Today could feel like the hottest day of the year in the Twin Cities

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Today could feel like the hottest day of the year in the Twin Cities: [A combination of high heat and humidity]( will make Wednesday feel like the hottest day of the year, even though clouds and lingering showers kept temperatures down this morning. - 14 Minnesota counties under new federal mask recommendation: State health and education officials are [reviewing a new federal mask-wearing recommendation for all people](, regardless of vaccination status, in K-12 schools and counties with high or substantial levels of viral transmission. The guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday was in response to a COVID-19 wave fueled by the delta variant of the coronavirus that has caused widespread infections in other states and appears to be emerging in Minnesota. - Minnesota virus hospitalizations double in two weeks: COVID-19 hospitalizations now exceed 200 in Minnesota, [doubling over the last two weeks]( amid concerns over a coronavirus delta variant and its threat to unvaccinated people. While more than 3 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Minnesota, that still leaves a third of the eligible 12 and older population unprotected and at risk for severe illness. - Residents rally around Cold Spring family after SUV crashed into home: Cold Spring resident Andrea Robinson has complained for months about the harassment her family has endured from classmates and neighbors because her husband and some of her children are Black. It took a stolen car crashing into their house on Saturday to [finally catch the attention of city officials.]( - Capitol police testimony blunts GOP's law-and-order message: Heading into the 2022 midterms, the Republican Party is seeking political advantage in Americans' concern about rising crime nationwide. But the police testimony at Tuesday's [debut hearing of the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection]( could undercut that effort. It highlighted the GOP's effort to brush past the violence unleashed by a mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters that endangered hundreds of officers. - Senate GOP ready to move forward on $1T infrastructure bill: Senate Republicans negotiating a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Democrats said Wednesday [they have reached agreement on the major outstanding issues]( and are ready to vote to take up the bill. Lead negotiator Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, made the announcement at the Capitol, flanked by four other GOP senators that have been in talks with Democrats and the White House on the bipartisan package. A test vote is possible later Wednesday. - Family of boy thrown from balcony sues Mall of America: Mall security failed to thoroughly investigate the boy's attacker when he displayed suspicious activity at the mall the day before the attack, [the lawsuit says.]( - St. Paul police press search for thief after SUV found with dead dog inside: The Subaru Outback, its engine running, [was stolen at 4:45 p.m. Saturday while parked outside a restaurant]( near Payne and Sims avenues as the driver was picking up food. Inside was GoGo, a German shepherd-husky mix. - 2 paramedics at Winston Smith shooting barred from meeting with BCA, union says: The labor union representing HCMC's paramedics and emergency medical technicians alleged that two of its members were [barred by management Tuesday from being interviewed by state investigators]( after the fatal shooting of Winston Smith early last month in Uptown Minneapolis. Management's actions were condemned Tuesday in a statement by Sam Erickson, vice president of the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE). - With labor shortage, why are so many older workers unemployed for so long? Older workers as a group are [recovering at a much slower rate]( than the rest of the working population. WATCH THIS Swimmer Lydia Jacoby's hometown completely freaks out as she wins gold medal: It looks like a significant portion of the population of Seward, Alaska, was present in a gymnasium to watch their hometown star win the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, and [they appropriately went bananas when she crossed the finish line.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - A simple step can help thwart phone hackers: At a time of widespread digital insecurity it turns out that the oldest and simplest computer fix there is — turning a device off then back on again — [can thwart hackers from stealing information from smartphones](. - These two Twin Cities area restaurants are on the move: Zoe's Bakery has new Eat Street digs and Soul Bowl is [expanding to the suburbs.]( - Bon Iver to headline Line 3 protest concert in Duluth: A renewed effort to stop construction of Canadian oil company Enbridge's Line 3 in northern Minnesota [will bring a pipeline of musicians to Duluth's Bayfront Festival Park]( for an all-star concert Aug. 18 led by Wisconsin's Grammy-winning indie-rock favorites Bon Iver. SPORTS ROUNDUP - Alex Goligoski coming home to sign with Wild, Suter joining Dallas: [The Wild is starting to fill out its defense.]( Soon after NHL free agency opened on Wednesday morning, the team signed Alex Goligoski to a one-year, $5 million contract. Goligoski, who is from Grand Rapids and played three seasons with the Gophers, spent the last five years with the Coyotes. - Simone Biles said she got the "twisties." What does that mean? When Simone Biles pushed off the vaulting table Tuesday, she entered a terrifying world of uncertainty. In the Olympic team final, Biles planned to perform a 2½-twisting vault, but her mind chose to stall after just 1½ twists instead. Biles, who subsequently [withdrew from the team competition and then the all-around final]( a day later, described what went wrong during that vault as "having a little bit of the twisties." The cute-sounding term, well-known in the gymnastics community, [describes a frightening predicament that can be very dangerous.]( - Suddenly in Olympics' brightest spotlight, Suni Lee sees golden opportunity: Set your alarms — [St. Paul's rising star likely is America's best hope for gymnastics all-around gold]( early Thursday morning with Simone Biles out. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK How the government learned to waste your time: The Atlantic's Annie Lowrey asks why so much government bureaucracy is left to average citizens in what [she calls the "time tax."]( FROM THE ARCHIVES July 28, 2015: After a long hiatus from the road, country superstar Shania Twain brought her Rock This Country Tour to Target Center in Minneapolis. (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.](