The sad, alarming story of former Wild enforcer Matt Johnson

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Editor's note: Due to a technical glitch, yesterday's edition of Talkers contained numerous broken hyperlinks. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Top stories - The sad, alarming story of former Wild enforcer Matt Johnson: His parents haven’t seen him in more than a decade, and the last anyone heard Johnson was homeless and living on a beach in California, [another victim of the opioid epidemic.]( - Freeman says not enough evidence yet to charge officer in Justine Damond killing: Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Wednesday that [he does not yet have enough evidence to file charges]( against a Minneapolis police officer in the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, blaming investigators who “haven’t done their job.” [Read the transcript of Freeman's conversation]( with activists, in which he made the comments. - St. Paul's McNally Smith College of Music closing abruptly: Faculty and staff members were told in an e-mail from Board Chairman Jack McNally that [the college does not have enough money]( to make payroll on Dec. 15. - Union leaders back contract to avert Super Bowl transit strike: Leaders of the Twin Cities bus drivers union that threatened to strike during the Super Bowl recommended Thursday that their members [approve a contract offer from the Metropolitan Council](. If approved, the deal would avert a potentially calamitous disruption during one of the largest events in recent Twin Cities history. - Trump blasts FBI leadership in speech at FBI academy: President Donald Trump [laced into FBI leadership Friday](, while proclaiming his loyalty and support for law enforcement in an address at the agency's training academy. On his way to Quantico, [Trump said he doesn't want to talk about]( whether he is considering pardoning former national security advisor Michael Flynn yet, but he did not rule it out. - Obamacare sign-ups quicken as tonight's deadline approaches: "Millions of Americans are signing up for 2018 coverage through the Affordable Care Act, defying the Trump administration’s hostility to the law and a year-long campaign by congressional Republicans to repeal it. Millions of Americans are signing up for 2018 coverage through the Affordable Care Act, defying the Trump administration’s hostility to the law and a year-long campaign by congressional Republicans to repeal it," [the Los Angeles Times reports.]( Minnesotans have until Dec. 20 to [sign up for MNsure coverage that begins on Jan. 1](. - Wayzata student becomes one of nation's few chess grandmasters: Andrew Tang [joins a select club with only about 85 grandmasters]( in the U.S. and about 1,600 worldwide. Another phenom — a 12-year-old girl — recently became the first female chess master in the state. - Charlottesville car attack suspect faces upgraded charge: The man accused of driving into a crowd protesting a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville [faces a new charge of first-degree murder]( after a court hearing Thursday in which prosecutors presented surveillance video and other evidence against him. - "Get Schooled" about education in Minnesota: Star Tribune education reporter Beena Raghavendran is launching a new video series on YouTube about the interesting and innovative things she's seeing in local schools. [Watch the first episode and subscribe here.]( - Venturing onto the ice? Be sure to wear your life jacket. Three people have died so far this season after falling through the ice, more than in the past two years combined. [Here's how to stay safe on the ice.](  Watch this Brutal video of Trump judicial nominee unable to answer basic questions goes viral: As of Friday morning, [a video of Matthew Spencer Petersen struggling with questions]( from Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, had been viewed more than 3 million times. First Amendment lawyer Ken White argues that, to be fair, Petersen [should never have been in that situation]( in the first place.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Fire closes popular St. Paul ramen joint: [Tori Ramen is temporarily closed]( after an accidental fire damaged parts of the restaurant. - See a piece of Dayton's annual holiday show in Plymouth: Dayton’s customers who miss their annual pilgrimage to the holiday show in downtown Minneapolis can still [get a glimpse into a beloved tradition.]( - Trailer Trash and Lee's Liquor Lounge to make up on New Year's Eve: Looking for another sign of unity and love at the end of a year that’s been largely devoid of those traits? Look no further than Lee’s Liquor Lounge, which will [welcome back its former unofficial house band Trailer Trash]( on New Year’s Eve after an acrimonious two-year hiatus.  Sports roundup - Vikings must be wary as NFL's nastiest team comes to town: A lousy Cincinnati Bengals team will face one of the NFL's best success stories. Which means that [one or two cheap shots from a cheap team]( could ruin the Vikings' season, writes Jim Souhan. - Kevin Garnett wants to buy Wolves from Glen Taylor: In a new interview, the former Wolves star said he doesn't just want a stake in the team. He wants to [push the Wolves (and Star Tribune) owner out.]( - Pitino welcomes break in schedule for worn-out Gophers: When Richard Pitino was asked whether the Gophers needed this nine-day break after Monday’s 68-67 win against Drake, [he didn’t hesitate with his answer.](  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Quote of the day “Let me just say it’s not my fault. So if it isn’t my fault, who didn’t do their job? Investigators. They don’t work for me. They haven’t done their job.” -- [Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman](, criticizing investigators after being asked why he hasn't made a decision on charges in the Justine Damond case.  Worth a click What it's like to live without power in Puerto Rico: [This powerful multimedia presentation from the Washington Post]( takes you into the homes and workplaces of Puerto Ricans who have been forced to change the way they live during the longest blackout in U.S. history.  Talkers trivia Want to win a Star Tribune travel mug? Today is Friday, so it's time for a trivia question. The correct answer can be found in a story that appeared in Talkers this week. We can't prevent you from simply Googling the answer, so Googling is encouraged! E-mail your answer to [talkers@startribune.com]( by midnight on Sunday night. A winner will be selected at random from the correct responses. That lucky reader will receive an official Star Tribune travel mug, as well as a shout-out in Monday's newsletter. Here is this week's question: Which chef and TV show host is developing a Nicollet Mall food hall? Good luck!  From the archives Dec. 15, 1993: Workers remove 55 steel buoys outside the Walker Art Center. The installation of huge, ball-shaped objects was placed at the Walker when the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was inaugurated in 1988. New York sculptor Donald Lipski found the 650-pound buoys in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. (Photo: Joey McLeister/Star Tribune) Connect with Star Tribune [facebook]( [twitter]( [google+]( [pinterest]( [instagram]( [tumblr]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( • [Unsubscribe]( This email was sent by: StarTribune, 650 3rd Ave S, Suite #1300, Minneapolis, MN, 55488 © 2017 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](