Grocery prices climbed another 0.4% in November. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3BuV4z0
Did you see yesterday’s Sports Take? READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBpPdp
Rep. Angie Craig is on Sunday Take about DC, the learnings of the 2024 election and her political future. Tune-in at 9AM on Sunday on WCCO Radio.
On last weekend’s Sunday Take, U of MN President Rebecca Cunningham shared legislative priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BkGFFq
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
LIST: We count 47 Minnesota companies on Newsweek’s list of “America’s greatest workplaces for diversity.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Dfzj6K
UNITEDHEALTH: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “The leader of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, paid tribute to slain chief executive officer Brian Thompson and acknowledged that the health care system ‘does not work as well as it should’ in an op-ed published in The New York Times on Friday. There has been an ‘enormous outpouring of support’ for Thompson and his loved ones after the UHC leader was shot and killed in New York City, Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, wrote, but he said company employees have also faced threats and vitriol online.” WITTY: "No employees — be they the people who answer customer calls or nurses who visit patients in their homes — should have to fear for their and their loved ones' safety." READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BtuTIY
MORE: Via Barron’s, VERBATIM: “The comments also come amid a sharp selloff in shares. UnitedHealth stock is down 16% this month, on track for its worst monthly performance since February 2009 when shares fell 31%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZPMEM0
MORE: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty addressed his staff about the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a new email on Wednesday, describing the late executive as ‘one of the good guys.’ Witty, who oversees the conglomerate, mourned the death of his colleague and friend in a new message to employees that was obtained by Newsweek.” WITTY: "Brian was one of the good guys. He was certainly one of the smartest guys. I think he was one of the best guys. I'm going to miss him. And I am incredibly proud to call him my friend." READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZRSRXK
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)
POT: From Hannah Yang via MPR, VERBATIM: “When you talk to people in different Minnesota cities about how they are preparing for the arrival of recreational cannabis sales sometime next year you will find many different approaches. The Minnesota Legislature set most of the rules about cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana in spring 2023. However, the state left several key decisions within local control, including whether cities can allow more than a set minimum of shops. In southern Minnesota, Mankato is preparing carefully — and cautiously.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DfoTnF
ICYMI… morning take had more on the cannabis rollout in Minnesota including new comments from the Governor. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Bo488R
CENTERPOINT: From Andrew Hazzard via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “CenterPoint Energy reached a settlement with several consumer advocate groups and government agencies that will keep residential bills around current levels and halve the amount of membership dues for a controversial gas association the company can pass on to customers. The proposed settlement, filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on December 4, will raise CenterPoint residential gas rates by 5.2% — or about $50 per year for most customers compared to 2023 levels. That’s around half of the 10.3% increase initially proposed by the company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OTP85D
RAIL: From Adam Platt via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “When Amtrak’s new Borealis train from St. Paul to Chicago debuted in May, early ridership data were so strong it set off waves of attention. Borealis became the transportation fashion statement of the summer for a cadre of very online people. Mainstream media took notice. KARE-11 sent two of its most prominent anchors on a Borealis journey which produced a nearly seven-minute news segment and 11 minutes of additional online footage, extraordinary for a rather bare bones train that serves an existing Amtrak route. But the hype is real, or the hype made it real. Amtrak’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and four-plus months of ridership data says Borealis justified the decade-long quest to improve service in the corridor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49AGJgV
TROOPER: From Dana Thiede via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “A former Minnesota State Trooper is being sued in federal court by the parents of an Owatonna teen for his role in a fatal crash that claimed her life. Carlos and Stephanie Flores filed the lawsuit in connection with the death of their daughter Olivia, who was 18 years old on May 18, 2024, when the car she was a passenger in was struck by a Minnesota State Patrol cruiser driving at a high rate of speed.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZyWuR1
GOLDEN VALLEY: From Corey Bork via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “It was near the end of 2022. The Golden Valley Police Department was down to single-digit officers. That’s a really low number considering Golden Valley is budgeted for 31 sworn officers. Today Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green says the department is approaching full strength. ‘We lost more than half of the department in a very short period of time,’ said Green, who was hired toward the end of 2022, a time the department was in crisis. As a result, the city had to contract with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office to cover daytime calls.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBDKjF
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
MEDIA: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “The latest episode of Blacklight On Sports with Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald shines a spotlight on an inspiring figure in sports media: Maya Aflakpi. A versatile journalist, sports broadcaster, and content creator, Maya brings a dynamic voice to the sports world, connecting audiences with impactful stories and expert insights. A University of Minnesota graduate with a degree in journalism, Maya’s career embodies her passion for storytelling and her dedication to high-quality reporting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBoaVf
