Minnesota Supreme Court overturns ex-Minneapolis officer Mohamed Noor's third-degree murder conviction

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Minnesota Supreme Court overturns ex-Minneapolis officer Mohamed Noor's third-degree murder conviction: The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday [overturned the third-degree murder conviction against former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor](. The decision stunningly rejected a February ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that upheld the count against Noor, who is serving 12 1/2 years in prison for fatally shooting Justine Ruszczyk Damond in 2017. - Minneapolis asks state high court to intervene after judge blocks policing ballot question: Minneapolis officials [filed a down-to-the-wire appeal Wednesday asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to quickly intervene]( in a dispute over a key policing proposal and allow residents to vote on it this November. Hennepin County Judge Jamie Anderson on Tuesday [blocked elections officials from using the latest version of the ballot question]( or from counting votes on that question in the November races. Early voting begins Friday. - Minnesota COVID-19 hospital surge a "very different ballgame": This summer's pandemic wave might not be as bad numerically as the one last fall — when hospitals were jammed at one point with 1,864 COVID-19 patients — but [it is pressing hospitals as they confront growing staffing shortages]( and a rebound in surgeries and emergencies. - Parents seeking mask mandate in Minnesota schools dealt setback: A judge has [ruled against a group of Minnesota parents who are suing the state of Minnesota]( and Gov. Tim Walz seeking a statewide requirement that masks be worn in schools as protection from spreading the coronavirus. Ramsey County District Judge Thomas Gilligan rejected the group's request for a temporary restraining order to direct Walz to declare a peacetime emergency and mandate masks in all public schools. - California governor Gavin Newsom fends off recall effort: Newsom on Tuesday [easily turned back the attempt to retire him less than three years into his first term](. Incomplete returns showed him headed toward a landslide win with about 65% of the vote. The victory also provides him with a dramatic comeback story that he is likely to employ as he seeks to broaden his popularity in advance of a 2022 reelection race, while seeking to return his name into discussion about future presidential candidates. - Sartell to remove "Thin Blue Line" flag decals after request from ACLU-MN: The city of Sartell [plans to remove "Thin Blue Line" flag insignia from city property]( after receiving requests from residents and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota. Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes shared a message Tuesday on the city's police department Facebook page that says the city is removing the decals and designing a new decal "to represent the reason we had the blue line flag on our squad to being with — to remember the officers that have given their lives in the line of duty." - Ex-Minnesota GOP chair Carnahan says she may run for old job: The former head of the Minnesota Republican Party who resigned under pressure last month said Tuesday that she is considering running to get her old job back — [or possibly for a public office.]( - Trump aides aim to build GOP opposition to Afghan refugees: As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban arrive in the U.S., a handful of former Trump administration officials are working to turn Republicans against them. The former officials are writing position papers, appearing on conservative television outlets and meeting privately with GOP lawmakers — all in an effort to turn the collapse of Afghanistan into [another opportunity to push a hard-line immigration agenda.]( WATCH THIS RIP Norm Macdonald: Comedian Norm Macdonald, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer who was "Weekend Update" host when Bill Clinton and O.J. Simpson provided comic fodder during the 1990s, [has died at 61 after having cancer for nine years](, but he kept his condition private, according to his management firm. Here's the time [Regis Philbin talked Macdonald out of correctly answering the million-dollar question]( on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Want to own the bakery making Minnesota's "best" doughnuts? Lindstrom shop is for sale. After 48 years in the bakery business, Bernie Coulombe is looking forward to "taking life easy." The owner of Lindstrom Bakery, which Food & Wine named earlier this year as the home of the best doughnuts in Minnesota, [has put her shop up for sale.]( - Alan page on education, criminal justice, bow ties and the love of his life: The former Viking and retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice [is still trying to make Minnesota a better place.]( - "The Morning Show" gets even more depressing in its second season: Our critics pick [the buzziest shows and movies to watch on TV this weekend.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Biles tells senators FBI turned "blind eye" to reports of gymnasts' abuse: Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress through tears Wednesday that the FBI and gymnastics officials turned a "blind eye" to USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar's sexual abuse of her and hundreds of other women. Biles told the Senate Judiciary Committee that "enough is enough" as she and three other U.S. gymnasts [spoke in stark emotional terms about the lasting toll Nassar's crimes have taken on their lives.]( - Joe Ryan apologizes after injury scare: Ryan was hit in his pitching hand and immediately left the game, but X-rays were negative and [he apologized for the way he left the field.]( - With star QBs next on schedule, we'll really be able to judge Vikings defense: It's easy to overreact after Week 1 of the NFL season. But the Vikings defense will need to raise its game in upcoming matchups against stars Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson, [writes La Velle E. Neal III.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK It's a good day to update all your devices: "iOS, Windows, and Chrome all have zero-day vulnerabilities that hackers are going after. Now that the fixes are here, you need to install them ASAP," [reports WIRED's Brian Barrett.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES Sept. 15, 2019: Packers wide receiver Davante Adams goes sideways as Vikings safety Harrison Smith hits the ground at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. (Photo: Carlos Gonzalez/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.](