Our recent heat is impacting fish – the DNR is tracking reported fish kills at 102 bodies of water. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fHmTEn
Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index rose a bit this month:
More, including trends by party affiliation, HERE: https://fluence-media.co/44MFkCz
RIP former UofM Baseball Coach John Anderson. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnOdIP
Fluence Advisory has released its Insights memo on “The Next Legislature”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aNNSMV
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Sunday Take featured Rep. Angie Craig discussing her Senate campaign, the Iran war, the state of agriculture and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wZg8od
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A BUSY WEEK AHEAD
THIS WEEK: Mayor Jacob Frey and city leaders launched Black Business Week this morning in Minneapolis. Via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Now in its sixth year, Black Business Week highlights the contributions of Black-owned businesses across Minneapolis while connecting entrepreneurs to resources, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and funding that support long-term growth and success.”
TODAY: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Due to the continued heat at lunch time, all Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) Summer Food Truck locations are canceled for Monday, July 27.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fpkEGL
TOMORROW: Via Minneapolis NAACP, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis NAACP will hold a follow-up press conference on Tuesday, July 28, to address ongoing concerns surrounding the conditions at Heritage Homes and to demand accountability, transparency, and immediate action on behalf of Minneapolis public housing residents. The press conference follows the NAACP’s June 25 press conference, where the organization called for the immediate resignation or termination of Minneapolis Public Housing Executive Director Abdi Warsame, a full investigation into conditions at Heritage Homes, and a comprehensive review of Minneapolis Public Housing’s management and oversight practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fY3yjm
NICHOLSON: Minnesota Reformer obtained a recording of a meeting in which [Lt. Governor candidate] Brian Nicholson told employees of his company they would be furloughed. VERBATIM: “The company, which employs around 100 people and manufactures modular buildings, has ceased operations. Workers have not received pay for their work between June 19 and July 8, the date they were furloughed. [Kendall] Qualls, who won the GOP endorsement at the spring convention, is running against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and House Speaker Lisa Demuth for the Republican nomination for governor in the Aug. 11 primary election. Qualls and Nicholson have touted their business acumen as important preparation to be governor and lieutenant governor, arguing the government needs to run more like a business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g0ikoX
SENATE: Via news release from the Craig campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, Minnesota’s First Lady Gwen Walz endorsed Angie Craig in her campaign for U.S. Senate. Walz has served as the First Lady of Minnesota since 2019 and is an education advocate and former public school teacher.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RzHEtq
NEW AD: Via release from the Flanagan campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan launched a new television advertisement for her U.S. Senate campaign, titled ‘The Choice.’ In the ad, Flanagan argues that Minnesotans face a clear choice between Congresswoman Angie Craig’s record of siding with Donald Trump and powerful corporate interests and Flanagan’s commitment to fighting for working people.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Rz3yx6
SOME BACKGROUND: Via Minnesota Reformer, a deep dive into the U.S. Senate primary race and the impact of Rep. Angie Craig’s vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pEPuyy
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)
DEVELOPING STORIES
TARIFFS: Via Midwest Economic Policy Institute, VERBATIM: “Tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration in 2025 raised costs for the average Midwest household by more than $2,000, shrunk the economy by $18 billion, reduced the region’s manufacturing employment by more than 41,000, and disproportionately impacted low-income households, according to a new study by the nonpartisan Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ThVTDX
NURSES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Nurses at Maple Grove Hospital have ratified a new three-year contract that its union deemed ‘historic,’ in an announcement made Thursday night. The agreement impacts nearly 600 nurses and comes as Robbinsdale-based North Memorial Health, which operates Maple Grove Hospital, is preparing to merge with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnTH6n
ALBERT LEA: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Recreation and Finance Department with the city of Albert Lea will reportedly be addressing a series of recreational facility projects that have now gone over budget. These issues will be addressed in a city council meeting on Monday, as the projects have reportedly totaled nearly $13 million in expenses. The city says this is $63,000 over budget.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vPGxnG
ARRESTS: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Over a span of 48 hours, 20 people have been arrested during a law enforcement action targeting violent offenders in the Bemidji and surrounding areas earlier this week. According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the effort, which took place Jul. 22 and 23, and focused on offenders wanted for firearms violations, shootings, and narcotics offenses.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bdY5lU
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)
BUSINESS UPDATES
MINNEAPOLIS: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “A wrecking crew on Friday tore down an old Burger King restaurant, a Whopper of an eyesore that sat boarded up on an overgrown lot on West Broadway Avenue since 2018. The site is far from clean, but local leaders are hopeful removal of the building will attract a new developer and add some shine to a historic business corridor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TXr6fG
TARGET: Via Bar Chart, VERBATIM: “The retail titan is scheduled to announce its fiscal Q2 earnings for 2027 on Wednesday, Aug. 19, before the market opens. Ahead of the release, analysts expect this general merchandise retailer to report a profit of $2,21 per share, up 7.8% from $2.05 per share in the year-ago quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fk1GBq
STATE FAIR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair holds a special place in the hearts of most Minnesotans—fond childhood memories may include visions of riding the Giant Slide or the aroma of Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar. For local businesses, however, the Great Minnesota Get-Together represents something more than nostalgia and hometown pride; being a vendor is a life-changing opportunity that many spend years, even decades, trying to secure. Julie Steller, founder of Steller Handcrafted Goods, opened her booth in the International Bazaar in 2021, four years after submitting her original application. It was a ‘dream come true,’ she says, and the years since have been a whirlwind of community, connection, and hard work—and they’ve changed her business for the better.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pIcQDD
