At a Hormel holiday party in the 1930s, a family member won $100 for his idea for a name for their new spiced ham product. READ: https://fluence-media.co/48wEE59
The pool of potential names for a snowplow in Duluth has been narrowed to ten – public voting will pick the winner. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3UoEV4b
The amount of snow forecasted for northern Minnesota this week has increased. READ: https://fluence-media.co/40qPrfo
With 319 Dollar Tree and candy stores (5.56 per 100,000 residents), Minnesota tops Journo Research’s list of the most expensive states for trick-or-treating.
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fl14bM
Sunday Take featured the only scheduled debate in the race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Amy Klobuchar and challenger Royce White. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eYBKsw
Sign-up for Walz Watch: https://fluence-media.co/walzwatch
Sign-up for Sports Take a weekly preview of the week ahead published on Thursdays. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/SportsTakeSignUp
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
VOTERS: From Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “An estimated 55,000 Minnesotans on probation for felony convictions will be able to cast a ballot for president for the first time this year. The big picture: A law passed by the DFL-majority Legislature last year added Minnesota to a growing list of states that allow felony offenders to vote upon release. Driving the news: Secretary of State Steve Simon and organizers are trying to boost awareness about the expansion in eligibility in the final days before voters go to the polls.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YEXxzz
MORE: Via ACLU, VERBATIM: “A patchwork of state felony disfranchisement laws, varying in severity from state to state, prevent approximately 5.85 million Americans with felony (and in several states misdemeanor) convictions from voting.”
“Confusion about and misapplication of these laws de facto disenfranchise countless other Americans.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hs5mAc
GWEN: From Ana Radelat via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “While Usha Vance, the wife of Trump running mate Sen. JD Vance, is hardly seen on the campaign trail, Gwen Walz is supporting her husband’s bid for higher office full stop. She has made dozens of campaign appearances from coast-to-coast and repeated visits to swing states. Promoting abortion rights and Kamala Harris’ agenda, it appears Gwen Walz will continue to hunt for votes until the polls close Nov. 5 as assiduously as her husband, who insists there’s plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hr9ZdO
CD8: From Izabella Zadra via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The race for the 8th Congressional seat that represents northeast Minnesota may seem familiar this year as the same two candidates from the 2022 election are facing off again. Incumbent Rep. Pete Stauber (R) is running against former state representative Jen Schultz (D), who ran against Stauber in the last election. Back in 2022, Stauber beat Schultz by more than 47 thousand votes, winning over 57 percent of the vote. Despite that wide margin, Schultz is running for the seat again this election because she says voters are disappointed in Stauber.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48qSVjY
MPD: From Taylor Rivera and Chad Hartman via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Police are facing backlash after records showed a man had called 911 dozens of times before he was shot last week by his neighbor . . . Former St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson tells WCCO Radio's Chad Hartman it shouldn't have take officers this long to make an arrest.” QUOTE: "My goodness, eight months this guy has been calling and, basically, it seems like begging the Minneapolis police to do something about this guy," Anderson said. "And nothing was done until he was shot. That's, that's unacceptable." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4e2wtPi
PRODUCING FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers s of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
LIST: Sun Country is the only Minnesota company to make Fortune’s list of the 100 fastest-growing. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/40rhATC
SURVEY: Via a report from Morning Consult, on gift buying demand, VERBATIM: “Consumers are most likely to be waiting for sales to purchase clothing or electronics while parents are more likely than nonparents to be waiting for a sale across all categories surveyed.” REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/3YGiOsC
TARGET: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Target announced today that it will hold a new three-day ‘Early Black Friday sale’ on top of its normal daily and weekly holiday deals. Why it matters: The Minneapolis-based retailer is the latest to announce its holiday shopping plans. Walmart, the world's largest retailer, said on Monday that it will hold two Black Friday sales. The big picture: The traditional holiday shopping season morphed during COVID, when more deals moved online and spread out consumer demand over longer periods of time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UqcX8r
KZ: Via Sports Business Journal, VERBATIM: “Aramark Sports & Entertainment is partnering with team dining company KZ Provisioning to get the St. Paul, Minn.-based company’s food in front of more athletes and teams in the coming years. By leveraging Aramark’s contacts in the industry, KZ Provisioning will look to partner with NHL, NBA and college teams.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YlfT7o
SPIRIT MT: From Hannah Morgan via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth City council unanimously approved two resolutions for the Spirit Mountain Restoration Project on Monday night. Last year, the state had approved $13.5 million dollars to the project through state grants, requiring matching funds. Monday, the council matched the funds through general bonds. The city will pay half of the $13 million dollars back and Spirit Mountain pay the other half.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48owADH
HOSPITALITY: From Madison Roth via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “A recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis indicated that summer revenue was down year over year for hospitality and tourism sectors around the state.” QUOTE: “Businesses in the Twin Cities and the state’s northeast region were especially hard hit, with a larger share of survey respondents reporting worsening traffic and revenue,” according to the Fed’s report. “Among business sectors, food and drink establishments were hardest hit. … Compared with the past three summers, more and more hospitality and tourism businesses have reported decreasing demand for their services” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40ncvvm
