Days before Chauvin trial, judge’s third-degree murder charge decision overturned

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Days before Chauvin trial, judge's third-degree murder charge decision overturned: The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Friday that [a trial judge was wrong to refuse reinstating third-degree murder]( against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is scheduled to be tried next week in the killing of George Floyd. The ruling, which sends the case back to Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill, comes as Chauvin prepares to go on trial next Monday on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter, and four days after the Court of Appeals heard arguments on the issue. It's unclear, what, if any impact the ruling could have on the trial's start date. [Here is a look at the charges against Chauvin]( and what prosecutors need to prove in order to convict. - Virus vaccine inequities found by race, ethnicity in Minnesota: COVID-19 vaccinations for Minnesota's Black, Hispanic and Asian populations lag behind shots given to the state's white population, [according to data released Friday.]( It is the first time that state officials have released racial and ethnic data on vaccinations, joining 41 other states that have already made the information available. Some Minnesota family caregivers are [reporting that they were turned away from appointments]( to receive the COVID-19 vaccine despite being eligible to receive it under state guidelines. - Dems trim jobless benefits, nix minimum wage hike as Senate debates virus relief bill: [Democrats agreed Friday to pare back emergency jobless benefits]( but extend them for an extra month, bidding to solidify support as the Senate approached a voting marathon on a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The deal came as the chamber worked toward approving a final version of the massive package, probably over the weekend, of President Joe Biden's top legislative priority. That would give the House time to approve the legislation and whisk it to Biden for his signature. - Trump State Department aide charged with assault at U.S. Capitol: A former State Department aide in President Donald Trump's administration [has been charged with participating in the deadly siege]( at the Capitol and assaulting officers who were trying to guard the building, court papers show. It's the first known case to be brought against a Trump appointee in the Jan. 6 insurrection, which led to Trump's historic second impeachment. - Rural Minnesota residents fight gun range in Meeker County: The Eden Valley Sportsman's Club is ready to open a full-service shooting range across the road from a home. It includes a pistol range as well as trapshooting. But it's the rifle range that has the homeowners upset. [Their house is only about 125 yards from the end of the range.]( - Two arrested after crash, search in Bloomington: Two suspects who fled a crash scene in Bloomington early Friday and set off [a search that included officers surrounding a Goodwill store]( have been arrested and roads in the area reopened. - Wisconsin teen convicted in Slender Man case seeking release: One of the teens convicted of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional internet horror character Slender Man is expected to [ask for release from a Wisconsin mental health facility.]( - Lake Superior ice disappears just as fast as it formed: After open water lingered well into February following a warm start to winter, Lake Superior was about 50% covered with ice on Feb. 19, following the polar vortex that kept temperatures below zero across the region. In the warm weeks since, ice has retreated from the North Shore, and [the sound of waves lapping at Canal Park has returned.]( - North Dakota House expels lawmaker accused of misconduct: The North Dakota House on Thursday voted to expel a lawmaker accused of threatening and sexually harassing women at the Capitol, [the first time in state history a lawmaker has been expelled.]( HEY, LOOK AT THIS "Hovering ship" photographed off the coast of England: A rare optical illusion that is more frequently seen in the Arctic caused [this ship to appear as though it were floating above the ocean]( near Falmouth in the U.K., the BBC reports. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - The 5 best things our food writers ate this week: From French crullers to chicken pot pie, [here's a rundown of the greatest hits]( from their dining diaries over the past seven days. - Here are three dozen Twin Cities restaurant patios for soaking up the warm weekend: Grab a mask and [take advantage of the pre-spring weather]( — but be sure to call ahead to confirm availability. - Why did Minneapolis tear down it's biggest train station? Locatedbeside the Mississippi Riveron Hennepin Avenue, the Great Northern Depot was [a de facto welcome mat for the city for many years.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - After benching Parise, Wild's path will become clearer tonight: Will the decision to make the veteran a healthy scratch on Wednesday make the Wild stronger or [will Minnesota go in the other direction?]( - Kevin Garnett won't buy the Wolves after all: Kevin Garnett posted on Instagram that he won't be involved in any sale of his former team. But Wolves (and Star Tribune) owner Glen Taylor countered that [none of the 10 groups who have made bids involve the former Wolves star.]( - After battling injuries, U's Curry says he's done playing when season ends: Gophers big man Eric Curry gave this season [one last shot after an injury-plagued career](. Curry will be honored with other seniors Saturday vs. Rutgers. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Even with vaccines, travel planning remains complicated: "Welcome to the next phase of travel: the post-vaccine era. Or maybe the mid-vaccine era is more accurate. Whatever you call it, planning couldn't be more confusing," [reports Lauren Sloss for the New York Times.]( TALKERS TRIVIA Want to win a $15 gift card of your choice? It's Friday, so that means it's time for another trivia question. The correct answer to this question 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 Sunday at 11:59 p.m. A winner will be selected at random from the correct responses. That lucky reader will receive a $15 card of their choice from one of several retailers — Best Buy, Target, Holiday or Menards — as well as a shout-out in Monday's newsletter. Here is this week's question: What was the top winning entry in MnDOT's "Name a Snowplow" contest? Good luck! FROM THE ARCHIVES March 5, 1990: Marcenia Toni Stone Alberga, the first woman to play professional baseball, speaks to kids at Hayes Elementary School in Fridley. Alberga's career began in 1949 when she was signed to a $12,000-a-year contract to play with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and continued until the mid-1950s. Mayor Jim Scheibel declared March 6 to be "Marcenia Toni Stone Alberga Day" in her hometown of St. Paul. 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