Longtime Iron Range lawmaker Tom Bakk to retire

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Longtime Iron Range lawmaker Tom Bakk to retire: Minnesota Sen. Tom Bakk, once a powerful Iron Range DFLer who in recent years split from his party, [has announced he will retire at the end of the year](. His retirement opens up the Senate District 3 seat representing Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties at a time when Democrats are struggling to keep their footing outstate. - Walz proposes bigger rebate checks as surplus grows: Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday that he wants to spend more of the record-breaking projected state budget surplus on financial aid for retirees, improving the public health system and [sending out sizable tax rebate checks to millions of Minnesotans.]( - Minneapolis school board members face intense pressure amid strike: The board governing the state's third-largest school district is [under fierce pressure as the Minneapolis teachers strike stretches into its second week](, leaving 28,700 students without classes until a contract agreement is reached. In announcing his resignation Wednesday, Board Member Josh Pauly said, "Trust is broken and needs to be rebuilt. Many board members have also said they are frustrated with the situation, and in at least one other case, with the split among their colleagues. But they say they are united in a desire to end the strike and get kids back to school. - Twin Cities area drivers hunting for deals to fill up the tank: The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Minnesota was $3.93 on Thursday, edging closer to the 2013 nominal high of $4.28 a gallon. [Cost-conscious consumers are adjusting their driving and gas-shopping behaviors.]( Others are resigned to absorbing the higher cost. How are high gas prices impacting you? [Tell us your story.]( - New federal law named for former U student aims to improve law enforcement training for investigating sex assault cases: The Abby Honold Act, signed into law Tuesday by President Joe Biden as part of a $1.5 trillion budget bill, [establishes a two-year test program for police training]( on trauma-informed investigations into sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Following her rape by a fellow U student in 2014, Honold spent years fighting first for justice in her own case, and then to ensure that what happened to her didn't happen to anyone else. - Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority director resigns following employee bias complaint: The executive director of the public authority that oversees U.S. Bank Stadium has stepped down after [he was found to have demonstrated unconscious gender bias against an employee.]( The employee filing the grievance, who has also resigned, was voted a $110,000 severance by the MSFA. - Rescuers search for survivors in ruins of Ukrainian theater: Rescuers searched for survivors Thursday in the ruins of [a theater blown apart by a Russian airstrike]( in the besieged city of Mariupol, while a ferocious bombardment left dozens dead in a northern city over the past day, authorities said. Hundreds of civilians had been taking shelter in the grand, columned theater in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the southern port city. - UnitedHealthGroup blasts DOJ arguments in lawsuit over Change Healthcare deal: Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group is [mounting a vigorous defense of its proposed $13 billion acquisition of Change Healthcare]( by arguing a Justice Department lawsuit to block the deal puts forward theories with "no basis in fact and law" about how competition could be harmed. - Golden Valley man admits he shot and killed man who tried to keep him from fleeing Minneapolis crash: Robert D. Hall, 36, [pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree unintentional murder]( and attempted robbery in Hennepin County District Court in connection with killing 21-year-old Kavanian Palmer, of Minneapolis, and trying to carjack a female motorist nearby. - Five northeast Minnesota colleges merge: Five northern Minnesota colleges [will open next fall under one name: Minnesota North College.]( The merger of the five schools that make up the Northeast Higher Education District — Hibbing, Itasca, Vermilion and Rainy River community colleges and Mesabi Range College — was approved Wednesday by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' board of trustees. None of the campuses will close. WATCH THIS Kid's zipline ride in Costa Rica comes to an abrupt halt thanks to unexpected visitor: [This clip from the Go.Adventure Arenal Park in Costa Rica]( shows an excited child ziplining through the rainforest, only to come to a stop when he encountered a sloth on the line. Neither child nor sloth were harmed, the park's owner said. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Art by Ukrainian kids to be auctioned by Minnesota's International Owl Center: Minnesota's International Owl Center is [auctioning its collection of artwork by Ukrainian kids]( — depicting owls of all kinds, from a technicolor flock to a finger-painted owlet — to benefit children in the war-torn country. - 3 Twin Cities piano players share thoughts about Elton John's influence, farewell tour: So long, Rocket Man. Adios, Elton. Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road. Again. Yes, Sir Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour is making its second — and presumably last — visit to the Twin Cities Tuesday and Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. We asked three Elton-loving Twin Cities keyboardists to [dish about rock's greatest piano man.]( - Creole and club classics served with fanfare at Mr. Paul's Supper Club in Edina: Visiting Mr. Paul without trying his takes on Creole classics would be the culinary equivalent of [traveling to New Orleans on Fat Tuesday without celebrating Mardi Gras](. SPORTS ROUNDUP - Vikings gain $6 million in cap space by restructuring Smith's contract: The team converted safety Harrison Smith's $8 million roster bonus to a signing bonus, [helping them officially sign the free agents they added this week.]( - After lost season, Twins' Kirilloff is playing without pain: Wrist surgery and complication stopped Alex Kirilloff in 2021, but he rehabbed, and [manager Rocco Baldelli says he now "looks great."]( - How to follow the Minnesota state girls' basketball tournament: [Here's a look at the St. Patrick's Day action.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK He teaches police "witching" to find corpses. Experts are alarmed. "Dowsing for the dead is not exactly endorsed by scientists or forensic experts. But it is a highlight for some students attending the National Forensic Academy, a 10-week training program sponsored by the University of Tennessee. Since the academy's inaugural class 20 years ago, school administrators say, more than 1,200 crime scene investigators from agencies in 49 U.S. states and five foreign countries have attended the program, which currently costs students $12,000," [reports Rene Ebersole for the Marshall Project.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES March 17, 2015: Garrett O'Keefe marches with his family during the 49th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown St. Paul (Photo: Leila Navidi/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.](