MORE: Via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the report. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NM9zkw
JOBS: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Local manufacturing companies were out recruiting new hires in Brooklyn Park on Tuesday, Oct. 29, with a message: the industry has changed. ‘A lot of people have this preconception of manufacturing being dark, dirty and dangerous, because that’s quite frankly what it could have been in the past,’ said Lori Higgins, president of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce. ‘And that’s not at all what it is like today. So there’s technology, there’s wonderful advantages in working in manufacturing.’ The chamber and the North Metro Manufacturing Collective hosted a career and resource fair at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NNkABW
“MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED:” EMPOWERMENT TRAINING OPENS PATHWAY INTO THE TRADES - Since 2019, a partnership between Five Skies Empowerment Training and Enbridge has broadened as unions, contractors and other groups look to connect Native American job seekers to meaningful careers. “They’re gonna open the door for you,” says Joel, a program graduate. “Before the 5 Skies program I wasn’t aware there were so many opportunities,” explains Ashley. “My whole life changed,” says Melissa. Click here to submit an application, and find out more on upcoming training. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XoPg0D (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
HOCKEY: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Expansion is on the table for the six-team Professional Women’s Hockey League, and executives aren’t placing limitations on which North American markets they’ll consider in a bid to add as many as two franchises for the 2025-26 season. The only certainty is a vision of the timing being right to build on the support the PWHL generated in its inaugural year, and the growth the league projects entering its second season, which opens on Nov. 30.” QUOTE: “I don’t think we rule out any market,” senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “This is a good opportunity for us to learn and continue to explore. So everything’s on the table right now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yyrhgu
FLIGHTS: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Lufthansa will shift its service between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Frankfurt, Germany to Discover Airlines, a subsidiary, in 2025. The airline began operating the new route in June, offering flights five-days-per-week on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eYrMXY
SUN COUNTRY: From Sun Country via Globe Newswire, VERBATIM: “Sun Country Airlines announces the extension of its selling schedule through September 2, 2025. With this extension, customers can book non-stop, affordable travel to more than 100 destinations through 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BZyC0I
RED WING: From Allison Kaplan via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Red Wing Shoe Company was ahead of the curve in 1964 when it introduced Vasque as a standalone shoe brand focused on technical hiking, just as the sport was beginning to grow. But as competition got steeper, Vasque struggled to keep up. Following three years of flat sales, the 119-year-old Minnesota manufacturer said this month it will shutter the Vasque brand.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4htCM15
BEMIDJI: From Sydney Dick via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The new Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange (SVSE) Program at North Homes Children and Family Services in Bemidji has officially opened to the public. ‘It’s very much needed,’ stated SVSE Program Coordinator Melissa Erwin. ‘Many people lose their life to intimate partner violence. It can be very scary. You can feel very alone. So we really just want to support people and help them so hopefully they can heal and live better.’ The program provides a space for families who have experienced domestic violence and have different child custody situations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48vi6SA
BIO-TECHNE: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Bio-Techne beat first-quarter profit estimates on Wednesday helped by growth in its diagnostics and spatial biology segment, sending the shares of the biotech company up 4.59% in premarket trading. On an adjusted basis, the Minnesota-based company posted a profit of 42 cents per share, surpassing the estimates of 38 cents per share, according to data collected by LSEG.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NL9Mo1
ALLETE: Via RTTNews, VERBATIM: “ALLETE, Inc. (ALE), an energy company, Wednesday reported net profit of $45 million or $0.78 per share for the third quarter, significantly lower than $85.9 million or $1.49 per share in the same quarter a year ago, mainly due to a gain of about $0.71 per share in the previous-year quarter related to the favorable arbitration ruling involving a subsidiary of ALLETE Clean Energy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3A8Ybw1
ALERUS: Via Zacks, VERBATIM: “Alerus (ALRS) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.44 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.45 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -40.91%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NMFJfA
CVRX: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “CVRx Inc. (CVRX) on Tuesday reported a loss of $13.1 million in its third quarter. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had a loss of 57 cents. The results missed Wall Street expectations . . . The medical device company posted revenue of $13.4 million in the period, which beat Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40kuFhm
PARTNERSHIP: Via Blaze, VERBATIM: “Blaze is pleased to announce a new partnership with Minnesota native and Minnesota Wild defenseman, Brock Faber.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UvuBHU
(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Credit Union Network is a client and sponsor of Fluence Media)
NOTE: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in other newsletters. If you love lunch take, sign up for the other tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TONIGHT: Via Rep. Ilhan Omar, VERBATIM: “Rep. Omar will host a town hall and provide updates on her work in Washington. Local elected officials will also provide remarks at the start of the program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AhOdbE
