July 2023

Minnesota Independent Farmers and Food Producers
Business

Business, Featured

  Farmshare, an online marketplace connecting farmers, fishers, ranchers, and food producers with consumers is looking for food producers to join its platform. (Minneapolis, MN) — July 27, 2023 — Farmshare, an online marketplace connecting farmers, fishers, ranchers, and independent food producers with consumers, is excited to announce its participation in the prestigious Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator in Minneapolis, MN. As part of this program, Farmshare will be based

Jennie-O Turkey Store Announces 4 Lucky Winners of $25,000 Grand Prize to Cap its School Cafeteria Takeover Campaign Hosted by Chef Carla Hall
Doing Good

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Brand to provide each of the 4 winning schools with $25,000 to purchase new kitchen equipment and essential supplies (Willmar, MN) —  July 27, 2023  — The makers of the Jennie-O® turkey brand — a category leader and one of the top turkey brands in the United States — announced that it has chosen four U.S. schools as winners of the company’s national School Cafeteria Takeover campaign, hosted by the Jennie-O® brand team and esteemed celebrity chef Carla Hall.

The Straw Hat Riots
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Featured, Music | Podcast

  We are bent not broken and hardened to be out of line and still survive” — Emerald Suspension (Minneapolis, MN) —  July 28, 2023 — The catchy big band swing jazz style of “Skimmer Hat” is a big departure from the experimental music typically produced by Emerald Suspension. The group has a knack of crafting unique genres to fit whatever concepts they explore for their creative projects – For

Treetop Trail Minnesota Zoo
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  (Apple Valley, MN) — July 28, 2023  — The Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop, is now officially open to the public. The 1.25-mile Treetop Trail takes guests to new heights – up to 32 feet above the ground – as they travel into the trees and gain new perspectives of many Zoo animals, including tigers, moose, bison, and camels. The Treetop Trail will be open

SPS Commerce to Acquire TIE Kinetix
Business

Business

(Minneapolis, MN) —  July 26, 2023 — SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSC), a leader in retail cloud services, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire TIE Kinetix, a leading provider of supply chain digitalization including EDI and e-invoicing in Europe.   The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the shareholders of TIE Kinetix N.V. “We are looking forward to welcoming TIE Kinetix employees

Forge North launches MSP Startup Guide, An Online Tool for Entrepreneurs
Business

Business, Featured

  (Minneapolis – St Paul, MN) —  Forge North announced the launch of the MSP Startup Guide, a community-created database that helps entrepreneurs find the right support and services to grow their startups. The MSP Startup Guide provides curated connections to the region’s leading investors, support organizations, mentors, accelerators, capital opportunities, spaces, regulatory agencies, community connections and more. The intent is to speed founders’ startup journeys from ideation to growth

HMN Financial, Inc. Announces Dividend
Business

Business, Uncategorized

ROCHESTER, Minn., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HMN Financial, Inc. (HMN or the Company) (Nasdaq:HMNF) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock, payable on September 7, 2023 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 16, 2023. The declaration and amount of any future cash dividends remains subject to the sole discretion of the

Keala Ede and Jon Schmidt
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Featured, People

    (ST. PAUL, MN) — July 25th, 2023 – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment of Judge Keala Ede and Jon Schmidt to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Ede and Schmidt will fill the vacancies that will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Denise D. Reilly and the Honorable Lucinda E. Jesson, who both served in an at-large capacity.    Ede will

Meat Education and Training Grant
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  Nine Minnesota schools receive funding for training programs (St. Paul, MN) – July 25, 2025 —  Minnesota’s meat processing industry has received a boost from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), which has awarded $350,000 in one-time grants through its Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant Program. The MEAT Grant provides the opportunity for Minnesota schools to fund equipment purchases, facility renovation, curriculum development, faculty training, and more processing-related

Motorcycle Adventure and Sex: Secrets, Tips, and Tricks Arrives at VBR5 (The VERY BORING RALLY)
Good Things

Good Things

  “Any motorcycle can be used for an adventure. As a US Supreme Court Justice said of pornography, I believe I know a motorcycle adventure and an adventure motorcyclist when I see or meet one.””  — Dr. Gregory W. Frazie   (Duluth, MN) — , USA, July 25, 2023 — Motorcycle road warrior, adventurer, author and journalist, Dr. Gregory W. Frazier (around the world six times by motorcycles), is to

