GOVERNMENT

Deb Barber

The Metropolitan Council, a quasi-governmental agency overseeing jointly shared public and transportation services for Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding suburbs, announced that Gov. Tim Walz has appointed Deb Barber as interim chair, following the retirement of Charlie Zelle in September. Barber was appointed to the Met Council in 2015 by Gov. Mark Dayton and previously served as the District 4 Council Member. She is co-founder and senior partner of Canopy Medical.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Wells Fargo announced the opening of a branch at 835 W. Broadway Ave., North Minneapolis. Wells Fargo, based in San Francisco, is Minnesota’s second-largest bank by deposit market share. … The American Fraternal Alliance, a national trade group representing fraternal benefit societies, announced the election of Sharon Brosnan as board chair. Brosnan is vice president of government affairs at Thrivent, a Minneapolis-based Fortune 500 financial services company. … GFC Planning announced its launch as an independent registered investment advisory firm in Woodbury. It was founded by Lance Huebner, a U.S. Army combat veteran who previously spent over a decade as a financial adviser at Morgan Stanley.

HEALTH CARE

The Integrated Body Center, a health and wellness clinic, announced its opening in in Hastings’ historic Olde Armory Building, 121 3rd St E. Angie Thompson is founder and CEO.

LAW

Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Bethany L. Maski has joined the firm’s family law team. Maski previously clerked for the
Honorable Richard Stebbins, referee of Hennepin County Family Court. … Fredrikson announced the election of the following new shareholders in its Minneapolis office: Megan A. Bowman, Rachel L. Dougherty, Devin T. Driscoll, Christian V. Hokans and Aaron C. Nyquist. Fredrikson is based in Minneapolis. … Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the return of attorney Joe Ceronsky to the firm’s Litigation Group as counsel. Ceronsky joined the firm in 2010. In 2024, he left the partnership for a year-long RV trip with his family. … Gov Tim Walz announced the appointment of Michael Grover as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. Grover will replace the Honorable Donna K. Dixon and will be chambered in Roseau in Roseau County. … Spencer Fane announced the addition of Aaron D. Quinby to the firm’s St. Cloud office as an of counsel attorney in the real estate practice group.

MANUFACTURING

Mate Precision Technologies, an Anoka-based provider of metal-fabricated products and services for industry, announced the promotion of Joe Schneider to president. He succeeds Kevin Nicholson, who is retiring after 19 years in the position. Schneider has 31 years with the company and was appointed vice president of marketing in 2006.

NONPROFITS

The Eagan Community Foundation announced the awards of $62,000 in community grants to 30 nonprofits, including the launch of funding from the Art Works Legacy Fund, a $1 million endowment, and the Youth in Philanthropy program, empowering seven teens to make grant decisions.

REAL ESTATE

Cushman & Wakefield, a national commercial real estate firm, announced Anders Pesavento as managing principal for the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. Pesavento joins the firm from developer Ryan Cos., where he was senior vice president, capital markets. Cushman & Wakefield has offices in Bloomington and Minneapolis.

RETAIL

Best Buy, a Richfield-based national electronics retailer, announced the appointment of Meghan Frank to its board of directors. Frank is chief financial officer of Lululemon, a global athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company. … Mall of America, Bloomington, announced the planned opening of Primark, an Ireland-based fast-fashion chain, in the mall. It will be the chain’s first Minnesota location.

SPONSORSHIPS

The Minnesota Wild NHL franchise and Blaze Credit Union, Falcon Heights, announced a multi-year partnership as the team’s home helmet partner. The Blaze logo will appear on the Wild’s home helmets starting this season. As part of their partnership, Blaze will continue the Blaze Credit Union’s Hockey Kids4Kids Program.

TECHNOLOGY

Inkit, a Minneapolis-based digital file management platform for business, announced the opening of a St. Paul office.

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LONDON — All the hopes and dreams the Vikings had for this season felt like they were hanging in the balance when the offense walked back onto the field with 3 minutes, 5 seconds left on the game clock.

As sloppy as they had played for much of the game on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Vikings were getting the ball back with a chance to beat the Cleveland Browns.

What followed was a gutsy drive led by veteran quarterback Carson Wentz that could serve as a turning point for Vikings.

After moving the ball methodically down the field, Wentz worked it into the red zone, then found receiver Jordan Addison for a touchdown that proved to be the difference as the Vikings escaped with a 21-17 win over the Browns.

Never mind that injuries have threatened to derail this season so many times over the past month or so.

Never mind the Vikings were on the tail end of an unprecedented international swing that took them through Dublin and London over the past week and a half.

Never mind that the game itself felt like it might have been slipping away down the stretch.

When the Vikings needed it most, they got it, and they walked off the field with a win. Now they can head into a much needed bye with everything they want to do still in front of them.

To say the Vikings had to show mental fortitude to win the game would be putting it lightly.

