Baseball fans don’t need to travel to Boston to see the green monster. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4lbdDKK
In the market for a golf course? FOR SALE: https://fluence-media.co/42inAOJ
What is it with MPR and raccoons? SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hSMrxt
Support for removing immigrants living in the country without permission has reached a new high. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4l4LswF
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iJlddV
Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick was on Sunday Take to discuss Gov. Tim Walz’s national town hall tour, the future of the Democratic Party and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iBTrjs
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)
FOREIGN TRIPS: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “The guest list for the exclusive junket to South Africa in 2023 included lobbyists and lawyers for leading US companies such as Uber, Amazon and Pfizer. The trip featured a safari, a stay at a five-star hotel that promises guests ‘a sophisticated world of luxury,’ as well as wine tours and gourmet dinners at restaurants that serve fresh prawns and Wagyu ribeye steak. But well-heeled corporate players weren’t the only guests who accepted invitations to the costly excursion: So, too, did a bipartisan group of about a dozen attorneys general from across the country whose offices play a pivotal role in protecting consumers by enforcing the law against powerful interests. And while the major companies gave hefty donations to the group that organized the trip, the attorneys general joined for free.” QUOTE: “It’s a whole game of getting the public officials together with the corporate people who in effect lobby to get what they want,” said Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush turned law professor at the University of Minnesota. “Public trust is destroyed by this kind of thing.” QUOTE: “I understand how this game is played… ‘Oh you went on a trip,’” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, referring to what he described as the practice of reporters trying to “embarrass” politicians. “I understand that thing, but I will say that there is real work that we are doing that is important for our constituents and has a lot to do with the fact that we live in a globalized world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XCaitY (NOTE: Story is behind a paywall)
PERMITS: Via Minnesota Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber Foundation has released an update to its 2024 report, Streamlining Minnesota’s environmental permitting process: Essential to economic growth. This ‘progress report’ tracks the state’s progress in reducing permitting timelines, addressing backlogs and improving transparency in Minnesota’s environmental review processes.” QUOTE: “While we have seen some modest progress in areas like federal air permitting and new transparency initiatives, the reality is that permitting delays remain a significant barrier for businesses and economic development in Minnesota,” said Jennifer Byers, Executive Director of the Minnesota Chamber Foundation. “Reducing backlogs and ensuring more timely, predictable permit decisions must remain a priority for policymakers to ensure that Minnesota companies can locate and expand in the state.”
MORE: The Chamber put together a “scorecard” with its findings. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4lboy7c
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota jobs remained stable in February and the labor force grew by 3,800 people, according to data released today by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota lost 700 jobs in February, effectively flat over the month. The state's unemployment rate stayed at 3.0% for the fifth month in a row, with the national unemployment rate at 4.1%. Minnesota's labor force participation rate also stayed steady at 68.1% in February, compared to 62.4% nationally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iYloBu
TODAY: The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota will hold a news conference at the Capitol at noon. VERBATIM: “Highlighting the Lifeline Affordable Auto Insurance bill heard in the House Commerce Committee Wednesday, March 26 and hearing from supporters about the need for the proposed program”
BACKGROUND: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A proposal in the Minnesota Legislature would create a special car insurance program for low-income drivers who can't afford coverage. … To qualify for the ‘Minnesota Lifeline Insurance Program,’ drivers would need to make under 300% of the federal poverty level and have a license for three years and a clean driving record in that same time period. Premiums in Minnesota soared 58% last year, according to one estimate, marking one of the sharpest increases of any state in the country. … California, Hawaii and New Jersey have similar low-cost auto insurance programs, according to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. But it's unclear if Minnesota will actually join them this year . . . ‘Subsidized rates for one group of policyholders will lead to higher premiums for other insured drivers. That's not good policy and it's surely not good for the 90% of drivers who have insurance now,’ said Aaron Cocking, CEO of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Y2WQPQ
(DISCLOSURE: Insurance Federation of Minnesota is a Fluence client)
