The Daily Agenda

ag take | Farm Sale Fraud Increasing

Mike Maybay — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:31:05 GMT

TRADE: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Join us, National Corn Growers Association, and other ag groups in showing your support for USMCA! Sign a letter to President Trump urging a full renewal of the landmark trade deal, which has been a game-changer for U.S. agriculture.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4wbpxcH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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WEDNESDAY AG HEADLINES

MNLEG: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “With the end in sight for Minnesota legislature, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Public Policy Specialist Hunter Pederson says some provisions like the Farmer-Lender-Mediation program might be tabled until next year.” PEDERSON: “On the House side, their ag committee was not able to come to agreement on a bill to move forward. So, we haven’t seen a resolution on that yet, and I’m not sure that we’re going to since it’s not an actual budget year. But knowing that there’s a few things in there like that farmland remediation, that would be a meaningful thing to get done. But we might not see that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d1FWb6

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “All eyes shifted to the U.S. Senate after the House passed its farm bill last week. Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman says the Senate has different rules for its farm bill process.” BOOZMAN: “Because of the filibuster, we need 60 votes to get things passed,” he said. “We have the opportunity to lose some Republicans, and we have the opportunity to lose a bunch of Democrats. We’ve got to get probably nine, ten or more to vote with us.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QQXdMK

FERTILIZER: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Phosphate and nitrogen prices were already elevated before the Iran war according to Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer with StoneX, as China, the world’s number two nitrogen exporter, banned exports.

Urea: Prices have nearly doubled since early December.
Potash: Up approximately 10% since the start of the year.

Then came the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz which added insult to injury as three of the top 10 largest urea and anhydrous exporters are cut off. Linville points out that’s because the Strait closure also shut down LNG or the natural gas supplies used to produce nitrogen fertilizer products, which further elevated prices at New Orleans, Louisiana.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OO4Djk

DECARBONIZATION: Via PepsiCo, VERBATIM: “PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) today announced a new collaboration with agriculture technology company, TalusAg, that aims to advance fertilizer decarbonization across global agricultural supply chains through low-carbon ammonia environmental attributes, marking PepsiCo’s first executed transactions of this kind. The initial agreements span PepsiCo’s Europe, Sub Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, and global teams, representing approximately 30,000 metric tons of low-carbon ammonia, with an option to purchase an additional 41,000 metric tons. The broader collaboration also extends to the U.S. and the proposed Blue Earth, Minnesota project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cTNhL1

PSEUDORABIES: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The rare pig virus pseudorabies is making its way to Iowa, more than 20 years since it was last seen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of the virus at a commercial swine facility in North Central, impacting fewer than 100 pigs. According to the Department, the state has been pseudorabies-free since 2004.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uwEftj

USDA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation says the agency is addressing concerns about ag data security in the One Farmer One File initiative. Richard Fordyce says merging dozens of separate farm programs into a single network can be done safely.” FORDYCE: “The data is the farmers.’ We know that. We protect that, and we think that more vulnerabilities exist when you have a system that has 72 independent and separate running systems as opposed to one platform.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42eWdVf

GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)

AG COMMERCE

LAND FRAUD: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agricultural real estate expert says farm sale fraud is becoming more common. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company says, ‘We’ve seen a large uptick in the last, you know, six months to a year.’ Lacina tells Brownfield that seller impersonation fraud occurs when someone lists the farm property for sale with an agent without the real owner’s knowledge.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wkuMqW

TAPEI: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to host Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei of the Tapei Economic & Cultural Office in Chicago this afternoon at MDA. Taiwan was Minnesota’s 8th largest export market for food and ag products including soybeans, corn, pork, feed products & more.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4cUgB4c

CARGILL: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Brazilian prosecutors have accused Minnetonka-based Cargill of failing to address ‘serious human rights violations’ in its soybean supply chain that runs deep into the South American country. In a civil lawsuit filed against the global commodity giant, the government is demanding roughly $21.9 million ‘for collective moral harm,’ the country’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release last week. Cargill declined to comment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tduI9p

SPRING WHEAT: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “For many Minnesota farmers, spring wheat is no longer the backbone of the operation — it’s a strategic choice. As input costs rise and corn and soybeans offer stronger returns, wheat acreage across the region continues a steady decline decades in the making. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Prospective Planting report at the end of March, projecting hard red spring wheat acreage to drop 10% in Minnesota, 8% in North Dakota, and 4% in South Dakota. Nationally, the United States is expected to plant only 9.4 million acres of spring wheat in 2026, down from 10 million acres in 2025. This downward trend is not new.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RmPuGh

HUMAN RESOURCES

STRESS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is sounding the alarm on escalating farm stress. Bob Worth of Lake Benton suggests a mental health crisis is occurring in agriculture. ‘It is extremely serious.’ He tells Brownfield financial pressures, policy uncertainty, and unpredictable weather can all be factors.” WORTH: “We haven’t had a suicide for awhile, it’s probably a couple three months. But I’m hearing that farmers cannot get an operating loan for this spring, and it’s spring, we’re planting. And it’s going to be really tough on them.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wi8KoK

MORE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “People are the heart of every farm. When a farmer is having a tough time, taking a moment to reach out and listen can truly make a meaningful difference. For help starting the conversation, call or text the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4dfcJd0

TEACHER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is proud to announce Marie Kruse of Lake City, MN as the recipient of their 2026 Outstanding Teacher Award. This honor recognizes K-12 educators in Minnesota who creatively integrate agriculture into their classroom curriculum. For more than 20 years, Kruse has brought her passion for agriculture into her classroom, helping young learners understand the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48N2Aml

MORE: From MAITC via YouTube, how Kruse introduces agriculture to her students. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dejED9

SOCIAL MEDIA: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Addy Wohlhuter, a senior at Martin County West, has turned to social media to promote the local gas station/grocery store and what it has to offer, from deals on food to highlighting products with a local connection. Flour, oats and tortilla chips from Whole Grain Milling Co. based in Welcome, Minn., and Harris Honey products from St. James, Minn., are just two examples of local vendors highlighted on the Town Center’s social media presence, which Wohlhuter started building in October 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ev2zqJ

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

TULIPS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “A stunning first-of-its-kind floral experience is blooming in Farmington right now. Minnesota’s first tulip festival is happening at Brand Farms, where vibrant fields of colorful tulips are creating a beautiful springtime destination.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tlHxia

RACE HORSES: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “After exciting finish by Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby it was a great day to visit Steepwood Horse Farm where they have bred thoroughbred race horses for 40 years and to hear about the importance of the [horse] industry in MN. Thanks Richard, Cheryl & family for the time & tour!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cXpuZe

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lunch take | POLL: 67% Say MN Taxes Too High

Mike Maybay — Wed, 06 May 2026 16:16:21 GMT

The National Police Association this morning asked the DOJ to intervene in Hennepin County’s prosecution of an ICE agent who drew his weapon during an encounter with a protester in Minneapolis. READ: https://fluence-media.co/42QPCQZ

The Haskell’s on Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior caught fire overnight. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42iKXag

82% of retirees say they’re financially comfortable. Only 45% of those not yet retired expect the same. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4tkXCoh

52% say they’re likely to vote for a Democrat for congress in November – 42% say Republican. 74% are very or somewhat enthusiastic about voting. MARIST: https://fluence-media.co/4d2Cn4o

75% say children born in the U.S. to parents on work visas should get citizenship. When the parents are in the country illegally, Americans are evenly split on granting citizenship. AP/NORC: https://fluence-media.co/4tgnUIg

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WAYMO IS READY FOR MINNESOTA: With 13x fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans, Waymo is already making roads safer in major U.S. cities where we operate — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. We are ready to bring these safety benefits to Minnesota, and look forward to working with the state legislature to pass a law that allows us to provide rides in the state. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/waymo (SPONSORED: Waymo)

Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4f61eqB

Sunday Take was all about the playoffs as sports historian Dan Whenesota and sports take’s Howard Sinker discussed why things feel different in Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w6ZraL

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THE MOOD OF MN

The Minnesota Chamber this morning released results of a statewide poll it says shows “growing financial stress among Minnesotans, increasing pessimism about the state’s economy and rising concern that taxpayers are not getting the same value for what they pay in state taxes and costs that they have in recent years.”

A few slides from the poll results:

See all the poll slides HERE: https://fluence-media.co/42S1SRc

Read the poll memo HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4f1RkpV

BIZ PRIORITIES: Via Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “Cutting costs remains finance leaders’ top priority, but growth has moved sharply higher on the agenda, according to the latest U.S. Bank CFO Insights Report. The results of this research are based on a survey conducted between March 19 and April 14 of 1,000 senior finance leaders. The respondents work at U.S. businesses with at least $100 million in annual revenue, and 30% work for a business that generates at least $2 billion. The survey finds that 39% ranked cost cutting as their top priority (up from 33% in mid-2024), while revenue growth rose from seventh to second (31%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f59d7l

ONE MORE SURVEY: Via Hometap, from a survey of small business owners, QUOTE: “78% of respondents say they are concerned about the current economic environment. On trade policy, 55% of millennials say tariffs have caused them to scale back investments, compared to 48% of Gen X and just 34% of baby boomers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tVQr6U

PREDICTION MARKETS: Via Semafor, VERBATIM: “As the Commodity Futures Trading Commission takes a growing number of states to court over prediction markets, Chair Mike Selig is monitoring Minnesota and other states that advance legislation that would ban or regulate them, a person familiar with his thinking told Semafor. Selig, who has so far filed lawsuits against five states that tried to crack down, praised a district judge’s Tuesday decision to block Arizona from suing Kalshi as ‘reaffirm[ing] what we all know: the CFTC has full jurisdiction.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Jrwev

BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)

SCHOOLS

MPS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “As Minneapolis school district leaders grapple once again with a budget deficit in the tens of millions of dollars, attention is expected to swing, at last, to its glut of underused school buildings. Twenty-nine schools, more than half of the district’s building portfolio, sit at less than 70% capacity, leading to calls to ‘right-size’ the school system to give more students access to expansive course offerings. The district also has six buildings that are vacant or not being used for district programming.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wsT0zg

DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth Public School District is being forced to make changes after finding that one of their facilities is not in compliance with state guidelines. Duluth Public Schools Area Learning Center in downtown Duluth was found to be out of compliance with multiple state statutes after an in-depth review by the Minnesota Department of Education. That includes the institution’s four-day school week, student attendance, staff licensure and more.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tlsDsi

ROBBINSDALE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Robbinsdale Area School Board could ask voters to approve a bond request of between $450 million and $515 million this November. If approved, the funds would be used to update existing school buildings and create a single high school. It comes as the district continues to navigate financial struggles due to declining enrollment, aging buildings and an accounting error that previously left the district with a $21 million deficit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4evRPZk

STATEWIDE: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota legislature rarely agrees on anything. But the Minnesota House of Representatives has unanimously agreed on a bill that proposes a funding increase to school districts across the state. The Minnesota House on Tuesday approved legislation authored by Rep. Spencer Igo, R-District 07A, that would increase distributions from the Permanent School Fund to every one of the 329 public school districts and 181 charter schools and academies in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4te4xiV

CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability—providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)

THE CITIES

TOMORROW: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council is expected to ban assault weapons in the city during its Thursday meeting . . . The bill approved by the council would ban certain semi-automatic weapons defined in state law that are commonly known as assault weapons. It includes AK- and AR- variants. The bill would also ban large capacity magazines, binary triggers and ghost guns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RncpBm

LRT: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “As the Green Line extension to the southwest metro nears completion, Metro Transit is beginning a campaign to get people to ride the trains. Why it matters: Metro Transit is still struggling to win back passengers after the pandemic, as train ridership fell 14% last year and remains well below 2019 levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OMwJeR

METRO SURGE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “During the height of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, federal prosecutors charged three dozen people, mostly protesters, with assaulting ICE and Border Patrol agents. The alleged conduct is serious. But the government has dismissed more than a third of the cases after the allegations failed to stand up to scrutiny. Prosecutors are continuing to pursue others, including one case where a judge called the Justice Department’s actions ‘perplexing.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4upxJ7A

NEW HOPE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A former industrial site in New Hope contains a pollutant that poses risk to human health and the environment, according to investigators with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The site, located at 7516 42nd Ave. N., New Hope. used to be occupied by Electronic Industries, a former circuit board manufacturer and metal plating operation. The MPCA said the site tested for elevated levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) in soil, soil vapor and groundwater.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QRvg7y

UPTOWN: Via Southwest Voices, VERBATIM: “The Uptown Art Fair will make its highly anticipated return in 2026, reimagined as ‘Art on the Isles,’ a scenic new setting along Lake of the Isles Parkway, marking a major milestone in the ongoing revitalization of Uptown, according to new Uptown Association Executive Director Stefani Pennaz. After a two-year hiatus, the event returns to Uptown Aug. 7-9, 2026, once again welcoming nationally recognized, juried artists alongside a full weekend of community programming, live entertainment, and local business participation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PmNai4

GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO! Check out Donna’s story - a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails...it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Check out Donna’s story: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)

EARNINGS SEASON

BIO-TECHNE: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “[Minneapolis-based] Biotech firm Bio-Techne on Wednesday missed Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue, as cuts ‌to U.S. academic funding weighed on demand for ‌its drug-development products . . . Bio-Techne’s quarterly sales came in at $311.4 million, below analysts’ expectations of $317.1 million, according to data compiled by LSEG. Uncertainty due to ‌cuts to U.S. academic ⁠funding as well as concerns related to President Donald Trump‘s tariffs have been weighing on ⁠the company’s clients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d97qvt

DELUXE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Deluxe Corp. (DLX) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $35.8 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 77 cents per share . . . The results topped Wall Street expectations . . . The payments and data company posted revenue of $538.1 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d9iNDA

SOLVENTUM: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Solventum Corp. (SOLV) on Tuesday reported first-quarter earnings of $13 million. On a per-share basis, the Maplewood, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 7 cents . . . The results surpassed Wall Street expectations . . . The health care company posted revenue of $2.01 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tTbneJ

FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)

COMMERCE

MINING: Via WPXI-TV, VERBATIM: “United States Steel Corp. will invest $1.9 billion at its Arkansas factory to produce direct reduced iron in what the company said will be the first facility of its kind in the United States. Direct reduced iron, whose pellets are gathered and processed at U.S. Steel’s Minnesota mines, is a premium and pure form of iron that takes the place of scrap steel in the electric arc furnace method of steelmaking. The process makes for more efficient steelmaking at its state-of-the-art Big River Steel Works plant in Osceola, Arkansas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dsvzOR

H.B. FULLER: Via St. Paul-based H.B. Fuller, VERBATIM: “H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL), the world’s largest pureplay adhesives provider, today announced the establishment of a new Aerospace Manufacturing Center of Excellence—a purpose-built, certified manufacturing and innovation facility designed to accelerate growth across the aviation, space, and defense markets . . . Located in Charlotte, N.C., and expected to open in early 2027, the Aerospace Manufacturing Center of Excellence will consolidate specialized manufacturing, packaging, testing, and quality operations into a single, tightly controlled site engineered specifically to meet stringent aerospace requirements.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uy78W1

DOWNTOWN MPLS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Linda Cao and Peter Bian—the couple behind Saturday Dumpling Co., which has grown from a pop-up to two brick-and-mortar locations plus a food hall stand in the past few years—are opening a barbecue restaurant in the former Izzy’s Ice Cream space in downtown Minneapolis. Jujube (pronounced ‘joo-joo-bee’), was born of an ‘East-meets-South’ vision, which will meld Texas barbecue traditions with East Asian flavors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48IHntG

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WHAT’S NEXT?

NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis-based Regis, VERBATIM: “Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM:RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, will issue financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, before the market opens on May 13, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48MROwh

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS SUMMER: Via ASI, VERBATIM: “The American Swedish Institute museum and cultural center announce its summer 2026 schedule, including a surreal photography exhibition Eyes as Big as Plates, the region’s largest Midsommar celebration, a traditional Swedish Crayfish dinner, and more than 100 programs for all ages.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4drPYnb

BDAYS: lobbyist Cap O’Rourke, New Hope Mayor John Elder

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morning take | How close will #mnleg cut it?

The Daily Agenda — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:23:51 GMT

DOWN 2

Wild lose. They need to play more physical.

Frost go 3 OT’s…and lose. Wolves in San Antonio tonight.

With three teams in the playoffs, Minnesotans need cable TV and at least two streaming services to watch every game. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4tOsKNP

The annual “I-90 Party” is tonight.

The U.S. is no longer escorting ships in the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian attacks. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4uc04yN

Happy National Beverage Day…have you noticed how many beverage options there are at the grocery store? A lot.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r

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The tax proposal for HCMC is getting tweaked by DFL Tax Chair in the House Rep. Aisha Gomex, the Walz administration hasn’t yet exerted its view on the best solution to stabilize the hospital. Meanwhile the Senate has a different solution, the required bipartisan vote may ultimately determine the decision of the stare down between the House and the Senate, as well as the DFL and the GOP. Feels like a brinksmanship moment if there isn’t alignment by this time next week.

The unfortunate health situation of newly appointed DHS leader John Connelly is sad, and one should not be asked to take on the role under that situation. However, the silence of DFLers when asked by the media to comment suggests that their tongues may hurt from biting them. Multiple Senate DFLers are very frustrated by the move. It’s also a play from the Walz administration that shouldn’t surprise anyone. When DFLers don’t criticize their own, they fall into the same trap as Republicans not criticizing Trump. Ahh…its only May, I’m starting to schedule debates…for the Fall.

You can see the tensions and coalitions cracking in the floor sessions even within amongst those in the same party. House and Senate sessions today might be spicier than yesterday’s tacos.

Walz and legislative leaders meet at 9AM.

CONTRAST: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is drawing a careful line between herself and Gov. Tim Walz as she ramps up her campaign for governor, saying she would have done “a lot of things differently” on issues ranging from fraud to managing the state’s finances…Klobuchar has signaled that she intends to govern closer to the political middle and not repeat the missteps of Walz, a fellow Democrat who has become a political lightning rod at home and nationally. Her attempt to break from Walz comes as Republicans are trying to cast her campaign as an extension of his administration.”… State Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Maple Grove Republican who chairs the fraud prevention committee in the Minnesota House, said much of what Klobuchar pitched sounds like things Republicans have been asking for. Robbins said she called for a full audit of state agencies last summer, for example. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49wlsGl

MORE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz responded [to] Amy Klobuchar [saying] she would have handled fraud differently had she been governor. … Walz said he was the person in the middle of it, had all the information and acted within legal authority. … Walz said he’s proud of the work his administration has done to fight fraud and he’s happy Klobuchar is keeping that conversation going.” WALZ: “Everyone thinks they would have done things differently. That’s fine. What I’m most concerned about now is not theoretical. It’s not what if, it’s what we’re doing forward to fix it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wcX8TN

ON LEAVE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services disclosed Tuesday that its newly named leader will be out on medical leave for the next month. On Monday, Gov. Tim Walz appointed John Connolly as temporary commissioner. He replaced Shireen Gandhi. … [However], Connolly told agency staff that he is undergoing treatment for colon cancer. While he’s out, his leadership role will be filled by Gandhi and another deputy commissioner, Andrew Johnson. … [Connolly] is expected to return to the office in early June [and] is keeping his title as state Medicaid director. … A spokesperson for Walz declined to comment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uc106h

DOUBTS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Some Democratic Senators weighing whether to confirm the head of Minnesota’s embattled Department of Human Services had concerns about Gov. Tim Walz’s pick before he decided to reshuffle leadership of the agency. … [DFLers] didn’t need any Republican votes to move [Shireen] Gandhi’s confirmation forward, which required a simple majority vote. But two DFLers said they had not decided how they would vote. … ‘I still had concerns,’ said Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead. Sen. Liz Boldon, DFL-Rochester, said she ‘had concerns about Commissioner Gandhi’s performance.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4naKnFh

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Sources tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that all Republicans planned to vote against her, along with some Democrats. Those Democrats fall into two camps: some thought she wasn’t tough enough on fraud, and some thought she was too harsh in cutting off payments. … ‘I totally believe, from what we see and what we were hearing in the hallways, they didn’t have the votes,’ [said] Sen. Paul Utke, R-Park Rapids.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eulYIy

FACT: Walz didn’t have the votes.

QUALLS: Minnesota-based Conservative American PAC endorsed Kendall Qualls in the race for governor, commending his “commitment to Republican values and beliefs, along with the growing momentum his campaign continues to cultivate,” per a release.

Meanwhile, Qualls posted about “communists” in the trifecta on X, which says he likes the endorphins but may not have a real grasp of the nuance that is energizing all of Minnesota.

OMAR: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A rarely used legislative tactic will not occur in the final 12 days of this year’s session. A motion to issue a subpoena to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to produce documentation related to the Feeding our Future scandal failed to garner enough support Tuesday by the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee. … Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) said Omar sponsored the federal MEALS Act, [which] ‘created the conditions for Feeding Our Future.’ … Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul) [said] he does not see the committee — with less than two weeks left in session — doing anything with that information.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f55fLT

CRAIG: via MPR, VERBATIM: “[Rep.] Angie Craig traveled to Texas to visit a resident of her district dealing with a serious health condition while in immigration custody. … Andrea Pedro-Francisco [was] arrested in January during the immigration agent surge just before a scheduled surgery. … Craig conducted a congressional oversight visit to the processing center where Pedro-Francisco is currently being held in El Paso, Texas. … Craig [said] she was able to meet with Pedro-Francisco [and] is pushing ICE to release Pedro-Francisco on humanitarian parole.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wcX8TN

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STREAM OF SESSION

HCMC: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “How can the state best go about fixing the financial difficulties [HCMC] is currently enduring? … The latest suggestion comes in the form of a delete-all amendment to HF4841, sponsored by Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Mpls). It would extend and increase the current sales tax in Hennepin County from 0.15% to 0.75% (down from the 1% proposed in the original bill). … On Tuesday, the House Taxes Committee heard the bill in an informational capacity, and it remains to be seen where — or if — it will resurface next.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3R5B3X4

RESPONSE: via DFL Rep. Aisha Gomez, taxes co-chair, GOMEZ: “As has been shown throughout this session, and again today, HCMC must be saved, and the House DFL is leading the way in finding a workable solution. This is a statewide asset, and it should have a statewide solution. But in the meantime, the best solution is one that keeps these lifesaving doors open. The House DFL has shown we are ready to make that happen to meet this urgent need.”