COFFEE: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Daily Dose Cafe and Espresso in Brooklyn Park gave its customers some disappointing news this week. The shop, located at 9578 Noble Pkwy, is closing. Dec. 31 will be its last day of operation. Co-owner Ben Havn called the announcement ‘bittersweet.’ Rising supply costs are partly to blame for the closure.” HAVN: “In the last year, coffee prices have almost doubled,” Havn said. “You add that to increased labor costs, increased cocoa costs – which we do a lot of — it just, it shrunk the margins.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iw8hIv
‘I GOT INTO THIS INDUSTRY TO HELP PEOPLE’ - Taylor, a first-generation descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is a member of Enbridge’s Tribal engagement team in Wisconsin. She loves getting out into Tribal communities to educate people on Enbridge’s purpose and to help them understand opportunities in the trades. Taylor enjoys her role at Enbridge, where she feels valued and appreciated as a member of the team. She believes Enbridge will continue to make an impact with Indigenous communities through the company’s Indigenous Peoples Policy. Taylor’s dedication to helping others and her commitment to her heritage drive her every day, and her work at Enbridge is a testament to the company’s commitment to social responsibility. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3P3wqK9 (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
MAYORS: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “There are a few things they don't tell you about being mayor. For one thing, constituents will always ask questions, even at inopportune times. Dave Kleis has had many of those experiences during his 30 years in public office.Four outgoing mayors reflect on their decades in office, offer advice for newcomers. ‘I came out of the shower (at the gym), and some guy asked me about snow plowing,’ the outgoing St. Cloud mayor said. ‘I wasn't angry or anything. I just said, ‘Excuse me. Do you mind if I go get a towel?’’ Kleis' story got laughs and knowing head nods from Sauk Rapids Mayor Kurt Hunstiger, St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz and Waite Park Mayor Rick Miller.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BvAsGN
NEXTWK: Fluence Advisory is hosting fmr. MMB Commissioners Jim Schowalter and Tom Hanson for a conversation about the budget forecast and process. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/MNBudget2025
NEXT MONTH: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will host its eighth annual Regional Economic Conditions Conference on January 15, 2025. The half-day conference will feature CHS Inc.’s President Jay Debertin, who will talk with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari about the economic challenges and opportunities in agribusiness.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/41yIV6L
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
NEXTGEN: From Delane Cleveland via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “There are certain tasks in daily life that most of us take for granted. But as we age into our golden years, Father Time will come calling, and simple, everyday tasks — like getting in and out of bed — become an intense challenge. That’s where people like Reese Woodward come in. The Wayzata High School junior is one the students who signed up for the school’s inaugural Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Btvz10
MORE: From Miles Walker via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College has a new initiative that is introducing individuals to the many career pathways healthcare presents, opening the next generation’s eyes to what’s possible in the profession. CLC’s mobile healthcare unit was made possible through a $4.2 million Pathways to Accessing Training in Healthcare (PATH) grant. Jennifer Chock, the college’s Healthcare Outreach Specialist, is exposing students in five different central Minnesota counties to what a career in healthcare entails.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gxsMTu
BLOOD TEST: From University of Minnesota Medical School via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Published in Nature Communications, a new study led by the University of Minnesota Medical School and Duke University found that a DNA sequencing test for advanced prostate cancer patients can distinguish between patients with poor and favorable prognoses. The new blood-based test -- called AR-ctDETECT -- is designed to detect and analyze small fragments of tumor-derived DNA in the blood of certain patients with advanced, metastatic prostate cancer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3D9f6zo
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TRAINING: From Callan Gray via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Dakota County is working to make sure kids know how to respond to serious injuries in a crisis. In a new push this fall, they’re providing ‘Stop the Bleed’ training and kits to every school district in the county. Tenth graders at Hastings High School underwent the training this week. They learned how to pack a wound and apply a tourniquet. There are more than 200 teenagers learning how to ‘Stop the Bleed’ this semester, according to health educator Kris Maus.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fjRa9Q
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ST PAUL: From Jason Derusha via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “This is quite a shift from the Agra Culture that used to sit on Cleveland Avenue near Ford Parkway in Highland Park. Altera is a restaurant for grown-ups, in a neighborhood that seems ripe for a sit-down, casual yet upscale spot.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4ixcWdb
MINNEAPOLIS: From Isabella Caswell via Minnesota Daily, VERBATIM: “Vendors and shoppers alike gathered at The Machine Shop on Sunday for the Minneapolis Craft Market’s Old St. Anthony Holiday Bazaar looking for potential gifts. The Bazaar is one of several markets set up by Minneapolis Craft Market throughout the gift-giving season. Holidays on Nicollet is another that runs Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 22. A handful of other craft markets can be found on their website.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Bf5OS8
BDAYS: GOP stalwart Tad Jude, attorney Tom Foley, developer Robb Bader, operative Nick Sherlock, comms pro Jeremy Drucker, labor advocate Kelly Connolly. SAT: leader Scott Peterson, Trump staffer Jacob Schneider, economist Art Rolnick, MPR Host Nina Moini, retiree Nancy Hylden, SUN: St. Paul’s finest Rich Ginsberg, advocate Sia Her, lobbyist Nick Zerwas
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