How the DNR stocks the State Fair fish pond 🐟

Plus: What happened to Tim Walz’s Sega Dreamcast? [Plus: What happened to Tim Walz’s Sega Dreamcast?] View this email as a [web page]( [The Minnesota Star Tribune](   [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! We're off on Monday, so shotgun a bucket of Sweet Martha's cookies for me and we'll see you on Tuesday 🍪 On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [These are the races that could determine control of the Minnesota Legislature]( - [Two years in, Minnesota’s THC market hasn’t lost its buzz]( - [Ghost hunting classes coming to Anoka, Roseville. Yes, skeptics can sign up.]( - [You’re now allowed to bag walleyes on Mille Lacs. But can you catch them?]( - [Walz pressed on past statements on military record, fertility treatments in CNN interview](   One fish, two fish, bred fish, new fish: Several fish are return visitors at the DNR's State Fair pond every year Anthony Soufflé/The Minnesota Star Tribune The first time I visited the Department of Natural Resource's fish pond at the Minnesota State Fair, I saw the crowd of people huddled around and thought: "What's the big deal? Have any of you seen an aquarium before?" When it was my turn to observe the fish, I proceeded to stare into the water for 20 minutes, gently brushing away any child who dared step in front of me for a better look. The fish pond is one of the biggest attractions at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Reporter Chloe Johnson went behind the scenes with the DNR to bring you the story of how the agency stocks the pond, how many fish die in transit and a little bit about the secret pond where some of the fish live year-round. Yes, you read that right: The DNR maintains a secret pond for repeat fair-going fish. I hesitate to write much more about this story because every new detail Johnson weaves in is so fascinating that I'd hate to spoil it. It's a wonderful piece and you can [read every fishy detail here](. If you have any other favorite attractions at the fair, I'll refer you to the ol' inbox: essential@startribune.com. I have more friends coming in from out of town, and need to keep them entertained.     GOING OUT - [Semisonic says ‘it’s an honor’ carrying on tradition of Minnesota rockers closing down State Fair]( - [Get the scoop on new Minnesota ice creams]( - [Our picks to eat and drink your way through a perfect day in White Bear Lake](   [Share this newsletter with friends]( Do you enjoy Essential Minnesota? Encourage your friends and family to [sign up](. You also can share it using the links below.   We found out what happened to Tim Walz's Sega Dreamcast A recent New York Times profile of Gov. Tim Walz included a quirky anecdote about the now-vice presidential nominee. According to one of his former students, the man was once so obsessed with his Sega Dreamcast that his wife, Gwen, had to stash the console away. Relatable, right? Who among us hasn't gone on a video game binge so epic that loved ones had to practically stage an intervention? Just me? Reporter Louis Krauss tracked down the current owner of Walz's Dreamcast. It's quite a ride. Let him take you on it [at the link here](. Louis Krauss/The Minnesota Star Tribune MORE FROM THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE - [Democratic excitement, Minnesota pride on display at State Fair]( - [Scoggins: Not a lot to get excited about over ‘new’ Gophers offense]( - [Lakeville North keeps Stillwater under control, wins high school football opener]( curious minnesota Ken Harris via the Tyrone Malone fans Facebook group The Minnesota State Fair once hosted a dead frozen whale named Irvy. What happened to the enormous marine mammal? That's the subject of this week's edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune's reader-powered reporting project. Irvy was originally supposed to become dog food. But entrepreneur Jerry "Tyrone" Malone purchased her carcass for $6,000 in 1967 and began taking her on tour. He put her on display at the Great Minnesota Get-Together in 1969, and the rest is history. You can read intern Grace Noble's [whale of a Curious Minnesota at the link here](. On a side note, my home state's most famous whale-related claim to fame is a little more explosive. You can [learn about that here](. IN OTHER NEWS - [Mad Dog 2020 Beer? Corn Dog Beer? White Russian Beer? These State Fair Drinks Almost Happened.]( - Racket - [After spring of hard choices, Minneapolis superintendent starts new school year with note of optimism]( - Sahan Journal - [Native American Community Clinic finds different ways to support the Indigenous community]( - MinnPost     THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE Andy Rodrigues via X We now know what these two men were talking about. Earlier this week, we shared this photo of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey facing off. We didn't have the context of the image at the time, so we reached out to each man's communications staff to find out what they were discussing. We also asked you for your humorous suggestions. Several of you wrote with speculation that the two mayors were debating State Fair foods, or hot dish ingredients. And there were other creative ideas. "They are telling each other dad jokes and trying not to laugh," Tere Michels wrote. In Lois Walters' mind, they're saying: "Race you to the butter bust! Loser has to buy the milk!" Bradley Redlin's daughter insists the exchange goes something like this: Carter: "Skibidi toilet?" Frey: "Sigma rizz!" (Here's a bit of background on "[skibidi toilet](" for ya. "Sigma rizz" is middle school slang. Ask your kid about it.) The real answer to what Carter and Frey were discussing is a lot more practical. "They were talking dad shop," said Emily Buss, Carter's communications director. According to Buss and Frey spokesperson Ally Peters, it was a spirited discussion about their respective 4-year-old daughters. The girls are friends, we're told, and the mayors were "comparing notes" about their summer activities, Buss said. A brief note: Apologies to St. Paul Parks Director Andy Rodriguez, who snapped the original frame and wasn't credited in the Reddit post we embedded Wednesday. Thanks for reading Eder Campuzano, reporter Patrick Condon, editor     [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Subscribe]( SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER [Email]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Manage]( your preferences | [Opt Out]( using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? [Sign up]( to receive our future emails. View this email [online](. 650 3rd Ave. S. Suite 1300 | Minneapolis, MN 55488 US This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.