The first Midwestern state to legalize marijuana offers lessons for Minnesota

Plus: I tried to go plastic-free for a week. Here's what I learned. ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - The first Midwestern state to legalize marijuana offers lessons for Minnesota: Legal weed is moving from novelty to normal in Michigan, the first Midwestern state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana after a ballot initiative passed in 2018. To get there, Michigan had to go through some growing pains. As Minnesota inches closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, the advice from advocates and professionals in Michigan is: Learn from our mistakes. [Read more.]( - Five takeaways from Walz's State of the State address: The governor's fiery speech to a joint session of the DFL-controlled Legislature came as lawmakers head into the final stretch of their session, where they'll finalize a two-year state budget that is expected to tap much of Minnesota's $17.5 billion surplus. [Read more.]( - Sexual assault of senior with dementia caught on camera in Burnsville: The graphic video footage is now at the center of a legal case that has reignited concerns over patient safety in senior homes, while underscoring the growing role that new video surveillance technology is playing in monitoring care. [Read more.]( - Man admits to road rage shooting on Minneapolis interstate that left one dead: George Howard, 49, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court to unintentional second-degree murder and illegal gun possession in the shooting of 38-year-old Luis D. Martinez Ortiz, of Minneapolis, on Aug. 29, 2021, at Interstate 94 and N. Dowling Avenue. [Read more.]( - Mike Lindell's firm told to pay $5M in "Prove Mike Wrong" election-fraud challenge: MyPillow founder and prominent election denier Mike Lindell made a bold offer ahead of a "cyber symposium" he held in August 2021 in South Dakota: He claimed he had data showing Chinese interference and said he would pay $5 million to anyone who could prove the material was not from the previous year's U.S. election. He called the challenge "Prove Mike Wrong." On Wednesday, a private arbitration panel ruled that someone had. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Pentagon releases new UFO footage: During a U.S. Senate Armed Services subcommittee unclassified briefing on unidentified aerial phenomenon Wednesday, the Pentagon released a video captured by a U.S. military drone in the Middle East last year showing "an apparent silver, orb-like object" moving very quickly across the camera's field of view as the drone struggled to follow it. An official said the object did not display anomalous behavior but "remains unidentified." [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING I tried to go plastic-free for a week. Here's what I learned. But how realistic is it to abstain from plastic? And what does it really mean to go plastic-free? Our columnist Laura Yuen gave it a shot. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Wild, Wolves losses highlight troubling failures: Dean Evason decided to stick to his usual routine in Game 2 of the Wild's playoff series. Unfortunately, 800 miles away, Karl-Anthony Towns failed to deviate from his own playoff script, too. Both developments — and outcomes — made for a frustrating night of TV viewing Wednesday, writes Chip Scoggins. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Body helps save driver after crash leaves hearse dangling over Colorado canyon: "An organ donor helped save the life of a person in a very unexpected way in Colorado when a hearse crashed and nearly plunged into a canyon — but the weight from the deceased organ donor in the back helped keep the teetering car from a fatal fall," CBS News reports. [Read more.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES April 20, 2018: About 125 people attended a Cannabis Awareness Day rally to advocate for the legalization of marijuana at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Photo: Aaron Lavinsky/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.](