MED FRAUD: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A second fraud-fighting bill is headed to the House Floor. On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced HF2354, as amended, that would increase staffing for the state’s Medicaid fraud investigation unit in the Office of the Attorney General. … The current bill would allocate funds primarily for hiring 18 new Medicaid fraud investigation unit positions: 11 investigators, three attorneys and four support staff at a cost of $1.23 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dcxdTH

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INDICATORS

ECONOMY: The Minneapolis Fed shared a preview of its upcoming regional survey on social media, showcasing quotes from anonymous survey respondents about current economic conditions. Comments include: “Employees are coming back to work after ICE [is] gone.” … “Fertilizer and random materials are spiking.” … “Pricing for everything — from insurance, workers comp, food, curriculum support, wages — all is up.” … “We have been slower than usual. Customers explain that gas prices, the war and uncertainty of the economy have them holding off.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4dprCKJ

MORE: Yesterday’s lunch take had extensive coverage of regional business surveys and economic conditions in Minnesota. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4u0K8PO

MINING: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Although most attention lately has been on mining proposals around the Boundary Waters, another copper-nickel project is further along in the state’s regulatory process. … Kelly Applegate, commissioner of natural resources for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, [said] if a mine known as the Tamarack Nickel Project started operating, [then] it would be within miles of the band’s members, important cultural sites, wild rice beds and fisheries. … Talon Metals, the company pursuing Tamarack, is approaching an early benchmark. Starting in July, the Department of Natural Resources will open a public comment period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wbKpAB

CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)

BENCH

JUDGES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Some degree of harassment and threats has always come with the job of being a federal judge. But sitting judges told the Minnesota Star Tribune that at the height of the [ICE] surge, the intensity and rancor of harassing phone calls and emails that followed high-profile rulings were unprecedented. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim said his chambers felt it during Operation Metro Surge while he weighed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration. … Harassment against Minnesota’s federal bench aligns with the experience of judges across the country who said they’ve felt under siege as threats have risen since the start of 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42hw1sZ

FRAUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “One week after federal agents raided nine daycares across the Twin Cities, investigators are sifting through records and searching for potential red flags. … Penney Allen, Chief Financial Officer of New Horizon Academy, [said] the warning signs investigators may be focused on [include] attendance records that don’t align with reality. … The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families is preparing to roll out a new electronic attendance system beginning next month. … But Allen cautions that the system, in its current form, may not be the silver bullet some hope for. ‘It’s not going to do anything,’ Allen said.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4netvgX

US ATTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A military lawyer may serve as a special assistant U.S. Attorney in the case against a Minnesota resident for an offense with no military ties, a magistrate judge ruled. The decision comes after a legal challenge to the use of such attorneys to prosecute civilians in cases with no clear military connection. … Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins said federal law does not limit whom the U.S. Attorney General can appoint as a special assistant U.S. Attorney and denied a defendant’s request to remove a U.S. Army judge advocate (JAG) from a pending federal case in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tayJLL

AG OFFICE: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison’s Office announced it has filed a lawsuit against Les Jolies School of Dance, Real Believers Faith Center, their founders [and] other officers of both charities for multiple egregious violations of Minnesota nonprofit law, including misusing over $2 million in charitable assets to fund lavish lifestyles, luxury travel, and designer goods while pretending to serve their communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4thz13E

REJECT 340B EXPANSION: A new Minnesota Department of Health report shows hospitals made at least $1 billion dollars from a federal drug discount program known as 340B. The program should help patients, but experts say there is little accountability for where the money goes. The report was delayed and only recently released, showing the program isn’t working as intended. But Minnesota politicians are fast tracking a bill to expand the 340B program anyway. Lawmakers: reject House File 3609 / Senate File 3769. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4uUobCQ (SPONSORED: Community Action for Responsible Hospitals)

METRO

MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in his Tuesday state of the city address he wants to refocus on basic city operations. … [Specifically], Frey said he’ll focus on public safety and affordable housing now that the surge of federal agents to the city has ended. … Frey said he’s directed city staff to look at the city’s building and permitting processes and ways to cut red tape. The city is also looking to simplify permitting and paperwork processes for businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dqrfzF

RESPONSE: Members of the Minneapolis City Council held a press conference responding to Mayor Jacob Frey’s State of the City address. Via a joint statement from council leadership, STATEMENT: “A city’s success should be judged by how well our most vulnerable residents are doing. … The mayor’s office has often responded to [council] productivity with vetoes. It is easy to say no, but it is much more difficult to offer effective alternative solutions.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42P8FuZ

GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO: Check out Donna’s story — a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails; it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. Check out Donna’s story HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)

ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council is poised to approve an agreement with the Metropolitan Council authorizing construction to proceed on the Metro G Line, an 11.5-mile bus rapid transit corridor that will connect Little Canada, downtown St. Paul and West St. Paul. … The Met Council, the seven-county metro’s regional planning body, will begin construction this year, with work continuing in two phases opening next year and the following year. … The city council on Wednesday is slated to approve the resolution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4waHw35

FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival on May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dhpdBM (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)

ACROSS MN

HASTINGS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Hastings City Council decided [to] take a resolution on flying the former state flag rather than the new state flag off its agenda, but did allow residents to weigh in on the matter. … Much like in other cities, residents seemed to be evenly split in their opinions on whether the city should officially fly the former state flag or the new one the state adopted in 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Vcyyp

AUSTIN: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Austin police chief David McKichan will retire from the office on May 15 [and] formally leave the staff on June 20. Lt. Michael Hartman, a 17-year member of the police staff, will be sworn in on June 22 as the new chief. … The news comes just before the departure of Austin fire chief Jim McCoy, whose last day with the city will be Friday, May 8. … The city hopes to hire a new fire chief by Aug. 3, [but] in the interim, Troy Tigner will fill the position.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nhjHmo

STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Warm spring weather and numerous requests from boaters have prompted Minnesota Department of Transportation officials to start the 2026 schedule of the Stillwater Lift Bridge this week. Starting Wednesday, the Lift Bridge will be staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight each day, and the bridge will lift every half hour if boat traffic is present. The lift schedule is expected to stay in effect through late October.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cQV6RH

340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Washington should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://phrma.org/340B (SPONSORED: PhRMA)

GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives — in the U.S. and abroad.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)

AHEAD…

SESSION: House floor session at 11:00 a.m. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. FLOOR: The House will hear bills on youth intervention, thermal energy and technical corrections. The Senate hears the human services omnibus, school bus requirements and more. HOUSE: Ways & Means will hear bills on cannabis studies, claim settlements and grant eligibility. SENATE: Finance hears the omnibus cannabis bill and several recommendations. Energy, Utilities, Env. & Climate hears bills on wildfire safety and energy standards. Taxes will host a “discussion group” on 2026 tax policies. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4tdwHun

TODAY: Leaders of hunger relief organizations will host a press conference at the Capitol urging lawmakers to “prioritize hunger relief funding,” per a release. The event is at 11:00 a.m.

TODAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a “Youth Town Hall” in Minneapolis tonight to hear from high school students. The event is at 5:30 p.m.

MAY 13: The Minneapolis Fed will host a virtual event at 12:00 noon discussing results from their latest regional survey of Minnesota’s child care businesses.

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SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

health take | Hospitals in Crisis + Mayo's Skin Printer

Mike Maybay — Tue, 05 May 2026 20:31:08 GMT

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POLLING

PUBLIC HEALTH: Via AP/NORC, VERBATIM: “When asked about confidence in medical professionals to act in the best interest of public health, AAPI adults report the most confidence in doctors, nurses, scientists, and medical researchers according to a new AAPI Data/AP-NORC Poll. Nine in 10 express at least some confidence in each of these professions, and about 6 in 10 are extremely or very confident. Fewer express the same level of confidence in alternative medicine practitioners (58%), and more than half (56%) are not confident in the federal government to do what is best for public health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P44ZlK

CAREGIVERS: Via ASHA, VERBATIM: “According to a new national poll commissioned by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and conducted by YouGov in March, communication breakdowns present a formidable daily challenge for U.S. caregivers—and they are raising concerns about the safety of adults with communication challenges.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tS3K8t

OBSESSION: Via SWNS, VERBATIM: “According to new research, 64% of Americans believe the nation has a serious ‘obsession problem,’ where people will find anything to obsess over. The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults found that over half obsess over food (65%) and health and fitness (55%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wdpQ6Z

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MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)

HOSPITALS IN CRITICAL CONDITION

The above graphic is from a Minnesota Hospital Association one-pager outlining what it sees as the crisis. MHA REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/48LFFrA

FORUM: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Hospitals across the country continue to raise concerns about their struggles to stay afloat. A forum Monday night, ‘Hospitals in Critical Condition,’ a Fluence Forum with Blois Olson on WCCO Radio [focused] on struggles felt by the country’s health systems.”

THE SITUATION: “Hundreds of rural hospitals across the country are facing closures after years of funding problems, but that struggle is also being felt by hospitals in the core of the largest U.S. cities as well. That is highlighted by the fight for Hennepin County Medical Center to stay afloat in Minneapolis. That system is facing closure unless state funding is granted through the Minnesota Legislature. HCMC is the state’s premier level one trauma center, that treated patients following last year’s Annunciation Church shooting, and is frequently the first stop for the most dire of emergency situations in the state.”
RURAL: “One of the experts joining the forums is United Hospital District CEO Rick Ash, who tells the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar that OBGYN and delivery programs in rural Minnesota have been hit especially hard.” QUOTE: “About 11 years ago when I first got here, we had OB in every county around us,” says Ash. “Today, 19 programs across Minnesota have closed, and patients are driving 60-plus miles to give birth. And not to get into too much detail, but we’ve had a couple of occurrences where it’s been nip-and-tuck for babies. Fortunately we were here.”
MAKING THINGS WORSE: “Cuts to Medicaid funding vary by state. In Minnesota, the state is looking at a 15% cut, which amounts to approximately $19 billion over the next decade, and that’s money hospital systems can’t come close to making up.”
AND…: “Government programs like Medicaid often don’t reimburse hospitals at the same cost of the care. This is compounded by a growing number of uninsured patients or even underinsured patients, leaving hospitals with huge amounts of debt and uncompensated care. It’s also costing more to operate a hospital. Inflation is driving up the cost of supplies, services, faculty maintenance, and the cost of labor with widespread staff burnout since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The entire two-hour forum is available for free online. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MNHospitalsCriticalCondition

A NATIONAL ISSUE: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Across the U.S., hospitals and patient advocates are looking to state lawmakers and local officials to help shore up shaky finances. In California, Assembly member Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat representing Fresno, is pushing legislation to expand a 2023 ‘distressed hospital loan fund’ that allocated nearly $300 million in zero-interest loans to 16 hospitals in the state, including $14 million to MLK. The state would pony up another $300 million under Soria’s bill. At least two other states are weighing similar programs. A bill in Pennsylvania would create a $100 million ‘distressed hospital grant’ program. And a funding bill for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services contains a provision to create an $85 million loan program for troubled hospitals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d16Hwg

MORE: Via Becker’s Hopsital Review, a look at how the loss of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits is impacting hospitals. VERBATIM: “Hospital leaders are not just absorbing a financial hit from the exchange contraction. They are trying to manage it in real time, with incomplete data, moving targets and no clear sense of where the floor is. The most direct impact is the shift from insured to uninsured volume. In the first quarter, [Nashville-based HCA Healthcare] reported a 16% increase in uninsured equivalent admissions compared to the fourth quarter, with more than half of that growth attributable to patients moving off exchange plans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4umXxBo

340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46Bh9IA (SPONSORED: PhRMA)

HEALTH HEADLINES

UNITEDHEALTH: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group plans to stop requiring doctors to get approvals for an array of procedures, tests and services, cutting back on a process that has long been detested by physicians and patients. UnitedHealth, parent of the biggest U.S. health insurer, said the changes will slash the number of reviews by nearly a third starting later this year. Doctors have long complained about the paperwork they must complete to get insurers’ permission for care, which can lead to delays and denials.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4whH8A6

VACCINE STUDIES: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Officials at the Food and Drug Administration have blocked publication of several studies supporting the safety of widely used vaccines against Covid-19 and shingles in recent months, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed. The studies, which cost millions of dollars in public funds, were conducted by scientists at the agency, who worked with data firms to analyze millions of patient records. They found serious side effects to be very rare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ndHdQX

ABORTION PILL: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Monday put a one-week hold on major changes to how the abortion pill mifepristone can be prescribed. The ruling temporarily restores nationwide access to a drug used for most medication abortions in the U.S. On Friday, an appeals court had said the Food and Drug Administration needed to revert to rules that the pills, part of a two-drug regimen for medication abortion, must be prescribed only in-person. The change was effective immediately for the whole country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rn4m7y

ICE SURGE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The surge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in St. Cloud earlier this year created a climate of intense fear and anxiety in the Somali American community that lasted for months, and left some still feeling the effects on their mental health . . . mental health therapist, Ali Aden . . . opened the Bridge Healing Center in St. Cloud about four years ago. It provides culturally specific mental health services mainly for the East African community. Aden said many of his clients are experiencing mental health symptoms as a result of the ICE surge, including anxiety, depression and chronic stress.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nbNJYB

988: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 17 million calls and text messages since July 2022, according to figures shared through early 2026, as officials point to early signs of impact in youth mental health trends. During that same period, youth suicide rates have decreased by 11%, a development advocates say underscores the importance of accessible crisis support services. One of the key figures behind the lifeline’s development is Kristen Christy, a military spouse and resilience expert who co-created the 988 system.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49oCbv9

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES CONTINUE TO SOAR: While Minnesota’s safety-net hospitals navigate bleak financial outlooks, drug manufacturers continue to raise drug prices at rates that far outpace inflation, rising 23% in the last year alone. By strengthening the 340B drug pricing program, local hospitals can weather these soaring prices and continue to deliver the care and treatments that Minnesotans need. NEW: Minnesota Prescription Drug Price Transparency, Report to the Minnesota Legislature, March 2026 (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)

INNOVATION & RESEARCH

MAYO: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic will no longer post remote-only jobs in a move the state’s largest employer says is meant to ‘strengthen collaboration across roles and disciplines.’ The Rochester-based nonprofit health system will continue to offer hybrid arrangements that allow for some work-from-home flexibility. Hybrid jobs will require employees to live within 100 miles of their assigned sites, which would put most of the Twin Cities metro within range of jobs in Rochester.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4usZkov

SKIN PRINTER: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “In a laboratory at Mayo Clinic, a machine that looks strikingly similar to a desktop printer is quietly reshaping the future of dermatology. Instead of ink, it dispenses living human cells. Instead of paper, it builds tissue — layer by layer — replicating one of the body’s most complex organs: skin. For Saranya Wyles, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist and researcher at Mayo Clinic, the journey into 3D bioprinting began not with an ambitious plan to reinvent tissue engineering, but with a practical problem. Her team needed a better way to test new therapies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tWkgV4

STENT: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “After three decades in the medical device industry, including leadership roles at Pfizer and Baxter, John Schorgl believed there was still room to improve the stent. Now, as CEO of Plymouth-based Peytant Solutions, Schorgl is leading a Twin Cities startup developing what it says is a first-of-its-kind airway stent covered with human tissue, taken from the inner membrane of the placenta, rather than with synthetic materials. Founded on patents issued in late 2016, Peytant now employs 11 people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tcQj1X

ALZHEIMER’S: Via Kindai University, VERBATIM: “A new study suggests a surprisingly simple compound could help fight Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that arginine—an inexpensive amino acid already considered safe—can reduce the buildup of toxic amyloid proteins in the brain, a hallmark of the disease. In animal models, oral arginine not only lowered harmful protein deposits but also improved behavior and reduced brain inflammation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wiYLiX

SEPSIS: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Tom Burke, founder of Vail Scientific, a Bloomington-based med tech startup focused on early sepsis detection, noticed a problem inside hospitals . . . Vail Scientific, founded in 2015, is aiming to avert as many as 80% of sepsis deaths via rapid diagnosis and treatment, to be achieved with a new device called VSNO, which stands for vital signs and nitric oxide. It is a battery-powered tool the size of a desk telephone that mounts onto an IV pole and monitors a patient’s breath for a chemical called nitric oxide. This way, Vail Scientific claims, its new device can detect sepsis within two minutes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d2fnCv

MULTIPLE MYELOMA: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Research from Mayo Clinic is helping refine how multiple myeloma is diagnosed and treated, with findings that support more personalized therapies and identify promising immunotherapy strategies for aggressive forms of the disease. The research led by Sikander Ailawadhi, M.D., Shaji Kumar, M.D., Akhilesh Pandey, M.D., Ph.D., and Richard Kandasamy, Ph.D. in the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, focuses on tailoring treatment based on disease biology and improving outcomes for patients living longer with the cancer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PoMJUm

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

COFFEE: Via University College Cork, VERBATIM: “Coffee doesn’t just energize—it actively reshapes the gut and mind. Researchers found that both caffeinated and decaf coffee altered gut bacteria in ways linked to better mood and lower stress. Decaf even improved learning and memory, while caffeine boosted focus and reduced anxiety. Together, they show coffee works through multiple pathways beyond just caffeine.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42c9FJv

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mn good | Target Honors Teachers

The Daily Agenda — Tue, 05 May 2026 18:31:02 GMT

A UofM student about to graduate with two PhDs won a grand prize in a contest “that celebrates design, data, storytelling and cartography through the use of maps.” READ/SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4wcnftV

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HONORING TEACHERS, ATHLETES & MORE

THIS WEEK: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is recognizing teachers across the United States with a 10% storewide discount during Teacher Appreciation Week, in addition to year-round benefits and local efforts as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting communities and creating growth and opportunity for all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u2vhUE

NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Last year, when we sat down with the CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Christy Sovereign. She made one thing perfectly clear: The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games were never just about a week of competition. They were about building something that would last—an experience rooted in inclusion, visibility, and lasting change. Now, as that vision moves closer to reality, the scale is coming into focus. There are certain events that arrive with spectacle—big crowds, national attention, the kind of momentum you can feel building months in advance. And then there are events that arrive with something quieter, but far more lasting: a shift in perspective.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49btpRc

GRANTS: Via Alexandria Echo Press, VERBATIM: “Alexandria and Brainerd nonprofits were recognized last month during a 2026 Special Olympics USA Games awards ceremony at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in Baxter. The ceremony by Special Olympics Minnesota and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games took place to award grants to the three central Minnesota nonprofits through the statewide 26 Weeks of Giving campaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42j1Xx8

GRATITUDE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “When Gustavo and Kate Romero, the husband-and-wife team that owns Oro by Nixta—their nixtamalized-corn-centric, James Beard Award–nominated (semifinalists again this year) Mexican restaurant on the corner of 2nd Street and 13th Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis—granted my interview request, their hospitality exceeded their reputation . . . They told me they’re grateful to be a story of resilience amongst so much loss, and especially grateful to have kept most of their 25-person staff intact. The entire Oro family, including their regulars, has pulled together to do whatever it takes—they’re providing rides to work for those that can keep coming in, helping those who can’t with groceries and rent. On the day of the general strike, a regular made a donation big enough to cover everybody’s missed wages.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4waICMm

NEW ULM: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Captain Willibald ‘Bill’ Charles Bianchi was laid to rest in the Soldiers Rest section of New Ulm Cemetery on Saturday, after making the long journey home from Hawaii, where he was interred with fellow prisoners of war. Hundreds of people gathered in New Ulm to pay their respects to a local hero who died tragically after enduring so much in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, including the Bataan Death March.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dtWTLJ

HORSES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “On a rainy spring day, residents from Friendship Village of Bloomington, Minnesota, spent time brushing, walking and connecting with horses as part of an equine-assisted therapy experience at Hold Your Horses. The visit came ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May and focused on supporting emotional well-being through mindfulness, connection and hands-on interaction with animals.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tdLCoi

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lunch take | Economic Indicators: Supply Chains, Restaurants & Magnets

Mike Maybay — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:16:55 GMT

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will host “a celebration of the Minneapolis sound” at the State Fair Grandstand. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42N6FDp

Today is Cinco de Mayo. While many celebrations happened over the weekend, some continue today. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4etHdtP

An Itasca County Deputy was injured in a shooting Monday. A suspect is in custody. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3P9c3NY

Last night a WCCO Radio 2-hour special – Minnesota Hospitals in Critical Condition featuring leaders and experts from across the state. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MNHospitalsCriticalCondition

ICYMI… A special edition of sports take on the Wild, Wolves, and Frost all in the playoffs. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4naLp4b

Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription

Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/491Nk5h

Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com

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ECONOMIC INDICATORS

SUPPLY CHAIN: Via Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “Shipper spending rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026 as tightening capacity and a surge in diesel fuel prices pushed freight costs significantly higher, even as shipment volumes remained largely flat, according to the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. National shipment volume edged down 0.3% from the fourth quarter of 2025, while shipper spending jumped 12.9% over the same period. This was the largest quarter-over-quarter increase since late 2020.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tc2D2f

MORE: From the report, QUOTE: “The Midwest led all regions in Q1, posting the strongest gains in both shipments and spending on a sequential and year-over-year basis. Shipments rose 5.4% from Q4—its third increase in four quarters—pushing volumes to the highest level since Q3 2024. Volumes also increased 9.5% from a year earlier, marking the first year-over-year gain in six years. The quarterly gains are even more notable given the storms that hit the region this winter; missed shipping days are rarely recovered with higher throughput after conditions improve.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3R6zLet

DINING: Via Hopkins-based Digi, results of a survey of adults about restaurants. VERBATIM: “Fifty-nine percent (59%) of consumers report worsening economic conditions over the past six months, reinforcing signals shown in reports of declining consumer sentiment and hiring rates. In response, 66% say their dining-out budget has tightened in the last year. When money is tight, consumers say they’re likely to reduce spending across every restaurant category.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u2xHTp

SMALL BIZ: From Rep. Kelly Morrison via Facebook, VERBATIM: “No better way to start out Small Business Week than to meet with small business owners in Maple Grove! Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I am always amazed by their work ethic and their creativity. It’s an honor to bring their voices and their stories, and to advocate on their behalf every day in Congress.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4te2V8I

MORE: Via CCX Media, more on the shop Rep. Morrison visited. VERBATIM: “The owner of Daily Dose, a coffee shop in Maple Grove, says it’s been tough to keep the business afloat and profitable. Tariffs raised the cost of coffee beans by as much as 50 percent. The business also saw a drop in foot traffic during the Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown. Now there’s another hit — as gas prices go up, customer visits go down.” QUOTE: “We’re a luxury good,” owner Ben Havn said. “You might get one less coffee a week or cut that out entirely so you can pay for that $60, $70, $80 bill at the gas pump.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d0lU25

MAGNETS: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Niron Magnetics is going bigger in Sartell – a planned 190,000-square-foot facility will now be 287,000 square feet. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uoP28Q

MINNEAPOLIS

TODAY: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is slated to deliver his ninth State of the City speech today at 11 a.m. The annual speech is his first since Operation Metro Surge overwhelmed the city with thousands of federal immigration and border control agents for 12 weeks, detaining thousands and shooting and killing two Minneapolis protesters. The standoff between Minneapolis residents and the federal government attracted worldwide attention and thrust Frey into the national spotlight again, earning him plaudits as the leader of the resistance to federal immigration methods.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Hl080

MORE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Tuesday morning’s State of the City address represents a crucial reset moment for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Why it matters: Frey’s re-election campaign wasn’t built around a single signature policy project — and many civic leaders are starting to itch for one. Downtown property values have plummeted, commercial corridors are ailing, and progress on many of the solutions Frey has proposed for these challenges has been slow.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cR3VuH

STRIKE: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Concessions workers at Target Field have voted to authorize a strike as they seek higher wages and better benefits. Roughly 81% of the 500 union members with Unite Here Local 17 supported the strike authorization.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dlGUjL

AROUND MINNESOTA

HERMANTOWN: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Following a packed meeting featuring hours of public testimony Monday night, the Hermantown City Council agreed to take more time to consider a plan to grant Google a property tax break that could reach $80 million, in exchange for building a nearly $2 billion data center complex in the northeastern Minnesota city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42fwbRK

WAITE PARK: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Any data center projects in Waite Park will be on pause for at least a year after the city council voted unanimously to implement a moratorium on any new projects at its meeting on Monday, May 4. While no projects have been proposed to date, the move is precautionary, according to Jon Noerenberg, the city’s planning and community development director.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uxJp8w

INVASIVES: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lake associations have significantly cut down the spread of aquatic invasive species wreaking havoc on their waterways but they fear momentum will slip out of their hands when looking ahead to state funding changes. Since 2014, the state has provided $10 million each year for counties to work with local partners on preventing new infestations of disruptive water-dwelling organisms like zebra mussels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48BSbKc

HOUSING: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council. That includes homes, condos and apartments. If you go by total housing units added, at the top of the list is Lakeville, a city growing so fast it put a pause on accepting new building permits. It has added 4,861 units from 2020 to 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Flrj7

LITTLE EARTH: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “New roofs and better insulation. Updated appliances, new paint and security improvements. And a sense that it’s all transformative — and overdue. More than 50 years after the nation’s only Native-preference Section 8 housing project was established, Little Earth in south Minneapolis is undergoing a $50 million remodel that will last two years and cover all of its 212 units.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PitI62

MOVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A charter school has plans to move into a Catholic Church in Brooklyn Center. Eagle Ridge Academy got approval on April 27 from the Brooklyn Center City Council to open at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church. Saint Alphonsus operated a school at the church from 1959 until its closure in 2024.

Declining enrollment was cited as one of the factors in closing the school.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cSIjy4

EARNINGS SEASON

LIFE TIME: Via MarketWatch, VERBATIM: “Life Time Group Holdings‘ first-quarter net income rose and the athletic-club chain boosted its revenue projection for the year. The Chanhassen, Minn. operator of athletic clubs posted quarterly earnings of $88.1 million, or 39 cents a share, up from $76.1 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OVH7kp

INSPIRE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Inspire Medical Systems Inc. (INSP) on Monday reported a loss of $11.3 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Golden Valley, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 39 cents . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea posted revenue of $204.6 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d6iZUb

TACTILE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (TCMD) on Monday reported a loss of $1.8 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had a loss of 8 cents. The results did not meet Wall Street expectations . . . The medical device maker posted revenue of $75.3 million in the period, topping Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f8vuky

OTTER TAIL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corp. (OTTR) on Monday reported profit of $72.6 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Fergus Falls, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of $1.73. The power company and manufacturer posted revenue of $347 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Po1E14

TENNANT: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Tennant Co. (TNC) on Monday reported earnings of $200,000 in its first quarter. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 1 cent per share . . . The maker of products for cleaning floors, parking lots and hospitals posted revenue of $297.9 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ntPxMR

COMMERCE

SOUTH MPLS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “We’ve long loved 50th and Xerxes, the south Minneapolis vintage and antiques hotbed, for afternoons spent treasure-hunting in stores such as Hunt and Gather, Loft Antiques, and A Rare Bird. And so has Julie Melendez, a vintage dealer who nabbed a spot selling at Loft nearly a decade ago after she brought in a particularly stunning pair of brass candelabras she found in a trash pile to sell in the shop (yes, that’s really how she got her start!). READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uvDnFn

ACQUISITION: Via Bloomington-based Donaldson, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) (Donaldson or the Company), a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, today announced it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Facet Filtration, an innovator in mission-critical fuel and fluid filtration solutions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f2ufDB

TENNANT: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Directors of Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) authorized a new share repurchase program of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, effective April 29, 2026. This authorization is in addition to approximately 560,000 shares remaining under the Company’s current repurchase program. With this new authorization, the company now has capacity to repurchase up to 2,560,000 shares which represents 15% of the basic shares currently outstanding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OIYG7h

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WHAT’S NEXT?

SUNDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There’s a certain kind of Mother’s Day gift that lingers—and it’s not always the one wrapped in a box. It’s the morning that unfolds slowly. The shared experience. The moment where someone feels seen, appreciated, and, maybe most importantly, given time. This year, we’re leaning into that idea: gifts that feel personal and experiences that create something lasting. A mix of both—because the best celebrations rarely fall into just one category.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42g1ZWx

NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Fed and First Children’s Finance have conducted their sixth annual survey of Minnesota child care businesses. The Minneapolis Fed’s Tu-Uyen Tran and Suzanne Pearl, Minnesota Director at First Children’s Finance, will host a free webinar discussing survey results on the sector’s current health, capacity, and challenges.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4esf8Dl

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

ART FAIRS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “A sure sign that summer is coming? Minnesota has an art fair basically every weekend for the next few months.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/491wfsb

BDAYS: Cozen’s Julia Donnelly, Ctr. of American Experiment’s Bill Walsh

morning take | Shuffling Chairs at DHS

The Daily Agenda — Tue, 05 May 2026 11:45:18 GMT

TWOLVES WIN

Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday.

