What’s new at Wisconsin Dells? Treehouses. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4kD4Y3l
48% of voters disapprove of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4iYTmWT
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ikkjEq
MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan is retiring from politics reporting – he joined Sunday Take to discuss his time at the Capitol and his thoughts on transparency in politics and the media. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3DzQosN
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
RESPONSIBLEGAMING: Legal sports betting platforms offer responsible game tools that offshore and illegal sports betting don’t offer. In fact, age verification is not required with most offshore providers. Learn more about why legalized sports betting is more responsible. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kgJoS4 (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
BREAKING: From the Star Tribune’s Ryan Faircloth via X, VERBATIM: “Minnesota GOP state Sen. Justin Eichorn has resigned following his arrest in an underage prostitution sting.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4bZWeAx
MORE: Via statement from Senate GOP leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks), QUOTE: “This is the right thing to do for his family and the Senate,” Sen. Johnson said. “We are ready to move on and do the important work that needs to be done at the Capitol.”
MINING: Via Iron Range Today, VERBATIM: “Iron Range State Sen. Grant Hauschild said Thursday that Cleveland-Cliffs is planning to layoff 600 miners from its Minorca and Hibbing Taconite operations in northeastern Minnesota. In a Wednesday press release, Hauschild said he was informed Cliffs that approximately 340 Steelworkers at Minorca and 250 Steelworkers at HibTac will be impacted. The DFL senator added that Cliffs cited challenging economic conditions for the automobile industry, the company’s biggest steel customer, as the backdrop for temporary idles and layoffs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bKjUJ1
2026: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “A former St. Cloud city councilman is throwing his hat in the ring in the race for governor. Jeff Johnson made the announcement Tuesday in an official campaign launch video.” QUOTE: “My fellow Minnesotans, I’m running for governor because I want to help you find your happy place. And your happy place is not in a position of being continuously taxed to death. It’s not a position where we’re seeing over a half billion dollars of taxpayer fraud. It’s not in the position of watching unchecked violence, murders, and carjackings in Minneapolis. We could do so much better. It’s time for a change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hoJYdU
THIS WEEK: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is running for U.S. Senate, will hold “kitchen table conversations” tomorrow in St. Cloud and Saturday in Wood Lake.
TODAY: Via Minnesota House, VERBATIM: “Today at noon, while President Trump and Congressional Republicans look to subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy by reducing federal funding for Medicaid, DFL legislators will hold a press conference introducing legislation that would raise taxes on millionaires at the level necessary to offset any cuts to this crucial program. Medicaid is the largest single source of health insurance in Minnesota, serving senior citizens, children, families, and people with disabilities.”
TODAY: health take comes out later today. SIGN UP: https://fluence-media.co/43DRT3z
FRAUD: This morning, the House State Government Finance and Policy committee held a hearing on the Governor’s fraud prevention bill. On WCCO-Radio’s The Morning News, Vineeta Sawkar talked with Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul). PINTO: “A number of different provisions that kinda all fall under the categories of stopping fraud before it occurs, making sure the administration, the Walz administration, has tools that they need to go after folks who are defrauding our programs, and increasing criminal penalties as well.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hxKuGA
PROTEST: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Another large protest was held outside of Congressman Pete Stauber’s Hermantown office Wednesday afternoon. Protesters are calling on Stauber to address what is happening in Washington in regards to DOGE’s sweeping cuts to federal agencies.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kDAUEL
SNOW: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A blizzard swept through southern and southeastern Minnesota on Wednesday, bringing several inches of heavy snow and 50 mph-plus winds. While snow avoid the Twin Cities metro, there was more than enough impacting cities including Rochester, Albert Lea, Austin and Winona as a band of heavy snow cut its way through the southeast of the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kIuT9W
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor published this morning and reflecting data as of Tuesday, (ahead of yesterday’s snow), shows slight improvement – 67% of the state remained in some level of drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
