Lakewood Cemetery alleged theft spotlights market for metal implants left after cremation

Plus: Minnesota attorney general brings charges in large Medicaid fraud case ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Lakewood Cemetery alleged theft spotlights market for metal implants left after cremation: Prosecutors charged the former crematorium manager for selling artificial joints and other metal refuse. He says he sold what he considered trash. [Read more.]( - Minnesota attorney general brings charges in large Medicaid fraud case: Keith Ellison's office says three people are being arrested and charged with 24 counts totaling $11 million in fraud. [Read more.]( - St. Paul officer, suspect wound each other in shooting near busy corner, police say: The officer had non-life-threatening injuries, St. Paul police said in a prepared account. The other individual, whom the department said was suspected of violating a protection order, had life-threatening injuries. [Read more.]( - Hennepin County set to approve $2.6B budget. Here's what it pays for. The proposed 6.5% increase in property taxes would primarily fund county worker salaries and benefits. [Read more.]( - How new superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams won over Minneapolis school board: Twin Cities superintendents and teachers say the newly selected MPS leader has shown calm under pressure in a variety of challenging situations in other districts. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Hot air balloon with nine aboard crashes, collapses on house in Phoenix: Kara Giugliano was filming Thursday as a hot air balloon flying very low snagged on a street light and tore, slowly collapsing on her North Phoenix home. No injuries were reported in the crash. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING Minneapolis man goes freshwater swimming for 1,000th consecutive day, regardless of weather: On Friday, Ricky Lake (his real name is Richard Pelletier) will complete his 1,000th daily consecutive swim. It's a streak that started during the pandemic, and he's still going. This year alone, the 56-year-old Minneapolis resident has plunged into 22 lakes and three rivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He has battled not only snowstorms and ice, but algae, milfoil and goose poop, writes Laura Yuen. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Why making the right Jorge Polanco trade is the key to the Twins' offseason: Payroll limitations and depth issues likely will lead the Twins to trade at least one of their most popular players this offseason. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Venice gondola capsizes after tourists refuse to sit down and stop taking selfies: "A group of tourists fell into a murky, cold canal in Venice when the gondola in which they were travelling capsized after they failed to heed an order to stop taking selfies and sit down," Angele Giuffrida reports for the Guardian. [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. 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: A cougar was caught on video in which Minneapolis neighborhood this week? Good luck! FROM THE ARCHIVES Dec. 8, 2020: Elissa Mallory, right, the animal specialist at Children's Country Day School, called on the school's 5-year-olds to help her walk "Cece" the miniature horse in Mendota Heights. Mallory said the horse had gained so much weight she started walking the horse along the sidewalks a few times a week. The children also helped with hauling hay and feeding the other animals to create more time outside. (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.](