A solid majority of Americans say they support a third major political party – but upon further questioning, their support fades fast. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4qld2IS
The fall colors were stunning over the weekend in the St. Croix River Valley. PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/47xgGI5
What will winter bring? Siberia has some clues to what we can expect here. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3L10gyY
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ncHFgM
Sunday Take featured property owner Jim Rubin and Star Tribune columnist Eric Roper discussing the recent ups and downs of Minneapolis from two perspectives. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4qf2085
Blois
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Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
WEB OUTAGE: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Amazon said its cloud computing service was recovering from a major outage that disrupted online activity around the world on Monday. The service provides remote computing services to many apps, websites, governments, universities and companies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47pqq6e
TOMORROW: Via Minnesota House, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, October 21, the House Capital Investment Committee will begin their third regional tour of the fall, visiting communities in Central and Southwest Minnesota. This bipartisan tour will consist of state infrastructure project proposals, which will be considered for inclusion in a 2026 Capital Investment Bill. This week’s tours will bring the committee to the communities of Albertville, Big Lake, Buffalo, Howard Lake, Hutchinson, Lake Lillian, Kandiyohi, Marshall, Morton, Winthrop, New Ulm, Revere, Tracy, Fulda, Worthington, Fairmont, Mankato, Eagle Lake, North Mankato, St. Peter, Henderson, Cologne, Waconia, Carver, Chaska, Shakopee, and Burnsville. In addition to these stops, the committee will hear presentations on projects from the entire region.”
$69 MILLION: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded $69 million from the Minnesota Forward Fund (MFF) to four business expansion and job training projects. The projects are expected to directly create 215 new jobs, provide job training to more than 800 Minnesotans and leverage more than $353 million in outside investment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o1G4M4
DRIVEWAY: Via Money Wise, VERBATIM: “Inside a quiet neighborhood in Shakopee, Minnesota, police have grown wary of a raging personal feud. What started as a dispute over a shared driveway between neighbors Juan Salas and Jessica Keil has spiraled into one of the most expensive use of public resources for a feud in the city’s recent memory. Police have been called to the same address 232 times in a single year, spending more than 260 hours on scene, according to the Shakopee Police Department.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IWGiox
DOWNTOWNS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The concept of a ‘suburban downtown’ may seem oxymoronic, but it’s gaining traction across the Twin Cities area. Blaine is pouring $750 million into a new sports and entertainment hub. Brooklyn Center hopes to transform an 80-acre parcel into a ‘gathering place’ packed with housing. And Chanhassen is working hard to attract new development to an established downtown. Burnsville’s Heart of the City project, which started taking shape around 25 years ago, in many ways provided a blueprint for subsequent suburban makeovers. And while the pandemic halted some long-planned projects, the concept appears to be experiencing a revival, with city leaders saying suburbanites are craving neighborhoods that foster connection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47xAaMG
ACQUISITION: Via news release from Golden Valley-based WSB, VERBATIM: “WSB LLC, one of the nation’s fastest growing infrastructure engineering and consulting firms, today announced the acquisition of Agbara Engineering, a forward-thinking power delivery engineering firm committed to powering progress and empowering communities. The strategic addition of Agbara enhances the firm’s ability to support the full lifecycle of energy infrastructure for existing and new clients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47lClSx
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)
THURSDAY: Via Wrongfully Incarcerated & Over-Sentenced Families Council MN, VERBATIM: “The family of Stephen Washington, a beloved father, son, brother, cousin, and friend, is demanding transparency and accountability from the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC), the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department following his death at Rush City Prison on October 9, 2025 . . . The Washington family is calling for a full, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Stephen’s death and for immediate transparency from state officials. Community members, advocates, and media are invited to attend the press conference and stand with the family in their pursuit of justice.”