TARIFFS: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Duluth’s Perrault Construction has been serving the Northland for 50 years and has seen its fair share of economic uncertainty, especially during the pandemic. But now, they are trying to get ahead of the newest round of tariffs. The company focuses its work on roofing, siding, window, and deck construction. Although they work on the smaller side of construction, they still use large amounts of lumber, shingles, aluminum, and steel parts. Mike Stroede is the co-owner of the company and said at the moment they have not seen any direct impacts, but he knows they are coming soon.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hoCCXO
BEER: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Economists are keeping an eye on the impact of new federal tariffs. So are local breweries. A 25 percent tariff on imported metals — including steel and aluminum — has caught the eye of Luce Line Brewing in Plymouth.” QUOTE: “The challenge with this situation is it’s really hitting us hard in a few key areas,” said Tim Naumann, owner of Luce Line Brewing. “One is steel. So, all of our equipment is made out of stainless steel, and a lot of our other support devices and hand tools and things are made out of steel.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iFwrj8
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers 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)
SURVEY: Via Progressive Grocer, VERBATIM: “Walmart is the most considered grocery store among U.S. shoppers, while Amazon Fresh is gaining the most ground with consumers, a new brand ranking from YouGov has found . . . Walmart led the consideration rankings by a wide margin, with 63.3% of U.S. adults saying they would consider the brand for their next shopping trip, followed by Target (42.5%) and ALDI (32.8%). The rankings also delved into differences in brand preferences among women, men and each generation of shoppers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ihLVtV
MARCH MADNESS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The University of St. Thomas may bust some March Madness brackets a year from now. Driving the news: The St. Paul university is on a trajectory to earn postseason eligibility a year earlier than the normal five-year process for schools jumping from Division III to Division I.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ika8j8
TODAY: It’s sports take day. SIGN UP: https://fluence-media.co/sportstake
LIBRARY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “It was a day filled with joy and books as Proctor High School held an open house for its brand new library. About a decade ago, the Proctor school district felt that schooling was moving toward 1:1 digital learning and that it no longer needed a library, so it closed down. Now, with the help of the administration, staff, and students, the new library is open next to the cultural center featuring books and games.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hpZUMV
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)
CRASH: Via Global News, VERBATIM: “The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released a more detailed, preliminary report into the Delta plane crash in Toronto last month, but stopped short of drawing any conclusions into what caused it. Delta Air Lines flight 4819 from Minneapolis to Toronto, operated by subsidiary Endeavor Air, crash landed on Toronto Pearson Airport runway on the afternoon of Feb. 17 . . . The report indicated there was a ‘high rate of descent’ seconds before landing.
It said at 2.6 seconds before touchdown, the EGPWS alert — an advanced safety system designed to alert pilots if their flight path could put them in undue proximity to the ground or an obstacle — sounded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hlq3fO
(DISCLOSURE: Delta is a Fluence client)
TRAFFIC STOPS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Inside the Brooklyn Park police station, Champlin Park High School student Soora Hamza is learning what it’s like to pull someone over . . . Hamza is one of a dozen students from Champlin and Park Center high schools who are part of the Chief’s Multicultural Advisory Team, which Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said is a way to build transparency in the community. This is the first year that youth are part of the team.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41GO0bJ
HAMLINE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Kayla Knoll is a full-time nurse and a poet in the creative writing MFA program at Hamline University in St. Paul. Much of her poetry reflects on her experiences as a nurse, a career she began during the pandemic . . . On Feb. 28, Knoll, and other students in the program, received an ‘urgent message’ from the creative writing program’s leadership — program director Richard Pelster-Wiebe and associate professors Angela Pelster-Wiebe and John Brandon.” QUOTE: “Yesterday, it was announced to us that Hamline University Interim President Kathleen Murray and Interim Provost Andy Rundquist will be making the recommendation to the Hamline University Board of Trustees to sunset the MFA program effective immediately.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41FHjXk
‘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)
RETAIL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “In the February issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine we introduced you to local creative Kim Jurek-Valanzasca, owner of The Fitting Room, a south Minneapolis boutique that celebrates local design talent.
