One week into his term, 52% approve of President Trump’s job performance – 44% disapprove. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/3WCPQbY
The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival returns in July. LINEUP: https://fluence-media.co/3WDPRvU
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WFPUYh
On Sunday Take House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and GOP Rep. Kristin Robbins about the current state of the chamber. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jLC4xF
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
VAN GOGH: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “In 1889, Vincent van Gogh committed himself to a psychiatric asylum in Southern France, where he spent a turbulent year creating roughly 150 paintings, including masterpieces such as “Irises,” ‘Almond Blossom’ and ‘The Starry Night.’ Now, a former curator of ancient art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has teamed up with a group of conservators, scientists and historians who believe they’ve discovered No. 151—a previously unknown Van Gogh portrait of a fisherman plucked from a Minnesota garage sale a few years ago by an unsuspecting antiques collector for less than $50.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40yfLCF
FREY: From Aki Nace via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Wednesday that he will run for reelection in 2025. If he wins, it'll be his third term at the helm. He first served as a City Council representative for Ward 3 before he was elected mayor in 2017.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40VXz7y
MORE: Frey talked about his campaign with Vineeta Sawkar on WCCO-Radio’s The Morning News. FREY: “I have learned a lot over the last several years. And, those lessons, they make me a better mayor and hopefully a better person – I use those lessons every single day. And, right now, with everything that is goin’ on in the world, with all the chaos that we’re seeing, that kind of experience matters.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Wzv2lC
STUDY: From Second Harvest Heartland via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Today, Second Harvest Heartland released the results of its recent Statewide Hunger Study, showing that 1 in 5 Minnesota households are experiencing food insecurity and cannot afford the food they need. According to the study: 1 in 5 Minnesota households are food insecure; 18% of the state is supported by the emergency food system; 30% of households in Minnesota are not confident about having enough food in the next year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CiMQdP
DRUGS: From Matthew Holding Eagle III via MPR, VERBATIM: “Late last year, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy added Beltrami to the list of eight other Minnesota counties designated as a high intensity drug trafficking area, or HIDTA. Most of the others are in the Twin Cities region. Congress created the program in 1988 as part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Area law enforcement, including the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, Bemidji Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, worked together to obtain the designation. Now, law enforcement in Beltrami is planning how it will use the federal money to curb the flow of illegal drugs into one of the poorest areas in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40Qebxj
SCAM: From Ellen Galles via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges has a warning about a scam he says is bound to happen. ‘I wanted to get ahead of what we know is coming,’ he said. He posted a video to YouTube Monday afternoon warning about a variation on a classic scam he predicts will materialize in the wake of illegal immigrant enforcement. He warns against anyone posing as a law enforcement officer asking for money as a way to avoid deportation.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4glmuFI
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
NICOLLET MALL: From Ari Bergeron via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Metro Transit held an open house in the IDS Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis Tuesday to gather feedback about about the possibility of moving transit off of Nicollet Mall. Kathleen Mayell with City of Minneapolis Public Works Department explains the purpose of this proposal.” QUOTE: "The buy behind this proposal is to pedestrianize Nicollet Mall," says Mayell. "This is a super important transit corridor, and we want to ensure that transit, when it moves off the mall, the service will be just as good or better." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jtmbeS
FOOD BANK: Via news release from the Attorney General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today announced that he has reached a settlement with Brooklyn Center food bank charity West African Family & Community Services and its president Edmund Ocansey. In the settlements, also known as Assurances of Discontinuance, Attorney General Ellison alleges that WAFCS failed to operate under the supervision of its board and allowed Ocansey unsupervised access to funds, some of which he used for his personal benefit. The Assurances also allege that the organization failed to maintain adequate books and records, implement controls over the nonprofit’s finances, and make required regulatory filings with the state and federal government, among other violations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4az5mex
AUDITOR: The Office of the Legislative Auditor this morning released a performance audit of the Office of the State Auditor. VERBATIM: “The Office of the State Auditor generally complied with the significant finance-related legal requirements we tested and generally had adequate internal controls. However, we identified instances of noncompliance and an internal control weakness related to asset management. The Office of the State Auditor implemented some best practices for information technology security controls. However, we identified several areas in which the office should implement additional controls or strengthen existing controls to better protect its information technology resources.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WErtdX
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)
HOCKEY MASK: From Chandra Colvin via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota History Center in St. Paul now features a specially made goalie mask in the permanent exhibit, ‘Our Home: Native Minnesota.’ In 2023, Minnesota Wild’s Marc-André Fleury wore the mask designed by Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor during warmups on the Wild’s Native American Heritage Night. He was warned by the NHL not to wear the mask as players are prohibited from wearing customized or specialty gear on themed nights.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jMmH86
