How’s your crow call? TOMORROW: https://fluence-media.co/4x1X5uA
The MPCA has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities through 9 tonight. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/43G6tpW
Heading out on the water this weekend? How’s your boat ramp etiquette? WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4u9PtU1
A federal judge this morning blocked President Trump’s $1.8 billion fund to reimburse those alleged to have been harmed by the government. NYTIMES: https://fluence-media.co/4ajNKnV
Last night the MNSider Brief on what Republicans need to anticipate coming out of the convention weekend. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4uyTgLy
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4u6fgN1
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
FRIDAY FEED
RUNNING MATE: This morning, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uHtpRR
ICYMI… Fluence Media’s Blois Olson predicted the pick on X. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4u1Hmc0
MORE: Schierer served two terms as mayor of Fergus Falls. He was running for State Auditor and, as of this writing, that campaign’s site remains up. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vcs5Gk
CORRECTION: morning take cited sources in reporting Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen was not Senator Amy Klobuchar’s pick for Attorney General. Obviously, we meant to say Lieutenant Governor. Thank you to the readers who pointed out our error.
DOWNTOWN: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Police are investigating a Friday morning shooting near Nicollet Mall and South Ninth Street in downtown Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tWZTGl
FRAUD: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “Bishop Larry Cook and his wife, Dr. Sharon Cook, are mounting a vigorous defense from a $2 million fraud lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office against their Northside ministries, including Sharon’s long-time dance studio, Les Jolies Petite. The Cooks are accused of using their non-profits to grow their for-profit businesses and feed a lavish lifestyle of travel, cars and fashion. They say the trips were church retreats, dance recitals and workshops paid for by attending members. A Louis Vuitton store receipt referenced in the lawsuit was for purchases from Sharon Cook’s own money, she said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u7KIKC
SD3: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The only DFL state senator representing northeast Minnesota plans to seek reelection. Hermantown Sen. Grant Hauschild officially filed to run for a second term. He represents District 3, covering a large portion of the Arrowhead and Iron Range in St. Paul.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wWeMLJ
BEST BUY: Via Retail Dive, VERBATIM: “Ahead of taking on the CEO post in November, Best Buy Chief Customer, Product and Fulfillment Officer Jason Bonfig used Thursday’s earnings call to outline his vision for the company. The executive’s priorities for the business include expanding Best Buy’s reach, elevating the Best Buy experience, maintaining its position as a human-focused company and transforming Best Buy into a retail media, advertising and technology company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nVo9Y5
MORE: Via Homepage News, VERBATIM: “Jason Bonfig, Best Buy’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer and incoming CEO, said during the first-quarter conference that the company is pursuing store expansion through medium- and small-format locations.” BONFIG: “These aren’t scaled down versions of what we already have,” Bonfig asserted. “They are purpose-built formats designed for how customers actually shop today. The medium format gives us flexibility to enter markets and trade areas where full-sized stores don’t fit the opportunity, but where customer demand is real and growing. These are in the 20,000-25,000 square foot range. The small format lets us get closer to the customer in dense urban neighborhoods, suburban centers and communities that have been underserved. These are in the range of 12,000-15,000 square feet. Both formats are built around speed, curated assortment, expert service and a seamless connection to our broader fulfillment network.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dCwE6X
VETERANS: Via news release from Rep. Finstad, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (MN-03) introduced the Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act, legislation which increases and standardizes burial and funeral benefits for veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. To keep up with rising costs and ensure consistent coverage for eligible veterans’ families, this legislation raises the fixed burial and funeral expense payment from $2,000 to $3,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u4qilS
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)
AI
MINNESOTA USE: 26% of Minnesotans use AI according to data compiled by Microsoft.
