lunch take | "All Parliamentary Tactics" Pledged in Fight Over MN House Control
1.6.25
The world’s best cinnamon roll can be found in Minneapolis according to a site that’s handed down the title every year since 2018. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41VJd7Y
The funeral for former president Jimmy Carter Thursday will include a eulogy written by his late vice president, Walter Mondale. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h2Zkor
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4a7kgZg
Sunday Take had new GOP Alex Plechash to discuss how he feels about primaries, fundraising and the GOP opportunity. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WaJ8cL
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MN HOUSE: Via House DFL Caucus, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans voted for a tied House, but in recent weeks Republican Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth has signaled her caucus’s intention to use a two-week, one-seat advantage to rewrite House Rules to permanently disadvantage Democrats, and to unseat a duly elected member of the Democratic caucus when the new legislative session starts on January 14. During a December 23 interview with KARE11, Demuth said that Republicans ‘are fully going to be operating as if we are in the majority in the House of Representatives.’ In the Minnesota House of Representatives, a majority is 68 seats. Due to a pending special election in a safe DFL district, House Republicans have a temporary 67-66 plurality until January 28. A majority of 68 members is required to conduct business in the Minnesota House of Representatives, which means the 67-member Republican caucus has no ability to conduct business without collaboration with House Democrats.” QUOTE: “Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of Democratic and Republican state representatives. Honoring the will of the voters means governing together under shared power,” said DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman. “Minnesotans want Republicans to honor the will of the voters. We would like to get to work on a bipartisan basis to tackle the challenges Minnesotans elected us to address. We have no interest in spending January locked in partisan warfare with House Republicans, but we do not intend to allow them to pretend that 67 votes is a majority and engage in an illegitimate power grab. Democrats are prepared to use all parliamentary tactics available to us in the absence of a power-sharing agreement on the first day of session."
TODAY: Via Minnesota House, VERBATIM: “Today, DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman will hold a media availability at approximately 1:15pm in the Capitol press conference room (B971).”
TODAY/TOMORROW: Ahead of a judicial ruling that could send the fate of a Shakopee-area Minnesota House seat back to voters, the candidate who won by 14 votes (a win disputed by Republicans after it was discovered 20 ballots were missing), supporters of Democrat Brad Tabke plan three fundraisers over the next two days. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gCBdgy
QUALLS: Fmr. GOP candidate for CD3 and Governor Kendall Qualls is expected to announce for Governor in 2026 the coming weeks.
JUDGE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A state panel has recommenced an Anoka County judge be suspended for reported misconduct, which included using his own bias when ruling on cases. A panel appointed by the Board on Judicial Standards released a recommendation that Judge John Dehen receive a six-month unpaid suspension. The recommendation comes after a complaint of judicial misconduct was filed against Dehen by the board in March. According to the findings cited in the recommendation, Dehen ‘manifested a bias against the law and non-citizen juveniles seeking immigration benefits’ and wrongly denied several petitions for guardianship.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h0Bf1A
MPD: From Kyle Stokes via Axios, VERBATIM: “A new federal reform plan for the Minneapolis Police Department could be announced as soon as Monday, according to reports from multiple news outlets. Why it matters: A deal on a consent decree this week could leave just enough time to lock in federal court oversight of MPD before President-elect Trump takes office Jan. 20. Trump limited the use of consent decrees for police agencies in his first term and has argued they weaken law enforcement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40mbd3k
MORE: From Estelle Timar-Wilcox via MPR, VERBATIM: “The consent decree — a federal tool for oversight of police — will likely mandate extensive reforms to the Minneapolis Police Department. City officials have been working with the Department of Justice to reach an agreement since June 2023, when a federal investigation found patterns of racism and excessive force in MPD.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PoGGLZ
MNLEG: From Shannon Slatton via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, outlines key legislative priorities before the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to convene Jan. 14. Limmer emphasizes the need for serious budget discussions.” QUOTE: “We are not ready for that huge of an increase in spending,” said Limmer, noting the pressure on taxpayers and the challenges of a still-recovering economy. “We need to have a family discussion about that 40 percent tax increase or spending increase from last year and that triggers a $10 billion need for new taxes. Those are bills that I did not support but that’s going to put tremendous pressure on our taxpayers.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/421vhJu
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)