Minnesota State Fair New Attractions
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(St Paul, MN) —  July 25, 2023  – The Minnesota State Fair announces several new attractions, exhibits, vendors and programs for the 2023 Great Minnesota Get-Together. The following is a list of State Fair experiences being celebrated or debuting this year. Sweet & Selfie ExperienceThis fun, sugar-filled exhibit for all ages takes the fair guest on a journey through a fantastical world, where larger-than-life sweets (giant donuts, cookies, a candy

Mankato Celebrates Thomas Park
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Photo Credits: Jeff Lang (Mankato, MN) — July 24th, 2023– Celebrate the grand re-opening of Thomas Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, at the park, 100 Thomas Park Court. Participate in self-guided tours to view the park’s new features and amenities, which include: • Championship field with turf, lighting, dugouts and dedicated warm-up area.• Four-field pinwheel, with restroom located nearby for easy access.• Batting cages.• Concessions

Minnesota Bride Best of 2023
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(Minnesota) — July 21,2023 — Minnesota Bride has announced their annual awards Best of 2023 which honors the most innovative and creative talent in the Minnesota wedding industry.  The winners were chosen by their peers through an open voting process that was held online and were revealed at the Best of 2023 Awards on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at International Market Square. There are 60 categories plus editors choice awards.

Emma Stertz Cracker Jill® Packaging
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To shine a light on female athletes, Cracker Jack® is funding sports dreams for nine “I Am Cracker Jill® Award” winners and featuring the grand prize winner on brand packaging in 2024  (Plano, TX) — July 20, 2023  — As part of its mission to increase the visibility of girls and women in sports to inspire the next generation, Cracker Jack® is recognizing nine young women today with the I Am Cracker Jill® Award. These recipients

Jostens Goes ALL IN for The 2023 WSOP Championship Bracelet - Dripping in Diamonds
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Business, Featured

(Las Vegas, NV) — July 18, 2023  — The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion was presented with a custom championship bracelet from Jostens mid-afternoon Monday, July 17th at the Main Event Final Table in Las Vegas.  Daniel Weinman took home $12,100,000 along with the one-of-a-kind 2023 WSOP world champion bracelet handcrafted by Jostens, the leading custom jewelry designer and producer for professional, college, and high school

CPKC’s Final Spike Steam Tour to Mark One-year Anniversary of Railway’s Creation - Will Make Stop in St. Paul
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(Calgary, CA) — July 18, 2023 — Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway announced the 2816 Empress steam locomotive will travel from Canada, through the U.S. and into Mexico departing Calgary, Alta. on April 14, 2024, the one-year anniversary of CPKC’s creation. “Our unique, unrivaled railway network connects a continent and links Canada, the U.S. and Mexico,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive Officer. “On April 14, 2023, we

Bursch Travel Mike Davidson
People

People

  Bursch Travel Appoints Mike Davidson, President   (Alexandria, MN) —  Bursch Travel is excited to have Davidson join the team, bringing his vast knowledge and expertise in the travel industry to Bursch Travel. Bursch Travel announced that Mike Davidson has been appointed new President of the company. An experienced leader in travel, Davidson succeeded Lee Hurd as President and assumed responsibilities on May 1, 2023.  After 35 years with Bursch Travel,

Powerball Jackpot Reaches $1 Billion
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Good Things

(Minnesota) — July 18, 2023 —  For the third time ever, the Powerball® jackpot has reached the one billion dollar mark! The jackpot is currently estimated at $1 billion for the next drawing on Wednesday, July 19. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $516.8 million. The jackpot ranks as the seventh largest U.S. lottery jackpot and third largest Powerball jackpot, only behind the world record $2.04 billion Powerball

Minnesota Hospice Grand Re-opening of Lakeville Offices
Business

Business, Featured

  Minnesota Hospice is a beacon of support and compassion in our community. Our calling is to help create moments of joy and alleviate fears for our patients & their loved ones in their time of need.”   — Ken Haglind, CEO and Co-Founder   (Lakeville, MN) — July 18, 2023 — Minnesota Hospice, a 5-star rated hospice by Medicare in the Twin Cities, proudly announces the grand re-opening of their

Miromatrix Poster Voted Best in Congress at the 2023 American Transplant Congress; Jack Lake Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
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Doing Good, Featured