Timberwolves win.

Wild play tonight at 7. Frost play at 6. Twins are in DC vs. the Nationals.

Congrats to the Star Tribune on winning ad Pulitzer for its coverage of the Annunciation shooting last year. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3R0AHRx

Average gas prices in Minnesota jumped by 26 cents in one week. FOX9: https://fluence-media.co/42eMhuU

The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4d61wLK

The president allegedly offered a “financial windfall” to a Democratic Senator if he switched parties. POLITICO: https://fluence-media.co/4tjFkUv

National Teacher Appreciation Day - thank one.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r

SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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NOTE: Yesterday morning take suggested that DFLer Dan Kessler posted about his Republican opponent Sen. Julia Coleman. The post was from a supporter of Kessler but was framed to read as though the Kessler campaign had posted the comments. We apologize for the mischaracterization.

For the past week there was a buzz among Senate DFLers that the confirmation of Shireen Gandhi had become a point of contention within the caucus, and a point of leverage with Gov. Tim Walz. The reality is that defending the confirmation of Gandhi could have been a distraction to DFL Senators when fraud remains the top issue on voters minds in Minnesota.

Just the day before Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the people running state government would change if she’s elected Governor. There are dots to connect that show DFLers are desperately trying to change the narrative on fraud.

The strategy of announcing the appointment of John Connolly, and retention of Gandhi in a lower role leaves the DFL with something they will still have to explain – but most Minnesotans won’t get that into the weeds. The timing, when the Senate was debating and passing new gun restrictions fits the narrative that DFLers want to amplify while burying the story they don’t want.

After working well last year, the tie in the House is starting to show signs of strain and leadership can’t seem to put Humpty Dumpty back together in the next two weeks on several issues.

Meanwhile, popular issues that don’t raise taxes like sports betting (yes a client), don’t get traction when members are looking for revenue. One thing is true about session, is that the train has to come off the tracks for it to be put back on the tracks to complete the session. Next week at this time would seem to be when legislative leaders and the Governor are posturing for a rough finish, only to find some resolution on key issues like HCMC, bonding and potentially school safety.

Last night a WCCO Radio 2-hour special – Minnesota Hospitals in Critical Condition featuring leaders and experts from across the state. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MNHospitalsCriticalCondition

DHS: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced a restructuring of leadership at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). … Under the new structure, John Connolly will serve as the temporary commissioner of DHS. Connolly asked [current commissioner] Shireen Gandhi to remain at DHS as deputy commissioner. … Connolly also appointed DHS General Counsel Andrew Johnson as deputy commissioner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t8iSgJ

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “In an email obtained by 5 INVESTIGATES, Shireen Gandhi told DHS employees that she notified [Tim] Walz on Monday morning, saying she was stepping down as commissioner. … [John Connolly] will still need to be officially confirmed by the Minnesota Senate. The Minnesota Legislature has just 14 days left in its current session.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nabUql

MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz formally appointed Shireen Gandhi to lead the massive agency just over two months ago. Senate Democrats had scheduled her confirmation hearing to begin on Tuesday, May 5. … Republicans called the move a ‘demotion’ for Gandhi, who had served more than a year in the temporary role before Walz appointed her to the permanent role.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4urls2v

RESPONSES: DFLers and Republicans offered contrasting views on DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi following Gov. Tim Walz’s announcement of John Connolly’s promotion.

Via Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy, QUOTE: “[Gandhi] changed the culture and practices at the Department of Human Services for the better. We are less vulnerable to fraud now than we were a year ago, and we will be less vulnerable next year than we are today.”
Via DFL Sen. Melissa Wiklund, QUOTE: “We have made important advances together for the people of Minnesota, and I know that progress will continue thanks to [Gandhi’s] steady leadership. Interim Commissioner John Connolly is a tested and knowledgeable public servant who will move us forward.”
Via GOP Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, QUOTE: “Minnesotans were told Shireen Gandhi’s leadership would bring reform to DHS, yet now she is being shuffled to a different position so that Senate Democrats can avoid a confirmation hearing.”
Via GOP Sen. Paul Utke, QUOTE: “It is astounding that we have yet another temporary commissioner overseeing the agency we need steady leadership in. … We could have avoided this entire circus had Governor Walz seriously considered who was best-equipped to lead DHS in the first place.”

DAYCARE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota paid more than $67 million in public child care subsidies over the past eight years to nine day care providers raided by federal authorities last week as part of a sweeping fraud investigation. … The payments flowed through the state’s Child Care Assistance Program, known as CCAP, which helps low-income families cover the cost of child care. The feds have not filed charges, [but] records show dramatic financial growth at the nine centers, while the number of kids they served stayed relatively flat. Over the last two years alone, state payments to the nine providers more than doubled.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ukI4BC

TAXFRAUD: via MPR, VERBATIM: “It’s difficult to claw funds back when tax dollars are lost to fraud, so a bipartisan group of legislators is determined to get creative…The “Take It Back Act” would impose a 100 percent tax on individuals or organizations convicted of defrauding state programs. The bill also aims to collect from people who have committed fraud but haven’t been charged or convicted…As the 2026 Legislature heads toward its finish, fraud response measures remain an area of focus. Aside from putting up new defenses to stop fraud, lawmakers are working to show the public they’re not letting past schemes go unanswered.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3R6aEIJ

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STREAM OF SESSION

GUN BAN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “As recently as a month ago, Grant Hauschild was still on the fence about whether he would support his DFL colleagues and vote to ban assault weapons. … But in a tear-filled address Monday, Hauschild said he would be a ‘yes’ vote on a wide-ranging gun control and school violence prevention package that passed the Senate 34-33. … Ultimately, Hauschild said, it was his conversations with people affected by [Annunciation] that swayed his decision. … Sen. Ron Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, also voted ‘yes’ after months of equivocating. So did Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n9v4MM

MORE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The bill also provides $20 million for school safety and allocates additional funds for mental health support. … Despite the Senate victory, House GOP leadership has made it clear that a ban on assault weapons is unlikely to pass in the House. It has stalled in committees on party line votes.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4d40sro

NATL GUARD: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Base pay for National Guard members called to state service under emergency executive order has not changed since 1997. Under current law, the rate is $130 per day. Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) sponsors [a bill] to set the state base pay [at $186/day]. … Passed 133-0 by the House Monday, it now returns to the Senate for concurrence.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tR4kn1

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES CONTINUE TO SOAR: While Minnesota’s safety net hospitals navigate bleak financial outlooks, drug manufacturers continue to raise drug prices at rates that far outpace inflation, rising 23% in the last year alone. By strengthening the 340B drug pricing program, local hospitals can weather these soaring prices and continue to deliver the care and treatments that Minnesotans need. MNLEG REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/48xEXhB (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)

STUDENT AID: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “If officials make cuts to the Minnesota State Grant, the state’s largest financial aid program, [student] debt could climb higher. … [But] the program has a $131 million deficit for the next two years, which will require college students’ financial aid awards to be reduced — with some students losing their entire grant — if something isn’t done. … This is the third consecutive year of multimillion-dollar shortfalls in the program, leaving some lawmakers scrambling to find funding while thousands of Minnesota college students wonder how much financial help they will receive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eYKQrR

MORE: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A $131 million shortage in the state’s student aid program is not addressed in a proposed higher education bill passed off the House Floor Monday. Consisting mostly of technical corrections, the omnibus higher education finance and policy bill was passed, as amended, on an 82-52 vote and is headed to the Senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42e8cm0

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

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DC + MN

MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “On April 24, the Minnesota GOP called on [Royce] White to drop out of the race, [which] underscores the challenge for Republicans in managing candidates who brand themselves as outsiders. … While their anti-establishment message can energize parts of the base, critics within the party argue they often prove more distracting than effective — and, at times, unfit for office. Other candidates in Minnesota fit a similar mold, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. … But even as outsider candidates have proliferated in the Trump Era, signs suggest their moment may be fading: Campaign cash and informal polling [shows] White and Lindell are trailing other candidates closer to the establishment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u9SdBP

SENATE RACE: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Dan Wolgamott, a DFL state representative running in a crowded primary for auditor, [is] rescinding his endorsement of Angie Craig for U.S. Senate and throwing his support behind Peggy Flanagan. Wolgamott cited Craig’s votes related to ICE, saying his wife and family experienced ‘very real and very traumatic’ fear and racial profiling during Operation Metro Surge. … The reversal by Wolgamott, who represents a St. Cloud swing seat that [Donald] Trump won in 2024, underscores how pivotal the ICE issue is for DFL primaries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49mS4SP

MORE: The DFL Muslim Caucus has endorsed Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s campaign for U.S. Senate.

REPUTATION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In a school board race in Wisconsin, governors’ races in Georgia and Ohio, and in endorsements from the president, Minnesota is being invoked as a political boogeyman. … Minnesota is being cast as a cautionary tale by conservative candidates and groups across the country. The state has taken on a higher political profile amid focus on its fraud scandals and the federal immigration crackdown. … ‘Don’t let Wisconsin become Minnesota,’ says a post from [Donald] Trump’s campaign apparatus endorsing U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor and Michael Alfonso for Congress.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eojkE5

THE FEED

CLIMATE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s administration moved Monday to block a lawsuit Minnesota officials filed almost six years ago alleging oil companies and a petroleum trade group deceived state residents about climate change. The U.S. Department of Justice [argued] that the federal government has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, not states. … [A.G. Keith] Ellison issued a statement Monday calling the Justice Department’s action meritless.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dpRnuo

HEARING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A federal judge heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit over ICE and border patrol agents’ treatment of protesters. … The lawsuit, brought by the ACLU of Minnesota and several law firms, alleges that plaintiffs were illegally detained and threatened. … Attorneys for the federal government asked the court to dismiss the suit, [arguing] that it’s moot now that the surge that began last December has ended. … Judge Kate Menendez [said] she plans to rule soon on whether to dismiss the case or allow it to continue.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tb8aWP

SURGE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County spent more than $1 million in response to Operation Metro Surge, according to county department estimates. … Officials estimate $595,760 in personnel costs, $358,150 in lost revenue and $96,445 in miscellaneous one-time costs, totaling around $1.05 million due to the federal immigration action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n9A0kM

PARDON: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Today, the Minnesota Board of Pardons unanimously granted a pardon to At ‘Ricky’ Chandee at an emergency meeting. … Chandee, who came to the United States as a refugee from Laos, faces deportation this week due to a single conviction from more than 30 years ago. … With the pardon now granted, the federal government’s legal basis for his deportation may be removed, allowing him to return to his family and community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w9fDIz

METRO

MPS: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Warning signs about the Minneapolis Public Schools senior finance officer, Ibrahima Diop, had been accumulating for months. … Yet Diop remained in his job until Jan. 2, by which time he’d resigned to take a job in Milwaukee. He had been the district’s top financial official for nearly a decade. Days later, the district filed a police report related to ‘wire fraud,’ though no names appear on the report and the district won’t explain it. … The Reformer has filed multiple public records requests since first learning the district’s three top finance leaders were declared ‘out of the office indefinitely’ early this year. The district hasn’t responded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42HgYJg

VADNAIS HGTS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A charter school with locations in Vadnais Heights and Little Canada will close in June amid financial difficulties, according to school officials. The Academy for Sciences and Agriculture, which serves prekindergarten through 12th grade, will have its last day of instruction and its graduation for seniors June 5. The school has become financially unsustainable and its authorizer, Osprey Wilds, decided to terminate its contract effective June 30.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42cf57i

FARMINGTON: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A group of Farmington residents [is] united in their concerns about a [data center] project’s energy, water and land use. They worry about light and noise pollution. They’re backing a lawsuit that they hope will stop the project and others proposed around the state. [Cathy] Johnson, who is liberal, said those concerns defy party affiliation. … Mayor Nick Lien said he thinks the data center would bring good to the community – namely jobs and a wider tax base.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4epdPoH

HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)

ACROSS MN

METRO TRANSIT: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The former chief of the Metro Transit Police Department is barred from ever being a police officer in Minnesota again. The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training ordered Ernest Morales III to surrender his Minnesota peace officer license. The court documents stipulate that he is also prohibited from renewing his surrendered license or obtaining any other licenses issued by the Board. … This comes after an investigation which concluded that Morales engaged in sexual harassment.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4thMmZU

STATE FAIR: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair assistant police chief says in a whistleblower lawsuit that he reported what he believed to be unlawful conduct by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher and law enforcement, and his hours were limited as a result. In his lawsuit, Michael Coffey described incidents he reported. … Fletcher said in a statement Monday that Coffey ‘made several false accusations.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4na31wL

ANOKA CTY: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Inside the Anoka County 911 dispatch center in Andover, Minnesota, calls are constantly coming in, [so] a new AI dispatcher is stepping in to handle non-emergency calls without replacing the people behind the phones. … The quick transfer helps save critical time, and dispatchers say seconds matter.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4usW0tl

ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “HealthPartners Regions Hospital receives more than 100,000 visits to its emergency center a year, a 20% increase in just the past 10 years. That increase brings opportunity and responsibility, said Regions Hospital President Emily Blomberg during a ribbon cutting Monday for the St. Paul hospital’s expanded and remodeled emergency department. The $17.8 million project includes enhanced security, a dedicated lobby for families and semi-private spaces for patients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d3CFYF

BURNSVILLE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Burnsvile has a new police chief. The city announced Monday the appointment of Matt Smith, who has worked with the Burnsville Police Department for more than two decades. … Current Chief Tanya Schwartz is retiring on May 27.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48GHR3y

BENTON/SHERBURNE: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Both the Benton and Sherburne county boards of commissioners will hold meetings on Tuesday, May 5. … The Benton County commissioners [will] consider two applications for Minnesota lawful gambling with a resolution to conduct off-site gambling for Sauk Rapids Sportsmen’s Club. … The Sherburne County commissioners [will] review an interim use permit for a solar farm [and] consider approval for the grant application submitted by the county attorney’s office for funding for the victim-witness program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4naRnSy

FOR PLANNING

SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: Taxes will hear a Hennepin County sales tax proposal for funding HCMC. Ways & Means will hear bills on Medicaid fraud, K-12 education forecasts, waste transportation and the human services omnibus. Fraud Prevention & Oversight will have an “end-of-session wrap-up discussion.” SENATE: No committee hearings. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/3QFYkyT

TODAY: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will deliver his annual State of the City address at 11:00 a.m.

TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will purchase his fishing license, visit a local elementary school, and meet with legislative leaders.

TODAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and state Rep. Esther Agbaje will host a press conference to “discuss legislative efforts to save” HCMC, per a release. The event is at 4:00 p.m.

TOMORROW: Leaders of hunger relief organizations will host a press conference at the Capitol urging lawmakers to “prioritize hunger relief funding,” per a release. The event is at 11:00 a.m.

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BDAYS: Cozen’s Julia Donnelly, Ctr. of American Experiment’s Bill Walsh,

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

ag take | Farm Bill Heads to Senate

Mike Maybay — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:30:38 GMT

SPRING: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Planting season is in full swing at the Guentzel family farm in Kasota! As of last week, Angela Guentzel reported that corn planting was almost done for the season. She said field conditions have been good and that last week’s rain gave them a much-needed break. Meanwhile, up in Belgrade, John Mages was still waiting to begin planting as of last week. He said he’s optimistic heading into the season and hopeful that corn prices will rally. Wishing Minnesota farmers a safe week of planting!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3RiVqQE (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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THE POLITICS OF AG

2026 ELECTION: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Southern Minnesota farmers Jason Lohmann and Mark Legvold are making their case to voters that firsthand agricultural experience is what rural districts need at the Capitol. Lohmann and Legvold and are some of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates this year that come with production agriculture backgrounds. At a small farmer roundtable in Faribault last month, the two farmer candidates listened more than they spoke to Doug Kleese and his wife Mary, who farm in Kenyon/Zumbrota; Deb Hogenson from Waseca, who sold her family farm after her husband got sick; and Tessa Parks of Northfield, who farms with her husband, Wyatt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w9SK82

FARM BILL: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Agri-Pulse’s Oliver Ward, Kim Chipman, and Lydia Johnson reported that ‘all eyes are shifting to the Senate following the House passage of a farm bill [April 30]. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., is targeting the end of May or early June for a bill markup as Democrats prepare for fights on pesticides and food assistance.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f1Nm0x

HOUSE BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says there were many twists and turns on the way to passing the farm bill. Minnesota Republican Brad Finstad tells Brownfield negotiations in the days leading up to a full House vote ran late into the night.” FINSTAD: “It wasn’t a straight line, it wasn’t even close to a zig zag line, it was all over the place. It was a crazy, wild, sleepless week. Most days about two hours of sleep is all we got.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nbjwsv

AID PACKAGE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers are working to deliver additional financial support for farmers as economic pressures continue across agriculture. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chairman John Hoeven says the proposal builds on the current Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and could total tens of billions of dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f0GiRO

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

DROUGHT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Dry conditions last month fueled a fast corn planting pace along with drought concerns in southwest Minnesota. Bob Worth of Lake Benton says there’s been a lack of soil moisture since last fall.” WORTH: “We had a very dry winter, so we had nothing, it was dry. When we worked the ground this spring it was absolutely mellow, it was the most beautiful ground conditions we’ve had. But there was not much moisture in there either.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uxJGZ7

ICYMI… We shared the latest Drought Monitor last week. It shows great improvement over the prior week. However, the southwest corner of the state, where Worth farms, is still seeing drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

COLD: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “A historically warm April pushed planters ahead of pace across much of the Midwest, but a cooler turn in the forecast is raising new questions about early corn and soybean stands . . . The same warm April that pushed planting ahead also means more acres are in the ground, while much of the northern Midwest remains within its typical frost window. Average frost-free dates range from mid-May in northern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to late May in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. That means early-planted fields in those areas could be exposed to cold injury.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42iv8jU

MARKETS

OVERVIEW: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Soybeans and corn were higher early Monday, wheat started lower then bounced. Cattle and hogs were lower.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wapf63

EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. export inspections were larger than last year. The USDA says corn continued to leave U.S. ports at a fast pace during the week ending April 30th, reflecting the strong global demand about three quarters of the way through the marketing year. Soybean inspections were solid but continue to trail the year ago pace because of lower demand from China. Sorghum was sharply higher thanks to comparatively better demand from China for that commodity. Wheat inspections were up modestly on the year, remaining on track to meet USDA projections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nbWUIu

GRAIN MARKETS: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “In the past 2-3 years, there have been very few good opportunities for farmers to market corn and soybeans at favorable price levels. This has resulted in a large amount of grain being sold below breakeven levels, as well as a significant amount of the 2025 corn crop being still in storage on farms across the Midwest. This has also left farmers with some very difficult grain marketing decisions for both the grain that is still in storage, as well as for the 2026 crop that is currently being planted. In recent weeks, there has been a bit more optimism, with some improvement in corn and soybean prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nbGOP4

E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Congressman Don Bacon says persistent opposition is standing in the way of year-round E15 legislation. ‘We have some Republicans who hate E15 for the wrong reasons,’ he said. ‘They think we’re trying to force people to use E15. We’re not. We’re trying to remove a regulation that prevents E15 from being sold year-round.’ E15 was recently left out of the farm bill that cleared the full U.S. House.” BACON: “We have some people who think (E15) hurts the ag industry, which is outdated thinking. They don’t realize the distiller grains that come out of ethanol are more highly sought after than the actual corn.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48HBZHg

HEADWINDS

MENTAL HEALTH: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Farming is one of the industries with the highest risk for suicide. Mental health experts say financial pressures are a common reason why. A recent survey of farmers from Purdue University found that the ‘percentage of producers who expected good times in the next five years was 37 percent, which is 12 percent lower than the share reported in March 2025.’ Bad crop prices from trade turmoil with China, and now, increasing operating costs stemming from the Strait of Hormuz’s closure, have continued to squeeze farmers’ margins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42a0xFc

DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Four separate lawsuits have been filed, claiming the federal milk marketing orders unfairly harm organic dairy producers. Organic farmers and cooperatives want an exemption from the federal milk marketing order program, and some farmer members are seeking damages from the government.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cQGD8q

FUNGICIDE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering the U.S. public an opportunity to help shape the future of agricultural safety, unveiling a draft Fungicide Strategy designed to balance the needs of American farmers with the protection of the nation’s most vulnerable wildlife. The proposal marks a significant step in the agency’s effort to meet its dual mandates under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tjRrRp

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

OATS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in west-central Minnesota is adding oats to his crop rotation this year. Noah Hultgren of Raymond says the small grain is in the mix along with sugarbeets, corn, soybeans, kidney beans, vegetables and alfalfa.” HULTGREN: “We’re growing oats for the first time in 35 years or so, we’re going to try that and see how that goes. But nice to have another crop that we’re having in the rotation.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ushc2D

APPOINTMENTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Congrats to Hannah Bernhardt who has been appointed to our Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board & Harold Wolle who has been reappointed for another term. The RFA is the state’s ag lender, offering low-interest loans for a variety of farm activities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3PgqUGB

lunch take | Law Firm Takes Over Two Floors Downtown

Mike Maybay — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:35:32 GMT

A pilot made an emergency landing on Highway 61 in Duluth Saturday. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wfD4Aj

ICYMI… Sports Take Bonus Newsletter sent this morning jumps into playoff week for the Wolves, Wild and Frost -- and catches you up on other hot (and unexpected) topics. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4naLp4b

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A BUSY START TO THE WEEK…

DOWNTOWN MPLS: Via Cozen O’Connor, VERBATIM: “Cozen O’Connor, a leading international law firm, today announced the execution of a new lease in downtown Minneapolis. The Minneapolis office, which includes over 80 lawyers, will occupy two full floors of the Wells Fargo Center beginning May 1, 2027. The new space provides the opportunity for further expansion as the firm plans for long-term growth, serving both local and international clients, and solidifies its commitment to downtown. Cozen O’Connor has already started space planning and design, with construction expected to begin later this summer.”

From Minneapolis Downtown Council president Adam Duininck, QUOTE: “To have a reputable international law firm say ‘yes’ to long-term growth in downtown is really a testament to the upward momentum we are experiencing right now. We are all working together to strengthen downtown’s identity as a place where people want to come to work, and I am so grateful that Cozen O’Connor has signed on for the long haul.”

From Minneapolis Regional Chamber president Mike Logan, QUOTE: “The team at Cozen O’Connor brings a client-centered, cutting-edge approach which seamlessly uplifts the vitality of downtown and our entire region. We are honored to have the firm continue their award-winning practice downtown and look forward to ribbon-cutting day.”

TODAY: Via SEIU MN, VERBATIM: “The unions and community groups who are the new owners will be joined by elected officials and architects to celebrate the construction groundbreaking of the Rise Up Center, a new training center in the former Uptown YWCA.”

TODAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Groundbreaking is Monday north of downtown Minneapolis for an 8,000 seat concert venue . . . The Upper Harbor Amphitheater project has been discussed for more than a decade.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cQry6Q

REAL ESTATE: Via Realtor.com, VERBATIM: “Last month, Minneapolis inventory jumped sharply, list prices dipped, and yet homes still sold faster than most of the country. The market is shifting — sellers face more competition, but demand hasn’t disappeared. If you’re buying or selling right now, this is a market that rewards preparation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wdk0Te

ECONOMY: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said Sunday that the prolonged Iran conflict increases risks of elevated inflation and economic harm, constraining the central bank’s ability to offer clear guidance on interest rate policy. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Kashkari said he remains focused on the Iran war’s effects on inflation and economic demand during the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20% of global oil and gas supplies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cTEdEw

MORE: Via CBS News, the interview. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tUOEz6

DNR: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says they’re launching a modernized electronic licensing system and mobile app that will allow hunters, anglers, and boaters to purchase, store, and display licenses digitally. This new system replaces the previous 25-year-old platform. It enables linking family accounts and permits electronic harvest registration. It won’t be ready for the fishing opener, but it’s expected to roll out this summer.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4d2AODD

FRAUD: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Several anti-fraud bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate, but due to a 67-67 tie between Democrats and Republicans in the House, many of the bills have failed to make it out of committee. A package of anti-fraud reforms proposed by Governor Tim Walz to transform the Department of Human Services and improve oversight of Medicaid programs remains in limbo. But with less than three weeks to go, some proposals are inching forward.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tPgPiL

OPERATION METRO SURGE

SURVEY: Via MPR, a University of Minnesota survey of school principals regarding the impact of Operation Metro Surge. VERBATIM: “Hundreds of school leaders — at least one in five — responded to the survey, which was conducted in mid-March. More than 80 percent said the surge negatively impacted their students’ ability to learn. About 75 percent said the surge led to thousands of students missing school with some 1,400 dropping out or unenrolling.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4url83Y

MORE: Via UofM, the survey. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tSLkVg

PARADE: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “After a remarkably difficult winter, the 51st Mayday parade in south Minneapolis was especially poignant. The festival of puppets, music and protest art has long highlighted immigrant communities and decried U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This year, anti-ICE sentiment was omnipresent, though accompanied by Mayday’s typical celebratory energy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wqurD9

THE LOCALS

ADDRESSES: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins can find almost any house in Inver Grove Heights without a phone or GPS, which once made his daughter think he was ‘some kind of savant.’ He’s not — he just knows the system that much of Dakota County has used to name streets since the 1960s. The big picture: Once you learn the alphanumerical criss-cross, you can navigate huge swaths of the south metro — and see how the suburbs grew.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d0MWF5

DATA CENTER: MPR reports on the incentives for communities to approve data centers and those who oppose them. VERBATIM: “That split-screen is playing out in Hermantown, about eight miles outside Duluth, where the city council is poised on Monday to vote on a plan offering an estimated $70 million tax abatement to Google. The company says it will invest up to $2 billion on a massive proposed data center complex in a rural corner of the small northeastern Minnesota town. In return, Google is offering to pay to extend utilities and infrastructure to the project site as well as tens of millions of dollars to the city and local school district. The vote is less than a week after about 50 people from a local grassroots group gathered outside Hermantown city hall to announce a lawsuit against the city to block the project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42N55kY

NEXTGEN

NETFLIX: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Students from across the Northwest Metro may soon find themselves in the national spotlight. Code Ninjas in Plymouth recently hosted a casting event for a new Netflix series called ‘Schooled,’ giving local youth an opportunity to showcase their science and technology skills on a bigger stage. The competition series will be hosted by a former NASA engineer and pits children interested in STEM against real-life engineering challenges.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wdfpAw

MPS: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis School Board got great news Tuesday when the board’s Finance Committee learned that an additional $10 million in revenue will be available to the district both this year and next year. The Minneapolis School Board had been budgeting for a $50 million deficit and cuts had been planned including reductions in school counselors, social workers, library specialists and adult education teachers. School officials said the windfall will be aimed at restoring some of those cuts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n8jGRj

COMMERCE

MOVE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Retired KARE 11 anchor and meteorologist Belinda Jensen is joining Kowalski’s as a brand ambassador. Jensen made her final regular appearance on the station Thursday night after 33 years, though she was back on the air for her final show as the anchor of ‘KARE 11 Saturday.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RjvCDW

THEATER: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “In January, the Jungle Theater in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis announced the cancellation of its remaining season, reporting financial troubles. The board and directors Christina Baldwin and Rachel Murch-D’Olimpio have been using the uncertain period to reimagine what their theater could be. This week, nearly four months after the initial announcement, the Jungle shared in a statement that its building is for sale in an effort to ease its financial burden and rethink how resources are spent on ‘artists, audiences, and the work itself’ instead of property taxes and maintenance. The theater sees a silver-lining in the change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w9DIPx

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WHAT’S NEXT?

TODAY: Via Fergus Falls-based Otter Tail, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) will issue a news release announcing first quarter 2026 financial results after the stock market closes on Monday, May 4, 2026, and will host a live conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the corporation’s financial and operating performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vwjtv3

TODAY: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) today announced that the company will report its first quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on Monday, May 4, 2026, with a conference call to follow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time/9 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42kqVfv

TODAY: Via Golden Valley-based Inspire, VERBATIM: “Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) (Inspire) will release financial results for the first quarter 2026 after the close of trading on Monday, May 4.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mfH92I

WEDNESDAY: Via Hopkins-based Digi, VERBATIM: “Digi International Inc. (NASDAQ: DGII) will release its financial results for the second fiscal quarter 2026 on Wednesday, May 6, after market close, at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sDyMQc

WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Sezzle, VERBATIM: “Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) // Purpose-driven digital payment platform, Sezzle, will release its first quarter 2026 results after the market close on May 6, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48AYGwA

WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Deluxe, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a trusted Payments and Data company, will report first quarter 2026 financial results pre-market on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OV59Mg

WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Clearfield, VERBATIM: “Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD), the leader in community broadband fiber connectivity, today announced that it will release results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ended March 31, 2025, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after the close of the market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41Qqr0A

WEDNESDAY: Via Minnetonka-based DiaMedica, VERBATIM: “DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and acute ischemic stroke (AIS), today announced that its first quarter 2026 financial results will be released after the markets close on Wednesday, May 6th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Cz27h

NEXT WEEK: Via Eden Prairie-based NVE, VERBATIM: “NVE Corporation (Nasdaq: NVEC) announced that it plans to release its financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2026 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 after the close of the Nasdaq Regular Market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RbeP60

THURSDAY: Via Minnetonka-based Stratasys, VERBATIM: “Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) will release financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The Company plans to hold the conference call to discuss its first quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u3bHaD

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

MOTHER’S DAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, Jason DeRusha’s Mother’s Day brunch picks. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/42cdkHi

BDAYS: Minneapolis writer David Brauer, MADA’s Scott Lambert, fmr. Rep. Tom Tillberry

sports take | Bonus Playoff Preview Edition!

Howard Sinker — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:45:53 GMT

QUICK START: When was the last time the Wild and Wolves both were in the second round of their league playoffs? It’s never happened. Add the Frost to the mix as they go for a third PWHL title in the league’s third season and we have an unprecedented week coming up in Minnesota sports. Throw in the lack of a Minnesota men’s professional team winning a championship in 35 years and there’s reason to defer whatever else you’re doing to follow along. I don’t like to preach, but if you haven’t taken notice, you’re missing sports at a level of intensity that doesn’t come around very often. — Howard Sinker

QUICK BITS: Wild — Does Sunday’s 9-6 loss to Colorado in Game 1 mean we’ll see Filip Gustavsson (d/b/a “The Gus Bus”) parked in front of the Minnesota net for Game 2? Wolves — Anthony Edwards is back, but does that mean he’ll be back in action for tonight’s opener in San Antonio? Frost — Can they avoid playing on back-to-back nights this week — owing to scheduling issues at Grand Casino Arena — by sweeping their semifinal series from first-place Montreal?

QUICK QUESTION (AND ANSWER): A Sports Take reader posed this question to Google on Friday morning. “What was the betting line on the Twins, Wolves and Wild all winning last night?” As the night started, I don’t think many people imagined both the Wild and Wolves wrapping up their playoffs — in addition to the Twins beating Toronto. “Based on odds . . . a parlay for the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild all to win on Thursday night was listed at approximately +1062 odds. A $10 wager on this specific three-team parlay would have paid out roughly $116.” In other words, the odds by people who make them were about 11.5 to 1.

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY: Daily playoff schedule through the weekend.

MONDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 1, 8:30 p.m. Peacock, NBC Sports Network.

TUESDAY: Frost at Montreal, Game 2, 6 p.m. Fox9+, Prime; Wild at Colorado, Game 2, 7 p.m., ESPN.

WEDNESDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 2, 8: 30 p.m., ESPN.

THURSDAY: Frost vs. Montreal, Game 3, Grand Casino Arena, 6 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.

FRIDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 3 Target Center, 8:30 p.m., Prime. Frost vs Montreal, Game 4 (if needed), 7:30 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.

SATURDAY: Wild vs. Colorado, Game 3, GCA, 8 p.m. TNT, TruTV.

SUNDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 4, Target Center, 6:30 p.m., NBC, Peacock.

TICKETS: WOLVES | WILD | FROST

BETTING LINES: WOLVES | WILD | FROST

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WILD

SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED, EH: The Wild battled gamely Sunday night in their second-round opener against the NHL’s best team this season. But in the end, the team that had a week to rest and rejuvenate after a four-game sweep outlasted a team that had to recover and recalibrate on the fly after an emotional six-game series. And did I mention that Colorado, in addition to leading the NHL with 121 points, also lost fewer home games than any team in the league? The Wild’s rollicking 9-6 loss probably wasn’t a sign of things to come in this series, if only because the Avalanche allowed the fewest goals of any team in the league and the Wild tied for the fourth-fewest allowed. Fifteen goals? It was the game of game that makes you want to return for the next to see how the teams adjust.

SIX SENTENCES ON 15 GOALS: Via Tracey Myers at NHL.com. If you need a quick catch-up, this is a good start. VERBATIM: “Who can explain it? Fifteen goals total. Fourteen different goal-scorers between the two teams. Five goals from Avalanche defensemen. The nine goals the Avalanche had equaled the number of shots on goals the Montreal Canadiens had in their 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series earlier on Sunday. Pick your scoring poison, this game had it: Pretty goals (Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko’s backhand at 6:45 of the second period), weird bounce goals (Wild forward Mats Zuccarello at 16:01 of the third period), first-career playoff goals (Avalanche defensemen Sam Malinski and Nick Blankenburg), and didn’t-see-that-coming goals (Wild forward Marcus Foligno’s 2-on-0 short-handed at 16:55 of the second period).” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/goals0504

WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Via Michael Russo at The Athletic: VERBATIM: “In the grand wisdom of the NHL, along with television rights holders that don’t care one iota about the ability for one team to prepare for another, the Wild were told Friday to order and book their charter to Denver on Saturday for a Sunday night start against the Avs. So on Saturday, with several players banged up, coach John Hynes and his staff held a video session to show players what to be on the lookout for against the high-flying Avs compared to what the Stars were doing. But the Wild made a full practice optional. Add in the fact that two of their best defensive players — center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin — were left behind because of injuries, and maybe it wasn’t a shock that the Wild looked so utterly unprepared on Sunday for the style change between series, and couldn’t figure out how to slow down one of the league’s fastest, most potent offensive teams.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0504

WANT TO SEE EVERY GOAL? Of course you do!

GOALIE CHANGE? That’ll be a hot topic leading up to Game 2. Jesper Wallstedt didn’t get much help from his defense, but TV commentators pointed out several times when he drifted out of position on Avalanche goals, in part to compensate for what his teammates weren’t doing in front of him. That the Wild have a capable backup in Filip Gustavsson, who started more games during the season than Wallstedt (49 to 33), would keep the change from sparking any controversy. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/goalie0504

SIMPLY PUT: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. VERBATIM: “Wallstedt lacked the same sharpness he displayed in the Dallas series, but the defense in front of him also provided little help. Even if Hynes pivots to veteran Gustavsson to start Game 2, the Wild must tighten the screws in the defensive zone to give their goalie a chance.”

WILD STATISTICS | AVALANCHE STATISTICS

WOLVES

ANT’S BACK! BUT WHEN? Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. Sunday’s unexpected news was that star forward Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play against San Antonio after his left knee hyperextension and bruise that kept him out of the final two games of the Nuggets series. He’s listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 1. Ayo Dosunmu, who missed Game 6 with calf problems after a heroic 43-point performance off the bench in Game 4, is also listed as questionable. KEEP IN MIND: Being cleared to play and playing are two very separate things. What the Wolves are doing, if nothing else, is giving the Spurs one more thing to plan against. The difference between game-planning the Wolves with Edwards and the lineup without him is substantial. FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/ant0504

ALL ABOUT THE INJURY: Via Lorenzo Reyes at USA Today. If you need to get up to speed on Edwards’ knee, including how his timeline compares to a similar injury from another top NBA star, go here. VERBATIM: “Even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/injury0504

BIG VS. BIGGER: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. The Wolves-Spurs series should be less ornery than the first-round series against the Nuggets — if only because the centers on both teams — Rudy Gobert and 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama — are friends and have been teammates on the French national team. They first met nine years ago, when Wemby was 13. VERBATIM: “I’m very, very proud and very excited to watch him grow every day, to see his work paying off,” Gobert said. “Outside of the talent, he’s someone that is a very unique soul, very unique mind. Nothing is an accident. It’s not an accident he’s having the success he’s having. He’s preparing his mind, preparing his body like I’ve rarely seen someone do.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/centers0504

HOW UNIQUE? Gobert was asked about their relationship by Wolves podcaster Dane Moore. VERBATIM: “A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water. It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don't get those type of questions." Then, Gobert went into a riff in which he playfully tweaked Anthony Edwards. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/rudy0504

WEMBY ON RUDY: Via Maxine Aubin on X. VERBATIM: “It's great. We're already lucky to face him regularly during the regular season, and it's tough to play against him, it's demanding. He's played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men.”

ANT VS. WEMBY: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “(Edwards’) return at any point in the series would be a huge boost to the Timberwolves. . . . Minnesota went 2-1 against San Antonio in the regular season. Edwards’ 3-point shooting is a crucial element in the matchup, helping the Wolves spread the floor and put more pressure on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ defense. The two superstars went at it in a thrilling Spurs victory in January. Edwards scored 55 points and hit nine 3s in the game. Wembanyama countered with 39 points and nine rebounds in the 126-123 win. Edwards got the better of Wembanyama in November, when he scored 32 points and got the game-sealing bucket after bursting by Wemby.”

SPURS STATISTICS | WOLVES STATISTICS

SOMETHING TO WATCH: The Wolves were an eight-man team in their Game 6 clincher over to Nuggets, with an improvised playing rotation that Denver couldn’t prepare to counter. in addition, Wolves coach Chris Finch absolutely schooled Denver’s second-year coach David Adelman. It was PlayStation 5 vs. Atari 2600 stuff. The Spurs will benefit from scouting that game.

HEY, NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS: If you’re looking for a place to watch Minnesota’s playoff games, Lake Street Bar in Brooklyn comes well recommended. Not much to look at, but it scores high on the Dive Bar and sports viewing scales.

FROST

FROST FIND NEW HERO: Via Heather Rule at Written Rule of Sports. The game-winning overtime goal in the Frost’s 5-4 Game 1 win at Montreal was scored by Jincy Roese (JIN-see ROHZ), who had played only six regular-season games for Minnesota after a late-season trade from New York. She hadn’t scored for new York in her 22 games there, either. The Frost gave up forward Denisa Krizova to get the defender, who played for Ohio State. VERBATIM: “Joining the Frost, it’s really been an honor. This is a great group of girls, and it’s a privilege to be on this team and to get to compete with them. I mean, the mindsets on this team, the talent, the skills . . .to get to be part of that, it’s really a privilege of my career.” The Frost got the win with five different goal scorers and nine players recording points. Spreading the scoring around isn’t unusual for the Frost this season. But there’s a lot more to the story, too, in a playoff game filled with physicality, penalties, special teams factoring into scoring, an historic hat trick and a game that was tied three different times.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/frost0504

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Scheduling back-to-back nights for Games 3 and 4 (if needed) is necessary because of other events booked into Grand Casino Arena. In addition to Game 3 and 4 of the Wild-Avalanche series, the “Stars on Ice” tour by U.S. Olympic figure skaters is set for Saturday. VERBATIM: “The PWHL awaited updates on NHL playoff scheduling to set dates for Games 4 and 5 of the series. Grand Casino Arena was booked May 9-11, so the options were either to play back-to-back nights or to wait five days for Game 4. In choosing the former, it would be the first time the league has scheduled two games in a playoff series on consecutive nights.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/schedule0504

NOTE THIS AND THAT: In going for their third straight PWHL title, this was the first time the Frost had won the opening game of a playoff series. Also, it was their first victory over the Victoire in five tries this season — following two losses in regulation play and two more in overtime.

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STATE OF HEISE: Via Written Rule of Sports. Former Gophers star Taylor Heise is having her best season with the Frost, including two assists as part of a balanced offense in Game 1. VERBATIM: “She put up career-best numbers in all three offensive statistical categories with 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points in 30 games. She also finished the regular season with a plus-18 rating and a career-high three power-play goals. . . . ‘Kind of brings me back to college where I kind of just had to score,’ said Heise, who finished her time with the University of Minnesota ranking sixth all-time in scoring with 97 goals and 227 points. ‘As much as I want to make a play, I really just have to rely on myself to put the puck in the back of the net sometimes. I think this year, just seeing it go in a little bit more gave me more confidence.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/heise0504

UGLY CURL: Via Tyler Kuehl at Daily Faceoff. Controversial Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme may be disciplined beyond the major and game misconduct she received for a check to the head of Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby. Curl-Salemme was suspended three times last season by the PWHL for dirty play, including once in the playoffs. She was also fined for an illegal cross-check during a game in March of this season. VERBATIM: “If the PWHL Player Safety Committee holds to its recent standard, Curl-Salemme won’t be in the lineup for the second game of the semifinals between Minnesota and Montreal. . . Curl-Salemme’s style of play, along with her past social media interactions, have made her one of the more despised players amongst fans, with many showing their displeasure whenever she gets near the puck.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/curl0504

FROST STATISTICS | VICTOIRE STATISTICS

OTHER THINGS TO START YOUR SPORTS WEEK:

RYAN’S INJURY: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. Joe Ryan threw nine pitches Sunday afternoon before leaving his start against Toronto with elbow soreness. He wasn’t available after the game and Manager Derek Shelton’s postgame terseness on the subject didn’t inspire confidence that it was a minor setback — like the back soreness that sidelined Ryan from a spring training start. The Twins’ bullpen managed to be good enough for a 4-3 victory, although the lead shrunk from 4-1 to 4-3 in the top of the ninth and a nicely executed double play was needed to close out the Blue Jays. VERBATIM: “We got [medical] imaging,” Shelton said. “It was something in the elbow. We’ll evaluate from there.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ryan0504

OUCH, OUCH AND MORE OUCH: Via Matthew Leach at MLB.com. Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins left Sunday’s St. Paul Saints game against Iowa after he ran into the outfield wall while making a catch in the sixth inning. The injury appeared to be to his left shoulder. Another top outfield prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez, was sidelined Friday after straining a muscle in his left thumb. In Saturday, pitcher David Festa reported more shoulder soreness after throwing batting practice during his rehab in Florida. It was his third throwing session and the Twins had hoped he was close to a return. STORY AND VIDEO OF JENKINS: https://fluence-media.co/jenkins0504

WOLVES GETTING RAIDED? Via Joe Cowley at Chicago Sun-Times. Timberwolves General Manager Matt Lloyd is said to be the front-runner among four candidates to become executive vice president for basketball of the Chicago Bulls. Lloyd was named Wolves GM in 2024 after joining the franchise in a player personnel role two years earlier. He has previous experience working for the Bulls. His hiring would likely mean the loss of the Wolves top assistant coach. VERBATIM: “According to a source with the Timberwolves, if he gets the Bulls job, he undoubtedly would make Micah Nori the new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan, who resigned April 21 after six seasons. Nori has been the Timberwolves’ lead assistant since 2021, was voted top assistant coach by NBA general managers the last two seasons and is considered a top defensive strategist in the league.” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/bulls0504

U SOFTBALL GRABS FINAL SPOT: By finishing 12th among the Big Ten’s 17 softball team, Minnesota grabbed the final spot on the conference tournament, which opens Wednesday in Maryland. The Gophers nosed out Iowa and will open against No. 5 seed Washington (10 a.m. Wednesday, BIG) despite losing two of three at Northwestern this weekend, including a 6-0 loss Sunday night. Minnesota and Iowa tied for 12th, but the Gophers took two of three games from the Hawkeyes earlier this season. Both teams finished 7-17, and the Gophers have a 16-35 overall record. Washington swept their three-game series last month in Seattle. BRACKET: https://fluence-media.co/softball0504

VARLAND RETURNS: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Louis Varland returning to Target Field for four games vs. the Twins was like a poke in the eye considering the sorry state of the Twins bullpen. The Jays have helped make Varland more effective by having him throw his change-up more often. Varland has a 0.53 ERA and has struck out 28 batters in 17 innings. VERBATIM: "'I think that’s been a pretty big difference maker,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “When you’re gearing up for 100 and you can throw a 92 mph changeup with pretty good depth and location, that’s a pretty good combo. He’s really taken to it.”

REALLY? Twins GM Jeremy Zoll offered up thoughts on the Varland trade last summer — in which the Twins received lefty reliever Kendry Rojas (at Class AAA St. Paul) and outfielder Alan Roden (St. Paul), who is expected to be out for another month because of a shoulder injury. VERBATIM: “It’s hard to part with someone like Louis Varland. . . . Unfortunately, you have to make some hard calls along the way, and that was undoubtedly one of the tougher ones from last July.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/varland0504

FOR THE 10,000TH FREAKIN’ TIME: It’s fine to make trades as you long as you do follow-up work to make the roster whole. That didn’t happen and, as a result, the Twins and their fans are suffering accordingly.

MYSTERY SETBACK FOR LOONS STAR: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. James Rodriguez, the highly regarded Colombia midfielder, missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over Columbus due to what MNFC leadership described as “a previously scheduled routine medical procedure — not related to any injury. He will rejoin the team in training next week.” Rodriguez has played in only four of 11 Loons matches for a total of 103 minutes, and his issues have been concerning to Colombian National Team leadership, which made a trip to St. Paul to see him play the previous weekend against Los Angeles FC. That was his only start of the season and he played 63 minutes. Their worry is that Rodriguez will not be in good form when the World Cup opens next month. MNUFC has four more games before the MLS break for the World Cup. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/james0504

LEGEND CRITICIZES MOVE: Via Santiago Tovar at Bolavip. Colombia soccer legend Wellington Ortiz said it was a bad idea for Rodriguez to come to Minnesota. In his mind, MNUFC coach Cameron Knowles didn’t want Rodriguez. VERBATIM: “I think the mistake is when a coach doesn’t want you and you still go to that team. You’re not part of his group or the players he trusts, so he’s not going to play you because you’re not his choice. That’s the mistake.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0504

50-YEAR REUNION: Via Frederick Melo at Pioneer Press. Mechanic Arts High School closed in 1976. Among other things, it meant that athletes from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes dispersed to high school around St. Paul and were never recognized for their time at Mechanic Arts. That will change tonight. VERBATIM: “With those athletic diversions and stolen glory years in mind, the Mechanic Arts reunion dinner that takes place Monday at Mancini’s Char House on West Seventh Street will feature a special program, as well as 50-year commemorative letters and certificates for all the varsity letter-holders who were freshmen, sophomores and juniors when the doors shut on them in ’76. Located at the edge of Frogtown and Old Rondo, Mechanic Arts opened in 1896 and shut its doors forever 80 years later. The structure was demolished in 1987, making room for what is now the Minnesota Supreme Court building.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mechanicarts0504

FAMOUS ALUMNI: Civil rights leader Roy Wilkins graduated from Mechanic Arts in 1919 and U.S. Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun was in the Class of 1925. Elmer Bailey starred in football and graduated in 1975. He played wide receiver at Macalester and the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1980 and playing in the NFL for three seasons.

WORLD SERIES IN TOWN: The World Series of Bowling, to be precise. Qualifying rounds are currently taking place at Bowlero in Brooklyn Park with the finals scheduled from Friday through Tuesday at Lucky Strike in Lakeville. The finals will be telecast by CBS Sports Network. About 120 bowlers are competing for a $100,000 first prize. TICKETS | MORE INFO

That’s all for now. Back on Thursday with our regularly scheduled Sports Take.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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morning take | Fraud Plan from Klobuchar

The Daily Agenda — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:01:25 GMT

MANIC MONDAY

Wild lose, and defense has disappeared. Wolves play tonight at 8:30PM

The Timberwolves have cleared Anthony Edwards to return, but he’s not expected to play tonight. FOX9: https://fluence-media.co/4tO2SBL

Minnesota’s runs in the playoffs are giving sports bars a revenue boost. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/48EgB5K

As gas prices remain high, electric vehicle sales are seeing a boost. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/4cXQc41

The president says U.S. forces will escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz starting today, and “interference” will be handled with force. CNN: https://fluence-media.co/4cZG8aO

Today is National Day of Reason….for those of you with hope.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

On Sunday Take, DFL Sen. Ann Rest discussed tax bill dynamics and GOP Rep. Mary Franson spoke about the bonding bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ty6qrz

MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r

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Convention season continues, next weekend the DFL CD2 convention will give us a sense of the DFL delegate mood, in a district that the most moderate DFLer in the state has represented. None of the CD2 DFL candidates have emerged as a clear front runner.

One Tier 2 race in the fall, Sen. Julia Coleman’s senate seat where she is being challenged by DFLer Dan Kessler. Kessler posted that Coleman has been focused on “creating sound bites and looking good at press conferences”. Coleman pushes back calling the comment from Kessler “sexist”.

Good on Coleman. Kessler clearly hasn’t watched his fellow DFLer social media feeds.

The folly of 2026 is that the social soundbites and performative posts from caucuses and candidates seem to some sort of measuring stick, especially for those looking for attention. From Rep. Jeff Backer’s easter bunny video, to the stream of DFL reels, its clear that social endorphins are more important than policy progress in this era.