EV: Via MN Senate Republicans, VERBATIM: “Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) has authored legislation that would increase the surcharge fee on all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including motorcycles. If enacted, this bill would increase the surcharge for electric vehicles from $75 to $150.” QUOTE: “Considering the wear and tear on our roads, this bill simply ensures everyone is paying their fair share for driving in our state, regardless of whatever vehicle they choose to buy,” said Howe. “Funds from the gas tax usually cover wear and tear on our roads, but with the increase in electric vehicle purchases, we are missing that market of drivers. As our current law stands, when someone buys an electric vehicle, they’re circumventing an average of $229 of gas tax fees per year. We all use these roads, so we should all be paying for their maintenance.” BILL: https://fluence-media.co/42fHQ3D
MINING: From Electric Metals Limited via ACCESS Newswire, VERBATIM: “Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) welcomes the recent Executive Order issued by President Trump, titled ‘Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.’ The order represents a major federal policy shift aimed at rapidly expanding domestic mining and processing of critical minerals. It calls for expedited permitting, prioritization of federal lands for resource development, and the use of the Defense Production Act to provide financial support for U.S.-based mineral projects vital to national security and economic resilience . . . The Executive Order directly reinforces the strategic importance of Electric Metals (USA) Inc. and its flagship Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota-the highest-grade manganese deposit in North America, a potential domestic source of manganese, a mineral vital to EV battery production, energy storage, steelmaking, and defense applications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426ZVj4
ECONOMY: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said, ‘it's conceivable that the hit to confidence could be a bigger effect than the tariffs themselves,’ as he discusses the potential economic impact of uncertainty surrounding US tariffs. Kashkari spoke Wednesday at a Fed Listens event and conversation at the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iG5IDf
RETAIL: Via Morning Consult, VERBATIM: “Low-cost e-commerce sites like Temu and Shein have seen impressive growth in the U.S. over the last few years. As of January 2025, 44% of U.S. adults have used Temu, and 31% have used Shein. The main selling point for these retailers is their competitive pricing. Two-thirds (66%) of shoppers say that lower prices are a major reason why they shop from these overseas e-commerce sites, instead of U.S. retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jbbDQN
SNEAKERS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Local sneakerheads are sure to know Moh Habib and his Uptown store Studiiyo23, a lifestyle and sneaker boutique where folks line up outside to secure limited-edition or hyped up releases. Now, Habib is gracing the 50th and France district with a second Twin Cities location, Studiiyo, which softly opened last weekend.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FIW2tj
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)
AMTRAK: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Amtrak is resuming rail service on the popular Borealis line Thursday, using bi-level railcars on the route between St. Paul and Chicago. Trains from the Windy City to the Twin Cities will begin rolling Thursday night with service in both directions expected to be back on track by Friday morning, the railroad said . . . On Wednesday, the railroad discovered corrosion on ‘multiple’ Horizon cars and sidelined them. Passengers were bussed to their destinations, Amtrak said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hOb26g
LIST: Real estate firm Redfin lists Lakeville among the ten “hottest neighborhoods of 2025.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3FLuxzm
LAKEVILLE: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “The developer of a Lakeville housing project targeting East Africans has not produced a list of its clients, complaints and refunds and will likely face sanctions in a state lawsuit, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office said in a filing. Nolosha Development, which markets itself as ‘the perfect place for families to grow and thrive,’ is violating a court order to hand over internal documents, according to the Attorney General’s Office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43XPalE
ST CLOUD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “On a corner in the center of St. Cloud, next to a former Wells Fargo bank, Abdikadir Bashir can view bustling cultural malls in three directions. There’s a restaurant, a cafe, retail shops, a halal market, a health clinic — all started by East African immigrants who now call St. Cloud home. This busy hub is the heart of the recently arrived immigrant community in St. Cloud. Bashir, executive director of the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization, said it challenges stereotypes of immigrants as a drain on the community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c2eAAA
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)
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor released this morning and reflecting data from Tuesday shows minimal change over last week – 66% of the state remains in some form of drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
