Three big stories from last night's vice presidential debate

Plus: The best lakeside eateries in Minneapolis ☕️ [Plus: The best lakeside eateries in Minneapolis ☕️] View this email as a [web page]( [The Minnesota Star Tribune](   [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! Read to the end of today's edition for a fun dip into the archives that's out of this world 🌙 On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [Lynx block out Sun 77-70, even WNBA semifinal series at a game apiece]( - [Blue Line LRT extension clears critical step despite opposition]( - [Charges: Trucker was on sex site shortly before causing I-35 pile-up in which woman lost unborn baby]( - [Trial by portage: When are we too old to test ourselves against Minnesota’s remote wilderness?]( - [Minneapolis tackles marijuana rules from ‘seed to sale’](   Minnesota man takes debate stage against Ohioan in audition for second-in-command Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio sparred on the debate stage last night and the consensus seems to be that the matchup was basically a draw. Both CNN and CBS polled viewers to find that an equal number said either vice presidential candidate won. The back-and-forth between the two men, which aired at roughly the same time the Lynx toppled the Connecticut Sun to tie the WNBA semifinals series, covered everything from foreign policy to election integrity to reproductive rights. The conversation was quite a bit calmer than the contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — both Walz and Vance began their remarks at times with a polite nod to what their opponent just said. In one particularly memorable exchange, Vance told Walz he was sorry to hear that the governor's son, Gus, had witnessed a shooting at a rec center in St. Paul. But will last night's debate make a dent in voters' perceptions of either presidential ticket? "Historically, the vice president, in terms of the election, does not have any impact," Trump himself told the National Association of Black Journalists this summer. We have all of the highlights at the links below. Watch StarTribune.com for more debate stories throughout the day. Related coverage - [Walz shakes off nerves in vice presidential debate, finishes feisty on fate of democracy]( - [Walz says his 17-year-old son witnessed shooting as he played volleyball at rec center]( - [In Tim Walz’s home city, opposing groups watch him debate on the national stage]( [Read More](     GOING OUT - [Tickets go on sale for Mary J. Blige, the Driver Era and Paw Patrol Live]( - [The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week](   Get in, loser, we're watching scary movies 🎃 Every October, La Jefa and I whip up a list of 31 scary movies or TV shows to watch — one for each day of the month. We call it "The Halloween List," and you can [check out this year's offerings here](. Here's what's on tap tonight: 🧙🏻 ♀️ "Agatha All Along:" We’re already three episodes deep into the “WandaVision” sequel series, and so far Aubrey Plaza is definitely holding it down opposite Kathryn Hahn. Streaming on Disney+ with a subscription.   [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.   Treat yourself after a long walk along a lake in Minneapolis The many lakes that dot Minneapolis rank among the best things about living in the city. And the trails that run along them are made all the better by the myriad bars, restaurants and cafés that sit within walking distance. It's easy to be paralyzed by the wealth of options. That's why we're thankful for Nancy Ngo's list of 27 — you read that right: 27 — [eateries near Minneapolis lakes that are well worth your time](. Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune MORE FROM THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE - [St. Paul police release body camera footage of officers shooting homicide suspect]( - [Twins brass doesn’t blame payroll cuts or trade deadline inactivity for late collapse]( - [Ramstad: Trump, Harris policies would expand control over economy, but without saying how much]( ON THIS DAY IN 1969 Duane Braley/The Minnesota Star Tribune Did you know that the University of Minnesota received an allotment of moon rocks from the Apollo 11 mission? That's right: Gopher scientists studied some of the celestial swag that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins retrieved from the Earth's lone satellite. In the file photo above, Robert Pepin holds a chip of moon rock alongside V. Rama Murthy. They explained the composition of the lunar soil to Star Tribune reporter Lewis Cope, telling him it "handles like flour" once it's strained. Some of the particles in that sample, the scientists noted, were tiny glass beads.     IN OTHER NEWS - [Minnesota Supreme Court skeptical that policy protecting teachers of color hurts Minneapolis taxpayer]( - Sahan Journal - [He campaigned for President Obama. Now, he wants to see the country’s first woman president.]( - Minnesota Reformer - [Bubbles as a violence de-escalation tactic? The Minneapolis mayor loves the idea.]( - MinnPost THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE Brian Stelter via X Gov. Tim Walz has been lampooned for his Minnesotan tendencies and folksy demeanor ever since he was selected as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. (Just think back to that Menard's moment in Jim Gaffigan's "Saturday Night Live" debut as the Minnesota governor.) But this might be the most relatable thing he's done for me, personally. The Democratic vice presidential nominee visited a pizza joint about a block away from the CBS studios after his debate with Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. I can't tell you how many times I run downstairs to Andrea Pizza at Capella Tower when my tummy starts rumbling and I need an infusion of bread, cheese and pepperoni — stat. The slices downstairs do the trick. But when I'm feeling a little more adventurous, I default to the judgment of our fantastic Taste team and their list of [the best pies in the Twin Cities, ranked by style](. Thanks for reading Eder Campuzano, reporter David Taintor, editor     [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Subscribe]( SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER [Email]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( [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}. 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