Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Planning backup power? See what Minneapolis homeowners should ask installers first.
Happening soon: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness on the Minneapolis Patch calendar

Hello again Minneapolis! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Planning backup power? See what Minneapolis homeowners should ask installers first.
- Meet the last manual elevator operator still working in Minneapolis
- Minneapolis startup's $76K win could reshape risky heart surgeries
Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What day of the year is trucker's day? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Heavy rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 61 and low of 56 degrees.
- Saturday: A little morning rain; cloudy, temps: high: 64, low: 56.
- Sunday: Remaining cloudy, with a high of 72 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. 4 Best Generator Installation in Minneapolis, MN of 2026 (consumeraffairs.com) — If you're in Minneapolis thinking about a whole-home generator, this guide breaks down how to compare contractors, navigate city permitting, and avoid long wait times after major outages. It explains licensing requirements, why to start planning before winter, and how to use reviews and multiple quotes to protect your budget and warranty.
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2. So Minnesota: The last manual elevator operator in Minnesota (kstp.com) — Downtown Minneapolis still has one charming throwback: a manually operated elevator in the historic Young Quinlan building, run by longtime operator Lee Bowser. Bowser, believed to be Minnesota's last manual elevator operator, shares how greeting all kinds of riders each day keeps the job's ups and downs surprisingly meaningful for people who work or visit in the city center.
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3. Octin Health Wins MN Cup Grand Prize of $76K, Looks Toward FDA Clearance (tcbmag.com) — A Minneapolis-based startup, Octin Health, just won the 2026 MN Cup grand prize, bringing $76,000 in non-dilutive funding back to the local med-tech community. The company is developing a device to keep blood flowing during complex aortic surgery and plans to seek FDA clearance next year, potentially boosting Minneapolis's growing medical-innovation scene.
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4. How many days are Minnesota students in school? (fox9.com) — Minneapolis families may be surprised to learn city students average 171 instructional days, just about the statewide norm but well below the 180 days common elsewhere. A new analysis of Minnesota Department of Education data compares calendars across more than 300 districts and explains how the state's relatively low 165-day minimum lets local school boards set widely varying schedules.
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5. Prosecution of ICE agent in Minneapolis brings some hope for immigrant-rights organizers (kare11.com) — An ICE agent is being prosecuted in Minneapolis and Hennepin County court for allegedly shooting a man through the door of a north Minneapolis home, a rare move against a federal officer. Local immigrant-rights organizers say the charges offer some hope for accountability, while legal experts note the case could shift to federal court and take months to resolve.
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📸 Around Minneapolis
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Minneapolis
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness →
Von Maur, 400 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie
10:00 am
Thursday September 24
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- MODE Festival by Flickr →
Berger Fountain, Loring Greenway, Minneapolis
10:00 am - 8th Annual #LIVIN Music Festival in Elk River →
ERX Motor Park, 21591 US-169, Elk River
2:00 pm - Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery →
Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
5:00 pm - The Tim Malloys - Half-Way to St. Patrick's Day! →
Kip's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 9970 W Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis
7:00 pm - Loras Football Twin Cities Meet & Greet →
Jax Cafe Minneapolis, 1928 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis
7:00 pm - SHRINK/we all need one →
Minneapolis MN
7:00 pm - Statewide Star Party at the Bell! →
Bell Museum, 2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul
8:00 pm - 65th Annual Nickle Dickle Day in Waconia →
City Square Park, S Spruce St, Waconia
8:00 am - Midtown Strong Community Celebration →
YWCA Minneapolis - Midtown, 2121 E Lake St, Minneapolis
11:00 am - MORTON: The Forgotten Founder by Laurie Flanigan Hegge →
South Minnehaha Drive, S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis
6:00 pm - 9 After 9 at Puttshack →
Puttshack - Minneapolis, 700 N 3rd St, Minneapolis
9:00 pm
Friday September 18
Saturday September 19
📣 Minneapolis Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Minneapolis PatchAM possible:
- Minneapolis Towing Company — (612) 324-2026
- KRE PRIME — (612) 321-8697
- K-Beauty Xperience MedSpa — (952) 500-0880
- Neva Massage Center — 9529359506
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- dailymotion
jeifrijeifri o (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Strange Plants Reframe Falling as Freedom on Hypnotic Psych-Pop Single —Jennifer Perez Read on Patch
- Michaels posted a job opening for Seasonal Replenishment Team Member - Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays in Minneapolis. Apply here.
- Caztek Engineering posted a job opening for CNC Machinist in Minneapolis. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Minneapolis here.
Ok Minneapolis! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: 10-4, good buddy! (Thank you Jean H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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