We count 17 Minnesota companies on Inc.’s Best Workplaces list. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4lnXVey
More than 11,000 classic cars were on display at the annual Back to the 50’s Car Show at the state fairgrounds. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3G7kh4R
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3HUZa6n
On Sunday Take, Blois chats with Representative Dave Baker and Minnesota state auditor Julie Blaha about the path ahead, things to look ahead to with the special session behind us, some of the humanity that people do not see between the many colleagues around him and where we go from here as we try to move forward. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3G4owyc
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:
NEW LAWS: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Beginning July 1, 2025, Minnesota motorcyclists will be legally allowed to engage in lane splitting and lane filtering, marking a major change to state traffic laws aimed at improving rider safety and easing traffic congestion. Lane splitting refers to riding a motorcycle between lanes of moving vehicles. Lane filtering allows motorcyclists to move between stopped vehicles, such as at red lights or in gridlocked traffic. Minnesota now joins a growing number of states to legalize these practices—under specific conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k777D1
IMMIGRATION: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Federal agents are showing up unannounced at homes throughout Minnesota looking to question minors who came to the United States without parents and legal status, according to immigration attorneys and advocates. Families in Windom, Worthington, St. Paul and Minneapolis reported that minors in their care have been interviewed by federal agents starting in March, said at least three Minnesota attorneys who work with immigrants. ‘This naturally puts a lot of fear into these families,’ said Erin Schutte Wadzinski, attorney and owner of Kivu Immigration Law based in Worthington.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44pXZVe
STATE CAPITOL: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Anyone can come into the Capitol and pay tribute to the Hortmans. Public access to the building is extensive and has long been a point of pride for advocates of open government. But in the wake of the Hortman murders and the shooting of fellow Democrat, Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, state lawmakers are trying to address their safety.” QUOTE: “I think we would be not honest if we didn't recognize the fear that's embedded in this,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy told MPR News. “It will alter the way we interact, and we have to be careful not to go so far that we fence off the voice of people in our democracy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44dVfZE
MORE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The slayings have prompted grieving Minnesota lawmakers to discuss their fear of violence. One former lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of continued fear for her and her family’s safety, said that she did not run for reelection precisely because she was afraid of physical harm. ‘For years, many of us were concerned,’ she said. ‘We were just waiting for something bad to happen.’ These worries are backed by national research. A report last year from the Brennan Center for Justice found that more than 40% of state lawmakers surveyed were threatened with violence in the last three years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kNTycF
HORTMAN: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Three freshman DFL representatives shared with CCX News how Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) was dynamic on the campaign trail and in St. Paul.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3T76y0R
HORMEL: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Hormel Foods said on Monday former CEO Jeffrey Ettinger will return to helm the Skippy peanut butter maker on an interim basis for 15 months starting July 14. Ettinger, 66, served as chief executive from 2005 to 2016 and will replace current Hormel CEO and president James Snee, 57, who announced his retirement in January. The management transition comes after the company last month tightened its annual profit forecast towards the lower end as it struggles with supply chain issues and weak demand.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k6JoCB
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Ettinger was Hormel’s CEO from 2005-16 and has since run for Congress in 2022 and served as interim president of the University of Minnesota in 2023-24. Most recently, the 66-year-old chair of the nonprofit Hormel Foundation earned a spot on Hormel’s board of directors and even served on the search committee for the job he’s temporarily occupying (he said the board approached him with the offer).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lcG1M9
TIMBERWOLVES: Via Sports Illustrated, VERBATIM: “Longtime Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson and COO Ryan Tanke are stepping down once the sale of the franchises to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez is finalized this summer, according to a report from The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kRFA9w
ENDORSEMENT: Via news release from the Craig campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, United States Senator Tammy Baldwin endorsed Angie Craig in her campaign for U.S. Senate. Baldwin is one of the Senate’s most effective members and is one of the strongest fighters for working families in the country.”
