lunch take | DFL Sticks with No Endorsement in Minneapolis + How Shutdown Could Impact Minnesota
9.30.25
48% of voters say they think it’s at least somewhat likely that the federal government shuts down tomorrow. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/46Jur4N
Minnesota Monthly traced the history of meat raffles in Minnesota back to 1978. HISTORY: https://fluence-media.co/4pMxEJF
Where are people headed for MEA weekend? MSPBJ has MSP passenger data. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/46socUi
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mDO6t7
Sunday Take featured an extensive recap of the latest Minneapolis mayoral debate and what it could mean for the city’s future. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4q4IZ8j
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.
CRASH: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “One person was killed and two others injured, including a student, in a head-on crash between a pickup truck and school bus north of the Twin Cities Tuesday morning, officials said. The truck was heading north on Roanoke Street Northwest in Andover, Minnesota, when it crossed the center line and hit the southbound bus, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office said. It happened just before 7 a.m. near 175th Avenue Northwest.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48FZAbW
14B: Via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “Zachary Dorholt launched his Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B campaign Tuesday, Sept. 30. Dorholt, who currently serves on the St. Cloud Area School District 742 Board of Education, previously represented House District 14B after he won the seat in 2012. The DFLer ran for reelection in 2014 but lost to Republican Jim Knoblach.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VI5otX
MINNEAPOLIS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “No candidate for Minneapolis mayor will have the DFL endorsement, including the candidate who once held it briefly. Monday night, arguments were heard on whether to uphold the Minnesota DFL’s Constitution, Rules, and Bylaws Committee’s (CRBC) decision to remove the party’s endorsement of Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh. The CRBC received 85% support from the voting body, leading to its decision being upheld. Now, no candidate will officially move forward with the state or city’s DFL endorsement.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42lVVMB
WILD: Via NHL, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed left wing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension ($17 million average annual value) that begins in the 2026-27 season and goes through the 2033-34 season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KrfCww
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)
PLEA: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota man accused of trying to join the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, changed his plea to guilty during an appearance before U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul. When Hassan was charged in February, prosecutors said he had expressed admiration on social media for the man who carried out a Jan. 1 truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans that killed 14 people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gNVDEn
BRAINERD: Via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “The preliminary 2026 levy for Brainerd is up 8% over this year, but council members still plan to lower it before the end of the year.During a special meeting Monday, Sept. 29, City Council members discussed concerns with setting the preliminary levy too high — even knowing they can lower it in December — because the preliminary number is what residents will see on their tax statements later this fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42hpXRH
SHUTDOWN: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The federal government is on the verge of a shutdown, as Democrats push to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and reverse Medicaid cuts that Republicans enacted earlier this year . . . Minnesota is home to about 20,000 federal workers, or 35,000 when you factor in contractor positions, postal workers and members of the military, according to the Minnesota Federal Executive Board. Federal employees in Minnesota ‘will not only be without temporary income as a result of a shutdown, but it is threatened that they will be without their federal careers permanently,’ Ruark Hotopp, the national vice president of AFGE District 8, which represents many of the state’s federal employees, said in an email.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pEP8Ym
MORE: Via The Daily Signal, VERBATIM: “As the government funding deadline and the threat of a shutdown approaches, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is urging his colleagues to keep the government open for the sake of American cattlemen, while allying himself with prominent industry advocates.” EMMER: “America’s cattlemen need a government that is open and working for them. In states like Minnesota, the agriculture industry is one of our largest economic drivers,” Emmer, R-Minn., told The Daily Signal in a statement Monday. “The Democrats are playing games with our farmers, ranchers, and producers’ livelihoods. The Democrat Party is so extreme that they would rather appease their radical base than support the millions of hardworking Americans who are literally feeding our country and the world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nvQinG
TODAY: Via IPG Tenant Union, VERBATIM: “South Minneapolis tenants living in buildings owned by landlord Investment Property Group will hold a press conference to publicly launch the IPG Tenant Union. Tenants have been organizing building-level tenant unions in a cluster of 6 buildings in the Whittier neighborhood, and are demanding IPG and owner Brian Fitterer recognize the union and bargain in good faith to address urgent issues the tenants say they are facing.”
