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• And a happy early birthday to Patricia Frazier, Jennifer Brandabur, Mark Mraz and Lori Kirby!

Today's newsletter is 1,115 words — a 4-minute read.

The Vikings open their season Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium with the makings of a dangerous team. The question is what kind of danger they'll be.

The big picture: While the pundits predict a middle-of-the-pack team, the Vikings have the talent to be much more than that. But they also have enough uncertainty that things could go sideways quickly.

Catch up quick: After last season's 9-8 finish, the Vikings had seen enough of young quarterback J.J. McCarthy to prompt them to sign Kyler Murray. He's a former No. 1 draft pick who flashed brilliance early in his career with the Cardinals but struggled with inconsistent play and injuries — enough so that Arizona cut him loose.

• The rest of the roster and coaching staff remain very similar to last year's, though the loss of pass rusher Jonathan Greenard hurts.

Threat level: All the ingredients are in the cupboard for the Vikings to put up the type of magical season the franchise produces every 10 years, give or take.

• They have a reclamation quarterback, ultra-talented wide receivers and a wizard of a defensive coordinator — all reminiscent of 1998 and 2009.
• You can easily see a scenario in which Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings light up scoreboards while Brian Flores' blitz-happy defense licks its lips playing with a lead.

Yes, but: This team has some of the ingredients for a meltdown that also comes every decade or so.

• If Murray is ineffective or injured, it will create a QB controversy between McCarthy and Carson Wentz.
• Jefferson has been patient with subpar quarterbacking, but he's a star in his prime and another rocky year will test that patience.

What to watch: The action will start hot and heavy with the Green Bay Packers coming to town Sunday for a 3:25pm kickoff on CBS.

Nick's (shaky) prediction: Shades of 1998: 13-4 and a trip to the NFC Championship game.

🏈 Your turn: Are the Vikings good, dangerous, or bad? Reply with your record prediction — and we'll see who called it at the end of the season.

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Even if the team doesn't give you heartburn, you may still need an antacid if you're going to the game Sunday.

Driving the news: U.S. Bank Stadium just introduced around 20 new concession items for the upcoming season, and this year's theme appears to be classic artery-clogging stadium fare.

What to expect: Five new burgers, three varieties of loaded nachos, ranch cheese curds, a rotating selection of SPAM dogs and plenty of filling sandwiches, from meatball subs to Reubens to cheesesteaks.

• The wildest creation may be the Raid Burger from Birch's on the Lake: a double bacon cheeseburger topped with fried cheese curds and covered in ranch sauce.

The other side: New vendor La Borinqua will serve gluten-free fare like Puerto Rican rice bowls and chicken kabobs, and Herbivorous Butcher has expanded its vegan sandwich offerings.

• The few new sweets include sugary dirty sodas and Hawaiian-style shaved ice, both of which can be modified to add alcohol.
• Note: Prices were not listed at the preview, and vendors declined to disclose them.

Audrey's thought bubble: U.S. Bank Stadium has been ahead of trends in recent years — the 2025 new foods list included the apple fries and savory waffle cones that became enormously popular at this year's State Fair.

• The 2026 menu could have used more variety. I couldn't tell much difference between the five cheeseburgers or three chicken tender vendors.

Share with a foodie.

⚖️ A judge ruled that the man who killed beloved Loring Park grocery store worker Robert Skafte in 2023 committed murder, but found him not guilty due to mental illness. (Fox 9)

• The man, Taylor Schulz, will remain held under civil commitment, per the judge's order.

🏢 Florida investor Jamie Rand purchased two distressed St. Paul office buildings from Madison Equities — 375 Jackson St. and 135 Fifth St. E. — likely making him the largest downtown commercial real estate owner (he also owns the First National Bank building and Great Northern building). (Pioneer Press)

🗳️ House Majority Whip Tom Emmer intends to stay on as his party's whip, telling Axios he has no plans to try to move up the leadership ladder after the November midterms. (Axios)

🪖 The new $40 million Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum opens tomorrow in Little Falls. (MPR News)

🏀 It will cost $20 a month, or $120 for the season, to stream Timberwolves games on DAZN. (Star Tribune)

Violent crime fell by 14% in the Twin Cities and 9% outside the metro last year, according to newly released Minnesota Department of Public Safety figures.

Why it matters: The report, which collects data from local agencies, confirms a continued ebbing of violence following a surge that began in the pandemic.

By the numbers: Crime fell in every major category, including homicides, which declined from 172 to 132 between 2024 and 2025.

• That's still not quite below 2019, when there were 117 homicides in the state.
• Carjackings fell 31% and aggravated assaults were down 11%.

"The only response possible was to help somebody else. You had to pick somebody else up in order to stand up yourself."

Ethen, who was sightseeing in New York City with another Minnesota priest, was supposed to have breakfast at Windows on the World, the restaurant atop the World Trade Center, early that morning.

• Tired from a late flight, he opted for a second coffee before heading out, he recalled to the Elk River Star News.

It was during that cup that the planes hit.

🕯️ More memorial coverage: Remembering Tom Burnett, Jr., a Bloomington native who was killed trying to take back Flight 93 from hijackers.

🕯️ Torey can't believe it's been 25 years. She'll spend part of today re-reading this haunting piece.

🤧 Nick was wondering if his ragweed allergy had disappeared. Then came yesterday, when he found out the pollen just arrived late this year.

🥴 Audrey is swearing off fried food for a month.

🏒 Kyle is off, probably wringing his hands about Quinn Hughes.

Delano Massey quarterbacked today's edit.