Walz hints "more surgical" COVID-19 measures coming in Minnesota

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Walz hints "more surgical" COVID-19 measures coming in Minnesota: Gov. Tim Walz on Monday said new state strategies are needed against a fast-growing COVID-19 pandemic and [hinted at "more surgical" restrictions]( that target active spreaders of the infectious disease as well as mobile device tracking to alert people when they have been exposed to the virus. The governor said he would be speaking with lawmakers about his plans and would be unveiling at least some of them on Tuesday. We are [tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota here.]( - Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine appears to be is 90% effective: Pfizer said Monday that an early peek at the data on its coronavirus vaccine suggests the shots may be [a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19](, putting the company on track to apply later this month for emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Whenever any vaccine arrives, initial supplies will be scarce and rationed, with priority likely to be given to health care workers and others on the front lines. - Trump faces pressure to work with Biden team on transition: The General Services Administration is tasked with formally recognizing Joe Biden as president-elect, which begins the transition. But the agency's Trump-appointed administrator, Emily Murphy, has not started the process and has given no guidance on when she will do so. That lack of clarity is fueling questions about whether President Donald Trump, who has not publicly recognized Biden's victory and has falsely claimed the election was stolen, [will impede Democrats as they establish a government.]( The transition team [unveiled members of the president-elect's coronavirus working group]( tasked with developing his administration's pandemic response — something Biden says he wants to put in motion as soon as he takes office in January. - Quarantined Minnesota health care workers feel pressure to return to work early: As COVID-19 cases in Minnesota continue to surge, some Minnesota hospitals and health care providers are [asking employees with “higher-risk” exposure to the disease to return to work]( before their quarantines end. The requests are forcing health care workers to choose between following the state guidance of quarantining for 14 days after virus exposure or going back to the job sooner than that. State officials say isolating for two weeks is highly recommended, but voluntary. - Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender won't seek re-election: Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said Sunday that [she will not seek re-election](, capping a tumultuous several months in which the council — and her leadership of it — came under intense scrutiny for their calls to end the Minneapolis Police Department. In an e-mail to her supporters, Bender, 42, said she made the decision “well before multiple crises hit our city.” - Trump fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper after less than 2 years: It is the first time in the modern era that a president seeking reelection has [removed his Pentagon chief after Election Day.]( - Man fatally shot in Uptown Minneapolis during apparent robbery attempt: [A young man was fatally shot in his vehicle]( Sunday night in the heart of Uptown by a would-be robber, authorities said. No arrests have been announced in what is the city’s 74th homicide of the year. - Coon Rapids liquor store owner charged with selling drugs that killed man: A Coon Rapids liquor store owner [sold potent opioids out of his business]( that sent a man into a fatal overdose hours later, according to prosecutors. John L. Varhol, 58, was charged in Anoka County District Court last week with third-degree murder in connection with the death in May of 34-year-old Ryan N. Weber, of Blaine. - GM recalls 217,000 vehicles to fix leak that can stop travel: General Motors is [recalling more than 217,000 cars and SUVs]( in the U.S. and Canada because transmission oil can leak, causing them to stop moving or possibly catch fire.  Watch this Austrian soccer player scores with crazy back-heel kick: Valentino Lazaro of Borussia Mönchengladbach baffled defenders with this bizarre, sort of forward bicycle kick yesterday.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Alex Trebek, long-running "Jeopardy!" host, dies at 80: Trebek, who presided over the beloved quiz show "Jeopardy!" for more than 30 years with dapper charm and a touch of schoolmaster strictness, [died Sunday of pancreatic cancer.]( - Determined Twin Cities chef is cooking outside his not-yet-open restaurant: Chef Jason Sawicki is hard at work inside a food truck that’s parked in the property’s parking lot in northeast Minneapolis, giving the neighborhood [a preview of the poultry-forward brand of cooking]( that he hopes to emphasize when Fare Game opens. - 5 tips for a cozier Zoom Thanksgiving: From shared menus to organized games and discussions, [some planning and coordination can go a long way.](  Sports roundup - Deer hunter bags an alligator outside Twin Cities: A Twin Cities hunter not only got his deer on the season's opening weekend in Minnesota, he also got more bang with his buck when [he bagged an alligator minutes later.]( A Minneapolis angler is winning raves for pulling in a whopper of a fish from Bde Maka Ska. Josh Dufresne was fishing on the lake Wednesday, when [he caught a 51-inch muskie.]( - Rashod Bateman could be Gophers' highest draft pick since Carl Eller: If Bateman keeps going on his current trajectory and is, indeed, picked as high as his potential suggests, then [he will make a certain amount of Gophers history.]( - Gophers men's hockey team picked by coaches to win the Big Ten: The Gophers men's hockey team will begin the 2020-21 season with a target on its back. Big Ten coaches on Monday named the Gophers as [their preseason pick to win the conference championship](.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Worth a click What the pandemic's digital nomads didn't prepare for: "They moved to exotic locales to work through the pandemic in style. But now tax trouble, breakups and COVID guilt are setting in," [reports Erin Griffith for the New York Times.](  From the archives Nov. 9, 2016: Ninety-three-year-old Peggy Gruner of Eau Claire, Wis., crossed a zipline ride off her bucket list in the Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America in Bloomington. (Photo: David Joles/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.](