SEN RACE: A new poll out this morning from the DLGA, the Democratic Lt. Gov. Association has Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan leading Rep. Angie Craig 44 to 33 Percent. Of note is why the DLGA is investing in Flanagan’s race. It is a different dynamic that the outside group would be invested in a US Senate race. It may suggest that Flanagan has raised money into the DLGA to support her. Other groups, such as the Republican Governors Association or Democratic Governors Association don’t publish polling when their members are running for Senate. Here’s the DLGA memo: https://fluence-media.co/4tZHKbR

GOV RACE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Sen. Amy Klobuchar outlined Sunday how she would tackle fraud if Minnesotans send her to the governor’s office. … In her first campaign-centered press conference since the senator stepped into the race, [Klobuchar] outlined over 40 policy proposals she’d push if elected — with a heavy focus on combating fraud. … Proposals include increasing criminal penalties for fraud, requiring unannounced in-person site visits, auditing state agencies and establishing a ‘do not pay database.’ … Klobuchar also said ‘of course’ she’d plan to make changes to who’s in charge of state agencies.” KLOBUCHAR: “I obviously am going to do things differently than Governor [Tim] Walz. We have different backgrounds. We’re going to have some different focuses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEbEL

MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “While her primary focus Sunday was fraud, [Amy] Klobuchar mentioned other priorities. She said Minnesota needs to quickly build more housing. She also proposed making state services more accessible on cellphones and argued Minnesota should make it easier for people to obtain permits and start businesses. … Klobuchar was backed at the news conference by former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Andy Luger, who prosecuted cases relating to the Feeding our Future fraud scheme.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dmi7Mn

PLATFORM: Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s policy platform for her gubernatorial campaign is now available on her website. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cY6WrR

RESPONSE: via Speaker Lisa Demuth statement, DEMUTH: “Amy Klobuchar [waited] three months to hold her first campaign press conference. Minnesotans know Klobuchar’s record and see this for what it is — a Walz Third Term. … Klobuchar wants to triple down on the Walz Era. I’m running for governor to fix the mess Tim Walz has left in his wake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tgVvSq

MORE: via GOP Chair Alex Plechash statement, PLECHASH: “If state government is too slow, too outdated, too expensive, too vulnerable to fraud, too hostile to small businesses, too difficult to navigate, and too broken to serve taxpayers, then Amy Klobuchar should say who broke it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d7qpGP

SENATE RACE: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a message to a near-capacity crowd of 1,300 [in Rochester] to promote the candidacy of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate. … Sen. Tina Smith, whose retirement created the vacancy, also spoke at Saturday’s ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ rally on behalf of Flanagan.” SANDERS: “We’re going to create a government that works for all of us, and one way to do that is making sure that Peggy Flanagan is the next U.S. senator. … The reason that the Democratic Party is disrespected today is precisely because the leadership is not standing and fighting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tbxQCE

CD2: Former Sen. Matt Little, DFL candidate in CD2, spoke to WCCO-TV about his campaign and priorities yesterday. Little dismissed concerns that he used his public opposition to Operation Metro Surge for political gain and confirmed that if he doesn’t receive the DFL party endorsement in May, he will drop out of the race before the August primary. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QLvKfq

MORE: via news release, VERBATIM “Former State Senator and Former Lakeville Mayor Matt Little won the endorsement of Faith in Minnesota in the race for the Second Congressional seat. Faith in Minnesota is the political arm of ISAIAH, an interdenominational faith organization, and is one of the largest political organizing groups in the state.”

BERG: Last week CD candidate state Rep. Kaela Berg was endorsed by End Citizens United.

ENDORSEMENTS: This weekend, DFLer Jake Johnson was endorsed in CD1, GOP state Sen. Eric Pratt was endorsed in CD2, DFL Rep. Betty McCollum was endorsed in CD4, GOP Rep. Tom Emmer was endorsed in CD6, and DFLer Trina Swanson was endorsed in CD8.

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SESSION SLOG

TWO WEEKS: The 2026 legislative session ends two weeks from today. Issues expected to be addressed this week include the Office of Inspector General bill, funding for HCMC and more.

WALZ: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Tim Walz’s final legislative session has the feel of a governor on the way out. His agenda is sputtering, his clout is fading and his focus is shifting as he figures out what, exactly, he will do next. … Walz has been meeting with legislative leaders consistently of late, and his aides have sat in for him when he’s been away. … [But] as legislative leaders met for another round of negotiations on Friday, Walz traveled to Maine to campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner. Such excursions have prompted Walz’s critics to question his engagement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tf9Sql

MORE: Via Bangor Daily News, details on the governor’s trip to Maine this weekend. VERBATIM: “Democrats projected optimism at the party’s convention in Portland Saturday as they looked to ride energy behind progressives, including [Senate candidate] Graham Platner. … The morning kicked off with a speech from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. … Walz repeatedly blasted [Donald] Trump and linked [Sen. Susan] Collins to the president’s remade party. He said any Republican senator could have blunted Trump’s immigration roundups in Maine and his home state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dqxGBR

DEALS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Legislative leaders and the governor are aiming to reach a global agreement next week that could help chart the course for the end of session. Top lawmakers met again with Gov. Tim Walz [last week] and continued discussions about options to fund the safety net hospital HCMC and to address some of the impacts of the federal tax and spending bill passed last summer. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said the Trump Administration’s announcement that it would defer $91 million in Medicaid funding to the state further complicates decisions around how Minnesota officials should write their health budget.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48YnmQ7

ETHICS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The House Ethics Committee heard competing DFL and Republican complaints Friday. … The committee unanimously voted in the closed session that there wasn’t probable cause to support a complaint against Rep. Elliott Engen (R-Lino Lakes) and Rep. Walter Hudson (R-Albertville) and there wasn’t probable cause to support a complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL-Eden Prairie). … However, regarding the complaint against Engen and Hudson, all four ethics committee members signed a statement to clarify expectations and norms of behavior.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42LjtKA

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

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DC + MN

REDISTRICTING: via Axios, VERBATIM: “[Last] week’s Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act [could] put a fresh crop of blue and even purple states on the board as potential redistricting targets ahead of 2028. … [For] Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Michigan, this is where things get really tricky. All three of these purple states have at least one state legislative chamber either controlled by Republicans or, in the case of Minnesota’s state House, evenly divided between the parties. A blue wave in November could help Democrats secure majorities in those chambers while retaining the states’ governorships — known as a trifecta — but there would still be plenty of hurdles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cKdqMg

SMITH: Sen. Tina Smith spoke to WCCO-TV yesterday about why she endorsed the lieutenant governor to be her successor, how she plans to spend her time during her final months in the Senate and more. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4n59IjX

THC: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The so-called ‘skinny farm bill’ was approved [last week], but an amendment that would have reversed the [hemp-THC] ban and instituted new federal regulations on the industry was withdrawn, either because it did not have enough support or because GOP leaders sought to persuade fellow Republicans from including measures in the farm bill that would threaten its chances of approval. Also withdrawn was a second amendment sponsored by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-5th District, and Kelly Morrison, D-3rd District, that would have postponed the hemp-THC ban until November 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w8Av2P

MORE: Friday’s ag take featured extensive coverage of what did and didn’t make it into the version of the farm bill that passed in the House. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4eZavAK

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ICE: Via social media, Rep. Angie Craig said an ICE spokesperson confirmed to her that a “potential opening of new ICE detention centers in Shakopee and Woodbury” will not be moving forward. CRAIG: “This is a direct result of state and local leaders like [Rep.] Brad Tabke and CD2ers who made it loud and clear that ICE is not welcome in our community.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4t8NiPZ

THE FEED

SETTLEMENT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective today, with $59 million going to Minnesota. … The settlement permanently bars the Sacklers from selling opioids in the U.S. and delivers funds for addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery to communities across the country over the next 15 years. Most settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dmrqvP

SPEEDING: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Nearly 300 Minnesota law enforcement agencies are participating in a campaign to bring awareness to how dangerous and deadly speeding can be. … In 2025, speed-related crashes led to 102 fatalities and 388 serious injuries, officials said. The high-visibility, extra enforcement and awareness campaign kicked off Friday, May 1, and will run through Sept. 7.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d34sbR

FISH: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “This coming Saturday, May 9, marks one of Minnesota’s unofficial holidays: the 2026 open water fishing opener. Overall, the outlook around the state is favorable for anglers looking to catch a bite on opening day, according to the Department of Natural Resources.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42cWHep

METRO

ACROSS MN

HENDERSON: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Authorities were at the scene of a train derailment in Le Sueur County on Saturday morning. … [Photos] show multiple train cars on their side, some of which have spilled grain. There are tanker cars on their side too, which the sheriff’s office says were carrying methane propane. Union Pacific reportedly told authorities that no methane or propane is leaking as a result of the derailment. In total, eight rail cars derailed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4unH5Rf

TWO HARBORS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “About 3 million vehicles pass through this Lake Superior city each year, most on their way to more popular tourism sites. … ‘Not enough’ of them stop in Two Harbors, said first-term Mayor Lew Conner. City leaders are aiming to change that as they prepare to get their hands on more than 20 acres of waterfront land from the state Department of Natural Resources. They envision the Agate Bay shore as a place where residents and visitors will watch ships at the ore docks, listen to live music and walk along paved paths.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PgKRwY

ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A pair of requests to support financing for a planned 149-unit apartment complex on Fourth Street Southeast will be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. … California-based Lincoln Avenue Communities, which creates affordable housing options, is asking the council to approve issuance of nearly $27.2 million in revenue bonds as it also seeks the creation of a new tax-increment financing district, which would provide nearly $1.4 million. … The funds are expected to be part of the estimated $61 million in financing needed for the development of a six-story, income-restricted apartment complex [that’s] within walking distance to downtown.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uq5lSK

BEMIDJI: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “MMIW 218 is set to host its annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives conference from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, in Bemidji. … The May 3 event will start at 11 a.m. with a march from the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues to the Sanford Center, where lunch will follow, along with welcoming the runners from the MMIW Awareness Red Lake run.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4um19Ui

PRODUCTIVE FARMS, STEWARDSHIP GO HAND IN HAND: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn farmers are demonstrating that productive agriculture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Through widespread adoption of practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, and targeted nutrient management, farmers have improved soil health, reduced erosion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protected water quality across millions of acres in Minnesota. That’s all while implementing advances in seed genetics, fertility management, and precision technology that have improved on-farm productivity.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4stHjG5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)

FOR PLANNING

SESSION: House floor session at 1:00 p.m. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. FLOOR: The House will hear bills on public safety, housing, hospital construction, veterans, cybersecurity, higher education and more. HOUSE: Ways & Means will hear bills on Medicaid fraud, the K-12 education forecast and the human services omnibus. SENATE: Human Services and Health & Human Services will hold a joint hearing on the “program integrity omnibus.” CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4urSEqF

TODAY: Protect Minnesota will host a press conference on gun violence prevention bills with DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed and DFL Rep. Emma Greenman at 10:00 a.m.

TODAY: DFL Rep. Kelly Morrison will host a press conference discussing federal impacts on small businesses at 11:00 a.m.

We won’t ask for “membership” to list your BDAY, and we won’t have pledge drive but you can support the Fluence work by paying for premium content.

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BDAYS: Minneapolis writer David Brauer, MADA’s Scott Lambert, fmr. Rep. Tom Tillberry

SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

The Sunday (Sports) Take - The Mood of Minnesota

Mike Maybay — Sun, 03 May 2026 17:29:47 GMT

This Sunday Take we tried a different spin on the show - given the success of Minnesota sports on Thursday night where the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild both advanced to the next round with wins and while we are still riding the wave of winning - Blois chats with Dan Whenesota, Minnesota sports historian and Howard Sinker, sports editor for the Minnesota Star Tribune about the legacy of heartbreak in Minnesota sports and why the feeling is different this time around as we check in on the (sports) mood in Minnesota.

ag take | Amorous Turkeys & Rotisserie Chickens

Mike Maybay — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:30:53 GMT

FARM BILL: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is grateful to House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson and members of the committee for their work to advance the Farm Bill. While Congress made key improvements to the farm safety net as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in summer 2025, a full, comprehensive Farm Bill remains essential to ensuring the success of corn farmers and American agriculture. An updated farm bill that reflects present-day conditions is especially critical as farmers contend with high and rising input costs, low commodity prices, and weather and market volatility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42t3iBL (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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A BUSY FRIDAY FOR AG

LLOYD: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Arguably the most famous bachelor turkey in all of Minnesota is a handsome idiot named Lloyd. Lloyd has a global Facebook fan base of about 48,000 who’ve followed his ridiculous exploits on the farm, such as cluelessly romancing basketballs, sticks and other inanimate objects. Never in his eight years has he been spotted properly mating with an actual turkey. His owner is determined to see if he could learn new tricks in his older age and find true companionship.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nc1Pcw

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN: After the 2026 farm bill passed in the U.S. House yesterday, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan criticized Rep. Angie Craig for voting against a bipartisan amendment that would allow SNAP recipients to buy hot rotisserie chickens. The amendment passed 384-35, and Rep. Tom Emmer was the only other Minnesota lawmaker who voted against it. FLANAGAN: “I think letting SNAP recipients have hot rotisserie chicken is good, actually. … If you’re siding with Tom Emmer, you’re probably on the wrong side.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3QGO6ya

MORE: Via news release from Rep. Craig, QUOTE: “Along with other members of Democratic leadership, I voted against it to send a message that the amendment does not go far enough to expand SNAP-eligibility, and we will continue to push the Senate to include a further expansion in the final version of the bill. There is no question that SNAP recipients need access to more hot food options, but this amendment was pushed by big grocers and retailers and the chicken industry. We can do better.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RfnKTW

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An American Soybean Association board director expects a long road ahead for the farm bill despite its passage in the U.S. House. Speaking to Brownfield just before the House passed its version of a skinny farm bill Thursday, southwest Minnesota farmer Bob Worth said he’s been optimistic the House could pass a farm bill this spring.” WORTH: “We could have a bigger problem on the Senate side than we do on the House side. The Senate side is not going to be very easy because the nutrition program is very big on the Senate side.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4unChvi

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The farm bill debate blurred some of the traditional party-line policy positions. A pesticide labeling provision maintaining support for the federal regulatory system over state courts was rejected, brought down a coalition that included MAHA Moms and the advocates for states’ rights. Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt also points to market consolidation, which would have been a Democratic talking point in the past.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t75Vnq

E15: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “When Congress returns from recess May 12, advocates hope E15 will get another chance in Washington. The measure was removed from the Farm Bill Wednesday following heated debates. Legislation to allow year-round, nationwide E15 sales is now moving forward as a standalone bill. If the bill passes the House, it will likely be reintegrated into the broader Farm Bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dnhEbV

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is frustrated by continued uncertainty with year-round nationwide E15. Rob Tate of Cannon Falls tells Brownfield.” TATE: “The analogy that’s been given before is it’s a little bit like Lucy holding the ball for Charlie Brown and she moves it at the last minute on him. I think we feel a little bit that way, but we’re still hopeful something can get done here in the near future.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42GB3zg

EMISSIONS: Via Civil Eats, VERBATIM: “Republicans succeeded at passing an amendment that would roll back emissions standards on farm equipment, which they said were driving up costs for farmers. The vote on that amendment was divided more on party lines, with 206 Republicans voting in favor and 8 against, and 205 Democrats voting against, with 8 in favor. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) said the amendment was a distraction from larger issues hurting commodity farmers, including fuel and fertilizer price spikes caused by the Iran war and lost markets due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QAsinU

HEADWINDS: Via Axios, a laundry list of various challenges facing Minnesota’s farmers and indicators of their impacts, including a rise in calls and texts to the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4nJ1f

FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The escalating price of fertilizer looms large as farmers begin the 2026 growing season. Chris Edgington grows corn and soybeans near St. Ansgar in north-central Iowa and says most growers in his area buy the bulk of their nitrogen needs in the fall or early winter.” EDGINGTON: “So most people are feeling pretty good about where they’re at for this year. But the conversation has already started about what price point it’s going to take for the retailers to fill up for summer and into next fall, and those numbers are up substantially.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4n5Ytrm

LIVESTOCK

PSEUDORABIES: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed Thursday cases of pseudorabies in a small commercial swine facility in Iowa, which traces to animals received recently from a herd in Texas. This is the first detection in commercial swine since its eradication in 2004.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t9GiTa

BEEF: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Consumers hungry for protein are still buying beef, but the meat’s producers from the farm to the butcher shop know it’s too expensive . . . The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation to determine if large meatpackers, which process farmers’ cattle and sell it to grocery stores, engaged in criminal anticompetitive conduct, the Wall Street Journal reported April 20. President Donald Trump accused these companies in November of driving up prices for consumers. Minnesota commodity giant Cargill is among the four major meatpackers controlling most of the American beef-processing market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eTIESq

DAIRY: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Good to see Governor Walz has signed SF3832 authored by Sen. Kupec and Rep. Nathan Nelson known as the DAIRI bill that gives additional assistance to dairy farmers who enroll in the federal DMC program.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4w12Wj6

MORE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The state’s Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative program (DAIRI) gives additional financial assistance to dairy farmers who participate in the Dairy Margin Coverage program. That is a federal Farm Service Agency program that provides financial support to dairy farmers when the margin between milk prices and feed costs is low. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish expressed his support in the bill.” WERTISH: “We appreciate that this program is targeted at family-sized dairy farms,” he wrote in a letter to House members. “That will ensure that the money goes further to keeping more farms in business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w5wfBa

USDA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area announced its intention to introduce the Food and Nutrition Administration. This shift will include a reorganization and relocation, all to move program leadership and staff from Washington, D.C. to hub and program compliance locations across the U.S. This shift in customer service will not disrupt program execution nor any endeavor to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse across USDA’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4um0zpm

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

STUDY: Via UofM CFANS, VERBATIM: “New research from the University of Minnesota offers encouraging news for specialty crop growers interested in pollinator-friendly production. The study was conducted in summer 2025 by Research Fellow Gigi DiGiacomo and Dr. Chengyan Yue as part of a larger project, Buzzing with Potential: Exploring Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Pollinator Services. The research found that consumers are willing to pay meaningful premiums for produce grown using practices that support pollinators — particularly when those practices are clearly communicated at the point of sale.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n1DPZz

SURVEY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A recent survey by a dairy producers’ group shows farmers want to know how their farm data is used by processors and others in the supply chain. Sherry Bunting with the American Dairy Coalition says Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy have asked USDA to collect more farm data for their sustainability modeling.” BUNTING: “Water usage, in addition to what’s already surveyed on irrigation to get into, you know, how much water the cattle are drinking, parlor washdown, any reuse of that water, as well as more detailed feed ration components.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w3iGCh

CRP: Via USDA FSA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) starting May 4, 2026, through May 29, 2026. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers Grassland CRP, a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dj1ocU

DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows recent rain helped – 95 of the state is now in formal drought status, down from 21% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

GOODHUE CTY: Via Lavender, VERBATIM: “Rows of lavender stretch across the landscape at Liten Bekk Farm, where a once-overgrown property is being transformed into a hub for sustainable agriculture and community connection. What began as a shared vision among three partners has quickly evolved into a multifaceted operation rooted in restoration, food production and giving back to the surrounding community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49kPBZ6

RESILIENCE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Ag Conservation Services Manager Brad Jordahl Redlin joined a panel on climate-resilient agriculture hosted by the MinneAg Network. At MDA, we’re proud to administer programs that help farmers improve soil health and protect water.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4uqU2dh

YARD CARE: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Every spring, Minnesotans step outside to perform the same ritual: rake the lawn, plan the garden, and grab a bag of fertilizer to help the yard wake up from winter. What most people don’t realize is how much this last step can affect the water around us.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nc0baQ

WILDFIRES: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new Secretarial Memorandum and letter directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to heighten national wildfire readiness, accelerate community-focused risk reduction, and strengthen firefighter health and safety for the 2026 fire year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4ppYA

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS WEEKEND: Twin Cities farmers markets kick off their season. KARE-TV has a list. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4n7veED

THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We recognize the historical and ongoing contribution these groups have made to agriculture in Minnesota, and recognize the way these cultures strengthen our communities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4tKTqPw

ROBOT DOGS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “According to the National Equipment Register, $300 million to $1 billion in heavy equipment is stolen every year. Other threats such as feral hogs can rob the ag industry of $1.6 billion in a single year as well, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. However, a new four-legged, robotic companion could help solve these issues. Taking the form of a dog, the Asylon DroneDog, a robotic and autonomous security system, is stepping up to the plate.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nn8W1X

mn good | 10K Daffodils + 50,000 Tulips

The Daily Agenda — Fri, 01 May 2026 18:30:17 GMT

The City of Burnsville is among 14 public sector organizations around the country recognized for “delivering transformational results through technology.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uqoKDo

Another list of 14… a Plymouth man is one of 14 inductees into White Castle’s Cravers Hall of Fame. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pe2RrJ

Via Sahan Journal, profiles of Minnesotans who are preserving rare languages. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tCZlWS

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Blois

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DUCKS & FLOWERS & MORE

TOMORROW: Via Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group, VERBATIM: “The Duck Race is one of the most beloved spring events in South Minneapolis. Each year, hundreds of neighbors gather along Minnehaha Creek to cheer on thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks as they race downstream.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4mZIgUy

THIS MONTH: Via Special Olympics, VERBATIM: “Beginning May 29 at Soldier Field in Chicago, the birthplace of Special Olympics and home to the Eternal Flame of Hope, law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes will unite to carry the torch side-by-side across the nation, inspiring communities and shining a spotlight on inclusion, determination and the power of sport.” READ/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4untMAp

NEXT MONTH: Via FMSC, VERBATIM: “Today, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) opened registration for the 10th year of Pack at the Park, a two-day volunteer-driven event at Target Field on June 10-11 with a bold goal: provide 1 million lifesaving meals for children facing hunger worldwide. For a decade, Twin Cities volunteers have turned the stadium into a meal-packing site that feeds children across the globe, and now it’s the community’s turn to do it again.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P2hVIO

10,000 DAFFODILS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “For Warren Kapsner, planting flowers is a labor of love that has sprouted into something so much more at his Golden Valley home. In Minnesota, we have the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In Golden Valley, we have the Yard of 10,000 Daffodils.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48zj5SQ

50,000 TULIPS: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Did you know that Minneapolis’ Lakewood Cemetery was founded as a ‘garden cemetery’ back in 1871? The peaceful landscape north of Lake Harriet has always been committed to preserving nature and beautifying the space; it’s even accredited as a Level 2 arboretum (the only one in Minneapolis). Since the 1950s, the cemetery’s grounds team has often planted tulip bulbs in the fall, leading to a burst of color in April and May. But over the past few years, during construction of the Lakewood welcome center, the tulip tradition was put on hold. This week, the tulips are back—and back in a big way.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4dmY4fV

DINING: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota restaurants will take part in a fundraiser Thursday to raise money for organizations providing HIV/AIDS services to the community. ‘Dining Out For Life’ is an annual, 24-hour fundraiser where over 120 participating restaurants in the state will donate between 25 to 100 percent of their sales to Aliveness Project.” QUOTE: “The more you eat at a restaurant, the more you’re helping people living with HIV,” said Sonya Bieza, development manager for Aliveness Project. “It’s like the easiest fundraiser for the general public because all you have to do is eat out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4289AGA

4 DECADES: Via Initiative Foundation, VERBATIM: “We’re celebrating 40 years of investing in good ideas across our region—and we’d love to celebrate with you. As part of our anniversary celebration, we’re hosting a pre-reception for donors, partners and friends of the Foundation prior to the main gathering. It’s a time to connect with others who care deeply about strengthening our communities and to hear a few brief reflections from Foundation trustees and local leaders.”

MORE: The Events page on the foundation’s Facebook page has information about the four upcoming events. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4n2Y6Ol

FIELD ART: Via Graco, VERBATIM: “To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Graco has unveiled a large-scale land artwork by internationally recognized artist Saype, marking his first-ever installation in Minnesota and adding Graco’s campus in Dayton to the global list of locations where his work has appeared. Saype is widely recognized for pioneering large-scale, biodegradable land art designed to be viewed from the sky, creating striking, temporary frescoes on grass, sand, snow, and earth that are revealed most clearly from an aerial perspective.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eTrswj

BOOK: Via Operation Elevation, VERBATIM: “Hall of Fame inductee Tony Sanneh today announced the July 2026 release of his first book, On the Assist: How Significance Finds Us When We Invest Ourselves in Others, alongside the launch of Operation Elevation SBC, a new Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4egA6VA

SUNOPTA: Via Eden Prairie-based SunOpta, VERBATIM: “SunOpta (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) – the company that delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths and better-for-you snacks – is proud to release its 2025 Sustainability Report. This annual update outlines sustainability progress made in the 2025 fiscal year across four key areas: planet, product, people and governance.” NEWS RELEASE: https://fluence-media.co/4urigUN REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4n2eYVa

LIFE TIME: Via Chanhassen-based Life Time, VERBATIM: “The Life Time Foundation is reaffirming its year‑round commitment to supporting a healthy planet through a cross‑country lineup of environmentally focused initiatives that restore local ecosystems and inspire people of all ages to care for the world around them. The Life Time Foundation’s work doesn’t start or end with Earth Month—it reflects year‑round action, long‑term investment, sustained partnerships and community-based initiatives that help people reconnect with nature and take meaningful action for generations to come.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n2Wp3q

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lunch take | Gov Candidate Drops Out + NFL Draft Here?

Mike Maybay — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:01:19 GMT

61% of Americans say the economy is off on the wrong track – it was 43% in January of 2025. REUTERS/IPSOS: https://fluence-media.co/4tKNGFH

The Kentucky Derby’s tomorrow – Minnesota Monthly has local events and where to shop ahead of time. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4wb3eEj

Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription

Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

On Sunday Take, DFL Sen. Ann Rest discussed tax bill dynamics and GOP Rep. Mary Franson spoke about the bonding bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ty6qrz

Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

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OPTIMISM & UNCERTAINTY

GOVERNOR: From candidate for governor Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-37A) via Instagram, VERBATIM: “After much thought and prayer, I have decided to suspend my campaign for Governor of Minnesota. It has become apparent that the establishment political class, media, and donors have anointed Amy Klobuchar, despite her refusal to engage meaningfully on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tOu0AG

MORE: Robbins talked about her decision with Fox News Digital, VERBATIM: “In terms of what’s next, Robbins says she hasn’t had the time to give that much thought but said she is focused on closing out the current legislative session and said ‘there’s a lot of big things going on in the front committee.’ ‘I know where the bodies are buried,’ Robbins said about the fraud situation, pointing out that there is much more work to be done to get answers on how the billions of dollars in fraud was allowed to go unchecked for so long.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/424i2GZ

BUZZ: Could there be a chance Robbins runs with Kendall Qualls?