NEW AWARD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair this year will honor an award-winning baker with an award of her own. The ‘Marjorie Johnson Honey Bee Award’ is named after the iconic Robbinsdale resident who won over 2,500 ribbons at state and county fairs, earning her the title of ‘Blue Ribbon Baker.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44VyI4O
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS: Flint Hills Resources is celebrating summer with thousands of Minnesotans at local festivals and parades. Look for Flint Hills employees – along with their families and friends – as they show their hometown pride at many local celebrations, including Rosemount Leprechaun Days, Hastings Rivertown Days, Inver Grove Heights Days and Saint Paul’s Lowertown Sounds. For decades, Flint Hills Resources has supported programs, organizations and events that improve our quality of life in our communities. LEARN MORE: Community Partnerships (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
RETAIL: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “Hawthorn Crossings has long served as more than a neighborhood shopping center . . . Now the property is at the center of a proposal its organizers describe as an invitation: an opportunity for North Minneapolis residents to become co-owners of the commercial real estate on their own corridor — with an investment deadline now just days away.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fAbBSl
CHILD CARE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “This summer marks a new era for New Horizon Academy in Brooklyn Center. The early childhood learning center has officially moved into a state-of-the-art flagship school, offering vastly expanded space and modern amenities for the city’s youngest learners. Not long ago, the building at 7100 Brooklyn Boulevard was an empty shell of an old bank. Today, you won’t find bank tellers or financial offices inside. The building is now filled with books, toys and the promise of a brighter future.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hwDFZd
NEW BIZ MODEL: Via Star Tribune, a new development in the story of Post Modern Times, a Minneapolis restaurant that converted to a no-charge model during Operation Metro Surge. VERBATIM: “It was a feel-good story in the bleakest days of the ICE surge and as news spread on social media, a reported half-million dollars in donations poured in. Enough money for owner Dylan Alverson to keep running his restaurant on donations and goodwill. But donations ran low, and so did neighborhood goodwill. Alverson announced Friday that the restaurant is closing for a few weeks, starting Sunday, while he hammers out a new business model.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yIH25E
RESORTS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has a rich legacy of resorts, but small family-owned ones like Wambolts are dying. In the heyday of mom-and-pop resorts, there were more than 3,000 in the state. There are fewer than 700 today. Roughly a dozen have held on for 100 years. When resorts close, they typically close for good, often replaced by mansions or developed into expensive getaways. The rare revival of Wambolts bucks that trend.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4foyWYn
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via St. Paul-based Ecolab, VERBATIM: “Ecolab will host a live webcast to discuss its second quarter 2026 results. A news release containing second quarter results is expected to be issued before market open on July 28, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eqKoCl
TOMORROW: Via Medina-based Polaris, VERBATIM: “Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced today that it will release its second quarter 2026 financial results on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and will hold a conference call and webcast at 8:00 AM central time on the same day to discuss the results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SQN5EG
WEDNESDAY: Via Roseville-based Hawkins, VERBATIM: “Hawkins, Inc. (Nasdaq: HWKN) announced today that it expects to release its financial results for its first quarter fiscal 2027 ended June 28, 2026 after the market closes on July 29, 2026 at approximately 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vCHVdb
WEDNESDAY: Via Eden Prairie-based C.H. Robinson, VERBATIM: “C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRW), announced today that it will issue its second quarter 2026 results after the market closes on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pa8rcg
THURSDAY: Via Chanhassen-based Life Time, VERBATIM: “Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LTH) today announced details for its second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. The Company will release its financial results before market open on Thursday, July 30, 2026, and host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET that day to discuss the results and provide a business update.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vjp5rr
THURSDAY: Via Xcel, VERBATIM: “On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) will host a conference call to review second quarter 2026 financial results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fraPrN
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)
THURSDAY: Via Minneapolis-based SPS, VERBATIM: “SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSC), the leading intelligent supply chain network, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, after the market close on Thursday, July 30, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnIiSX
THURSDAY: Via New Brighton-based APi, VERBATIM: “APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG) announced that it will release its second quarter 2026 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, July 30, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pmSKi9
THURSDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Piper, VERBATIM: “Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, will release its second quarter 2026 financial results prior to the opening of the market on Thursday, July 30, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wIJdUP
FRIDAY: Via Maple Plain-based Protolabs, VERBATIM: “Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) announced today that it will issue its financial results for the second quarter of 2026 before the opening of the market on Friday, July 31.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SOGHxT
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BORDER ROUTES: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Riding our borders can encapsulate who we are as Minnesotans. Whether you’re riding the fertile fields by the Iowa border or the north country, ‘where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,’ our state boundaries are the fringes and edges of our Minnesota identity. Biking, too, informs our personalities and personas, encapsulating values that many Minnesotans hold true: self-transportation, environmental consciousness, a healthy lifestyle, and a passion for the outdoors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tr6JHG
BDAYS: MBP’s Sarah Barten, Rep. Keith Allen, Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart, lobbyist Joel Uland, lobbyist Steve Rubis
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