MPS: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis school board has formally asked Superintendent Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams for information that could lead to school closures. They passed a resolution to the effect at a recent meeting. The board first drafted the directive —which asks for an initial report to the board by April 2026 — at two day-long meetings in June and August. The planning follows years of discussion about closing schools in a district with 29,000 students but the capacity for 42,000 and thus a bevy of half-empty schools.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hkGx9p
STRIKE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “After seven months of negotiations, Minneapolis teachers are planning a strike vote if a contract settlement isn’t reached this upcoming week. The main sticking points are limits on class sizes and caps on special education case loads. … Minneapolis Federation of Educators spokeswoman Megan Boldt [said] negotiations began last April and the union has offered 35 proposals in nine public sessions. … MFE’s next mediation session with the district is scheduled for Oct. 21. Unless a settlement is reached, a strike vote will take place Oct. 23, 24 and 27.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4orekjD
BUCKET TRUCK: Via Xcel, VERBATIM: “On a crisp autumn morning in Waconia, Minnesota, Laketown Elementary buzzed with excitement as fifth-grader Grant Scotting kept his eyes trained on the parking lot. A birthday surprise for Scotting was in the works — and soon it rolled up: a shiny Xcel Energy bucket truck. Scotting, who has special needs and is nonverbal, is known for his love of Xcel Energy. His enthusiasm for the local energy company ranges from reporting outages on his family’s iPad to eagerly opening each monthly bill.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oq7uei (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
EMPTY LAKE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “In early August, park supervisor Wayne Boerner tried to lower the lake’s water level to prevent it from flooding after a rainy month. A culvert underneath an earthen dike and paved path connects Lake Alice and the St. Croix River. A culvert cover can be raised or lowered with an aboveground key to control the water level of the lake. Park staff routinely manage the water level of the man-made lake this way; but this time, the 65-year-old metal mechanism failed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JlgNx9
CRIME: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Murders and assaults in Minnesota dropped in 2024 while rapes and robberies rose, according to statistics released this week by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The 2024 Uniform Crime Report showed that violent crime in the seven-county Metro area — Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties — increased by 1% overall compared to 2023. In greater Minnesota, violent crime numbers decreased by 3%. The number of murders continued to fall after a spike during the pandemic. There were 170 murders in 2024 compared with 181 in 2023, 182 in 2022 and 201 in 2021. Firearms were involved in 74.7% of the incidents, up from 69.6% in 2023.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43uhxa1
ELECTRIC: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “On Oct. 3, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the acquisition of Duluth-based Allete, whose largest component is electric utility Minnesota Power . . . A couple weeks earlier, the city of Hermantown, just west of Duluth, revealed the purpose of a proposed building project that had been shrouded in secrecy and nondisclosure agreements. According to public records requested by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Golden Valley-based Mortensen is planning to develop a 1.8 million-square-foot data center facility on a 200-acre site. Hermantown officials confirmed the information. These two recent pieces of news from Northern Minnesota are in many respects intertwined.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47eEOOn
SOLAR: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that he and 22 other plaintiffs are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for illegally ending the $7 billion Solar for All program. … Minnesota and 23 other grant recipients also filed suit yesterday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover damages for EPA’s unlawful breach of the grant agreements that were executed under this program. … Minnesota was counting on more than $62 million of federal solar funding.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3JjcHpm
FEES: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “At the urging of environmentalists and immigrant advocates, the Minneapolis City Council is considering an ordinance that would funnel more money to home and property owners who work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A proposed ordinance to increase franchise fees, which are a percentage of gas and electric bills that goes to the city, was introduced Oct. 9. The proposal would steer proceeds from those increased fees to programs that help property owners finance improvements to boost energy efficiency and decrease emissions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47iy5TN
70 YEARS OF STRONG JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT: The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery is Minnesota’s largest and most active work site, driving economic impact for local communities. The refinery is busy with plumbers and pipefitters, carpenters and electricians, engineers and environmental scientists, software and IT specialists - more than 1,000 full-time employees and at times more than 3,000 contractors working on-site on any given day. LEARN MORE: Careers at Pine Bend (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
SEN. REST: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “[Sen. Ann Rest] announced last month that the 2026 legislative session will be her last after 42 years in the Minnesota Legislature. Senate colleagues describe Rest as honest, sharp and pragmatic. ‘She is the tax guru while I’m often legislating with emotion,’ said Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton. ‘She has been very bipartisan and very concrete.’ Added Kunesh, ‘I feel like I’m learning from her at every turn.’ But Rest’s voice rises when she discusses what she sees as an increasingly opaque legislative process. And while she mostly does not legislate with emotion, Rest’s undying love for the Minnesota Twins nearly ended her political career.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ncIeXW
