Southwest LRT work a "small" factor in building cracks, engineering firm tells condo board

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Southwest LRT work a "small" factor in building cracks, engineering firm tells condo board: Construction of the Southwest light-rail line in the Kenilworth corridor of Minneapolis was a "small contributable factor" that led to cracks in parts of the nearby Cedar Isles condominiums, [according to an email sent to homeowners Tuesday.]( A forensic engineering firm hired by the Metropolitan Council to investigate the matter concluded the cracks were "mostly attributable" to "thermal conditions" apparently unrelated to construction of the light-rail tunnel in the corridor, the memo said. - Tornadoes spotted in southern Minnesota, straight-line winds topple nine semis on I-35: The National Weather Service reported that a line of storms that moved northeast from Iowa produced tornadoes in Mower and Fillmore counties just before 11 p.m. Tuesday. Earlier Tuesday, strong winds from a storm that moved through the Faribault area [toppled nine semitrailer trucks on Interstate 35.]( - Calls for change after Maplewood police handcuff four minors: Maplewood police handcuffed four minors — including a 10-year-old — for an incident they were later cleared of, [igniting activists' concerns on how police handle youth.]( - CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID cases rise: The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is [extending the nationwide mask requirement for public transit for 15 days]( as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Legislature may scrap fees to obtain Minnesota state court documents: Minnesota legislators are one step closer to [wiping out an $8 fee for retrieving public state court documents]( online and in person. Bills to strike that requirement — either for obtaining documents in-person or via the Minnesota Judicial Branch's new online records system — made it into both the House and Senate versions of a sweeping public safety spending package. - Wrong-way driver dies after hitting 3 vehicles on I-35E in St. Paul: The driver, identified as Robin Grigsby, 36, of North St. Paul, [struck a school bus and two other vehicles]( before rolling over near Grand Avenue. - Oklahoma governor signs bill to make abortion illegal: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that [makes it a felony to perform an abortion](, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights. - PFAS factory shutdown in Belgium proves costly for 3M: 3M has faced an avalanche of lawsuits and regulatory actions over PFAS but only once has a plant been forced to stop producing the controversial chemicals. That 3M plant in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, has now been partially closed — by government edict — for five months, crimping 3M's sales to the semiconductor, data center and automotive industries. And [no easy remedy is in the sight for the Maplewood-based industrial giant.]( - Mega Millions ticket sold in Ramsey wins $106M jackpot: The winning ticket was [sold at a Holiday gas station on Xkimo Street NW.]( It's the first time that the top prize has been won in the state. WATCH THIS RIP Gilbert Gottfried: Gottfried, the actor and legendary standup comic known for his raw, scorched voice and crude jokes, has died. He was 67. Gottfried died from a rare genetic muscle disease that can trigger a dangerously abnormal heartbeat, his publicist and longtime friend Glenn Schwartz said in a statement. Flashback to the time Gottfried found himself in a pivotal position on "the Hollywood Squares" when both contestants needed his square to win and [he decided to hilariously troll them.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - CB2 to close in Uptown to make way for apartments: The modern furniture retailer's closing comes as the owner of the Seven Points shopping center [plans a grocery-anchored apartment development.]( - Pie & Mighty's Rachel Swan shares tips for making a heavenly angel pie: Angel pie, which has a meringue base in place of a traditional crust, is [a throwback recipe for a spring gathering](, with the bonus that it's gluten-free. With undulating waves of whipped egg whites along the edges, it is dazzling on an Easter dessert table, and is Passover-friendly with a minor substitution. - "The Prom" is the funniest musical since "Book of Mormon": How funny is "The Prom?" So funny even the lighting gets laughs. If you didn't like Netflix's version, don't fret. [It works way better on stage.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Wolves' rally past Clippers with Towns out to clinch playoff spot: After Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out, the Wolves used a 16-2 run to advance to the playoffs against Memphis, [setting off a delirious scene at Target Center.]( Point guard D'Angelo Russell had been erratic, needing to rise above his inconsistency and shooting struggles. Tuesday night against the Clippers, he did. Bring on more of this D-Lo, [writes Patrick Reusse.]( - Dawson Garcia enters transfer portal, Gophers will be in hot pursuit: [The 6-11 former McDonald's All-American from Prior Lake]( played for North Carolina and Marquette the last two seasons. - Wild's Ryan Hartman fined by NHL after dustup with Oilers: Wild center Ryan Hartman was [fined by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct]( at Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Oilers. The fine was $4,250, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK What it's like to be an ex-royal in Europe: "Across Europe, royal families are variously seen as tourist attractions, embarrassing artifacts, spiritual leaders, and symbols of national identity. Several countries that exiled their monarchs in favor of fascism, communism, or military rule—Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and of course Albania—have now allowed their royal families back home, making uneasy pacts with history. They are royal but not royal, monarchs without thrones, caught between the past and the future," [writes Helen Lewis in the Atlantic.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES April 13, 2020: With their fuzzy winter coats to protect them from snow and ice, the pasque flower is one of the first perennials to bloom in spring. This pasque flower reached for the warming sun after emerging through the fresh Easter snowfall at Central Park in Bloomington. (Photo: Brian Peterson/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.](