Bomb threat closes University of St. Thomas

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Bomb threat closes University of St. Thomas: The University of St. Thomas has been [shut down for the rest of the day]( as the campus security and St. Paul police investigate a bomb threat that was phoned into the school. In a separate incident, a loaded handgun left in a University of St. Thomas bathroom was discovered by a student, and the school said it belongs to an employee who is [not authorized to bring the weapon onto the St. Paul campus](, authorities said Wednesday. - FBI's hunt for armed woman "infatuated" with Columbine comes to an end: The FBI has tweeted that there is [no longer a possible threat to Colorado schools]( from a young Florida woman who was allegedly obsessed with the Colombine shooting who traveled to the state and bought a shotgun and ammunition. The FBI disclosed the information in a tweet without providing details about Sol Pais, the 18-year-old Miami Beach High School student who authorities had been searching for. - Diversity concerns threaten process to pick four U regents: A skirmish over diversity on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has split DFL lawmakers and [could trigger a rare intervention by Gov. Tim Walz]( in shaping the leadership of the state’s premier public university. Trustees in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system [extended its top leader’s contract through 2023]( — a move they said would allow Chancellor Devinder Malhotra to see through an initiative to spur innovation in the system. - U student who said she was raped by Chinese billionaire files lawsuit: A University of Minnesota student who [filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Chinese billionaire Richard Liu]( said he raped her after encouraging her to drink too much. - Notre Dame faced "chain-reaction collapse" in fire, official says: Notre Dame Cathedral would have burned to the ground in a "chain-reaction collapse" had [firefighters not moved as rapidly as they did]( to battle the blaze racing through the beloved landmark building, a French government official said Wednesday. [A crowdfunding campaign for three African American churches]( in Louisiana recently gutted by arson skyrocketed this week after social media posts urging the public not to forget the plight of the small houses of worship as the eyes of the world were on the fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. - Racial, income gaps in Minnesota medical care are closing, but modestly: Poor and minority patients in Minnesota are starting to receive better primary care but continue to have worse overall medical outcomes and more difficulty managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, [a new report finds.]( - St. Paul resident arrested after allegedly shooting man who came on his property during police chase: A suspected car thief running from St. Paul police after crashing the vehicle was [shot and wounded by a homeowner]( late Tuesday morning, authorities said. - San Francisco man charged with swindling the Vikings out of $35,000 luxury suites: According to a Hennepin County District Court criminal complaint signed Wednesday, Daniel Garcia Escamilla III is charged with [three felony counts of theft by swindle]( and one felony count of theft by false representation. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. - Wild commits to playing in St. Paul through 2035: Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said he never doubted his hockey team would stay in Xcel Energy Center, the St. Paul arena that’s been its home since 2000. By [agreeing to a 10-year lease extension](, the NHL team will slash its annual lease payments — enabling the team to invest in the building, potentially including the RiverCentre parking ramp, Leipold said.  Watch this Cubs pitcher beans batter, catcher and umpire with one fastball: During a game against the Marlins Monday night, [Yu Darvish hurled a 99 MPH fastball]( that appeared to inflict pain on three different people.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Minnesota author Marlon James named one of Time's 100 most influential people: It was with a rather humble "SO THIS HAPPENED" that James let it be known on Facebook today that [Time magazine had named him one of the 100 most influential people]( of the year. And the blurb about him was written by none other than novelist Salman Rushdie, himself rather influential. - Big changes coming to MSP Airport food scene: The best place to grab an iceberg wedge and a steak dinner on a layover is no more. The airport location of the Minneapolis stalwart Ike’s, on the north end of the Terminal 1 mall, has closed. Coming this summer in its place [will be a new upscale restaurant](, as well as other new additions. - Beyoncé drops surprise new album: The 37-year-old superstar [debuted "Homecoming: The Live Album" Wednesday](, the same day a Netflix documentary exploring her historic performances at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was released.  Sports roundup - Vikings defensive core shows emotion by sticking together: Players met with the media Tuesday, and there was something about Harrison Smith’s emotional display and defensive end Everson Griffen’s candidness in discussing why he accepted a $3 million pay cut to stay with the team that felt authentic in explaining the bond that has [kept coach Mike Zimmer’s defensive core intact.]( - New contract in hand, Pitino gears up for another recruiting push: Some coaching staffs have their recruiting classes finished in the fall, but the Gophers were looking at a busy spring. They could fill [four or five more open scholarship slots]( in this spring signing period, which starts Wednesday. - After rocky start, Towns shows Wolves' path forward still centers on him: Karl-Anthony Towns' statistics improved significantly after the Jimmy Butler drama ended with his trade to the 76ers, and showed [how important Towns is to the Wolves' future.](  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Quote of the day “It's a blessing, truly a blessing.” -- [The Rev. Freddie Jack](, president of the Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association, on a fundraising campaign for three African American churches gutted by arson in Louisiana.  Worth a click The bizarre history of Buca di Beppo, America's most postmodern red sauce chain: "Unlike the checked-tablecloth joints opened by immigrants of Sicily or Naples, Buca di Beppo was not founded by an Italian. It had no roots in Italy and no connection to the Italian-American immigrant experience. Yes, a place showcasing enough pope paraphernalia to border on evangelistic was founded by a Lutheran from central Illinois who told me that the best Italian restaurant in his hometown growing up was a Pizza Hut," [writes Bon Appetit's Priya Krishna]( about the family-style restaurant chain founded in Minneapolis.  From the archives April 17,1947: St. Paul's Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co., now better known as 3M, announced development of a sound recording tape that it expected to have wide adaptations for home commercial and industrial use. W.L. McKnight, president of the company, who said the new product has a greater sales potential than any of the more than 100 varieties of "Scotch" tape already on the market, demonstrated a business use for the sound recorder when he dictated part of the company's annual report on the magnetized tape. 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