*** Editor's note: Exciting changes are coming soon! When the Star Tribune launched the Talkers newsletters back in September 2015, I don't think anyone expected it to last this long. We've covered three presidents, two governors and a global pandemic along with numerous earth-shaking local stories, including the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath and the death of Prince at his home in Chanhassen.
After writing nearly 2,000 editions of Talkers, the time has come for me to sign off. But don't worry! A new and improved daily newsletter, Essential Minnesota, is coming to your inbox starting Monday. It will be written (mostly) by my colleague Eder Campuzano. Eder talks about Essential Minnesota and what you can expect here. You will receive the final edition of Talkers on Friday. It has been a great honor to bring the news to you for the last eight years and change. Thank you so much for reading! - Matt DeLong ***
TOP STORIES
- St. Cloud State to eliminate nearly 100 programs, 57 faculty in latest cuts: The reductions are part of a five-year plan to balance what was a projected $24 million budget deficit at the beginning of last year. Read more.
- Predawn explosion rocks occupied house north of Princeton: Mille Lacs Chief Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Evenson said the "single-family residence ... appeared to have exploded with a large debris field, which was partially on fire." There is no immediate word on what caused the blast. Read more.
- Testifying in hush money trial, porn actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump: Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump, prepared to testify about a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later. Read more.
- Minneapolis man gets prison after son died eating fentanyl pills resembling children's vitamins: Nelson Randolph III is expected to serve the first 10½ years of his 16-year term in prison and the balance on supervised release. Read more.
- Wisconsin wedding barns sue over state's new liquor law requiring licensing: A pair of Wisconsin wedding barns sued the state Tuesday seeking to block enactment of a new law that requires them to get liquor licenses similar to other establishments that host events. Read more.
WATCH THIS
Please enjoy this Jack Russell terrier dribbling a basketball: This pooch named Braulio showed off his skills as he bounced the ball and balanced it on his head in Venice, Italy. See the video.
*** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to talkers@startribune.com. ***
TRENDING
St. Cloud's Barbie house vies for HGTV's "Ugliest House in America" crown: With its teal exterior and very pink interior, it became a Zillow Gone Wild viral sensation when it was offered for sale in 2022. Now the St. Cloud house, known as the Barbie house, is back on the national stage. Read more.
SPORTS BLINK
The Wolves are the best team in basketball, even if they can't say it: The Timberwolves need 10 more victories to win a championship and have the right to call themselves the NBA's best team. The rest of us don't have to wait to say it, writes Jim Souhan. Read more.
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WORTH A CLICK
Ohio State commencement speaker says he took psychedelic drugs to write speech urging grads to buy Bitcoin: "Days before the Sunday ceremony, OSU's chosen speaker Chris Pan announced on LinkedIn that he had taken the psychedelic drug ayahuasca to write his first drafts. ... The resulting speech and an on-stage demonstration with OSU President Ted Carter drew audible booing from the audience in the university's livestream, as Pan tried to encourage graduates and attendees to buy cryptocurrency," Mark Feuerborn reports for WCMH. Read more.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
May 7, 2022: John "The Verbose" Martens, the arch druid of Oakdale Grove — a ceremonial fellowship of the Reformed Druids of North America — pours the "Waters of Life" into a fire during the Beltane Celebration marking the arrival of summer and rebirth of nature at Como Regional Park in St. Paul. (Photo: Alex Kormann/Star Tribune)
