Minnesota

What does the closure of beloved restaurants and music stores mean for small business in Minnesota?

Published

9 months ago

July 11, 2025

What does the closure of beloved restaurants and music stores mean for small business in Minnesota?

“Running a small business is a special kind of challenge, and like any business, while there are good days and bad days, good months and bad months, a bakery is a particular type of physical challenge,” the post read. “We understand that this may shock and sadden many of our fans, but we also know that we have been blessed with an incredibly supportive, caring customer base who will recognize the people behind the treats, and for that, and so much more, we enter these final weeks with immense gratitude.”

Palmer’s Bar patrons, who go by the names “R.D.” and “C,” shake hands before parting ways outside the legendary Minneapolis dive bar, which will close permanently in September. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The owners of Palmer’s, a Minneapolis dive bar that was hailed as one of the best in America, said a national trend in declining alcohol sales led to the “incredibly difficult but necessary decision” to shutter the 119-year-old business on Sept. 14.

Those declining sales and challenges from losing nearby businesses drained between $10,000 and $30,000 a month from the bar’s coffers, according to the owners, but a neighbor plans to buy the the building for a community space.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reports that small businesses, which are defined as companies that employ fewer than 500 people, make up 99.5% of all businesses in the state.

But between March 2023 and March 2024, at least 16,029 businesses opened as 21,448 closed, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Still, Mary Haugen with DEED said small businesses tend to survive in Minnesota, citing state data which shows more than half of the businesses formed in 2019 remained open in 2024. But rising costs can prompt landlords to increase their lease and force businesses to close up shop.

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Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar’s campaign raises $4.8M for Minnesota governor bid

Published

6 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Amy Klobuchar’s campaign raises .8M for Minnesota governor bid

Michelle Griffith
| Minnesota Reformer

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised $4.8 million for her Minnesota gubernatorial campaign in just over two months.
Her fundraising total is more than six times that of her leading Republican opponent, House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
Over 90% of donations to Klobuchar’s campaign were under $100, and she currently has $3.4 million in cash on hand.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised $4.8 million for her campaign since she launched her bid for Minnesota governor at the end of January, her campaign announced Wednesday.

Klobuchar’s total, amassed in just 62 days, suggests she’ll have a staggering cash advantage from now until November, compounded by outside spending by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and well-funded allies like Alliance for a Better Minnesota.

Over 90% of donors have given Klobuchar’s governor campaign less than $100, which means she can keep asking them for more as the contest heats up, and she has $3.4 million cash on hand. Klobuchar’s campaign said her haul is the most raised by any candidate for governor in its first two months. In 2022, Gov. Tim Walz raised just over $1 million in the first quarter of that year, according to Minnesota campaign finance data.

“(Klobuchar’s) grassroots donor base knows that she fights for people no matter the odds, and they stepped up the moment she announced her campaign for governor,” said Joe Radosevich, her campaign manager, in a statement.

Klobuchar, Minnesota’s senior senator and the state’s most accomplished vote-getter, has raised over six times as much as GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is a leading GOP candidate for governor. Demuth has raised over $730,000 since she launched her campaign in November, Demuth’s campaign said. Demuth raised about $226,000 in the first quarter.

Kendall Qualls, an army veteran and former health care executive, has raised $700,000 since he launched his campaign for governor last summer, Qualls’ campaign said. In the first quarter of 2026, Qualls raised about $123,000, according to his campaign.

Since launching her campaign on Jan. 29, Klobuchar has held no campaign rallies and has largely refrained from campaigning on social media, unlike her Republican opponents.

Klobuchar hopped into the race after Walz ended his campaign for a third term after intensifying scrutiny of fraud in safety net programs. Walz reportedly met with Klobuchar and urged her to run.

Other Democrats have stayed out of the race since then, no doubt deterred by Klobuchar’s electoral record, top-flight political operation and fundraising prowess.

Klobuchar is a heavy favorite to win in November against a field of Republicans who are unknown to most Minnesotans, aside from MyPillow mogul Mike Lindell. Republican candidates include Demuth, Qualls, and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.

The DFL Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota will hold their endorsing conventions next month.

Klobuchar has spent two decades in the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers primarily send out press releases, take lots of votes and manage constituent services.

The governor of Minnesota oversees an enterprise with more than 36,000 employees, an annual general fund budget of $33 billion and billions more in Medicaid and other federal dollars now under considerable scrutiny following the discovery of hundreds of millions in fraud in recent years.

As the Republican Party of Minnesota has noted, since she launched her campaign, Klobuchar’s campaign website lists no priorities, top issues or even a description of her. She also hasn’t conducted any interviews with Minnesota media outlets.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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Minnesota

Jarren Duran directs obscene gesture toward fan at Minnesota and says fan told him to kill himself

Published

18 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Jarren Duran directs obscene gesture toward fan at Minnesota and says fan told him to kill himself

MINNEAPOLIS — Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran directed an obscene gesture toward a fan at Target Field as he returned to the dugout after a fifth-inning groundout in Boston’s 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Duran, who has spoken about his past struggles with mental health, said a fan made a personal comment that crossed the line.

“Somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said. “I’m used to it at this point, you know? I mean, (expletive) happens. I mean, I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn’t react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering.”

Duran discussed bouts with severe depression and a suicide attempt in a Netflix series that debuted last year.

“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I’ve just got to get used to it,” Duran said. “I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we’re trying to win a game. I shouldn’t even bring that up to anybody. … It just happens.”

Boston manager Alex Cora said he didn’t witness the incident and hadn’t reviewed video of it.

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Minnesota

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

Published

1 day 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.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

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.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

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.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

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