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Wallace & AnnaMarie Drake; and brothers
and Phil (Tria) Isaacson; great-grandchildren
March 22 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home-Roseville
John’s Church Cemetery in Little Canada
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners
Reuter Walton is seeking final approvals for this planned affordable housing project at Rice Street and Demont Avenue in Little Canada
Reuter Walton advances $54M affordable housing project in Little Canada
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Donald Burket; Step siblings; Paul Petersen
He is survived by his five children: Jeannette (Matt) Sonnentag
and Jill (Erick Lindbeck) Burket; former wife of 34 years
Zetta "Jackie" Burket; Step siblings
and Barbara Gregor; 19 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren; as well as many cherished relatives and friends
whose lives were far better for having known him
where he was proud to be a "Rice Streeter"
A proud "Prexie" from Washington High School
he dedicated over 30 years of service to American National Can Co
He sat on the Board of Directors for the Canco Credit Union
He served multiple terms on both the Supervisory and Credit Committees
and remarkable ability to see the good in every situation
from playing hockey in his youth to skiing the mountains of Colorado with his family
He embraced every adventure and lived for a good time
There will be two occasions to honor Jim's life: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday
John's Catholic Church of Little Canada
with a Visitation one hour prior at 10:30 AM
March 11th at 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center
and Cardigan Ridge caregivers who enhanced his life
"Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was."
Bradshaw - White Bear Celebration of Life Center
John's Catholic Church of Little Canada
Brands can now have a giant impact thanks to Little Canada
The miniature world that showcases Canada’s coast-to-coast-to-coast wonders in intricate detail is excited to announce the launch of Mini Media
a new opportunity where brands can do a little nation-wide advertising – and have a giant impact
Little Canada features some of the most iconic Canadian landmarks and locations in miniature format
It’s a place where the CN Tower stands 12 ft tall
the Bay of Fundy simulates the highest tides in the world with its 400L basin
and over 40,000 little figures call this miniature version of Canada home
More than 120,000 visitors per year discover the wonders of Little Canada
“We’ve known since inception that Little Canada could be a great platform for brands
Our miniature environment captivates audiences of all ages
who marvel at the feat of miniaturisation of familiar locations
and revel in discovering iconic landmarks”
“We’re hoping brands will take the opportunity to be featured in our unique environment to engage with audiences in a new
Little Canada’s Mini Media provides brands the opportunity to be featured in miniature format across high-traffic areas of the “country,” while helping cement them as part of Canadian culture
mini media kits were sent out to brands so they could learn more about the opportunities
and a magnifying glass to help view it all
First to take advantage of the opportunity is Subway Canada
which has launched footlong billboards… that are actually a foot long
To help celebrate Mini Media and Subway’s new little OOH campaign
the brand held a little sampling event at Little Canada featuring Subway Footlong sandwiches and sidekicks and handed out mini coupons for a discount on footlongs.
“Bringing our iconic Footlongs into the miniature world of Little Canada presented an exciting and playful challenge
We saw it as the perfect opportunity to contrast our famously big sandwiches in a uniquely tiny setting
fun twist to our advertising,” said Anabella Mandel
director of creative strategy and activation at Subway Canada.
“Subway is a friendly brand Canadians know and love
so we jumped at the idea of bringing them into the miniature world of Little Canada in a fun and interesting way,” said Brad
Mini Media will work with media companies to include these placements as part of media buys for other brands and agencies
Dentsu is the creative partner and spPR is handling public relations for the initiative
The Canadian Podcast Awards proudly celebrated another incredible year
and dedication that define Canada’s podcasting community
With over 2,300 votes cast and participation from more than 1,000 individuals
this year’s event highlighted the continued growth and influence of Canadian podcasts
This year’s awards were filmed at Little Canada in Toronto—an immersive experience that captures the sights
“What better way to showcase this country’s big stories and voices than at 1/87th scale?” said John Leschinski
“Little Canada’s dedication to storytelling and celebrating Canada made it the perfect backdrop for this year’s awards.”
The ceremony featured presenters who are not only distinguished in their fields
The event was made possible through the significant support of Shure
whose ongoing contributions continue to elevate the Canadian podcasting industry
Recycle My Electronics generously supported the Business
“Every voice has its unique frequency
and every story resonates differently,” said John Leschinski
“Shure’s involvement signifies an enduring commitment to capturing these voices with clarity and precision.”
the first Canadian winner of CBS’s Survivor and a first-time podcaster
took home two awards in her debut year: Debut and Television & Film
“It is such an honor to have joined this community
I felt so supported.” said Erika Casupanan
Other multiple standout wins included “Geist” excelling in Arts and Original Music
and “Lullaby: The Fear Podcast” taking home awards for People’s Choice and Production
The Canadian Podcast Awards congratulates all the winners and extends gratitude to the entire podcasting community for their remarkable contributions and dedication to storytelling
This is a press release which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand
We may make small edits for editorial reasons
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation
the planned construction activities and traffic impacts are weather dependent and could change
Current road conditions can be found at www.511mn.org
Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Transportation.
