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People who made the news (in rhyming couplets)

December 30, 2014 at 9:21PM
Tommy Stinson, left, and Paul Westerberg of The Replacements during their set at Midway Stadium Saturday evening. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Replacements reunion tour finally made a stop in their hometown Saturday night, September 13, 2014 at Midway Stadium in St. Paul.
Tommy Stinson and Paul Westerberg of the Replacements broke an extended concert drought, and played a long-awaited concert at Midway Stadium. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

They're part of our community, and in 2014, they were part of the news. In case you need a quick catch-up, here are the people who were included in our Ode to the Year That Was:

Zygi Wilf: Vikings owner has declined to use bird-safe glass in construction of the new stadium in Minneapolis.

Barkhad Abdi: Minneapolis actor nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "Captain Phillips."

Eric Kaler: University of Minnesota president got a five-year contract extension — and a raise.

Olga Viso: Director who led Walker Art Center into its 75th year.

Sally Wingert: Local actress was hailed for her portrayal of Maria Callas.

Tom Bakk: Minnesota Senate majority leader from Cook, pushed for a new state office building.

Glen Taylor: Minnesota Timberwolves owner bought the Star Tribune.

Louise Erdrich: Celebrated Minnesota author won the PEN/Saul Bellow Award.

Dan Barreiro: Radio host and personality.

Lucia Watson: After 30 years at the helm, she sold her Minneapolis restaurant, Lucia's.

Neil Gaiman: The art of prolific author (whom we claim as a homie) was showcased in book described as part biography, part scrapbook.

Bernadeia Johnson: Superintendent of the Minneapolis public schools, resigned.

Jeff Johnson: Hennepin County commissioner ran unsuccessfully for governor.

Stewart Mills: Lost a close election in the Eighth Congressional District.

Wilhelmina Wright: Won election to the State Supreme Court.

Mike Zimmer: Hired in January as head coach of the Vikings.

Jerry Kill: Gophers football coach led team to 8-4 record and won Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Mark Dayton: Was re-elected as Minnesota's governor in November.

Janeé Harteau: Minneapolis police chief shook up leadership of the force.

Bill Pohlad: Produced Oscar-winning movie "12 Years a Slave."

Osmo Vänskä: Returned to the Minnesota Orchestra as director after a lockout and signed a two-year deal.

Garth Brooks: Country music star played for more than 200,000 fans during an 11-show run at Target Center.

Ron Gardenhire: Twins manager was fired after the fourth losing season in a row.

Michele Bachmann: Finished her fourth and last term representing Minnesota's Sixth District in Congress.

Kaywin Feldman: Her position, director and president of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, got an $8 million endowment.

Amy Klobuchar: The U.S. senator wasn't on the ballot, but her party was. In 2015, she'll be in the minority party.

Prince: Minnesota's famed musician released two new albums on the same day.

Tommy Mischke: Former radio personality started a podcast this year.

Nikola Pekovic: The often-injured Timberwolves player sat out much of the season.

Joe Mauer: The beloved Twins catcher moved to first base.

Stanislaw Skrowaczewski: Former Minnesota Orchestra director conducted the first post-lockout concert in a renovated Orchestra Hall.

Blong Yang: Elected to the Minneapolis City Council for a first term.

Abdi Warsame: Elected to the Minneapolis City Council for a first term.

Linea Palmisano: Elected to the Minneapolis City Council for a first term.

Jacob Frey: Elected to the Minneapolis City Council for a first term.

Betsy Hodges: Elected to the Minneapolis City Council for a first term.

Ricky Nolasco: Twins pitcher, acquired in free agency, had a disappointing year.

Brian Cornell: Named Target CEO in July.

The Replacements: Rocked a hometown reunion show at Midway Stadium in September.

Maya Moore: Minnesota Lynx star shined as the WNBA's MVP.

Tom Emmer: Elected to Congress in Minnesota's Sixth District.

Alan Page: Supreme Court justice penned second children's book with his own child, Kamie Page.

Richard Pitino: Finished his first year as Gopher basketball coach and started second in 2014.

Yvonne Prettner Solon: Lieutenant Governor declined a second run with Gov. Dayton.

Joe Dowling: Longtime Guthrie Theater artistic director begins his final season.

Hubert Joly: New CEO of Best Buy surprised shoppers in stores on Black Friday.

Michele MacDonald: Losing Minnesota Supreme Court candidate was convicted of resisting arrest when suspected of driving while impaired.

Terry Ryan: General manager fought to get the Twins out of cellar.

Brian Setzer: Stray Cats musician, now a Minnesotan, released a new record, "Rockabilly Riot."

Kurt Daudt: New speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from Crown.

Lisa Goodman: Minneapolis City Council member whose name rhymes with Woodman. (See below.)

Dave Frederickson: Minnesota agricultural commissioner.

Ricky Rubio: Timberwolves star signed a four-year contract extension, then got sidelined by an injury.

Jonny Lang: Minneapolis-launched musician played a Jimi Hendrix all-star tribute show at the State Theatre.

Stewart Woodman: Local chef (who closed Heidi's in 2013) opened Workshop at Union in Minneapolis.

Al Franken: U.S. senator won his bid for re-election.

Carlos Gomez: Former Twin played in the All-Star Game at Target Field — as a Milwaukee Brewer.

Barb Johnson: Minneapolis City Council member.

Andy Johnson: First-term Minneapolis City Council member.

Connie Nelson and John Wareham contributed to this report.


Garth Brooks performed at the Target Center on Thursday, November 6, 2014. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • reneejones@startribune.com
Garth Brooks performed 11 shows at Target Center. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
An 11 AM Minnesota Orchestra Coffee Concert featured Osmo Vanska conducting for first time in nearly 2 years inside Orchestra Hall, and his first time since the renovation and the settlement of the lockout. ] BRIAN PETERSON • brian.peterson@startribune.com Minneapolis, MN 3/27/2014
Osmo Vänskä returned to the Minnesota Orchestra with a two-year post-lockout contract. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. cheers after addressing his supporters at an election night party after winning his Senate race against Republican Mike McFadden, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler)
No recount needed for Sen. Al Franken in 2014. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Council member Abdi Warsame spoke with passion about his reason for voting for the budget during a meeting in the city council chambers at City Hall in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. He was particularly passionnate with the assumtion that he didn't think "black lives matter," a chant the majority of community members against te budget chanted in the hallway during a break. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER reneejones@startribune.com
Abdi Warsame was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire attends a press conference with Twins general manager Terry Ryan, not pictured, who announced that the Twins are going to replace Gardenhire on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at Target Field in Minneapolis. (Renee Jones Schneider/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT) ORG XMIT: 1158051
Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was replaced. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer talks on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Mike Zimmer is the Vikings’ new head coach. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota's Head Coach Jerry Kill spoke to the press after practice at Freedom High School, Friday, December 26, 2014 in Orlando, FL. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com
Coach Jerry Kill is taking the Gophers to the Citrus Bowl. spoke to the press after practice at Freedom High School, Friday, December 26, 2014 in Orlando, FL. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges addresses a rally outside TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, before the Minnesota Vikings game against the Washington Redskins. (Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT) ORG XMIT: 1159493
Betsy Hodges was elected Minneapolis mayor. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
In a file photo from Wednesday, March 21, 2012, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on the second anniversary of passage of President Obama's health care overhaul. An audacious conservative, Rep. Michele Bachmann stood out from the moment she was first elected to Congress in 2006. Democrats were ascendant and Bachmann was a stridently Republican new arrival with a homespun Minnesota twang. Four terms later, Bachmann is leaving just as Rep
Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann didn’t run again. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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