Walz to issue new orders for bars, restaurants and gatherings to limit COVID-19 spread

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Walz to issue new orders for bars, restaurants and gatherings to limit COVID-19 spread: Gov. Tim Walz will respond to the surging COVID-19 pandemic with [measures that close bars and restaurants at 10 p.m.]( and restrict the sizes of weddings, funerals and indoor and outdoor gatherings. Data indicate more outbreaks later in the evening as people become less cautious. - Twin Cities area in line for 4 to 7 inches of snow today: Winter is expected to roar back into Minnesota on Tuesday with [a storm that will bring heavy snow]( to the Twin Cities and parts of south-central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. - Barr tells Justice Department to investigate election fraud claims if they exist: Attorney General William Barr has [authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue]( “substantial allegations” of voting irregularities, if they exist, before the 2020 presidential election is certified, despite no evidence of widespread fraud. Jones Day is the most prominent firm representing President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as they prepare to wage a legal war challenging the results of the election. Some senior lawyers at Jones Day say they are [worried that the firm is advancing arguments that lack evidence]( and may be helping Trump and his allies undermine the integrity of American elections, - Supreme Court appears likely to leave "Obamacare" mostly in place: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, among the conservative justices, appeared in two hours of arguments to be [unwilling to strike down the entire law]( — a long-held Republican goal that has repeatedly failed in Congress and the courts — even if they were to find the law's now-toothless mandate for obtaining health insurance to be unconstitutional. - Minneapolis to consider bringing in outside police officers amid shortage: Minneapolis officials are considering [bringing in officers from other jurisdictions to help the city’s police department]( as they face a wave of violent crime and an officer shortage. - GOP unveils $1.4T spending bill amid post-election turmoil: The GOP-drafted measure contains funding for President Donald Trump's border wall and other provisions opposed by Democrats, but top leaders in both parties want to try to [mount a drive to enact the unfinished spending bills]( — which, along with a separate COVID-19 relief effort and annual defense policy bill, represent the bulk of Capitol Hill's unfinished business for the year. - Woman raped after being taken to St. Cloud park with 5 strangers, charges say: A woman left a downtown St. Cloud bar, was taken to a nearby park in a car with five strangers and sexually assaulted by two of the men, [according to charges.]( - Farm purchase would give Hmong farmers a long-term place to grow in Dakota County: An association representing Hmong farmers is [planning to buy 155 acres in Dakota County](, a monumental land purchase for a group that wants to ensure the metro area’s pioneering small farmers have a place to grow fruits and vegetables for years to come.  Watch this "Jeopardy!" pays tribute to Alex Trebek with poignant message: “Jeopardy!” paid tribute to Alex Trebek on Monday in a poignant message that [celebrated the show's longtime, unflappable host of 37 years.]( CORRECTION: Monday's edition of Talkers did not include a link to the "Watch this" video showing a soccer player's back-heel goal. [You can watch it here.](  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Semisonic, New Standards bassist John Munson on the mend from a stroke: One of the Twin Cities’ most ubiquitous and ebullient musicians, John Munson of Semisonic and New Standards fame [suffered a stroke late last week]( but is already on the rebound and pledging more music before the end of year. - More than 2,000 Minnesotans are showcases in Minneapolis Institute of Art's "Foot in the Door": MIA's giant once-in-a-decade exhibit [welcomes anyone in the state to submit pieces for display](, as long as it's no bigger than one foot in any direction. - "Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel" exhibition coming to Mall of America: The finger of God reaches out to a reclining Adam in Rome’s Sistine Chapel, a painting by Michelangelo that people travel thousands of miles to see. With coronavirus travel restrictions, that finger has been out of reach. But beginning Friday, [you can see it up close at the Mall of America.](  Sports roundup - NBA returning on Dec. 22 for a 72-game season: The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced Monday night that they’ve struck a deal on rules for this coming season, setting the stage for what will be a frenzied few weeks before games resume. [But there are countless issues to work out](, such as all the health and safety protocols now that games won't be played in the safety of a bubble and teams will be traveling to various cities once again. - Vikings' offensive line gives an inch so Dalvin Cook can pile up yards: The Gophers men’s basketball team has [paused team activities indefinitely]( after dealing with a positive COVID-19 case, the team confirmed Tuesday. - Gophers men's basketball team pauses workouts because of COVID-19: The Gophers were 0-2 to start the season, and Boye Mafe started this past Saturday’s 41-14 romp at Illinois. He leads the Big Ten with 3.5 sacks and is fourth on the team with 12 tackles. [But coach P.J. Fleck has wanted to see more.](  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Worth a click Why is "Saturday Night Live" suddenly booking so many older rock bands? "For a show that in recent years has leaned heavily on very current pop, hip-hop, R&B and alternative, it’s a head-spinning shift of genre and generations," [reports Variety's Jem Aswad.](  From the archives Nov. 10, 2017: Skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes at Afton Alps in the first hours of the ski season. (Photo: Glen Stubbe/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.](