21% of American K-12 teachers say they’re finding it difficult to get by on their household income. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/40CxDfU
Three Team USA hockey players will be on The Tonight Show. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4csZh6x
Over the weekend, two members of the men’s team and two of the women’s appeared on SNL. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4coo5MY
Eric Clapton will play Grand Casino Arena in September. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NellY9
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4lnp4iZ
Sunday Take discussed the future of mining on the Iron Range with GOP Rep. Spencer Igo, DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild and Mining Minnesota CEO Julie Lucas. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4seg0ij
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY: Senate Republicans will hold a news conference on tax relief bills at 11:45 in Capitol Press Conference Room.
TOMORROW: Via Stock Story, VERBATIM: “General merchandise retailer Target (NYSE:TGT) will be announcing earnings results this Tuesday morning . . . This quarter, the market is expecting Target’s revenue to decline 1.5% year on year, improving from the 3.1% decrease it recorded in the same quarter last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u8PjgY
MORE: Via Investopedia, VERBATIM: “The retailer is widely expected to report a year-over-year decline in sales and profits for the fourth quarter, but analysts said more attention will likely be on Target‘s outlook under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, who took over at the start of the month. UBS analysts recently said they expect focus to be on Target’s forward-looking comments, with its CEO transition seen as an opportunity for Target to undertake a ‘fundamental reshape of many of its key processes, assets, and culture.’ That could also mean higher spending this year on store remodels, along with improvements to Target’s supply chain and e-commerce capabilities, they said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sjF5Zm
MORE: Via Seeking Alpha, VERBATIM: “Wall Street expects the retail giant to post EPS of $2.16, implying a fall of 10.4%, while revenue is expected to fall 1.5% to $30.47 billion during the quarter. During the period, the retailer announced plans to expand stores and outlined significant investments in stores and technology. The company rolled out AI-powered and digital shopping initiatives, including a partnership with OpenAI and shopping integration with ChatGPT, while also testing faster delivery capabilities. Promotional pricing actions and exclusive in-store offerings with Starbucks were seen amid the holiday season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OUtjGh
ST PAUL: Via Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, VERBATIM: “Consistently measured as the busiest month of the year for downtown Saint Paul, March is expected to once again draw nearly a million visitors from across the region. With the major Minnesota State High School boys hockey and wrestling tournaments and dozens of events on the calendar, downtown Saint Paul is set to showcase its sports, arts, entertainment and culture offerings throughout the month. Downtown leaders anticipate key events to attract nearly 1 million visitors this year.”
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
2026 SESSION
BUDGET: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The budget table is set for the rest of Minnesota’s legislative session, and a richer spread reflected in a new economic forecast could satisfy more lawmaker appetites. For now, though, some want to stick to the diet they expected the Legislature to be on coming into the year. ‘There are some things that we need to spend on, but our caucus is very, very committed to being frugal,’ said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46Bb7HR
BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley, DFL-Brooklyn Park, plans to push for a bill that would bring improvements to the Northwest Metro Regional Athletic Facility in Brooklyn Park. The bonding request would fund an expansion and facelift to the Community Activity Center, designed to serve all ages and interests, from ice sports to multi-purpose courts.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4u4UVbX
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability—providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
EVIDENCE: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced it is launching an evidence portal for its Transparency and Accountability Project. The project will investigate allegations of unlawful behavior by federal agents and ‘pursue accountability’ if appropriate, the Attorney’s Office said. It is staffed by prosecutors and a civilian investigator.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3N3n16C
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Rodney Johnson’s political beliefs have always aligned most closely with the Republican party . . . Johnson is chair of the Clay County Republicans. He’s vehemently against abortion and supports low taxes. Recently, though, another topic has emerged among the issues Johnson is most concerned about: immigration. Specifically, how immigration ought to be enforced . . . Johnson said he’s not surprised President Donald Trump engaged in more aggressive immigration enforcement crackdowns to rein in illegal immigration. However, Johnson feels these crackdowns, many of which have involved detaining people with legal residency status, have gone too far.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r9osyH
ST CLOUD: Via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “Early on after resettling in the U.S. in 2009, Abdi Daisane talked to family members abroad about a welcome difference in his new country. Unlike in the Kenyan refugee camp where he and his family fled to from Somalia, he didn’t need to carry immigration documents around all the time. He didn’t feel like he lived on a border patrolled by agents who could demand his papers because of how he looked. He didn’t live in fear of being indefinitely detained. Over the last two months, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surged into Minnesota, Daisane felt an erosion of that sense of security he had once excitedly told his loved ones about.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ciY01J
RETAIL IMPACT: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “The day before the Trump White House announced an end to Operation Metro Surge, Northside grocery store owner Daniel Hernandez was considering selling personal assets to make payroll. Since December, when teams of federal agents moved into Minnesota to conduct aggressive immigration enforcement, Hernandez’s Colonial Market and Restaurant lost about 90 percent of its business, he said. His workforce, once 70 strong across two stores, was down to 19. At a store that caters to a growing Latino community, shoppers and employees alike were afraid to come to the store for fear that they could be randomly detained by ICE.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4050idC