saying he'd killed the mother of his child
which features a swimming beach and splash pad
in the venerable Farmers and and Mechanics Savings Bank building
Motorists are encouraged to avoid both directions of Interstate 35E will between I-94 and Highway 36
It will be closed for 24 hours staring at 4 a.m
Highway 100 northbound will be closed from Highway 62 to Interstate 394 from 5 a.m
Ramsey County Child Protective Services had investigated whether or not the baby had encountered heroin back in July
The Anoka County Sheriff's Office is investigating an inmate death at the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River
Anoka County authorities were called to the jail after staff found Tyrah Davis
Davis died at the scene despite medical attention from jail staff and the Elk River Ambulance
The death is being investigated by the Anoka County Sheriff's Department and Midwest Medical Examiner's Office
Davis resided in Little Canada in Ramsey County
Jail records show Davis was arrested on Friday
Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott wrote in an email that Davis was a federal inmate held on burglary charges
Court documents show Davis has convictions for domestic assault in 2020
burglary in 2022 and driving while intoxicated in 2023
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MN and spent most of her life living in the childhood home she grew up in
While in high school she worked as a Nursing Assistant at Lakeridge Care Center where she met the love of her life
They eventually married and raised 4 children of their own
Tom and Diane were married 36 years before he passed away and they had a marriage that many adored
She had an unconditional love for her husband
and friends and had a knack for comforting others
She was welcoming to anyone that came to visit and visitors were greeted with open and loving arms
She had a heart of gold and knew how to make people feel special and loved
especially for her beloved dogs and cats that she had over the years
Diane will be deeply missed by all of those who knew her
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband
A visitation for Diane will be held from 1-3 PM
followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3 PM on Sunday
2024 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home - Roseville
and Robin Stiles; and many nieces and nephews
Visitation from 10-11 AM Tuesday at the church
and Gretta (Tommy) Lindabaur; great-grandchildren
Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM Thursday
February 20 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home - Roseville
Luncheon to follow immediately after the service
Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday
Diana pursued her passion for growing orchids and gardening as well as her love for animals
from her dogs to horses to the bird feeders in her yard
Preceded in death by her husband, Harold, who was a colonel in the U.S. Army; her parents, Frank & Arline Lasky; sister
Roderick and Shawn; grandchildren; and many nieces & nephews
Visitation at the church from 10-11 AM Thursday.
Memorials preferred to the Animal Humane Society - Coon Rapids
surrounded by his loving family on October 18
and Bobbie (David) Yzaguirre; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; siblings
and Tom (Sue) Elm; and close family friend
A graduate of the University of Minnesota (‘73) B.S.
Lee worked for Thermo King for 34 years (1969-2003) as Manager of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
establishing manufacturing facilities across the world
he spent hours building items as simple as wooden toys for his grandchildren
bookshelves and bunk beds) for his home and family
Most notable was a bassinet that every one of Lee and LuAnn’s grandchildren has slept in since the first grandchild in 1991
Lee completed a brief collection of memories for his family and offered the following advice: “Listen carefully BEFORE you talk or act
I know you learn a lot by listening.”
October 23 at Maternity of Mary Catholic Church
Paul followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am.
Private interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials preferred to the American Diabetes Association.
A person is injured after a Metro Transit bus hit them on Wednesday
A spokesperson for Metro Transit said a pedestrian was crossing Rice Street near Little Canada Road when the bus
The person was brought to Regions Hospital in stable condition
Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555
Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account
The miniature world is launching an ongoing monthly “Made in Canada Spotlight” to give Canadian-owned businesses free Mini Media ad placements
and guests can receive 25% off Sunday tickets until the end of April
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience
(Maurice the Moose stands with Hamilton’s steelworkers in Little Golden Horseshoe
2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Canada finds itself under a global spotlight
Canadians are rallying together and responding the best way we know how; with resilience
Spanning 45,000 square feet in the heart of downtown Toronto
Little Canada shrinks the distance from coast to coast to make it possible for Canadians to explore and appreciate the country’s vast geography in miniature form
highlighting thousands of big stories and iconic scenes in a unique and immersive way
“Canada is a nation that thrives on collaboration
and Little Canada is a showcase of our country’s greatest strengths under one roof,” says president and CEO Brad Ford
Canadians will meet each challenge with resilience and solidarity
We’re proud to create a space where people can come together and experience the remarkable moments
stories and landscapes that set our country apart.”
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc
The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox
Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.
guests can receive 25% off the price of admission for timed Sunday tickets* to see Canada as they’ve never seen it before
discovering hidden gems and deepening their understanding of the continuing national story through conversation
and the joy of seeing familiar landmarks brought to life in spectacular miniature form
an ongoing initiative designed to celebrate Canadian-owned businesses by enhancing their footprint and helping to solidify their brands as an integral part of Canadian culture
a different Canadian-owned business will be chosen to receive a free month-long ad placement on all five of Little Canada’s Mini Media digital billboards
placed across high-traffic areas of the “country” (valued at $10,000)
to give them a creative and accessible way to explore out-of-home advertising
(Find North Halton Reserve on Little Canada’s digital billboards as April’s Made In Canada Spotlight
The first Made in Canada Spotlight is shining on North Halton Reserve’s Paul and Karin West from Georgetown
whose family-run sugar bush produces Little Batch maple syrup
You’ll find the Little Batch and North Halton Reserve logos lit up on the Mini Media digital billboards throughout April
and you can pick up a little bottle of their small batch
sustainably made maple syrup in the Little Canada gift shop all year
and features seven distinct destinations including Little Niagara
Little East Coast and the newly launched Little West Coast
Little North is set to debut later this year
with Little Rockies and Little Prairies soon to follow
Voted Ontario’s Attraction of the Year for three consecutive years (2022-2024)
Little Canada is a unique visitor experience that showcases the stories and landscapes of Canada through the art of miniature
Little Canada invites you to see Canada as you’ve never seen it before
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
transmission or republication strictly prohibited
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You can manage saved articles in your account
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our loving spouse
She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Arlene (Krenz) Walsh
her brother Patrick and her baby brother Michael
She is survived and missed by husband of 41 years
children by marriage Nick (Julie) Kordosky
Nicole Wilke and Isabella Kordosky and siblings Mary Kaye (Joe) Rua
Steve Walsh and sisters in law Patricia Walsh and Gloria (Doug) Gale along with nieces and nephews and her beloved dog
Susan was raised in White Bear Lake and graduated from Archbishop Murray High School
She received her BS degree from Metropolitan State University and MBA from Chadwick University
She last worked for Allina Hospitals and Clinics in Human Resources as a Physician Recruiter
especially to see grandchildren in Florida and California and loved the contentment of her home in Gem Lake
She was dearly loved and will be so deeply missed
one of Toronto’s most celebrated indoor attractions
has unveiled its newest addition: Little West Coast
nestled within the vast 45,000-square-foot space of Little Canada
offers a magical glimpse into the natural beauty and vibrant stories of Canada’s western frontier
From the temperate rainforests of British Columbia to the arid Okanagan Valley
visitors can now experience the West Coast in intricate detail
continuing Little Canada’s tradition of captivating storytelling through the art of miniatures
Little Canada has grown into a cultural landmark
offering an opportunity to see the vastness of Canada in an afternoon
The brainchild of Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer
Little Canada is more than just a display of tiny landmarks – it’s a journey through the diverse stories that make up the Canadian experience
Brenninkmeijer and his team continue to refine their craft
bringing to life not just iconic places but also the spirit of the country
and stories through miniature art,” Brenninkmeijer said during the unveiling of Little West Coast
“Most Canadians may never have the opportunity or means to see all of Canada
Through our intricate and detailed miniature models
we invite guests to tell their own stories and develop a sense of curiosity and wonder about this country.”
