January 2024

NMDP BioTherapies New President Tom Hochuli
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    Tom Hochuli will lead the organization as it renews its commitment to advancing cell and gene therapy   (Minneapolis, MN) —  January 30, 2024 – NMDP BioTherapies℠, formerly Be The Match BioTherapies, announced that Tom Hochuli will serve as president, leading the organization into its promising future phase. The appointment comes at a significant time for NMDP, which underwent a unifying, organization-wide brand change earlier this year driven

Ergodyne Ice Cleats
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(St Paul, MN) — Jan. 25, 2024 — — Winter ready, floor friendly, zero hassle. With the introduction of TREX 6317 Mid-Sole Ice Cleats, Ergodyne aims to gain traction in their efforts against slips, trips, and falls—injuries which account for roughly 12-15% of annual workers’ compensation costs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And because the cleats can rotate to the top or side of the boot, wearers

New Location for Southern Valley Alliance
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    The new Southern Valley Alliance Domestic Abuse Advocacy Center is located at the corner of 3rd Ave & Holmes St. in Shakopee, MN. SVA is proud to announce their new location. The new building will allow for expanded services and access to resources for victims of domestic violence. We are anticipating an increase in walk-in traffic. As we continue to learn more about the needs of people in

M State launches cannabis certificate programs
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  Community college is first in Greater MN to offer cannabis education, collaborates with Green Flower in anticipation of industry demand We have a longstanding reputation for aligning our training programs with the workforce needs of our region, and these new cannabis certificate programs are a continuation of that tradition.” — GL Tucker, Executive Director of M State’s Workforce Development Solutions (Fergus Falls, MN) — January 24, 2024 – Minnesota

Jostens Epic School Revamp Contest
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(Minneapolis, MN) — Jan. 26, 2024   — Jostens is excited to announce Warren High School in Warren, Ark. as the first-place winner and recipient of their inaugural Jostens Epic School Revamp grand prize package, valued up to $150,000. On Jan. 9, elementary to high school-aged students gathered for a pep rally in Warren High School’s new gymnasium, where principal Tiffany Gathen announced their school’s entry to the contest. Moments

EmpowerU Impact on Student Mental Health
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    More than 5,000 students at five EmpowerU partner districts in Minnesota made significant improvements in their mental health and resilience (Minneapolis, MN) — January 17, 2024   — EmpowerU, a leading national provider of mental health skills and support for schools, recently recognized five school districts for their longstanding commitment to improving student resilience and mental health. The districts, based in Minnesota where EmpowerU was founded in 2018,

SharpLink Gaming Sells to RSports Interactive
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(Minneapolis, MN) — Jan. 23, 2024  — SharpLink Gaming Ltd. announced that on January 18, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock or membership interests, as applicable, in its SportsHub/fantasy sports and free to play sports game development business units to RSports Interactive, Inc. (“RSports”) for $22.5 million in an all-cash transaction. Nearly all employees of these acquired

PatchMaster Welcomes New Owners to the Twin Cities, Minnesota
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  — Josh Webb, Owner, PatchMaster Serving the Twin Cities West (Minneapolis, MN) — January 17, 2024  — PatchMaster, the nation’s premier drywall repair franchise, is delighted to announce the arrival of its new owners, Josh Webb and Jim Palm, to PatchMaster Serving the Twin Cities. Leveraging their extensive backgrounds in e-commerce and customer service, Webb and Palm are excellently equipped to manage their PatchMaster franchise, prioritizing customer convenience and

Lakes Jam Music Festival Lineup
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FuzzRD, Smash Mouth, Pop Evil, Saliva, and LIVE (Brainerd MN) —  January 24, 2024 — Lakes Jam Music Festival is thrilled to bring rock sensations Smash Mouth, Pop Evil, Saliva, and FuZZrd to the Busch Light Main Stage at Lakes Jam 2024 with Live as the headlining act. Passes are on sale now and can be purchased at https://lakesjam.com/. Lakes Jam 2024 Thursday Lineup Schedule: 3:00 PM – FuZZrd 4:30

Sun Country Airlines
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(Minneapolis, MN) —  Jan. 24, 2024  — Sun Country Airlines will launch new nonstop service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) beginning in May. This new route will operate four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from May 17, 2024, through Labor Day weekend. “As the leading leisure airline in Minneapolis-St. Paul, we’re excited to add Cleveland to our expanding network,”

