Xcel admits its equipment helped spark historic Texas wildfire

Plus: 21 slam-dunk downtown restaurants and bars for Big Ten fans ͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Xcel admits its equipment helped spark historic Texas wildfire: Xcel Energy said Thursday that its equipment appears to have been an ignition source of the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas, but the utility denied it was negligent as it faces legal threats over liability in the biggest wildfire in the state's history. [Read more.]( - A Minneapolis woman's Kia was stolen 5 times: "I'm going out of my mind." Because of the car's security flaw, thousands of Minnesotans have had their vehicles stolen. Hundreds of them are repeat victims. [Read more.]( - Rep. Ilhan Omar didn't vote in Minnesota primary, says uncommitted voters are "angry and frustrated": Rep. Ilhan Omar didn't vote in Minnesota's presidential primary this week. But she told Politico that she understood where the scores of voters were coming from when they marked their ballots "uncommitted" on Tuesday. [Read more.]( - University of Minnesota considers renaming Nicholson Hall: The building was named after Dean Edward Nicholson in 1945. Faculty say their research raises concerns about his role stoking antisemitism and political repression. [Read more.]( - Randy Shaver announces he's leaving KARE 11: Shaver has co-anchored the station's evening news with Julie Nelson since 2012. Before that, he served as sports director for 18 years. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Small plane with parachute crashes near homes in Washington State: The plane deployed a parachute after its engine failed, greatly slowing its descent as it crashed in a wooded area in Bellevue, Wash. Neither the pilot nor passenger were injured. [See the video.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING 21 slam-dunk downtown restaurants and bars for Big Ten fans: Breakfast, burgers, bars and big meals to satisfy the hungriest basketball fans near Target Center. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Wolves' Towns sidelined with meniscus injury but severity is unclear: The Timberwolves All-Star was ruled out of Thursday's game at Indiana, but how long he remains out and the treatment course for the injury are still to be determined. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK Gabriel García Márquez wanted to destroy his last novel. It's about to be published. "The publication of 'Until August' adds a surprising twist to his legacy, and may stir questions about posthumous releases that contradict a writer's directives," Alexandra Alter reports for the New York Times. [Read more.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES March 7, 2023: A group of mothers of Maple Grove High School hockey players decorated the team's locker room as a surprise before the state tournament. Here, Rachel Patefield, mother of Ty Patefield, holds up balloons in a doorway at the Maple Grove Ice Arena. (Photo: Carlos Gonzalez/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.](