Spring Lake Park schools are closed today due to a cyberattack. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tDMrre
A new study finds work requirements reduce the number of people receiving SNAP, but they don’t increase employment. STATELINE: https://fluence-media.co/3PXkbS2
Wisconsin became the 33rd state to legalize online sports betting. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cFWDd1
Earlier this morning, a Fluence Forum on Sports Betting with Senators Nick Frentz and Jeremy Miller along with leaders from legal sports betting platforms discussing responsible gaming tools. Free to watch. JOIN: https://fluence-media.co/4c9aWqA
It’s BACK…the TwinWest Legislative Breakfast on April 17, featuring Sen. Min. Ldr. Mark Johnson, DFL House leader. Jamie Long, Sen Asst. Maj. Ldr.. Nick Frentz and House GOP Ldr. Harry Niska in a mid-session discussion moderated by Blois Olson and presented by Fluence Advisory. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/4lWWmFM
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WAYMO IS READY FOR MINNESOTA: With 13x fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans, Waymo is already making roads safer in major U.S. cities where we operate — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. We are ready to bring these safety benefits to Minnesota, and look forward to working with the state legislature to pass a law that allows us to provide rides in the state. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/waymo (SPONSORED: Waymo)
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/4vlJQ6V
Sunday Take featured DFL Sen. Mary Kunesh and GOP Rep. Ben Bakeberg discussing education issues and what fixes are being considered this session. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cEc99g
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
NEW WEEK, NEW NEWS
INVESTIGATION: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County officials announced Monday they’ve opened an investigation into alleged conduct by federal officers, who they accuse of kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment. The joint press release from the county attorney and sheriff’s offices said law enforcement leaders will hold a media availability at 12:30 p.m. from St. Paul to discuss more details about the case.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vqysa3
DEFENSE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Even before the Iran war was launched, Minnesota’s defense industry benefited from the Trump administration’s boost in military spending and was on track to make more money from the Pentagon than it did last year. Now, the defense industry, which has a robust presence in Minnesota, is scrambling to meet the demands of a nation at war. According to a MinnPost analysis of government contracts, Minnesota’s defense industry had about $24.5 billion worth of contracts with the Pentagon in fiscal year 2025, which ended Sept. 30 of last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sG8Pj2
HOA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Spurred by residents’ stories of foreclosures and sky-high fines, a bipartisan group of legislators is nearing the finish line on of a yearslong push to curtail the power of homeowners associations in Minnesota. Legislation that would require more transparency from HOAs, which act as quasi-governments that collect fees, provide services and enforce rules for more than one million residents across the state, is nearing a final vote in the state House after clearing the Senate last year. If successful, it could become a rare moment of agreement in what’s otherwise been a largely unproductive session.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4soDscl
BIPARTISANSHIP: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “One essential ingredient for success in the 2026 session? Buddying up with a lawmaker from the other party. While partisanship has dominated much of what has and — more importantly — has not moved along this session, outlier proposals are advancing thanks to across-the-aisle collaboration . . . among the most common places for common ground are bills focused on putting brakes on technology and gambling.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OlVTR8
PARTISANSHIP: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center, told CCX News that the legislative session has been fast-paced as lawmakers hit early deadlines in a shorter session this year. Vang described recent floor debates as ‘very partisan,’ highlighting DFL priorities including gun violence prevention measures and efforts related to ICE policies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tAJtDK
2A: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Reed Olson, a DFL candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 2A, kicked off his election campaign at an event in downtown Bemidji on Thursday. At Brigid’s Pub, community members had an opportunity to meet with Olson and discuss his vision for north-central Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qzk7Ia
CD6: Via news release from the Emmer campaign, VERBATIM: “Majority Whip Tom Emmer today announced raising a massive $9.2M in Q1 2026 and has raised $38M this cycle.”
