City workers clear George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - City workers clear George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis: City crews on Thursday [removed a large portion of the sprawling memorial]( at the south Minneapolis intersection where George Floyd was killed by police more than a year ago. While the task was complete in less than four hours, protesters who have occupied the intersection weren't ready to yield. They worked to build new barricades along the streets leading to the square, using a commercial dumpster, furniture, parked vans and other materials. The center of the intersection was occupied by about 150 people. No traffic was coming through. [Here's a timeline of events at George Floyd Square.]( - Minneapolis illegally withholding hundreds of police misconduct files, lawsuit alleges: A group that advocates for government transparency says [Minneapolis is illegally withholding hundreds of police misconduct records](, some for serious wrongdoing by officers, through a linguistic loophole known as "coaching." - Chauvin attorney argues for probation instead of prison time: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin should receive probation instead of prison time for murdering George Floyd because he has no criminal history, has a strong support network and would likely be targeted for violence in prison, [his attorney argued in a new court filing.]( The Minnesota Attorney General's Office, which prosecuted Chauvin, alsofiled a memorandumWednesday arguing for a 30-year prison term. - Student COVID-19 cases plummet in Minnesota after spring wave: [Coronavirus infections have dropped sharply among pre-K-12 students]( from more than 1,000 per week in April to 369 in the week ending May 22, according to the latest weekly pandemic report released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health. The decline matches other signs of progress in Minnesota, where the positivity rate of recent COVID-19 diagnostic testing dropped to 3.1% — the lowest rate on record in the pandemic. - Biden announces international COVID-19 vaccine sharing plan: The U.S. will [donate 75% of its unused COVID-19 vaccines]( to the U.N.-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing program, President Joe Biden announced Thursday. The administration says 25% will be kept in reserve for emergencies and for the U.S. to share directly with allies and partners. - Stearns County bars open despite owner's fight with state over pandemic restrictions: Despite an ongoing lawsuit over a bar owner's plans to open during the in-person dining shutdown last May, [doors are still open at multiple Shady's sites]( in central Minnesota. - General Mills cuts jobs, restructures to prepare for post-pandemic changes: The Golden Valley-based food maker at the end of May finished its 2021 fiscal year, which was on pace to be one of its best for sales after people ate more of its cereals, flour, baking mixes and other products due to the pandemic's at-home lifestyle. [But that demand is expected to slow or decline as the pandemic ends.]( - Retirement trends show that work just might not be worth it: Recessions usually lead to more retirements, when the prospects don't look great for getting a new job or launching a new business that paid as well as the one that might have disappeared in the downturn, [writes Lee Schafer.]( WATCH THIS Turns out Lamborghinis don't make great grills: It's unclear why this man in China was trying to cook a skewer of meat using the exhaust of a parked Lambo Aventador — which retails in the upper six figures — but [the car's owner surely regretted it when the engine overheated.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Minneapolis teacher reveals how he won the "Jeopardy!" Tournament of Champions: [Sam Kavanaugh won the "Jeopardy!" Tournament of Champions in mid-April](, but he couldn't share his secret with the world until the final-round episode aired the Friday leading into Memorial Day weekend. Coincidentally, that's the same day the Minneapolis-based substitute teacher received his prize — a $250,000 check — in the mail. - 15 fall concerts in Minnesota to score tickets to right now: St. Vincent, Guns N' Roses and Arlo Parks are [among the recently announced or rescheduled shows]( creating a rush in September and beyond. - Stephen King explains why his latest TV project is his favorite story ever: Many celebrated novelists have flamed out in Hollywood. Perhaps that's why Stephen King has largely avoided adapting his own work for the screen. But when it came to "Lisey's Story," an eight-part series now streaming on Apple Plus, [the Master of Horror refused to be scared off.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Unending recruiting battles ahead as we enter transfer portal era: Fail to lure top recruits out of high school? Be patient, coach. You might woo them on the second or third time around as the traditional recruiting model has suddenly become obsolete, [writes Chip Scoggins.]( - McKinnie, other ex-Vikings "legends" are promoting another Lake Minnetonka cruise: One would imagine [this event will be a little different than the notorious cruise from 2005]( that made headlines during the team's bye week. - Twins' next outfielder could be infielder Nick Gordon: Backup infielder Nick Gordon took some fly balls in Baltimore and [could be an outfield stopgap]( because of the team's growing list of injured players. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Have you always wanted to live in a water tower? Well, now's your chance, assuming you are willing to pony up nearly $5 million for [this converted water tower house]( just a stone's throw from the ocean in Seal Beach, Calif. FROM THE ARCHIVES June 3, 2018: Starr Olson clowns around with Royal Rex, the dinosaur she was leading around the Family Fun District at the Grand Old Day celebration in St. Paul. (Photo: Jeff Wheeler/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 © 2021 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](