More than 38,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota receive termination notices by mistake

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - More than 38,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota receive termination notices by mistake: More than 38,000 Medicare beneficiaries with health plans from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota are wrongly receiving termination notices, [prompting the Eagan-based insurer to begin calling subscribers to explain the mistake.]( The letters are related to the elimination of Medicare Cost health plans at the end of the year, which will prompt true health plan terminations for an estimated 320,000 seniors across much of Minnesota. - Chinese billionaire was arrested on rape allegation, Minneapolis police say: When news broke this week that Liu Qiangdong, the billionaire founder of the online retailer JD.com, had been arrested in a criminal sexual misconduct case while on a business trip in Minnesota, the local police were vague about the details. On Tuesday, the Minneapolis Police Department released its report on the case and said [Mr. Liu was arrested Friday on a rape allegation.]( - Lawsuit alleges negligence caused April explosion at Superior refinery: [A lawsuit filed against the owners of the Husky Energy oil refinery]( in Superior, Wis., alleges that the company’s negligence caused the explosion and fire that injured 36 people and forced thousands to flee the city in a mandatory evacuation. - Fight over $6M in sewer fees could derail ammo plant redevelopment: In front of a standing-room-only crowd Tuesday night, Arden Hills City Council members dug in on their demand that they are [paid $5.8 million in sewer connection fees for the project](, which would be the largest redevelopment effort the metro area has seen in years. - Kavanaugh in the hot seat for second day of confirmation hearings: Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh [repeatedly stressed the importance of judicial independence]( as he faced questioning at his confirmation hearing Wednesday from senators, including Democrats who fear he would be President Donald Trump's man on the high court. In his testimony, Kavanaugh [refused to say whether a president can be forced to testify]( in a criminal case, calling it a hypothetical. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill today, Facebook and Twitter executives [pledged to better protect their social media platforms in the 2018 elections]( and beyond, and told Congress of aggressive efforts to root out foreign intrusions aimed at sowing divisions in American democracy. - Trump says he's "exact opposite" of Woodward's portrayal: President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that [he's "the exact opposite" of Bob Woodward's portrayal of him]( in a new book that has set off a firestorm in the White House with its descriptions of current and former aides calling Trump an "idiot" and a "liar." Trump complained on Twitter that people can "get away with" such depictions and again suggested changing libel laws. - Obama returns to politics to join midterm battles: Former President Barack Obama is poised to plunge into the fray of the midterm campaign, returning to electoral politics with a frontal attack on Republican power in [two states that are prime Democratic targets this fall.]( - Jet quarantined in New York amid reports of sick passengers: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 100 of the 520 people aboard the flight from Dubai [were being evaluated after complaining of illness](, including cough and fever. - Contents of demolished Pillsbury mansion to be sold this weekend in Minneapolis: Southways, the Pillsbury mansion on Lake Minnetonka, was demolished last week. But its contents — including furniture, jewelry and handbags — [will be offered for sale at an Uptown antique store]( starting Friday morning, Sept. 7.  Watch this Norway's "death diving" competition is painful to watch: Det Internasjonale Dødseforbundet (The International League of Death) is basically [an acrobatic belly flop contest, off a high dive](. You're probably not gonna want to try this at home.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Metallica cranks it up in "intimate" Minneapolis gig: It’s hard to think of a 19,000-person basketball arena as a small venue, but in the context of Metallica’s sold-out set Tuesday at Target Center [it felt downright intimate.]( - Mark Rosen returns to TV, radio as wife's cancer battle continues: [The WCCO-TV sports anchor had been off the air]( since late July, when he announced that wife, Denise, had surgery to remove a brain tumor. - For Minnesota's "batch cooking boss," food can be tasty medicine: Minneapolis food writer and culinary coach Stephanie A. Meyer [sends subscribers to her subscription service a six-night meal plan]( with recipes that are designed to let them spend about three hours once a week preparing everything and then quickly put together meals every weeknight. It’s set up for home cooks who want to avoid processed foods and for people who follow restrictive diets like paleo, Autoimmune Protocol or Whole30. With every list, she includes substitution suggestions like “zoodle” noodles spiralized from zucchini, rice made from cauliflower or leaf lettuce instead of tortillas.  Sports roundup - Sano carted off field as Twins' "opener" strategy fails against Astros: The Twins don’t appear to be getting far with this new “opener” pitching strategy. Righthander Trevor May [dug a hole the Twins could not climb out of]( in a 5-2 loss to Houston at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night. Making the defeat worse was the early departure of Miguel Sano, who was carted off the field in the second inning with what’s being described as a lower left leg bruise that initially looked more dire. - Vikings fans are "most passionate, most rabid, most self-delusional": Tony Kornheiser, known first for his work as a Washington Post columnist and more recently as the co-host of ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption, [has an interesting take on Vikings fans.]( Coach Mike Zimmer is set up to win big, which means [he is set up to be blamed if he doesn't](, writes Jim Souhan. - No refunds for canceled Gophers-Nebraska game: Unable to agree on the logistics of moving the game to Sunday, the contest has instead been more or less canceled. There’s a chance it could be made up later in the season if one or both teams need a victory for a chance at bowl eligibility. But for now, no game. [And according to ESPN, no refunds.](  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Quote of the day “I've never had this much money at one time. I'll probably blow it on something stupid.” -- [Aidan McCluskey](, a 19-year-old legal assistant from Galesville, Wis., on the $1,000 prize he received when he was named the Funniest Person in the Twin Cities at Acme Comedy Co. on Tuesday.  Worth a click Are western men losing the ability to reproduce? "A strange thing has happened to men over the past few decades: We’ve become increasingly infertile, so much so that within a generation we may lose the ability to reproduce entirely. What’s causing this mysterious drop in sperm counts—and is there any way to reverse it before it’s too late?" [asks Daniel Noah Halper in an article for GQ.](  From the archives Sept. 5, 1971: Onlookers gathered in a Minneapolis parking lot for to watch a group of witches, led by High Priest Bruce Lahue of Minneapolis, perform the Ritual of the Full Moon inside a circle marked by candles. One of the witches said it was the first time the ritual had been performed in public. (Photo: Kent Kobersteen/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 © 2018 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](