Twin Cities Business

01/14/2026

As federal agents swept into the Twin Cities last week following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7, businesses began to feel the pinch. The scope of the operation is still coming into frame, but the impact was received like an all-out assault on the local economy.

Over the weekend, local business owners and management described ICE efforts to target their workers, regardless of legal status or criminal history. Click the link in our bio to read what they told TCB editorial director Charlie Rybak they witnessed and how they responded.

01/13/2026

January is always a tough month for business in the north. As ICE operations expand across the metro area, TCB's Charlie Rybak looks at the suffering it's imposed on local businesses and their workers at a time many can least afford it.

01/13/2026

The Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis has hosted nearly 100 Luminiscence shows, which run through Feb. 1. The immersive light and sound performances feature kaleidoscopic projections across the church’s nave and onto the ceiling. Some showings also offer music from a live choir or orchestra. Produced by French company Lotchi, Luminiscence says 93% of its performances sell out on average.

Luminiscence will donate a portion of its proceeds toward the restoration of the Basilica. The kaleidoscopic shows are also quite the financial undertaking. Luminiscence's general manger, Clayton Ferguson, wouldn’t disclose the exact figure to TCB, but estimates it costs millions of dollars to put on each venue. Find out how the Basilica attracted the event by reading our story, which is linked in our bio.

01/12/2026

Sun Country Airlines, which is headquartered in the Twin Cities, will be acquired by a Las Vegas-based airline: Allegiant -- in a $1.5 billion deal. The combined airline will be headquartered in Las Vegas. Find out why it's unlikely that President Trump's Department of Justice will block the deal by reading TCB senior editor Liz Fedor's report on our website, which is linked in our bio.

01/10/2026

Luminiscence says it will donate a portion of proceeds from its multi-million-dollar light performances to the restoration of the Basilica of St. Mary. The immersive show features kaleidoscopic projections across the Minneapolis church’s main hall and on the ceiling, with music from a live choir or orchestra. Shows run through Feb. 1. Get the full story by visiting the link in our bio.

01/09/2026

Across the entire tournament, over 184,000 fans attended the IIHF 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota. However, the number of Canadian fans dopped significantly compared to the year before. Hockey is one of Canada’s two official sports (also lacrosse), and the northern nation also hosts the event biennially. What led to this decline in attendance? TCB associate editor Connor O'Neal tells us the reasons that may have something to do with it.

01/09/2026

Fans sold out Grand Casino Arena on New Year’s Eve for a U.S.-Sweden game in the World Junior Championship tournament. The turnout was exactly what lead, local organizer Minnesota Sports and Events expected each time the U.S. stepped on to the ice.

During the final game of the day, though, more than 11,000 seats emptied out before Canada played—in an arena that had just been sold out and filled with fans’ deafening applause. Canada's average attendance the year before had been double what it was this year. What repelled Canadian fans this year? Tariff sanctions may have something to do with it.

The 2026 World Junior Championship had half as many Canadian fans as the year before when Canada hosted. There may be multiple reasons why.

01/07/2026

Nearly every HR platform this year will have artificial intelligence embedded somewhere, TCB columnist Stephanie Pierce writes—in hiring, learning, compensation, engagement, or other areas. Pierce asks, in her latest HR Confidential column: How will Human Resources balance AI with instinct and experience? The best HR leaders in 2026 may use it to see their employees more clearly. Read that column below.

Today’s HR balancing act means deploying AI and valuing human judgment.

01/07/2026

The Jan. 5 departure of Gov. Tim Walz from the 2026 governor's race will have huge consequences for choosing gubernatorial nominees for the Republican and DFL parties. What's certain is there will be a long ballot in November, including all Minnesota legislators. Votes and campaign donations from the business community could decide close elections, writes TCB senior editor Liz Fedor. Early 2026 will also be pivotal to watch as the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a ruling on whether President Trump had the legal authority to unilaterally create the comprehensive tariff regime.

It bears watching—from within the business community as well as the entire political spectrum of voters—whether U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, who represents Minnesota's Sixth District, will deviate from Trump’s policies on tariffs or other economic matters, Fedor writes.

Read the full story below.

The U.S. Supreme Court and a pivotal November election will have far-reaching effects on companies.

01/06/2026

People in the Twin Cities likely knew Eric Shogren from his bakery and pastry shops, including A Baker’s Wife, Grandma’s Bakery, Hans’ Bakery, and Wuollet Bakery. The last Wuollet storefront closed in September, but Shogren's publicist told TCB that the family intends to "come back with a new model." Get the full story below.

Eric Shogren, the owner of Wuollet Bakery and other Twin Cities bakeries, died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve at the age of 59.

01/06/2026

Andrew Ross Sorkin's "1929" is already a bestseller, writes Vance K. Opperman, owner and CEO of MSP Communications, which publishes Twin Cities Business. "Many who read it will look for parallels to today," he said. "The same feeling many of us had in 1999, and in 2008, has started to dominate our thoughts once again."

Andrew Ross Sorkin's "1929" is already a bestseller. Many who read this book will look for parallels to today.

01/05/2026

In an exclusive interview with Craig Leipold, he shared with us why long-term contracts have been key to building the core of their red-hot team and why he predicts Quinn Hughes will be around for a long time. Read more below.

Signing superstar Quinn Hughes to an extension is atop Craig Leipold’s priority list.