NFL DRAFT: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal cites “numerous sources” in reporting the Twin Cities is “a clear favorite” to host the 2028 NFL Draft. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f1oBS2

TODAY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, has long been a global movement for labor organizing, protest and solidarity. In Minneapolis this year, that tradition continues — but organizers say the stakes feel higher than usual. People across Minnesota are preparing to rally, march and speak out this May Day, reflecting both on the historical roots of the day and the challenges workers face right now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tdoO89

US SENATE: Via release from the Flanagan campaign, VERBATIM: “On May Day, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan’s campaign for U.S. Senate announced the endorsement of UNITE HERE Local 17, Minnesota’s hospitality workers union representing more than 6,000 workers across Minnesota, including hotel workers, food service workers, airport employees, and workers at convention centers and major sports venues throughout Minnesota.”

OIG: Thursday’s morning take reported a bill to create an Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud advanced to the full House this week after passing in the Senate last year. From MinnPost this morning, VERBATIM: “But one detail could still cause problems: The Trump administration, specifically the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, must green light the Minnesota Office of Inspector General investigating Medicaid fraud. This is the very part of the Trump administration that, on Thursday, once again announced it is cutting off Medicaid funding to Minnesota. The need for federal approval raises larger questions about whether the IG office duplicates existing parts of state government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dhCIkW

ECONOMY: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari wrote Friday that heightened inflation risks from the Iran war led him to object to the Federal Reserve policy statement that followed this week’s meeting, because the statement implied that the Fed’s next move is likely to be a rate cut. Before the Iran war began, Kashkari wrote in essay, he was confident that inflation was on track to cool gradually. But now, an oil-market shock that shows no signs of easing is threatening to fuel more price increases, he wrote.” KASHKARI: “If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, it is hard to see how oil, gas and other important commodities produced in the Middle East could find alternative routes to market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4emkkIS

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS

ELECTRIC CARS: Via Sierra Club, VERBATIM: “Minnesota made meaningful progress on rolling out federal EV charging dollars in 2025, but the vast majority of funding remains unspent, according to a new Sierra Club report out today.” QUOTE: “The federal government is doing everything it can to prevent Minnesotans from accessing federal funding for EV charging — that’s why it’s so important for the state to pick up the pace,” said Joshua Houdek, Senior Program Manager for Sierra Club Minnesota’s North Star Chapter. “The faster we can spend these dollars, the more we can secure the future of Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure and climate goals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ujZsX8

MORE: Via Sierra Club, THE REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4t4A0UR

GREEN BANK: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Kari Swan has been busy. There is a mile between the Capitol building and the new offices of the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA), which she took over in November 2024. She’s been making the walk regularly, often both ways and in heels, as she charts a course for the future of Minnesota’s ‘green bank,’ the financing authority that the state created a few years ago to boost Minnesota’s competitiveness in the climate tech industry. MnCIFA has a unique ask for the legislature this year—it doesn’t want public money. Instead, it needs authorization to receive private investments, which right now isn’t allowed under state law. Swan and her team believe they have ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in potential private investments on the line. All they need is a yes from the legislature.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tbdObD

DOG PARK: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “When a Native American prayer camp sprang up in the shadow of the Fort Snelling immigration court this winter, Dakota leaders were among its loudest critics. Galled by what they saw as an inappropriate occupation of a sacred site, tribes issued a flurry of letters demanding the camp’s closure. The incident exposed intense differences of opinion about the right way to behave at Coldwater Spring, an understated blufftop prairie also called Mni Owe Sni. Now, the site is at the center of another debate over its proper usage, one that could have serious consequences for a beloved 6-acre ramble of woods and beaches managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: the Minnehaha Dog Park.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t6UyvC

COUGARS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “In what might be a first, at least in modern times, a cougar with kittens was spotted in northern Minnesota, just south of Voyageurs National Park. ‘Oh, it’s amazing, it’s frankly surreal to us,’ said Tom Gable never expected to see four cougars together, marking the first time that breeding has been observed in over a century. Gable is project lead of the The Voyageurs Wolf Project, who captured video of the cougars. He says the discovery was unexpected as they were working on a project to track deer mortality.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Qzpyap

STATE UPDATES

TODAY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The path to a pardon in Minnesota starts with the Clemency Review Commission. On Friday, it is scheduled to hear from 27 people who are seeking pardons. At least one of the applicants will sign on from immigration detention outside the state. Immigration status is a driving force behind several of the applications. Legal experts say that pardons can be an effective tool for immigrants who had permanent status in the U.S. but lost it due to a criminal conviction. In some cases, it may be the only tool left.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vZrh9b

THIS MONTH: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz is proclaiming May 2026 as ‘Hire a Veteran Month’ in the State of Minnesota and drawing attention to the 20th Annual Veterans Career Fair on May 20. The proclamation highlights the unique value veterans bring to the state’s labor force, encourages Minnesota employers to hire veterans, and recognizes the challenges veterans may face when transitioning to civilian employment or looking for work after returning from a military deployment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42G8fa6

EARNINGS SEASON

PIPER: Via Minneapolis-based Piper, VERBATIM: “Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, today announced its results for the first quarter of 2026 . . . Net revenues of $474 million for the first quarter of 2026 and adjusted net revenues of $470 million represent our strongest first quarter on record.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uhh31X

SPSC: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “SPS Commerce Inc. (SPSC) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $19.7 million. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 53 cents . . . The results surpassed Wall Street expectations . . . The provider of supply chain software services to businesses posted revenue of $192.1 million in the period, missing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49mUHUJ

PROTOLABS: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “[Maple Plain-based] Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) reported first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, with shares jumping 9.1% following the announcement on Friday. The digital manufacturing services provider posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.54, beating the analyst consensus of $0.36 by $0.18. Revenue reached a record $139.3 million, surpassing the $132.7 million estimate and representing a 10.4% increase YoY from the first quarter of 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48UHCCb

COMMERCE

ST PAUL: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Groundbreakings for new grocery stores typically don’t make news. So why does this one in St. Paul? Because it’s another sign of downtown St. Paul’s comeback, says President of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance Joe Spencer.” QUOTE: “It’s essential as we hope to grow the number of people who work and live in downtown St. Paul, and just grow the density of downtown,” Spencer says. “You just need to have groceries available. It’s just a fundamental thing.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mYRBvK

BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “In the bowling world, all eyes are on Brooklyn Park. The Professional Bowler’s Association (PBA) is hosting the World Series of Bowling in Brooklyn Park this year, bringing the sport’s top competitors to town hoping for a perfect game.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t6Mo6I

WIRTH PARK: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A local bakery is partnering with its neighbors in Northeast Minneapolis on a new cafe at Theodore Wirth Regional Park’s Trailhead. Starting in May, the Trailhead Cafe will offer a food menu by Aki’s BreadHaus that leans heavily on the German-style bakery’s fresh bread, alongside beverages from Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative and Curioso Coffee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n5AeJS

ST PAUL: From Jason DeRusha via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “My most anticipated restaurant of 2026 is now open, and it’s in St. Paul. Restaurant Auburgine‘s soft open absolutely delighted. In fact, a friend of mine who is a chef and an instructor called it the most professional and smooth soft opening he’s ever been to.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4td3a4a

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WHAT’S NEXT?

THIS WEEKEND: Cinco de Mayo events on St. Paul’s Westside. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cVHWSa

SUNDAY: The Twin Cities Bike Swap in Richfield. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48CNTlD

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS MONTH: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “After a years-long hiatus, Glamorama—Minneapolis’s high-octane collision of fashion, music, and spectacle—is returning this May. But the name ‘Glamorama’ is just one chapter in a longer legacy. The event began in 1992 as Cause for Applause—a high-style fashion event supporting pediatric cancer research—under the Dayton’s brand. After the merger with Marshall Field’s, the show evolved into the glossier Fash Bash. It officially became Glamorama in 2003, after Dayton-Hudson transitioned all their stores under Marshall Field’s, which later folded into a broader retail umbrella—marking a shift toward a multi-city production (with iterations in places like Detroit and Chicago).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4unZXQ9

BDAYS: DC reader Lou Jacobsen, insurance man about town Shalin Johnson, Lockridge partner Heidi Silton. SAT: comms guy Bryan Brignac, State Auditor Julie Blaha. SUN: lobbyist Rochelle Westlund, hockey guy Dave Aus, insider Char Briner

morning take | Minnesota Winning ?!?!

The Daily Agenda — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:37:43 GMT

BIG WINS

Saints win, Twins win, Wild win, Wolves win. Wolves and Wild advance.

Frost playoffs start tomorrow.

The DNR spotted a cougar with kittens near Voyageurs — the first evidence of cougars breeding in Minnesota in over 100 years. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cKd7kG

ASCE gives Minnesota’s infrastructure a “C” overall — “B-” in aviation and parks, but “D+” in roads. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4cT2evv

AP’s Steve Karnowski and KARE 11’s Belinda Jensen have retired after three decades, while MPR’s Paul Huttner retired after four decades.

The U.S. Senate voted to prevent its members from placing bets on prediction markets. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4cJ8fft

The DHS shutdown is over after 76 days. POLITICO: https://fluence-media.co/3OAXeUr

Happy National Loyalty Day.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

On Sunday Take, DFL Sen. Ann Rest discussed tax bill dynamics and GOP Rep. Mary Franson spoke about the bonding bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ty6qrz

MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r

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It feels like Minnesota deserved something like the sports wins in 2026. It’s an example of perseverance – something we’ve earned. Grit and patience pays off. It’s not about the politics, but rather the 11 months of intensity, which has worn on the psyches and community pride. The more we can cheer for teams, the less likely we are to be posting, or scrolling with the doom stream of debate over the issues our state has faced.

It’s a better algorithm. That’s what our state needs a better cadence, a new enertia in a different direction and if teams can help – let them. Of course, plenty of Minnesotan’s aren’t lifted by sports, however they are cheering for Minnesota to have better news and momentum forward.

Between Spring and sports let’s hope for a new birth of optimism in the state in the coming days, weeks and months. Yes legislators, this means your posts and speeches too.

Have a great weekend.

TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will be in Portland, ME today to help U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner “kick off his campaign,” per social media. Platner is the only prominent Democrat challenging GOP Sen. Susan Collins after Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign earlier this week. Walz commended Mills before announcing his visit to see Platner. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4tJYx2F

MORE: From the Walz official calendar for today, “On Friday, May 1, 2026, Governor Tim Walz has no public events scheduled.”

TOMORROW: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will host a rally with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in Rochester on Saturday, May 2 as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. Sen. Tina Smith and Attorney General Keith Ellison are also scheduled to attend. The event is at 5:00 p.m.

MEDICAID: via AP News, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration on Thursday notified Minnesota that it’s deferring an additional $91 million in Medicaid funding, due to fresh concerns about vulnerabilities to fraud. … The announcement from Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, cited searches by federal agents on Tuesday at childcare and learning centers. … Gov. Tim Walz called the action part of the Trump Administration’s retribution campaign against Minnesota. … CMS approved the state’s corrective action plan in March, but has yet to free up any of the $243 million it withheld earlier.” READ:https://fluence-media.co/4w0jqrE

FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota officials are seeing a massive spike in new reports of fraud in social services programs, overwhelming the ability of investigators to handle all the cases. That’s led state authorities to farm out more cases to federal investigators, and delayed their ability to hold providers who committed fraud accountable. … It may take years to get through the backlog of fraud referrals, Minnesota Department of Human Services Inspector General James Clark said.” CLARK: “Investigative capacity, technological capacity, has not [had] a corresponding increase to meet the volume we’re facing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cJMiwY

BOCK: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The judge presiding over the Feeding Our Future case is limiting convicted ringleader Aimee Bock’s access to confidential case documents from jail after she allegedly directed her adult sons to send the files to reporters and elected officials. … Federal prosecutors on Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel to prohibit Bock from speaking with her sons prior to her May 21 sentencing hearing, but Brasel said at a Thursday hearing that would be a step too far.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RdkvMN

HCMC/TAXES: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Senate Taxes Committee sent a tax bill to the Senate floor that could help save HCMC while also making Minnesota the first state to impose a social media tax. The HCMC funding would come from shifting an existing 0.15% sales tax [to] health care. … There will also be funding for North Memorial Medical Center that must all be dedicated to ‘uncompensated care,’ [but] HCMC will have more flexibility in how it spends its revenue. … The Senate tax bill also includes a social media tax that would range from 10 cents to 50 cents per user, depending on the platform’s size. It would be imposed on the social media companies.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OST2iU

MORE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A 24-hour prayer vigil is currently taking place outside HCMC as lawmakers in St. Paul debate what should be done to try to save the financially struggling safety net hospital. … Organizers emphasized that the fight now shifts to securing a plan for permanent, long-term funding.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3OCibyl

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SESSION SLOG

RELIEF: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Senate on Thursday passed a zero-interest, $100 million forgivable loan program for businesses across the state that lost revenue this past winter because of the federal government’s immigration crackdown. … $18 million would be available for businesses in greater Minnesota, while the remaining $82 million would go to the seven-county metro area. Businesses must be in good standing with the state, operate a physical location and demonstrate that they experienced a revenue loss between December and the end of February compared to the previous year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pef8MP

RESPONSE: via Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, NELSON: “The Minnesota Forward Fund exists to bring high-impact, high-paying jobs to our state, and we raided it to send $100 million to the metro area. I know many of us are frustrated by how the immigration enforcement operation was conducted earlier this year, but this bill represents the wrong priorities. … There are so many better ways we could have used this $100 million.”

BONDING: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “The [bonding] bill has been called into question this week, with champions of the bonding efforts reporting mixed messages on the progress of negotiations. … Sen. Karin Housley, R-Stillwater, [said] this year feels ‘quicker’ than last, but ‘we’ll need more conversations with leaders.’ … Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, [said] she had to admit she’s ‘kind of nervous.’ … Rep. Fue Lee, DFL-Minneapolis, said he’s not concerned — yet.” LEE: “If we go into next weekend, [and] we don’t have any ideas…that’s when I’ll be concerned.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PeeSNR

SAFETY/WAGERS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The 81-page public safety policy bill, with its 91 sections and language from more than a dozen other bills, passed the House Thursday on a 116-16 vote. Because the House amended [it], the bill must now return to the Senate for concurrence. … The bill would amend the authority for the attorney general to issue administrative subpoenas to include information related to a law enforcement investigation of financial crimes and fraud. … Members [also] adopted language that would ban predictive market wagering.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OQjVUG

PROPERTY TAX: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Legislators are running out of days to do something about property taxes, and so far there’s little consensus beyond a basic agreement that they are high. A DFL bill that would’ve issued property tax refunds, scaled so that lower earners get more than higher earners, failed in the House Tax Committee. … Over in the Senate, DFLers are coalescing around a proposal from Sen. Grant Hauschild of Hermantown for $100 million in property tax relief. Republicans, meanwhile, have authored big-swing proposals, like a cap on property taxes and a $4 billion refund.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42rFcax

TERM LIMITS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to place a limit of two terms on the offices of governor and lieutenant governor beginning with candidates elected in 2026? That’s the question Rep. Jimmy Gordon (R-Isanti) wishes to pose to Minnesota voters in November. He sponsors HF1849, which would put the question on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment. … The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee approved it on a voice vote and sent it to the House Floor Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t101UN

TAKE: Considering the tied House and one-vote Senate there should be more issues offered to voters to decide on the ballot this fall.

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker

DC + MN

TECH: via Rep. Tom Emmer advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) sent a letter urging Governor Tim Walz to provide funding to update Minnesota’s outdated systems for administering Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4tJQend

ICE AGENT: via left-leaning Daily Beast, VERBATIM: “The ICE agent who fatally shot unarmed mom Renee Nicole Good has been quietly relocated to a different state and allowed to resume work. … Senior Department of Homeland Security officials have told the Daily Beast [that] agent Jonathan Ross, 43, [is] now performing administrative and investigative duties. … Senior officials [said] ICE’s internal affairs division cannot begin its administrative review until the FBI probe concludes, freezing the agency’s accountability process for Ross.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cZucWs

WAREHOUSES: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) is cosponsoring the Ban Warehouse Detention Act. … This legislation would [prohibit] the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from establishing, operating, expanding, converting, or renovating any warehouse or similar building or structure for the purposes of detaining people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QGy8UK

THE FEED

FLAG: MinnPost looked into how much money could be lost if a bill to reduce funding for municipalities flying the old state flag passes. VERBATIM: “The bill, introduced by DFLers at the Legislature, proposes a 10% cut to local government aid, or LGA, for cities flying the outdated state flag. … [The bill] would wipe a whopping $214,192 from Wadena’s budget and only $4,862 from Elk River’s. … The bill is likely going nowhere this session, but that doesn’t mean a future Legislature wouldn’t rekindle it if control of the bodies changes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ph7xgx

SIGNED: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today signed ten bills. … HF 3467 allows the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to direct agency resources to veterans’ initiatives. … HF 3718 modifies provisions relating to the practice of veterinary medicine. … SF 3832 modifies eligibility for the Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative. … HF 4241 modifies the Hennepin County medical examiner selection process [and more]. … HF 4118 authorizes credit unions to obtain insurance. … HF 3699 adds requirements for the state park license plate contest. HF 3437 modifies the application of certain residential mortgage loan fees. … HF 1410 modifies disciplinary procedures for correctional officers. SF 3958 modifies the reporting date for the disaster assistance contingency account. SF 3622 makes technical and clarifying changes to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48C4TIJ

TARGET FIELD: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Concession workers at Target Field, unionized with Unite Here Local 17, will hold a strike authorization vote [today]. … The roughly 500-person unit will vote on whether to authorize a strike in response to not coming to terms on a new contract with the Delaware North Company, which employs concessions workers at the Twins’ stadium. Unite Here will host a press conference in front of the team store at Target Field on Friday afternoon, with the vote scheduled to begin afterwards.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w1yvt5

METRO

MPLS: via Patch News, VERBATIM: “Thirty-four Minneapolis groups will split $1 million in city grant funding meant to help local businesses recover from Operation Metro Surge. Mayor Jacob Frey announced the grants Thursday, saying the money will go to community organizations across all 13 wards. The funding is meant to help neighborhood business districts bring customers back through marketing campaigns, branding, public events and direct outreach to businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eUsfgC

MORE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed an effort to extend the pre-eviction filing notice period by 15 days, weeks after shooting down a similar measure that would have extended the period by 30 days. … Frey defended his decision to veto the proposal, arguing it does not solve the root issue of whether a tenant can afford rent.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tD9Yce

MENDOTA HGTS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “It’s probably the most common concern that Mendota Heights Mayor Stephanie Levine hears when out in the community: ‘Why can’t Mendota Heights have good cell service?’ An effort to fix part of that issue [has] frustrated some residents though, as the city of Mendota Heights has been reviewing a proposal to install a new cell phone tower. … The criticism comes from the size of the tower, as it will rise well above the tree canopy. … Residents are most concerned about the visual impact, as well as any negative impact to nearby property values.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42F9ciX

ACROSS MN

ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Beginning [today], all new Mayo Clinic job postings will either be on-site or hybrid, not remote. … For staff members hired in a hybrid role, they must live within 100 miles of the Mayo Clinic campus to which they are assigned. … Mayo Clinic said in a statement [that] ‘We are always seeking ways to strengthen collaboration across roles and disciplines.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cYqexp

HERMANTOWN: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Hermantown is considering a multimillion-dollar tax break for Google’s sprawling data center, the largest project that’s ever been proposed in the Duluth suburb. Google has offered to pay around $130 million for necessary public infrastructure, as well as contribute $450,000 in taxes each year after the data center is complete, in exchange for an annual tax rebate of about $1.2 million, totaling an estimated $33.5 million over 28 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cZu5Kw

340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion in profit in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate, and Congress should fix the federal 340B program so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3OLZOGG (SPONSORED: PhRMA)

FOR PLANNING

SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: Ethics will hear complaints related to Reps. Elliott Engen, Walter Hudson and Alex Falconer. SENATE: Finance hears omnibus bills for E-12 education, human services, and health professional licensing. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4uqZkW9

TODAY: The House Ethics Committee has scheduled hearings for GOP Rep. Elliott Engen, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson and DFL Rep. Alex Falconer starting at 10:00 a.m.

TODAY: via news advisory from UNITE HERE, VERBATIM: “UNITE HERE Local 17 members employed by Delaware North Company at Target Field are holding a press conference to discuss their vote to strike May 1st at 1:45 in front of Target Field team store.”

TODAY: SEIU and related groups will commemorate International Workers’ Day, also called May Day, with picketing, marches and other events throughout the Twin Cities from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

health take | Why Does Canada Let Some Wildfires Burn?

Mike Maybay — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:30:30 GMT

All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:

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POLLING

WORRIES: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “Health costs continue to top the public’s list of affordability worries, even as concerns about gas prices have risen in recent weeks. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, on par with the share who now worry about gas and transportation costs (64%) and outranking other economic concerns.”

“Health costs also loom large in the upcoming midterm elections. About nine in ten voters say the issue will influence their decision to vote and who to vote for in the 2026 midterm elections, with majorities saying it will have a “major impact” on both areas (55% and 61%). While majorities of voters across partisans say health care costs will impact their vote in November, the issue is more salient among Democratic and independent voters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ekNR5A

MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Six months out from the midterm election, voters gave the Trump administration low approval marks on its handling of the cost of health care. Only a third of those polled said they approve of the administration’s efforts, while two-thirds said they disapprove — including 45 percent who said they ‘strongly disapprove.’ But that number is also impacted by partisanship.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t9aRbx

MEDICAID: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “A new KFF survey of state Medicaid officials and focus groups in eight states captures the different choices states are making about how to implement Medicaid work requirements, with seven states planning for a more restrictive approach to verifying work or exemption status or to implement work requirements early. These implementation plans are taking shape as states encounter time, cost, and other constraints as well as uncertainty about how to define and verify certain exemptions due to delayed federal guidance. The 2025 reconciliation law requires adults in the 43 states (including DC) covered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and partial expansion waiver programs (Georgia and Wisconsin) to meet work requirements starting January 1, 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cYGzST

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MINNESOTA + HEALTH

HCMC: This morning, Isaiah Minnesota began a 24-hour vigil “to pray for the state of Minnesotans’ healthcare and urge state lawmakers to pass funding for the medical center this session.”

MORE: From Thee Lovejoy via X, VERBATIM: “Thank you @isaiahmn for showing up and showing out for folks like me, an HCMC patient. All of my specialists are here. #MNleg please fund this vital service hospital - save HCMC!!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/48A0p5s

ICYMI… morning take had updates on efforts to save HCMC in both the House and Senate. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ekbPy2

MEDICA: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “On Jan. 1, Minnetonka-based health plan provider Medica suddenly gained approximately 300,000 new members. This massive influx came with the well-publicized collapse of UCare, another Minnesota-based nonprofit health insurer, which went into receivership. Medica acquired holders of UCare’s Medicaid and individual and family plans. Before the acquisition, Medica had 1.4 million members across nine states. (About 68% of its members reside in Minnesota.) As a result, UCare plan holders increased Medica’s membership by more than 20%. It was a challenge unique to Medica. But it’s also facing other pressures, ones that all health insurers are struggling with.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t8xg8P

DISPARITIES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A new analysis of health inequities shows that racial and ethnic disparities are widespread and persist in all 50 states, including Minnesota. The 2026 State Health Disparities Report released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit private foundation that supports independent research on health policy and health systems, analyzed 24 indicators to measure healthcare access, quality of care and health outcomes for five racial and ethnic groups from 2022 to 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cSHDr9

MORE: Via The Commonwealth Fund, the report. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48yCFPa

SMOKE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “It looks like another smoky summer for parts of the U.S. due to Canadian wildfires. If you’re one of the frustrated people in the northern parts of the U.S. asking why Canada just lets its fires burn? Minnesota Pollution Control Agency meteorologist Matt Taraldsen says it’s because there’s typically no threat to lives and property since they’re often in remote, unpopulated areas.” TARALDSEN: “There’s no easy way to get people in there,” he says. “If you put people out in the middle of nowhere to fight these fires, they cannot come back to a city or something, to fight a fire that would start and would threaten lives and property. So that’s a big part of the problem.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4dgplS7

340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46Bh9IA (SPONSORED: PhRMA)

DC + HEALTH

SURGEON GENERAL: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “President Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Casey Means, his pick for surgeon general, whose confirmation was stalled on Capitol Hill amid opposition, including from some Republicans, in part over her views on vaccines. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Mr. Trump announced that he is nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier, a radiologist and director of breast imaging at MSK Monmouth, a branch of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eq2nsZ

GUNS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a sweeping rollback of gun regulations, prompting criticism from gun control advocates who called the moves misguided and dangerous . . . The changes include rescinding a 2024 regulation from the Biden administration that sought to end what gun control advocates call the ‘gun show loophole.’ That exemption allowed unlicensed dealers to sell firearms without performing a background check to see if the prospective buyer was prohibited by law from owning a gun.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42GLGCe

AIRBAGS: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday banned Chinese airbag inflators tied to at least 10 car crash deaths and injured two other people. NHTSA said an investigation revealed that frontal driver airbags exploded, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n7l7Qk

VACCINES: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration has appealed a Massachusetts federal judge’s ruling that blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent overhaul of the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule. A filing Wednesday evening in the District of Massachusetts indicates the administration is appealing Judge Brian Murphy’s order March 16. Murphy put any decisions made by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee on hold, ruling that Kennedy replaced the committee ‘unlawfully.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OxWEXy

GENERICS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “After months of anticipation, Supreme Court justices heard arguments about a long-standing tactic used by generic companies to carve out a distinct market for a medicine, and did not appear inclined to alter legal standards for the maneuver. At issue is skinny labeling, which refers to moves by generic companies that seek regulatory approval to market a drug for a specific use, but not other patented uses for which a brand-name medicine is prescribed. For instance, a generic drug could be marketed to treat one type of heart problem but not another. In doing so, the generic company seeks to avoid lawsuits claiming patent infringement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t5dwCQ

INNOVATION & RESEARCH

MAYO: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s world-renowned Mayo Clinic continues to live up to its reputation for achieving medical miracles, announcing Wednesday it has developed a test to detect pancreatic cancer up to three years before a patient receives a diagnosis. The AI-assisted test model helps specialists identify early signs of the disease before tumors visibly develop, lending more time for patients to seek curative treatment.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dgXEbP

PFAS: Via Minneapolis-based Claros, VERBATIM: “Claros Technologies, Inc. (Claros), a leader in PFAS destruction technology, today announced results from a new study demonstrating ≥99.99% destruction of targeted species (PFOS and PFOA) using its ClarosTechUV system in groundwater samples from a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) remediation site in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/422haCJ

STUDY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “In a study published in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation Open (JHLT Open), Mayo Clinic researchers found that remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a feasible and effective way to detect early health changes and support care decisions for lung transplant recipients during their first year after discharge from the hospital.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QGbbBa

T CELLS: Via Université de Genève, VERBATIM: “The body’s ‘killer’ T cells don’t just attack—they strike with astonishing precision, forming a tiny, highly organized contact zone that lets them destroy dangerous cells without harming their neighbors. Now, scientists have captured this process in unprecedented detail, revealing a hidden world of molecular choreography.” READ/SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3OS4ECM

SMELL: Via Harvard, VERBATIM: “Scientists have finally cracked one of the biggest mysteries in the senses: how smell is organized. By mapping millions of neurons in mice, researchers discovered that smell receptors in the nose aren’t random at all—they’re arranged in neat, overlapping stripes based on receptor type, forming a hidden structure scientists never knew existed. Even more striking, this layout mirrors how smell information is mapped in the brain, revealing a coordinated system from nose to neural circuits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t2ujqh

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

CHILDREN’S: Via Children’s, VERBATIM: “Children’s Minnesota is pleased to announce John Harding, Ed.D., MBA, FACHE, as its new executive vice president, chief operating officer (COO), effective April 27. In his role, Harding will provide enterprise-wide operational leadership across the organization’s hospitals, specialty centers and clinics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/422ngTD

sports take | Is May Mayhem Coming to Minnesota?

