TALKERS100821

TOP STORIES

• COVID-19 testing, positivity rate reach 2021 highs in Minnesota: A key barometer of pandemic activity has matched a 2021 high in Minnesota, where the positivity rate of diagnostic testing has increased to 7.6% and indicates broad spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
• Minneapolis riverfront development plan gets go-ahead: A sweeping plan to convert a blighted industrial stretch of Mississippi River waterfront north of downtown Minneapolis into a 20-acre park ringed by affordable housing, a health center and an outdoor amphitheater passed the City Council this morning.
• Trump losses disclosed: Former President Donald Trump's company lost more than $70 million operating his Washington, D.C., hotel while in office, forcing him at one point to get a reprieve from a major bank on payments on a loan, according to newly released documents.
• Disappointing jobs report: U.S. employers added just 194,000 jobs in September, a second straight tepid gain and evidence that the pandemic still has a grip on the economy with many companies struggling to fill millions of open jobs.
• Nobel Peace Prize awarded to two journalists: Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even murder.
• New mountain bike trail network opening: It took nine years, thousands of volunteer hours and a great deal on wood, but now the first few miles of what's billed to become one of the largest mountain bike trail networks in the region will have its grand opening Saturday at Willow River State Park.

WATCH THIS

Returning home: Sheriff's deputies help assist with the release of a manatee back into the wild in St. James City, Florida, after the animal recovered from being hit by a boat.

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TRENDING

• 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week: Vegetable toast from A-Side Public House and Pumpkin bars at Yum! Kitchen and Bakery are among the food faves this week.
• Fans are rallying to save the Band Box: The historic Minneapolis diner has been closed since the start of the pandemic and its owners are now getting a financial boost from its supporters.
• British punk band has unruly U.S. kickoff in St. Paul: The Bristol-reared Idles ignited a lot of noise and mayhem Thursday night at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. Chris Riemenschneider has a review.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

• Big Ten Media Day debut: It's been eight months since Ben Johnson was named the Gophers men's basketball coach, but Friday was another first-time experience being able to promote his program at media day.
• Vikings mailbag day: Will there be a new contract for Danielle Hunter? What's the trade buzz a quarter of the way through the season? How will Anthony Barr fit in now that he's back?
• Didn't quite see this coming: Randball asks how did MSU-Mankato become the best men's college hockey team in the country?

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WORTH A CLICK

Which Indigenous tribes first called Minnesota home? Archeologists and historians believe Native Americans have lived in Minnesota since the glaciers receded 13,000 years ago. Curious Minnesota looks at who was here first.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Oct. 8, 2004: Stopping on County Road 55 just outside of Taunton, Minn., Gavin and Marlin Marcus stretch their legs after driving the semis that pulled Marble Lutheran Church and its steeple from its location in rural Canby. The church will travel 100 miles to the Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp near New London. (Photo: Kyndell Harkness/Star Tribune)