St. Thomas invited to join Division 1 conference

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - St. Thomas invited to join Division 1 conference: The University of St. Thomas announced Friday that the school has been [invited to join the Division I Summit League](, pending NCAA approval of the school’s waiver claim. - University of Minnesota to test cancer-fighting "natural killer" cells: More than a decade of research at the University of Minnesota to unearth and unleash a special kind of healing cell — the natural killer, or NK, cell — has produced two experimental cancer therapies that are [being tested for the first time in patients.]( - Diplomats pushed Ukraine to investigate Biden, dangled Trump visit: Top U.S. diplomats encouraged Ukraine's newly elected president to conduct an investigation linked to Joe Biden's family in return for a high-profile visit with President Donald Trump. It soon escalated into what one diplomat feared was a "crazy" swap that risked vital U.S. military aid. That's according to [a cache of text messages released late Thursday]( by House investigators following a 10-hour interview with one of the diplomats, Kurt Volker , who stepped down as special envoy to Ukraine amid the Democrats' impeachment inquiry. Trump said Friday the White House is preparing a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally [objecting to the Democrats conducting their impeachment inquiry]( without an official vote. The letter is expected to say the administration won't cooperate with the probe without that vote — but he also said he believes it will pass. - Metro Transit temporarily pulls electric buses from C Line: Metro Transit said Thursday it will temporarily discontinue its recently launched electric bus service along a busy route until [problems with the vehicles’ chargers]( are fixed by the bus manufacturer. In the meantime, diesel buses will provide service for the C Line rapid bus service that links downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center. - Supreme Court agrees to consider Louisiana abortion law: The Supreme Court agreed Friday to [plunge into the abortion debate]( in the midst of the 2020 presidential campaign, taking on a Louisiana case that could reveal how willing the more conservative court is to chip away at abortion rights. - Rick Perry to step down as energy secretary by year's end: In recent weeks his role promoting natural gas and coal exports in Ukraine has [come under congressional scrutiny.]( - Minneapolis congregation offers kindness, art classes to vandal: Tagged with the mark of the beast, this small Minneapolis congregation responded the mark of the best, [writes Jennifer Brooks.]( - James Franco's ex-students allege sexual exploitation in lawsuit: Two actresses [sued Franco and the acting and film school he founded](, saying he intimidated his students into gratuitous and exploitative sexual situations.  Hey, look at this Take a guided photo tour of Minneapolis in 1907: We’re headed to September 1907, when photographers climbed atop City Hall to take a series of pictures of downtown Minneapolis that would ultimately [require 21st-century technology to be fully appreciated.](  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Should Minnesota be considered part of the Midwest? To many Minnesotans, the answer might seem obvious. But there is actually quite a bit of disagreement over [which states are truly part of the Midwest](. - 2 vendors out and a new spot opening in Midtown Global Market: There’s been a shakeup at [Minneapolis’s original food hall.]( - Pioneering actress Diahann Carroll dies: Carroll, the Oscar-nominated actress and singer who won critical acclaim as [the first black woman to star in a non-servant role]( in a TV series as "Julia," has died. She was 84.  Sports roundup - As playoffs begin, Twins fans revel in an unexpected season: The 2019 Minnesota Twins ignored the prognosticators and delighted their fans, [bashing their way into the postseason playoffs]( and setting up a confrontation Friday night with the evil empire — the New York Yankees. Twins ace Jose Berrios will head to the mound for the good guys, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:07 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. - Arraez, Adrianza make Twins playoff roster: [But fan favorite Willians Astudillo did not.]( - Ex-UMD coaches bring discrimination suit to state high court: Three former coaches at the University of Minnesota Duluth are [asking the state Supreme Court]( to take up their lawsuit against the university.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Quote of the day “When you’re sitting at a baseball game, it’s all that gooey ‘Field of Dreams’ stuff without James Earl Jones.” -- [Twins fan Mary Wadlow](, on why she loves baseball.  Worth a click IRS says it audits more poor people than rich because it's cheaper and easier: Congress asked the IRS to report on why it audits the poor more than the affluent. Its response is that it doesn’t have enough money and people to audit the wealthy properly. [So it’s not going to](, Pro Publica reports.  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: A viral video showed a golf cart spinning out of control on a tarmac at which U.S. airport this week? Good luck!  From the archives Oct. 5, 1982: WLOL disc jockeys John Hines, left, and Bob Berglund caught the attention of passing motorists as they broadcast their morning radio show from a billboard ledge overlooking Interstate 35W near E. 18th Street in Minneapolis. 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