FIRE RISK: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “If we didn’t receive any more snow, this winter in Duluth would be the seventh lowest on record. ‘I would say we’re probably a couple weeks out yet from having those conducive conditions but it’s just around the corner,’ said Aaron Mielke, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest and fire program leader in the Two Harbors area. The region he supervises includes the southern part of Lake County and all of Cook County. Wednesday, he led the DNR’s annual wildfire prevention refresher training by briefing the 30 Minnesota DNR employees on what to expect this spring.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4c7hAvL
MINNEAPOLIS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday will discuss a proposal to include the Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park neighborhoods in the latest round of contracts for violence interruption services. The discussion comes as the council considers contracts to fund interrupters in several other parts of the city, but not the areas that stretch from the edge of downtown to the West Bank of the University of Minnesota campus. Ward 6 Council member Jamal Osman, who represents the area, is critical of the administration's decision not to include these neighborhoods in the latest round of contracts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3SFck
CD3: Via Eden Prairie Local News, VERBATIM: “Standing before nearly 2,000 people at Jefferson High School in Bloomington on Thursday, March 20, U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison called for something unexpected amid what she described as political turmoil: a ‘kindness revolution.’” QUOTE: “We’re in a moment of cruelty,” Morrison said about halfway through the event. “But most people aren’t cruel. I think something shifted — with COVID, with social media, with loneliness. We need each other as human beings. Even the smallest acts of kindness matter. Being decent to each other is important.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XAg9jo
MHA NATION-ENBRIDGE AGREEMENT: “IT’S AN AWESOME DAY” - Enbridge has sold its Plaza/Wabek Pipeline in North Dakota to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, paving the way for the MHA Nation to become the first Tribal shipper on the Enbridge liquids pipeline network. The pipeline will “create an avenue” from the MHA Nation’s Thunder Butte facility, notes Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation, “to move our very valuable assets and resources to the marketplace.” Adds Bernie Fox, Thunder Butte’s CEO: “I’m thankful to Enbridge, because now they’re part of our history. They’re our partner.” As part of Enbridge’s Indigenous inclusion strategy, “we want to provide even more opportunities,” says Mike Koby, VP of our U.S. Liquids Pipelines group, “to partner with the MHA Nation and other Tribal communities along our operations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47ozrun (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
ST PAUL: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The downtown St. Paul Lunds & Byerlys closed its doors for good Wednesday, leaving the area with no grocery store . . . ‘The news about Lunds was so painful for me, and I know for so many of my downtown constituents,’ City Council President Rebecca Noecker said. ‘It’s hard to overstate how important that anchor institution was.’ Downtown is a neighborhood like every other neighborhood, and it needs grocery stores, said Noecker, who represents the area where Lunds is located.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4l5YwSs
TWINS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Entering Target Field on game days will be easier than ever this season. New at the ballpark this year is the MLB Go Ahead Entry System at four gates after being limited in use last season.” QUOTE: "A fan goes to the MLB ballpark app where they can enroll in under 5 seconds," says MLB's Karri Zaremba. "When they've enrolled, what's happening is they're taking a live selfie capture in the MLB ballpark app that gets converted into a unique numerical ID which gets associated with their account." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4j3CzBN
COFFEE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Ziggi's Coffee, a growing national coffee chain with shops in 20 states, is expanding into Minnesota. On April 1, Ziggi's Coffee will open its doors in Granite Falls, its first Minnesota outpost, bringing the Colorado-based chain to 21 states and more than 100 locations nationwide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l29MiK
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, from Minnesota-based companies:
H.B. FULLER: “H. B. Fuller Co. (FUL) on Wednesday reported earnings of $13.2 million in its fiscal first quarter. The St Paul, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 24 cents per share . . . The adhesives company posted revenue of $788.7 million in the period, exceeding Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E8hR4O
WINNEBAGO: “Winnebago Industries Inc. (WGO) on Thursday reported a loss of $400,000 in its fiscal second quarter. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 2 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 19 cents per share. The results met Wall Street expectations . . . The recreational vehicle maker posted revenue of $620.2 million in the period, exceeding Street forecasts.” READ; https://fluence-media.co/3XyqZ9y
TONIGHT: Via New Justice Project, VERBATIM: “On March 27th at 6PM local community groups will be hosting a Northside Candidate Forum at Zion Baptist Church. Candidates for Minneapolis Mayoral, as well as those running for Ward 4 and 5 will be in attendance.”