Howard Sinker — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:01:21 GMT

QUICK START: Game 6’s tonight: The Wild can KO the Stars at Grand Casino Arena (6:30 p.m. FDSN.) The Wolves can eliminate in Nuggets at Target Center (8:30 p.m., ESPN.) Friday: Lynx vs. Toronto at Target Center (7 p.m., Victory+) in their only preseason home game. Saturday: Games 7’s on the road if required for the Wolves and Wild. Game 1 of the PWHL playoffs for the Frost in Montreal (1 p.m. on FOX9+ and YouTube) and Loons at Columbus (6:30 p.m., Apple TV). Thursday-Sunday: Twins vs. defending AL champs Toronto at Target Field. (TwinsTV for the first three games, Peacock on Sunday). What percentage of the crowds will be Canadians and friends/family of Louis Varland, the Jays closer and St. Paul native. By Saturday night, we’ll know if May has the potential to be one of the most memorable months in Minnesota sports lore. There’s your sports menu. Feast on it! — Howard Sinker

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ON THE WOLVES

IT’S ON THE FANS? YES (AND NO): Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. I’ll argue that home-court advantage plays a bigger role in basketball than any other sport. The Timberwolves’ shorthanded state makes winning at Target Center tonight that much more of a necessity. It’s not an absolute, but it’s close for a team missing injured stars Anthony Edwards and Dante DiVincenzo. Winning Game 7 in Denver would be a daunting task under the circumstances. VERBATIM: “Denver looked rattled in Games 3 and 4 as the roof nearly busted off the building in downtown Minneapolis. A repeat performance from the Wolves’ faithful may be required to get Minnesota across this series’ finish line. Because while Minnesota has proven it can win a Game 7 in Denver, that challenge will be infinitely harder given its current roster deficiencies. It would be difficult for fans to stomach the local team losing a series it led 3-1 to a fierce rival, largely on account of unfortunate injury luck. Thursday is their best chance to do something about it, though the Wolves know that advantage is only one piece of the puzzle. “At the end of the day, it’s on us to bring it,’ Rudy Gobert said. ‘The crowd and all that can only give us what they can give us to an extent, right? It’s on us to just come in and be ourselves, be in the moment.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0430

IT’S ON CHRIS FINCH? FOR SURE: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. As much as his players, Coach Chris Finch needs to be at his best for Game 6. VERBATIM: “He needs to identify the best path to a victory for the Wolves, who are 5.5-point home underdogs. To me, that means leaning into the team’s defensive identity. I would expect to see a lot of minutes for veterans in this game, with injections of pace from Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu. If any younger player is going to get more than one shift, it feels like it should be Jaylen Clark and not Terrence Shannon Jr. . . . Finch needs to call timeouts to stop runs. Don’t let Denver get rolling or confident. He needs to have a heart-to-heart with Jaden McDaniels. In many ways, McDaniels is the emotional barometer for an emotional team. The Wolves need him on the court and locked in. He can’t pick up a second foul in the first quarter, which often seems to happen quickly after he picks up a first foul (Game 5 being the most recent example).” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/finch0430

THE DENVER VIEW: Via Arjun Peroor at Stadium Rant. It’s all about Nikola Jokic. VERBATIM: “The Joker needs to find a fine line between forcing shots and being aggressive. That’s what he did in Game Five. His first two shots were midrange floaters off of passes over Rudy Gobert. They were good confidence-building shots. Minnesota soon realized that Jokic was going to be active under the three-point line, so they mixed some coverages. That is when the Joker works his magic, and he ended the game with 16 assists, which was his most by a wide margin this series. The Nuggets win 75% over their games when Jokic has 10+ assists. They are going to need him to replicate that performance. Staying aggressive while taking smart shots is the biggest key. Once the three-time MVP is aggressive, the rest of the troops will follow.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/denver0430

ON THE WILD

WHAT’S DIFFERENT? Via Joe Smith at The Athletic. The Wild are one game away from breaking their ugly streak of eight straight first-round playoff losses dating back to 2015. VERBATIM: “They appear ready to seize the moment, not just meet it. They’ve been hardened by previous playoff scars and learned from them. They’ve gone from bubbly to businesslike, reticent to relentless, tentative to mentally tough. From waiting for someone else to take over to a bunch of alpha dogs who will rip your heart out to snag a loose puck. Sure, this is the most talented team the Wild have ever assembled in their 25-year history. They have three of arguably the top 20 players in the game: Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes, the mid-December blockbuster acquisition. Brock Faber is playing like a franchise defenseman. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt has been the perfect blend of cocky, confident and calm as their backbone in the playoffs. But they’re here, up 3-2 on Dallas after Tuesday’s 4-2 win, because of their drive, their play in the dirty areas, their battle level and their poise.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0430

HIGH-STAKES REMINDER: Via Tom Schreier at Hockey Wilderness. The Wild traded for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes knowing that his contract expires after this season. Eliminating Dallas has repercussions beyond merely advancing to the Stanley Cup quarterfinals. VERBATIM: “Advance, and they probably keep Hughes. Blow the 3-2 lead, and they put the franchise in limbo. If Hughes leaves, it sets the franchise back a decade. Don’t believe me? Think of how long it took for the Wild to get this close to the second round again.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hughes0430

WANNA GO? WILD VS. STARS: As of 10 a.m., the cheapest seats available through the Wild’s web site were $278 each. With fees, that’s almost $600 for the pair. That’ll get you into the seventh row of the upper level behind one goal. The high end? $1,963 to sit in the front row next to the Dallas bench. WOLVES VS. NUGGETS: Low price was $78 each, including fees, to sit in the corner of the upper level, nine rows from the top of the arena. High end? Two in the third row behind the basket are listed at $4,033 each. (Note: Better seats are listed for about two-third of that price.) NEW 65” TV: $380 at Costco. LISTINGS: WILD | WOLVES | COSTCO

THAT VIKINGS DRAFT: Via assorted sources. In general, the media finds reasons to like first-round draft picks when they’re first made. That wasn’t the case with Caleb Banks, the defensive lineman from Florida who brings a history of foot problems to Minnesota along with some freakish upside. “Not worth the risk,” wrote La Velle E. Neal III. “Adding a known uncertainty the size of a 327-pound man who has already needed two foot surgeries seven months apart in the past year at age 22-23? Nope,” wrote Mark Craig. “There’s a case to be made that no other team would have taken Banks until the second round,” wrote Judd Zulgad.

NATIONALLY? Via Dane Mizutani at Pioneer Press. In this compilation of eight national experts, Banks received grades from A-minus to F, with grades of B, C and D all in the mix. Bleacher Report handed out the F: “To understand how much of a need-based reach this is, Banks was graded as the 60th overall prospect on the B/R Scouting Department’s final draft board and the sixth-best interior defender, even though the entire positional class was still available to the Vikings at this spot.” Yahoo! Sports gave the A-minus: “This might be the highest grade on Banks you’ll see, but this guy can really do all the hard stuff in terms of defeating blocks and understanding leverage within a true top-1% athletic frame.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/grades0430

THE GM SEARCH: Now that the draft is over, it’s on. Rob Brzezinski, the team’s executive VP for football operations (and salary cap wizard) led the team through the draft process and wants to be the general manager for real. That’s not stopping Mark and Zygi Wilf from conducting a national search, complete with internal confidantes and an outside consultant. The Wilfs are determined not to share names until a new GM is chosen, which is different than during the last search that brought Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to Minnesota four years ago. In a culture of competitive NFL insiders, I’m betting on names leaking out. Brzezinski’s skill set and standing within the Vikings management team are such that he should remain a fixture if he doesn’t become the GM.

BULLPEN BUFFOONERY: The Twins lost yet another game Wednesday because of its horrific bullpen, which was unable to hold a one-run lead going into the ninth inning against Seattle. Twins relievers have yielded the highest batting average to opponents and have the fewest strikeouts in the majors. The team ERA is 27th and they are tied for 25th in saves. None of the relievers have defined roles because it would be foolish to think of any of them as a closer or as a set-up man who can hold a lead into the ninth inning. The Twins are the only MLB team that hasn’t won a one-run game and have played only two teams that currently have winning records. It’s a lock that the bullpen as currently constructed will undermine whatever progress the team makes elsewhere on the field. Reading the item below about Louis Varland makes the data even more disturbing.

VARLAND TAKES OVER: Via Nick Prasad at Blue Jays Nation. Louis Varland’s strong start and the weak work of Toronto reliever Jeff Hoffmann have resulted in Varland taking over as Toronto’s primary closer, which won’t go unnoticed with the Jays start their four-game series at Target Field tonight. In 15 appearances, Varland has an 0.56 ERA and converted all four of his save situations. He also has 26 strikeouts in 16 innings. VERBATIM: “His overall pitch profile and execution allow him to succeed in this volatile role. He combines physical tools, pitch quality, command, and presence—traits that give him the ability to control high-leverage situations. There’s a reason the Minnesota product is getting an opportunity to close out games for the Blue Jays, and until he proves otherwise, he should remain in that spot.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/varland0430

TOUGH LESSON: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Tom Pohlad is feeling the pain of being a Twins fan, watching home games from a front-row seat in the Champions Club and, he said, seeing every road game so far this season either in person or on TV. Watching his team stumble through 11 losses in its last 13 games, he understands why fans are annoyed. VERBATIM: “While I might take issue with how some fans choose to display their displeasure emotions, I think it’s rooted in a pretty good place. They want this team to be successful and we haven’t done our job as of late to fulfill what these fans want from this organization. That motivates me and I can understand where they’re coming from.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pohlad0430

BUECKERS FOR THE WIN: ESPN didn’t mention Paige Bueckers’ relationship with former college and new Dallas Wings teammate Azzi Fudd when Fudd was taken with the first pick in the WNBA draft. Soon after, a team official shut down a reporter’s question during a media conference. As often happens, not dealing with an issue created more buzz, which Bueckers — the former Hopkins High star — handled with point-guard deftness during the Wings’ media day this week. Her thoughts are at the start of this video:

JOB WELL DONE: Via Brendon Kleen at Awful Announcing. VERBATIM: “The statement from Bueckers is about as good as it gets from a PR standpoint. Without crossing a line and specifying the status of their relationship or the details of their personal lives, Bueckers acknowledged the story was relevant and worthy of an explanation. Then, she gave evidence as to why she, Fudd, and the team are confident it will not become an issue, thereby getting in front of any future questions about their relationship’s effect on the team. And after all that, Bueckers offered a reminder of Fudd’s story and status in the WNBA, taking the focus off their relationship once again and putting it back onto Fudd’s journey toward her first pro game next month. And even if reporters find an opening to try and ask about this again, Bueckers ensured she and Fudd will not need Wings PR to shut down questions in the future, explaining that they both will decline comment going forward.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bueckers0430

GRADY GETS PRIME WNBA GIG: Wolves play-by-play announcer Michael Grady will be the lead announcer for WNBA games on Amazon Prime this season working with commentator Candace Parker. The Lynx have moved Sloane Martin from radio to TV on their Victory+ broadcasts — replacing Marney Gellner — with Lea B. Olsen as her partner. Friday’s preseason game vs. Toronto will be on Victory+. DOWNLOAD THE APP | WATCH ON THE WEB

MORE WATCHING NEWS: Minnesota Aurora’s six home games will be broadcast on FOX9+ and streamed on the FOX Local app for the fourth straight year. Jake Griffith is returning as the play-by-play announcer. WATCH PARTIES: Game 1 of the PWHL series between the Frost and Montreal on Saturday will include team sponsored watch parties as Alary’s Bar in downtown St. Paul and A Bar of Their Own near the U of M. Puck drop is at 1 p.m.

NO DISRESPECT INTENDED, SUPPOSEDLY: Via CBC Sports. By winning the PWHL regular-season title, the Montreal Victoire could choose between playing third-place Minnesota and fourth-place Ottawa in the semifinals. They chose the Frost, whom they beat in all four of their regular-season games — two in regulation and two in overtime. VERBATIM: “The choice wasn’t just about who Montreal would play in the first round. With only four teams in the playoffs, Montreal also had the power to pick the second-place Boston Fleet’s opponent. By picking Minnesota, Montreal ensured Boston would play the team it struggled more against this season. Ottawa and Montreal are the only teams Boston didn’t beat in regulation.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0430

FROST VS. VICTOIRE PREVIEWS: Star Tribune | Title IX Sports | Daily Faceoff

NEXT-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Too often, expectations of Twin Cities sports teams are of a “just happy to get there” nature. Gophers football getting to a bowl game. The Twins getting to the playoffs. The Wild winning a playoff series. After last season’s success, Gophers women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit is playing at a refreshingly higher level, which she cited when talking about retaining current players, attacking the transfer portal and her highly regarded class of first-year players. VERBATIM: “In the portal, we were in a different place than we’ve been in past years. The success that our program had kind of put us on the map with some young ladies who [before] maybe we didn’t necessarily have a chance to have some of those further conversations with.”

TRANSLATION: The Gophers don’t have to settle. Making the Sweet 16 will be the baseline in future season as opposed to a reason to celebrate. Getting there, and losing to national champion UCLA, proved to the Gophers what they accomplished — and showed what the future could be. VERBATIM: “The ceiling for this team projects to be at least matching, with expectations of exceeding, last year’s tournament run. The first post-portal national rankings have the Gophers slotted in anywhere from No. 9 (The Athletic) to No. 22 (CBS). The full group arrives on campus in early June, and then, Plitzuweit said, ‘we’ll get started putting all those pieces together.’ “ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/uwomen0430

ST. THOMAS SMACKED DOWN AGAIN: Via The Crest. The St. Thomas men’s basketball team has taken another hit with 6-foot-6 forward Ben Oosterbaan, who started every game last season, entering the transfer portal and ending up at San Francisco. Four of the team’s seven top players hit the portal, as well as two reserves. Leading scorer Nolan Minessale ended up at Marquette, guard Nick Janowski at Davidson, guard Jermaine Coleman at Youngstown State and guard Ryan Lafferty at Idaho. Sixth-man Isaiah Johnson-Arigu still hasn’t committed to a new school. Perhaps the most unnerving thing for St. Thomas fans is that, with the exception of Minessale, players are leaving for other mid-major Division I schools. TRACKER: https://fluence-media.co/toms0430

NORTH HIGH TO THE NFL: Via Giants.com. Former North High star Bobby Jamison-Travis went off the local radar when his college career took him to junior college power Iowa Western and then to Auburn, where the 328-pound defensive lineman started all 12 games last season. The New York Giants took him in the sixth round of the NFL draft. He’d been the No. 3-ranked defensive line prospect in the nation when he made the move to Auburn. He also ran track, wrestled and played one season of basketball at North, scoring 27 points in the 2020 Twin Cities Championship Game against St. Paul Johnson. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bobby0430

NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA TO THE CFL: Via Andrew Haugland at In-Forum. It was a four-college journey through the United States for Ethan John before he ended up at the University of Windsor in Ontario — where he played three seasons before being taken in the second round of this week’s Canadian Football League draft by the Toronto Argonauts. The graduate of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, near the North Dakota border, originally committed to Concordia College in Moorhead to play baseball before plans changed. His college trail included a season canceled by COVID and a junior college stop before crossing the border and starring in Canada as a defensive back. CFL training camps begin next weekend and the regular season starts in June. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ethan0430

VIDEOS: Bobby Jamison-Travis | Ethan John

GOPHERS TO THE PROS? In addition to defensive tackle Deven Eastern, who was taken in the seventh (final) round of the draft by Seattle, three Gophers are getting a longshot look as undrafted free agents: Tight end Jameson Geers signed with Arizona, wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington signed with Atlanta and defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding signed with the Rams.

ARENA AT CITY CENTER? Via Axios. Could the largely vacant City Center site become the new home of the Timberwolves and Lynx. Mayor Jacob Frey said he likes the site, but there would be many hurdles to clear before the project moves beyond speculation. Axios cited “multiple sources’ as saying that Frey is pushing the site. Wolves officials have said the most optimistic timeline for picking a new site would have that done at the end of 2026. VERBATIM: “Frey did not confirm or deny that he's pushing that location to team leaders, but told Axios: ‘You are right — I really like the site. . . . I see the ability to literally march down Nicollet Mall to games and concerts and have a full pedestrian experience." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/arena0430

LEAVING SO SOON? Via Jim Paulsen at Strib Varsity. In January, Shannon Currier was named football coach at DeLaSalle. This week, he announced that he was leaving DeLaSalle for conference rival Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Most of Currier’s coaching has been in college programs, including two stints at Concordia-St. Paul, the second one ending after last season. VERBATIM: “He said he’s not an opportunist, constantly looking for the next job, but sees Benilde-St. Margaret’s as his long-term future position. ‘It’s the best move for me and my family,’ he said. ‘I like that it’s a faith-based school, which is important, and the administration has shown a real commitment to football.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coach0430

MORE TO KNOW: At DeLaSalle, Currier was taking over a team that went winless last season — including 57-0 and 54-8 losses to Benilde — and is 10-38 over the last five years. Benilde has gone to the state Class 4A tournament in 2023 and 2025 and lost in the section finals in 2022 and 2024.

MORE ON BLAKE BASKETBALL: Here’s a follow-up on last week’s report about Blake School firing boys’ basketball coach Tyler Biwan earlier this month and his agreement not to seek reinstatement despite a campaign on his behalf from team parents, players and others. In March, Biwan coached Blake, a No. 9 seed in its section, to the state tournament for only the second time in school history.

I reported and shared contents of a short letter Biwan wrote last week following a meeting with Blake officials. Some readers concluded from the letter that a specific incident led to Biwan’s dismissal.

But former Blake athletic director Nick Rathmann, who hired Biwan, laid out why that wouldn’t be the case. “If there’s anything major, you don’t let the coach finish out the season. You would take care of it right away,” said Rathmann, who left the school four months ago to become a management consultant. He also called Biwan an “exemplary employee,” whom he hired as a junior varsity coach and later to be the school’s head coach.

Also, a letter sent by Blake’s head of school and athletic director about the dismissal, while not citing specifics, included a reference to “creating a culture that nurtures all of our student-athletes.”

Simply put, both sides decided for different reasons it was in their best interests to move on.

ATHENA AWARD WINNERS: Via Strib Varsity. The 2026 Athena Award winners have been announced. Awards are given senior female athletes in the metro area who distinguished themselves through a special athletic achievement or for excellence in one or more sports. St. Paul-area winners were honored earlier this month at St. Paul Rivercentre. Minneapolis-area winners will be honored Friday morning at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/athena0430

ANOTHER BIG LIST: Via Strib Varsity. More than 90 Minnesota high school athletes who did not announce choices during NCAA signing periods earlier in the academic year have made commitments to Division I and II schools. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/college0430

WATCHING THE DERBY: Donna Barton Brothers, the NBC horse racing announcer known for her horse-side interviews with winning jockey, is retiring after this year’s Triple Crown races. That means Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will be her last after 26 years. LOCAL ANGLE: Brothers won 1,130 races during her career as a jockey in the 1980s and 1990s, starting her career as an apprentice jockey at Canterbury Park.

NEED A DERBY PICK? Go here for some options. Post time is 5:57 p.m. Saturday on KARE-11.

U BASEBALL, SOFTBALL UPDATES: The Gophers baseball team is currently a half-game out of the final spot in the Big Ten postseason tournament with nine games remaining. Minnesota plays three games at Penn State this weekend followed by three games each with Michigan and Nebraska at Siebert Field to close out the season. Twelve of the Big Ten’s 17 teams make the conference playoffs in Omaha later this month. Minnesota last qualified for the tournament in 2019. The softball team is tied with Iowa at 6-15 for the final spot in the Big Ten tournament field and ends its regular season with three games at Northwestern Friday through Sunday. The conference tournament opens Wednesday at the University of Maryland. All regular-season games for both teams are on BIG+. The softball tournament is on BIG.

AND FINALLY: There are plans for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament to expand from 68 to 76 teams starting next season. But don’t get the idea those added slots will go to the St. Thomases and North Dakota States of college hoops. They’re being added to feed the needs of mediocre power conference schools. (Yes, that would include the Gophers men right now.) For the men’s tournament, it means openings for teams that finish in the lower half of major conferences. For the women’s tournament, it means more lopsided games in a tournament that still has too many of them.

‘NO ONE WANTS THIS’: Via Jon Greenberg at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “No one wants this. The NCAA Tournament works just fine. So of course, it’ll happen. . . . The beauty of the one-and-done tournament is that every game promises chaos. But making it is a victory in itself. The process and the result reward the survivors, both the winners of the small-conference tournaments and the teams that claw their way through months of games in newly bloated super-leagues. Expanding the field won’t make the NCAA Tournament more exciting for fans, and it won’t reward the truly deserving teams. It isn’t fixing a problem. Instead, it will weaken one of our last great sporting events. It’s good for the coaches of 17-16 teams and their fathers. For the rest of us, it’s another sign of the decline of our times.” FULL RANT: https://fluence-media.co/ncaa0430

THANKS FOR READING. GET READY FOR A FUN FEW DAYS.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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lunch take | MN Unemployment Holds Steady While Nation's Ticks Down

Mike Maybay — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:07:48 GMT

75% of U.S. adults think the media here have a lot of freedom – that’s down from 86% in 2022. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4n06ldT

This morning we learned the U.S. economy continued to expand in the first three months of the year, despite all the impacts of the war with Iran. NYTIMES: https://fluence-media.co/4vXlcKl

Recent precip has helped – the new Drought Monitor out this morning shows 9% of the state in drought, down from 21% a week ago. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

Sports Take: How hot will the Minnesota sports calendar be in May? We’ll have a better idea by the end of the weekend when the Wild and Wolves playoff series conclude and the Frost start their quest for a third straight title. There’s also Vikings front-office drama and draft aftermaths plus the Lynx starting the WNBA season. Read about those -- as well as another odd high school coaching move – this afternoon.

