Employee engagement in 2024 hit its lowest level in a decade. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/3PL85Yy
A new summer music festival is coming to Eau Claire. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4av3EuE
According to a study by a finance professor, the Gopher football team is worth $550 million. WSJ: https://fluence-media.co/40sDJPN
The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” is among this year’s Best Picture Oscar nominees. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3WwSJuK
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4g9lVyH
Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy and Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson were both on Sunday Take to discuss fraud, co-equal governing and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42lWBCv
Blois
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DOJ: Via WCCO-Radio, a report that the Justice Department has put a freeze on civil rights litigation. VERBATIM: “Attorneys in the department’s Civil Rights Division were ordered not to file any new complaints, amicus briefs or other certain court papers ‘until further notice.’ A separate memo directed attorneys to notify leadership of any settlements or consent decrees that were finalized by the Biden administration within the last 90 days. It said the new administration ‘may wish to reconsider’ such agreements, raising the prospect that it may abandon two consent decrees finalized in the final weeks of the Biden administration. Those include an agreement with the Minneapolis Police Department after a long investigation into use-of-force training and practices in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40zGYoG
BRIDGE: From Izabella Zadra via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has awarded large amounts of money to projects across the county, including the Blatnik Bridge Reconstruction project which has received more than 1 billion dollars in federal funds. However, in his first few days in office President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will pause those funds. The executive order says the agencies set to receive federal funds must submit a report to the federal government within the next 90 days for review. This has caused some concern from politicians across the Midwest. Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith took her frustrations to X after the order was signed.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hrAQW7
TODAY: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce his 2025 infrastructure plan on Thursday in the Mankato area. The announcement will be made near the Rapidan Dam, which failed last summer after heavy rain and flooding on the Blue Earth River. Walz is expected to call for $10 million for repairs to that dam. His office says proposals will focus on creating jobs, protecting clean drinking water and keeping communities safe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42kqC5I
SUPCT: From Michelle Griffith via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday to get to the bottom of one question: How many Minnesota House members need to be physically present at the Capitol to legally conduct business? Minnesota House Democrats and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon are suing House Republicans and asking the Supreme Court to find that Republicans aren’t able to elect a speaker or conduct any other business without 68 members present. The pair of legal filings, one from House Democrats and the other from Simon, originated from an intense power struggle between Republicans and Democrats over control of the House last week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ggdfqh
MORE: Via MPR, five “key questions” the Supreme Court will consider. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ckw7qm
MORE: This morning, the House DFL released briefs filed with the court. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4aqIZrL SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3CoURxJ SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hiTFuG SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4jm462t
MORE: The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:00. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3VqFn0g
IMMIGRATION: From Ivana Saric and Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “Top law enforcement officials in the Twin Cities are already pushing back against President Trump's new hardline immigration policies . . . Minneapolis and St. Paul have for years had ‘sanctuary’ policies that seek to protect undocumented immigrants and limit what officials can share with federal immigration authorities. A dozen Minnesota counties, including Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey, have policies limiting cooperation, per the Center for Immigration Studies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C7uxIw
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are 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, Rookie; 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
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor out this morning shows no week-over-week change – 49% of the state remains in drought. The Monitor reflects data as of Tuesday. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota employers added 4,100 jobs in December and the state's labor force grew by 3,300 jobseekers, according to data released today by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota has added jobs for six straight months and 10 months out of the last 12. Minnesota's unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.3% in December. Nationally, over the month, the unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1%. The state's labor force participation rate remained steady at 67.8%, as did the national rate of 62.5%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h4uhZL
DULUTH: From Madisan Green via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “City leaders addressed ongoing safety concerns downtown Duluth businesses have expressed. During a safety update meeting Wednesday, Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa, Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj, Life and Safe Team Outreach Specialist Nathan Kesti, and St. Louis County Health and Human Services Director Linnea Mirsch were the four members speaking on the panel. ‘I’ve worked downtown since 1995,’ said one attendee. ‘Is this solvable?’ Chief Ceynowa spoke first.” QUOTE: “The trend in calls for service are not around violent criminal activity,” Ceynowa said. “They continue to be these quality-of-life issues. Quality-of-life issues are difficult things for us as a police department to fully deal with on our own.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Wu1RQG
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)
PAPER MILL: From Peter Passi via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Sofidel’s plans to expand its paper mill operation got a boost this week with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s announcement that it will provide nearly $2.4 million in assistance to help clean up the site where the company aims to build. Sofidel has pledged to add another 160 employees to its current Duluth payroll of about 80 by the time its proposed project is completed. The company reports its employees earn an average of about $32 per hour.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40rNbCT
HOUSING: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “For Maple Grove City Council Member Kristy Janigo, the issue of homelessness has a personal connection.