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
CANNABIS: From Kiya Edwards via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Whether purchased from dealer or dispensary, weed has become more potent over the years. In 2022, the federal government reported THC levels more than tripled since 1995. Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Graduate School addressed this Friday at its first cannabis summit. Attendees primarily included the nonprofit's graduate students as well as undergraduate students from nearby universities.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NILqv1
RURAL HEALTH: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “During a recent presidential campaign rally in Wisconsin, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) was asked how a Trump administration would protect rural health care access in the face of hospital closures, such as two this year in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. In response, he turned to immigration. ‘Now, you might not think that rural health care access is an immigration issue,’ said Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate. ‘I guarantee it is an immigration issue, because we’re bankrupting a lot of hospitals by forcing these hospitals to provide care for people who don’t have the legal right to be in our country’ . . . Experts on hospital financing and industry representatives generally disagreed with Vance’s assertion, noting that many other factors figure in closures.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40qwjho
GAZA: From Mohamed Ibrahim via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Health care institutions in Minnesota and across the country have been ‘persistently silencing’ workers from speaking about Israel’s military attacks on Gaza since the conflict began a year ago, say some local health care professionals. Alycia Garubanda, a speech pathologist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in south Minneapolis, said some workplaces feel unsafe due to bans on work events featuring Palestinian doctors. Some employees have also been fired for posting support for Palestine on personal social media accounts, she added.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C2DP82
DECEMBER: From Hannah Yang via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Dakota riders will ride again this December — and this time under two new groups and a renewed purpose. After the Dakota 38+2 Memorial Ride ended in 2022, participants wanted the legacy to continue and to find a way to bring communities back together. Now they are starting the next chapter with two new rides — the Mankato Healing and Reconciliation Ride and The Dakota Exile Ride.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48q9Enk
ROSES: From Izabella Zadra via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Saturday members of Duluth Public Works, the Lake Superior Rose Society, and local volunteers helped in this year’s tipping of the roses in Duluth’s Rose Garden. Rose tipping is a process certain types of roses need to get through the winter. Volunteers helped prep the plants for winter by digging trenches, tipping the bushes on their sides, and then covering them back up with dirt and leaves.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fkzImf
FERGUS FALLS: From Matthew Holding Eagle III via MPR, VERBATIM: “The former home of Fergus Falls’ first Black resident, Prince Honeycutt, is in jeopardy of being forfeited to the county if a Nov. 1 deadline to pay $10,000 for a longstanding city assessment isn’t met. The nonprofit Flowing Brook Ministries has been managing the property for about eight years. Honeycutt built the house in 1885. President and founder Lynette Higgins-Orr said losing the house would have statewide ramifications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C2UDfe
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters: fluence-newsletters.com
KIDIZEN: From Allison Kaplan via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Online children’s apparel resale marketplace Kidizen announced its sudden closure on Tuesday, shocking its loyal community, primarily made up of mom buyers and sellers. Kidizen was launched a decade ago by Minneapolis entrepreneurs Dori Graff and Mary Fallon, seasoned marketing executives who saw an opportunity to create a niche marketplace for moms like themselves—a population underrepresented among tech startups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YTATnr
MOVE: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Caitlin Anderson reports Gamer Packaging plans to move its headquarters to a new location in downtown Minneapolis – it’s less than a block from the company’s current HQ. READ: https://fluence-media.co/48owY57
YARDSTIK: From Minneapolis-based Yardstik via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Yardstik, a measurably better background screening, compliance, and fraud-prevention platform, today announced a key leadership transition as it enters its next phase of rapid growth and innovation. After co-founding and leading Yardstik through significant product advancements and strong growth, CEO Matt Meents is passing the leadership torch to COO Andrew Johnson. Matt will remain on Yardstik's board.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eUYVDX
DONALDSON: From Bloomington-based Donaldson via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, today announced that Scott Robinson, chief financial officer, will retire from his current role effective October 31st, 2024. Brad Pogalz, currently vice president, global financial planning and analysis, will assume the role of chief financial officer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48vltJe
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
KNITTING: From Saija Maki-Waller via MplsStPaul, yarn supply stores in the Twin Cities. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4hqqxlR
NORTHEAST: From Justine Jones via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “From baba ghanoush and fresh mistah bread at Emily’s Lebanese Deli, to massive chimichangas at El Taco Riendo, to crispy pork belly and shrimp banh xeo at Hai Hai, Northeast is one of Minneapolis’s most essential dining destinations.” LIST/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4d6jGLq
If you like podcasts, listen to Beers with Blois... https://fluence-media.co/3vkqhMN
BDAYS: pen guy Barry Rubin, blogger Sally Jo Sorenson, Star Tribune’s Michael Rand, attorney Sarah Duniway, retired Strib guy Scott Gillespie, financial planner Kip Christianson