Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will host “a celebration of the Minneapolis sound” at the State Fair Grandstand. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42N6FDp
Today is Cinco de Mayo. While many celebrations happened over the weekend, some continue today. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4etHdtP
An Itasca County Deputy was injured in a shooting Monday. A suspect is in custody. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3P9c3NY
Last night a WCCO Radio 2-hour special – Minnesota Hospitals in Critical Condition featuring leaders and experts from across the state. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MNHospitalsCriticalCondition
ICYMI… A special edition of sports take on the Wild, Wolves, and Frost all in the playoffs. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4naLp4b
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
WAYMO IS READY FOR MINNESOTA: With 13x fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans, Waymo is already making roads safer in major U.S. cities where we operate — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. We are ready to bring these safety benefits to Minnesota, and look forward to working with the state legislature to pass a law that allows us to provide rides in the state. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/waymo (SPONSORED: Waymo)
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/491Nk5h
Sunday Take was all about the playoffs as sports historian Dan Whenesota and sports take’s Howard Sinker discussed why things feel different in Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w6ZraL
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Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
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ECONOMIC INDICATORS
SUPPLY CHAIN: Via Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “Shipper spending rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026 as tightening capacity and a surge in diesel fuel prices pushed freight costs significantly higher, even as shipment volumes remained largely flat, according to the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. National shipment volume edged down 0.3% from the fourth quarter of 2025, while shipper spending jumped 12.9% over the same period. This was the largest quarter-over-quarter increase since late 2020.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tc2D2f
MORE: From the report, QUOTE: “The Midwest led all regions in Q1, posting the strongest gains in both shipments and spending on a sequential and year-over-year basis. Shipments rose 5.4% from Q4—its third increase in four quarters—pushing volumes to the highest level since Q3 2024. Volumes also increased 9.5% from a year earlier, marking the first year-over-year gain in six years. The quarterly gains are even more notable given the storms that hit the region this winter; missed shipping days are rarely recovered with higher throughput after conditions improve.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3R6zLet
DINING: Via Hopkins-based Digi, results of a survey of adults about restaurants. VERBATIM: “Fifty-nine percent (59%) of consumers report worsening economic conditions over the past six months, reinforcing signals shown in reports of declining consumer sentiment and hiring rates. In response, 66% say their dining-out budget has tightened in the last year. When money is tight, consumers say they’re likely to reduce spending across every restaurant category.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u2xHTp
SMALL BIZ: From Rep. Kelly Morrison via Facebook, VERBATIM: “No better way to start out Small Business Week than to meet with small business owners in Maple Grove! Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I am always amazed by their work ethic and their creativity. It’s an honor to bring their voices and their stories, and to advocate on their behalf every day in Congress.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4te2V8I
MORE: Via CCX Media, more on the shop Rep. Morrison visited. VERBATIM: “The owner of Daily Dose, a coffee shop in Maple Grove, says it’s been tough to keep the business afloat and profitable. Tariffs raised the cost of coffee beans by as much as 50 percent. The business also saw a drop in foot traffic during the Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown. Now there’s another hit — as gas prices go up, customer visits go down.” QUOTE: “We’re a luxury good,” owner Ben Havn said. “You might get one less coffee a week or cut that out entirely so you can pay for that $60, $70, $80 bill at the gas pump.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d0lU25
MAGNETS: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Niron Magnetics is going bigger in Sartell – a planned 190,000-square-foot facility will now be 287,000 square feet. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uoP28Q
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)
MINNEAPOLIS
TODAY: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is slated to deliver his ninth State of the City speech today at 11 a.m. The annual speech is his first since Operation Metro Surge overwhelmed the city with thousands of federal immigration and border control agents for 12 weeks, detaining thousands and shooting and killing two Minneapolis protesters. The standoff between Minneapolis residents and the federal government attracted worldwide attention and thrust Frey into the national spotlight again, earning him plaudits as the leader of the resistance to federal immigration methods.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Hl080
MORE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Tuesday morning’s State of the City address represents a crucial reset moment for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Why it matters: Frey’s re-election campaign wasn’t built around a single signature policy project — and many civic leaders are starting to itch for one. Downtown property values have plummeted, commercial corridors are ailing, and progress on many of the solutions Frey has proposed for these challenges has been slow.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cR3VuH
STRIKE: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Concessions workers at Target Field have voted to authorize a strike as they seek higher wages and better benefits. Roughly 81% of the 500 union members with Unite Here Local 17 supported the strike authorization.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dlGUjL
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability—providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
AROUND MINNESOTA
HERMANTOWN: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Following a packed meeting featuring hours of public testimony Monday night, the Hermantown City Council agreed to take more time to consider a plan to grant Google a property tax break that could reach $80 million, in exchange for building a nearly $2 billion data center complex in the northeastern Minnesota city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42fwbRK