The bright lights and fun attractions of Niagara Falls at Little Canada
the seventh destination in Little Canada’s growing repertoire
is an 800-square-foot tribute to the natural and cultural treasures of Canada’s westernmost regions
the West Coast exhibit brings to life a diverse range of environments
from the Okanagan Valley’s desert landscapes to the lush rainforests that define Vancouver’s surrounding areas
This destination offers a unique glimpse of British Columbia
featuring iconic landmarks like Vancouver’s Gastown and Stanley Park and Vancouver Island’s Tofino and Victoria
“There’s nowhere else you could visit Canada’s desert and rainforest within minutes,” Brenninkmeijer noted
and humor to depict these stories and landscapes
and it’s a true testament to our team’s craftsmanship and curiosity.”
The creation of Little West Coast was no small feat
It took the collective effort of 30 artisans and over 25,000 hours to bring this destination to life
The attention to detail is staggering: the team painstakingly hand-painted 3D-printed boats
crafted approximately 8,000 miniature trees
and introduced a variety of animations never before seen at Little Canada
A particular highlight is the rolling fog in the mountains of Rogers Pass
a technological marvel that brings an extra layer of realism to the display
As with every new destination at Little Canada
the West Coast exhibit pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved in miniature art
the team integrated lighting directly into resin
showcasing the Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Gastown in a stunning display
The Granville Market’s bustling atmosphere was captured using two-way mirrors
creating the illusion of a larger space filled with vendors
These innovations not only add depth to the exhibit but also immerse visitors in the vibrancy and dynamism of the West Coast
Brenninkmeijer highlighted the role of human ingenuity in these creations
especially in response to the question of whether Little Canada had adopted artificial intelligence
In order to build Little West Coast the way we did
we needed to learn from our previous destinations
It’s this continuous evolution that allows us to create something even more spectacular each time.”
This spirit of learning is evident in the playful yet precise details found throughout Little West Coast
From orcas and dolphins jumping in the Pacific Ocean to surfers riding the waves off Tofino’s shores
the exhibit is teeming with life and motion
creating a sense of awe and wonder for visitors
LIttle Canada’s Toronto with Rogers Centre and CN Tower
Little West Coast is more than a geographical exploration; it’s a celebration of the diverse stories and cultures that thrive on Canada’s western shores
represents the collective effort of Brenninkmeijer’s team to highlight Canada’s unique identity
all while ensuring that each new addition feels fresh
As Brenninkmeijer reflected on the exhibit’s unveiling
he emphasized the role that storytelling plays in connecting people to the country
we’re not just building miniatures; we’re telling stories that bring people together.”
Little West Coast is set to be a must-see destination for anyone visiting Toronto
It serves as both a bookend to the existing Little East Coast and a testament to the wonders that Little Canada continues to bring to life
For those who haven’t yet experienced the charm and magic of Little Canada
the addition of Little West Coast offers the perfect reason to visit and rediscover the country through a new lens
one that’s just a few inches tall but stretches across the entire nation
For more information go to https://little-canada.ca/
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Frank grew up one of 7 children in Detroit Lakes
and attended school at Holy Rosary and Detroit Lakes High
Frank clerked for a federal judge in Chicago before a long and fulfilling career practicing law at O'Connor & Hannan
and passion for The Fighting Irish and travel
He is survived by daughter Katherine Plueger
Little Canada is an attraction in Toronto that showcases Canada’s coast-to-coast-to-coast wonders in intricate detail
complete with tiny citizens and businesses
attraction – which draws around 120,000 visitors annually – is launching Mini Media to offer brands the opportunity to do a “little” nation-wide advertising
“Little Canada’s Mini Media provides brands the opportunity to be featured in miniature format across high-traffic areas of Little Canada,” the company explains
“This innovative approach to advertising offers brands the chance to cement their place in Canadian culture
detailed miniatures of the country’s most beloved locations.”
