Missing from Minneapolis' Hennepin Avenue overhaul? Somewhere to sit.

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Missing from Minneapolis' Hennepin Avenue overhaul? Somewhere to sit. The $23 million reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis will bring with it protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and better streetlights when it’s finished in 2022. One thing it won’t have: [Any public seating along the stretch]( from 12th Street to Washington Avenue. - Minnesota Poll finds broad support for refugee resettlement: More than half of Minnesota voters say [they support the resettlement of refugees in their communities]( and believe that immigrants mostly boost the economy, a Star Tribune/MPR News Minnesota Poll found. But a slight majority of registered voters in the state also oppose letting residents who are in the U.S. illegally obtain driver’s licenses, one of the top legislative agendas of Democratic state lawmakers and DFL Gov. Tim Walz. [See full results here.]( - Minnesota health officials prepare for coronavirus: Minnesota hospitals and public health agencies are [ramping up preparations for the novel coronavirus]( that has almost reached global pandemic levels since emerging in China this winter and spreading to at least 37 countries. [3M cannot make protective respiratory masks fast enough]( as the coronavirus continues to spread. The Maplewood-based company continues to ramp up production of the masks at plants in China but also other countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America, as well as the United States. - Audit finds staff shortages, failure to track assaults in Minnesota prisons: Staff shortages in Minnesota prisons are driving a glut in overtime hours for correctional officers, making the facilities more dangerous, while corrections officials have failed to properly track assaults — and they don’t know just how unsafe their facilities are for prisoners and staff. These are among the findings in [a scathing new report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor]( on security in the state’s 11 prisons, which will be presented to lawmakers Wednesday afternoon. - Klobuchar gets pressured to bow out of presidential race: A sixth-place finish in the Nevada caucus, her struggle to get footing in South Carolina, and single-digit poll showings in several big Super Tuesday states has some Democrats [questioning why Sen. Amy Klobuchar is still contending]( for the Democratic presidential nomination. Klobuchar joined in on [a wave of attacks against front-runner Bernie Sanders]( in the last Democratic presidential debate before the South Carolina primary and the multistate Super Tuesday contests. Here's [what observers are saying about Klobuchar's performance]( last night. - St. Paul teachers set strike date: A potential strike by St. Paul teachers has been set for March 9, [adding pressure to mediation sessions]( resuming Friday. - Court sides with Trump in "sanctuary cities" grant fight: The Trump administration can withhold millions of dollars in law enforcement grants to force states to cooperate with U.S. immigration enforcement, [a federal appeals court in New York ruled]( Wednesday in a decision that conflicted with three other federal appeals courts. - Man killed in small-plane crash near Rogers was co-owner of gardening retailer: Scott Wagner, 60, was flying his single-engine Beech 36 plane late Saturday morning when [it went down near the Crow River]( in the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve and burst into flames, according to a statement from Wagners Greenhouses and Garden Center. - High water delays start of international Great Lakes shipping season: The locks that allow travel between Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River won’t open until April 1, [nearly two weeks later than anticipated.]( The Ottawa-based Chamber of Marine Commerce, which advocates for shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway, says that could delay up to 100 ships. - Metro Transit weighs replacing cloth light-rail seats with plastic after "biohazard" incidents: Cloth-covered seats on Metro Transit light-rail trains could be [replaced with plastic ones by the end of the year](.  Watch this Reporter accidentally turns on Facebook augmented reality filters during weather report: ABC 13 reporter Justin Hinton in North Carolina was apparently [unaware of the assorted masks, beards and googly-eyes]( that appeared over his face as he delivered a Facebook Live report on snowfall last week.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - 8 Minnesota chefs and 3 restaurants named 2020 Beard Award semifinalists: In the James Beard Foundation’s highly competitive national awards, Twin Cities chefs and restaurants [made the cut in six out of 11 categories.]( - A new generation of grandparents redefines its role: As they retire or slow their careers, younger Baby Boomers [have the time to make financial and emotional investments]( in the next generation. - Dating apps aim for more real-life interaction as users become "Tinder tired": While taboos surrounding online dating are long gone, some of today’s app users are sick of the endless swiping and virtual pen-paling that leads nowhere when it comes to long-term relationships, according to industry leaders who are responding with new ways to get users off their phones and [out meeting people in the real world.](  Sports roundup - Lynx make once-a-decade trade for Banham: Once every decade, the Lynx acquire a legendary former Gophers women’s basketball guard entering the prime of her career – and they get her from Connecticut a handful of years after the Sun made her the No. 4 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. They did it in January 2010 with Lindsay Whalen. [And now again in February 2020 with Rachel Banham.]( - Minnesota men's hockey teams solidify NCAA tourney prospects: With four of Division I college hockey’s men’s conferences entering the final week of their regular seasons, [the jockeying for conference tournament positioning]( – and attempts at bolstering one’s spot in the PairWise Ratings – is in full swing. - After season of adversity Twins prospect Royce Lewis looks for big year: Lewis could use a big year to remind observers of [the athleticism, skills and potential that made him a top pick](. Fortunately for him, the Twins can wait, as All-Star shortstop Jorge Polanco is under contract through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Quote of the day “We are preparing … for not if, but when, we end up with a case in Minnesota.” -- [Gov. Tim Walz](, on preparations by state health officials for the novel coronavirus.  Worth a click An octogenarian broke his hip while mowing his lawn. The EMTs who responded went back to finish the job. Here's a nice story from the Washington Post about [a recent good deed in Rochester, Wash.](  From the archives Feb. 26, 1993: Jovelyn Richards, a child specialist at Catholic Charities Family Shelter in St. Paul, welcomes children staying at the shelter into her office for Movie Day. The kids made popcorn, decorated and pass out tickets, then watched a video in her office. (Photo: Brian Peterson/Star Tribune) Connect with Star Tribune [facebook]([twitter]([pinterest]([instagram]( [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 © 2020 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](