BAKED GOODS: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “UCare's people power is shining at this year's Minnesota State Fair! Our Customer Service Supervisor Kim Blesi entered her delicious baked goods in the Creative Arts building competition. And, no surprise. Her banana bread won first place! And her gingered pear and apple pie came in third. Congratulations Kim! This is sweet news indeed.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3JEBGDj (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
STATE FAIR: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Fair lovers with dietary restrictions, we know how maddening it can be to navigate the food scene at the fairgrounds. One typically does not come to the Great Minnesota Get-Together to eat only frozen grapes (though we love you, frozen grapes at Bayou Bob's Gator Shack). Instead of rounding up general vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options . . . we thought we'd start with the classics and track down alternatives that rival them. These picks provide the full fair food experience—sans gluten, dairy, meat, or whatever your restriction may be.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/45z2WM8
COLLEGE: Via Higher Ed Dive, VERBATIM: “Half of college students rate their mental health as fair, poor, or terrible, according to a recent survey from The Steve Fund, a nonprofit that focused on the mental health of young people of color. The survey also found about 40% of students were ‘very or extremely stressed about maintaining their mental health’ while in college. About 1 in 5 students said the same about connecting with other students and finding their niche in college.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oKHUl8
FOOTBALL: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “The KFF/ESPN Survey of 1988 NFL Players draws on a novel survey of 546 respondents who were among the 1,532 players from the 1988 season. Now, at an average age of 62, large majorities of these former NFL players say pro football was bad for their health, but 90 percent say they would choose to play again. Most report that football had positive benefits to their life and relationships despite the negative health effects. The survey also uncovered stark racial disparities, with Black players much more likely than White players to report serious health problems after football.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fYya2P
DOCS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Almost 2 in 3 physicians say there aren't enough qualified doctors to fill openings in their area, in another sign of how the health care workforce is straining to meet patient demand. The big picture: Mergers and acquisitions of practices, turnover from pandemic-era burnout and expansion into underserved areas are raising doubts about whether the nationwide shortage of doctors will ease over the next decade, a Medscape survey of 1,001 physicians found.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45WL4tH
SLEEP: Via Mind Body Green, VERBATIM: “Every year, the National Sleep Foundation puts out a poll, and last year, the focus was on mental health as it relates to sleep. To dig into the connection between the two, researchers surveyed just over 1,000 U.S. adults, asking questions about sleep duration, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, etc. Among the key findings, it was revealed that over 90% of participants who engaged in good sleep hygiene reported good sleep health, as well as no significant depressive symptoms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45T6nMz
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
CUTS: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration’s cuts to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for state and local health departments had vastly uneven effects depending on the political leanings of a state, according to a KFF Health News analysis. Democratic-led states and select blue-leaning cities fought back in court and saw money for public health efforts restored — while GOP-led states sustained big losses.”
“Initially, grant cancellations hit blue and red states roughly evenly. Four of the five jurisdictions with the largest number of terminated grants were led by Democrats: California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Massachusetts. But after attorneys general and governors from about two dozen blue states sued in federal court and won an injunction, the balance flipped.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45AZKQ3
NIH GRANTS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The Department of Health and Human Services is terminating a National Institutes of Health grant program that supports students from marginalized backgrounds in the biomedical sciences. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the elimination of the program — the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program — in a document posted to the Federal Register Monday. Kennedy cited the program’s failure to comply with the Trump administration’s executive orders that prevent federal agencies from supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion-related activities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45SHrVk
MAHA BOXES: Via The Atlantic, VERBATIM: “Millions of Americans might soon have mail from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The health secretary—who fiercely opposes industrial, ultraprocessed foods—now wants to send people care packages full of farm-fresh alternatives. They will be called ‘MAHA boxes.’ For the most part, MAHA boxes remain a mystery. They are mentioned in a leaked draft of a much-touted report that the Trump administration is set to release about improving children’s health. Reportedly, the 18-page document—which promises studies on the health effects of electromagnetic radiation and changes in how the government regulates sunscreen, among many other things—includes this: ‘MAHA Boxes: USDA will develop options to get whole, healthy food to SNAP participants.’ In plain English, kids on food stamps might be sent veggies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JxSj3A
FOOD COMPANIES: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda has shaken big food companies already reeling from shifting consumer preferences. States across the country have taken up the MAHA cause, passing laws to restrict the sale of certain foods and, in some cases, investigating food companies’ health claims. Executives at big processed-food makers are trying to determine how much of what Kennedy and MAHA want will actually happen, and how it could affect their bottom lines. Their challenge is to balance his push for what he sees as healthier food with their need to make products that consumers will buy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oYVvWk
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)
WEST NILE: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reported 20 cases of West Nile virus so far in 2025. Two of the affected people have died. Case numbers can vary significantly from year to year due to factors like heat and rainfall, but the recent increase has health officials encouraging people to take precautions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n5NNIe
MORE: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “West Nile virus (WNV) was first found in Minnesota in 2002 and has since become the most commonly reported mosquitoborne disease in the state. The highest risk areas for WNV in Minnesota include the western and central portions of the state. Open areas, such as farmland and prairie, provide the best habitat for Culex tarsalis, the primary mosquito vector of the virus. Similar to other arboviruses, most WNV cases occur later in the summer when infected vector populations are at their highest level.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41Z4axO
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A warning from health officials and caregivers as a contagious disease is making its way through several daycares in Duluth. Health officials say they are seeing a rise in hand, foot, and mouth disease, and Marcia DeMeo-Morse, the executive director of Hope For Kids says it has impacted many in their daycare. While she says they see hand, foot, and mouth disease almost every year, she’s surprised it’s happening before summer has ended.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47NTsOt