“Little Canada is 44,000 feet of (mostly) unused advertising potential,” says Julia Wong
With all its beautiful untapped real estate and a captive audience to speak to
Subway restaurants is the first brand to take advantage of the opportunity
The QSR is unveiling a billboard in Little Niagara for its foot-long subs that is actually a foot long
To promote and celebrate the tiny OOH campaign
the brand will hold a sampling event at Little Canada featuring Subway Footlong sandwiches and sidekicks
as well as mini coupons for a discount on footlongs
Little Canada, ooh, Subway
The first of two weekend directional closures on I-35 will begin Friday night
and the closures along Highway 36 will continue this weekend
Following the Friday rush to the Northwoods and cabin country
the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) says crews will close the northbound lanes of I-35E between Little Canada and Columbus at 10 p.m
The closure will be in place through 5 a.m
Drivers will be detoured to northbound I-35W to continue to their destinations while the closure is in place
which is due to workers repairing concrete
southbound lanes of I-35E from the split to I-694 will be closed next weekend from 10 p.m
MnDOT says eastbound Minnesota Highway 36 will be closed between I-35E in Little Canada and I-35W in Roseville
That closure is part of an ongoing paving project and will be in place from 9 p.m
I-694 and I-35W will be in place during that time
An interactive map showing current traffic conditions can be found below. CLICK HERE for more traffic news
Little Canada's new summer campaign from Dentsu Creative brings the attraction’s miniature world to life through the storytelling of a duo of ‘littles’ within the exciting world of Little Canada.
as he explores the wonders of Little Canada with the help of Rohit
The stop motion animation journey unfolds through a series of videos and visual assets
giving viewers a glimpse into the fun and rich experiences of Little Canada
The campaign launched with a 15-second intro video called
The campaign is designed to engage Canadians
and new visitors by showcasing the diversity and splendour of Canada's landscapes and natural scenery through intricate miniature art
created in partnership with Little Canada and Dentsu Creative and with support of iProspect and PR agency
aims to capture the welcoming spirit of Little Canada
A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with the Oct. 14 killing of 42-year-old Nicholas Sletten of Little Canada on St
officers responded to the intersection of Jackson Street and Wheelock Parkway on a report of a shooting around 9:25 p.m
callers reported people running from a truck at the intersection that had all its doors open
Officers found Sletten lying near the intersection with a gunshot wound that entered his back and exited through his stomach
They gave him CPR until medics arrived and brought him to the hospital
Sletten’s truck was found at the intersection with all four doors open
The driver’s door had been hit by a bullet
A witness told police she was at a stop sign at the intersection at the time of the shooting
She heard the shot and saw people running from the truck
telling police she thought the man had been shot from inside the vehicle
Sletten’s brother told police that Sletten grew and sold marijuana
His sister-in-law said that around the time of the shooting
Sletten’s dogs ran to their house and she saw his truck at the intersection with the doors open
She added that Sletten sold marijuana and sometimes used M30 pills
but didn’t know if he sold the pills
fingerprints and a 7.62×39 mm casing from the truck
Surveillance video from the area showed three people running south around the time of the shooting
Video showed that five men got into Sletten’s truck before the shooting
Investigators used cell phone and social media data to identify two of the people who were in the truck
Thomas’ fingerprints were also found on the rear door and window of the truck
One of the men who was identified as having been in the truck told investigators that he heard someone say
“Don’t move,” and that Sletten was trying to get out of the truck when he was shot
He added that Thomas had reached around Sletten’s seat with an AK-47-style gun and shot Sletten
The men ran to the witness’ home after the murder
Another witness said they were driving to Speedway and everyone got out and went inside except for Thomas and Sletten
Thomas was sitting directly behind Sletten
Thomas and another man pulled out guns and tried to rob Sletten
The witness said Thomas reached around the driver’s seat and shot Sletten
Thomas and the other man cleaned their guns with bleach
He said he didn’t believe Sletten had drugs on him that night but that Thomas and the other man were probably looking for drugs when they tried to rob him
Court documents note that Thomas has prior cases for third-degree assault and possessing a firearm as a minor
CanadaNewsA U.S. town once nicknamed ‘Little Canada’ struggles with looming tariffsBy Genevieve BeaucheminOpens in new windowPublished: March 02, 2025 at 5:00AM EST
Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved
DFLer Curtis Johnson moved into an apartment in District 40B earlier this year to run for the open seat
GOP opponent Paul Wikstrom is questioning whether Johnson actually lives there
The DFL candidate for a Roseville seat in the Minnesota House is pushing back on allegations from his Republican opponent that he doesn’t live in the district he hopes to represent
Curtis Johnson is currently a member of the Roseville Area Schools board
He has owned a home in Little Canada since 2017
according to Ramsey County property records
In May he filed to run for the open seat in House District 40B, saying he lived in an apartment complex less than 3 miles from his Little Canada home. The district includes parts of Roseville and Shoreview and has been represented by DFLer Jamie Becker-Finn
Johnson said he and his wife decided to move to Roseville last year
but they’ve struggled to find the right house
he’s been renting “a Roseville apartment as my primary residence while we keep searching for a forever home.”
“My wife and our youngest child still live in the house because we didn’t want to disrupt our child’s life by moving the rest of the family into my apartment and then moving them again after we found a house in Roseville,” Johnson’s statement said
State law requires House candidates to live in the district they want to represent for six months before the election. Johnson’s Republican opponent, Paul Wikstrom
says he has evidence that Johnson is still living at his Little Canada home
Wikstrom released an ad Oct. 15 that accused Johnson of lying about his residency, but he has not committed to making a legal challenge. A residency challenge would be decided by the Minnesota Supreme Court
“My confidence level is high that we have a solid case he is not a resident of the district,” Wikstrom said in an interview
He noted that Johnson’s vehicle is often at the Little Canada home and a portable storage container appeared out front days after his political ad went online
who lost the DFL endorsement for the seat to Johnson
said he was aware of the residency allegations but didn’t bring them up in the endorsement contest because he felt they were untrue
“I don’t put a lot of merit in anecdotal evidence,” Gottfried said
the claim that Curtis doesn’t live in the district is false.”
