TALKERS081321

TOP STORIES

• More fallout from arrest of state GOP strategist Anton Lazzardo: The drumbeat of condemnation from prominent Minnesota Republicans grew louder today, after one of their strategists and political donors was jailed on charges that he sex-trafficked minors last year.
• UnitedHealthcare will pay $15.7M in settlement of denial of care charges: The Minnetonka-based insurer agreed to change algorithms and some other measures that the government said improperly denied patients mental health and substance abuse care.
• Duluth theater to require vaccination proof or negative test: After studying First Avenue's new customer policy, the Renegade Theater Company will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test to attend its performances at Zeitgeist Teatro Zuccone.
• Guilty verdict in Target headquarters damage: Jurors convicted a St. Paul man of arson and of riot after setting a fire inside Target headquarters and looting in downtown Minneapolis late last summer.
• Where does Twin Cities electricity come from and how is it delivered to homes? Electricity mechanics were on the mind of David Piper when he posed this query to Curious Minnesota. We found the answers.
• What questions do you have about COVID-19? With cases and variants on the rise, we want to help answer your COVID-19 questions.

WATCH THIS

Field of Dreams became real last night: The Yankees and White Sox played a special game in Dyersville, Iowa, on Thursday night. The ending was a walk-off classic, but the opening brought a few chills too.

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TRENDING

• The 5 best things we ate at Market at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis this week: Avocado toast, sweet corn empanadas and an egg salad sandwich are among the favorites of Star Tribune food writers this week.
• Lizzo spreads 'Rumors' with Cardi B, salacious first single from new album: After scoring big two years ago with "Truth Hurts," Lizzo is back with a new single about how much lies can hurt.
• Pickleball scores more venues in the Twin Cities: Pickleball is gaining younger players with more Twin Cities courts in places that emphasize fun with fitness.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

• Twins TV ratings have been cut in half: There are multiple factors for low Twins TV ratings this season with the losing record and ongoing streaming wars with Bally Sports North at the top of the list.
• Five observations from Vikings camp: Rookie quarterback Kellen Mond "needs to pick up tempo" after COVID absence.
• Hunters beset by ongoing ammo shortage and price hikes: Minnesota hunters are scrounging for rifle ammunition and shotgun shells as harvest seasons approach in the second year of an unrelenting ammo shortage.

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WORTH A CLICK

How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990: A Washington Post analysis of newly released tract-level census data reveals the shifting racial composition of neighborhoods nationwide.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

August 13, 1976: Guitarist Gary Joyner stayed dry as he entertained in the rain at the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis. Joyner said it was the fair management and not the weather that actually forced him indoors because he wasn't registered as an exhibitor. (Photo: Richard Olsenius/Star Tribune)