Indoor cricket venue CrossBat opens in Burnsville
2025 Fast 50
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal is seeking nominations for our 29th annual Fast 50 awards, recognizing the Twin Cities fastest-growing private companies.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Graco Announces Regular Quarterly Dividend
MINNEAPOLIS, June 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents ($0.275) per common share, payable on August 6, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 21, 2025. The company has approximately 165.6 million shares outstanding. ABOUT GRACO Graco Inc. supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids and coatings in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and powder materials. A recognized leader in its specialties, Minneapolis-based Graco serves customers around the world in the manufacturing, processing, construction, and maintenance industries. For additional information about Graco Inc., please visit us at View source version on Contacts FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Investors: David M. Lowe, 612-623-6456 Media: Meredith A. Sobieck, 763-353-1498Meredith_A_Sobieck@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Bogus social media accounts fueled backlash over Target rollback of DEI: ‘Masterclass in manufactured outrage'
A coordinated campaign used bogus social media accounts to amplify backlash against Target after the company scaled back its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, according to a blockbuster report. An analysis by Israeli tech firm Cyabra found that nearly a third of the social media accounts driving outrage over the retail giant's policy change were fake. The Minneapolis-based retailert announced it would roll back its controversial initiatives — which had drawn scorn from conservatives for touting items such as tuck-friendly bathing suits — after President Trump returned to the White House on Jan. 20. Cyabra reviewed thousands of posts on Elon Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter, from Jan. 1 to April 21 and discovered that 27% of the accounts were inauthentic — many of which played a major role in pushing boycott narratives. 4 A coordinated disinformation campaign helped amplify backlash against Target, according to a report. REUTERS Cyabra's data showed that inauthentic posts jumped 764% after Target's announcement, flooding the platform with calls for consumer boycotts and viral hashtags like #EconomicBlackout. The firm's CEO, Dan Brahmy, described the backlash as a calculated effort to manufacture outrage. 'What happened with Target is a masterclass in manufactured outrage,' Brahmy told The Post on Thursday. 'Fake accounts hijacked the narrative, weaponized identity and pushed a boycott that looked grassroots but was anything but. This is how influence operations work now — they blur the line between real and fake until no one can tell the difference.' Many of the fake accounts were designed to mimic real users and took on the identities of black consumers or conservative commentators, according to Cyabra's findings, which were obtained by The Post. Some profiles pushed slogans such as 'Target Fast' and '40-day boycott,' while others accused the retailer of 'bending the knee' to Trump. 4 Cyabra's data showed that inauthentic posts jumped 764% after Target's announcement that it was scaling back its DEI. Cyabra One purported X user with the handle NenelsBack posted on Jan. 27: 'Target can't get my money. It's like being betrayed by a family member. We gave Target so much respect. BLK folk named Target, Targe't.' Another with the handle Nickolas Medina fanned the flames on the boycott push by posting on April 18: 'I stopped going to Target because of their support for the trans agenda. I think that is a greater motivation for people to boycott Target Target than DEI.' Both were found to be posted by fake accounts, according to the report, first cited by USA Today. 'We don't just look at what's being said, we analyze how it's being said, and whether they are even real,' Cyabra spokesperson Jill Burkes told The Post. 'We flag accounts that post in lockstep, recycle the same hashtags and slogans, or only interact within closed loops of other suspicious accounts.' Cyabra, which uses artificial intelligence to detect coordinated manipulation campaigns, did not find clear evidence linking the campaign to a specific foreign or domestic actor. 4 An Israeli analytics firm did a study which found a large number of posts from fake social media accounts fueled talk of a boycott. Cyabra However, the tactic of inflaming culture war debates through synthetic engagement has become increasingly common, particularly in polarized consumer environments. In a follow-up analysis of conversations on X from May 27 to June 3, Cyabra found the campaign had not only persisted but intensified. On some days, fake accounts made up 39% of the conversation –outnumbering genuine users. Cyabra has seen similar tactics used against other major brands, from fast food chains to tech companies. 