  (Eden Prairie, MN) —  July 13, 2023 — Miromatrix Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: MIRO), a life sciences company pioneering a novel technology for bioengineering fully transplantable organs to help save and improve patients’ lives, announced that its poster entitled Initial Preclinical Evaluation of a Bioengineered Kidney was selected Best in Congress at the recent American Transplant Congress (ATC). “We appreciate the opportunity to present our kidney work at ATC, and

2023 League of Minnesota Cities Sustainable City Award
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(Bloomington, MN) — June 30th, 2023 — The City of Bloomington was awarded with a 2023 Sustainable City Award by the League of Minnesota Cities at the League’s Annual Conference, held in Duluth. The City was honored for its bulky item management program. The bulky item management program began in 2022 to provide a means for residents to sustainably dispose of bulky, unwanted items. Prior to this program, Bloomington held curbside cleanup

Northern Nest Services
Business

Business

  We strive to be our client’s eyes and ears while they’re away. If we see something that needs attention, we take care of it so they don’t have to spend any of their time away from home worrying” — Laura Schuh, co-owner of Northern Nest Services Chanhassen, MN) —  USA, July 11, 2023 — Northern Nest Services, an accredited member of the National Home Watch Association, is proud to

2023 Farm Families of the Year
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Authored by: University of Minnesota Extension (Minnesota) — July 11th, 2023 — Families and growers from all of Minnesota’s 87 counties will be represented as the University of Minnesota honors them in the 2023 Farm Family of the Year ceremony. This is the first time in recent memory that every county has selected agricultural leaders for this recognition. The families will be recognized in a ceremony beginning at 1:15 p.m.,

CraftsyTV Sling Freestream
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  TN Marketing announces its latest partnership with Sling Freestream to launch the creative DIY channel and continue the expansion of CraftsyTV in the FAST market. (Plymouth, MN) —  July 13, 2023 — TN Marketing is excited to announce its latest collaboration with Sling Freestream, a leading free ad-supported television (FAST) streaming service. The partnership brings the DIY channel, CraftsyTV to Sling Freestream users with no payment or credit card

Feed My Starving Children 4 Billionth Meal
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(Coon Rapids, MN) —  July 14, 2023 — Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), a nonprofit organization committed to eradicating extreme hunger, celebrates the production of its 4 billionth meal. The milestone meal was packed on June 28 at a mobile packing event at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, Minnesota. FMSC partners distribute MannaPack meals to families in hunger hotspots around the world. Since its founding in 1987, FMSC has been driven by the

Hawkins, Inc. Expands Water Treatment Footprint with Acquisition of EcoTech Enterprises, Inc.
Business

Business

(Roseville, MN) —  July 14, 2023  — Hawkins, Inc., a leading specialty chemical and ingredients company, has added its 40th Water Treatment location by completing the acquisition of EcoTech Enterprises, Inc. (“EcoTech”). EcoTech manufactures, blends, packages and distributes water treatment chemicals for its customers throughout Arkansas and surrounding states. “As we continue to execute on our strategy to grow our water treatment business, we believe this tuck-in acquisition will allow

New Food at the MN State Fair
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(St. Paul, Mn) — July 11th, 2023 -– The Minnesota State Fair has added 34 official new foods and seven new food vendors to theexpansive menu already offered at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. In total, 500 foods will be available at nearly300 different concession locations throughout the fairgrounds this year.  The official new foods announcement issponsored by Mattress Firm. The New Foods List! Baba’s Al Taco Baba Traditional hummus, harissa

New Food at the MN State Fair
Photography

Photography

(St Paul, MN) — July 11th, 2023 — The Minnesota State Fair has added 34 official new foods and seven new food vendors to the expansive menu already offered at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. In total, 500 foods will be available at nearly 300 different concession locations throughout the fairgrounds this year. Here are some pictures to tempt you until the Great Minnesota Get Together!     More details on

Be The Match BioTherapies® Marks Cord Blood Awareness Month with the Announcement of the Cord Blood Bank Alliance
Business

Business

(Minneapolis, MN) — July 10, 2023  — In anticipation of Cord Blood Awareness Month this July, Be The Match BioTherapies®, an organization offering solutions for companies developing and commercializing cell and gene therapies, today announced the formation of the Be The Match BioTherapies Cord Blood Bank Alliance (CBBA). The CBBA, will build awareness about the benefits of cord blood as an allogeneic cell source in cell therapy while expanding and

