Legislative auditor releases report on Walz's botched hiring of cannabis director

Plus: Minnesota should have a Michelin guide. These 4 restaurants would likely get stars, ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Legislative auditor releases report on Walz's botched hiring of cannabis director: The governor's office missed some standard background check steps before its botched appointment of Erin DuPree as Minnesota's first cannabis director last fall, the state's legislative auditor concluded Thursday. [Read more.]( - Twin Cities area sees wave of brewery, distillery closures: The explosion of breweries and distilleries in the Twin Cites area has leveled off since the pandemic, and sometimes it seems like there are more high-profile closings than openings. [Read more.]( - Tribes accused of predatory lending, some may have been fleeced as well: Attorney General Keith Ellison's lawsuits against Montana tribe and others reveal how complicated tribal online lending operations are. [Read more.]( - Federal agency announces statewide audit of mail delays, finds "deficiencies" at four Twin Cities locations: Four audits from Eagan, Apple Valley and New Brighton and the St. Paul distribution center were released Wednesday from the USPS office of Inspector General, revealing problems with delays, delivery and postal facilities. [Read more.]( - After brawl at St. Louis Park High, school leaders hear parents' worries: Several St. Louis Park parents called for a zero-tolerance policy on violence during a school board meeting Tuesday in response to a fight in the halls that extended to the parking lot, drawing in more students and adults before school staff and police intervened. The melees last Thursday afternoon led to the closure of school on Friday. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Turkish military cargo plane flies over city at very low altitude during emergency landing: Motorists on a road in Kayseri, Turkey, stopped their vehicles and got out to watch as a cargo plane passed not far over their heads as it made an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Kayseri Air Base. The pilots and crew were not injured, according to the Turkish defense ministry. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING Minnesota should have a Michelin guide. These 4 restaurants would likely get stars. Restaurant critic Jon Cheng has dined at hundreds of Michelin-starred eateries in dozens of cities around the world. Now, he's weighing in on our local dining scene. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK 2 Minnesota basketball stars could hit 3,000-point mark in same game: Crosby-Ironton's Tori Oehrlein and Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway are the top two scorers in the state. In the next week, they will become the first sophomores in state girls basketball history to reach 3,000 points in a career. They each could reach the milestone when Providence Academy, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, plays host to Crosby-Ironton, ranked No. 7, on Tuesday. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK NYC issues advisory declaring social media an "environmental health toxin": "New York City is issuing an health advisory about social media due to its impact on children. The city is designating social media an 'environmental health toxin.' Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement during his annual State of the City address," Jesse Zanger reports for CBS New York. [Read more.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES Jan. 25, 2019: Jenny Anderson prepares to ice fish on the frozen water of Lake Mille Lacs with her husband Nick, her dog Kiwi and camper named "Lil HotDish." (Photo: Brian Peterson/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 © 2024 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](