Comey sought more money for Russia probe days before he was fired

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Comey sought more money for Russia probe days before he was fired: President Donald Trump [abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey]( Tuesday, dramatically ousting the nation's top law enforcement official in the midst of an FBI investigation into whether Trump's campaign had ties to Russia's meddling in the election that sent him to the White House. Days before he was fired, [Comey asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in money]( and personnel for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the election, according to three officials with knowledge of his request. Both of Minnesota's senators were among those on Capitol Hill [calling for an independent investigation into the Trump campaign's ties]( to Russia in the wake of the firing. Trump aide Kellyanne Conway [told CNN it was "inappropriate" to question the timing]( of Trump’s decision to fire Comey. [Trump defended the move this morning](, tweeting that both Democrats and Republicans "will be thanking me." - Overhaul of EPA science panel worries U professor who heads it: [Deborah Swackhamer hasn't lost her job]( — her term on the Board of Scientific Counselors ends in 2018. But 13 members of the 18-person panel will not be reappointed, and now she faces months of uncertainty about whether the scientific mission of the panel will be watered down by the industry representatives who are likely to replace them. - Delano school district reverses on rainbow diversity signs: [The issue arises during a time of heightened awareness]( in Delano after a black family’s home was burglarized and hit with racist graffiti in March. Teachers said they put up the posters in a move to make students feel more welcome. - Ousted cheese curd stand turns up heat against Minnesota State Fair: Tom Mueller, who claims he hasn’t heard back from the state fair about his request to keep the family stand open even as public support grows, [has a lawyer and is ready to go to court](. - Minnesota's congressional Republicans stand by health care vote amid blowback: U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen is [defending his heavily scrutinized vote for the Republican alternative]( to the Affordable Care Act. He and fellow Minnesota Republicans Tom Emmer and Jason Lewis say it's an effort to bring down health insurance costs. - Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson running for governor again: Johnson, the 2014 Republican nominee, [made his announcement with a polished video]( via social media, promising to restore “power, opportunity and freedom” to Minnesotans. - Man admits hiding in Eden Prairie basement for 2 days before killing owner: A 24-year-old man has [pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his friend’s grandfather]( in the elderly man’s Eden Prairie home, hiding in the basement for two days before he carried out the killing. - Minneapolis neighborhood divided over bike lanes: Plans for bicycle lanes along E. 38th Street [have divided the Longfellow neighborhood](, where cyclists eager for a safer route have come head-to-head with Minneapolis business owners and residents worried about losing parking spots. - Brawl on Southwest jet ends with dogpile on flight attendant: [Yet another video of sprawling violence]( in the tiny space between two aisle seats has gone forth into the world. - Associated Press had secret deal with Nazis during WWII: At the height of World War II, [the Associated Press made secret arrangements with an SS officer]( to obtain pictures taken by Nazi photographers that were distributed to American newspapers — a deal authorized by senior U.S. officials. The extraordinary arrangement, which began in 1941 and ended with Hitler’s fall, is detailed in a lengthy internal report that the AP released Wednesday.  Watch this Minneapolis man raises $2M on Kickstarter to make trippy kinetic art for your home: In more than two decades of creating, Bruce Shapiro, 60, of Minneapolis has made large-scale moving art pieces that have been installed in science museums around the world. But his latest project is meant for your living room: a glass-topped coffee table called Sisyphus. Shapiro’s kinetic art table features a magnet-driven ball autonomously rolling over a layer of sand, “forever creating and erasing beautiful patterns.” [Check out the mesmerizing video of the Sisyphus in action.](  Do you live in St. Paul or Minneapolis? We want to hear your thoughts on your city’s mayoral race and other issues. Please text STP to (612) 351-6010 to take a brief survey on the St. Paul race. Text MPLS to (612) 351-6010 to take a survey on the Minneapolis race. Standard text messaging rates apply.  Trending - Photographer captures baby owl climbing to safety in Twin Cities park: Who knew that owls could climb? When an owlet fell from its nest, [the fuzzy little critter was driven by instinct to get home.]( - Minnesota's Largest Candy Store gets even bigger: [The world needs more obscure candy.]( At least that's what the owners of Minnesota's Largest Candy Store say. The Wagner family hopes their latest expansion — an 85,000-pound, 60-foot space dome — hits the sweet spot. - Grieving millennial thanks "unofficial mothers" she met in Minnesota: As her own mother's health deteriorated, [this East Coast 20-something found friendship and guidance]( from the older women she met in Minneapolis.  Sports roundup - After awful start, Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is on a roll: He’s been spraying the ball to all fields while also hitting with authority, with Tuesday’s 7-2 victory over Chicago providing a good example. [Is this the real Buxton?]( - Latavius Murray has millions of reasons to seize Vikings backfield lead: Like many running backs who sign in free agency, Murray’s contract has a lot of money tied up in incentives. [And he can’t reach them if he’s not carrying the football.]( - Wife of ESPN's Chris Berman dies in crash: Katherine Ann Berman, 67, wife of the longtime ESPN broadcaster, [died in a traffic crash in Connecticut]( that also killed the other driver, the sports network's president confirmed Wednesday.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Quote of the day “You want to question the timing of when he hires, when he fires. It’s inappropriate. He’ll do it when he wants to.” -- [White House aide Kellyanne Conway](, on criticism of President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.  Worth a click Is Comey's firing really Trump's "Saturday Night Massacre"? Last night's stunning news immediately drew comparisons to the 1973 "Saturday Night Massacre," when, after President Richard Nixon demanded the firing of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy William Ruckelshaus both resigned rather than carrying out the order. Cox was ultimately fired by Solicitor General Robert Bork. Writing in Politico, Jeff Greenfield [digs into the history and finds the parallels lacking.]( Slate interviewed historian and Nixon biographer John A. Farrell, who notes some [key differences between the two presidents' actions.](  From the archives May 10, 1974: Former astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin speaks with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon of England, center, and Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson and his wife, Mary, at the governor's mansion in St. Paul. 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