🍻 The 15 best dive bars in the Twin Cities

Plus: Takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - The 15 best dive bars in the Twin Cities: These iconic watering holes serve up cozy familiarity and community alongside good food and proper pours. [Read more.]( - Takeaways from Biden's State of the Union address: The State of the Union address tends to have a ritual rhythm. Grand entrance. Applause. Platitudes. Policies. Appeals for Unity, real or imagined. President Joe Biden checked those boxes, and a few more, during his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. In part, he seemed to be laying the foundation to run for a second term. "We've been sent here to finish the job," he said. Here are some takeaways from the prime-time address. [Read more.]( - DFL seeks to prevent catalytic converter thefts, "excessive" drug price hikes: Democratic state lawmakers are aiming to crack down on catalytic converter thefts, illegal robocalls and "excessive" prescription drug price hikes as part of their consumer protection agenda this year. [Read more.]( - State revokes licenses of two day-care centers linked to meal program fraud: State regulators have revoked the licenses of two adult day-care centers controlled by people indicted on charges of defrauding a federal meals program. The moves come two months after the Star Tribune first raised questions about state support of 11 day-care centers whose 14 owners or managers were charged in connection with federal nutrition fraud. [Read more.]( - Excelsior's first new apartment building in 50 years raises questions about city's future: The Excelsior City Council granted final approvals this week for high-end apartments and a parking garage to be built on the site of the current City Hall — but the project has raised questions about how a city prized for its quaintness should look in the future. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Full-court, overtime buzzer-beater ends Minnesota high school basketball came: The biggest shot in basketball Tuesday night? Globally, it was LeBron James setting the all-time NBA scoring record. In Minnesota, it was Chisago Lakes' Patrick Rowe hitting a full-court buzzer-beater in overtime to give his team a 90-89 victory over Becker. The shot gave Rowe, a 6-foot-6 junior guard/forward, 43 points for the night. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week: Highlights include Parker McCollum, Bruce Cockburn, Kiss the Tiger and Valentine's shows. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK The story of LeBron James' 38,390 points, by those who were there: Over the past 20 years, James' ascent to the top of the NBA scoring list has impressed Hall of Fame players as he made a definitive case to join their ranks and perhaps be considered the best among them. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Woodpeckers stash 700 pounds of nuts in northern California home: "Exterminator Nick Castro was inspecting a home for mealworms when he discovered something … nuts. Tens of thousands of acorns came cascading out from behind a bedroom wall," Maanvi Singh writes for the Guardian. [Read more.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES Feb. 8, 2019: Swans relax on the bank of the Mississippi River near Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul. (Photo: Elizabeth Flores/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 © 2023 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](