57% of U.S. consumers who think tariffs are inflationary put at least some of the blame for price increases on American companies. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4dNtpIf
A three-block area of downtown Bemidji was evacuated Wednesday due to a gas leak. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43hWQi3
Sunday Take featured reflections on the 5th anniversary of George Floyd’s murder from activist Nekima Levy Armstrong and Star Tribune’s Andy Mannix. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4dwy7tH
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)
TODAY: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz will be meeting with legislative leaders Thursday afternoon as budget negotiations are stalled at the Capitol. This comes as lawmakers missed a self-imposed deadline of midnight on Thursday morning, meaning there are still large parts of the new state budget for Minnesota that haven’t been finished, and that thousands of state employees will likely be sent notices of possible layoffs on Sunday – which is required by law.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3HhB6u3
GROUP HOMES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Crystal police say most of the 90 group homes in the city handle their business as expected, but one operator has been a drain on police resources. Empathy Home Care, which is based in Brooklyn Park, has three group homes in Crystal. These three homes had nearly 500 calls to the Crystal Police Department in a 14-month period, police said. ‘When you only have a couple officers working and [you’re] getting those calls with that frequency, that becomes pretty overwhelming on the resources,’ said Brian Hubbard, deputy chief of the Crystal Police Department. Hubbard characterized that call rate as ‘staggering’ . . . According to Hubbard, the department has requested that the Minnesota Attorney General’s office investigate Empathy Home Care for potential fraud.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3SZwg7e
SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The City of Minneapolis is launching a new pilot program to make south Minneapolis safer. A new community safety ambassador program launched on Wednesday in the East Lake Street and East Franklin Avenue neighborhood. ‘We got some good feedback. They’re excited to have us in the neighborhood,’ Bilal Kinde, Metro Youth Diversion Center safety ambassador, said. The Metro Youth Diversion Center believes that when trust grows, tension fades.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4khUxle
DOWNTOWN: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “[David Fhima] is one of several restaurateurs and retailers who have scored especially good lease deals as the downtown Minneapolis real estate market adjusts to the post-COVID world of hybrid work. The skyways lost multiple lunch-hour mainstays after the pandemic emptied downtown offices and cut their customer base. In the time since, some building owners have started offering favorable terms on storefronts to tenants that help boost curb appeal.” QUOTE: “For us, restaurants and retailers aren’t just tenants — they’re placemakers," wrote Josh Krsnak, CEO of Hempel, which owns downtown’s LaSalle Plaza and the Lofton Hotel. “They help activate the street and the skyway, bring life to our buildings and create an experience that office users and hotel guests value.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43vQryx
FRAUD: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “New research from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows fraud in Minnesota is on the rise. Experts say that with new technology, scammers are targeting everyone, with tactics such as online payments, fake websites, and delivery scams. ‘We know that when people are aware of the specific scams they’re going to be targeted with, they’re much less likely to lose any money, and they’re much less likely to even waste their time,’ said Jay Haapala, AARP’s associate state director, at a ‘Scam Jam’ event in Rochester on Wednesday.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZzJjzV
HOCKEY: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “In the State of Hockey there's a lot of history, miracles, North Stars, Wild and now Frost. With two back-to-back championships, the Frost certainly earned their place in the history books. Wednesday night the city of Saint Paul rolled out the welcome mat with a parade through downtown.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kJ1taJ
MORE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The win is bittersweet though, as the team prepares to lose players in the upcoming expansion draft. Each of the six inaugural PWHL teams will relinquish four players from their roster, according to the league’s recently announced expansion draft rules. The upcoming changes to the team’s roster didn’t stop players and fans from celebrating the win on Wednesday, with a parade, speeches, music, games, photo opportunities and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dzI5KW
OPEN ENROLLMENT: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Nearly 44,000 Twin Cities students crossed over into another district to attend school this year — a number that has grown every year for at least a decade, according to an Axios analysis. Why it matters: The steady rise of ‘open enrollment’ is the result of years of work by Minnesota policymakers to give parents more control over where to send their kids to school . . . Nearly 40% of Minnetonka Public Schools' students live in other districts, as do roughly a third of the students attending Fridley, Orono, Columbia Heights, Mahtomedi, St. Anthony and Hopkins schools.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kJKkOj
OSSEO: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Osseo residents will have the opportunity to apply for an open city council seat after a member has resigned. Juliana Hultstrom resigned from the Osseo City Council effective Tuesday, May 27.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HwKrOA
COFFEE: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Dunn Brothers Coffee, a brand best known for its coffee shops, will now bring its fresh roasted beans straight to customers. The Minneapolis-based chain just launched a subscription service, delivering coffee beans to front doors nationwide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43A1NBP
