How ravenous earthworms are endangering Minnesota's forests

Plus: Why you can't buy a car on Sundays in Minnesota ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - How ravenous earthworms are endangering Minnesota's forests: Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest is home to most of the world's population of goblin ferns. But time may be running out for the ancient ferns as surrounding forest floors are destroyed by a voracious invader: Earthworms. [Read more.]( - Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Trump, shows startling video: With alarming messages from the U.S. Secret Service warning of violence and vivid new video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders pleading for help, the panel on Thursday showed the raw desperation at the Capitol. Using language frequently seen in criminal indictments, the panel said the president had acted in a "premeditated" way before Jan. 6, 2021, despite countless aides and officials telling him he had lost. [Read more.]( - Minneapolis Park Board says all 3 fires at the historic Stevens House are arsons, reward offered: A reward of up to $5,000 is now being offered in hopes of finding whoever is behind what Minneapolis park officials are calling three cases of arson since the historic Stevens House first caught fire in late August. [Read more.]( - Teen kills 5 in North Carolina shootings, police say: A 15-year-old boy fatally shot two people in the streets of a neighborhood in North Carolina's capital city, then fled toward a walking trail, where he opened fire, killing three more people and wounding two others, police said Friday. [Read more.]( - Norway's Queen Sonja is on a whirlwind visit to Minnesota: The queen started off her four-day tour by meeting with Gov. Tim Walz Thursday morning at the Capitol, where members of the Minnesota National Guard and the Air National Guard were present to celebrate the countries' long history of exchanging soldiers annually to practice winter training techniques and strengthen international bonds. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Protesters throw tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" in London: A pair of young climate activists shocked museum visitors at the National Gallery in London on Friday when they [hurled soup at the famous masterpiece]( and glued themselves to the wall. The oil painting, which has an estimated value of more than $84 million, was behind glass. *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING Why can't you buy a car on Sundays in Minnesota? Religion, economics and politics all play a role, but public opinion might have the most sway. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Watch Minneapolis North vs. Washburn football tonight: In the Star Tribune's first free, livestreamed high school Game of the Week at 6 p.m., the undefeated Polars will face the Millers. [Watch it here.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point: At least 20 Republican politicians — including Minnesota gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen — have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify as cats. The school districts say these claims are untrue and there is no evidence that any school has deployed litter boxes for students to use. But the claim has taken on a life of its own among a growing number of Republicans, conservative influencers and political commentators, NBC News reports. [Read more.]( TALKERS TRIVIA Want to win a $15 gift card of your choice? It's Friday, so that means it's time for another trivia question. The correct answer to this question can be found in a story that appeared in Talkers this week. We can't prevent you from simply Googling the answer, so Googling is encouraged! E-mail your answer to talkers@startribune.com by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. A winner will be selected at random from the correct responses. That lucky reader will receive a $15 card of their choice from one of several retailers — Best Buy, Target, Holiday or Menards — as well as a shout-out in Monday's newsletter. Here is this week's question: The Gophers will face which perennial college football powerhouse in games scheduled for 2032 and 2033? Good luck! FROM THE ARCHIVES Oct. 14, 1980: Minneapolis Mayor Donald Fraser joined a crew of Shriners on Nicollet Mall to spread the word that treatment at Shrine hospitals was available without charge to qualified children who suffer from crippling disease and whose parents or guardians are unable to pay. Hugging the clown at left was Anne Worcester, 16, of St. Anthony, who said she was a patient at the Shriners Children's Hospital in Minneapolis as a young child. (Photo: Art Hager/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.](