Washington, Blue Earth, and Stevens counties have the highest use. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3RRWcV3
MORE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “College towns are AI hotspots nationwide. Blue Earth County (home of Minnesota State University, Mankato) and Stevens County (University of Minnesota Morris) ranked 2nd and 3rd in the state, respectively, for AI usage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RARn2A
LAWSUITS: The New York Times reports on a pro se lawsuit filed in Minnesota where the plaintiff used AI to bolster his case – one he filed after a judge dismissed a similar suit months earlier. VERBATIM: “Federal judges and legal experts said they are increasingly seeing filings like Mr. Sauve’s flooding court dockets and clogging an already overburdened system as A.I. supercharges pro se litigation — even as it opens up the legal system to people who might not otherwise be able to afford to bring a case. The eventual outcome for Mr. Sauve was the same. In September, two months after he filed, Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, chief of Minnesota’s Federal District Court, dismissed his suit again, this time in a 14-page opinion that found he had failed to clearly state a claim. But first, each one of Mr. Sauve’s filings had to be read, captioned by the clerk and entered on the public docket.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PKFS88
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)
DATA CENTERS
BIG PICTURE: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “Hearing backlash from residents, cities and counties across the country in recent weeks have blocked planned data centers amid concerns over rising electricity prices and environmental harms. The local actions come as state lawmakers also are looking to limit or repeal the incentives for the centers, which are sprawling campuses of computer servers that store and transmit the data behind apps and websites.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wXBeEu
HERMANTOWN: From MPR, a petition to create a charter commission in Hermantown some hope would prevent the city from entering into nondisclosure agreements like those signed with the developer of a proposed data center. VERBATIM: “The proposed Hermantown data center is one of a dozen such hyperscale projects around Minnesota. Two lawsuits have also been filed to try to prevent construction of the Hermantown data center from moving forward. And earlier this month, opponents in the community earned at least a short-term win when the city council delayed a decision on whether to provide Google with a $80 million tax break in exchange for building the $2 billion facility.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wRN5DT
GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO! Check out Donna’s story - a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails...it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Check out Donna’s story: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
THE LOCALS
EDINA: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A recent string of auto break-ins and thefts have the Edina Police Department concerned. Edina Police Sergeant Anna Eckstein has a simple explanation as to why this trend is occurring.” ECKSTEIN: “It does seem that the warmer weather brings an increase in this type of crime of theft from autos, and auto thefts this time of year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wYSFo5
MANKATO: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Mankato Planning Commission has granted the permits needed to turn the Motel 6 off Highway 22 into affordable assisted living. During a meeting held on Wednesday, May 27, Bob Iddings, a member of the Planning Commission, said the Motel 6 would be a ‘great spot’ for seniors.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Rth5pE
HIBBING: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “A ceremony was held on Thursday to celebrate the unveiling of new permanent museum exhibits now on display in both buildings at the Hull Rust Mine View in Hibbing. In 2019, the Hull Rust Mine View opened at its current location at 411 McKinley St., about a half mile west of where it originally operated, to make way for mining activity. The attraction is owned by the City of Hibbing and operated with volunteers from the Hibbing Tourist/Senior Center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/433W33j
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
INCUBATOR: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “Mercedes Stevenson built a respectable catering business out of a shared kitchen in Hopkins, but it left her feeling cut off from her own community in North Minneapolis. That all changed in April, when she became the first tenant to rent a front-facing retail kitchen in the food hall of NEON Collective Kitchens, a lustrous, state-of-the-art facility built to jumpstart the careers of aspiring food entrepreneurs. More of the public got a taste of Stevenson’s Sadie Mae’s Comfort Food menu, which includes salmon and ox tail, on May 21, when the Northside Economic Opportunity Network hosted an open house to show off its $22 million incubator on West Broadway Avenue.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PyMxSN
MORE: From Insight News, a rundown of amenities, VERBATIM: “Eleven commercial kitchens. Shared processing zones. Retail food counters. Cold and frozen storage. A Consumer-Packaged Goods suite designed for agricultural entrepreneurs scaling toward distribution. A 104-person community room. And a financial model that removes the most common killer of Black and Brown food businesses before they ever get started: the crushing capital requirements of traditional commercial leasing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43xVuiq
AIRPORT: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “MSP Airport is leveling up with a ‘first-of-its-kind’ premium lounge dedicated to gaming. What to expect: The 3,800-square-foot Portal Lounge boasts over a dozen stations with Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation consoles and custom-built gaming PCs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4valQCS
TARGET: Via Progressive Grocer, VERBATIM: “Target Corp. is welcoming a new member to its leadership team. Grant McGee will officially join the big box retailer on May 31 as its new EVP and chief legal and compliance officer. McGee comes to the food retailer with 20 years of broad-based legal expertise and experience in large, consumer-facing global companies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qa4LtW
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
WHAT’S NEXT?
THIS WEEKEND: The Ordway’s annual Flint Hills Family Festival takes place in St. Paul. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4dhpdBM (DISCLOSURE: Flint Hills is a Fluence sponsor)
TOMORROW: Via Visit Saint Paul, VERBATIM: “Celebrate the inauguration of the Downtown Riverwalk — a vibrant two-mile experience connecting Downtown Saint Paul and the Mississippi River.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vh9glo
TOMORROW: At the Mall of America, the 2026 Midwest Regional Yo-Yo Championship. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4venLq1
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Families can dance, explore, and celebrate music together when Rock the Cradle returns to Minneapolis on June 14. Presented by The Current, the annual free event for kids (and their grownups) takes over the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) with a full day of live music, hands-on activities and performances geared toward children.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dLeBdt
BDAYS: Rep. Cheryl Youakim, fmr. St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano, lobbyist John-Paul Yates, pr guy Brian McClung
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.
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