The pregnant mom and four kids who were the subject of an Amber Alert have been found safe. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48ysKrp
Gallup compared a new poll with one from 2020 and found fewer voters planned to vote early this year with more saying they’ll vote on election day. 67% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats say they’re more enthusiastic this year. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3YNx9Un
Snow season is here and so is Minnesota Monthly’s annual winter photo contest. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3C65fdp
The Star Tribune posted winners from its Halloween pet costume contest. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Uzfk8O
Did you see the SportsTake Hot 10? READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YxUlV4
Sunday Take at 9 on WCCO Radio will discuss election security with Sec. of State Steve Simon.
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ebCqJP
Sunday Take featured the only scheduled debate in the race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Amy Klobuchar and challenger Royce White. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eYBKsw
Sign-up for Walz Watch: https://fluence-media.co/walzwatch
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
ST. PAUL: From Kyle Stokes via Axios, VERBATIM: “Critics say the child care measure on St. Paul's ballot is missing a key detail: a plan to guarantee that families who receive a child care scholarship would be able to use it. Why it matters: A main reason why child care in the U.S. is a mess is a lack of available space in programs that struggle to remain fully staffed. Many St. Paul neighborhoods are ‘child care deserts,’ where kids outnumber available seats by more than 3-to-1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NNARH1
QUESTION: From Dan Kraker via MPR, VERBATIM: “Voters will decide whether to continue to set aside a significant chunk of lottery revenue ‘for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources’ for another 25 years. To pass, a majority of all voters must approve the amendment. Leaving a ballot blank constitutes a ‘No’ vote. The amendment would also increase the amount of money that can be spent from the fund each year by an additional 1.5 percent. The extra $20 to $25 million annually would be used to fund a new community grant program designed to be accessed by smaller organizations that serve underserved communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YQqDMI
TOMORROW: Via Conservation Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, along with other partners of the Minnesotans For Our Great Outdoors coalition, will host hunting activities to highlight the important work of lottery proceeds and encourage hunters and anglers to vote Yes on the renewal.”
BEAVERS: From Tony Kennedy via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota opened its beaver trapping season on Saturday, five months after state lawmakers made it illegal — under certain circumstances — for people to eat the furry rodents. Jokes, complaints and unanswered questions rose from the Senate floor when the proposed law came up for discussion in May. But even now, as trappers set out to bag the animals, it’s unclear why a beaver provision got added to Minnesota statutes that says: ‘Human consumption of a retained beaver is prohibited.’ It’s a gnawing question that lawmakers were not eager to discuss.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3C6nJKF
ANOKA-HENNEPIN: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Budget cuts are on the way to Anoka-Hennepin Schools, Minnesota’s largest school district. The school board discussed two plans to cut more than $20 million from its budget this week. ‘The reality is when we make budget cuts, there’s pain involved,’ said Anoka-Hennepin School Board Co-Chair Zach Arco, noting the tension in the room. ‘There absolutely will be pain.’ Early this year, the district set out to cut approximately $30 million from the 2025-2026 budget. Superintendent Corey McIntyre says the district faces budget constraints brought on by several factors. COVID-19 pandemic relief funds expired this year, while the settlement of district employee contracts added new budget pressures.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hqpF0F
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Flint Hills Resources makes fuels and other products people need and use every day, products that help keep Minnesota moving. The company does this while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship and contributing meaningfully to the community. STEWARDSHIP WITH A PURPOSE: Four pillars of stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ICE RINKS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Outdoor ice skating in Minneapolis was a blink-and-you-miss-it affair this past winter, and climate uncertainty is now causing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to reconsider the scope of its rink program. MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura recommended shuttering five outdoor rinks throughout the city as part of the Park Board’s 2025-26 budget.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YvyNsf
SNOW: From Susie Jones and Laura Oakes via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “That heavy, wet snow causing some problems at the IDS Center downtown Minneapolis Thursday afternoon. WCCO's Susie Jones reports a security guard that is stopping people from entering the building and the Crystal Court, and having them redirect so they're not inside the middle of the courtyard.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fsMjUe
AI: Via Media Blog, VERBATIM: “OpenAI and its minority owner Microsoft are funding a $10 million AI collaborative and fellowship program operated by the Lenfest Institute, making it the largest AI-specific local news development collaborative. The deal does not include any sort of licensing terms or real-time data exchanges to train and serve large language models at OpenAI and Microsoft. In the initial round of funding, five U.S. metro news organizations — Chicago Public Media, Newsday (Long Island, NY), The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Seattle Times — will each receive a $500,000 grant to hire a two-year AI fellow to pursue projects that focus largely on driving sustainable businesses for local news.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UB8uzU
INCINERATOR: From Andrew Hazzard via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Trombones and trumpets guided residents to the Minneapolis City Council meeting through the freezing rain Thursday morning, where they cheered on a resolution urging Hennepin County to shut its controversial trash incinerator. The council voted unanimously to approve a resolution urging the county to stop burning trash at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) by 2028. The resolution pledges to increase city-led waste-reduction efforts and to explore landfills that could receive city trash if the county shuts the incinerator.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YN8xuY
“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)
MAPLE GROVE: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “In early January, Maple Grove will implement its own organics recycling program for residents. Minnesota state law requires everyone to be charged for organics recycling, even if you don’t use the service. Currently, neighbors are charged through their trash hauler. But Maple Grove leaders said their option should save neighbors more money.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ftppfz
OTTER TAIL CTY: Via Project Optimist, VERBATIM: “An aluminum can’s journey from a recycling bin in Otter Tail County back to the grocery store shelf starts at the recycling center. Located at 1115 N. Tower Road in Fergus Falls, the Otter Tail County Recycling Center serves residents of Otter Tail County and employs 15 people. Minnesota generated 6.1 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2022, the latest year data was available through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Of that, 45.2% was recycled or organic material, the highest in more than 30 years, the MPCA said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YtK9Nw