Department of Revenue One-time Tax Rebates
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Online portal now available for eligible recipients of the rebate who need to update their address or bank information   (St Paul, MN) — July 10, 2023 – The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today the process to send 2.4 million one-time tax rebate payments to Minnesotans. This rebate was part of the historic 2023 One Minnesota Budget, signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on May 24, 2023. “This

Natural Organic Reduction
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(Saint Paul, MN) —  July 10, 2023   — Natural Organic Reduction, often called human composting, is not currently legal in Minnesota but with the help of local funeral service provider Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial and their partner in Washington state, Steve Wheeler is getting his dying wish. After 20 years as a social studies teacher Steve Wheeler’s existing medical condition made it impossible for him to continue

Alexandria Technical & Community College SkillsUSA
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  Nine students from Powersports, Mechanical Drafting, Carpentry, and Machine Tool competed in the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, GA. All nine finished Top 10 in their events, with four earning medals. (Alexandria MN) — July 2023 —  All nine Alexandria Technical & Community College competitors placed in the top 10 in their respective SkillsUSA events, and received Skill Point Certificates based on industry standards. Competitors must attain a high level

Four from Service Electric Co. Receive MEA Meritorious Service Awards
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  Their actions are a testament to who they are and to the training they receive as Service Electric Co. employees.” — John Gann (Bloomington, MN) — July 7, 2023 — MEA Energy Association (MEA) is honored to present Ricky Russelburg, Grayson Jones, Dustin Logan, and Jacob Jones of Service Electric Co. for going above and beyond while on the job for CenterPoint Energy. All were nominated by Andrew Buehn,

Susan Hensel Gallery K. Daphnae Koop
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The Susan Hensel Gallery is proud to present this incredible exhibit as an online exclusive show” — Susan Hensel – Gallery Owner (Minneapolis, MN)  — July 6, 2023 — Susan Hensel Gallery on Artsy.net is exhibiting a new online exclusive show from mixed media painter K. Daphnae Koop titled But Trailing Clouds of Glory Do We Come. Opening June 15th and running to August 15th, the show is made up

Richard Petty Billy Lane
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The NASCAR legend and celebrity bike builder will mentor Minnesota high schools as they build go-karts with Northern Tool + Equipment’s new NorthStar engine (Burnsville, MN)  — June 28, 2023   — Motivated by a passion for the trades, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane are spending the next year mentoring students at two Minnesota high schools while they build rat rod go-karts as part of a program designed

Operation Style 21-year Army Vet D. Jones
Business

Business, Featured

  (Minneapolis, MN) –July 4, 2023 — D. Jones Collections, a new and innovative athleisure fashion brand, is thrilled to announce its formal launch to the public. With a focus on combining comfort, style, and high-quality craftsmanship, D. Jones Collections aims to provide fashion-forward individuals with an elevated wardrobe for their everyday life. Under the leadership of founder and owner, D. Jones, the brand has curated a range of meticulously

Mostafa Kamal Prime Therapeutics
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Featured, People

Paulus to retire after a storied career in health care (Eagan, MN) —  July 3, 2023 — Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime), a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) serving nearly 38 million members nationally, today announced that Mostafa Kamal will succeed Ken Paulus as President and CEO of Prime Therapeutics. Kamal currently serves as president of Prime Therapeutics, and the CEO of Magellan Rx, a Prime Therapeutics company. His new role elevates him to include

Greater MSP
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Business, Featured

  Minneapolis, MN / St. Paul, MN)  —  June 28, 2023 — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with leaders of the region’s semiconductor industry today to discuss opportunities to grow the semiconductor industry in Minnesota. Joining Secretary Raimondo at Normandale Community College in Bloomington was Senator Amy Klobuchar, Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse, University of Minnesota Interim President Jeff Ettinger, and GREATER MSP President and CEO Peter Frosch, along

All Energy Solar Steger Center
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(St Paul, MN) —  June 28, 2023 — Explorer, educator, and environmental ambassador Will Steger has had the vision for the Steger Center for decades: A space in the Northwoods where leaders are inspired by nature to spark innovation and change, and a vision of what life could look like in the next few decades. While the original project started in 1988, it is finally in its final stages thanks to