Nordic Ware Basalt
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    Nordic Ware’s Basalt cookware collection. (St Louis Park, MN) –January 18, 2024  — On the heels of its latest cookware launch, Verde, Nordic Ware is upping the ante on consciously clean eating with the addition of a second new cookware line – Basalt. This launch has been developed to allow home cooks to feel confident not only in the recipes they are preparing, but to also know that

Shepherd Goods Lamb Chops Timberwolves Collection
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(Minneapolis, MN) — January 18, 2024  — Shepherd Goods Lamb Chops, the renowned Minnesota-based fashion brand, is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated new collection. Set to debut January 18, this release marks a full-circle moment for the brand, celebrating its deep roots in Minnesota and its journey from die-hard fandom to a collaboration. The upcoming collection, which will be available at the Target Center, the home

Center-Mounted Twin-Engine Innovation Award
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(Bristol ID and Minneapolis, MN) — Jan. 18, 2024  — Barletta Pontoon Boats, one of the fastest-growing pontoon boat makers in the segment and a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO), a leading outdoor lifestyle product manufacturer, has been recognized with the 2024 Discover Boating® Minneapolis Boat Show® Innovation Award by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) for its center-mounted twin-engine pontoon boat,

Minnesota Trucking Association Health Plan
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Association Health Plan Created by North Risk PartnersAvailable Through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for 2024 (Plymouth and Eagan, MN) —  Jan. 18, 2024  — Insurance solutions firm North Risk Partners has partnered with the Minnesota Trucking Association to launch an association health plan (AHP) through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) for those involved in the Trucking Industry in Minnesota. The Minnesota Trucking Association,

The Planetary Society Bill Nye
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(Minneapolis, MN) — Jan. 18, 2024  — Lerner Publishing Group™ is pleased to announce a new partnership with The Planetary Society® and CEO Bill Nye to create educational and fun books for young readers. The collaboration launches in 2024 and will include 15 titles for all markets about space science and exploration. Available on January 1, 2024, the brand will launch with Casting Shadows: Solar and Lunar Eclipses with The

Cargill Wins Two 2024 BIG Innovation Awards
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The company was recognized as an innovative organization for its work to advance the agriculture industry, and for Cargill and BAR Technologies’ ground-breaking project, WindWings, designed to decarbonize commercial shipping   (Wayzata, MN)  –January 10, 2024 — Cargill has been recognized for its innovation and R&D leadership with two 2024 Business Intelligence Group (BIG) Innovation Awards . The company’s efforts to harness the power of what’s possible to deliver lifechanging solutions that positively impact the

Rob Greer “Empathy and Understanding In Business”
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  (Oakdale, MN) —  January 13, 2024 — Rob Greer, an accomplished entrepreneur, has collaborated with renowned author Chris Voss and other accomplished professionals worldwide to co-author the highly acclaimed book, Empathy and Understanding In Business, published by SuccessBooks®. The eagerly anticipated book made its grand entrance into the literary world on January 4th, 2024. Following its release, Empathy and Understanding In Business swiftly climbed the ranks on Amazon’s best-sellers

World’s Smallest Pacemakers
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    (Minneapolis, MN) — January 12, 2024  — The world’s smallest pacemakers are making a big difference in cardiac care. The FDA-approved Micra™ leadless pacemakers are the size of large vitamin capsules, and the newest Micra devices now have batteries that last between 16 and 17 years – which means that more than 80% of Micra patients will only need one pacemaker for life. Patient Mekaela Davis shares how

Cirrus Aircraft Personal Aviation
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(Duluth, MN) — Jan. 11, 2024  — Cirrus Aircraft, the company that brought you the aircraft with the parachute and the Vision Jet that lands itself with the touch of a button, today announced the newest generation of the world’s best-selling, high-performance, single-engine piston aircraft – the SR Series G7. The SR Series G7 aircraft features touchscreen interfaces, large high-resolution displays, advanced safety systems, improved visibility, increased legroom, enhanced convenience

Girl Scouts River Valleys Appoints Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson as Chief Operating Officer
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  The transition will support River Valleys’ inclusion efforts by intentionally aligning DEI strategies with all operations.   (St Paul, MN) —  Jan. 9, 2024  — After serving as Chief DEI Officer (CDEIO) for the past two years, Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson will be stepping into the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Girl Scouts River Valleys, serving as second in command to the CEO. “This move signals a new way of