DINKYTOWN: From Grace Aigner via Minnesota Daily, VERBATIM: “After Kent Kramp sold his Dinkytown business in the spring, the Dinkytown Business Alliance (DBA) that he ran for over five years immediately collapsed in his absence under the corporatizing Dinkytown business landscape. Kramp, the former president of the DBA, said there was nothing left of the organization to pass along after he sold the Dinkytown Raising Cane’s location he operated, now only owning the Test Kitchen in Stadium Village.” KRAMP: “I don’t want it to die, I just had nobody to hand it off to.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NOY4c1
LIFE TIME: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Life Time is finding customers are willing to pay up to stay healthy, as the fitness chain that largely caters to suburbanites has been able to charge higher membership dues as things like pickleball courts have boosted demand. The company now sees health spas and nutritional supplements as its next area of growth. It is aiming to capture consumer interest in antiaging and wellness services through a new spa brand with offerings such as hormone replacement therapy, weight-loss drugs and IV hydration services. The health spa, which operates under the brand Miora, currently operates one location in Minneapolis. Life Time aims to expand the brand to dozens of its markets in the years ahead.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4faglfW
FASHION: From Alesha Taylor via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Vikings, in partnership with Leah O’Connell (head coach Kevin O’Connell’s wife), Chelsea Adofo-Mensah (wife of Kwesi Adobe-Mensah, general manager of the Vikings), Fanatics, and NFL-licensed fashion brand The Wild Collective, have unveiled the ‘International Collection,’ a limited-edition outerwear line featuring three stylish pieces.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3AwctXp
NOTE: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in other newsletters. If you love lunch take, sign up for the other tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
THIS MONTH: From Chandra Colvin via MPR, VERBATIM: “Native American Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates Native history, culture and contributions made across the United States. For many, being together in community whether it be small or large gatherings is the best way to celebrate.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3C3mtb6
NOV 19: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the community to attend a Nov. 19 public meeting to share feedback on concepts for improving safety and connectivity along Highway 3/South Robert Street in West St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YLzhM9
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
ACA: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “House Speaker Mike Johnson told a crowd of supporters Monday night that there will be ‘no Obamacare’ if former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans win the upcoming election on Nov. 5. Republicans will propose ‘massive reform’ to the Affordable Care Act if they win control of both chambers in Congress and the presidency, Johnson, R-La., said at a campaign event for Republican House candidate Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania on Monday evening.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f2Wf7t
OVERDOSES: From Tim Henderson via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The recent decline in overdose deaths hides a tremendous disparity by race: Deaths have fallen only among white people while continuing to rise among people of color, according to a new Stateline analysis of federal data. Health experts in nonwhite communities say they’re finding strategies that work in their areas, but that they still struggle for recognition and funding to address the problems, especially among Black and Native people. In all, nearly 5,000 more people of color died from overdoses in 2023 than in 2021, while deaths among white people dropped by more than 6,000, according to the analysis of provisional data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CgQLal
MINNEAPOLIS: From Macy Harder via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, the City of Minneapolis unveiled its first-ever Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), a state-of-the-art vehicle that could help bridge gaps in health care access and reduce barriers in underserved communities. According to a press release from the City of Minneapolis, over $1 million from opioid settlement funds will cover the cost of the new unit, including equipping the vehicle with medical supplies and hiring staff. With a focus on substance use, the MMU could help reduce opioid overdose deaths, increase access to treatment, promote long-term recovery, and expand access to medications for opioid use disorder.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YINnht
FALL BACK: From Deb Balzer via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Many parts of the U.S. – and the world — will soon ‘fall back’ as daylight saving time ends and clocks fall back one hour. This year, the change takes place in the U.S. at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 3. That means an extra hour of sleep – and earlier sunrises and sunsets. How does less sun affect your mood and level of energy? Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, says sunlight can influence the levels of neurochemicals in the brain.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3C7xRms
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ACQUISITION: From North Carolina-based Kewaunee via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Kewaunee Scientific Corporation, a leader in laboratory furniture and technical product design and manufacturing, today announced the successful acquisition of Nu Aire, a Minneapolis-based company, for $55 million, subject to certain adjustments for debt, cash, transaction expenses, and net working capital. Nu Aire is renowned for its manufacturing of biological safety cabinets, airflow products, CO2 incubators, ultralow freezers, animal handling equipment, pharmacy compounding isolators, and related parts and accessories.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AoI6Ck
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press:
TENNANT: “Tennant Co. (TNC) on Thursday reported net income of $20.8 million in its third quarter. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of $1.09. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and amortization costs, came to $1.39 per share. The maker of products for cleaning floors, parking lots and hospitals posted revenue of $315.8 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fafvji
PROTO LABS: “Proto Labs Inc. (PRLB) on Friday reported earnings of $7.2 million in its third quarter. The Maple Plain, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 29 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, were 47 cents per share. The custom parts manufacturer posted revenue of $125.6 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Uw5ggM
DONALDSON: From Bloomington-based Donaldson via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, will webcast its first quarter 2025 earnings conference call on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AmB2Gl
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THANKSGIVING: Via MplsStPaul, a list of eat-in and take-home Thanksgiving dinner options. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fqNQdJ
If you like podcasts, listen to Beers with Blois... https://fluence-media.co/3vkqhMN
BDAYS: Sen. John Marty, PR pro Anne Deanovic, mortgage officer TJ Gladwin, communication pro Sara Peliserro SAT: Norwest Equity’s Jason Sondell, Fox 9’s Doug Solomon, lobbyist Todd Iverson SUN: WCCO Radio’s Taylor Rivera, radio pro Chris Reuvers