Italian court demands MIA return ancient $2.5 million sculpture

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Italian court demands MIA return ancient $2.5 million sculpture: An Italian court has [ruled that the Minneapolis Institute of Art must return an ancient sculpture]( from its permanent collection to Italy, saying it was illegally excavated in the 1970s before Mia acquired it for $2.5 million in 1986. - Judge rules Minneapolis police illegally searched Frey staffer's car: U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel [ruled that evidence overwhelmingly did not support claims]( by Minneapolis officers Zerrick Fuller and Daniel Ledman that they smelled marijuana coming from Keegan "KJ" Rolenc's car after they pulled him over. Brasel threw out the evidence the officers collected during what she deemed an unconstitutional search, calling Ledman's testimony about the stop inconsistent and "not credible." - Minneapolis teachers approve contract, classes to resume Tuesday: Minneapolis teachers and education support professionals [approved a new contract with the school district Sunday](, ending their nearly three-week strike. Teachers and support staff will return to work Monday while the district's 28,700 students will return to classes Tuesday. [Here's what you need to know about the agreements.]( - Minnesota offers free at-home COVID-19 tests: Minnesota is phasing out a mail-in COVID-19 testing program and offering [a new option to order four free rapid at-home tests]( per household. - Biden's budget plan includes higher taxes on rich, lower deficits: President Joe Biden [released a budget blueprint Monday]( that calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, lower federal deficits, more money for police and greater funding for education, public health and housing. In essence, it tries to tell voters what a diverse and at times fractured Democratic Party stands for ahead of the midterm elections that could decide whether Congress remains under the party's control. - Minnesota Human Rights Department settles discrimination case with LA Fitness: After a disabled club member complained that removing a locker-room floor mat left him at risk of falling, the New Brighton LA Fitness put it back. For a month. Then it removed the mat again. That — and ignoring the man's repeated requests for accommodations to make the locker room safer — amounted to discrimination, [officials with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights determined.]( - Champlin man sentenced to prison for possessing 77K THC vaping cartridges: Valentin V. Andonii, 25, of Champlin, [was sentenced to a term of roughly 5 1⁄2 years]( Friday in Anoka County District Court after jurors convicted him in January of all drug-related counts in connection with the seizure of the 76,972 cartridges from a condominium in the 3600 block of Coon Rapids Boulevard. - Bird flu outbreak reaches Minnesota flocks: A commercial turkey operation of 289,000 toms in Meeker County and a backyard flock of 17 ducks, geese and chickens in Mower County [have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza](, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The sites have been quarantined and efforts to "depopulate" the flocks have begun. Infected poultry will not reach the food system, the board said. - Hotel owner's post barring Native Americans prompts outrage in South Dakota: A recent social media post by a hotel owner in Rapid City, South Dakota, [announcing that Native Americans would be barred from the business]( after a shooting in one of the hotel's rooms has prompted swift condemnation from community leaders, a protest and a federal civil rights lawsuit. - Judge declines to stop teardown of condemned 100-year-old St. Paul home: Saying she did not have jurisdiction, a Ramsey County judge on Friday [refused to stop the impending demolition]( of a Mac-Groveland home. WATCH THIS Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins brings down the house singing Queen's "Somebody to Love" in his second-to-last concert: The drummer was found dead in his hotel room Friday while on tour with the Foo Fighters in South America. [Here's a clip from the band's performance in Chile on March 18.]( (Warning: It contains some strong language.) Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Will Smith wins best actor but derails Oscars with outburst: What was billed as a return to normal for the Oscars, after the pandemic forced a smaller ceremony last year, proved anything but when [a beef developed, live and on stage, between presenter Chris Rock and acting nominee (and eventual winner) Will Smith](. Rock, presenting the documentary prize, made a joke that seemed to make light of Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss from alopecia, and Smith mounted the stage to hit Rock and swear at him. The confrontation [shocked the live audience and those watching at home alike.]( "CODA" was the night's big winner, taking home awards in all three of the categories for which it was nominated, including best picture. Here's a [complete list of the 2020 Oscar winners.]( - Tasteful refresh breathes life into IDS Center courtyard in downtown Minneapolis: [The welcome but subtle changes]( to the office tower's Crystal Court are a towering achievement. - Beautiful pink beach on Lake Superior has a special history in Minnesota: Iona's Beach stands out from the iconic gray rocky shoreline of the North Shore. [But it's more than the color of its rocks that makes this site unique.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Wild brimming with new confidence just weeks after "fragile" comments: Three weeks and a few well-conceived deals have made a difference in a team that was expressing doubts about itself and taking a dive in the standings, [writes Jim Souhan.]( - Gophers are shipping up to Boston for men's Frozen Four: The Gophers are [going to the men's Frozen Four for the first time in eight years]( after Sunday's 3-0 victory. They'll face Minnesota State Mankato in the semifinals. - Racist message sent to player as North ends season of challenges: After winning its Class 2A semifinal, a North player received a social media message containing racial slurs from a non-playing student at a school in the losing team's cooperative program, [writes Patrick Reusse.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK How and when to use the convection setting on your oven: "If you are open to a bit of trial-and-error and adjusting how you use your oven, then convection is a great tool to master, especially if quicker cooking and crispier exteriors are your goal," [writes Aaron Hutcherson in the Washington Post.]( TRIVIA WINNER Congratulations to Kevin Hildebrandt! Kevin was randomly selected from among the many readers who correctly answered that Yam Haus is the Minnesota band that performed on a new NBC TV competition featuring Snoop Dogg. He wins a $15 gift card. Be sure to read Talkers on Friday for another trivia question! FROM THE ARCHIVES March 28, 2019: Twins left fielder Miguel Sano slipped an autograph to a fan before the team's Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians. (Photo: Anthony Soufflé/Star Tribune) Connect with Star Tribune [facebook]([twitter]([pinterest]([instagram]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( • [Unsubscribe]( This email was sent by: StarTribune, 650 3rd Ave S, Suite #1300, Minneapolis, MN, 55488 © 2022 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](