PREMIUMS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Health insurance premiums for thousands of Minnesotans are expected to increase in 2026. The proposed rate hikes are driven by rising health care costs, and federal subsidies designed to make coverage more affordable are set to expire at the end of 2025. Preliminary filings released by the Minnesota Department of Commerce indicate that insurers are seeking average premium increases ranging from 7 percent to 26 percent for 2026 plans on the individual market, and between 7 percent and 17 percent on the small group market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lK3kvS
PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “To control costs, nearly all health insurers use a system called prior authorization, which requires patients or their providers to seek approval before they can get certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions. Denials can be appealed, but nearly half of insured adults who received a prior authorization denial in the past two years reported the appeals process was either somewhat or very difficult, according to a July poll published by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.” QUOTE: “It’s overwhelming by design,” because insurers know confusion and fatigue cause people to give up, [Sally Nix] said. “That’s exactly what they want you to do.” The good news is you don’t have to be an insurance expert to get results, she said. “You just need to know how to push back.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41Z34lG
NEXT MONTH: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “President Trump signed into law in July a budget reconciliation package that mandates all adults who are eligible for Medicaid through the ACA expansion meet federal work and reporting requirements. At a minimum, the 41 states (including D.C.) that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA will be required to verify that individuals are working or meet certain exemptions when they apply for or renew their Medicaid coverage. At 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 11, four experts, including two state Medicaid directors, will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator Larry Levitt in an hour-long discussion of how states will go about implementing the new Medicaid work requirements.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fUKilt
BANKRUPTCIES. Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “America's largest health care companies are in dire financial straits, with some of the biggest names on the chopping block as the remainder battle economic headwinds. As patients struggle with rising medical debt, access issues and an overall lack of affordable, quality care, providers and other health care companies appear to be falling victim to the same system often described as being in crisis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JsoBgx
SPACE: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic's pioneering exploration of stem cell-based therapies for bone loss is headed to space. Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D., is medical director of Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy at Mayo Clinic in Florida. He is leading research exploring how bone-forming stem cells behave in microgravity in hopes of developing novel treatments for diseases that cause bone loss, including osteoporosis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4HEMd
RATS: From UofM via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota researchers developed a 3D-printed scaffold that directs stem cells to grow into functioning nerve cells, successfully restoring movement in rats with severed spinal cords. This promising technique could transform future treatment for spinal cord injuries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/423eIMr
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
CANNABIS: Via MedPage Today, VERBATIM: “Cannabis products containing high concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the main psychoactive compound in marijuana -- were linked to psychosis, schizophrenia, and addiction, a systematic review found. Across 99 studies examining the effects of high-concentration THC products on mental health outcomes, 70% of the nontherapeutic studies (i.e., those not attempting to treat a medical condition or symptom) showed an unfavorable association with psychosis or schizophrenia and 75% found a relationship to cannabis use disorder (CUD).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fQ661m
MOBILE CLINIC: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “It took several years of work for the city of Minneapolis to put a mobile medical unit on the streets. The launching of the new clinic on wheels is geared to cut down the waiting time by taking emergency care directly to those who need it. This is considered a landmark step toward improving health access to underserved communities.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4myLqxp
DOUGLAS CTY: Via Alexandria Echo Press, VERBATIM: “The Alomere Health Board of Directors has voted unanimously to recommend to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to convert Alomere Health from a county governmental status to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Under this recommendation, the health system’s operations would be transferred to a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, retaining the name Alomere Health. Douglas County would continue to own the health system’s land and buildings, and would lease them to Alomere Health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fY9eII
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
BIRTH CONTROL: Via HuffPost, VERBATIM: “TikTok’s favorite birth control method is more like no birth control at all. On the Gen-Z-beloved app ― approximately 60% of its users are in their teens and 20s ― ‘natural’ birth control is having a moment: Terms like ‘birth control natural alternatives’ are trending, with wellness influencers encouraging other women to quit birth control and track their fertility cycles naturally (or with apps) and use herbal supplements to avoid getting pregnant.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47LDK6q
SUNSCREEN: Via The Independent, VERBATIM: “A man clutching a tiny microphone strides purposefully towards the sun care aisle in his local pharmacy. He picks up the orange and yellow bottles, scans the labels and quickly, performatively rejects them with a pantomime shake of the head. Why? Because he’s convinced that sunscreen is filled with ‘toxic chemicals’ that, he claims, are ‘doing more harm than good’. And if you watch his video for long enough, he’ll probably start recommending the ‘natural’ option he's switched to instead. He might even (falsely) claim that, rather than protecting you from skin cancer, sunscreen increases the risk. Variations on this scene are cropping up on social media with alarming frequency . . . Recent research has suggested that Gen-Zers are particularly susceptible to sunscreen myths.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mVqgJK
MORE: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are collaborating on legislation to lower market barriers for new sunscreens, in an effort to bring the United States in line with other countries that have seen advancements in sun protection. The proposed legislation, introduced separately in the House and Senate, is now being considered as an amendment to a Senate bill that would reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program, also known as OMUFA. It would expand on the The Food and Drug Administration’s authority from a 2020 law directing the agency to consider historical data on the safety of sunscreen active ingredients that have previously been accepted for marketing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Dzu7G
MAYO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic hospitals across the organization received star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which released the ratings earlier this month. The ratings for overall hospital quality provide patients with information on several aspects of quality. The star ratings measure five broad categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mEtRMA
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PAINKILLERS: from University of South Australia via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Painkillers we often trust — ibuprofen and acetaminophen — may be quietly accelerating one of the world’s greatest health crises: antibiotic resistance. Researchers discovered that these drugs not only fuel bacterial resistance on their own but make it far worse when combined with antibiotics. The findings are especially troubling for aged care settings, where residents commonly take multiple medications, creating perfect conditions for resistant bacteria to thrive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47hpWRa
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