4 Cyabra reviewed thousands of posts on X, formerly Twitter, from Jan. 1 to April 21 and discovered that 27% of the accounts were inauthentic. Cyabra 'The playbook is similar: hijack a polarizing moment, flood the zone with fake voices and let real users do the rest,' Burkes said. 'That's exactly what happened with Target. And it works — the stock dropped $12 billion and real people joined the boycott thinking they were part of a massive groundswell. Many still are.' The Post has sought comment from Target. Last month, Target lowered its full-year sales forecast. CEO Brian Cornell blamed several headwinds, including 'the reaction to the updates we shared on [DEI] in January.' Minneapolis activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who launched a grassroots boycott of Target on Feb. 1, told USA Today she had no knowledge of the disinformation campaign identified by Cyabra. 'I'm not on X and I know our people in Minneapolis have no involvement in this situation,' Armstrong said.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung To Step Down After Guiding Post-Nassar Reform
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 30: President and CEO of USA Gymnastics Li Li Leung (C-R) poses with ... More (L-R) Hezly Rivera, Joscelyn Roberson, Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Leanne Wong after they were selected for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by) USA Gymnastics announced Thursday that President and CEO Li Li Leung will step down at the end of the year. This will mark the end of her nearly six-year tenure at the helm, during which Leung guided the organization after the Larry Nassar scandal. Hired in March 2019, the organization credits Leung's leadership for catalyzing a 'historic turnaround" and 'cultural transformation' within the sport. Leung helped the organization rebound from the blows dealt by the Nassar sexual abuse scandal, helping place athlete wellbeing and safety at the forefront. In December 2020, USA Gymnastics established its Athlete Bill of Rights, considered one of the 'first of its kind in sport,' demonstrating a commitment to 'a culture of athlete support and safety driving organizational decision-making." Leung's organization also introduced mental health visits to the National Team program Under the addition, USA Gymnastics now covers costs for regular visits to mental health providers for National Team athletes and coaches. Leung issued the following statement: 'The opportunity to lead USA Gymnastics has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. Thanks to the dedication of the entire gymnastics community, we are now in an incredible position as we turn our attention to the L.A. Olympic Games. The last several months have been a time of great reflection, and I know that now is the right time to pass the torch to the next leader, with the sport and organization thriving. I wanted to ensure the board has the opportunity to conduct a thorough search and also give my successor a long runway into the 2028 Olympic Games. I'm going to take some time to reset before determining what is next, and I look forward to USA Gymnastics accomplishing great things in 2025 and beyond.' During her tenure, USA Gymnastics surged to success on the medal podium, most notably with 11 medals at the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition to her role with USA Gymnastics, Leung was the recipient of multiple honors in sport. In 2020, Leung was voted vice chair of the NGB Council of the U.S. Olympic sport governing bodies, and was elected to the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in 2021. Leung was named a Sports Business Journal 'Power Player' in 2020 and an SBJ Gamechanger in 2024. In 2023, she was recognized on the 2023 A100 list as one of the country's most impactful Asian Americans. She would later be named a 2025 WISE Woman of the Year. Chair of the USAG board of directors, Kathryn Carson, attested to the impact of Leung's leadership. 'Li Li was the right leader at the right time for USA Gymnastics and accomplished in six years what many thought was not possible," Carson said. 'Her deep passion for gymnastics and extraordinary dedication to leading transformation has positioned USA Gymnastics to move boldly toward LA28. With this strong foundation, we are confident we will identify a leader to build on Li Li's legacy.' With a home Olympic Games on the horizon in 2028, USA Gymnastics now commits to securing a replacement in the organization's pivotal quadrennium. The organization 'has engaged CAA Executive Search to lead the search for Leung's successor,' and intends to identify a new president and CEO prior to Leung's departure at 2025's close.