NEW LAW: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A new law in Minnesota is making that process easier. The policy took effect in January, and it bars landlords from interfering in tenant organizing. They can’t take down flyers or stop tenants from holding meetings in the building. They also can’t retaliate against tenants who join a union by raising their rent or decreasing services. Regan Reek is an organizer at HOME Line, a Minnesota tenant advocacy nonprofit.” REEK: “The interest in forming tenant unions has increased dramatically since we’ve passed this law and since the information is starting to go out to the public that this exists.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KlBTMf
NEXTGEN: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Indian Mounds, part of Bloomington Public Schools, is a computer science immersion school, meaning K-5 students not only take dedicated computer science classes every week, but are encouraged to incorporate computer science lessons and skills into other subjects, too. A second Bloomington school, Poplar Bridge Elementary, also has a computer science immersion program. Students at these schools learn computer science not only on computers, but also unplugged, that is, using their hands to get a sense of how the gadgets they use on a daily basis work.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pT5kpg
HABITAT: The Pine Bend Bluffs along the Mississippi River in Dakota County is a key migration corridor for millions of songbirds and 40% of North America’s waterfowl and shorebirds. This area also provides habitat to the rare, rusty patched bumble bee that was discovered in the Pine Bend Bluffs in 2019 and 2020. Collaboration among Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening and Flint Hills Resources volunteers help to restore this natural area to pre-settlement conditions. The Pine Bend Bluffs has earned Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification since 2001. The site recently earned gold certification, making the Pine Bend Bluffs currently the only gold certified site in Minnesota and the first ever in the metro area. WATCH: Flint Hills Resources: Certified Gold by the Wildlife Habitat Council (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
ST PAUL: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “St. Paul voters will decide in November whether to greatly expand the city’s ability to hand out punitive fines for breaking municipal codes. Why it matters: The city charter change would give St. Paul officials a powerful tool to, for example, pressure a landlord to clean up a neglected property or a business to quickly resolve a wage theft case. However, opponents fear that without safeguards, the city could turn its new powers against ordinary citizens for petty violations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nP5LyI
JOBS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The temperature may be in the 80s all week, but winter recreation is right around the corner, and the Three Rivers Park District is looking for seasonal workers to hire.” QUOTE: “We’re pretty flexible with hours, so if you’re looking for full-time, 40-hour a week work, we can do that for you,” said Dominic Ray, the park operations supervisor at Elm Creek Park Reserve. “But also, if you’re looking for just weekend work or, you know, maybe just part time hours, we can also be flexible and work with that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42hQXk0
VIRGINIA: Via WDIO-TV, VERBATIM: “For the first time in the city’s history, the Virginia Police and Fire Departments will operate out of the same spot. The $32 million dollar Public Safety Facility is nearly complete. It will also house Urban Search and Rescue as well. Deputy Chief Chad Nickila, from Virginia Police, showed us around on Monday.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3VIfKu0
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)
BEER: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “LynLake Brewery has announced it will close its doors at the end of this week. The brewery at 2934 Lyndale Avenue South confirmed its last day of service will be this Sunday, Oct. 5.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VIbsTm
BRAINERD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Brainerd Public Schools agreed to begin the search for a new superintendent at their meeting last week. Current interim Superintendent Peter Grant’s contract is expiring next summer, and the board is moving ahead with finding a permanent replacement.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gWYpY0
SOLAR: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “After 2025, there will be less incentive for homeowners to do solar energy projects. As a part of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” the 30 percent federal tax credit that families receive for installing solar is expiring on December 31 . . . All Energy Solar CEO Michael Allen said solar really took off back in 2005, when the government established a tax credit to help families pay for it. Rising energy costs are another incentive. Allen said people are able to lock in prices with solar panels, while he sees energy costs continue to go up, largely due to data centers.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3VI9VNa
STRANGER THINGS: Via Target, VERBATIM: “This fall, Target will be the ultimate destination for fans to celebrate the fifth and final season of Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ with the largest assortment of exclusive products in retail in the U.S., along with a throwback to 1980s nostalgia with an in-store shopping experience, an integrated marketing campaign and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Krbdtr
TODAY: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation is inviting the public to attend an open house to learn about the Highway 71 Park Rapids corridor study. MnDOT will host the event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30 at Park Rapids City Hall. This study will inform the future reconstruction of Highway 71 between 8th Street and south of 190th Street in 2030.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46Bu6B6
FRIDAY: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities Swifties have plenty of options for celebrating the Oct. 3 debut of the pop singer’s highly anticipated 12th studio album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KMmvbD
SATURDAY: Via WDIO-TV, VERBATIM: “A local tradition that blends food, history, and sustainability is making its delicious return! The Iron Range Pasty Festival, hosted by the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability (IRPS), is set for Saturday, October 4th at the Mountain Iron Community Center.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pOTTPe
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from Bloomington-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) a leading provider of architectural building products and services, as well as high-performance coated materials used in a variety of applications, today announced the company will report its fiscal 2026 second quarter results on Thursday, October 9, 2025, after the market closes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nuzL3q
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from General Mills, VERBATIM: “General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) announced that it will host an Investor Day event at its world headquarters in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. CDT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pNDCKn
NEXT MONTH: Via GLEDC, VERBATIM: “The Great Lakes Economic Development Council (GLEDC), a newly formed economic development organization dedicated to driving growth and revitalization across the binational Great Lakes region, will host its inaugural Annual Conference in Detroit, Oct. 22–24, 2025. Uniting business leaders, policymakers and economic development professionals, the event will advance GLEDC’s broader mission of strengthening one of North America’s most vital regional economies (an area encompassing 20% of the world’s fresh water). The October event comes at a pivotal moment of shifting global markets, politics and economic policy, and will help highlight regional strength and resiliency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pMN4h7
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CATHOLICS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis serves a 12-county area with approximately 825,000 Catholics—nearly 25–30 percent of them live in St. Paul. Historically, St. Paul Catholics would join churches based on their cultural heritage: Early groups hailed from French Canada, Germany, and Ireland, while later groups came from Poland, Italy, and Vietnam. They established their own parishes to maintain their language and cultural traditions and provide a sense of community. No French blood? St. Louis King of France Church in downtown St. Paul would have had no problem turning you away back in the day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KuLf8g
BDAYS: photographer Glen Stubbe, Judge John Tunheim, business guy Paul Jaeb, MDA Leadership’s Scott Nelson, entrepreneur Morgan Molitor
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