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The costume maker who convinced Hersheypark to embrace candy mascots and ‘chocolatize’ their old-timey theme park

The park, with its name originally two words, Hershey Park, opened in the early 1900s when Milton Hershey built it for his chocolate factory workers and their families.
Hersheypark underwent a total transformation in the 1970s, when candy mascots and thrill rides replaced barn animals and old-timey recreations of Tudor England.
The Declaration of Independence did more than assert the Colonies' independence from Britain.

1776’s Declaration of Independence inspired Washington’s troops to fight against the odds – and also helped bring in powerful allies

The Declaration of Independence isn’t just a philosophical breakup letter. It was a strategic move to secure vital support for America after its first declaration of war.

Rediscover the lost secrets of history, one mystery at a time

(BPT) - Where is Alexander the Great really buried? What led to the disappearance of the dodo? And how much do we truly know about the Neolithic cultures that shaped the earliest chapters of human …
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Can we get a little commotion for vanilla? It's having a moment – and Minnesota is here for it
Chocolate may get most of the attention, but vanilla is quietly making a statement — and Minnesota is helping lead the way.  A new University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and …
A chair-shaped bean bag available for the public to borrow from the Fraser Sensory Lending Library is displayed at Fraser Richfield. (Photo by Melody Hoffmann)
Sensory tools available to public at Fraser
Loud noises, bright lights, and crowded areas can be overwhelming for anyone. A person’s anxiety and stress levels can elevate if they stay in these environments for too long. Fraser Richfield is …
Kennadi Watkins performs on the main stage at Soul of the Southside, 2026 (Photo by Alanna Voelker)
Soul of the Southside 2026
In honor of Juneteenth, the people of Minneapolis came together for the Soul of the Southside Annual Festival, a free event hosted on E. Lake Street, 27th and Minnehaha Ave. Soul of the Southside …
New E-Ride safety guide helps families navigate fast-growing trend this summer
As e-bikes and e-scooters surge in popularity, AAA – The Auto Club Group is launching its new “E-Ride Ready” campaign to help parents better understand the …
The Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is located at 2601 30th Avenue South. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)
Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church finds new home in Seward
If you’ve been anywhere near the intersection of 26 th Street and 30 th Avenue South in the last year, you can’t have missed seeing the construction of the new Ethiopian church there. Most …
Very interesting
Healey asks Trump administration to speed up review of planned gas expansion in latest sign of shifting energy politics
As Healey hunts for ways to bring down soaring costs and campaigns for reelection in a race defined by the affordability crisis gripping the state, the governor sees an opportunity to appeal to the Trump administration to bring more gas into the state.
CT will get money from a landmark settlement with Meta, but advocates still want to see swift passage of Blumenthal’s Kids Online Safety Act.
The Crossword Puzzle

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Glenwood-Inglewood Company in 1910. The Glenwood and Inglewood springs were on adjacent property and ran as separate water companies until about 1896. Minnesota Historical Society.
DO DRINK THE WATER
Before a new house is completed today in the Twin Cities, the utilities (sewer, water, natural gas, electricity, etc.) are already in place. The owners take it for granted that their new home will …
Dredging operation at Lake Hiawatha in 1929, courtesy of the Minnesota Digital Library
The changing names and landscapes of Lake Nokomis and Hiawatha
Read this piece by the Minnesota Historian written by Josh Biber in 2022 titled, " The Changing Names and Landscapes of Lake Nokomis & Hiawatha. "
At 37th and Hiawatha, you can see the iStorage self-storage in the former Dayton's warehouse, the General Mills grain elevators on the far east, and the Atkinson ADM Mill on the south side of the intersection. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Atkinson ADM Mill still operating
The Atkinson ADM Mill at 3745 Hiawatha Ave. is still operating, and has recently been upgraded to make it more efficient. It is the last industrial flour mill still operating in Minneapolis. The mill …
Arson fires at Stevens House
The Minneapolis Park and RecreaCon Board Park Police Department is asking for the public’s help in solving three recent arson fires at the Stevens House, located at 4901 South Minnehaha Park …
Healing our house divided
This fall, The Westminster Town Hall Forum presents “Healing Our House Divided”   a four-part series in which intellectually diverse thinkers will argue that community can surmount …
New prison policy gives Trump administration more power to punish enemies
The Marshall Project reports that a new prison policy under the Trump administration gives Attorney General Todd Blanche the power to manipulate prisoner placements, raising concerns of political favoritism and corruption. 
The leaked document about AI data centers, oil and gas causing a stir in Alberta
The Narwhal reports on a leaked cabinet document revealing plans to revamp Alberta's natural gas pipeline system to support AI data center growth, sparking controversy.
Ontario is reviving its threat to cut electricity exports to the US. What does that mean?
The Narwhal reports Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut electricity exports to the U.S. amid trade tensions, affecting 1.5 million homes and businesses.
Americans are relocating less than ever, but still frustrated by packing
Closets by Design reports that Americans are moving less than ever, with only 11% relocating in 2024. 
Proposed Roadless Rule rescission could hurt rural economies
The Daily Yonder reports that in August 2026, the Trump administration proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, risking 45 million acres of public land for development, despite local opposition citing economic and ecological concerns.

Healthcare and insurance rules for 8 investor-residence programs

Golden Visa Lawyers reports on healthcare requirements for eight investor-residence programs, highlighting the need for private insurance and public enrollment details.

A 1917 silent film about a deadly factory fire was lost for over a century. It just resurfaced.

UL Research Institutes reports on the rediscovery of the 1917 silent film "An Unbeliever Convinced," revealing its impact on industrial safety and film preservation.

Paleontologists uncover a new ‘Spinosaurus’ species by following a clue from a decades-old book into the Sahara Desert

In this illustration, _Spinosaurus mirabilis_ fight over a carcass some 95 million years ago in what is now the Sahara Desert in Niger. Dani Navarro

The hunt for a mythicized fossil hot spot took a team of researchers on a journey through the Sahara Desert.

The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and High Country News report on how Chinese immigrants are trafficked into New Mexico's marijuana farms, facing exploitation and harsh conditions.
Michelangelo's 16th-century fresco 'The Last Judgment.' Sistine Chapel collection via Wikimedia Commons
Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures
The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled.
As part of the Artemis II mission, humans will fly around the Moon for the first time in decades.
NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program
Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.
Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind.
Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus
Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear.
A land manager examines young longleaf pines, some in their grassy phase, in a private forest in South Carolina.
How fire, people and history shaped the South’s iconic longleaf pine forests
One of North America’s richest ecosystems, sustained and shaped by Native peoples before European contact, nearly disappeared. A recovery is underway.
Boston and much of the U.S. faced a cold winter blast in January 2026.
How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm
The atmosphere is a complicated place. Warm temperatures in one spot can contribute to brutally cold storms somewhere else.
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