RESTAURANTS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Although there’s been a reduction in the number of ICE agents in Minnesota, community activists say the fear of ICE still prevails and restaurants continue to lose business. That’s why dozens of people gathered to eat at several immigrant-owned restaurants along Central Avenue in northeast Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. Some of the businesses included El Taco Riendo, Holy Land and The Golden Nuts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sd4jbI
RENEE GOOD: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Renee Good loved sparkles and laughter and any excuse for a celebration. She loved pretty much everyone she met, and was late for pretty much everything. ‘She had this way of making you feel special and loved that I didn’t even understand that until we lost her,’ Donna Ganger said Friday of her daughter, who was shot and killed by an immigration officer during the federal crackdown in Minneapolis. She was ‘slow to anger, quick to love, quick to care,’ said her father, Tim Ganger. ‘That’s the essence of who she was.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rp7XPb
MINNESOTA’S ATV RIDERS ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS: Last September, hundreds of riders joined the ATV Minnesota President’s Ride — families, veterans, small business owners, and volunteers from across the state. They represent thousands of Minnesotans who responsibly use and maintain Minnesota’s ATV trail system. As decision makers evaluate trail policy, funding, and land-use decisions this session, we invite you to hear directly from the people they represent. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4u4dGw9 (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
THE LOCALS
DULUTH SCHOOLS: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Duluth Public Schools is facing a $4 million budget shortfall heading into next year, driven largely by rising health insurance costs for staff and the expense of special education services. District leaders have had to make cuts several times in recent years, but they say it doesn’t get easier.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sejEJ6
CAMERAS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Speeding has decreased while tickets have increased at several key intersections in Minneapolis, according to the first annual city report on traffic safety cameras. The 2025 report, released late last week, highlights the effectiveness of traffic safety cameras installed at five locations since October and November as part of a pilot program.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sjj0Ki
BADGES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Brooklyn Park Police Department has debuted new badges that feature a design emblematic of the city its officers serve. Officers’ badges have gone through different phases. The first one debuted with the formation of the police department in the 1950s. The second — and most recent one– featured the old state seal. That one was in rotation for about 50 years.” WATCH; https://fluence-media.co/46zfXFF
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
MINNESOTA HEADLINES
INVESTMENT: Via PE Hub, VERBATIM: “Tonka Bay Equity Partners has made an investment in Camp Digital, an Edina, Minnesota-based marketing platform for the home services industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rFh6Ux
PLYMOUTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “In addition to tidy aisles of colorful cereal boxes and coolers stocked with milk and eggs, Coborn’s Market & Table—which opens in Plymouth on March 12—is bringing local, scratch-made restaurant fare right into the grocery store. Coborn’s calls it the ‘grocerant’ model, where shoppers can pick up the essentials for the week ahead and stop by one of the chef-driven, in-store restaurants for a sit-down or take-home lunch or dinner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OJ6jtZ
NORTH MPLS: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “A Northside plant notified its workers it would be closing at the end of April after 60 years of making shingles and other roofing materials. The shutdown of GAF will bring unemployment to 120. But to many in surrounding neighborhoods, GAF’s departure was welcomed by residents who for three decades campaigned against the company for work practices they say spread toxic emissions that traveled through the air, settled in the ground, and flowed through the Mississippi River.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MGwz7H
NE MPLS: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports HeadFlyer Brewing will shut down its northeast Minneapolis taproom next month. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aYxB6P
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) plans to release its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 financial results the morning of March 3. Later that morning the company will webcast its meeting with the financial community beginning at 11:30 a.m., Eastern time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rKQOQE
TOMORROW: Via Qualls campaign, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, March 3rd, Army Veteran, businessman and candidate for governor, Kendall Qualls will host a press conference at the State Capitol to introduce his Lieutenant Governor.”
THURSDAY: Via Minnetonka and Israel-based Stratasys, VERBATIM: “Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) will release financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The Company plans to hold the conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rss2oz
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NICOLLET: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Back in 1997, the Whittier Alliance gave the restaurant-rich 17-block stretch of Nicollet the name Eat Street. The curated list below focuses on the dense concentration of eateries between 24th and 29th Streets that has been in the news most recently. What makes this area so special is the diversity of cultures and cuisines side by side at closely knit restaurants.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4ciHPBu
BDAYS: Hennepin County court comms guy Matt Lehman, fmr. Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson, St. Thomas COS Amy McDonough, Star Tribune’s Vince Tuss, lobbyist Jeff Anderson, lobbyist Adam Chelseth
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