So yes, it is true. The French Meadow folks are buying one of Minneapolis’ classic divey bars, the CC Club.At City Pages, Aaron Rupar writes: “News that the French Meadow was on the cusp of buying the CC Club was the worst kept secret ever, and earlier this week, a source told City Pages that news of the sale would be announced to employees during a Wednesday afternoon staff meeting. Yesterday, in hopes of confirming the sale before the meeting, we called Linda Rauen, one of the CC Club's three co-owners. Suffice it to say she wasn't interested in talking. ‘I don't think it's any of your business whether we're having a staff meeting or not!’ she snapped. ‘Stop calling!’ … Owners of the neighboring French Meadow Bakery & Café, Lynn Gordon and Steve Shapiro, in a transaction to secure parking for their guests, are purchasing the Legendary CC Club and the coveted parking lot that adjoins French Meadow. ‘We view the CC Club as a neighborhood landmark supported by a loyal clientele and a dedicated staff, some of whom have worked at the bar for over 30 years,' shares French Meadow's Gordon. ‘We plan to maintain and continue the CC's traditions, and the best way we thought we could do this was to continue neighborhood ownership.'"
Now it’s all about balance … In the Red Wing Republican Eagle, Anne Jacobson writes: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce hopes the DFL-controlled Legislature will commit to keeping businesses competitive while tackling the state’s budget deficit this session. Chamber officials said that should mean looking at spending first before raising taxes to erase $1.1 billion in red ink. Job 1, then, must be to adopt policies that create more private-sector jobs that in turn generate income taxes. ‘Let’s think about ultimately what is best for Minnesota,’ Dave Murphy said. He is president of Red Wing Shoe Co. and also serves on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board.” Thank you for that reminder …
The Strib’s Neal St. Anthonylooks at venture capital investment in the state and says: “Venture capital investments in emerging companies nationally and in Minnesota declined markedly in 2012, according to the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association being released on Friday. The dip was more pronounced in Minnesota, where venture capitalists invested $225.6 million in 27 companies in 2012, down 18 percent from the $274 million invested in 47 deals in 2011. Nationally, venture capitalists invested $26.5 billion in 3,698 deals, down 10 percent in dollars from 2011.”
The Rochester grandfather who exercised his Second Amendment rights … and shot his granddaughter … will face a felony charge.Mary Lynn Smith of the Strib says: “A Rochester man who accidentally shot his 16-year-old granddaughter after mistaking her for an intruder was charged Thursday with a felony. The criminal charge against Stanley W. Wilkinson, a pastor at the Rochester Seventh-Day Adventist Church, unravels the details of the tragic misunderstanding that left the teen with a gunshot wound to her neck. Wilkinson, charged with intentional discharge of a firearm under circumstances that endanger the safety of another, is scheduled to make his first appearance in Olmsted County District Court at 9 a.m. Tuesday.”
Four years!Kristen Barbaresi of WXOW-TV reports: “After more than 10 years of planning, construction on the new I-90 bridge which crosses the Mississippi River at Dresbach is set to begin Monday. The existing bridge was built in 1967 and is at the end of its life span. So the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation teamed up with a $187.5 million plan to construct a new bridge and Highway 61 and I-90 interchange. … In the first year the project won't cause many traffic delays and Interstate 90 will remain open during the entire four year project. However various ramps will be closed for months at a time.”
The computers are suggesting … moisture.Bill McAuliffe of the Strib says:“Minnesotans might be in for some drought relief in coming months — some of it in the form of snow. Climate models are favoring a cooler- and wetter-than-normal February across the state, according to the nation's long-range outlook issued Thursday by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). In the short term, that could mean a revival for snow-removal crews and ski trail groomers. For the three-month period through the end of April, the agency's outlook stays with above-normal precipitation but sees no clear tendencies on temperatures. ‘It'd be nice if they were right,’ said assistant Minnesota state climatologist Pete Boulay.”
That bill to stop “dual tracking” in foreclosure proceedings got a goosing from the feds.Jennifer Brooks of the Strib writes: “Freshman state Rep. Mike Freiberg wanted new regulations to protect homeowners at risk of foreclosure. He got what he wanted a lot faster than he expected. Freiberg and other House Democrats rolled out legislation Wednesday afternoon, calling for an end to the practice of ‘dual tracking,’ where lenders speed the paperwork on a foreclosure, without informing the homeowner who’s trying to negotiate a way to save his or her home. At 12:01 a.m. Thursday, barely 12 hours after Frieberg’s bill debuted at the Minnesota Legislature, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a ban [on] dual tracking [and] imposed new rules strengthening homeowners' rights.The new rules take effect in January 2014.”
The Current’s Andrea Swensson files a report on Prince’s Dakota show last night:“The show was so electrifying, in fact, that after several years of purple-hued gossip, sightings, and speculation cluttering up the Prince dialog in the Twin Cities, it almost felt too good to be true. The 11 p.m. show began with his six-piece horn section marching out NOLA-style and cycling through a funky, complex melody, and they were quickly followed by a drummer, bassist, guitarist, and three back-up singers who launched into the night’s first groove. Prince himself emerged on the dark stage soon after and leaned into a microphone set up at a pair of keyboards. ‘I dare you to sit down’, he teased, egging on the crowd and demanding that everyone get up and dance, and then launched the band into a blazing, bopping cover of Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’ that got the entire room springing dutifully to its feet. ‘You better call the baby-sitter,’ he joked, leaving most of the vocal melody to his trio of back-up singers and half-scatting, half-rapping his way through the first tune.” But did he crowd surf?
Finally, news from the 'hood …Nancy Ngo of the PiPress says: “After 25 years, Chico's, a longtime anchor tenant on the corner of 50th and France in Edina, is calling it quits. According to a Chico's spokeswoman, the women's clothing and jewelry store will close at the end of the business day Sunday, Jan. 27. To get rid of the merchandise, items at the Edina Chico's are now 40 percent off.” This is a tragedy! Maybe they can get a Dollar Store or an Ammo Warehouse to take over the location.