Crews clearing memorial garden near Uptown intersection where Winston Smith was killed

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Crews clearing memorial garden near Uptown intersection where Winston Smith was killed: Crews on Wednesday morning [began removing a garden in the Uptown area of Minneapolis]( where protesters have gathered for weeks following the shooting of Winston Smith. On Wednesday, the owners of private property where a community garden was established announced they were clearing the area because continued violent acts, arson and makeshift barriers blocking access to Uptown residents and businesses has created an "unsustainable and unhealthy situation." - Minnesota seeks dismissal of legal challenge to new police standards: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office is [asking a judge to dismiss a recent legal challenge]( to the state's new police use-of-force standards passed last year after George Floyd's killing. Four law enforcement lobbying groupssued the state and Gov. Tim Walz earlier this month, alleging that a 2020 law change governing police use of force is unconstitutional because it compels officers to forfeit their rights to refuse testimony against themselves in deadly force cases. - DFL Rep. John Thompson's out-of-state license draws criticism: Minnesota Rep. John Thompson's admission that he's held an out-of-state driver's license for years led a state police association on Tuesday to ask the Wisconsin attorney general to pursue charges against him, and it led one GOP senator to question the process for verifying where legislators live. The Democrat, who represents part of St. Paul's East Side, has [faced sharp scrutiny related to a traffic stop on July 4]( and the subsequent discovery that he has a Wisconsin driver's license. St. Paul police released body camera footage Tuesday of the traffic stop, during which the state legislator — who has been pushing at the Capitol to end such low-level stops — told the officer that he was pulled over for "driving while Black." - COVID-19 levels remain lower in Minnesota despite U.S. uptick: Minnesota has identified 129 infections with the delta variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it so far [has not fueled an increase in pandemic activity here]( like is occurring this summer in Missouri and Southern states. - Mankato will not be downgraded to "micropolitan" status: [Mankato will keep its status as a metropolitan statistical area]( (MSA), as the Biden administration has reversed a plan to downgrade Mankato and 143 other U.S. cities to "micropolitan" areas. The Grand Forks, N.D., and East Grand Forks, Minn., area also stood to lose its MSA status under the proposal. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., led resistance to the plan, rounding up 21 other senators to express concerns about the damage it could cause to cities that often are the largest communities in rural areas. - U.S. overdose deaths hit record 93,000 last year: [Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year]( in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday. That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to a 29% increase. - Dayton's Project lender looks to sell the debt: The financing of the biggest remodel in downtown Minneapolis may now be up for grabs. In the latest chapter in the battle brewing over the repurposed Dayton's Project on Nicollet Mall, a key lender of the project [wants to auction off the loan to a new owner on Aug. 23](, a move the project's developer along with the city of Minneapolis and downtown boosters plan to fight in court. - Man pleads guilty to spray-painting swastika, anti-Islam messages on Moorhead mosque: Benjamin S. Enderle, 22, of Moorhead, [has agreed to plead guilty to felony harassment]( in connection with the desecration on April 24 of the Moorhead-Fargo Islamic Community Center with messages that included "Death to Islam," a swastika, a racial slur and other offensive graffiti. A window also was broken. - Brooklyn Park should focus on violence prevention, police reform, report finds: Brooklyn Park should focus on stopping violence before it happens and figuring out where changes might be needed in its police department, [according to a newreportfrom the St. Paul-based Wilder Foundation](. The 115-page "Brooklyn Park: Improving Safety and Policing" report, completed over six months and presented to the City Council on Monday, also looked at root causes of violence and overall public safety in the north metro suburb. - Duluth Central High to be sold for $7.4M: The former Duluth Central High School, which last graduated a class in 2011, [is finally set to be sold for $7.4 million](, about half its original asking price from a decade ago. Saturday Properties plans a mix of housing units on the 55-acre property. WATCH THIS Utah wildlife officials drop thousands of fish into a lake from a plane: This effort to restock inaccessible mountain lakes with trout [gives a new meaning to "flying fish."]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Minneapolis writer rubs shoulders with Hollywood royalty at Cannes Film Festival: Minneapolis writer Jennifer Vogel shook hands with Spike Lee, locked eyes with Oliver Stone, swam in the Mediterranean three days in a row, stayed at the $1,000-a-night Hotel Martinez (she wasn't paying) and basked in a lengthy standing ovation. So, all in all, Vogel's trip to the Cannes Film Festival this week was a pretty good one. Her memoir "Flim-Flam Man: The True Story of My Father's Counterfeit Life" [inspired Sean Penn's in-competition movie "Flag Day."]( - 84-year-old Deephaven painter Keith Wilcock wants to spread "a jolt of joy" with art collection: Works from his former Wilcock Gallery in Excelsior [are for sale online.]( - Our critics' guide to what to watch (and avoid): Here's a rundown of [the buzziest shows and movies to watch on TV this weekend](. SPORTS ROUNDUP - Wild wanted both Parise and Suter gone: "For the Wild to make this move, to ditch two still-valuable players while the team's stated intention is to win as much and as soon as possible, team management really got sick of these guys," [writes Jim Souhan.]( - Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore meet with NBA Finance Committee on Wolves sale: Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore [met with the NBA's Finance Committee this week]( as part of the next step to attain league approval of their first 20% purchase of the Timberwolves, the first in multiple purchases over the next few years that would make Rodriguez and Lore controlling owners of the team, league sources said. - Former Twins All-Stars have fond memories of their time with Minnesota: Five former Twins players were [selected for baseball's summer showcase in Denver.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Need to renew your passport? Good luck. "An appointment to renew or obtain a passport is an elusive proposition these days, as those who let their documents lapse during the pandemic are finding out," [writes Debra Kamin for the New York Times.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES July 14, 2017: Levi Sherwood performed a superman seat-grab backflip during his first run in the motocross freestyle competition at the X Games at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sherwood won the gold in the event. (Photo: Aaron Lavinsky/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.](