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)
GREATER MINNESOTA
MOOSE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “There’s a new effort afoot in northern Minnesota to better understand why the state’s moose population has remained stubbornly flat since it declined sharply about 15 years ago. The Northern Moose Alliance also wants to better engage the public about scientists’ efforts to recover the iconic animal’s numbers in the northwoods. This winter, they placed GPS collars on 60 young moose, around nine months of age, that will allow them to track the animals as they grow to full adulthood.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tbJI8K
ROAD WORK: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The second year of construction for a three-year Highway 10 expansion project through Wadena is set to begin soon. Half of the new four-lane segment west of Highway 71 was constructed in 2025. This year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will continue expansion work both east and west of Highway 71.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41vmsGt
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 MOVES
LASERS: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “As spending on AI and cloud computing grows, so does spending on data center construction—by nearly 70% between 2023 and 2024, per a 2025 report by the American Edge Project, a U.S. tech coalition. Along with city-size wattage consumption, a data center may require millions of gallons of water per year to cool its hardware. That controversy has informed Maxwell Labs’ value proposition: The St. Paul-based company, incorporated in 2022, has developed a way to use lasers for cooling.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4st5ljG
BOATS: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Minneapolis-based Your Boat Club has hired an interim CEO described as a “turnaround executive” after its founder retired. READ: https://fluence-media.co/424YYrU
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)
EDUCATION & MEDIA
HIGHER ED: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Facing decaying facilities and reduced demand for seats in brick-and-mortar buildings, Minnesota State officials are considering implementing an ‘aggressive demolition program’ to eliminate some extra square footage, among other strategies. Officials say the problem spans Minnesota State’s network of 33 public colleges and universities and 54 campuses, where most buildings were built between 1965 and 1975, making many of them middle-aged and in need of fixes. The system has a $1.8 billion backlog of maintenance and repairs in academic buildings alone.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cG89oL
BUS DRIVERS: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “Parents in a metro area school district are speaking out against a proposal to change school start times. This is one of the adjustments being considered by the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district to address a school bus driver shortage.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4284wBS
MEDIA: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “MyTalk 107.1 has announced that a familiar voice will be joining Jason Matheson on its morning show, filling the gap left following the exit of longtime co-host Alexis Thompson. The Twin Cities talk radio station revealed on Monday that Colleen Lindstrom is back full-time at the station, where she has worked on and off since its launch in 2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t9U3SH
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: Environmental Stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
FASTENAL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Fastenal Co. (FAST) on Monday reported first-quarter profit of $339.8 million. On a per-share basis, the Winona, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 30 cents. The results met Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of industrial and construction fasteners posted revenue of $2.2 billion in the period, also meeting Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cuOyXE
CVRX: Via Stock Titan, VERBATIM: “[Brooklyn Park-based] CVRx (NASDAQ: CVRX) reported preliminary Q1 2026 results with revenue of $14.7–$14.8 million, about 20% growth versus Q1 2025. Gross margin is expected near 87%. Cash and cash equivalents were approximately $72.3 million as of March 31, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/481pUfM
ENTRUST: Via Minneapolis-based Entrust, VERBATIM: “Entrust, a global leader in identity-centric security solutions, announced the appointments of Ajay Jindal as Senior Vice President of Business Process & Automation and Erika Cowen as Senior Vice President of Customer Success.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Oo3ApP
WHAT’S NEXT?
THURSDAY: Via U.S. Bancorp, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) will release its first quarter 2026 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, April 16, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sQd4JC
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THIS WEEKEND: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “‘Books are about escapism to me,’ says Rewind Book Fair founder Rachel Silberman. ‘I love to escape into a different reality. And nostalgia is so powerful—being able to go back to your childhood and experience those feelings again, where things are simpler.’ That’s the goal of her 250-booth book fair, which emulates an adult version of the millennial-fave Scholastic Book Fairs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dDTg7w
BDAYS: ag leader Les Anderson, Land ‘O Lakes comms pro Abby Duininck, Canterbury’s Randy Sampson, fmr. Rep. Jim Davnie, retired photojournalist Aethan Hart, media guy Dave Berggren, Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran, committee admin Joe Marble
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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