University of Minnesota, state colleges bring back mask mandate for students and employees

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[Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - University of Minnesota, state colleges bring back mask mandate for students and employees: The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State public college systems are [bringing back mask mandates for students and employees]( just weeks before the start of the fall semester in hopes of protecting their campuses from the surging delta variant of COVID-19. - New projections show what the Twin Cities might look like in 2050: New projections from the Metropolitan Council describe [a metro area population that will be larger, more diverse and older than today](, a continuation of prior trends that have been transforming Minnesota as a whole. - Diversity goals rarely met on Minnesota construction projects: Minnesota spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually on construction, but the contractors building roads, transit and buildings rarely meet state goals for hiring a diverse workforce. In dozens of instances over the past two years, companies contracting with the state [did not employ a single woman or person of color as part of their construction team](. - Confusion surrounds Rondo Land Bridge project in St. Paul: ReConnect Rondo, the nonprofit behind the project to create a land bridge over Interstate 94 that would reconnect the historic Black neighborhood with new homes and businesses, said the project is in the early stage. Two months ago, a group of Rondo residents and descendants formed Preserve Rondo, a group of concerned community members [seeking more transparency and engagement related to the project.]( - Debate set to begin over $1T infrastructure bill: After much delay, senators unveiled a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, wrapping up days of painstaking work on the inches-thick bill and launching what is certain to be [a lengthy debate over President Joe Biden's big priority.]( - St. Paul woman shot husband, buried him in back yard, charges say: A St. Paul woman shot her ex-husband in the back of the head and buried his body in the yard under a newly constructed shed, where he was unearthed nearly a month later after a neighbor complained about a foul odor, [according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.]( - U.S. expands Afghan refugee program as Taliban violence rises: The Biden administration on Monday expanded its efforts to assist at-risk Afghan citizens flee Taliban violence as fighting intensifies ahead of the U.S. military pullout at the end of the month. The State Department said [it is widening the scope of Afghans eligible for refugee status in United States]( to include current and former employees of U.S.-based news organizations, U.S.-based aid and development agencies and other relief groups that receive U.S. funding. - Sherburne County set to crack down on vehicles parked in yards: Sherburne County residents could soon be required to get excess boats, ATVs and junk cars out of their yards as [the county considers cracking down on outdoor storage of vehicles.]( - A new study of 20 cities' downtown streets ranked St. Paul's among the worst: For years, city employees have been raising alarms about mounting repair needs costing millions of dollars. Now anewly released study produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Pittsburgh-based RoadBoticsof 20 cities' downtown streets — often some of the best maintained to accommodate heavy traffic in urban hubs — [ranked St. Paul among the worst.]( WATCH THIS Moose joins bicycle race in Colorado: [The large animal managed to outpace the cyclists]( for a good while. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - 5 changes at Minnesota's biggest music festival, We Fest: It's thanks in large part to Live Nation that We Fest was able to cobble together a strong lineup of headliners for Minnesota's longest-running and typically biggest music festival. Its new era begins Thursday with Florida Georgia Line and continues through Saturday with Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton. [Here are five changes to look for in 2021]( as the new We Fest crew aims for its comeback. - A hybrid Fringe Festival points a way to theater's future: [Minnesota's largest performing arts festival has gone hybrid](, with in-person and streaming shows. - Rehabbed 1950s Bloomington home by "two visionary women" highlights wood, warmth: Built in 1950, this midcentury modern home in Bloomington is one for the books. The home was designed by Elizabeth "Lisl" Close, a trailblazer in Minnesota modern architecture and an award-winning visionary. The wood- and window-filled house boasts some of Close's signature trademarks, but [it's also a lasting reminder of a unique collaboration.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Kirk Cousins' vaccination status is a nightmare for Mike Zimmer: The Vikings presumably will be without their starting quarterback and his possible heir apparent on Monday when they ramp up training with their first padded practice of camp. There are worse times for their COVID nightmare to play out — like, say, late December before a meaningful game — but news Saturday that Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond and Nate Stanley [would all be missing a night practice because of league health and safety protocols]( was still jarring. - Jade Carey's long road to the Olympics ends with gold in floor exercise: The 21-year-old American gymnast [soared to gold in the women's floor exercise]( Monday night, her powerful and precise routine capping a roller-coaster 24 hours in which she narrowly avoided serious injury during the vault finals when her right foot caught just as she was preparing her entry. [Simone BIles will return to competition in the balance beam final]( on Tuesday, a little over a week after stepping away from the meet to focus on her mental health. - Canada upsets U.S. women in Olympic soccer semifinals: Carli Lloyd, clutch in so many critical moments for the U.S. women's soccer team, failed to connect against Canada on Monday night and [the Americans won't play for a fifth Olympic gold medal.]( Lloyd's look in the 86th minute with the United States trailing by a goal hit the crossbar as Canada won 1-0 and dropped the Americans into the bronze medal match. It is the second straight Olympics that the U.S. failed to reach the gold medal game. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Army to memorialize Black soldier lynched on base 80 years ago: "Felix Hall was 18 years old when he left home in Millbrook, Ala., to join other young men preparing to serve in World War II. But instead of fighting in the Pacific, as his all-Black regiment would do with distinction, the Army private was abducted, bound at the hands and ankles, and lynched in a wooded ravine. His killers were never brought to justice. On Tuesday, more than 80 years after Hall's death, officials at Fort Benning will unveil a memorial honoring his life and service, and formally acknowledge the act of racial violence that happened on base and under the Army's watch," [reports Alexa Mills for the Washington Post.]( TRIVIA WINNER Congratulations to Jonathan Feiner! Jonathan was randomly selected from among the many readers who correctly answered that Wyoming is the state that the late senator Mike Enzi formerly represented. He wins a $15 gift card. Talkers Trivia will be taking a brief hiatus for the next two weeks while your regular newsletter scribe is on vacation, but it will return Aug. 20. FROM THE ARCHIVES Aug. 2, 2017: Emergency workers responded to a natural gas explosion at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis that left two dead and demolished a portion of the school. (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.](