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)
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Good news, cinephiles: The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Fest (MSPIFF) is back for its 44th year, boasting an exciting lineup of 200-plus films from around the world (and some from Minnesota), filmmaker and special guest appearances, parties, panels, and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l5OjWc
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
TRUCKING: Via Minnesota Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau (MBFB) President Dan Glessing testified on March 26 before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, as part of its hearing on America Builds: How Trucking Supports American Communities.” QUOTE: “The success of American agriculture relies upon a robust, safe, and dependable transportation system,” Glessing stated. “The products we grow and raise must travel far beyond our farm gates to reach markets, processors, and consumers. That is why Congress needs to consider common sense solutions that address our supply chain shortfalls.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j5wJ30
STATE CAPITOL: From MDA via Facebook, VERBATIM: “When women in ag thrive, the entire industry benefits! Today, University of Minnesota Extension brought nearly 100 attendees together for Women in Ag Day at the Capitol, amplifying the voices of women farmers and agricultural professionals. With 35,000+ women farmers in Minnesota and nearly 30% of young farmers being women, their leadership is shaping the future of agriculture.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4j4r796
ESTIMATES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Private estimates are coming in ahead of USDA’s Prospective Plantings report at the end of the month. Matt Bennett with AgMarket.Net tells Brownfield they surveyed growers across the U.S. and found more than half of respondents plan to grow more corn and less soybeans. ‘From that and then from personal conversations (with farmers) we ended up at a 95.39 million acreage estimate for corn and 82.75 (million) for soybeans.’ He says ongoing pressure on soybean futures is a big factor.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41MNo5E
FUNDING: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s federal funding cuts are being felt from farms in the Heartland to food banks in Chicago. More than $1 billion in assistance that usually flows into the US Department of Agriculture for two programs that help local farmers, schools and food banks has already vanished. Now the administration is threatening to slash the agency’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides low-income families with benefits to help supplement their grocery budgets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c2fzkm
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters: https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
CONVENTION CTR: Via news release from the Minneapolis Convention Center, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) will be busy during the second quarter of 2025. The award-winning facility will host numerous meetings, conventions and trade shows, helping to support the tourism and hospitality industry in the Minneapolis region. Highlights of the Q2 event calendar include several shows open to the public, including the Twin Cities Auto Show, the Time Travelers Vintage Expo, the Minnesota Craft Beer Festival, the Oddities & Curiosities Expo, and IMPORTEXPO.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4j4vFfF
STEARNS: Via St. Cloud-based Stearns Bank, VERBATIM: “Stearns Bank announced that Heather Plumski will serve as its new President, effective immediately. Plumski will report to Kelly Skalicky, who will continue as CEO.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4la1QMI
FAST HORSE: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis-based Fast Horse has appointed Scott Broberg as its Chief Creative Officer. Broberg, who has been with Fast Horse since 2003, will lead the agency’s creative vision and execution, reinforcing its commitment to highly innovative and effective work across the paid, earned and owned media spectrum.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QQV0O8
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ORCHESTRA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Music director Thomas Søndergård is pulling out the big guns for his third season with the Minnesota Orchestra.” SØNDERGÅRD: “Audiences will hear works by American-born composers, for certain, but also by composers who resettled in America or sought inspiration here….By painting with a very broad brush, we hope to bring to light the interwoven tapestry of American influences, artists and composers who have contributed to orchestral music today.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j44DF7
BDAYS: lobbyist Rebecca Kanninen, Sen. Torrey Westrom
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