Why Twin Cities home prices are still "hot" amid falling demand

Plus: Why was the utopian plan for Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside never built? ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Why Twin Cities home prices are still "hot" amid falling demand: In 2022, the number of home sales in the Twin Cities fell by double digits. Mortgage rates doubled in the final six months of the year. And yet housing prices around the metro area grew by double digits over the previous five-year average. [Read more.]( - Ex-Chief Hennepin County Public Defender Kassius Benson indicted on tax evasion charges: Former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Kassius Benson was indicted Thursday for federal tax evasion following a probe into him failing to pay taxes withheld for employees at the private law firm he ran before taking his public job. [Read more.]( - Arrest made after Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in D.C. apartment building: The DFL congresswoman suffered bruising from the attack, which doesn't appear to be politically motivated. [Read more.]( - Minnesota loses proposed Iron Range wood mill plant after court ruling: The Minnesota Court of Appeals this week reversed a Cohasset, Minn., City Council decision made in March to forgo an in-depth environmental impact statement (EIS) for a wood mill proposed by North Carolina-based Huber Engineered Woods, and ordered it to reconsider the project's effects on wetlands before issuing a new decision. The Legislature had initially exempted Huber from having to complete a lengthy study, typically required for projects of its size. [Read more.]( - University of Minnesota says it will return forestry land to Fond du Lac Band: The University of Minnesota says it plans to return thousands of acres of forest land that were seized from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa more than a century ago. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Kirk Cousins and Kelly Clarkson sing for Tom Brady at the NFL Honors show: The Vikings quarterback, sporting some gaudy bling from his 'Kirko Chainz' collection, showed up on stage and ended up doing a duet — of sorts — with Kelly Clarkson. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING Why was the utopian plan for Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside never built? Riverside Plaza is all that remains of a "big vision" to build a diverse, integrated city within a city. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Jefferson beats out Super Bowl QBs to grab Offensive Player of the Year Award: Justin Jefferson is just the fifth wide receiver to win the award after a record-setting third NFL season that also earned him top-5 votes for Most Valuable Player. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Flaco, the escaped Central Park Zoo owl, tastes freedom and isn't rushing to return: "Not straying far from the zoo but not going back either, a bird of prey on the loose faces serious challenges to survival," writes Ed Shanahan for the New York Times. [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: LeBron James this week broke the all-time NBA career scoring record formerly held by which basketball legend? Good luck! FROM THE ARCHIVES Feb. 10, 1958: Among KTCA-TV's programs was "Descriptive Astronomy," a course conducted by Karlis Kaufmanis, associate professor of astronomy and mathematics at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. The program was telecast each Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 9 p.m. on the private college hour. (Photo: 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.](