It’s one she feels every time she visits the Angel of Hope site in Maple Grove. Her friend Debbie has a memorial brick at the monument, a callback to her tragic death . . . Janigo thinks about Debbie when considering policy decisions related to homelessness. The issue has come before the council with increasing frequency as a Maple Grove church moves ahead with plans to help the unhoused population.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WusiG7
“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)
ACCOUNTANTS: In the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Alex Steil on a push to loosen licensing requirements for accountants that some say are making it unaffordable for many and leading to a shortage of practicing accountants in Minnesota. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hsOV5O
GEN MILLS: From Brooks Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Jimmy Fallon was less than eager to try Progresso’s chicken noodle soup-flavored hard candies, or ‘soup drops,’ which General Mills released earlier this month. ‘I tried it,’ ‘The Tonight Show’ host said last week, ‘and it sucks.’ Pun intended or not, that seems to be the point of this publicity stunt: attention, at any cost, for the struggling brand. General Mills is releasing a run of the soup-flavored lozenges in limited quantities online for just a few Thursday mornings in January.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C7EDco
NVE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “NVE Corp. (NVEC) on Wednesday reported profit of $3 million in its fiscal third quarter. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 63 cents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g7L78R
NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis-based Piper Sandler, VERBATIM: “Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results prior to the opening of the market on Friday, January 31, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gb2bL2
NEXT MONTH: From Minneapolis-based Deluxe via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Data company, will report fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, following market-close.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40IIjKO
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
FARM BILL: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the House Agriculture Committee expects changes to come from farm bill negotiations. Iowa Republican Randy Feenstra says he was frustrated a new farm bill wasn’t finished last year.” FEENSTRA: “Now we have majorities in the House and Senate, and we have the presidency. I do think there are going to be some things changing in the farm bill, probably some things around SNAP, work requirements, or fraud adjustments.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40uyIG6
HUNTERS: Via Outdoor News, VERBATIM: “When Congress last month passed an extension to the federal farm bill for 2025 and avoided a government shutdown, the bill, unlike other extensions, did not include funding for a popular bipartisan federal walk-in access program important to hunters. The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) funds state walk-in access programs – private land that’s open to hunters, anglers, and other outdoor recreationists. The vast majority of funding for the Minnesota DNR’s Walk-in Access program comes from VPA-HIP grants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ct5Mq3
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COLLE MCVOY: Via Minneapolis-based Colle McVoy, QUOTE: “A rare being, Obele is a born connector,” says Colle McVoy CEO Jessica Henrichs about the 20+ year industry vet who’s assumed the role of President at the agency. “Her foresight for opportunity and command of end-to-end marketing is unrivaled—the partnerships she’s brokered, revenue and operating model evolutions she’s architected and how she’s championed brand authenticity are case studies for cutting through chaos.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42kelya
SECURIAN: From St. Paul-based Securian via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Securian Financial announced today that Warren Zaccaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), will retire on July 1, 2025, after 20 years of dedicated service to the company. To ensure a seamless transition, Pete Berlute, previously senior vice president of Affinity Solutions, was named senior vice president of Finance, effective January 1, 2025, reporting to Zaccaro. Berlute will succeed Zaccaro as CFO on June 1, 2025, reporting to Chris Hilger, Securian Financial chairman, president and CEO.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40ul3yP
WAHLBURGERS: From Jason Clayworth via Axios, VERBATIM: “Hy-Vee is closing its 79 in-store Wahlburgers and replacing them with its Market Grille brand. Zoom in: That includes nine restaurants that operate inside of Twin Cities stores. The move will leave the metro area with just one location — inside of Mall of America. The Wahlburgers will take over that restaurant, which Hy-Vee operates, according to Restaurant Business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PPMMFv
BAKERIES: From Stacy Brooks via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Some of the metro’s best bakeries are family-run spots that have been churning out egg tarts, chocolate croissants, and conchas for decades, and in recent years, a crop of artisanal bakeries and patisseries have added serious talent to the Mill City scene.” LIST/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3QuQ9Af
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TRIVIA: From Justine Jones via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “It’s 4 p.m. on a blustery November afternoon, and I’m wedged into a corner booth at The Briar Bar in Northeast Minneapolis with Chuck Terhark, co-founder of the Midwest’s largest bar trivia company. He wants to know: What’s the most common street name in America? This is one of Terhark’s all-time favorite questions, a perfect example of the Trivia Mafia secret sauce: It’s not a know-it-or-you-don’t factoid about Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog or China’s Qing dynasty. Instead, he says, it’s eminently ‘noodleable,’ meaning that if you apply yourself, you may work it out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40tKNLT
BDAYS: Fluence’s Briggs Tople, Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen, Sen. Eric Pratt, ranger Tom Dicklich, House GOP top staffer Andrew Wagner, Merchology’s Ally Delgado
Fluence Media curates, produces and distributes specialized media products to thought leadership audiences across the Midwest and about the region. Our publications cover, politics, public policy, health care, agriculture, business, real estate, sports and more. Visit www.fluence-media.com to learn more.
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