Questions about candidates’ residency come up nearly every election cycle
In Winona, DFL House candidate Sarah Kruger said a conservative group’s ad accusing her of not living in the district was false
GOP Sen. Torrey Westrom faced a residency challenge in 2022 after redistricting prompted him to move from Elbow Lake to Alexandria. The Minnesota Supreme Court denied a petition to remove Westrom from the ballot
Republican state Sen. Jason Rarick and Rep. Marion Rarick, formerly O’Neill, faced residency questions when they married in 2023. At the time, the Senate GOP said the couple would “keep and maintain residences in their respective districts and will continue to serve their constituents as they have throughout the six years of their relationship.”
Minnesota’s residency rules for the state Legislature are different from the rules for Congress, which don’t require candidates to live in the district they want to represent.
Minneapolis
Minneapolis’ 2025 city elections will include Mayor Jacob Frey defending his post and all 13 city council seats on the ballot. Here’s who’s announced so far.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris used a high-profile speech to sharply criticize President Donald Trump amid speculation about whether she will mount another presidential campaign or opt to run for California governor.
The former clerk who somehow failed to count nearly 200 ballots in Wisconsin's capital city didn't break any laws but did violate multiple policies and her contractual duty to supervise elections and maintain professional standards, the results of a city-led investigation released Tuesday show.
The southbound lanes of the freeway will be closed from Columbus to Little Canada.
For the second straight weekend, a long stretch of I-35E in the northeast metro will be closed from Friday night to Monday morning.
This time around, the southbound lanes will be closed between the Forest Lake split where I-35E and I-35W meet in Columbus and I-694 in Little Canada. The 20-mile segment will close at 9 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.
Crews will be carrying out a pavement repair and repaving project, weather permitting.
Motorists will be detoured south on I-35W, then east on I-694 during the closure.
Last week, MnDOT tackled the northbound lanes along the same segment.
More than 84,000 vehicles use I-35E on the south end of the closure. That number drops in half on the north end of the closure, according to MnDOT traffic counts.
The forecast calls for a slight chance of showers Friday night, but mostly sunny conditions and highs in the 80s Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.
Doğukan Günaydin was arrested March 27 by plainclothes officers from the U.S
Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis
James Duane Ortley made his first appearance on four counts of second-degree murder and remains jailed on $2 million bail
Three men were charged in a separate slaying that took place four blocks away several hours later
The most severely injured person in the back-to-back incidents died two days later
A judge on Friday granted a Republican candidate’s contest of the results of a Minnesota House race after finding his Democratic opponent did not establish residency in House District 40B
DFL candidate Curtis Johnson won the election in the district that includes parts of Roseville and Shoreview by more than 7,500 votes
found Johnson was still living in Little Canada in the months leading up to the event
Johnson had signed a lease at a Roseville apartment complex earlier in the year
but Wikstrom’s campaign built a body of evidence suggesting he had never moved in
Investigators took photos of Johnson’s car
consistently parked in the driveway of the home he and his wife own in Little Canada
Based on testimony from Johnson and witnesses who had surveilled Johnson’s whereabouts
District Judge Leonardo Castro found Johnson “spent scant time” at the Roseville apartment until Oct
State law requires candidates to reside in the district they represent for at least six months before the general election
Castro’s order enjoins Johnson from taking the oath of office and representing House District 40B
which will tip a 67-67 tie in the House to a one-seat Republican majority when the legislative session begins on Jan
who is in line to be selected as House speaker in January
“With the overwhelming evidence we heard during the trial that the Democrat candidate in Roseville never lived in the district
I applaud the court’s decision to grant the election contest and look forward to ensuring that a valid candidate represents District 40B during the upcoming legislative session,” Demuth said in a statement
“This is a clear reminder that laws matter
and integrity in the election process is non-negotiable.”
Johnson had filed a petition for discretionary review with the Minnesota Supreme Court to have the election contest dismissed on grounds that Wikstrom should have raised the residency issue before the election
but the court issued an order on Friday denying that request
Johnson has 10 days to appeal the ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court
House Democrats are optimistic an appeal will be successful
“The court erred as a matter of law in not dismissing this case
A residency issue must be resolved before an election and is not an appropriate basis for an election contest
We will appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court
and expect the Supreme Court will dismiss the case,” House Speaker Melissa Hortman
“The Republicans are seeking to do in court what they were unable to do at the ballot box. Curtis Johnson won District 40B by 7,503 votes
and no court should lightly overturn the will of the voters.”
