GOP divide boils over in Otter Tail County dispute

Plus: State's drought is finally easing under deep snow cover ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - GOP divide boils over in Otter Tail County dispute: The conflict is a microcosm of the intraparty turmoil that has been building in greater Minnesota and across the country between more traditional Republicans and newcomers to the party, who were brought in through Donald Trump's presidency and anger over COVID-19 mandates. [Read more.]( - Minnesota's projected budget surplus stays mostly unchanged at $17.5 billion: Minnesota's staggering estimated budget surplus remained largely unchanged, with the latest financial forecast at $17.5 billion. But for the first time in two decades, that figure factors in inflation in spending. [Read more.]( - Drought is finally easing under deep snow cover: Minnesota began 2023 with about half the state still in drought. It was particularly bad in the south, with a severe stretch that began almost two years ago reaching from Minneapolis to close to the South Dakota border. But with every shovelful of snow, the dry spell has been easing up across the state. Minnesota is off to one of the snowiest, wettest starts to a year in more than a century. [Read more.]( - Two dead, three injured after shooting in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood: Two people were killed and three injured by gunfire after a celebration-of-life event in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood Saturday evening, marking the second subsequent night of violence aimed at those gathered to mourn the loss of a loved one in the capital city. [Read more.]( - Star Tribune ends publication of Dilbert comic strip after creator's Black "hate group" remark: Dilbert comic strip creator Scott Adams experienced possibly the biggest repercussion of his recent comments about race when distributor Andrews McMeel Universal announced Sunday it would no longer work with the cartoonist. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Small horse wanders into Welsh supermaket: Shoppers were surprised to find a horse casually walking the aisles of the store, unaccompanied by a human earlier this month in Cardiff, Wales. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING Icy midwinter dips in Lake Superior are hot right now: Cold-water immersion holes have opened up on Twin Cities lakes and the phenomenon is gaining popularity in other cold-weather locales. But the coldest of the Great Lakes offers a special challenge. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Reusse on Evans bolting the U, Kaprizov sparking Wild: An eventful weekend was started by 7-foot center Dennis Evans asking out of his commitment to the Gophers. Then the Wild thrilled fans and the Wolves raised worries. Patrick Reusse and Daily Delivery podcast host Michael Rand sort it all out. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Alone and exploited, migrant kids work brutal jobs across the U.S.: "Migrant children, who have been coming into the United States without their parents in record numbers, are ending up in some of the most punishing jobs in the country, a New York Times investigation found. This shadow work force extends across industries in every state, flouting child labor laws that have been in place for nearly a century. Twelve-year-old roofers in Florida and Tennessee. Underage slaughterhouse workers in Delaware, Mississippi and North Carolina [as well as Minnesota]. Children sawing planks of wood on overnight shifts in South Dakota.," Hannah Dreier reports for the New York Times. [Read more.]( TRIVIA WINNER Congratulations to Roger Harstad! Roger was randomly selected from among the many, many readers who correctly answered that Louie Anderson was the Minnesota comedian whose memorial service was held recently in New Hope. Roger wins a $15 gift card. Be sure to read Talkers on Friday for another trivia question! FROM THE ARCHIVES Feb. 27, 2017: A member of the Memorial Rifle Squad played "Taps" during the military burial of Minnesota Air National Guard veteran Amie Muller at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Muller, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 36, worked and lived next to one of the most toxic military burn pits in Iraq during two deployments to the country. (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.](