After forcing a punt to start the game, the Vikings appeared to have something going on their opening drive. A couple of runs here, a couple of quick passes there. But it went sideways when running back Jordan Mason fumbled while fighting for extra yards, stopping any momentum Minnesota had built.

On the next play, the Browns handed the ball to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who went 32 yards up the right sideline. That set the stage for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the low red zone and he found rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for a touchdown that make it 7-0.

The response from the Vikings was exactly what they needed.

After watching Wentz complete a few passes, running back Cam Akers took a snap out of the wildcat formation, then threw to tight end Josh Oliver for a a touchdown to make it 7-7.

There was a brief scare from the Vikings shortly before halftime as Wentz appeared to injure his shoulder on a scramble. He was checked out in the blue medical tent, then went to the locker room. As the Vikings were dealing with that on the sideline, the Browns kicked a field goal to make it 10-7 at halftime.

Fortunately for the Vikings, Wentz returned to the game after halftime and led an impressive drive that ended with Mason plunging into the end zone to make  it 14-10.

On the next possession, the Vikings’ defense had no answer for the Browns, who worked the ball down the field before Gabriel found tight end David Njoku for a touchdown that made it 17-14.

With the Vikings in need of a boost, punter Ryan Wright flipped the field with a 77-yard punt. After forcing a punt with the Browns pinned in the shadow of their own goal post, the Vikings got the ball in great field position only to have running back Zavier Scott immediately fumble.

In the end, Wentz made sure those mistakes didn’t cost the Vikings, marching the offense down the field for a touchdown in the final seconds that finalized the score at 21-17.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Gophers’ first Big Ten road game disintegrated into a 42-3 beatdown at the hands of No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, head coach P.J. Fleck went into his own version of blowout mode at Ohio Stadium.

As the game’s final minutes took excruciatingly long to play out, Fleck covered his mouth to disguise what he said to star safety Koi Perich on the sideline. It was a big-picture chat that he preferred to not have lip-read.

“It was just conversations about leadership and how to respond to this and moving forward,” Fleck said postgame. “It wasn’t about the game. It was about moving forward from here. The demands of the leadership moving forward. It’s critical for any team. You need to be able to respond to the things that. When you do get beat up in a fight, you’ve got to respond to it. I know our guys will.”

Fleck said he had similar talks with a half dozen players as the Gophers (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) will need to pick themselves up before their homecoming game against Purdue (2-3, 0-2) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.

“We get paid to win, but I do the job to teach,” Fleck said. “Those are great teaching moments. They are not fun. … I will keep my conversation between me and the player. … You want them to know where the head coach’s head is. Where is my mind?”

Fundamentally, Fleck was humbled. “We got our butt kicked,” he said.

The Buckeyes’ defense under new coordinator Matt Patricia has overwhelmed every opponent this year. They have given up 25 total points through five games, the lowest total for a Big Ten team in 40 years.

“We’ve got to move on and flush it,” said quarterback Drake Lindsey, who threw for only 95 yards. “Because at the end of the day, we’ve got a long season ahead of us and we’ve got to go win.

“Our leadership just has to continue to be better. During the bad times and the good times, we’ve got to continue to pick everybody up and hold the team together and be the glue. Other guys (have) got to keep coming along. At the end of the day, it takes everybody, and it’s going to take a lot of empathy and gratitude.”

The Gophers/ defense gave up its most points allowed across 20 games since Purdue put up 49 in West Lafayette, Ind., on Nov. 11, 2022. The defense that day hit rock bottom with its linebacking corps in tatters.

Saturday’s defense didn’t have any position groups decimated, but Ohio State’s prized young quarterback, Julian Sayin, was able to throw it around with ease.

Sayin completed 85% of his passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions nor sacks. Top-notch wideouts Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith ran past the U defensive backs. Tate had a career high 183 receiving yards and one score; Smith had 67 yards and two TDs.

“They exploited us in ways we may not have seen, so credit to them,” said senior defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding. “We, at the end of (Saturday), got to get better. One step at a time.”

Logan-Redding said self belief will be a vital resource, when self-doubt could be readily available.

“We are a great (expletive) defense,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to continue to believe that. If we don’t believe it, it’s not going to work.”

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LONDON — Jordan Addison warmed up with his teammates on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, ran out of the tunnel ahead of kickoff, then didn’t play a snap in the opening 15 minutes of the game between the Vikings and the Cleveland Browns. 

Though it’s unclear why the 23-year-old receiver did not see the field, the Vikings said his absence was not injury related. It appears head coach Kevin O’Connell decided to sit him for some reason.

After pacing around on the sideline with his helmet on throughout the first quarter, Addison returned to the field at the start of the second quarter.

If this is a disciplinary benching for Addison, it wouldn’t be the first time in his career he’s been in trouble. He served a three-game suspension to open this season for his arrest in July 2024, when he was found asleep behind the wheel near LAX.