Minnesota golf courses saw 2.9 million rounds in 2024 – the fifth year-over-year increase in six years. NUMBERS: https://fluence-media.co/420Fzd4
Sunday Take will feature a conversation with new MN GOP Chair Alex Plechash. Tune-in Sunday on WCCO Radio at 9AM.
From last weekend’s Sunday Take, a review and preview of the legislature and Governor with MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gAJ3aE
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FRAUD: From Dana Ferguson via MPR, VERBATIM: “People who attempt to rip off state dollars aimed at helping children or people with disabilities would face stiffer penalties, under a multi-pronged proposal that Gov. Tim Walz rolled out on Friday ahead of a legislative session where the issue is sure to be a focus. ‘Minnesotans rightly have no tolerance for misuse of taxpayer dollars. This plan directs every single state agency to work together to better prevent, detect, investigate, and punish fraud,’ Walz said in announcing the proposal. The second-term DFL governor also took some immediate action on his own, signing an executive order to create a centralized unit within the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate suspected fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGtr5j
MORE: From KMSP-TV via YouTube, the Governor’s news conference. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41TssKC
MORE: Via MN House GOP, from Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth, QUOTE: “Creating a fraud bureau overseen by the same administration that allowed over a billion dollars in fraud means today's executive action is nothing but smoke and mirrors," said Demuth. "We need real change to crack down on fraud, and that starts with a process that is truly independent of the leadership that allowed fraud to run rampant over the last five years. House Republicans will be unveiling a comprehensive fraud package that treats this as the serious problem it is, and includes meaningful accountability for fraudsters and agencies who have failed to protect Minnesotans tax dollars.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3BVGIYy
CAMPAIGN $: From Michael Nolan via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Political action committee spending on Minnesota congressional races fell from $24 million in the 2022 midterm election to $3.4 million in the 2024 election, an 85% drop. The decline came even as Minnesota added a Senate race to the mix in 2024. According to filings from the Federal Election Commission through Nov. 25, independent expenditure spending on Minnesota congressional races — money spent by any PAC or other committee to support or oppose political campaigns — was the smallest seen in Minnesota since a $45 million spending peak in 2018, indicating that national attention on the state’s congressional races may be waning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gZkX9f
STEEL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “President Joe Biden has rejected the nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel [with operations on Minnesota’s Iron Range] — affirming his vow in March to block the acquisition. ‘We need major U.S. companies representing the major share of US steelmaking capacity to keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,’ Biden said in a Friday morning statement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iXnKkZ
CD3: Congresswoman-elect Kelly Morrison talked with Tom Hauser on WCCO-Radio ahead of today’s swearing-in about the race for House Speaker as well as what a slim GOP majority will mean. MORRISON: “It does create an opportunity for doing a lot of bipartisan work . . . my ethic in the Minnesota legislature was to really work hard to cross the aisle, to find consensus where we can.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fKiOwY
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Flint Hills Resources makes fuels and other products people need and use every day, products that help keep Minnesota moving. The company does this while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship and contributing meaningfully to the community. STEWARDSHIP WITH A PURPOSE: Four pillars of stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
SPEAKER: From Ana Radelat via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The new Congress that will convene Friday may get off to a rough start with the contentious vote for the leader of the U.S. House. There’s no certainty Rep. Mike Johnson will win that election because several House Republicans say they are unsure if they want to reelect him as Speaker of the House, even after President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement of the Louisiana Republican . . . Johnson’s greatest strength is that there is no clear alternative. Punchbowl News reported that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, all want the job — just as they did in October of 2023 when a group of rebellious, hard-right GOP lawmakers ousted then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, plunging the House into chaos.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pk411c
MORE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “The new House will convene at noon Friday for a quorum call, followed by the speaker election. The House clerk will preside over a voice vote, calling out the names of hundreds of members-elect one-by-one, in alphabetical order. If no one wins a majority, the process will be repeated, as many times as necessary, until a speaker is chosen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4217dGK
MNLEG: From Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's return to divided government got a lot more complicated over the holidays. State of play: A late December court ruling that barred DFL Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson from taking office, plus the recent death of former Senate DFL Leader Kari Dziedzic, created temporary vacancies that will upend the balance of power in both chambers for the start of session . . . The unusual situation could lead to political stalemates, inflamed tensions and procedural fights as lawmakers barrel toward an end-of-June deadline for striking a bipartisan budget deal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W6TV7J
ICYMI… morning take had allegations of infighting within the MN GOP as well as updates on all the variables that will decide the balance of power at the capitol. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gWsIN6
MOVE: Via Business North, VERBATIM: “Matt Staehling, city administrator in St. Cloud, was selected as Duluth’s city administrator. He replaces Dave Montgomery, who held the job on a short term basis. The city conducted a year-long hiring process that included a refreshed job description, postings throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest and a search committee chaired by Montgomery.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fJp8EU
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)
COLD: From Nick Halter via Axios, VERBATIM: “While much of the country prepares for dangerously chilly temperatures, Minnesotans are expecting a pretty normal January cold snap starting Friday.” FORECAST: https://fluence-media.co/3BILMjb
