White smoke from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel – a new Pope has been elected — an American. UPDATES: https://fluence-media.co/3Zbn3wb
Bill Gates says he’ll shut down his foundation earlier than planned – but not before supercharging it with 99% of his personal fortune. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ELcucq
January through March crime data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows incidents of violent crime (homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) are down year-over-year, including in Minneapolis. NUMBERS: https://fluence-media.co/43jCDbs
A federal judge temporarily blocked the U.S. from flying migrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Laos to Libya. READ: https://fluence-media.co/44uLo3M
Despite economic uncertainty (or maybe because of it), we’re spending less, saving more, and paying down credit card debt. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/3RU77dS
National Business Capital says Minnesota is the 9th most recession-ready state. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4m5cBjx
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4385PBd
Sports Take out later today. Sign up or read it HERE: https://fluence-media.co/sportstake
Sunday Take discussed what schools need from the legislature with Kirk Schneidewind (Minnesota Association of School Boards) and Scott Croonquist (Association of Metropolitan School Districts). LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Yt4Gm9
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
RESPONSIBLEGAMING: Legal sports betting platforms offer responsible game tools that offshore and illegal sports betting don’t offer. In fact, age verification is not required with most offshore providers. Learn more about why legalized sports betting is more responsible. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kgJoS4 (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
TODAY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert is making a trip to the state Capitol Thursday to address proposed cuts to the city’s budget, with more than a million dollars on the chopping block. The Senate Committee on Taxes released its omnibus tax bill Tuesday night. In it, Mayor Reinert says the proposed 3.1% cut to Duluth’s Local Government Aid (LGA) equals $1.1 million the city would be losing from its general fund. LGA is the single largest source of revenue and is nearly a third of the city’s income.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/430Ykfe
MORE: Via KQDS-TV, quoting the Mayor, REINERT: “This proposed cut also highlights a concern I have raised repeatedly: the City’s heavy reliance on LGA. It has proven to be an unpredictable source of state aid over the years. We must continue to make it a priority to grow our own tax base in order to be more financially self-sustaining.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3H0puva
TODAY: Via Facebook, from a group of organizations, VERBATIM: “Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Save the Boundary Waters, Trust for Public Lands, Minnesota Conservation Federation, National Audubon Society, Minnesota Trout Unlimited, National Parks Conservation Association, and Voyageurs Conservancy will gather at the Minnesota Capitol to rally for public lands and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area . . . The threats are real, and time is running out to make our voices heard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mbCJcU
ICYMI… morning take shared news that the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved legislation to end a mining ban in the Superior National Forest. You can read it HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4d7xwi1
MINING: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Cleveland-Cliffs will pause or slow operations at plants after logging a wider loss and lower revenue in the first quarter. The steelmaker on Wednesday said it is fully or partially idling six facilities between March and May, and cited the need to optimize its footprint and shift away from loss-making operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44ZTAZJ
MORE: From today’s Cleveland-Cliffs earnings news release, VERBATIM: “Between March and May of 2025, Cliffs made the decision to fully or partially idle six facilities to optimize its footprint, reposition away from loss-making operations, and release excess working capital . . . A full idle of the Minorca mine and partial idle of the Hibbing Taconite mine, each in Minnesota, primarily to re-balance working capital needs and consume excess pellet inventory produced in 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GJXmN3
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Governor Tim Walz today announced that state business development programs have helped create or retain a record 4,750 jobs in Minnesota this fiscal year. Since July 1, 2024, the Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) Job Creation Fund and Minnesota Investment Fund have supported 23 business expansions that will collectively create or retain nearly 4,750 jobs – the most since the programs' inception in 2004. The two programs have provided $35 million in funding, leveraging nearly $1.2 billion in outside business investment this fiscal year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d7WyNX
FRAUD: Via news release from Rep. Brad Finstad, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) led Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) in sending a letter to Governor Walz and leadership of the Minnesota Legislature communicating their urgent and growing concern related to widespread fraud, waste, and abuse within public programs administered by the State of Minnesota, many of which involve federal funding and oversight. In the letter, the Representatives outline repeated cases of failed oversight and accountability across multiple state agencies and programs that resulted in fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars, citing recent incidents within the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Housing Stabilization Services, the Child Care Assistance Program, and others.” RELEASE: https://fluence-media.co/4ke9FQb LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3GMn1oa
