Wait, are the Vikings good this year?

Plus: What to do if you're hacked [Plus: What to do if you're hacked] View this email as a [web page]( [The Minnesota Star Tribune](   [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! I, for one, welcome this late burst of summer weather. On to the news 📢 [David Taintor] By David Taintor TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [State Education Department fails to turn over charter schools data to Minnesota Star Tribune]( - [Minnesota sex trafficking survivor sues the Brooklyn Center hotel where abuses occurred]( - [Which Minnesota schools have the most lead in their drinking water? The state will soon find out.]( - [Charge: Wright County man fatally stabs wife of 65 years, tells police, ‘I guess I lost my head’]( - [Bloomington uses ranked-choice voting for city races. Now voters will decide whether to keep it.](   'This football team is not a joke' Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune The Vikings have already defied expectations, kicking off the NFL season 2-0 after an upset win Sunday at home vs. the San Francisco 49ers. “I told our team last night, ‘I think we’re a really good football team,’ ” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Others might be talking about us [in terms of] potential, and whatever that means; you can tell a lot of jokes about potential vs. reality, I know that. But this football team is not a joke.” What's behind the Vikings' strong start? Sports columnist Jim Souhan [ticked through several strong stats in his latest column](, from quarterback Sam Darnold to depth players helping the Vikings clinch victory. One of the game's awe-inspiring moments showcased O'Connell's trust in his team to make a big play. Starting at their own 3-yard line, Darnold launched a bomb to wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who zigzagged his way to a 97-yard touchdown. Related coverage - [Five extra points: Vikings backups, Brian Flores, C.J. Ham bamboozle 49ers in upset win]( - [Vikings upset the 49ers 23-17, beating them at their own game]( - [Vikings defense wins ‘12-round title fight’ against potent 49ers offense]( [Read More](     [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.   Have you been hacked? What to do in a data breach Identity theft is a frightening and disorienting experience. About a year ago, I was sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon when I noticed a deluge of emails flood my inbox. Every few seconds, a handful of new messages would appear to confirm my registration for every random service and subscription under the sun. It was clear my personal information had been compromised. So what should you do if you find yourself at the center of a data breach? Experts recommend a credit freeze or a "fraud alert" as a protective measure, according to Minnesota Star Tribune business reporter Mike Hughlett. Changing passwords and monitoring bank accounts are also key steps to take after a data breach. “Welcome to the new way of life, where no one is safe,” said Bob Doyle, who recently learned his data had been breached on at least two occasions. [Read more from Hughlett on what to do in a data breach.]( Brock Kaplan/ The Minnesota Star Tribune MORE FROM THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE - [With her new cookbook, Zoë François is firmly in her cookie era]( - [Kim Potter was set to help lead use-of-force training in Washington state. Then it was canceled.]( They're working on their roar Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune Join us in welcoming two new Amur tiger cubs that made their debut at the Minnesota Zoo last week. Amaliya, left, and Andrei are seen playing with their mother, Sundari. IN OTHER NEWS - [How some Minnesota cities are slowing evictions]( - Axios Twin Cities - [Minnesota election officials make changes to automatic voter registration system after issues arise]( - The Associated Press     THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE David Taintor/The Minnesota Star Tribune My retired public school teacher father had a signature saying when I was growing up. He wouldn't simply say have a great day or have fun, but rather make it a great day. I was reminded of that mantra this weekend after enjoying breakfast at the Ideal Diner in northeast Minneapolis. We hope you make it a great day, too. Thanks for reading David Taintor, 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.