Minnesota World War II vet beats COVID-19, goes home on 101st birthday

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Minnesota World War II vet beats COVID-19, goes home on 101st birthday: Turning 101 years old is quite a feat. So is surviving the highly contagious COVID-19 coronavirus at an advanced age. On Wednesday,[Twin Cities World War II veteran Samuel Nilva did both.]( - Walz announces stay-at-home extension with new flexibility: Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday [announced the extension until May 18 of the stay-at-home order](, which otherwise expired Monday, but with new flexibility allowing retailers to reopen with curbside pickup or delivery for customers. - Biden says alleged sexual assault "never happened": Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday [categorically denied allegations from a former Senate staffer]( that he sexually assaulted her in the early 1990s, saying "this never happened." Biden's first public remarks on the allegation by a former employee, Tara Reade, come at a critical moment for the presumptive Democratic nominee as he tries to relieve mounting pressure after weeks of leaving denials to his campaign. - 28 more COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota with 594 confirmed cases: The COVID-19 pandemic has [claimed the lives of 28 more Minnesotans]( claimed the lives of 28 more Minnesotans with another 594 testing positive, state health officials said Friday. Testing continues to ramp up with 4,553 patient samples run Thursday, pushing the number of known cases to 5,730. We are continuing to [track the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota here.]( - Economy may be ailing but Twin Cities homebuilders keep humming along: Homebuilders in the Twin Cities [ramped up production last month](, despite a barrage of challenges including growing economic uncertainties and a mandate to practice social distancing rules on job sites. - Spring garage sales also falling victim to the coronavirus: Scores of community garage sales, a surefire staple of spring, [have been canceled or postponed across the metro area]( and state because of the coronavirus. Garage sales aren’t banned per se by Gov. Tim Walz’s orders, but social gatherings outside immediate families are prohibited until restrictions are lifted. - 3M files 5 more lawsuits claiming fraud in sales of N95 masks: Minnesota antiviral mask maker 3M has [filed five more lawsuits in its campaign to stop price gouging and fraud]( in the sales of its N95 mask. The mask is the most effective protection against transmission of the unique COVID-19 coronavirus that spawned the current pandemic. - Minnesota pet care businesses feeling bite of downturn: Before the pandemic, the pet-service industry had just come off a successful decade, doubling in size from 2007 to 2017. With adoptions high during stay-at-home order, Twin Cities pet businesses hope owners will [resume their former habits as time goes on.]( - Minneapolis business owners confront limits of city's aid: The city received more than 1,200 applications for forgivable loans, but [400 will likely be disqualified because of their location.]( - Canada bans assault-style weapons after shooting rampage: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited numerous mass shootings in the country, including the killing of 22 people in Nova Scotia April 18 and 19. [He announced the ban of over 1,500 models and variants]( of assault-style firearms, including two weapons used by the gunman as well as the AR-15 and other weapons that have been used in a number of mass shootings in the United States  Watch this Golden retriever steals show during weatherman's broadcast from home: FOX 13 meteorologist Paul Dellegato just wanted to deliver the weather report, but [Brody the golden was not having it.](  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Meet the winners of the Star Tribune's limerick contest: Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised by the overwhelming response to the Star Tribune’s limerick contest, held in celebration of National Poetry Month in April. [Here are the best entries.]( - Where does "uff da" come from anyway? We have a lot of peculiar quips, from “ope” to Duck, Duck, Gray Duck, but "uff da" generates some of [the most confused looks from non-Minnesotans.]( - The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities this week: From buttermilk biscuits to Bolognese, [here’s a rundown of our dining diaries’ greatest hits]( over the past seven days.  Sports roundup - What if the Vikings hadn't made the Herschel Walker trade? The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl. But their fans are champions of the “what if …?” game. So much history has left fans wondering how things might have been different, if only one thing had changed. [This one could top them all.]( - Twins-Saints affiliation is possible, but there are hurdles: Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball are discussing an overhaul of the minor league system, and setting up geographically friendly affiliates is one goal. And [the Saints sliding into the Twins’ network of affiliates]( is a possibility. - NCAA unlikely to alter transfer rule for next season: Thursday’s NCAA transfer news gives Gophers men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino only [one option for two of his newcomers to play]( next season: waivers.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Worth a click In fast-warming Minnesota, scientists are trying to plant the forests of the future: The Washington Post takes a data-heavy deep dive into [how climate change is impacting the unique topography of Minnesota]( and what local scientists are doing in response.  From the archives May 1, 1948: Although the weather necessitated that they hold their May Day fete inside, these youngsters at Lowry Hill Nursery School in Minneapolis had fun anyway. Little Betty June Fossum, 6, was queen of the May. 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