You can view the ruling by Ramsey County below:
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these underrated places will inspire plenty of wanderlust
The town likewise hosts the Beltrami County History Center
which displays relics and stories of Native and European patterns of living in this bucolic town
In north Minnesota, the unusually named Brainerd makes for a resort and vacation destination popular locally
now welcomes vacationers and pleasure-seekers of all kinds
The town itself sits mostly on the eastern bank of the Mississippi
The Brainerd Lakes have been a region beloved by Minnesotans for generations
the historic district centers on the Northern Pacific Railroad Shops
where rail cars once came for repairs and upkeeo
The downtown zone today counts coffee shops
and restaurants among its small-town small businesses
focuses on classical performances of the works of the world's great composers
Halfway between Minneapolis and the state border with Iowa
settled in 1852 at the confluence of the Cannon and Straight Rivers
Those early beginnings are on vibrant display in the Alexander Faribault House
the town's French-Canadian founder and namesake
operated by the Rice County Historical Society
Faribault the man became successful in the fur-trading business then prevalent on either side of the Canadian border
In the decades that followed its founding, Faribault built numerous schools and institutes of learning
"Athens of the West," a suggestion of the town's concentration of educational activities
The Faribault House continues to host events of French-Canadian and French-American interest today
delivering on both its heritage and its mission as a center of knowledge
Split by the Root River, the hamlet of Lanesboro
draws visitors to its robust Amish community
The Protestant Christian religious minority
who pledge simple living and avoid modern technologies
have drawn interested tourists since settling here late by the standards of most Amish settlements
Companies like Bluffscape Amish Tours educate and inform travelers about the unique community that has recently taken root in this area
the Lanesboro Historical Museum charts the town's beginning in the mid-1800s
a converted rail bed now serves as the Root River State Trail
Other local activities include golf at the Lanesboro Public Golf Club
and an array of rafting and fishing outfitters
delights fans of stately homes and old building styles
The town's Historical Society focuses on the region's connections to its French-Canadian past
Each August, Little Canada puts on its popular "Canadian Days" festival, held in coordination with Thunder Bay
Its name is a nod to the German roots of the town's early setters
and other places to build a new life in this southwest Minnesota town
German heritage comes into proud focus each fall
and German culture — an especially lovely event as the local leaves change color
The festival has earned plaudits as being among the best Oktoberfest events in the United States
For those who cannot wait until autumn, New Ulm also hosts Bavarian Blast
and as much polka music as the average visitor can handle
A short drive north from Brainerd, the hamlet of Nisswa offers a glimpse of small-town Minnesota life like it used to be
the Nisswa Turtle Races — more like a turtle race season
since they run from June to August each summer
Given the slow pace of the reptile competitors
the town makes no promises about a maximum race time
other draws in town include the Chocolate Ox
Nissa puts on a Scandinavian folk music festival
celebrating the Nordic roots of many of its original settlers
Some of the festival participants play unusual instruments from the Scandinavian region
like the nickelharp and the hardingfele (or hardanger)
In southeast Minnesota, an hour south of the Twin Cities, the town of Owatonna
takes pride in its Native American legacies
a Native American princess and the town's namesake
is said to have taken the waters and received healing in the area's natural springs
Owatonna hosts the the Steele County Historical Society
The group operates the Village of Yesteryear
which sits not far from the Steele County History Center
the National Farmer's Bank is a mandatory stop
Designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan
nicknamed the "Jewel Box of the Prairie," has stood here since the early 1900s
These towns suggest that some of Minnesota's most visit-worthy towns remain
Yet from historic logging-turned-vacation towns like Bemidji and Brainerd
to cross-border town cultures in Faribault and Little Canada
and the would-be tourist researching his or her next trip finds plenty to discover
Add to that the historic homes and buildings in Lanesboro and Owatonna
as well as the German and Scandinavian cultural pride in New Ulm and Nisswa — and the reasons to visit Minnesota become clearer
The state's towns like these may not go under-appreciated much longer
photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com
Some homeowners are making hundreds of dollars a month renting their backyards to dog owners by the hour
Virginia Woolf wrote that a woman needs a room of one’s own to write fiction
And some dogs apparently would like to have a yard of their own to run
which is why a company called Sniffspot exists
Sniffspot is like Airbnb for dogs
except instead of booking a vacation rental house or condo
a farm or even a swimming pool for your dog to romp around in without having to share the space with other canines as you would in a dog park
The company was started in 2018 by an entrepreneur named David Adams
Adams was living in a high-rise in Seattle and taking his Labrador mix named Soba to dog parks
and sometimes Soba got into doggie conflicts
Walking on a leash wasn’t totally satisfying
for a dog that sometimes wanted to run and then sometimes jerked to a halt to sniff
Adams noticed empty private land that wasn’t being used but would be great for a dog to tear around in
“I didn’t really think this would be a business,” he said
“I just thought it was a weird thing that I wanted.”
But fellow dog owners loved his yard-share concept when he floated the idea on a Facebook community group
He created a website to connect yard owners with dog owners and somewhat to his surprise
He said there are about 25,000 active rental locations
but also spaces with ponds or swimming pools
Most Sniffspot rentals are fenced and offer a half-acre or more of space
like a 20-acre avocado farm near San Diego that rents for $40 an hour
Adams said the average is about $15 an hour
which provides insurance and runs the website that facilitates the bookings
Adams said there are about 100,000 users of Sniffspot and he estimates that they spent about $10 million this year on rentals
The Twin Cities is one of his more popular markets
with about 300 locations in the metro area
about 70% of the dog owners using Sniffspot actually have their own yards
They just want to treat their dogs to something bigger or more enriching
“People are paying money for their dogs to have a good time.”
Adams said some Sniffspot hosts are making up to $7,000 a month
though a more typical amount is $500 to $1,000 a month
a Sniffspot host doesn’t have to worry about cleaning the bathroom or washing the sheets and towels or doing a key exchange
When Luke Baker became a Sniffspot host about four years ago, he started getting $100 or $200 a month renting out his large fenced-in backyard in Little Canada
he might make enough to pay off the $12,000 chain link fence that he had installed for his own dogs
It actually only took him about three years to recover the cost of the fence through Sniffspot rentals
said he now typically makes $400 to $700 a month in Sniffspot rentals
He doesn’t do any marketing and the Sniffspot app lets him control what times he wants to make the yard available
He said he gets up to 10 visits on the weekend
The yard has hosted dog birthday parties and Corgi meetups
the app allows visitors and hosts to rate each other
He said his dog owner guests have been respectful
“They’re cleaning up after themselves,” he said
He typically doesn’t interact with visitors in person
You feel like you’re kind of helping people,” said Matt Schultz
“The small amount of money is kind of a nice bonus.”
