After Sunday’s win, the Lynx are now 7-0. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/43pNxg8
The Minnesota Wild won’t be playing for the Stanley Cup, but they will be represented. Husky/shephard Mats Booparello will compete with rescue dogs representing all NHL teams. PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4dElaOw
Not far from the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry stands a giant pencil. BY THE NUMBERS: https://fluence-media.co/4mGf1p5
On social media, WCCO anchor Amelia Santaniello attributed her current absence to a recent foot surgery. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/43ItKr5
A semi crash in the Lowry Hill Tunnel closed a section of I-94 Friday. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4jvW1ae
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mHafb1
Sunday Take featured Republican Kendall Qualls discussing his campaign for governor and SotaCann’s Fatima Moore analyzing the state’s approach to cannabis businesses. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45AA9Hj
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)
TAXES: Via Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence, VERBATIM: “A tax bill agreement was reached on Friday, but who was doing the ‘agreeing’ and what [constituted] the agreement has raised some questions about its future. The ‘incredible notion,’ in the words of Senate leadership last week, that decision-making would be stripped away from the working group and their expertise excluded from the process is now quite credible. The leadership’s non-negotiables essentially comprise the entire contents of the 12-page tax bill: data center electricity exemption repeal, increase in cannabis gross receipts tax increase and local aid cannabis repeal, and R&D credit expansion. The R&D credit provision has been tweaked to lower the refundability rate from a proposed 23.52% to 19% in TY 2025; increased to 25% for TY 2026 and 2027; then adjusted annually thereafter based on the November forecast such that projected total refunds in the following taxable year do not exceed $25 million. To make the math work for target purposes, June accelerated sales tax payments are included but reduced by about half of what was proposed to 5.6% effective in June of 2027. That brings in an estimated $23 million at the tail end of the coming biennium for budget balancing purposes. Aid cuts are confined to the FY 28-29 out-biennium in the areas of aquatic invasive species and sustainable forestry incentive payments.”
UNITEDHEALTH: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “On Feb. 5, top executives of UnitedHealth Group gathered in a conference center on the company’s suburban Minneapolis campus. Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty stood up in the front and offered an encouraging message: Business was good. He was optimistic about the company’s prospects in the coming year. A trio of other executives extolled the recent insurance season, when people start their new coverage, including a large number of Medicare enrollees. They were happy with how smoothly things were going. Two months later, those same Medicare patients would be at the center of a financial meltdown that has wiped out more than $250 billion in market capitalization at the healthcare giant.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZdWEOq
TODAY: Via Denver Gazette, VERBATIM: “Former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell will not be sleeping through his defamation trial. Lindell has decided to take the stand in his own defense in what the staunch MAGA supporter has coined ‘the trial of the century.’ It starts Monday morning with jury selection at Denver's Alfred A. Araj United States Courthouse. Opening statements are expected to be thirty minutes long and will likely be over by the end of the day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43X1zWD
THIS WEEK: Via Arizona Republic, VERBATIM: “The grassroots advocacy group The People's Union USA, led by John Schwarz, has planned a Target boycott for June 3-9. ‘Target needs to be shut down,’ Schwarz said in an Instagram video on May 26. Soon after President Donald Trump took office, Target joined a wave of major retailers announcing the end of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The changes included ending a program aimed at helping Black employees advance in the company and supporting Black-owned businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sys1PZ
PFAS: Via Manufacturing Dive, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency held a hearing May 22 to outline further details of the state’s proposed rules that will require manufacturers to report their usage of PFAS to the state by year’s end. The rules are the second phase of Amara’s Law, Minnesota’s legislation aiming to ban products intentionally made with ‘forever chemicals’ by 2032. The law’s first phase went into effect in January, prohibiting the sale or distribution of products in 11 categories containing intentionally added PFAS.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zafd65
GEN MILLS: Via Market Screener, VERBATIM: “General Mills announced on Monday that it had obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for the sale of its yogurt business in the US to French dairy giant Lactalis. While the US portion of the transaction has now been completed, the finalisation of the overall transaction remains subject to approval by other competition authorities, the US food company said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45IsXsC
TWINS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In 1983, Donald Trump made a $50 million offer to buy the Minnesota Twins, one deal the businessman-turned-president failed to seal. Now, Trump’s signature policy bill could end up punishing the next owner of the MLB team as well as another for-sale pro franchise in town. A tax benefit sports team owners have used to reduce their overall taxes will cut in half under the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ the House of Representatives recently passed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kq3okS
THIS WEEK: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Thousands of Minnesota state workers will return to the office on a more regular basis starting this week. Why it matters: It's a major shift after five years of a much more flexible work from home policy for the state's workforce. Friction point: The call back, announced by Gov. Tim Walz in March, has infuriated public employee unions, who say they weren't consulted on the move in advance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43EQ6tt
THIS WEEK: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Union doctors in the Twin Cities are planning to stage an informational picket at Allina Health this week. More than 600 doctors and other health care providers voted to form a union in October of 2023, and members are currently negotiating their first contract.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43IhWFc
PLYMOUTH: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County leaders gathered in Plymouth to celebrate what’s described as a ‘new era in public safety.’ Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt helped cut the ribbon for the new Public Safety Services headquarters in Plymouth. Located next door to the county’s 911 dispatch center near Parkers Lake, the new $41 million facility serves as the main office for sheriff’s deputies, replacing its former Brooklyn Park location.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43IRN9t
SNAP: Via news release from Rep. Angie Craig, VERBATIM: “Today, as Congress comes back into session following a week-long district work period, U.S. Representative Angie Craig is continuing to lead the charge to protect the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and ensure Minnesota’s kids, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities can put food on the table. Last month, House Republicans passed a partisan budget bill that cut nearly $290 billion from SNAP – a program that is under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Agriculture. As the top Democrat on the Committee, Rep. Craig has been sounding the alarm about potential cuts to SNAP for months, consistently speaking out about the impacts they will have on working families across Minnesota – like her own family, who relied on food assistance at various points during her childhood.”