TARIFFS: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “New tariffs have been an ongoing topic of discussion in recent months and have affected multiple businesses across the country. LaValley Industries in Bemidji, which buys, builds, ships, and sells a wide range of machinery and industrial products not only across the U.S. but the entire globe, has seen a wide range of effects from the tariffs that have been put in place.” QUOTE: “We’ve always built and manufactured [items] made in Bemidji, made in Minnesota,” said Jason LaValley, the company’s CEO. “However, there are parts and components that we buy that we cannot get here. Can the tariffs impact us? They can; they haven’t really yet, but they could for LaValley Industries in the future if there are big tariffs in play.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44oyF2p
LIFE TIME: Via MarketWatch, VERBATIM: “Shares of [Eden Prairie-based] Life Time Group Holdings touched an all-time high after the company lifted its guidance for the year and said membership and spending rose in its key first quarter. The stock rose 6% to a high of $34.99 after the opening bell. Shares have now gained more than 50% since the start of the year and are trading at their highest level since the company went public in 2021. The chain of high-end fitness and spa centers said before the opening bell that it now expects $2.94 billion to $2.98 billion in revenue for the year, instead of $2.925 billion to $2.975 billion as previously projected, and a profit of $286 million to $293 million, up from its prior outlook for $277 million to $284 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F0FBbA
TOMORROW: Via news release from Rep. Pete Stauber, VERBATIM: “This Friday, May 9th, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Forest Lake Chamber in hosting a roundtable on the need to extend pro-growth business tax provisions before portions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expire at the end of the year. If Congress does not act to extend these tax cuts, the country will see the largest automatic tax increase in American history.”
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from IDEA, VERBATIM: “The International District Energy Association (IDEA) will be holding its 116th annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota from Monday, June 2 to Thursday, June 5, 2025. Minnesota is an epicenter of district energy growth and has seen significant investment in district energy in recent years, including in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Duluth and Rochester. The annual conference, which first opened in 1909, generally attracts attendees from more than 400 cities and nearly 30 countries from around the world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GXTBDv
ROCHESTER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Leaders of the Black and Somali American communities in Rochester are calling for legal action after a video surfaced online of a Rochester woman calling a child a racial slur on a playground. The incident, which happened last week and has drawn national attention, was the focus of a town hall Wednesday, hosted by the Rochester branch of the NAACP.” QUOTE: “When I saw that video, I didn’t just see a child; I saw myself,” Salah Mohamed, an imam in Rochester, told the crowd at the Rochester Civic Center. “I saw my own son. I saw every child in our community who’s ever had to carry that same pain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44q0h7n
BROOKLYN CENTER: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Brooklyn Center City Council may consider condensing its municipal liquor store operations. Currently, Brooklyn Center runs two liquor stores and uses revenue to benefit the city.
However, the city council was required by law to review its municipal liquor operations after posting losses in 2022 and 2023.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Z6FcLy
DATA CENTERS: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Brainerd City Council held a vote on Monday on whether data centers would be allowed to be built in the city. An ordinance was approved to let businesses operate a data center only if they have a conditional use permit. One concern brought up by council members was the noise that a potential data center could output. According to C&C Technology, noises inside of a data center can reach up to 96 decibels, roughly equivalent of the noise a lawn mower would make.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Z98s4h
MYSTERY PROJECT: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports a developer is planning a 1.8 million square foot industrial park in Hermantown. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iWgLrr
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers 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)
FISHING: Via MPR, reporting from Crosslake where the Governor’s Fishing Opener will take place Saturday. VERBATIM: “Crosslake is also home to the National Loon Center, a nonprofit dedicated to research, education and conservation of Minnesota’s state bird. It plans to break ground on a new $18.5 million facility in June. Jon Mobeck, the center’s executive director, said the fishing opener is an opportunity to highlight that one of the biggest threats loons face comes from swallowing lead sinkers, lures and jigs.” MOBECK: “The simple fact is we know with 100 percent certainty that lead is poisonous and lethal to loons.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/434M25D
FLIGHTS: Via The Points Guy, Delta is adding a flight from Westchester County, New York to MSP and cutting flights from MSP to Albuquerque, Buffalo, Fairbanks, and Great Falls. READ: https://fluence-media.co/433dkt0
(DISCLOSURE: Delta Air Lines is a client of Fluence Advisory)
MAPLE GROVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Maple Grove’s rapidly developing gravel mining area will soon be home to BioMADE, a nonprofit company that will act as a large-scale hub for testing biotech products. ‘The announcement in Maple Grove is really about the lack of infrastructure here in the United States. Specifically, around piloting infrastructure,’ said Jack Starr, BioMADE’s chief manufacturing officer. BioMADE is converting a 122,000-square-foot building near Highway 169 and Elm Creek Blvd that’s been vacant for more than a year into a new facility that will help companies test their products before full-scale production using Minnesota-grown crops.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3F5sMN9
