Star Tribune Layoffs, Prince's Secret Cookie, and Indie Music Venues
The Minnesota Star Tribune announced that they would be laying off about 15% of their work force, or 65 people. After Racket published the leaked layoff memo from Star Tribune CEO Steve Grove, Sean is joined by Racket co-owners Em Cassel and Jay Boller to talk about what we know so far. Renowned Prince Historian Andrea Swensson also joins the show to share some facts you probably didn't know about the superstar as Sunday marks what would have been his 68th birthday, and local venue operators James Taylor and Josh Cragun talk about the challenges of running an independent music venue in the Twin Cities in the big '26.
In a bonus segment only for City Cast Twin Cities Neighbors, the entire city cast staff joins to play a game of "Hot Dish Hush," where they try to get each other to guess common Twin Cities landmarks without saying certain prohibited words. To get bonus segments like this, ad-free listening, and exclusive invites to members-only events, you can sign up to become a Neighbor today.
Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:
- Read Star Tribune Publisher Steve Grove's Leaked Memo Announcing Dramatic Job Cuts, Updated 'Vision' (Racket)
- Minnesota Star Tribune cuts jobs and pursues nonprofit ownership structure (Star Tribune)
- Star Tribune planning job cuts, exploring new ownership model (MPR News)
- Mpls Police Chief's Epic Downfall. Plus, Sing Purple Rain With 1,000 Strangers (City Cast Twin Cities)
- Prince Singalong (Paisley Park)
- NIVA Conference June 7-10 Minneapolis
- The Cedar Cultural Center
- Gobo Tickets
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 5th episode:
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.
For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Twin Cities and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
A $5 Million Park Board Showdown. Plus, Pinocchio Returns to Children's Theatre
Minneapolis parks are ranked among the best in the country, so what happens when funding doesn't keep pace with rising costs? Park Commis...

These Suburbs are More Diverse than the TC. Plus, MN's First-Ever Black Book Fair and Reuniting Pets with Deported Owners
This weekend, Minneapolis becomes home to the very first Midwest Black Book Fair. Dr. Terresa Hardaway shares how she built it (and how t...

Why All Elections Should Get the MN Treatment. Plus, Pop-Ups Worth the Line
Good pop-ups are restaurant quality. We’ll talk about the ones worth waiting down the block for. Election Day is closer than you think, a...

Duluth's Best Kept Secrets. Plus, Gaelynn Lea On Her Debut Memoir
Today we are revisiting a conversation about what makes Duluth punch so far above its weight in music and arts. We’ll head north with Kri...

ShotSpotter's False Positives, the Whiskey Scheme that Built St. Paul, and Korean-Inspired Live Guitar
Today, we dig into Minneapolis's long-running and expensive ShotSpotter gunshot detection program with Ella Stern of the Minnesota Spokes...

State Fair's 'Biggest Battle,' a $32M Budget Hole, and Bauhaus Brewery's Dramatic Comeback
With the State Fair just around the corner, Minnesota and Ramsey County are taking an unusual legal step – suing two local gangs to stop...

All-Women Governor’s Race. Plus, Nudity at Fringe Fest and Radish Farm Stop
Have you ever watched a primary election this closely? From the voter turnout to the candidates, Tuesday’s election was historic. We run...

A Lifeline For Weed Drinks, St. Paul Can't Stop Right to Repair, and What's After Primaries?
Minnesota's thriving THC beverage industry is under threat of a looming federal ban that is set to go into effect on November 12. Indeed...

Cultural Cafes as Third Spaces. Plus, Peggy Flanagan on ‘Medicare For All’ and Kendall Qualls on ‘What All Minnesotans Want’
Late-night hangs don’t have to center alcohol. Writer Ali Elabbady tells us about how Yemeni, Egyptian, and Somali coffee shops are bring...

Angie Craig on the Laken Riley Act and Cedrick Frazier on Equity in the Legal System. Plus, MN's Office of Restorative Practices
Minnesota's Office of Restorative Practices funds and coordinates restorative approaches across pretrial diversion, juvenile justice, sch...
