University of Minnesota will not mandate vaccinations for students, staff in the fall

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - University of Minnesota will not mandate vaccinations for students, staff in the fall: The University of Minnesota [will not require COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and staff]( before returning in the fall at its five statewide campuses. U President Joan Gabel announced the decision in an e-mail Monday and included an explanation while at the same time encouraging vaccinations. - Woman killed at protest was committed to justice, family says: A woman who died after a driver slammed into a parked car used to block streets for protesters in Uptown late Sunday was [remembered by family as a person committed to social justice]( and "constantly sacrificing herself" for others. The driver who crashed into the parked car killed 31-year-old Deona M. Knajdek, of Minneapolis, and injured at least two others who had gathered at W. Lake Street and S. Girard Avenue, near where Winston Boogie Smith Jr. was fatally shot by law enforcement on June 3 during an attempt by a U.S. Marshals Service task force to arrest him in a parking ramp. - "Hate is what killed him," says husband of man fatally struck by Brooklyn Park neighbor: Brooklyn Park police said Monday that [they believe a man intentionally struck his neighbor with his car](, killing him and fleeing the scene. Family members of the victim identified him on social media as Paul Pfeifer. Police apprehended the driver after they tracked the car to a nearby house later that night, according to Mark Bruley, deputy chief. The department is pursuing homicide charges, which could come as soon as Tuesday. - Trump pressed Justice Department to back false claims of election fraud: Emails turned over by the Justice Department to investigators on the House Oversight Committee and obtained by the New York Times show how [Trump pressured former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen to put the power of the department behind lawsuits]( that had already failed to try to prove his false claims that extensive voter fraud had affected the election results. - CDC study finds fewer pregnant women receiving COVID-19 vaccine: Pregnant women are [getting vaccinated against the coronavirus at a lower rate]( than their nonpregnant peers, according to a new report released Tuesday, and the uptake is particularly low among those age 18 to 24 as well as Black and Hispanic women. The disparity suggests that improved outreach to health care providers and pregnant women could boost vaccine confidence and coverage, health officials say. - Maplewood Mall owner files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: Ohio-based Washington Prime Group (WPG), which owns both Maplewood Mall and the Northtown Mall in Blaine,[has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]( after reaching a debt restructuring agreement with most of its creditors. - Biden arrives in Geneva for highly anticipated Putin meeting: Buoyed by days of partnership-building sessions with America's democratic allies, Joe Biden arrived in Geneva on Tuesday for the most-watched and tensest part of his first European tour as president — [talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin](. - Data shows Metro Transit use devastated by pandemic: Some 7.6 million people took trains, buses, Metro Mobility, Transit Link and vanpool service between January and March,[a 56% decline when compared with 17.3 million passengers]( in the same period in 2020 — just before the coronavirus firmly took hold. The most popular mode of transit was local bus service and light rail, while Northstar commuter rail and express bus routes suffered the most as thousands of people continued to work from home. - Reward offered to find teen who tried to pull woman off popular trail in Hopkins: Authorities in Hopkins are [offering a $1,000 reward in hopes of catching the teenager who groped a woman]( walking on a sidewalk and then attempted to pull her off a popular trail. - Delay in federal aid "grows more dire" for Minnesota entertainment venues: First came the sudden halt to every facet of their business. Then they spent eight months lobbying Congress for help. Then the relief applications website crashed for almost a month. Now, 15 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and two months since their applicationsfinally went through, more than 100 nightclubs, concert halls, theaters and promotional companies across Minnesota are [still waiting for grant money promised to them]( in a COVID-19 relief package Congress passed in December. WATCH THIS Car swallowed by sinkhole after heavy rains in Mumbai: Fortunately, no one was inside the Hyundai Venue at the time. The car's owner, a 67-year-old doctor, filmed the incident in a housing complex parking lot, [according the Indian Express.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - She brought a Minnesota man's 250-year-old family bible back to life: Bailey Kinsky, 33, is among a new generation of book conservators, a profession steeped in art and science. They are patient, persnickety. More and more, they're fielding calls about family Bibles. But this one, from 1767, is rare. Since Kinsky launched her business in 2019, [it's the oldest book she's taken in.]( - Chef Yia Vang bringing family dining to St. Paul Farmers Market: Popular chef Yia Vang is taking his favorite parts of family dinners and [teaming up with area chefs to create a series of unique dining experiences]( at the St. Paul Farmers Market. The first dinner, on June 25, is a collaboration with Gustavo Romero ofNixta Tortilleriain Minneapolis. - Cupcakes and cannoli at Richfield's newest bakery at the Hub: Baker Ebony Turner is [focusing on sweets at her just-opened Dessertopia.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson reaches deal to return to Vikings: Richardson, 30, [was released by the Browns in April]( to save cap space after playing two years into a three-year deal he signed upon leaving Minnesota in 2018. - Buxton back with Twins, but Baldelli wasn't ready to play him Monday: Byron Buxton said he understood the manager's call, but after missing 35 games and a three-game rehab stint in St. Paul, [it's getting hard to wait.]( - Lakeville's Smith tops backstroke qualifiers at Olympic trials; Blaine's Stadden makes finals: Regan Smith is the top qualifier after [posting a U.S. open record time of 57.92 seconds in the semifinals](. Blaine's Isabelle Stadden also is among eight women who will swim in the finals of the 100 backstroke tonight at CHI Health Center. Stadden's time of 58.99 was a personal best and tied for fourth-fastest in the semifinals. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Winners and losers of the work-from-home revolution: High-income workers at highly profitable companies will benefit greatly. Downtown landlords won't, [writes Derek Thompson for the Atlantic.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES June 15, 2014: Thousands of festival-goers walk to and from Water Power Park on a glorious day during the annual Stone Arch Bridge Festival in downtown Minneapolis. 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