ITASCA PROJECT: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “In a surprising move, leaders of the Itasca Project, a civic alliance that spanned more than two decades, have decided to shut down the initiative. One year ago, Steve Grove, publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, was chosen to become the Itasca Project’s chair. ‘Itasca has become a national model for collaboration across business, nonprofit, philanthropy, education and public sectors,’ Grove said in an Oct. 22, 2024, news release. ‘I’m pleased to help the new team grow the impact of this work at such an important time for Minnesota.’ On Friday, Grove’s name was atop the list of Itasca Project executive leadership council members who decided to end the Itasca Project’s life span.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KYOVj1
NONCOMPETES: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “A Wisconsin-based health system is forcing doctors in Duluth to sign a heavily amended contract or resign, physicians say. The contract includes a noncompete clause. … An author of Minnesota’s 2023 ban on noncompete agreements says the contract likely violates the law, though labor law experts say it’s unclear how a court might rule. … The Minnesota Attorney General’s office is now investigating physicians’ complaints and served Aspirus a subpoena.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/48zcE31
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)
THIS WEEK: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “If you’ve been keeping up with our coverage of Animales Barbeque Co.‘s evolution from food truck to full-service restaurant in Minneapolis’s Harrison neighborhood, you know the story by now . . . Animales is gearing up for its grand opening October 23 through 25: The music lineup includes Al Church and Band, David Huckfelt’s Mystery Lights, Laura Hugo, Solid Gold, and Cornbread Harris. (Who better to christen a new Minneapolis music venue?) In the meantime, though, we got an exclusive preview of the new, expanded Animales menu.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48DTM2X
WACONIA: Via Sun Patriot, VERBATIM: “There are 18 greens and plenty of greenspaces at Island View Golf Club in Waconia. Now there is a Green Fox. It’s the Green Fox Grille, the latest venture of Waconia restaurateur Greg James that is slated to open at the local club later this year. An official grand opening to the public is planned for early 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/471JDfg
ST PAUL: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul Farmers’ Market in Lowertown is opening a year-round indoor market space in the former Black Dog Cafe spot at 308 Prince St., kitty-corner from the existing outdoor market. The indoor market opens Nov. 1 and will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays for now. Alongside other growers who will set up stalls on the perimeter of the space, Galvan Foods, the local tortilla and taco company that’s a mainstay of the outdoor market, is set to head inside to take over the large central counter-service kitchen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JhQisx
TODAY: Rep. Angie Craig will hold a Telephone Town Hall at 5:00.
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from Eden Prairie-based NVE, VERBATIM: “NVE Corporation (Nasdaq: NVEC) announced that it plans to release its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 after the close of the Nasdaq Regular Market. The company will hold its quarterly conference call later that day at 4:00 p.m. Central Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4njveA0
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from Graco, VERBATIM: “Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG) announced today that it will release its Third Quarter 2025 earnings after the New York Stock Exchange closes on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48S90kO
THURSDAY: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “An open house hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation will be held in Bemidji [this] week to discuss the proposed improvements for Highway 197. Two sessions will be held, each including a brief presentation and time for questions and discussion with project staff. Those attending can learn more about the project layout, traffic impacts, business access, and an estimated construction schedule.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oo2yqg
NEXT YEAR: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is delighted to invite you to join Governor Tim Walz, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek, and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at a luncheon event to honor this year’s recipients of the 40th Annual Governor’s International Trade Awards. As this year marks an incredible four-decade milestone, these prestigious awards recognize Minnesota companies that have shown exceptional progress and success in exports to foreign markets, as well as foreign-owned companies that have made significant economic contributions through their investments in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WbBui3
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GOLF: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Waggle, the local golf apparel company known for its bold, golf and lifestyle gear, has officially opened the doors to its new flagship retail store and corporate headquarters in Blaine. The new facility includes a 27,000-square-foot warehouse and 10,000 square feet of office space—bringing all Waggle operations under one roof.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Wf8LsI
BDAYS: MV School Board member Jim DeMay, Minneapolis insider Mark Oyaas, MNCUN’s Ryan Smith, Cozen’s Thomas Wallrich, absentee City Councilor Jeremiah Ellison, journalist Pat Condon
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
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