TOP STORIES
- Fired South High math teacher accuses Minneapolis Public Schools' management of "cancerous rot": South High School administrators refused to accurately report student misconduct to Minneapolis Public Schools and retaliated against math teacher Becka Thompson, who repeatedly pressed for better documentation and solutions to rampant misbehavior and drug use in her classroom, the ousted educator alleges. Read more.
- A plume of PFAS chemicals under the east metro is moving. The state has a plan to stop it. BLURB GOES HERMinnesota environmental engineers have proposed digging 27 wells to contain a plume of toxic PFAS chemicals threatening the water supplies of fast-growing east metro communities. Read more.
- Hennepin County paid $240K to settle former Sheriff Dave Hutchinson's workers' comp claim: BLURB GOES HERE. Former Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson paid for the vehicle and guardrail he destroyed while driving drunk with money he got from a workers' compensation settlement with the county. Read more.
- Man posed as woman in video chats to sexually exploit young kids with other men, charges say: State and county investigators in Minnesota are turning to the public for help capturing a man charged with connecting with other men virtually and having them sexually exploit the youngest of children. Read more.
- Why do so many Minnesota homeowners get free roofs after a hailstorm? Stormy weather has been beating up local roofs lately. But insurance companies are also scaling back coverage, arguing that "something's got to change." Read more.
WATCH THIS
Is this the biggest wave ever surfed? The monster wave ridden by world-record holder Sebastian Steudtner earlier this season in Nazaré, Portugal, was measured at 93.73ft utilizing state-of-the-art drone technology. See the video.
*** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to talkers@startribune.com. ***
TRENDING
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week: It was an eclectic week of eating: the king of desserts, a Best breakfast in Duluth, dinner at a new Minneapolis restaurant, the return of Arepa Bar (but in St. Paul) and a signature taste of Minnesota. Read more.
SPORTS BLINK
Former Cooper football star Howard transfers from LSU to Gophers: Former Cooper star and LSU defensive end Jaxon Howard, the most highly touted high school football recruit from Minnesota a year ago, committed to the Gophers and coach P.J. Fleck on Friday. Read more.
*** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up for Talkers here. ***
WORTH A CLICK
Swirling, colorful map depicts the magnetic heart of the Milky Way: "About seven stars are born each year in the Milky Way, our home galaxy. They come from dust and to dust they eventually return. Now, a celestial image, an Impressionistic swirl of color in the center of the Milky Way, represents a first step toward understanding the role of those magnetic fields in the cycle of stellar death and rebirth," Dennis Overbye reports for the New York Times. 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. Email 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: CBS faced a torrent of criticism online this week after it cut short a broadcast featuring a performance by which musical artist?
Good luck!
FROM THE ARCHIVES
April 19, 2017: Shelby J, left, performs at her album release party with New Power Generation saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis. (Photo: Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune)
Homegazing
