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POLLING
POT: Via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “As a hearing on Trump administration’s federal marijuana rescheduling proposal proceeds this month, a new poll shows that most cannabis consumers aren’t optimistic that reform will be fully implemented by the end of the year . . . A majority—52.5 percent—said they do not think full cannabis rescheduling will happen by the end of the year, while 47.5 percent said they do expect to see the reform announced by then.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f2QCbT
POT V. BOOZE: Via Crescent Canna, VERBATIM: “Crescent Canna fielded its second annual THC Beverage Consumer Survey from May 29 to June 11, 2026, hearing back from 1,637 adults 21+ who have tried a THC beverage at least once.”
“Only 0.5% said they are consuming more alcohol. Another 1.4% were already nondrinkers before they tried a THC beverage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RuoRzI
(DISCLOSURE: Plift is a Fluence client)
VACCINE MYTHS: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “Over the past several years, fewer than one in ten adults have said each of these myths are ‘definitely true,’ while much larger shares (but fewer than half of adults) say they are ‘definitely false.’”
“At the same time, at least half consistently fall in the ‘malleable middle,’ expressing some uncertainty and saying the myths are either ‘probably true’ or ‘probably false.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eSdEC5
AI: Via Black Book, VERBATIM: “Black Book Research today released findings from its AI in the EHR Adoption Readiness Poll, a 507-respondent assessment of healthcare executives, informatics leaders and clinical operations respondents fielded in Q2-Q3 2026. The poll finds that AI has moved from strategic conversation into active EHR workflows, but most healthcare organizations have not yet built the operating model required to scale it safely, consistently and measurably.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SI283H
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
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)
HEALTH HEADLINES
LIST: Via Journo Research, Minnesota tied for 4th in a ranking of the best states for hospital care. Wisconsin ranked first. VERBATIM: “In Minnesota, more rural facilities have higher reviews from patients, including Aitkin, Crookston, Fairmont, Glencoe, Glenwood, Fergus Falls, Mora, and Park Rapids, which all have 5-star hospitals according to patients.”
MERGERS: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, community members expressed concern over two potential hospital mergers that would shake up the Twin Cities healthcare landscape. The healthcare workers, union members and faith leaders are citing out-of-state control and affordability, including the California-based Sutter Health and Minneapolis-based Allina Health deal announced in May. That same month, South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Twin Cities-based North Memorial Health also said it was planning to merge into a single nonprofit system.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3T72xfZ
CHILD CARE: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced over $1.4 million in child care economic development grants. Awarded to 11 programs and organizations around the state, the grants are projected to support the creation of more than 1,100 new child care slots. More than 80% of the awarded funds will go toward programs in Greater Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pdMadH
MENTAL HEALTH: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Earlier this year, Corey Sauer read an article in the Pioneer Press explaining that without about half a million dollars, state funding cuts would cause the closure by June 30 of two ‘clubhouse’ programs for people with severe and persistent mental illness. Sauer, a retired cartoonist who serves on the board of his family’s foundation, decided that he had the means and the motivation to keep the centers open at least a little bit longer. The clubhouses, operated by Vail Communities, serve as drop-in sites where people with mental illness can socialize, take part in structured activities and find meaningful employment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vmubDm
HEALTHCARE: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “More Americans get health coverage through work than any other source — that’s more than 154 million people. And, the costs keep rising. While employers bear most of that burden, workers also feel the pressure in the premium deductions in every paycheck and higher deductibles. The total premium for a family plan now averages $27,000 a year, according to KFF’s latest annual Employer Health Benefits Survey. That’s enough to buy a new Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Every. Single. Year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h4W9ji
ACA: The Wall Street Journal lists BCBS Minnesota among major insurers with Affordable Care Act rate hikes in 2026 – its rates rose 19% with a request to increase another 10% in 2027. VERBATIM: “ACA insurers said they are dealing with the same factors that pushed premiums up in 2026. Healthcare spending, including on pharmaceuticals and hospitals, is still rising rapidly. At the same time, insurers said they expect the impact of reduced federal subsidies, which kicked in at the start of 2026, to roll through next year as well.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wzBI2y
2026 ELECTION: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “One of the most-watched House races in the country is setting the stage for how Democrats and Republicans will battle over federal health care cuts on the campaign trail. Swing seat GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, facing a tough reelection campaign against a moderate Democratic opponent, is being bombarded by attacks over his vote for President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy package, which cut Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over a decade.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QKEHpN
HIV/AIDS: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Five faith-based organizations are calling on the White House to release funding for HIV/AIDS prevention abroad that Congress already appropriated. In a letter sent to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, the groups urged full funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and Gavi.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vTEOhM
COVID VACCINE: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to make it easier for people to claim that they were injured by a Covid-19 vaccine and receive compensation. Kennedy is set to start the process of compiling a list of injuries that are presumed to be caused by Covid shots. People with those conditions could then ask for compensation from the government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vwRRoI
OUTBREAK: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Nearly 1,000 people in Michigan have been diagnosed with a parasitic infection that can cause weeks of watery diarrhea, making it the largest such outbreak in state history and one of the nation’s largest in years. No deaths have been reported and the source of the cyclospora infections hasn’t been identified. Meanwhile, investigations into similar illnesses have been going on in 28 other states, including in Ohio, where people just across the Michigan border are also becoming sick.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eTVlMX
MORE: The most recent data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows we had 73 Cyclospora cases in 2024. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eVcVQG
ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: By volunteering at a free clinic, Essentia providers in Virginia ensure access to care for all | Essentia Health (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
INNOVATION & RESEARCH
CLUES: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “By the time a disease is diagnosed, it may have been developing silently for years. Along the way, the body leaves clues: proteins shift, metabolism changes, immune responses evolve, and environmental exposures leave measurable traces. Until recently, many of these early signals were impossible to detect. Mayo Clinic researchers are now charting that hidden period between health and disease — a new frontier in medicine that could transform how conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease are identified and intercepted before symptoms emerge.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44hnJT0
CANCER TREATMENT: Via GE HealthCare, VERBATIM: “GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic today announced the MI-BET (Molecular Imaging Biomarker-Based End of Therapy Trial) research collaboration, a novel theranostics study designed to explore a more personalized approach to radioligand therapy (RLT) for patients with advanced prostate cancer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3R4ieUI
CANCER DRUGS: Via University of Warwick, VERBATIM: “Researchers have cracked the code behind bacteria’s ability to naturally manufacture multiple versions of powerful anti-cancer drugs. The discovery could make it much easier to engineer new cancer treatments inspired by nature, including improved versions of existing medicines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4frMW3l
VISION: Via Johns Hopkins, VERBATIM: “A surprising discovery is reshaping scientists’ understanding of how humans develop sharp central vision before birth. Instead of blue cone cells migrating away from the retina’s center, the study found they transform into red and green cones under the influence of vitamin A-related signals and thyroid hormones. The findings could improve lab-grown retinal tissue and lay the groundwork for future cell therapies to restore vision lost to age-related eye diseases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QP25m1
NEXTGEN: A student from Eden Prairie is among 15 recipients of UCB’s Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship “who are living with myasthenia gravis (MG) or supporting a loved one impacted by the disease.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fqV1VU
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BOOK: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has long been a leader in environmental health, and few people know that story better than Lindsay Dahl. A Minnesota native and St. Olaf graduate, Dahl has spent more than two decades advocating for stronger protections against harmful chemicals, helping pass more than 30 state and federal laws—including playing a key role in the most significant update to federal chemical safety legislation in 40 years. We spoke with Dahl about her new book, ‘Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals,’ the power of finding common ground, and why change often starts close to home.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QMfifr
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