minnesotans' sentiments about Trump's conviction, Israel's war with Hamas and other top issues. Ryan Faircloth has the [first in our polling series here](. You can check out the [full poll results and methodology here](. Read our partner organizations' stories below: - [New Minnesota poll has Biden with narrow edge over Trump as both remain unpopular]( - MPR News - [Minnesota poll: Biden leads Trump in Minnesota, but more independents leaning Trump]( - KARE 11     MORE FROM THE STAR TRIBUNE - [Who's running for office in Minnesota in 2024]( - [Sheila E. to Paisley Park: "Shame on U" for turning down unannounced visit]( - [Lynx beat Storm 83-64 behind another hot shooting performance from Kayla McBride]( Mayo Clinic nurses consider unionization as technicians negotiate Nurses in Rochester are looking into organizing, a prospect that would create a union with more than 6,500 members in Minnesota's third-largest city. Mayo Clinic employees say they're exploring the idea because they believe hospital leaders "treat our physicians like royalty" while some nursing units put in hours of overtime every day. Rochester reporter Trey Mewes has the [full story about Mayo labor issues here](. Trey Mewes/Star Tribune [Share this newsletter with friends]( Do you enjoy Essential Minnesota? Encourage your friends and family to [sign up](. You also can share it using the links below. BIG NEWS FOR BOOKWORMS - ["Making a Murderer" inspired this Mankato-based author's new novel]( - [Want to LOL? Read "Sandwich," a new novel about a three-generation family vacation]( - [A Penobscot novelist wonders what it means to be Native in "soulful" family drama "Family Exit"]( BURNING DESIRE FOR BURNING MAN Provided A Minneapolis-based fire dancing troupe has spent the past few weeks practicing in preparation for an audition to perform at the weeklong celebration, community and self-expression held annually in the Nevada desert: Burning Man. Columnist Jennifer Brooks caught up with Northern Fire Dynamic ahead of the group's sneak peek of the performance at Powderhorn Park. “The fire, it’s alive,” said Heidi Leaf, the group’s administrator, who hand-built the flaming props she wears each season. “You learn to dance with the prop, because you have to take into consideration the wind, the movement you’re doing. Because you can easily get kissed by fire.” You can catch the performance today at 8 p.m. IN OTHER NEWS - [Fargo woman facing 30 years in prison for bong water]( - Minnesota Reformer - [How a Minneapolis barbecue joint became a house music hub]( - Racket - [Heat pumps are "cheapest, healthiest" way to meet Minnesota's climate goals, local coalition says]( - Sahan Journal     THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE Minnesota's rainy spring brought an end to the state's three-year drought. And while we may pay for it in the form of a super buggy summer and water-bogged park trails, it's also given us some wonderful scenery. Take this shot of the woods near Collinwood Creek posted recently by Reddit user ProgramTricky6109. It's no Lake Chipotle, but it's majestic, nonetheless. 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.