Virginia hospital’s future on ballot, sugar union wants CEO off of United Way board, Rybak key leader for Obama

Virginia, Minn. voters to decide fate of local hospital

The hospital has lost millions of dollars and seen patient admissions plummet in recent years. City leaders say it won't survive unless voters allow it to affiliate with a larger health system. But many residents are deeply suspicious of Duluth-based Essentia Health, the leading candidate.

"It's the biggest thing probably from a governing standpoint that the city of Virginia has ever faced" -- Virginia mayor Steve Peterson (MPR News).

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Foley police services: No deal yet for city, Benton County

After spending almost five hours in mediation Friday, representatives of Foley and Benton County failed to come to an agreement over a police services contract (Saint Cloud Times).

Sugar union questions United Way connection

The presidents of the North Dakota and Minnesota AFL-CIO union federation want American Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg to either end his firm's lockout of union workers or be removed from the United Way of Cass-Clay board of trustees (Forum of Fargo-Moorhead).

Rybak joins front lines of Obama re-election

Democratic leaders hope Minneapolis mayor will be one of chief message-carriers for president (Star Tribune).

Best Buy reluctantly joins the Black Friday midnight madness

Best Buy will usher in Black Friday by opening at midnight Thanksgiving, its CEO said Friday, but he's not happy about the race to unlock retail store doors ever earlier."I feel terrible because it impacts," chief executive officer Brian Dunn said. "It'll change some Thanksgiving plans for some of our employees (Pioneer Press).

If public helps fund new stadium, gambling is top choice

Scratch-off lottery tickets, racinos and other new forms of gambling are preferred to tax hikes, the Minnesota Poll found. But Minnesotans disagree with Vikings' site choice (Star Tribune).

Supporters turn out for Ron Paul in St. Cloud (MPR News)

New Yorks Mills breeder permanently barred from selling dogs (Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

Smaller institutions busy on 'Bank Transfer Day' (KARE11)

Vintage Duluth-Superior

Thank to EmilySue over at Perfect Duluth Day for posting this.