ST PAUL: Finally some good news from downtown St. Paul – the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Hepcat Coffee Shop plans to expand into a larger space in the former Ecolab headquarters. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GZF0HJ
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)
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor released this morning shows that, as of Tuesday, little had changed – 22% of the state was still in drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
LAB: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “One Duluth City Councilor is sending a message to federal officials to keep the EPA Lab open. Duluth City Councilor Wendy Durrwachter held a press conference outside of the lab Wednesday afternoon ahead of her proposed resolution Monday. She joined other state and federal lawmakers pushing to keep the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division in operation. The lab contributes $15 million to Minnesota’s economy each year and employs about 150 people.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jOdV9c
WORKFORCE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “New programs at Minnesota North Colleges are aiming to meet growing regional employment demands. Minnesota North Colleges, which include campuses in Hibbing, Eveleth, Ely and other communities, will launch five new career programs this fall. The programs are focused on forestry, addiction studies and more.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/436eWlU
CRYSTAL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “One of Crystal city’s parks will receive significant improvements this summer. Twin Oaks Park is slated to have upgrades totaling nearly $640,000. Those improvements include a new playground and a new picnic shelter. On Tuesday, the Crystal City Council approved a contract for concrete work and paved trail improvements at the park.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4m7UIAN
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, more quarterly reports from Minnesota-based companies:
ALLETE: “Allete Inc. (ALE) on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $56.1 million. The Duluth, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 97 cents per share . . . The power company owner posted revenue of $400.2 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43bxjpD
STRATASYS: “Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) on Thursday reported a loss of $13.1 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 18 cents . . . The maker of 3D printers posted revenue of $136 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EJuMe9
SUNOPTA: “SunOpta Inc. (STKL) on Wednesday reported profit of $4.8 million in its first quarter. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 4 cents per share. The natural and organic food company posted revenue of $201.6 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m81p5I
DIGI: “Digi International Inc. (DGII) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $10.5 million. The Hopkins, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 28 cents per share . . . The results topped Wall Street expectations . . . The provider of communication adapters posted revenue of $104.5 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F2eugl
SKYWATER: “SkyWater Technology Inc. (SKYT) on Wednesday reported a loss of $7.3 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Bloomington, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 15 cents . . . The company posted revenue of $61.3 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/435Un97
NVE: “NVE Corp. (NVEC) on Wednesday reported net income of $3.9 million in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 80 cents per share. The nanotechnology company posted revenue of $7 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jVgm9V
SEZZLE: Via PYMNTS, VERBATIM: “Fresh off Tuesday’s announcement that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) would not treat buy now, pay later (BNPL) companies like credit card networks, Sezzle’s first quarter 2025 results highlight a company in the midst of rapid transformation, with nonfinancial developments signaling a strategic pivot toward deeper consumer engagement and platform innovation. The Minneapolis-based BNPL provider rolled out several new features this quarter, including a Pay-in-5 beta program, enhanced shopping tools such as price comparison, wish lists, and auto-applied coupons, as well as the Money IQ financial education module.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/437Ws4q
TILE SHOP: Via Guru Focus, VERBATIM: “[Plymouth-based] Tile Shop Holdings (TTSH, Financial) recorded a decrease in revenue for the first quarter, reporting $88 million compared to $91.7 million during the same period last year. The company also experienced a 4.0% drop in comparable store sales. Despite the challenging conditions, particularly with low housing turnover, Tile Shop remains committed to enhancing its customer-focused strategies, paying particular attention to professional clients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YzSRKY
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SHOWS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The History Theatre in St. Paul has announced its 2025–2026 season, which is full of music, comedy, and of course history. The upcoming year features a world premiere about Minneapolis jazz singer Doris Hines, a new musical set at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, and a production exploring local Civil War history.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4drEbUB
CAMP: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “We’ve rounded up the top summer camps across the state, offering a wide range of experiences that promise to make this summer unforgettable.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3GXyGAw
BDAYS: Care Providers CEO Toby Pearson, fmr. St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell, New Publica’s Ewin Torres DeSantiago, DHS’s Lorna Schmidt
Fluence Media curates, produces and distributes specialized media products to thought leadership audiences across the Midwest and about the region. Our publications cover, politics, public policy, health care, agriculture, business, real estate, sports and more. Visit www.fluence-media.com to learn more.
about morning take- Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.
Copyright © 2025 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427