Minnesota Supreme Court backs DNR's firing of northeast region chief

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[Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Minnesota Supreme Court backs DNR's firing of northeast region chief: The dismissal of a former northeastern Minnesota Department of Natural Resources director wasn't motivated by her report of possible child neglect and sex trafficking, [the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.]( - Legal experts say Locke decision shows law must change: The decision not to charge the Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot Amir Locke during a botched no-knock raid in February came as little surprise to legal observers, [many of whom said the law leaves members of the public at risk.]( Locke's family and attorneys [pleaded Wednesday for federal authorities to investigate his death]( and pass a national ban on no-knock warrants. - Second MDE official defends oversight of meals program: A second official from the Minnesota Department of Education on Wednesday defended the agency's oversight of federal nutrition programs, [telling lawmakers concerned about alleged fraud that the agency's monitoring worked](. Chief Financial Officer Denise Anderson faced questions from the Senate Education Committee about the department's handling of meal program funding and reiterated many of the same points the head of the Education Department, Commissioner Heather Mueller, made in her testimony on Monday. - Senate poised to confirm Jackson to Supreme Court: The Senate is [expected to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday](, securing her place as the first Black woman on the high court and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his historic pick. - Trump deflects blame for Jan. 6 silence, says he wanted to march to Capitol: Former president Donald Trump [voiced regret Wednesday over not marching to the U.S. Capitol]( the day his supporters stormed the building, and he defended his long silence during the attack by claiming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others were responsible for ending the deadly violence. Trump said he didn't remember "getting very many" phone calls that day, and he denied removing call logs or using burner phones. - Pelosi tests positive for COVID-19, a day after White House visit: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, [a day after appearing unmasked at a White House even](t with President Joe Biden. - Mother charged with manslaughter after 3-year-old's fentanyl overdose in West St. Paul: [A 3-year-old boy's death is being blamed on a fentanyl overdose]( that occurred in a West St. Paul apartment, where the child and his mother were staying with a dealer, according to charges filed against the woman. - St. Cloud grocer sent to prison for nearly $4.2M in food stamp and COVID assistance fraud: A St. Cloud grocer has been [sentenced to prison for defrauding federal food stamp and COVID assistance programs]( out of more than $4 million over a four-year span. Hared Nur Jibril, 60, who owned and operated Hormud Meat and Grocery Market from 2009 until the end of 2021, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to 2 1⁄2 years in prison. - Second St. Paul man charged in fatal shooting of ex-Central High basketball star: Charges filed Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court say [D'Angelo Semaj Dampier, 19, fired five to six rounds]( on March 31 outside a supermarket in St. Paul's North End where Dion Lamarr Ford Jr., 21, was allegedly killed by Dampier's brother, Xavion Tyrece Bell, 21. WATCH THIS The moment an Iowa news station switched from black and white to color: When Channel 2 in Cedar Falls switched from it's old black and white set to one designed for color televisions in 1967, [the anchors made the change in the middle of a live broadcast](. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Hopkins entrepreneur helps large companies like Best Buy, Zoom with parental leave: Allison Whalen's experience after having her first child in 2019 led to the creation of Parentaly, a company that [helps other new parents or parents-to-be prepare for career disruption](, but also remain productive once they return. - Prince "Celebration" to return to Paisley Park in June after two-year hiatus: [Programming includes a live performance by BrownMark]( with members of Mazarati, a gospel brunch with the Steeles, a photo exhibit by Randee St. Nicholas, a screening of a 1992 Prince performance at Glam Slam and panel discussions with such Purple associates as Jill Jones, Carmen Electra, Tom Garneau and Mayte Garcia, a dancer and Prince's first wife. - 23 Twin Cities area restaurants offering take-and-bake Easter dinners: [Being able to carefully unwrap all the goodies]( instead of spending hours in the kitchen leaves more time for nibbling chocolate bunnies and hunting for that one last hidden egg. SPORTS ROUNDUP - Twins trade All-Star Taylor Rogers to Padres, will get two pitchers in deal: The Twins added another starting pitcher on the eve of the 2022 season, agreeing to [a deal that will land them San Diego righthander Chris Paddack.]( - Whalen savors Hall of Fame, looks for ways to rebuild Gophers: The Gophers women's basketball team is down to three holdover players, and [coach Lindsay Whalen vows to better identify players who fit in]( — both with their skill and their approach. - Timberwolves defense has become a problem at the worst possible time: [The Wolves have allowed more than 130 points in four of their last five games,]( and it might keep them in the play-in tournament next week when the postseason begins. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Why home prices in the Twin Cities keep going up: Even with mortgage interest rates rising — and expected to rise more soon — home price increases show no signs of slowing down, yet, [MinnPost's Greta Kaul reports.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES April 7, 1981: Groundskeeper Ed Weller touched up the Minnesota Twins emblem in an on-deck circle at Metropolitan Stadium in preparation for the opening of the baseball season. (Photo: John Croft/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.](