The Media Insight Project conducted a study and learned teens get their news from social media while those age 65 and older get it via TV. Shocking. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4uq4Atb

Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription

Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QGvDll

On Sunday Take, DFL Sen. Ann Rest discussed tax bill dynamics and GOP Rep. Mary Franson spoke about the bonding bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ty6qrz

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THURSDAY FEED

JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s unemployment rate in March held at 4.5% while the national rate ticked down one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.3%, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cJMfRG

FARM BILL: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The House on Thursday voted to strip pro-pesticide policies, which have been a source of controversy and GOP infighting, from the farm bill. The amendment to take the provisions out of the farm bill, which sets the nation’s agriculture policy for five years, was adopted in a 280-142 vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t7eDC6

MORE: Via Rep. Brad Finstad, QUOTE: “In building upon the Agriculture Title of the Working Families Tax Cuts, the most significant investment in the farm safety net since the 2002 Farm Bill, the 2026 Farm Bill invests in conservation funding, ensures farmers and rural communities have access to the financing they need to maintain and improve their operations, and addresses California’s egregious Proposition 12 mandate. I’m proud of the work my colleagues and I have put in to deliver the strong farm policy that farmers, producers, and rural communities need and deserve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/496aqYd

MORE: Via House Ag Democrats, today’s floor speech delivered by Rep. Angie Craig. QUOTE: “From tariffs that have cost our farmers’ markets, to a war that has increased the cost of fertilizer and diesel, farmers are struggling to hold onto that 3rd or 4th generation farm. The so-called ‘skinny’ farm bill in front of us today does nothing to stop these losses or to help offset the $54 billion in losses farmers have had to absorb. Worst yet, it doesn’t fix any of the underlying policy choices by Republicans and this administration that caused the problems in the first place.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dgEm6p

ARENA: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is pushing the City Center complex as a potential site for a new Timberwolves/Lynx arena, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks. Why it matters: The idea — first floated by Axios — would mean demolishing one of the city’s tallest towers and bringing an NBA arena onto the struggling Nicollet Mall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cUxWbF

DOWNTOWN: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “The Lumber Exchange has its first new tenants, as the 12-story building in downtown Minneapolis comes back to life for creative types under the vision of new owner Kristi Oman. Eleven tenants have signed on since Oman bought the roughly 140-year-old edifice for $1 in February. The tenants include creative agencies, artists, an antiques seller, two lawfirms, and a therapist, she says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mXGF1u

SETTLEMENT: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota trans athlete JayCee Cooper has reached a settlement agreement with USA Powerlifting, after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the organization violated her rights by barring her from women’s competitions. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled last year that the powerlifting organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Cooper is represented by the nonprofit Gender Justice. Legal director Jess Braverman said in a statement that this is a victory for Cooper.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RbSGV7

EMMER: Rep. Tom Emmer talked with Fox Business this morning about a wide range of topics including the midterm elections, funding DHS, and disagreement between Vice President J.D. Vance and Governor Tim Walz over this week’s federal raids in the Twin Cities. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tHbOJ0

EVICTIONS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Eviction filings across the Twin Cities metro jumped nearly 19% in March 2026 compared to one year earlier, as the region reeled in response to Operation Metro Surge. In Minneapolis alone, they spiked by more than 60% to 452 filings, according to quarterly data released by HOME Line, a tenant advocacy nonprofit. The city’s eye-popping percentage increase comes with an asterisk: March 2025 numbers trended low, in part due to the start that month of an ordinance requiring landlords issue a 30-day pre-eviction notice to delinquent tenants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cI6Ju5

TAX CREDIT: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Housing advocates, legislators and community members gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol Tuesday to call for the extension of one of the state’s most popular affordable housing programs, a tax credit that has drawn rare bipartisan praise and fueled housing development from the Twin Cities to rural Minnesota. Few housing programs inspire bipartisan support and touch lives across both metro and rural areas like the State Housing Tax Credit Program and Contribution Fund. Created as part of a sweeping 2023 spending bill, the program allows individuals and companies to contribute between $1,000 and $2 million toward affordable housing developments and receive a tax credit worth 85% of that contribution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uknQrQ

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

ICE ARRESTS: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “A quarter of immigration arrests since August were labeled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as ‘collateral,’ a type of arrest and detention that’s been challenged in court as an end run around civil rights. Public outrage and lawsuits over the arrests may be tamping down the large-scale sweeps that foster them, but tens of thousands were arrested this way between August and early March.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ukIsQP

MPD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Months before several thousand federal agents would descend on Minneapolis, dozens of city police officers worked with the regional Homeland Security Task Force. City officials didn’t disclose details of the ongoing investigations the officers have been assigned to, but they said it’s not related to civil immigration enforcement. While federal and local law enforcement collaborations are common, some say the optics surrounding the timing of this previously undisclosed task force are concerning given the federal government’s treatment of Minneapolis residents during this winter’s surge.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vVJlkh

TOMORROW/FRIDAY: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “The annual Cinco de Mayo festival celebration in St. Paul carries more significance this year after months of fear and financial strain for Latino‑owned businesses during the height of Operation Metro Surge. ‘Coming together to celebrate our culture and West Side businesses is more meaningful than ever. The West Side community is like no other. We wouldn’t be here still if it weren’t for them,’ said Milissa Silva, CEO and co‑owner of El Burrito Mercado. The festival on the West Side along Cesar Chavez Street, which will be held May 1 to 2, has grown into one of the largest Mexican cultural events in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tDKaNb

EARNINGS SEASON

XCEL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) on Thursday reported first-quarter profit of $556 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 89 cents per share . . . The results met Wall Street expectations . . . The utility posted revenue of $4.02 billion in the period, which fell short of Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d09GoQ

(DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)

C.H. ROBINSON: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $147.2 million. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of $1.22 . . . The results exceeded Wall Street expectations . . . The trucking company posted revenue of $4.01 billion in the period, which missed Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QJpXqC

API: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “APi Group Corporation (APG) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $57 million. On a per-share basis, the New Brighton, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 12 cents . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The company posted revenue of $1.98 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uhzqE1

IN THE CITIES

VALLEYFAIR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “If you’ve been waiting for a reason to pack up the car, dust off the swimsuits, and commit to a full day of sun, snacks, and water slides—Valleyfair just handed you 13 of them. The Twin Cities’ biggest amusement park is debuting a major expansion to Superior Shores Waterpark on May 23, adding 13 new slides and attractions and bringing the total to 24 water experiences. That’s not a refresh. It’s a full-scale upgrade.” READ/RENDERINGS: https://fluence-media.co/4tKW73K

GOLDEN VALLEY: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Five months after moving into a space formerly occupied by a Red Lobster, the new home of Chester Bird American Legion Post 523 in Golden Valley officially celebrated its grand opening. ‘I sensed when I arrived that I liked this building and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I liked this building,’ said Dan Wiley, national commander of the American Legion. ‘And then I found out it was formerly a Red Lobster. Yeah, I love Red Lobster. Mystery solved.’ The former restaurant’s new beginning is a rare success story. Legion officials say it comes at a time when many veterans’ organizations are closing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cMPFli

MEDIA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “After a four-decade career guiding audiences through blizzards, tornadoes, floods, heat waves and a rapidly changing climate, MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner is retiring. Huttner’s final day at MPR News marks the end of nearly 20 years with Minnesota Public Radio and a career that began in operational forecasting at Chicago’s weather command in 1986.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w0CUwt

NEW FESTIVAL: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “A new Twin Cities festival is aimed at highlighting the homes, businesses, theaters, sports venues, and other architectural gems of the area—and the stories behind them. City Stories launches this weekend and combines two existing festivals—the MSP Home Tour and Doors Open Minneapolis—into one week-long party.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cRavQI

HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: Environmental Stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)

RETAIL

TARGET: Via FreightWaves, VERBATIM: “Target has opened a new 1.2 million-square-foot supply chain facility in the Houston market designed to connect directly with global suppliers and respond in real time to store demand, the company said. The site — Target’s first-ever ‘receive center’ — represents a $265 million investment and will create about 185 local jobs, expanding the retailer’s growing logistics footprint along the Gulf Coast, according to the company’s website.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OAW4IB

MORE: Via Progressive Grocer, VERBATIM: “The facility, which is positioned strategically between Target‘s Import Warehouses in Georgia and Washington, allows the retailer to replenish inventory faster based on store and customer demand while cutting distribution costs, the company said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ddWTAi

MORE: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target supply chain teams designed the 1.2 million-square-foot facility using immersive 3D visualization and simulation technology at our XR Experience Center in Minneapolis. We’ve leveraged this technology over the past several years to design and remodel properties, but this was the first time it was used end to end in the design process to create an informative and influential 3D digital model of the facility before construction began.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eSIvPa

MAPLE GROVE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes is welcoming another new tenant. Warby Parker will open at the Maple Grove shopping complex on Saturday, May 2. It’s the ninth Minnesota store for the low-cost eyeglass retailer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pd78M7

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WHAT’S NEXT?

NEXT WEEK: Via Minnetonka-based DiaMedica, VERBATIM: “DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and acute ischemic stroke (AIS), today announced that its first quarter 2026 financial results will be released after the markets close on Wednesday, May 6th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Cz27h

JUNE: Via Bloomington-based Donaldson, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, will webcast its third quarter 2026 earnings conference call on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426DLxT

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

NEXT MONTH: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “We’re just four months away from the Minnesota State Fair, but if you can’t wait, you can get a taste of it early. At the Kickoff to Summer at the State Fair, held over Memorial Day weekend from May 21–24, catch a sneak peak of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, with limited entry and plenty of attractions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ODhdSp

BDAYS: lobbyist Dana Bailey, restauranter Luke Shimp, woman about town Amy Mauzy

morning take | OIG Deal Looks Done

The Daily Agenda — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:57:27 GMT

BIG GAME DAY

Game night the Wild at 6:30 and Twolves at 8:30.

The next 72 hours will turn us into a smokin’ hot sports town -- or leave Minnesota sports fans frustrated at what could have been. Sports Take explains it all later today.

GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan is predicting “new records” for Midwest gas prices soon. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mZnMLN

Crude oil prices hit $120 per barrel yesterday, the highest since 2022. BBC: https://fluence-media.co/425FbZv

The war in Iran has cost the U.S. around $25 billion so far, according to the Pentagon. REUTERS: https://fluence-media.co/4t61AkA

Footage from the DC gunman’s arrest indicates the hospitalized Secret Service agent may have been hit by friendly fire. WAPO: https://fluence-media.co/4w0PWdl

A school district in Texas saw library book checkouts increase by over 24% after banning cell phones. CBS: https://fluence-media.co/3RaYPAV

It’s National Oatmeal Cookie Day – the best kind of cookie with butterscotch or chocolate chips.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

On Sunday Take, DFL Sen. Ann Rest discussed tax bill dynamics and GOP Rep. Mary Franson spoke about the bonding bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ty6qrz

MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r

SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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We’re starting the song lyrics on the Senate floor era of the session, so Bad Medicine is one song chosen by Sen. Torey Westrom yesterday, but HCMC has clergy outside today to rally suggesting they are Living on a Prayer. Send me your best Session clips of the floor sessions.

The bill that would create the Office of Inspector General will be on the House floor today. The bill is pre-negotiated between the House and Senate authors, making it likely to head to Gov. Tim Walz for a signature.

Via statement from Sen. Heather Gustafson, VERBATIM: ““I am pleased to see further cooperation and movement on this important legislation,” said Senator Gustafson. “The Senate passed my bill overwhelmingly because of the honest bipartisan work that went into it. This isn’t the end-all-be-all of fraud prevention, but our proposal is the most significant, meaningful step towards our shared goal of protecting state tax dollars to date. I commend the House authors for their work, I and look forward to continued progress in the future.”

When it comes to the X banter between the FBI’s Kash Patel and Gov. Tim Walz – “…the truth is, baby, you’re all that I need.”

When BCA agents are on site for the raids, would confirm that the state had some role in the investigation – even if sentiment “Please don’t make me make the same mistakes but it’s too late”

GAS PRICES: Via Bring Me The News, a deeper look at the latest spike in gas prices, with data that shows a statewide average above $4/gallon could happen as soon as today. VERBATIM: “As of Wednesday, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is $3.93, a 13-cent jump in 24 hours, almost 30 cents more than a week ago, and just over 50 cents more than a month ago. … The price per gallon has been creeping closer to, or has already exceeded, $4 in many parts of Minnesota, particularly in the southern half of the state. The average in the Twin Cities is $3.98 on Wednesday, up from $3.84 on Tuesday. The Rochester area saw an even bigger jump in a day, rising from $3.84 on Tuesday to $4.02 on Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dfESBD

ENERGY: The 2026 Minnesota Energy Factsheet will be released today, developed by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. EXCERPT: “For the sixth consecutive year, zero‑carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) supplied a majority of Minnesota’s electricity. In 2025, these resources accounted for 55% of total generation, compared with a national average of 43%. … Imported electricity fell to 7% of total use in 2025, down from 9% in 2024, demonstrating stronger in-state energy production and reliability. … Minnesota ranked No. 11 nationally and remained the top‑ranked state in the Midwest for overall energy efficiency.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/4dfzxKE

SENATE RACE: David Hann has suspended his campaign for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

CD2: Via The Intercept, a look at why some activists are accusing Matt Little, DFL candidate in CD2, of using anti-ICE activism for political gain. VERBATIM: “The Intercept spoke with nearly a dozen people involved in ICE rapid response networks in and around the Minneapolis suburbs, including in leadership positions, several of whom felt that Little was ‘cosplaying’ as an observer and overstating his activism for political clout. Others speculated that the outrage was manufactured to ruin his chances at the nomination. … Little says that he’s ‘only posted a small margin’ of the work he’s done on ICE and seemed confused by accusations that he was chasing clout.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QD8Si9

SOCIAL MEDIA: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A tech industry group filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging a Minnesota law that requires social media companies to start showing users health warning labels on their sites. … NetChoice — an industry group representing social media and tech companies like Amazon, Google and Meta — is suing Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham in federal court. NetChoice argues in the complaint filed Wednesday that part of the law violates the First Amendment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dgyTfO

ETHICS: Via House Session Daily, the House Ethics Committee has scheduled its hearings for GOP Rep. Elliott Engen, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson and DFL Rep. Alex Falconer on Friday starting at 10:00 a.m. These hearings will be focused on determining veracity of claims, not disciplinary action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PeIdrv

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Fluence Media introduces more — Insider Analysis & Insight from TheDailyAgenda.com

IN THE HOPPER

IT SYSTEMS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has its counties operate eligibility and benefits for [social] programs, and the technology these counties use is [old] and may lead to social services fraud. But as the Legislature lurches into its final weeks of session, it is unclear how (or if) lawmakers will agree upon financing an issue whose solution necessitates savvy about both computers and the social safety net. … Gov. Tim Walz has vowed to veto bills that dramatically raise state spending, but even the governor has proposed spending $46 million over the next three years to address ‘legacy IT systems.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w5yoNm

BONDING: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Senate Democrats are urging passage of a $1.4 billion capital investment bill to fund state and local community projects. [However], legislative leaders and the governor continue meeting to discuss a target for the proposal. … Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said following some of the adverse economic impacts of the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state, lawmakers should pass a significant bonding bill to bring additional construction jobs to Minnesota. … In his State of the State address, [Gov. Tim] Walz floated a smaller capital investment target: $907 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4de87Vn

GUNS/SCHOOLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Senate Finance Committee passed a bill with several measures aimed at guns and school safety. It goes next to the Senate floor. The bill includes a ban on the sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, along with bans on ghost guns and binary triggers. It also regulates safe gun storage and designates $20 million for school safety and $14.7 million for mental health programs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w2vadj

WEALTH TAX: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “HF4845, a bill sponsored by Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul), would create a new fifth income tax tier, an idea that seems to surface annually. Hollins’ bill would establish the tier at a rate of 10.85%, applying it to Minnesota taxable income in excess of $1 million for married joint returns. … What’s different about this year’s model is the recipient of the revenue from the tax: It would increase local government aid (LGA) and county program aid (CPA) by $155.5 million each annually. The bill was laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uidLvq

NOTE: Start a list of issues that would cause major angst in another DFL trifecta further slowing the growth of Minnesota’s economy.

DAMAGE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Two bills to help people if their home is damaged by police passed the Minnesota Senate yesterday with bipartisan support. … One bill says homeowners insurance can’t exclude damage from police if the homeowner is an innocent third party. Another bill says police must disclose chemical irritants used inside buildings. Both bills passed chamber floor votes and are headed to the governor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4de87Vn

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

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HEALTH CARE

HCMC: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The House Health Finance and Policy Committee [heard] three potential solutions for HCMC, but no action was taken. … HF4841, sponsored by Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Mpls), would increase a 2007 Hennepin County sales tax [from] 0.15% to 1%. … HF4892, sponsored by Rep. John Huot (DFL-Rosemount), would temporarily use the state’s General Fund surplus to help cushion HCMC. … Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-Rogers) presented a yet-to-be-numbered bill that would dedicate $250 million from the General Fund each year to go to HCMC and North Memorial Hospital.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/492sCC0

MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate have approved a measure to help HCMC. … The bill that passed would provide HCMC $50 million this year and $100 million next year. It’s considered a temporary solution rather than a long-term fix. It passed in the Senate on party lines.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tIZLLi

MEDICAID: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A bill to bring the state into alignment with the Medicaid cuts, changes and restrictions included in HR1, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ awaits action by the full House. Included in the omnibus health finance bill, the language would primarily bring the state into alignment with the federal law. As amended, HF4466 was approved 15-13 by the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday, with Rep. Robert Bierman (DFL-Apple Valley) reluctantly crossing party lines to offer support.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cUur53

INSURANCE: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A Rochester lawmaker aims to reinforce a 2010 Minnesota law that requires health insurance to cover home care nursing services for people — often children — with complex medical needs. … Sen. Liz Boldon, DFL-Rochester, [said] ‘That is the law. They should be doing it.’ … Boldon’s bill, if made law, would bar health plans from limiting the quantity of covered home care nursing services. In the Minnesota Senate, the bill advanced and is now part of the chamber’s commerce omnibus bill. However, its House companion, HF 4347, failed to pass out of committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t20CFJ

DISPARITY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A new analysis of health inequities shows that racial and ethnic disparities are widespread and persist in all 50 states, including Minnesota. … Minnesota is one of the top states for overall healthcare system performance, surpassing 38 other states, according to the report. White people in the state experience the best healthcare outcomes, scoring in the 91st percentile among all population groups nationwide. In contrast, American Indian and Alaska Native people face the poorest healthcare outcomes in the state, scoring only in the 13th percentile. Additionally, when compared to other states, Minnesota’s healthcare system performs below average for Black residents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QTVVR0

Check today’s health take at 3:30 p.m. for more of the latest healthcare headlines. LINK: https://fluence-media.co/3QH98N5

FRAUD

ANTI-FRAUD: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “A slate of anti-fraud proposals remain in legislative limbo at the narrowly divided Capitol, with less than three weeks until the adjournment deadline. One bill to create an independent inspector general [had] another House hearing [yesterday]. Another closely watched proposal that would give agencies more power to cut payments to suspected fraudsters sailed through the tied House but is awaiting action in the DFL-majority Senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QIoP6C

RAIDS: Via FOX 9, more details on the discrepancies over how much state and local officers contributed to Tuesday’s federal anti-fraud raids. VERBATIM: “Vice President JD Vance, who leads the administration’s anti-fraud task force, [said] ‘We really did not get much help at all from the governor’s office. Where we actually did get help was from state and local law enforcement officers who we assigned to the task force because the state government wasn’t doing anything.’ … The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension told FOX 9: ‘We’ve been working on the investigations related to yesterday’s warrants with FBI, HSI and other federal partners for months.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4264wm4

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The federal raids at child care and autism centers in the Twin Cities, part of a sweeping investigation into alleged fraud in safety-net programs, are renewing questions about individuals who own or operate multiple businesses that bill Medicaid. Public records show that some of the companies under investigation are connected through shared ownership.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OQGSHi

MORE: via KARE 11’s Lou Raguse, VERBATIM: “After the Shakopee Day Care was raided on Tuesday, several kids entered. … Day care fraud most often involves overbilling, not empty day cares. The process involves comparing the attendance rosters on the billing to how many kids are there.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/42D7FtL

DHS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A former state fraud investigator told lawmakers a child care fraud unit was undermined before it was shut down, and he has ‘no doubt’ that oversight could have prevented some of today’s fraud concerns. … Jay Swanson, a former criminal investigator for CCAP under the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), testified Tuesday that the unit began with strong agency support in 2014, [but] the unit was ‘harassed and bullied’ [by DHS] starting in 2017 and lost authority over which cases to prioritize.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48zaIXv

DC

WHIPPLE: via USAO-MN advisory, VERBATIM: “United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen today announced the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment charging Christopher Ostroushko, Deyanna Ostroushko, and Paige Ostroushko with assaulting a journalist while she was reporting on an anti-ICE protest on federal property in St. Paul Minnesota on April 11, 2026. Christopher Ostroushko and Paige Ostroushko are also charged with willfully and forcefully injuring and intimidating that journalist.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/424MUqM

MORE: via HCAO advisory, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Christopher Ostroushko, 51, with one count of fifth-degree assault for his actions during an incident at the Whipple Building on April 11. … After a thorough review of the available evidence, the fifth-degree assault charge was determined to be appropriate. … Insufficient evidence led HCAO to decline charges against three other individuals arrested as part of this incident.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tPikxK

TERRORISM: via Sen. Tina Smith advisory, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Tina Smith [and others] introduced the bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, which is essential to economic security by safeguarding the availability of terrorism risk coverage. … Given that the current threat landscape remains elevated, allowing a similar lapse in terrorism coverage would expose policy holders to unnecessary financial risk and uncertainty.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n1BIVA

PRIVACY: via Rep. Tom Emmer advisory, VERBATIM: “House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives successfully advanced his legislation, HR. 1919, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, to the U.S. Senate. The bill, which was first passed by the House in July 2025, has now been attached to the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act and awaits consideration in the Senate.” EMMER: “We must never allow this weaponized surveillance tool to be adopted here.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QIse5o

ICE: via Rep. Ilhan Omar advisory, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke on the House Floor in opposition to the inclusion of $70 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol in Republicans’ budget resolution.” OMAR: “This effort is even more incomprehensible considering it comes after [Donald] Trump and Congressional Republicans already created an 85 billion dollars slush fund for ICE during the last budget reconciliation process. … We cannot send this rogue and unaccountable agency another cent.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4cUoRQ9

ACROSS MN

MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “City leaders said they have put together a plan to keep people safe [this summer]. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said police are shifting more attention to auto thefts by partnering with the Hennepin County Auto Theft Task Force. The move comes as car break-ins have increased across the city. O’Hara also said police will continue the weekend curfew task force and create a 24/7 watch commander to monitor police calls at all times of day.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w1gxa4

ST PAUL: via MPR, VERBATIM: “St. Paul elected officials were at the state Capitol yesterday asking to extend a sales tax to help fund renovations to the Grand Casino Arena Complex. The city has reached a deal with the Minnesota Wild for a $600 million renovation. … To fund its portion of the deal, St. Paul wants to extend an existing half-cent tax to 2061. It’s currently set to expire in 2042. … St. Paul also plans to ask the Legislature for $200 million for the project. It’s not clear whether there’s support to advance the proposals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4de87Vn

OAKDALE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Oakdale voters approved a half-percent local sales tax in 2022 to bankroll a new public works building and improvements to the city’s police department and Oakdale City Hall. One of those projects — the city’s new $32 million public works facility — is set to open to the public next week, and construction on the police expansion and City Hall remodeling project will begin June 1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/425JrIt

HERMANTOWN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A citizen’s group fighting a proposed Google data center in the small northeastern Minnesota city of Hermantown has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging it has violated state law in its pursuit of the data center. … The group claims the city of Hermantown improperly changed its 2045 comprehensive plan and rezoned the neighborhood where the data center is proposed to be built to allow the controversial project to move forward. The lawsuit also alleges the city violated Minnesota’s open meeting law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tK8Xze

FOR PLANNING

SESSION: House floor session at 2:00 p.m. No Senate floor session. FLOOR: The House will hear bills on transportation, housing, public safety, natural resources and more. HOUSE: Rules & Leg. Admin. hears term limits for governors and lieutenant governors. Taxes will hear a tax on defrauded money. Ways & Means will hear changes to forecasts for DHS, DCYF and P-12 education. SENATE: Education Policy has confirmation hearings for School Trust Lands and Professional Educator Licensing & Standards. Finance hears the omnibus for energy, utilities, environment & climate. Taxes will hear its omnibus. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4mY6sH3

TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend the funeral for Yusef Mgeni and meet with legislative leaders.

TODAY: Sens. Ann Rest, Grant Hauschild, Scott Dibble and Aric Putnam, all DFL, will host a media availability to “discuss the Senate Tax bill expected to be approved by the [taxes] committee and advance[d] to the Senate floor,” per a release. The event begins after the committee adjourns.

TODAY: DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek and Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyen will answer questions about March employment data at 10:00 a.m.

TODAY: At HCMC, clergy will begin a 24-hour vigil to pray for the successful passage of legislation that aims to save the hospital. The event is at 10:00 a.m.

TODAY: via MNA advisory, VERBATIM: “Registered nurses will gather in Minneapolis on April 30 for a rally and community event to press lawmakers for long-term, sustainable financial solutions before legislative session ends to keep [HCMC] open.” The event is at 12:00 noon.

TODAY: Sec. Steve Simon will host a virtual event discussing “what to expect in the 2026 midterm elections,” per a release. The event is at 7:00 p.m.

TOMORROW: The House Ethics Committee has scheduled hearings for GOP Rep. Elliott Engen, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson and DFL Rep. Alex Falconer starting at 10:00 a.m.

SATURDAY: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will host a rally with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in Rochester on Saturday, May 2 as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. Sen. Tina Smith and Attorney General Keith Ellison are also scheduled to attend. The event is at 5:00 p.m.

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BDAYS: lobbyist Dana Bailey, restauranter Luke Shimp, woman about town Amy Mauzy

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.