Jaedyn James, a Minneapolis resident, said she uses Sniffspot two to three times a week for her 80-pound albino pit bull mix, Fatty
She lives in a duplex and doesn’t have access to a big
She uses Sniffspot two or three times a week
Her favorite locations are a nearby Sniffspot space that only charges $3 an hour and another larger space that costs $15 an hour
The sessions let Fatty safely go off leash and “run like a maniac.”
“It has been so helpful and life-changing for both of us.”
Paul resident Sonya Ibrahim said she has used Sniffspot more than 100 times to exercise her dogs
Ibrahim said she likes to give her two dogs a chance to really stretch their legs and explore in Sniffspot locations that offer a couple of acres of fenced area
Stacy Couch owns three acres of fenced fields and wooded areas northwest of Minneapolis. It’s separated from her own home and yard and has nearly 2,700 five-star Sniffspot reviews.
Couch said she’s hosted more than 5,000 dog visits. Amenities at her site include dog toys, poop bags, seating and a screened pavilion for humans.
She said some dog owners use her private dog retreat to provide a special experience on the dog’s birthday or at the end of the dog’s life. But others are regulars who come once or more a week.
She charges $14 an hour and said she’s currently earning $2,000 to $2,800 a month through Sniffspot rentals.
Sometimes she has to clean up after users who failed to follow directions to pick up after their dogs. But the income is a consolation. She just tells herself, “There’s another $40 pile I picked up.”
Richard Chin is a feature reporter with the Minnesota Star Tribune in Minneapolis. He has been a longtime Twin Cities-based journalist who has covered crime, courts, transportation, outdoor recreation and human interest stories.
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Fiction: Rickey Fayne’s debut novel traces the descendants of an African woman who is enslaved in America
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UrbanToronto tends to measure Toronto's success by how many cranes we can count standing high over the city's skyline at any one time..
but there's another crane in Toronto that we haven't included in our overall count
which is at a site that continues to evolve and grow each year…
A crane towers over a construction site in Little Canada
within the Little Toronto landscape at Little Canada at Dundas and Yonge
The attraction that first opened in August
Created by Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer and his growing team of modellers
Little Canada is maintained by staff that oversee train departures and miniature car
and who put anything right again when batteries run low or a wheel jumps a track
and it's interpreted by friendly tour guides who can tell you about any of the massive number of vignettes that have been packed into each destination
Little Canada arrived with five destinations for visitors to marvel at — Little Niagara
and Little Quebec City — and as of today has seven — Little East Coast was added in 2023
and today marks the grand opening of Little West Coast.
Landmark-packed Toronto addition at Little Canada
this latest addition that stretches the coverage to Canada's scenic Pacific coast makes a great reason to dive into this ever more impressive mini-world
Your visit will give you a chance to see why Little Canada has garnered Best Indoor Attraction three years in a row now from the Ontario Choice Awards and been lauded by Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards
you already know why the accolades are pouring in
but you may have missed mini-expansions that started to appear not long after the attraction itself first opened
In Little Toronto, a whole new "island" has been added since the initial opening. While we haven't included a shot of the bulk of Toronto in this article (you can get a good look at all of the original destinations in our story from Little Canada's initial opening in 2021 here)
pictured directly above and below is Toronto's new section that packs a pile of local landmarks into a small area — Little Canada always plays with geography: don't expect the streets or relative locations to conform to real world coordinates from block-to-block — including the ROM
the recently rebranded "The Tenor" building across from Sankofa Sqaure where Little Canada itself it housed..
Litlle Little Canada in the Toronto addition
...and at where you'll see a Little Little Canada recreated
Other expansions since opening have included a whole Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival scene added to the already crazy-impressive Ottawa display (DO NOT MISS the nighttime display at the Parliament Buildings — nighttime lighting at Little Canada cycles on for several minutes every quarter hour — the "nightly" show is possibly the best thing in the entire attraction)
Its display brings chunks of all four Atlantic Provinces together in one room…
Newfoundland and Labrador (a small bit of which is pictured below)
to Green Gables and more in Prince Edward Island
to Magnetic Hill and the Bay of Fundy's tides in New Brunswick
to memorable scenes from Halifax and across Nova Scotia
you'll find piles of references to life in Atlantic Canada packed into this room
and if you really want to dig into the Easter Eggs that pop up throughout Little Canada
you can look for a really well-hatched one here where puffins are the stars of a fun little show
St John's in the Little East Coast section of Little Canada
I'll skip straight across the country now to Little Canada's new really big deal: Little West Coast
Today's opening covers the Rogers Pass to the Okanagan
puts Vancouver in a starring role of course
and then skips across the Salish Sea to Victoria and Tofino and Haida Gwaii
Little West Coast covers from the Interior to the Lower Mainland to Haida Gwaii
While the new destination adds more upthrust landscape than ever before along with a massive 8,000 trees
you'll also find more ephemerality here than in the previous destinations
In the case of the Rogers Pass landscape (most of the details of which
I'll leave for you to discover on a visit)
you'll see mist rolling down the sides of the mountains from time to time
but a beguiling one that's indicative of the care taken to enrich the experiences across our big Little country
Mist rolls down the mountain ranges of Little West Coast
the landscape moderates for the more built-up areas of the Interior
like the Okanagan where wineries hug lakeside hills
and where there's a reminder that we haven't exactly tamed nature; a forest fire-ravaged hillside is regenerating a year later
where the husks of burnt tree trunks are surrounded by new
flowering shrubs on the woodland floor
A slice of the Okanagan area of Little West Coast
A waterscape crossed by the Lions Gate Bridge suggests the Burrard Inlet