STEEL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Biden administration decision to block Nippon's proposed $15 billion acquisition of the Pittsburgh company and said that the head of the Steelworkers union and a rival steelmaker worked together to scuttle the buyout. Biden said Friday that U.S. companies producing a large amount of steel need to ‘keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,’ though Japan, where Nippon is based, is a strong ally. In separate lawsuits filed Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the steelmakers allege that it was a political decision made by the Biden administration that had no rational legal basis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h0MCXb
HELIUM: From Pulsar via Globe Newswire, VERBATIM: “Pulsar Helium Inc. (AIM: PLSR, TSXV: PLSR, OTCQB: PSRHF), a leading helium project development company, announces that drilling for the deepening of the Jetstream #1 appraisal well commenced at 6:00PM (central time) on January 2nd, 2025, at its flagship Topaz Project in Minnesota. As part of this crucial phase, Pulsar plans to deepen the Jetstream #1 appraisal well by a minimum of 1,640 feet (500 metres), to a total depth of no less than 3,840 feet (1,170 metres) which is anticipated to be completed later this week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BYz7se
QUORUM: From J. Patrick Coolican via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Hopes for bipartisan comity at the state Capitol this year — forced upon the Minnesota House by the voters, who sent 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans to the Capitol — are already crashing. House Democrats are mulling not showing up for the first two weeks of the legislative session to prevent the chamber from achieving a 68-member quorum, according to lobbyists who’ve spoken to members and confirmed by two DFL legislative sources. Doing so would effectively shut down the House as Democrats seek to block Republicans from using their temporary, 1-seat advantage to elect a GOP House speaker. The gambit would attract national media attention and likely lead to a political and legal firestorm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BSFZYh
ICYMI… morning take with more on the upcoming legislative session and the wrangling in both the House and Senate over the balance of power. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3DDyyEI
VACCINATIONS: From Kyra Miles via MPR, VERBATIM: “Vaccination rates for school-aged children have declined in Minnesota and across the nation as more families seek to exempt their kids from required vaccinations. Medical professionals say those exemption counts are near the point where Minnesotans should be extremely concerned, especially when it comes to schools. In 2024, Minnesota cases of pertussis, a highly contagious disease also known as whooping cough, hit an eight-year high. The Twin Cities last year also saw a measles outbreak as the immunization rate for the MMR — measles, mumps and rubella — vaccine continues to drop.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fRSocF
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CANNABIS: From Dustin Nelson via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A members-only cannabis consumption lounge is opening in north Minneapolis. MAC Social Club will open on the second floor of 1914 N Washington Ave. above Bar Brava. The lounge is available exclusively to members and won't sell cannabis. It's a ‘bring-your-own-cannabis’ space.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fL7nFA
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
VIKINGS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A source with the National Football League says no rules were broken when the Vikings spent nearly $2 million for tickets behind the Lions' bench for Sunday night's game in Detroit. Sports Illustrated first reported the deal, with the Vikings reportedly giving nearly 1,900 fans a chance to buy those seats for as little as $200 each.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGtFt3
LEADERSHIP: From Ben Goessling via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Vikings enter the final week of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s and Kevin O’Connell’s third season together in Minnesota with a 14-2 record, their best since 1998. Once the season is done, their ownership plans to begin talks with the general manager and head coach about contract extensions. In a recent interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune about the Wilf family’s 20 seasons owning the Vikings, co-owner Mark Wilf was asked how high the owners’ interest level is in reaching new deals with Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell this offseason.” WILF: “We’re looking forward to a great future with these guys,” he said. “We look forward to having those conversations with each of them after the season. We have tremendous confidence, and we look forward to their continued leadership of the franchise.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jfJt86
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VITAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT FUELS THE FUTURE OF THIS WISCONSIN TRIBE - In 2017, one of the “glaring needs” for the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, in northwest Wisconsin, was an expanded wastewater treatment facility. “It was at capacity. We were not able to expand any of our businesses or facilities,” says Jason, the LCO Band’s Emergency Management Coordinator. With the support of Enbridge and several other partners, the LCO Band quadrupled its wastewater treatment capacity—allowing for creation of a new preschool, fire hall, 40-unit apartment complex, police headquarters and, still to come, health clinic and new residential community. “I’m very grateful for the partnership we’ve developed with Enbridge,” says Jason. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49v4mHc (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
