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Good morning, Minnesota! Hope you're staying nice and warm on this gorgeous and frigid day 🥶 On to the news 📢

Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune

I learned a new word this morning, courtesy of weather guy and all-around good dude Paul Douglas: Cryophobia, or a fear of intense cold.

And it appears that very sentiment has taken hold amid several Minnesota school districts as we enter the final stretch of a deep freeze. As of about 7:30 a.m., it was 17 below zero in Minneapolis. With the windchill, it was closer to -34 degrees.

At temperatures like this, the National Weather Service says, it could take just over 10 minutes for frostbite to take hold on exposed skin.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District, Minnesota's largest, cited student safety as the motivating factor behind its decision to cancel classes today, although some high school activities may continue after 2:30 p.m.

The Minneapolis and St. Paul districts made similar announcements, though the school board meetings for both are scheduled to go on as planned. While Minneapolis said it will still hold high school sporting events, St. Paul says those activities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack

In this week’s installment of Basketball Across Minnesota, Marcus Fuller catches up with Cretin-Derham Hall graduate Curtis Jones, who’s had quite a journey to the top of Division I.

Jones went the junior college route and played at Buffalo, before transferring to Iowa State. The Cyclones climbed to the No. 2 ranking in the country this month, and Jones has been a big part of their rise.

Last season, he came off the bench to score 26 points for Iowa State in a Sweet 16 game against Illinois.

From the story: “Jones has been a starter three times in 17 games for Iowa State this season, but he’s the Big 12 leading scorer while averaging 21 points through six league games. A three-game stretch went like this: 23 points vs. Utah, 26 points vs. Texas Tech in OT and 25 points vs. Kansas.

“I still come in and play 30 minutes,” Jones said. “It’s not really that big of a deal in my opinion. I just come in with the mindset of attacking, making the right plays and taking what’s there. I’m very confident, so I feel like there’s a lot there for me.”

Also in this week’s BAM:

** Fuller’s Five – Shoutouts from Marcus for on-court brilliance, including Gophers sophomore Grace Grocholski, who scored 27 points in a comeback win at Northwestern.

** Numbers game – Three stats basketball fans should know, including a career points milestone for Paige Bueckers.

--Joe Christensen, Sports Desk team leader

Paul Klauda via Threads

Brrr is right, Mr. Klauda.

I was telling my editor the other day that this part of our fair newsletter could easily be populated by the cityscapes posted by Paul Klauda, a longtime editor here at the  Minnesota Star Tribune. Click or tap on the image above to scroll through Klauda's timeline, including this gorgeous view of downtown Minneapolis from afar.

Eder Campuzano, reporter

David Taintor, editor