This week’s edition covers stories
from August 14th to August 20th, 2025.
Today’s issue is 664 words, a 5-minute read
Hey folks, Isabella here.
This week we’re talking about shakeups, showdowns, and steep price tags. Target is bracing for a leadership change after years of turbulence, with questions about whether new leadership can rebuild trust. At the Capitol, Attorney General Keith Ellison is taking TikTok to court, accusing the company of exploiting kids for profit. Meanwhile, the Minnesota State Fair opens its gates with higher costs than ever—before you even get to the food stands. And in the music world, a local favorite, She’s Green, is breaking through with a new EP and a national tour ahead. Let’s dive in.
Target CEO Steps Down Amid Rough Stretch
Target, one of Minneapolis’ corporate giants, is about to enter a new era. Longtime CEO Brian Cornell announced he’ll step down in February, with COO Michael Fiddelke set to take the reins. Cornell is credited with reviving Target after the data breach crisis a decade ago, but the company has faced mounting headwinds in recent years: weak sales, inflation, and shifting shopping habits among them.
Although Walmart retreated from its diversity initiatives first, Target has been the focus of more concerted consumer boycotts. Organizers have said they viewed Target’s actions–scaling back DEI programs and their recent Pride failures–as a greater betrayal because the company had long held itself out as a champion of inclusion. The result has been damaged brand loyalty and heightened scrutiny at a time when sales are already under pressure.
The leadership change raises a pressing question: can Fiddelke steady the ship while rebuilding trust with both shoppers and the border community? It won’t be easy.
Ellison Sues TikTok Over Exploiting Kids
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the company of preying on young people with addictive algorithms and exploitative features. The suit alleges that TikTok’s design choices, like infinite scroll, excessive push notifications, beauty filters, and its livestreaming features were intentionally built to maximize time spent on the app, even when that meant harming kids’ mental health.
Ellison argues that TikTok profited directly from these harms, including by running an illegal virtual currency system that enabled both financial and sexual exploitation of minors. The filing cites rising rates of depression and anxiety among Minnesota youth, linking them to compulsive social media use.
Through the lawsuit, Ellison is asking the court to force TikTok to change its practices, pay penalties, and compensate for the harm caused. He also wants Minnesotans to share their own experiences with TikTok and other social media platforms.
You can share your story with the Attorney General’s office here: ag.state.mn.us/social-media
Minnesota State Fair Opens with Steeper Prices
The “Great Minnesota Get-Together” kicks off today and runs through Labor Day, but fairgoers will notice bigger price tags before they even make it past the gates. Adult admission is now $20 at the door, and food and ride costs have climbed just as steeply. Longtime vendors say rising costs for ingredients, labor, and operations have pushed food prices up to levels they never imagined: pizza on a stick that once sold for $4 is now $15, and even the Skyride has doubled in less than a decade. But for many Minnesotans, the fair remains a can’t-miss tradition, even if it takes a little more out of their wallets this year.
Local Band Highlight: She’s Green on the Rise
Minneapolis shoegaze band She’s Green is having a breakout moment. With the release of their new EP Chrysalis, the young five-piece celebrated at the Fine Line last week with a sold out show before they hit the road for a fall tour with Blondshell and Slow Pulp, plus their first U.K. shows later this year. Known for their dreamy vocals and lush, guitar-driven sound, the band has been drawing national attention while staying rooted in the Twin Cities scene. It’s an exciting time to tune in and see where their sound takes them next. Check out their Instagram to learn moreMinneapolis shoegaze band She’s Green is having a breakout moment. With the release of their new EP Chrysalis, the young five-piece celebrated at the Fine Line last week with a sold out show before they hit the road for a fall tour with Blondshell and Slow Pulp, plus their first U.K. shows later this year. Known for their dreamy vocals and lush, guitar-driven sound, the band has been drawing national attention while staying rooted in the Twin Cities scene. It’s an exciting time to tune in and see where their sound takes them next. Check out their Instagram to learn more!
Stay informed, stay connected.
See you next week!
–
Mateo and the NewPrensa team
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Hi, friend: Mateo here!
I’m a Communications Specialist by day and
going to the Twins games by night!
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