Last week Jurek-Valanzasca announced that after seven years at Kingfield's 38th and Grand intersection, she's moving her boutique to Edina's Nolan Mains, the buzzy, outdoor shopping district located on the backside of 50th Street.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iAeMd7
GRAND AVE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The corner of Grand Avenue and Victoria Street in St. Paul could be getting a major overhaul. Driving the news: Afton Park Development unveiled plans Tuesday night for a six-story building with 87 apartments, 12,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 121 mostly underground parking stalls, 20 of which will be available for business customers.” READ/RENDERING: https://fluence-media.co/4bJ3zUP
NEXT YEAR: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Walker Art Center announced its inaugural design triennial for the fall of 2026, with curator Joseph Grima working alongside Walker staff to offer a modern narrative on design over time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hFXZnH
APRIL10: Citizens League will honor Peter Bell, former Metropolitan Council Chair and Sharon McMahon, at the 2025 Civic Celebration. The annual Civic Celebration is an inspiring evening, gathering hundreds of Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds, parties and ideologies to celebrate our state’s enduring civic culture, leadership, and commitment to public service. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/41txP1p (SPONSORED: Citizens League)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
TOWN HALLS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “About 60 people gathered inside the Sleepy Eye Brewing Company for the town hall sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union. Rising concerns over the potential impacts from tariffs on family farms, cuts to health care and the uncertainty of trade wars had many speaking their minds in an open forum.
Many farm families are still trying to recover from the trade war tariffs caused during the first Trump administration. Though there were several good years, some markets in Minnesota weren’t gained back. Some farms closed down.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/422aV10
MNLEG: Via Red River Farm Network, from an interview with MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen, QUOTE: “I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, it hasn’t been the greatest start. I’d like to see a little more compromise.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42f2h0x
LINE SPEED: Via Farm Journal, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced new actions to reduce burdens on the U.S. pork and poultry industries on March 17. She says the new measures will allow for greater efficiency while maintaining food safety standards. The directive instructs the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to eliminate outdated administrative requirements that have slowed production and added unnecessary costs for American producers, USDA said in a release.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41AdE1H
MORE: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), said the group represents 15,000 poultry workers across southern states as well as meatpacking and processing workers in other areas of the country. Appelbaum said the increased line speeds will lead to more injured workers. Appelbaum also said the faster production speeds will put food safety at risk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kvMQbH
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters: https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
MOVES: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Cleveland based law firm Thompson Hine hired three Robins Kaplan partners as it moves into the Twin Cities market. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kDDr1F
CASTLELAKE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Asset-based investment specialist Castlelake wrapped up its fifth aviation-focused credit fund with more than $2 billion in committed capital across the fund and related vehicles. The Minneapolis firm began seeking commitments to the fund in 2023. The total raised is roughly 25% more than Castlelake collected for a predecessor fund, which closed on $1.6 billion in 2022. The firm has been investing out of that fund since 2019 and it is nearing the end of the vehicle’s investment period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ikBRAi
ELECTRO-SENSORS: Via Stock Titan, VERBATIM: “[Minnetonka-based] Electro-Sensors Inc (NASDAQ: ELSE), a leading provider of machine monitoring sensors and hazard monitoring systems, reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. The company achieved record annual revenue of $9.4 million, representing a 9.6% increase from $8.6 million in the previous year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hp0BpJ
TABLE TRAC: From Minnetonka-based Table Trac via Globe Newswire, VERBATIM: “Table Trac, Inc. (OTCQX: TBTC), a developer and provider of casino information and management systems that automate and monitor the operations of casinos announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. Record maintenance revenue of $5.37 Million, an approximate 8% increase over the prior year. Maintenance revenue accounted for 48.2% of total revenues. Other revenue increased 44.7% as a result of an increase in recurring monthly fees relating to DataTrac and SlotSuite.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bKlrP8
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ZOO: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “If you’ve ever wanted to experience the Minnesota Zoo after hours, you’re in luck— Wild Nights, the Zoo’s adults-only live music series, is returning for its fourth year this summer. Wild Nights will take place on select Friday evenings beginning in June.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bLjG4o
BDAYS: comms pro Julie Bartkey
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.
about morning take- Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.
Copyright © 2025 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427