DEMOCRACY: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Barely a week after the assassination of Democratic-Farmer-Labor Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shooting of DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman, Minnesotans are grappling with how to support democracy in a time of political violence and what analysts call ‘democratic backsliding.’ Speakers at the south Minneapolis event Sunday had no shortage of examples of threats to democracy. They highlighted the Trump administration’s deportations without due process; his attempt to unilaterally overturn birthright citizenship, which is the law of the land due to both the Constitution and longstanding legal precedent; his deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles over the objections of the state’s governor; and the usurpation of Congress by restricting federal funds appropriated by the legislative branch. Speakers mentioned censorship and tacitly or explicitly forcing schools and companies to scrub their identities of diversity, equity and inclusion practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45TI42T
BOYCOTS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Standing in line at Costco recently, an acquaintance looked at her watch. She’d spent hours on this shopping excursion, one that would have taken about 15 minutes with her laptop and Target Circle Card. But she’d cancelled her Target card to join in the boycott of the Minnesota-based big-box store. Wielding her giant Costco cart, she wondered if she was actually making a difference . . . When you’re out of milk or toilet paper, do you need to consult a list of stores that align with your beliefs? One recent list includes more than 40 companies and brands to boycott, from toothpaste to underwear to professional baseball teams. History shows that people can—sometimes—make a difference through shopping habits. Some of the most successful boycotts resulted in major changes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GaFwCK
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)
TODAY: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Nurses across Minesota are holding a strike authorization vote on Monday. While some Twin Cities area nurses have been working without a contract all month, Duluth-area nurses will see their contract expire one week from Monday. In all, 15,000 nurses will be voting Monday on whether a strike will be called or not, and the nurses’ union tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS this is not about a staffing issue, but rather a staffing crisis throughout the metro.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kUBNIQ
ENTREPRENEURS: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Six leaders from five Minnesota-based companies have won Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Heartland Awards from Ernst & Young, or EY. The annual awards were announced Thursday night at a Minneapolis event, which EY said spotlighted individuals who are ‘transforming industries, impacting communities, and creating long-term value.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43UmIkn
UOFM: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “With little fanfare, the University of Minnesota decided against hosting a Juneteenth celebration this year. Since 2022, the U has held an annual block party outside its Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center in north Minneapolis. The event was ‘the brainchild’ of Black faculty, staff and students at the University of Minnesota, according to a U news release. It included a commemorative march for Black lives and partnerships with dozens of organizations, vendors and creatives both in and outside the university . . . A U spokesperson shared the decision to not hold the event was due to ‘budget constraints.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lmI27X
CRYSTAL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Crystal’s longtime police chief, Stephanie Revering, retires at the end of June. Before stepping down, city leaders honored her.” QUOTE: “The city council, staff and citizens extend their congratulations and best wishes to Chief Revering and her family for many years of health, happiness and success in retirement,” said Crystal Mayor Julie Deshler. “She will be very greatly missed.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZJ0cIR
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)
BEACHES: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “Anyone looking to beat the heat will have five fewer beaches to pick from because of ‘unacceptable water test results’ gathered by Hennepin County officials. Hennepin County Health and Human Services says the water samples are collected to be tested for E. Coli bacteria.” READ/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4epLCvN
AMPHITHEATER: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The state of Minnesota awarded a $12 million grant to the city of Minneapolis on Thursday to help pay for a new outdoor, 12,000-seat music amphitheater. It’s a big part of the projected $300 million redevelopment of the old Army Corps of Engineers site known as the Upper Harbor Terminal.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4k4duHa
GIRLS’ SPORTS: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Discussion arose during last week’s Brainerd School Board meeting on transgender students and the district’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League, which is up for its annual renewal. The Brainerd School District’s agreement with the MSHSL is a normal occurrence following every school year, but this year, a couple of parents took the seemingly routine discussion in another direction.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kmv3Cx
ROBBINSDALE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Robbinsdale Area School Board approved significant cuts at its June 16 board meeting. The cuts, which rely largely on staffing reductions, totaled nearly $16 million. CCX News previously reported the cuts will impact more than 200 staff members. The cuts were necessary when an accounting error was discovered last year that the put the district in a $21 million hole for next school year’s budget.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eaXP7m
WEDDINGS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Ballrooms are out. ‘Micro weddings’ are in — and they might be smarter, too. Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big weddings to save money and throw a more intimate gathering. By the numbers: The average guest count nationwide was 131 in 2024, down from 184 in 2006, according to data shared with Axios by The Wedding Report.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40jivEt
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from General Mills, VERBATIM: “General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) plans to report results for its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year on June 25, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FBtwtU
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from Eden Prairie-based Winnebago, VERBATIM: “Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), a leading outdoor lifestyle product manufacturer, plans to issue its third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZVm6bG
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from St. Paul-based H.B. Fuller, VERBATIM: “H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) announced plans to report its financial results for the three-month fiscal period ended May 31, 2025, in a press release issued after the market close on June 25, 2025. The Company will hold an investor conference call on June 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CT (10:30 a.m. ET) to discuss its financial results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3G0JXQq
FRIDAY: Via news release from Minneapolis-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG), a leading provider of architectural building products and services, as well as high-performance coated materials used in a variety of applications, today announced that the company will report its fiscal 2026 first quarter results on Friday, June 27, 2025, before the market opens.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n5QI4o
REGIS: Via MarketWatch, VERBATIM: “Regis disclosed that Chief Executive Matthew Doctor will step down, effective June 30. The Minneapolis hair-salon operator appointed Jim Lain, current EVP brand operations - Supercuts and Cost Cutter, as interim president and CEO.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kSUVqq
TARGET: Via news release from Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced it is maintaining its 2024 prices on key back-to-school items, including its popular list of 20 must-have supplies — still adding up to a total of less than $20 — and last year's top-selling $5 backpack.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k0hubH
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GRANDMA’S: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “There have been plenty of runners who have multiple wins in Grandma's Marathon in northeastern Minnesota. There are also repeat winners in the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon, which is run every year on the same course and virtually the same time as Grandma's. And now, we have someone who has finished first in both races.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kmsgJz
BDAYS: fundraiser and lobbyist Kaley Taffe, DFL operative Will Davis, fmr. Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough
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