SNOW: From Cassidy Hettesheimer via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For Minnesota’s high school Nordic ski teams, there’s one question that hovers over each unseasonably warm winter day like a gray cloud. A gray cloud, with nothing falling from it. ‘It’s the biggest question all of us have,’ DeLaSalle coach Matt Lynch said. ‘Is it going to snow?’ Last year’s winter was the warmest on record in Minnesota, with unusually little snowfall. Another mild December made skiable trails scarce early in this Nordic ski season. And while early January temperatures are expected to be lower, there’s still little to no snow in the forecast for the upcoming week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W5k2fz
SETTLEMENT: From Deena Winter via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Anti-abortion advocates recently scored a victory against the city of Minneapolis over an ordinance banning them from blocking entrances and driveways to clinics. The city agreed to settle a lawsuit challenging a 2022 ordinance limiting access to abortion clinics by amending the law and agreeing to pay the anti-abortion group’s estimated $600,000 in legal fees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j4oSnc
CLOSING: From Delane Cleveland via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The northwest metro will soon have one less clinic where women can go for first-trimester abortion services. Robbinsdale Clinic, which has served patients in a small building along West Broadway for the last 64 years, will close its doors sometime next month.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PkL4vp
“IT’S OUR PEOPLE’S LIVES THEY SAVE” - The Cass Lake Fire Department, located on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation in northern Minnesota, serves an area of 400 square miles, three counties, the city of Cass Lake and the Reservation. A foundational Enbridge donation has helped the department begin plans for building a new fire hall to replace its current home base, which the fire department has outgrown. “Our top needs are health and safety—having a decontamination hot zone, and another is training capacity,” says Robert, the chief of Cass Lake FD. Adds Diane, an Enbridge Tribal liaison and a Leech Lake Band member: “We want to see what the needs are out in the communities, and the fire department here is so important to everyone’s safety and well-being . . . it’s our people’s lives they save.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RfodC9 (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
SOLAR: From Jadie Jones via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “Duluth Public Schools are finalizing plans for two new solar projects on district property. One project will be installed near Lincoln Park Middle School. The other at the school’s district office.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gEY6jk
WATER: From Peter Passi via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Residents of this small Iron Range city and their neighbors in White Township received some welcome news to ring in the new year. Faced with an anticipated $33 million bill to construct a new water treatment plant and replace deteriorating transmission lines, the community learned this week that it will receive more than $24.8 million in support from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Aurora City Administrator Luke Heikkila contends that without outside assistance, the needed project would remain a no-go proposition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZZUJN6
TONIGHT: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Ice Castles are back in Minnesota. The annual winter attraction opens Friday night at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and tickets are available.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41XC5I8
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
CLOSED: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A Burnsville nonprofit clinic that served patients of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay, closed its doors permanently Monday. The Dakota Child and Family Clinic struggled to stay open last year amid financial hardship. In October, the clinic merged with Open Door Health Center, which operates a clinic in Mankato and made the decision to shutter the Burnsville clinic permanently.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gCbvJf
UNITEDHEALTH: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Like most doctors, Nicholas Jones prefers to diagnose patients after examining them. When he worked for UnitedHealth Group, though, the company frequently prepared him a checklist of potential diagnoses before he ever laid eyes on them. UnitedHealth only did that with the Eugene, Ore., family physician’s Medicare Advantage recipients, he said, and its software wouldn’t let him move on to his next patient until he weighed in on each diagnosis. The diagnoses were often irrelevant or wrong, Jones said. UnitedHealth sometimes suggested a hormonal condition, secondary hyperaldosteronism, that was so obscure Jones had to turn to Google for help. ‘I needed to look it up,’ he said. The government’s Medicare Advantage system, which uses private insurers to provide health benefits to seniors and disabled people, pays the companies based on how sick patients are, to cover the higher costs of sicker patients. Medicare calculates sickness scores from information supplied by doctors and submitted by the insurers. In the case of UnitedHealth, many of those doctors work directly for UnitedHealth. More diagnoses make for higher scores—and larger payments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BUezB8
MEDICAID: Via Minnesota Department of Human Services, VERBATIM: “Eligible Minnesota children will soon have steady access to Medicaid health insurance until they turn 6. The new policy as of Jan. 1 will support a healthier, more equitable start for the youngest state residents. All children under age 6 who qualify for Medical Assistance will have up to 72 months of uninterrupted coverage. Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gDMkWq
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SPS: Via Minneapolis-based SPS, VERBATIM: “SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSC), a leader in retail supply chain cloud services, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Carbon6 Technologies, Inc. (Carbon6), a provider of software tools to Amazon sellers, including specialized offerings for revenue recovery for both first-party (1P) and third-party (3P) suppliers. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including any necessary regulatory approvals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DRDlCv
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TRAVAIL: From Jason DeRusha via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “The Travail Collective continues their rapid expansion into new locations and concepts with a reboot of Italian Eatery (ie), a beloved South Minneapolis spot that closed in June 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gEQm11
SPORTS BARS: Via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Whether it’s Vikings football, basketball, hockey, or any other game, the Twin Cities’ sports bars have plenty of team spirit to go around. Dust off those jerseys, grab a crew, and head out to these spots around the metro.” LIST/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3u35gLl
BDAYS: Twins President Dave St. Peter, baseball writer Aaron Gleeman, Rep. Jeff Backer, lobbyist Adam Axvig, public affairs pro Sara Barrow, energy guy Jeremy Kalin
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