Fourth annual Minnesota Building Trades Ribfest cooked up 625 racks of ribs all the while raising money for Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, an organization that acts as a corporate support network to meet the needs of Minnesota military veterans and their families.

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week is underway, and in Minnesota, the construction trades are on a mission to change the mindset of workers and project leaders.

Not since the late 1950s and early 1960s has the American public’s approval of union labor been as high as it continues to be. For the fifth consecutive year, approval of organized labor has been in the 67% to 71% range.

The year’s Women Building Success Awards program for 2025 had two “firsts”: No. 1. They had co-winners in the Tradeswomen in Leadership category. According to board member Jenny Winkelaar, this was a “highly-debated category.” Nothing in the recommendations could sway…