Minneapolis’ summer music fest Rock the Garden is being ‘retired’

͏ ͏ If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Minneapolis' popular summer music fest Rock the Garden is being 'retired' for 2023: Held most years in early June on the hillside outside the Walker and the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Rock the Garden has been put on annually since 2008 by the Walker and MPR's rock outlet 89.3 the Current as a promotional event and membership drive. [Read more.]( - Why the omicron variant of COVID-19 might stick around: For now, BA.2.75.2 is extremely rare, making up just 0.05% of the coronaviruses that have been sequenced worldwide in the past three months. But that was once true of other omicron subvariants that later came to dominate the world. If BA.2.75.2 becomes widespread this winter, it may blunt the effectiveness of the newly authorized boosters from Moderna and Pfizer. [Read more.]( - Grocery prices prompt 'trading down' to cheaper alternatives, more awareness of food waste: A new poll found more than a third of shoppers — and nearly half of rural consumers — are regularly "trading down" from name brands to less expensive private label alternatives. Private label is industry parlance for store brands, such as Target's Good & Gather, Walmart's Great Value and Whole Foods' 365. [Read more.]( - Ramsey County sent out more than 1,000 ballots with the wrong GOP candidate listed: Those ballots listed Beverly Peterson as the Republican candidate for the House District 67A race in St. Paul, despite the fact that she died in early August. [Read more.]( - Hurricane Ian nears Florida landfall with 155 mph winds: Fueled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian grew to a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane overnight with top winds of 155 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm trudged on a track to make landfall north of the heavily populated Fort Myers area, which forecasters said could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 18 feet. [Read more.]( WATCH THIS Lizzo plays James Madison's historic crystal flute onstage in D.C.: "Some people visit Washington, D.C., for the tourist attractions, like monuments and museums. They probably don't expect to see history being made at a pop concert — but that's what happened to an arena full of fans at Lizzo's concert Tuesday night," writes NPR. Watch Minnesota's own superstar play a crystal flute that was owned by former President James Madison and loaned to her by the Library of Congress [here.]( *** Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. *** TRENDING This is the dessert that will change the cheesecake game: Basque cheesecake has been around for decades, but it seems like the rest of the world is just catching on to this easy, impressive and incredibly luxurious dessert. [Read more.]( SPORTS BLINK Gophers receiver Mike Brown-Stephens, nephew of John Legend, is making a name for himself: The potential downside is always having a comma after your name, with your famous relative casting a shadow over you even in a sentence. But Brown-Stephens, who constantly evokes the word "selflessness" when talking and backs it up with his actions, doesn't see it that way. [Read more.]( *** Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. *** WORTH A CLICK As the EPA introduces environmental justice office, the 'mother of the movement' remembers the Black women who led the battle: Dollie Burwell sees the announcement as a full circle moment after her community raised the profile of environmental racism 40 years ago. For six weeks in 1982, Burwell and hundreds of others from her predominantly Black North Carolina community marched to block trucks from bringing in soil contaminated with PCBs, a known carcinogen, to a nearby landfill. [Read more.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES Sept. 28, 2013: Regent Street in London was closed to traffic from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus as the NFL staged its first Block Party, featuring interactive NFL content, team zones, music and entertainment, cheerleader performances, food and drink, merchandise and more. (Photo: Carlos Gonzalez/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.](