Documentary Jesse Ventura
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From Pro Wrestler to Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura’s Journey Comes to Life in a New Film that Offers a Unique Look at His Improbable 3rd Party Victory. (St Paul, MN) —  Jan. 11, 2024  — Timed with the 25th anniversary of Jesse Ventura’s inauguration as the Governor of Minnesota, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) announces the premiere of “Jesse Ventura Shocks the World,” an exploration of Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s extraordinary journey from the wrestling ring to the governor’s mansion.

Kate Hamerly Spooner Vincent Companies
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  Newest strategic hire signals strong growth for Vincent Real Estate and Vincent Development (Eden Prairie, MN) —  January 10, 2024 — Vincent Companies, a leader in real estate acquisition and development, today announced that Kate Hamerly Spooner has joined the firm’s senior executive team in the newly created role of Vice President of Investor Relations. In this position, Spooner will be responsible for capitalizing Vincent Companies’ development portfolio by

Healthsource Solutions Healthiest Employers® Award
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We are excited that HealthSource Solutions won second place in Minnesota in the Healthiest Employers award! (Minneapolis, MN) —  January 10, 2024  — HealthSource Solutions is excited they won second place in Minnesota in the Healthiest Employers award! This prestigious accolade acknowledges the dedication of organizations that have a people-first approach to the health and wellbeing of their organization. These companies prioritize the welfare of their employees as a fundamental

The Association for Black Economic Power
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  Allianz supports neighborhood organization with $50K financial security grant for financial literacy and economic empowerment in the Twin Cities. (Minneapolis, MN) —  January 11, 2024 — The Association for Black Economic Power (ABEP) is excited to announce it has received an investment from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) to support financial literacy and economic empowerment in the Twin Cities. Allianz Life grants provide charitable donations

Bolander Marks a Century of Excellence in Heavy Civil Construction
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  Your Specialty Contractor of Choice In a momentous milestone, Bolander celebrates 100 years of excellence in the earthwork, utilities, demolition, and deep foundations industry. (St Paul, MN) —  January 8, 2024  — From its humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone in civil construction solutions, Bolander‘s journey is one of resilience, growth, and unwavering commitment. Bolander, a leader in heavy civil construction, commemorates its 100th year of operations. The company

Accanto Health Dr. Tom Britton
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(St Paul, MN) —  Jan. 08, 2024  — Accanto Health, a national leader in eating disorder specialty care and behavioral health services, announced the appointment of veteran behavioral health executive Dr. Tom Britton as CEO this week. Accanto Health encompasses renowned brands: The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. “As the awareness of eating disorders and the need for quality, compassionate care continues to grow, it’s vital to

Reverse Mechanic Mega-Album
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Broken Down album cover While many artists shift focus to singles, indie pop/alternative hip hop powerhouse Reverse Mechanic defies trends with remarkable 30+ song album “Broken Down” (Minneapolis, MN) —  January 9, 2024  — Reverse Mechanic, an up-and-coming alternative hip hop and indie pop artist from Minneapolis, MN, has announced the release of a new 30+ track mega-album titled “Broken Down.” Scheduled for release in early 2024, the staggering feat

Gray Duck Million Dollar Incentive
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Gray Duck Spirits announced today there is a path for it to give $1,000,000 annually to support Dinkytown Athletes. (St Paul, MN) — January 9, 2024 — Gray Duck Spirits announced today there is a path for it to give $1,000,000 annually to support Dinkytown Athletes. “If we can do 30% of the Minnesota market leader in vodka we will be close to our million-dollar goal. The rest of the

New Preston Veterans Home
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(St Paul, MN) – January 3, 2024–Governor Tim Walz announced that the newly opened Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston admitted its first residents today – four veterans who served in eras from Korea to Vietnam. The Preston Veterans Home is the first of three new veterans homes scheduled to open this month. The communities of Montevideo and Bemidji will also admit their first residents to new veterans homes in the