LICENSE PLATES: From Andrew Krueger via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new blackout license plates had a powerful first year of sales. More than a quarter-million vehicles in the state now have the plates featuring a simple design of white letters and numbers on a black background. The plates first went on sale on Jan. 1, 2024. Minnesota’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division reports in the first year of availability, it sold 256,387 of the plates. That exceeds expectations that were already high.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C4QqI8
FIREFIGHTERS: From Al Schoch via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Fire Department class of 2025 are now ready to begin their careers. Wearing dress, white shirts and black ties, 21 cadets marched to the stage at Northeast Minneapolis' Ukrainian Event Center to receive their silver Minneapolis Fire Department badges.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZWPbTq
TOMORROW: From Minneapolis-based Apogee via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) will report its fiscal 2025 third quarter results on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, before the market opens. The Company will also host a conference call to discuss its financial results. This conference call will be webcast beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, on January 7, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BnpfIf
NEXT MONTH: From Corey Bork via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A winter tradition in Plymouth will get a new location this year. Fire & Ice, the city’s 36th annual festival, will take place this year at Plymouth Creek Playfield. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The city previously held the event on Parkers Lake.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4h41Gne
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
FEEDLOTS: From Nathan Bowe via Detroit Lakes Tribune, VERBATIM: “After hearing from farmers and environmentalists, the Becker County Board approved a new feedlot ordinance at a special meeting on Tuesday. The new feedlot ordinance is short, but does include the requirement for at least one monitoring well per site to check for water contamination, as recommended by the Becker County Planning Commission.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gzO4jA
TAX CREDIT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fL2g8n
EPA: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The biofuels industry is preparing for new leadership at EPA. American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says the nomination of former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin raises some concerns.” JENNINGS: “Look, as a congressman from Long Island Lee Zeldin had a really bad record on ethanol. He cosponsored bills that would repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard and prohibit E15. As administrator of EPA, he’s in charge of the Renewable Fuel Standard and E15.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4h1krHW
SCARVES: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “One Good Deed, a Golden Valley nonprofit, is preparing to help hundreds in need warm up. Every late December, founder Michelle Christensen fills her Golden Valley garage with bags of winter warmth . . . Her garage only holds a fraction of the collection of warm items. All of those are poised to be sorted . . . All of this is for One Good Deed’s eighth annual ‘scarf bomb.’ In this annual event, she and a large group of volunteers collect and then distribute pounds upon pounds of warm winter clothing for people without consistent shelter.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41YYapB
READING: From Derek James via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “For 15 years, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has turned the traditional ‘holiday gift guide’ into a philanthropic mission, highlighting organizations that champion health and education. He's helped raise more than $1 million for the nonprofit Reach Out and Read. For its Minnesota chapter, this additional funding comes at a crucial time.
According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 46.5% of third graders in the state are reading proficiently.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4a6dl2C
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FASTENAL: From Winona-based Fastenal via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Fastenal Company (Nasdaq:FAST) announced the date and time for its conference call to review 2024 annual and fourth quarter results, as well as current operations. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. central time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h3MJRT
POLARIS: From Medina-based Polaris via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced today that it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, and will hold a conference call and webcast at 10:00 AM central time on the same day to discuss the results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gZImr2
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MIDDLE EASTERN: From Matthew Awad and Stacy Brooks via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The term Middle Eastern cuisine is a bit of a misnomer, as the region encompasses parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with dozens of ethnic groups and cultural traditions. While the cuisine is diverse, some ingredients and dishes form a common thread: olive oil and hummus, chickpeas and falafel, pitas and kebabs, plus honey and baklava. The Twin Cities’ best Middle Eastern restaurants offer a delicious culinary tour via Turkish doners, Persian kebabs, Kurdish dowjic soup, and much more.” LIST/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/40kc04R
BDAYS: JE Dunn’s Jeff Callinan, MBP’s Katie Nadeau, hockey mom Molly Cronin, food writer Stephanie Meyer, KFAN’s Zach Halverson, professor Jay Williams
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.
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