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)
BEER: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Following the Minnesota Frost’s second consecutive PWHL Walter Cup win, Fulton Beer and star forward Kelly Pannek are back with another collaboration. As a nod to Pannek’s many athletic achievements, Fulton dropped the ‘Been There Won That’ ale last fall, which was available in the brewery’s Minneapolis taproom and at other select locations during the Frost’s 2024-25 season. Now, they’re back with the ‘Been There Won That… Again.’” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4kKswCz
BWCA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s air quality alert hasn’t stopped kayakers and canoeists from going out on the water in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Smoke from nearly two dozen wildfires in Canada traveled into Minnesota in recent days, triggering an air quality advisory that continues until Monday evening. But in Ely, families who booked their trips to the BWCA months in advance are continuing with their plans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FiiZ6Q
SCHOOLS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Thousands of educators across the United States gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center this week for a conference on community schools and family engagement, and Brooklyn Center played a prominent role. Brooklyn Center Schools Superintendent Carly Baker led a session that went into more detail about her district’s community school model.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mIL0VQ
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)
HACKENSACK: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Hackensack, Minnesota is home to many things. A sign sits in the middle of downtown proclaiming it as home of the original chainsaw carving event, and the city’s nickname is ‘The Home of Paul Bunyan’s Sweetheart Lucette.’ The town even has a 17-foot-tall sculpture of her along Birch Lake to prove it. But currently, this quiet town of just 294 people might get a bit noisy, as multiple construction projects are happening throughout the town, most notably work on Highway 371 that began on May 5th. Construction isn’t expected to be completed until later in October.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FvHqOa
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Point 50 met Saturday as they laid out their coastal resilience action plan for Minnesota Point during the ‘Turning Point Summit.’ This resilience plan is needed as the point faces risks such as erosion, flooding, and more.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kLl5Lo
MEDIA: Reporter Christopher Ingraham published his last story for Minnesota Reformer. It comes in the form of a scorecard for his work there. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3FxXdfq
HOYO: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A frozen sambusa business started by three Somali sisters had a problem. It had received a contract from Lunds & Byerlys, some school districts and a restaurant, but the kitchen wasn’t big enough. With help from the African Development Center in Minneapolis and Midtown Global Market owner Neighborhood Development Center — each provided $500,000 bridge loans — Hoyo will move this month into a $1.6 million commercial kitchen in the basement of Midtown on Lake Street in Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43qCZNQ
RETAIL: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co.—two luxury retailers that have long distinguished Edina’s Galleria as the preeminent destination for exclusive shopping in the Twin Cities—are following many of the center’s top nationals across the street to Southdale. Signage for both brands went up Friday on the exterior of Southdale’s under-construction luxury wing—facing Galleria, which brought them to town.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4juvAS8
TERZO: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “We sort of knew it was coming, but the Broder family officially announced they will not rebuild and reopen Terzo at the corner of 50th Street and Penn Avenue in South Minneapolis. In an Instagram post, they wrote that ‘the time, energy, and resources needed to rebuild Terzo are beyond our capacity.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45a5LUd
TOMORROW: Via Protect Our Care, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, June 3rd at 12:30 PM, Commissioner Irene Fernando, State Representative Esther Agbaje, and Healthcare Advocates will join Protect Our Care Minnesota to discuss the latest developments in the GOP assault on Medicaid.”
TOMORROW: Via news release from Minneapolis-based Donaldson, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, will webcast its third quarter 2025 earnings conference call on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GEQ0dC
CEREAL: Via news release from General Mills, VERBATIM: “General Mills is bringing Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing to the cereal aisle with a special series of cereal boxes inspired by Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps,’ in theaters July 25. A limited run of replica Lucky Charms cereal boxes — resembling those seen in the film — will also be released as part of the collaboration in July.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SslXZk
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PRIDE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Pride month has started, and whether you're looking for a giant party or a lowkey celebration, there are plenty of things to do around the metro all June long. Here are our top picks for this month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kEerXk
BDAYS: hockey legend Lou Nanne, Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders, MNCUN’s Mara Humphrey
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