MSP Construction in 2024
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(Minneapols/St Paul, MN) — December 28th, 2023 — An ongoing expansion of existing gates on Terminal 1’s Concourse G, and two new gates at Terminal 2, will be among the construction work happening at MSP in 2024, following the recent approval of the 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget by the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s (MAC) board. The long list of projects on the program, with proposed work that extends through

Galina Olmsted Mia
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(Minneapolis, MN) —(Jan, 4, 2024)—Galina Olmsted joined Mia in 2024 as associate curator of European art. Prior to her arrival at Mia, she was a curator at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, where she organized a range of exhibitions including “The Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection.” She has also worked in curatorial departments at the National Gallery of

New Dating App Petmeet
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  (Minneapolis, MN) — January 3, 2024  — Petmeet: Pets, Dates and Friends, a pioneering new dating and friendship app for pet owners, launched today on iOS and Android. Petmeet offers pet enthusiasts a unique way to bond over their shared passion while discovering romantic connections. On Petmeet: Pets, Dates & Friends, users create profiles featuring photos and stories about their beloved pets. The app’s proprietary matching algorithm then suggests

Icario Names Aerste Howells Chief Commercial Officer
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MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Icario, the healthcare industry’s leading engagement company, today announced it has named Aerste Howells Chief Commercial Officer, reporting to CEO Marc Willard effective Jan. 2. In this position, Howells will lead the organization’s sales and marketing teams while working with healthcare executives to help their organizations improve engagement to drive healthy behaviors. “Aerste has shown the ability to consistently generate revenue growth across

3M Self-charging Headset
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  Converts outdoor and indoor light into clean, continuous energy   Potential to eliminate the need for millions of single-use batteries every year   Allows for hands-free operation and seamless communication with co-workers on the jobsite   (St Paul, MN) —  Jan. 3, 2024  — At CES 2024, 3M will debut the world’s first self-charging protective communications headset that converts outdoor and indoor light into clean electrical energy. The headset

Minnesota Lottery $1 Million Wins
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  15,677 winning numbers announced   (Roseville, MN) — JAN. 1, 2024 – Two lucky Minnesota Millionaire Raffle players are waking up this morning to discover their tickets are worth $1 million. The $1 million winning tickets were purchased in Delano at Coborn’s #2028, 1400 Babcock Blvd. E., and in Dundas at Kwik Trip #489, 415 Hester St. E. Each business earned a $5,000 bonus for selling a winning ticket.

Mr. Bubble Gummy Bear Bubble Bath
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  (Eden Prairie, MN) —  Jan. 2, 2024  — What better way to bubble up the holidays and ring in the new year than with the gift that keeps on giving… bubbles! Join America’s favorite bath-time buddy, Mr. Bubble, in celebrating National Bubble Bath Day on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 with a new, Limited-Edition Gummy Bear Bubble Bath, plus 30% off all Mr. Bubble products online from January 2-8, 2024, while supplies last.

Powerball Jackpot $810 Million
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Jackpot ranks as fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and tenth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot (Minnesota) — December 31, 2023 — The Powerball® jackpot has rolled into the New Year! The jackpot evaded players Saturday night and has grown to an estimated $810 million for the next Powerball drawing on New Year’s Day. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $408.9 million. The winning numbers in the Saturday, Dec. 30 drawing were white

Duluth Area Chamber Foundation
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(Duluth, MN) — December 29th, 2023– There’s good news for those seeking new career opportunities in the new year, as well as for local businesses looking to hire. The Duluth Area Chamber Foundation is working to help connect potential employees with local businesses to help keep and attract workforce talent in the northland. Thanks to a new grant opportunity, those connections can also soon include financial assistance in the form of

DNR List of Acomplishments
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Achievements include milestones that set the stage for transformative work in the future (Minnesota) — December 27th, 2023 — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released a year-end list of some of its major accomplishments in 2023 opens in a new browser tab. From supporting the return of rare species and connecting more people to the outdoors, to conserving and managing the state’s natural resources and providing for commercial uses of

Mayor Norton City of Rochester
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(Rochester, MN) — December 28th, 2023 — The City of Rochester and Mayor Kim Norton announce the completion of the 2023 Move with the Mayor (R) (MWTM) Fall Fit Challenge and celebrate success in achieving the Gold Level in the Step It Up! Success Roadmap, the highest level of achievement. Rochester was one of thirty cities that participated in MWTM fitness challenges this year, contributing to the more than 60 events held