Minnesota

Sporting KC's Special Olympic Unified Team travels to Minnesota for their first match of the season | Sporting Kansas City

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

Sporting KC's Special Olympic Unified Team travels to Minnesota for their first match of the season | Sporting Kansas City

Match time.

Finally, it was time to depart for the match. Sporting KC’s Unified team boarded the bus en route to Allianz Field. There, the players got to watch the Minnesota United vs Sporting KC first team match as a team before heading down to play their own match. The Unified squad enjoyed the match, cheering and reacting to every play and goal. In the 70th minute of the match, both teams went down to the locker room to prepare for their match. Sporting’s Unified changed into the Hoops kit they received during signing day and, one by one began lining up in the tunnel to walk out on the pitch. As the Unified team was getting to take the pitch, Sporting players high-fived and cheered them on.

Both teams had a supporter section cheering them on as they took the pitch. Families of the players traveled to Minnesota to cheer on the team, and players were greeted with applause as the lineups were announced. Each player got to show off their personality as their names were called, waves, salutes, and even a Cristiano Ronaldo “Siuuu” were present in the Starting XI announcements.

Sporting’s Unified coaches gave a rousing pre-match speech, followed by team captain Conner Schonlaw, who found out the day of the match that he would be leading the team for the match.

“It was exciting,” Conner said. “I was shocked when coach told me I was captain. I told them [the team] to hustle, and let’s try to beat those guys.”

The team came out ready to score, and that’s exactly what they did. In the second minute of the match, Sporting was creating a great build; Isaiah Adcox started the play from the backline with a pass to Joe Toland, then German Castillo, and up to Cohen Nimz, who sent a center for Gentry Scheid, to net the first goal of the match. Gentry celebrated by chest-bumping Isaiah as the team gathered to celebrate the goal. Sporting continued creating dangerous plays, and two minutes later, the team found their second goal. Off a Minnesota throw in German was able to recover the ball in the midfield and pass the ball to Antonio, who chipped the ball over the keeper, giving Sporting the 2-0 lead early in the match. Antonio celebrated his goal by high-fiving Matt B and Captain Conner.

Minnesota scored one goal in the first half, narrowing Sporting’s lead. The second 15-minute half saw great plays from Sporting players. Jayden Depierro made some incredible saves in the second half and was crucial in keeping the scoreline close. Minnesota took the first goal as momentum and came out with a 3-2 win over Sporting.

As the final whistle blew, Sporting’s Unified Team was met with applause and cheers from their traveling supporter section. The Unified squad played an intense match and showed off their preparation and skills against a great team. After the match, both team players gathered to take a group picture, showing the unity of the beautiful game. After the match, Unified partner German described the game as a lesson not a loss,

Sporting’s Unified Team returns home and will begin preparations for the second match in this series. Make sure you come out and support the Unified team as they take on Minnesota United on Sept. 21 at Children’s Mercy Park. Secure your spot today and follow along with the Unified Team at SportingKC.com/Unified.

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Minnesota

AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026

Published

3 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026

ST. PAUL (WJON News) — A multiplatinum indie pop trio will grace the stage of the Great Minnesota Get Together this summer. AJR will hit the stage at the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd. The trio has generated billions of streams and four platinum singles, along with being one of the 500 most listened to artists on Spotify.

AJR will be joined by Quinn XCII (92) and Avery Cochrane. Quinn XCII (92) blends pop, alternative, and genre-bending storytelling and has garnered multiple platinum singles like “Straightjacket.” Tickets for AJR go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

9 grandstand shows have now been announced for the 2026 state fair.

AJR joins Bonnie Raitt, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Sierra Ferrell, Tommy James & The Shondells with special guest Herman Hermit’s Peter Noone, Rod Stewart with Richard Marx, Brad Paisley, and the It’s Iconic tour with TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue as acts announced for the 2026 state fair.

Minnesota State Fair

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2025 Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together is a rite of passage, and the first sign that summer is coming to an end. 2025 saw perfect weather for the entire 12-day run of the Minnesota State Fair.

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Kansas and Jefferson Starship at The Ledge

Two classic rock legends in Kansas and Jefferson Starship brought down the house at the Ledge Amphitheater in 2025.

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Turnpike Troubadours at the Ledge

The American Country Band Turnpike Troubadours took the stage at the Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park with their “Wild America” tour and special guest Old Crow Medicine Show.

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Minnesota

What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

Published

15 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

The successful Artemis II mission around the moon is a reminder that space exploration is built on decades of groundwork. Photojournalist Joe Van Ryn and Frankie McLister show how a University of Minnesota graduate helped pave the way for spaceflight.

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Minnesota

Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are planning to investigate the actions of federal law enforcement officers in one county, potentially including a kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said they planned to release more details about the investigation at a news conference later Monday. Ramsey County includes the state capital of St. Paul.

Choi and Fletcher said they will pursue information they need for the investigation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department has refused so far to cooperate with other state and local investigations into the killings by federal officers of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The news conference announcement did not specify which incident is being investigated, but the county’s chief prosecutor and sheriff said they would ask the public for information about this and other incidents.

The state and the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, sued the Trump administration last month to gain access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.

Minnesota and Hennepin County have also appealed to the public to share information about federal officers’ potentially illegal activities, given the refusal by federal authorities to provide evidence.

The Trump administration has suggested Minnesota officials don’t have jurisdiction to investigate those cases. State and county prosecutors say they need to conduct their own inquiries because they don’t trust the federal government.

The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, and two officers have been placed on leave, but the agency said a similar federal probe was not warranted in Good’s death.

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