Teens are fueling an uptick in COVID-19 activity in Minnesota

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Teens are fueling an uptick in COVID-19 activity in Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 6,818 more diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the seven-day period ending Tuesday, and 10% involved teenagers age 15 to 19, whose risks for viral transmission increased earlier this year with the return to in-person classes and youth sports activities. [No other five-year age group has sustained more confirmed infections since Feb. 1]( with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. While severe COVID-19 is rare among children and young adults, state health officials remain concerned about their ability to spread the infectious disease to others at greater risk. - "Time to play catch-up" on race gap as vaccine access widens: Disparities in COVID-19 vaccination have persisted in Minnesota, but equity advocates [hope a recent expansion in eligibility will steer more doses to minority members]( who have suffered higher rates of severe illness and death. - Bills would decriminalize fare evasion, put safety officers on buses, LRT: Two measures pending at the State Capitol would [change the way fares are collected on public transportation]( in the Twin Cities — a pivot that supporters say will make the system safer and more pleasant to ride. - $27M Floyd family payout looms over Chauvin trial: BThe judge presiding over the murder trial of Derek Chauvin has numerous options before him to weigh in the wake of the city of Minneapolis agreeing in the midst of jury selection to pay the George Floyd family $27 million. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said moments before jury selection resumed Tuesday that [he would take up the settlement Wednesday](, but he did express exasperation about the city's announcement of the payout coming during Chauvin's trial. - Record settlement in Floyd case forces Minneapolis to dip into its reserves: The $27 million settlement that Minneapolis leaders approved in George Floyd's death is more than the entire balance in the city's account that covers lawsuit payouts. As a result, [the city plans to use money from its "rainy day fund"]( that is reserved for emergencies and other unexpected expenses to help cover the costs. - Legislature boosts number of women on U's Board of Regents: The number of women serving on the University of Minnesota's 12-member governing board increased from three to five after [state lawmakers elected new regents on Monday.]( - Decades after Jacob Wetterling abduction, a growing push to take minors off state's predatory registry: Patty Wetterling and others are [pushing state lawmakers to take a closer look at the Predatory Offender Registry]( she helped establish, arguing it was expanded over the years when legislative panic over sexual predators was high but scientific research on reoffending was low. The list has grown to more than 18,000 active registrants and become so punitive that experts argue in some cases it could be counteracting the original goal — to keep children safe. - Twin Cities radio veteran Dan Culhane dies at 62: You might not have met Dan Culhane, but there's a good chance you've heard his voice. At radio stations across the Twin Cities, Culhane voiced commercials over three decades for stations ranging from KFAN and KOOL 108 to JACK FM and WCCO Radio. The voice-over work extended to TV as well, where for the past eight years he introduced "Minnesota Bound," the popular outdoors show on KARE 11. Culhane, 62, of Minneapolis, [died on Feb. 28 from complications of COVID-19](. HEY, LOOK AT THIS We asked to see your last "normal" pre-pandemic photos. Here's what you shared. With the possibility of herd immunity on the horizon, we want to remember what we had — [and hope to have again.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Minnesota teacher Michelle Young will become "The Bachelorette": After a tough breakup with "The Bachelor" star Matt James that aired Monday night, [Young was one of two women announced as stars]( of back-to-back seasons of "The Bachelorette." The season finale aired March 15 amid controversy over the show's handling of race. - 8 great Irish stouts and ales for St. Patrick's Day: If Irish beers are what you're after, you don't have to limit yourself to Guinness. You needn't even look to the Emerald Isle. A few local breweries are [turning out excellent renditions of these brews.]( - Minnesota Orchestra to resume indoor concerts in June: [Audiences will return to Orchestra Hall in June](, the Minnesota Orchestra announced Tuesday,a year after last hosting people there. Those audiences will be smaller — 400 in a room built for 2,000. They'll be masked, distanced, staggered. But they'll be back. The Hook & Ladder, the first Twin Cities music venue to regularly host livestreaming concerts after the pandemic took over last year, is now [the first to announce a steady stream of outdoor gigs in 2021.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Pitino fired by Gophers, hired by New Mexico: [New Mexico is hiring Richard Pitino to be its next men's basketball coach]( only [hours after the Gophers fired him](, a source confirmed to the Star Tribune. The move could save the Gophers from having to pay Pitino's entire $1.75 million buyout. [Here are five key questions that remain as Pitino departs.]( - Vikings add defensive tackle Tomlinson as free agency begins: For the third time in eight offseasons under coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings' first move in free agency is [adding a run-stopping defensive tackle.]( - Breathlessly hyped highlight videos are the new currency of prep basketball: While some decry them for only showing the flashiest moments, [players and fans have insatiable appetites for them on social media platforms.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Scientists say traveling at "warp speed" may actually be possible: "Scientists have a new model for faster-than-light travel that actually uses conventional physics," [reports Tim Childers for Popular Mechanics.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES March 16, 2016: Jake Boyce of Duluth, foreground, rides a wave on Lake Superior. 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