Michele Tafoya signs off from sports, jumps into politics

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Michele Tafoya signs off from sports, jumps into politics: Michele Tafoya said she didn't want much fuss made about the fact that Super Bowl LVI would be her last assignment as a sideline reporter for NBC. She got her wish. It was mostly business as usual for the Edina resident as she provided updates from the Los Angeles Rams' sidelines throughout the game. On Monday morning, Kendall Qualls, a Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, [announced that Tafoya will serve as his campaign co-chair](, alongside David Frauenshuh. - U panel wants campus cops to stop aiding other law enforcement agencies at protests: A campus safety committee tapped by U President Joan Gabel has [called for the school to stop deploying its police force]( to assist other law enforcement at police brutality protests away from campus. The committee also wants U leaders to evaluate the campus police department's weaponry and emphasize the use of less-lethal alternatives. - Mayo stops scheduling some Medicare Advantage patients: Seniors in UnitedHealthcare plans are among those no longer getting clinic appointments due to capacity concerns. [But the change also hints at a financial dispute.]( - 3 former clients accuse northern Minnesota lawyer of rape, charges say: Three women are [accusing a northern Minnesota attorney of sexual assault]( while he was their lawyer and a fourth of sexually aggressive behavior, according to the latest charges filed in Itasca County. Jesse R. Powell, 32, of Bigfork, stands charged with four counts each of third- and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of disorderly conduct in connection with numerous encounters from early 2020 until August 2021. - Cops failed in their duty to provide care for Floyd while in custody, veteran officer testifies: A University of Virginia use-of-force expert began the fourth week of testimony Monday in the federal civil rights trial of three former Minneapolis police officers by [saying the men failed in their duty to care for George Floyd.]( Timothy Longo Sr., associate vice president for safety and security at the university in Charlottesville and a veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, said the conduct of the officers in restraining Floyd prone on the ground was "inconsistent with generally accepted police practices." - Ontario to drop vaccine requirements, but truck convoy protests persist: Ontario's premier announced Monday that Canada's most populous province [will lift its COVID-19 proof-of-vaccination requirements]( in two weeks — not because of the protests that have blocked the border and paralyzed Ottawa, he said, but because "it is safe to do so." - Thief busts through wall to steal $250K in Pokémon cards from Forest Lake shop: The thief [avoided Punch-Out Gaming's extensive security system]( by breaking into a vacant store next door, then busting through the wall to enter the gaming store's storage areas. - Mesabi Trust says Cleveland-Cliffs has "failed to engage" over royalties at Northshore mine: Mesabi Trust says Cleveland-Cliffs is [not seriously working toward a solution for the royalty payments]( that it cited for idling mining operations in Babbitt and Silver Bay. WATCH THIS Crowd goes nuts as golfer Sam Ryder sinks hole-in-one at WM Phoenix Open: Ryder made a 125-yard hole-in-one Saturday on the par-3 16th hole and the fans in attendance [erupted in cheers as they showered the green with beer (and beer cans).]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Hip-hop gets its moment at Super Bowl halftime: Rap music starring at halftime is as rare as two Black head coaches on the Super Bowl sidelines — something that's happened just once (in 2007). But on Sunday, [hip-hop took over the field for the very first time.]( - Popular pizza and empanada spot Boludo expanding in south Minneapolis: Facundo Defraia's Argentinian pizza and empanadas spot Boludo is moving on from its petite original home in Minneapolis' Kingfield neighborhood. [But it's not moving far.]( - Arctic explorer Will Steger shares recipes, reflections from his Minnesota homestead in new cookbook: What do you eat when you're a larger-than-life polar explorer, kayaker, dogsledder, educator, homesteader and climate advocate? Like many people, Will Steger enjoys a good apple pie, meatloaf and ice-cold watermelon. [It's where he ate those favorite foods]( that sets the Minnesota-born explorer apart. SPORTS ROUNDUP - Is Super Bowl champion Stafford a reason for the Vikings to keep Cousins? Matthew Stafford, frankly, isn't the type of QB who is supposed to win Super Bowls. He's an expensive veteran outside the top tier of passers. But he came into the ideal situation with a great supporting cast and won it all Sunday, [doing exactly what the Vikings hoped they would do when they signed Cousins]( in 2018. Winning the Super Bowl showed the Rams made all the right moves, [writes Jim Souhan.]( - Team USA women top Finland, will face Canada in gold-medal rematch: Team USA downed a scrappy Finland team 4-1 on Monday to [set up a showdown with archrival Canada]( to see who has the top women's hockey program in the world. With 15 college players and nine with ties to Minnesota on the roster, [the undefeated U.S. men's hockey team enters the quarterfinals with swagger]( after defeating Germany, writes La Velle E. Neal III. - Russian skater Valieva cleared to compete at Olympics after failing drug test: Russian teenager Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women's figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test, setting her up for an attempt at a second gold medal. Whatever happens on the ice, Valieva will not get a medal ceremony moment in Beijing. [Nor will any skater who finishes in the top three with her.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Drought in the western U.S. is the worst in 12 centuries, study finds: "The megadrought in the American Southwest has become so severe that it's now the driest two decades in the region in at least 1,200 years, scientists said Monday, and climate change is largely responsible," [reports Henry Fountain for the New York Times.]( TRIVIA WINNER Congratulations to David Gedde! David was randomly selected from among the many readers who correctly answered that Canterbury Park is planning to sell nearby land in Shakopee for the construction of an amphitheater. He wins a $15 gift card. Be sure to read Talkers on Friday for another trivia question! FROM THE ARCHIVES Feb. 14, 2013: Leonora Lindberg groomed her groom Samuel Abner as their children Avoni Abner, 5, left, and Kenneth Lindberg, 4, waited for a mass wedding at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. Ten judges volunteered their lunch hour to unite 17 couples in matrimony at no charge for Valentine's Day. (Photo: Elizabeth Flores/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.](