In other legal news. MPR’s Brandt Williams reports: “The twin daughters of Jerry Curry lashed out at their abuser Wednesday in written statements read aloud in a Hennepin County courtroom. … ‘He hurt, used and abused us,’ read a court official from a statement. ‘He hit us with a bat. I hope he never gets out of jail.’ … Curry was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to rape, assault and child endangerment. Six other felony charges were dropped as a part of his plea agreement. Both daughters, now 22, have disabilities. A third, younger daughter lived in the home at the time.”
Change at the U. The Minnesota Daily’s Helen Sabrowsky reports: “The University of Minnesota’s Confucius Institute — part of a controversial web of Chinese-backed institutes hosted at universities across the U.S. — will close at the end of the semester. … University administrators say the closure was due to shifting priorities and new federal policy.”
A big loss. At Slipped Disc, Norman Lebrecht writes: “The prolific, notably successful opera composer Dominick Argento died on Wednesday in Minneapolis, where he lived for six decades. … The son of Sicilian immigrants, he refused to toe the line of 12-note music and wrote long, lyrical lines. His operas – among them Postcard from Morocco, Miss Havisham’s Fire and The Aspern Papers – were widely published and performed.”
In other news …
Kids these days: “A harsh winter: Are students tired of snow days?” [MPR]
A sign of spring? “Deadlines approaching to remove fish houses from Minnesota lakes” [West Central Tribune]
Should be able to find plenty of snow in both cities’ bike lanes: “St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, council members challenge Minneapolis leaders to a snowball fight” [Star Tribune]
Interesting find: “Le Center, Minn. resident’s World War II keepsake turns out to be 400-year-old samurai sword” [City Pages]
Prince comic: “‘Prince,’ Today’s Comic by Walt Dohrn” [Vice]
Interesting process: “Comedian Maria Bamford tested her set on a Duluthian — in exchange for goods” [Duluth News Tribune]
We keep coming back to the Strib for this kind of beefy journalism: “The meat raffle: Everything you need to know about our weirdest bar game” [Star Tribune]