Here the water divides what is mostly the BC Interior from Vancouver's high-rises and Stanley Park
even if the BC Interior suddenly sprouts a couple of other Vancouver references close to the visitor railing
including an Easter Egg in the form of Ryan Reynolds' boyhood home from the Arbutus Ridge neighbourhood of Vancouver
and other nearby stories that have been set into the landscape
Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge in Little West Coast
while fleshed out through depictions of Gastown including the steam clock and a flowering Dr Sun Yat Sen Garden
Granville Island and its many shops and eateries converted from warehouses
while the geodesic dome of Science World — the former Expo Centre from Expo '86 — rises beside False Creek
3D-printed and hand-painted boats bob up-and-down in the waves here
A number of Downtown Vancouver's landmarks feature in the model
Vancouver's iconic SkyTrain plies a curving section of its elevated guideway and representative station
The trains here are modelled on the network's Canada Line rolling stock
Canada Line Skytrains arrive and depart from a station in Downtown Vancouver
When nighttime comes to the Little East Coast
Vancouver's skyscrapers and streets light up…
Downtown Vancouver by night in the new Little West Coast section of Little Canada
As opposed to both the Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena in Little Toronto which is and packed with thousands of little people figurines
BC Place in Vancouver is — so far — sparsely attended
This gives Little Canada the opportunity to gradually fill the stadium over the coming years with Littleizations — figurines of Little Canada visitors who would like to be immortalized in 3D-printed miniatures
A "Littleization Station" on the lower level near Little Ottawa can capture anyone in 3D who wants to participate
For a fee you get to take home a palm-sized figurine of yourself
while a thumbnail-sized version of you is then added somewhere in the displays
with BC Place providing opportunities for thousands of mini-yous to attend a Vaisakhi Night event in perpetuity
one of many events restaged in Little Canada that cover a huge number of communities from Canada's immense diversity of contributing peoples
over 5,000 visitors have had themselves added to various scenes across Little Canada
ready for "Littleizations" of Little Canada visitors
Nighttime in Vancouver is a good time to visit the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park as well
its fish tanks appropriately lit to replicate the teaming waters off the coast
The Vancouver Aquarium in night-lighting mode
The return of day-lighting to the destination presents an opportunity to explore many of the other attractions of British Columbia
the Capilano Suspension Bridge and its associated Cliffwalk perch little visitors above the rapids of the Capilano River at the bottom of the gorge below
Capilano Canyon suspension bridge and cliffwalk
Across another stretch of water is Victoria
with sections of the provincial capital's quaint downtown and its Legislative Assembly building among the models
A kayaking festival fills the Inner Harbour
An assortment of Victoria landmarks figure in its Little West Coast vignette
Another Vancouver Island vignette centres on Tofino and Long Beach
and Wildpod Glamping all reflect the flavour of this surfing and hiking destination
Tofino and Long Beach make their mark in Little West Coast
Haida Gwaii awaits approval to replicate totem poles in Little West Coast
There's already more than you can take in on one visit to Little Canada
whether you're skimming it all or digging in to particular destinations on multiple visits
A couple of final touches were not yet in place when we visited earlier this week
like dolphins jumping through the Inside Passage waters — let us know if that's happening yet when you visit — while the modelling team is working hard to get all of that done
the team works on small enhancements here and there to existing destinations
but is also already studying and planning their next destination
Still to come are four more major destinations — Little Prairies
and Little North — but the modellers are sworn to secrecy as to which one will open next
Some of the modelling crew at Little Canada
Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer told us that he is aiming for his team to create a special portable scene depicting the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation by Canadian forces in 1945
in time for 80th anniversary celebrations in April
which he hopes to tour with the Vimy Ridge model that was created earlier this year
You can't cover all of Little Canada in one story... but you can drink in as much of it as you like in multiple visits. The official website is here. If you'd like, you can also visit our dedicated thread for the building
or leave a comment in the space provided on this page
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that tracks projects from initial application.
Little Canada – the miniatures attraction that draws more than 120,000 visitors annually – recently unveiled Mini Media
allowing ads to be installed in the miniature milieu
Subway Canada is the first to launch footlong billboards
To help celebrate Mini Media and Subway’s new OOH campaign
the QSR will be holding a sampling event at Little Canada featuring Subway Footlong sandwiches and sidekicks
and handing out mini coupons for a discount on footlongs
The campaign is a low-cost way of taking over real-life high foot-traffic destinations like Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas) or Niagara Falls’ popular Clifton Hill neighbourhood
Little Canada’s newly-minted director of marketing
“You can place your advertisement across Canada in any of our seven destinations,” Wong says
“The possibilities are endless,” she says
telling strategy that Subway is so engrained in the culture
The QSR has a “national” presence too
with advertisements also installed in the new Little Canada Maritimes miniature display
a mini sample billboard placement and a magnifying glass to help view the assets
Dentsu is the creative partner and spPR is handling public relations
Earlier this year, working with Dentsu Creative, Little Canada launched a campaign using stop motion to amplify its tiny offerings
Little Canada has been open for three years
plus tourists and is reaching them through digital ads
drawing an audience that includes parents of young kids
but a sizeable amount of date night couples and singles too
Little Canada is expanding its footprint by recreating a northern Canadian cityscape
complete with accurate climate-control so that visitors can get a feel for the cold
There are always new stories to tell about landscapes and cultures nationwide
dentsu, Julia Wong, Little Canada, SpPR, Subway Canada