DIGITAL RIVER: From Dan Niepow via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Digital River Inc., a Minnetonka e-commerce firm that sold for over $800 million a decade ago, is shutting down. In a Jan. 27 WARN letter to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, CEO Barry Kasoff told state officials that the company is laying off 122 employees and permanently closing its offices. The layoffs, which will be effective March 28, are permanent, he said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CuBaVc
FAIR STATE: From Dustin Nelson via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Fair State Brewing Cooperative is scaling back in a significant way. In a memo sent to staff, obtained by Bring Me The News and confirmed by an employee, the brewery says it has continued to face ‘headwinds’ after exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy last summer. It will now close down its St. Paul production facility, a move that will include layoffs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hwb17p
‘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: From Madeline Nachbar via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “More womenswear is coming to MartinPatrick3. The North Loop lifestyle boutique announced plans to expand its Colonial Warehouse digs to a whopping 30,000 square feet to allow for more women's clothing and accessories.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Eh5rYa
US BANK: From Dan Niepow via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp will have a new CEO starting in mid-April. On Tuesday, the bank announced that longtime executive and current president Gunjan Kedia will take over as CEO on April 15. Current chair and CEO Andy Cecere will transition to executive chairman and will support Kedia ‘as she assumes her new role,’ U.S. Bank said in a news released Tuesday afternoon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PUGpRb
LOPPET: From Dustin Nelson via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival at Theodore Wirth Park will have a shorter course again this year due to a lack of snow. The cross-country ski race, held Feb. 1 and 2, will be using a shortened course for the second straight year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CuCV4K
FRIDAY: Via Second Harvest Heartland, VERBATIM: “Second Harvest Heartland will host the first annual Make Hunger History Summit to gather Minnesota's most innovative hunger relief and human service organizations to assess food insecurity and collaborate on strategy to address the ongoing hunger crisis in Minnesota. The theme of the inaugural summit is Forging New Pathways, and it will feature national and statewide leaders addressing the hunger crisis and what can be done to Make Hunger History.”
SATURDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “St. Paul is about to host one of the most exhilarating events in snowboarding as Red Bull Heavy Metal returns to the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WCNTMo
NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “Our Regional Outreach team, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), recently surveyed manufacturing firms across the Ninth District to better understand how they are faring in the current economy and what they anticipate in 2025. Join Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon for a free webinar discussing the latest results from our annual survey of manufacturers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WFMNQ5
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
HEALTHCARE: From The Phia Group via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Despite the fact that the United States spends more on health care than any other developing country, it ranks last for quality health care. Today The Phia Group, a leading health care cost containment firm, has released The Phia Group Healthcare Index, a state-by-state health care quality and cost analysis, indicating that Minnesota, Hawaii, and Montana had the highest quality, most affordable health care. Conversely, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas ranked lowest in the country for health care quality and affordability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42yJspU
DENIALS: From Christopher Snowbeck via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A new report finds Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group and two Blue Cross Blue Shield nonprofit insurers had the highest claim-denial rates among individual market health plans sold in 2023 on the federal government’s HealthCare.gov platform. Overall, insurers in the market denied nearly 1 out of every 5 claims for payment, or 19%, for in-network services, according to the report from KFF, a California-based health policy group. It found significant variation between companies, with denial rates ranging from as low as 1% to as high as 54%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gfFA03
NEXT MONTH: From Natasha Delion via MplsStPaul, verbatim: “The Minneapolis Institute of Art is introducing the Minneapolis Institute of Ice this February, an outdoor exhibit that embraces the winter weather with a display of art-inspired ice sculptures. The ice sculpture collection sculpted by artists at Minnesota Ice will resemble favorites such as Raffaelo Monti’s ‘Veiled Lady’ and ‘Your Dog’ by Yoshitomo Nara.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Wy0IHZ
STORIES: From Shannon Slatton via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “MN Zej Zog is celebrating a milestone for the Hmong community—50 years since their arrival in the United States—with a unique project called ‘Of Distance and Time – Yav Ntuj Qub Qab.’ ‘This year you can expect a lot of cool things from MN Zej Zog and the Hmong community in general,’ explained Pang Yang, executive director of the organization. The project captures the strength and resilience of Hmong elders through heirloom photography by Richard Schultz and rising artist Artid Chah.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PSET28
LANGUAGE: From Matthew Freeman via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “According to the University of Minnesota, it’s estimated that there are as few as 1,000 native speakers of Ojibwe across the United States. But thanks to funding from the Bush Foundation, a new long-term project aims to revitalize the Ojibwe language across the state. The Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN), a Native-led non-profit, is set to launch an ambitious eight-year, $8.2-million-dollar initiative aimed at revitalizing the Ojibwe language, and that initiative will be felt locally in the Bemidji area.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3CCXoEx
Subscribe to other Fluence newslettersFRIDAY: Via Second Harvest Heartland, VERBATIM: “Second Harvest Heartland will host the first annual Make Hunger History Summit to gather Minnesota's most innovative hunger relief and human service organizations to assess food insecurity and collaborate on strategy to address the ongoing hunger crisis in Minnesota. The theme of the inaugural summit is Forging New Pathways, and it will feature national and statewide leaders addressing the hunger crisis and what can be done to Make Hunger History.”
SATURDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “St. Paul is about to host one of the most exhilarating events in snowboarding as Red Bull Heavy Metal returns to the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WCNTMo
NEXT WEEK: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “Our Regional Outreach team, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), recently surveyed manufacturing firms across the Ninth District to better understand how they are faring in the current economy and what they anticipate in 2025. Join Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon for a free webinar discussing the latest results from our annual survey of manufacturers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WFMNQ5
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
HEALTHCARE: From The Phia Group via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Despite the fact that the United States spends more on health care than any other developing country, it ranks last for quality health care. Today The Phia Group, a leading health care cost containment firm, has released The Phia Group Healthcare Index, a state-by-state health care quality and cost analysis, indicating that Minnesota, Hawaii, and Montana had the highest quality, most affordable health care. Conversely, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas ranked lowest in the country for health care quality and affordability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42yJspU
DENIALS: From Christopher Snowbeck via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A new report finds Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group and two Blue Cross Blue Shield nonprofit insurers had the highest claim-denial rates among individual market health plans sold in 2023 on the federal government’s HealthCare.gov platform. Overall, insurers in the market denied nearly 1 out of every 5 claims for payment, or 19%, for in-network services, according to the report from KFF, a California-based health policy group. It found significant variation between companies, with denial rates ranging from as low as 1% to as high as 54%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gfFA03
NEXT MONTH: From Natasha Delion via MplsStPaul, verbatim: “The Minneapolis Institute of Art is introducing the Minneapolis Institute of Ice this February, an outdoor exhibit that embraces the winter weather with a display of art-inspired ice sculptures. The ice sculpture collection sculpted by artists at Minnesota Ice will resemble favorites such as Raffaelo Monti’s ‘Veiled Lady’ and ‘Your Dog’ by Yoshitomo Nara.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Wy0IHZ
STORIES: From Shannon Slatton via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “MN Zej Zog is celebrating a milestone for the Hmong community—50 years since their arrival in the United States—with a unique project called ‘Of Distance and Time – Yav Ntuj Qub Qab.’ ‘This year you can expect a lot of cool things from MN Zej Zog and the Hmong community in general,’ explained Pang Yang, executive director of the organization. The project captures the strength and resilience of Hmong elders through heirloom photography by Richard Schultz and rising artist Artid Chah.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PSET28
LANGUAGE: From Matthew Freeman via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “According to the University of Minnesota, it’s estimated that there are as few as 1,000 native speakers of Ojibwe across the United States. But thanks to funding from the Bush Foundation, a new long-term project aims to revitalize the Ojibwe language across the state. The Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN), a Native-led non-profit, is set to launch an ambitious eight-year, $8.2-million-dollar initiative aimed at revitalizing the Ojibwe language, and that initiative will be felt locally in the Bemidji area.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3CCXoEx
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters
REGIS: From Minneapolis-based Regis via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM:RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, will issue financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, before the market opens on February 12, 2025. Following the release, the Company will host a presentation via webcast for investors beginning at 7:30 a.m. Central time to discuss its corporate developments and financial performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40vlpp4
OTTER TAIL: From Fergus Falls-based Otter Tail via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) will issue a news release announcing 2024 financial results on Monday, February 17, 2025 and will host a live conference call and webcast on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the corporation’s financial and operating performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aK6MTx
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PICKLEBALL: From Pickleball Kingdom via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Pickleball Kingdom, the world's largest indoor pickleball entity, is thrilled to announce its groundbreaking partnership with Donald Driver, 14-year NFL veteran and legendary Green Bay Packers wide receiver. This collaboration marks a monumental step in Pickleball Kingdom's expansion, as Driver teams up with Pickleball Sports LLC to spearhead the full-scale development of clubs across Wisconsin and Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jEhhvU
BDAYS: MSP Mag’s Steph March, fmr. Ramstad staffer Dean Peterson, GOP operative Gregg Peppin, fmr. Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein, Senate committee admin Kathleen Lonergan
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