Trump was involved in weighing proposals to seize voting machines

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Trump was involved in weighing proposals to seize voting machines: New accounts show that the former president was more directly involved than previously known in [exploring proposals to use his national security agencies to seize voting machines]( as he grasped unsuccessfully for evidence of fraud that would help him reverse his defeat in the 2020 election, according to people familiar with the episodes. - Legislators kick off session with big surplus, long list of priorities: Minnesota lawmakers began their third legislative session in the shadow of COVID-19 on Monday, with pledges from both sides of the aisle to address statewide anxieties around rising crime, a strained education system and the health and economic fallout of the pandemic. DFL Gov. Tim Walz and both parties in the divided Legislature have outlined lengthy — and at times dueling — lists of priorities in recent weeks, many signaling [how leaders want to spend a projected $7.7 billion surplus.]( - Long-delayed study reignites Minneapolis police staffing debate: A long-awaited study released Monday called for Minneapolis officials to reconsider when and how they deploy police officers but [stopped short of saying how many cops the city needs.]( - Minnesota set new monthly record for COVID-19 cases in January: [More than 275,000 new infections were detected in January,]( but omicron has not caused as many hospitalizations and deaths, due in part to Minnesota's COVID-19 vaccination rate of 64.7%. - Defense asks medical examiner about outside pressures during Floyd death investigation: On day seven of the trial of three former Minneapolis police officers, Hennepin County Medical Examiner Andrew Baker continued his testimony on factors contributing to George Floyd's death, as a defense attorney [raised questions as to whether outside influences may have impacted his analysis.]( Baker said his office received phone calls around the clock as protests and riots erupted across the city, but his conclusions on Floyd's death report were not partisan, and his office must remain non-political in order to avoid bias in death investigations. - Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek running for governor: [Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek is running for governor](, joining a crowded field of Republican candidates seeking to challenge Gov. Tim Walz this fall. In his announcement video, Stanek highlighted election security, boosting the economy, privacy protection, gun rights and ending COVID-19 "lockdowns and mandates" as top priorities. - Walz heads into election year with huge cash advantage: Gov. Tim Walz [raised more than $3.6 million over the past year,]( giving the first-term Democrat a massive early cash advantage over the throng of Republican opponents aiming to unseat him in November. Former state Sen. Scott Jensen netted the most of any GOP challenger, garnering more than $1.2 million and ending last year with about $807,000 in cash on hand. - Minneapolis school board reduces tax levy due to enrollment decline: The Minneapolis school board on Monday [approved an adjustment in its certified 2022 tax levy](, reducing the increase from 7.43% to 4.3% for Minneapolis homeowners. When the district certified the 7.43% tax increase in December, it was projecting a decline in enrollment of 700 students. The drop was far higher than that — 2,400 students — resulting in an $6.6 million difference in tax need, district officials said. - Second licensed medical marijuana company in Minnesota sold to national consolidator: [A cannabis industry consolidator will buy Goodness Growth Holdings](, formerly Vireo Health, a Minneapolis-based firm that has struggled financially but holds licenses in some key states, in a $413 million stock transaction. - George Bickham, teacher and mentor at St. Louis Park nonprofit, dies at 46: [Bickham worked for 24 years at Perspectives](, a supportive housing campus in St. Louis Park. Colleagues describe him as a rock for children who lived through unimaginably difficult trauma. WATCH THIS Angry swan fiercely defends pond from human invader: This clip from Nimes, France, shows that swans, while beautiful, [are not to be messed with.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Love Your Melon, popular Minneapolis maker of hats and beanies, bought by N.Y. firm: Twin Cities beanie brand Love Your Melon [has been acquired by New York holding company Win Brands Group]( as the knit hat company looks to expand its line of products and retail reach. - Uptown Theater, a Minneapolis landmark, will be transformed into a music/events center: Calling large single-screen movie houses "dinosaurs," the Uptown Theater's owner is moving swiftly on plans to [convert the historic cinema into a 2,500-person music and events venue](, much like his reborn Armory in downtown Minneapolis. - Country stars Dierks Bentley, Ashley McBryde are headed to Treasure Island Casino: The Memorial Day weekend show [could be the first big outdoor country concert of 2022.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Vikings narrow head coach candidate list, set Harbaugh interview: After interviewing the Rams' O'Connell and Morris in California on Monday, [the team will interview two more candidates in Minnesota](, including Jim Harbaugh. - Brady announces retirement after 22 seasons, 7 Super Bowl titles: Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback in NFL history, [has retired after winning seven Super Bowls]( and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year career. Brady has [ruined the 'greatest-of-all-time' argument for every other quarterback]( in pro football history — and it's not even close, writes Jim Souhan. - Sylvia Fowles will retire after playing one more season for Lynx: The veteran center has been [a league champion and an Olympic gold medalist]( as she enters her 15th season. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK World record 477-mile-long lightning "megaflash" confirmed over U.S.: "The World Meteorological Organization announced on Monday that it had confirmed two new mind-blowing lightning 'megaflash' records. The findings, which come after careful data-checking and rigorous certification processes, include one record event that occurred over the Lower 48 states," [reports Matthew Capucci for the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES Feb. 1, 2016: A rehearsal of the play "The Mousetrap" by Agatha Christie was conducted at the Steeple Center, a former church in Rosemount. (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 © 2022 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](