WAITE PARK: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Any data center projects in Waite Park will be on pause for at least a year after the city council voted unanimously to implement a moratorium on any new projects at its meeting on Monday, May 4. While no projects have been proposed to date, the move is precautionary, according to Jon Noerenberg, the city’s planning and community development director.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uxJp8w
INVASIVES: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lake associations have significantly cut down the spread of aquatic invasive species wreaking havoc on their waterways but they fear momentum will slip out of their hands when looking ahead to state funding changes. Since 2014, the state has provided $10 million each year for counties to work with local partners on preventing new infestations of disruptive water-dwelling organisms like zebra mussels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48BSbKc
HOUSING: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council. That includes homes, condos and apartments. If you go by total housing units added, at the top of the list is Lakeville, a city growing so fast it put a pause on accepting new building permits. It has added 4,861 units from 2020 to 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Flrj7
LITTLE EARTH: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “New roofs and better insulation. Updated appliances, new paint and security improvements. And a sense that it’s all transformative — and overdue. More than 50 years after the nation’s only Native-preference Section 8 housing project was established, Little Earth in south Minneapolis is undergoing a $50 million remodel that will last two years and cover all of its 212 units.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PitI62
MOVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A charter school has plans to move into a Catholic Church in Brooklyn Center. Eagle Ridge Academy got approval on April 27 from the Brooklyn Center City Council to open at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church. Saint Alphonsus operated a school at the church from 1959 until its closure in 2024.
Declining enrollment was cited as one of the factors in closing the school.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cSIjy4
GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO! Check out Donna’s story - a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails...it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Check out Donna’s story: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
EARNINGS SEASON
LIFE TIME: Via MarketWatch, VERBATIM: “Life Time Group Holdings‘ first-quarter net income rose and the athletic-club chain boosted its revenue projection for the year. The Chanhassen, Minn. operator of athletic clubs posted quarterly earnings of $88.1 million, or 39 cents a share, up from $76.1 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OVH7kp
INSPIRE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Inspire Medical Systems Inc. (INSP) on Monday reported a loss of $11.3 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Golden Valley, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 39 cents . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea posted revenue of $204.6 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d6iZUb
TACTILE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (TCMD) on Monday reported a loss of $1.8 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had a loss of 8 cents. The results did not meet Wall Street expectations . . . The medical device maker posted revenue of $75.3 million in the period, topping Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f8vuky
OTTER TAIL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corp. (OTTR) on Monday reported profit of $72.6 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Fergus Falls, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of $1.73. The power company and manufacturer posted revenue of $347 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Po1E14
TENNANT: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Tennant Co. (TNC) on Monday reported earnings of $200,000 in its first quarter. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 1 cent per share . . . The maker of products for cleaning floors, parking lots and hospitals posted revenue of $297.9 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ntPxMR
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
SOUTH MPLS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “We’ve long loved 50th and Xerxes, the south Minneapolis vintage and antiques hotbed, for afternoons spent treasure-hunting in stores such as Hunt and Gather, Loft Antiques, and A Rare Bird. And so has Julie Melendez, a vintage dealer who nabbed a spot selling at Loft nearly a decade ago after she brought in a particularly stunning pair of brass candelabras she found in a trash pile to sell in the shop (yes, that’s really how she got her start!). READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uvDnFn
ACQUISITION: Via Bloomington-based Donaldson, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) (Donaldson or the Company), a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, today announced it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Facet Filtration, an innovator in mission-critical fuel and fluid filtration solutions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f2ufDB
TENNANT: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Directors of Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) authorized a new share repurchase program of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, effective April 29, 2026. This authorization is in addition to approximately 560,000 shares remaining under the Company’s current repurchase program. With this new authorization, the company now has capacity to repurchase up to 2,560,000 shares which represents 15% of the basic shares currently outstanding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OIYG7h
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
WHAT’S NEXT?
SUNDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There’s a certain kind of Mother’s Day gift that lingers—and it’s not always the one wrapped in a box. It’s the morning that unfolds slowly. The shared experience. The moment where someone feels seen, appreciated, and, maybe most importantly, given time. This year, we’re leaning into that idea: gifts that feel personal and experiences that create something lasting. A mix of both—because the best celebrations rarely fall into just one category.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42g1ZWx
NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Fed and First Children’s Finance have conducted their sixth annual survey of Minnesota child care businesses. The Minneapolis Fed’s Tu-Uyen Tran and Suzanne Pearl, Minnesota Director at First Children’s Finance, will host a free webinar discussing survey results on the sector’s current health, capacity, and challenges.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4esf8Dl
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ART FAIRS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “A sure sign that summer is coming? Minnesota has an art fair basically every weekend for the next few months.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/491wfsb
BDAYS: Cozen’s Julia Donnelly, Ctr. of American Experiment’s Bill Walsh
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