SOLAR: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “When Marty Morud opened his solar installation business 15 years ago in Minnesota, his customer base included early adopters and climate-conscious believers. Now, Morud’s company, TruNorth Solar out of Arden Hills, puts solar panels on barns and schools. This evolution in the industry, he said, came with a change in how Americans view green energy. And the federal government was in lock-step, with tax credits boosting the shift. Now, however, Congress is on the cusp of passing a budget bill that effectively vaporizes green energy tax credits, including those used to finance solar panel manufacturers to wind farms and geothermal home-heating systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43kW04e
SURVEY: Morning take shared a story about a new Minneapolis Federal Reserve survey of construction businesses. We found a couple more elements from the Fed’s report we thought might interest lunch take readers. Via the Fed, from the survey:
“The top concern among those surveyed was the impact of government policies and regulations, including tariffs (Figure 3). ‘Economic uncertainty leads to less investment which leads to less development,’ remarked a respondent from an engineering firm.” REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/3Z8td0d
BORDER: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “More than three years after a family of four from India froze to death while trying to enter the U.S. along a remote stretch of the Canadian border in a blizzard, the convicted ringleader of an international human smuggling plot was sentenced in Minnesota on Wednesday to 10 years in prison.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mCvmLu
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)
SNAP: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Roughly 45,000 Minnesotans would be at risk of losing all of their federal food assistance, and tens of thousands more could lose some of that assistance under cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) approved by Republicans in the U.S. House. The bill still needs to pass the Senate and win the signature of President Donald Trump to become law. All told, 11 million people nationwide would be at risk of losing some food aid under the $230 billion in cuts approved by House Republicans, according to a recent estimate by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. That money would be used instead to partially fund tax cuts that mostly benefit the rich.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43D0sKz
SMOKE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans may be dealing with a barrage of smoke from Canadian wildfires this summer, and a dose of it could arrive Thursday-Friday and stick around for the weekend. ‘There is a signal that some of the wildfire smoke may make it to the surface Friday afternoon,’ says the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service. ‘Unfortunately, this may become [a] longer term issue for the near future.’ The first dose of smoke is coming from wildfires that are raging north and east of Winnipeg near the Manitoba/Ontario border.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43kMLB4
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor out this morning and reflecting data as of Tuesday shows 15% of the state in drought, down from 18% a week earlier. 73% of the state is considered abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
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)
HORMEL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $180 million. On a per-share basis, the Austin, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 33 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 35 cents per share. The results met Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of Spam canned ham, Dinty Moore stew and other foods posted revenue of $2.9 billion in the period, also meeting Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kylJfc
BEST BUY: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Best Buy slashed its full-year comparable sales and profit forecasts on Thursday amid concerns that U.S. tariffs would weigh on consumer demand for big-ticket items such as appliances, home theaters and gaming consoles. Shares of the company were down 2% in premarket trading after it also posted a bigger drop in first-quarter sales than analysts had expected.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZtMEAT
MORE: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “For its fiscal 2026, the retailer said it now expects $41.1 billion to $41.9 billion of revenue, down from its previous range of $41.4 billion to $42.2 billion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kL0QO1
MORE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Best Buy has warned previously that its import-reliant vendors would likely pass higher costs onto the retailer, which in turn would have to raise prices to protect its already thin margins, putting pressure on demand. The company’s revised guidance assumes that tariffs stay at current levels for the rest of the year and that consumer spending stays consistent with the last few quarters, Chief Financial Officer Matt Bilunas said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45uVEJt
GALLERIA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “New Jersey-based home decor and textiles brand Boll and Branch will soon make its bed at Edina shopping center Galleria. The showroom will feature its collections of textiles—100 percent cotton sheets, blankets, duvet sets, sheets, comforters, and bath towels—all made with organic, sustainable materials, as well as home goods including furniture, decor, and mattresses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HiY4AZ
MEDIA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “After 39 years of gracing Minnesota Public Radio’s airwaves, Perry Finelli will present his last newscast Wednesday evening. The veteran broadcaster is retiring after five decades in the business. Finelli joined Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer for an exit interview.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3FAk0qH
E-BIKES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “With summer almost here, Minnesotans are looking for any excuse to get outside. And an increasingly larger number of people are turning to electric bikes as a form of exercise and transportation. ‘Without a doubt. We’re seeing, you know, boomers getting back on bikes. They’re able to get out and ride longer because of e-bikes,’ said Pam Sayler, owner of Trailhead Cycling. ‘We’re seeing younger people that want to commute getting on e-bikes. It’s of great interest and it’s a big part of everyday conversation.’ At Trailhead Cycling, which has locations in Plymouth and Champlin, roughly 20 percent of all bike sales are now e-bikes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43ZeA0X
NEXT WEEK: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “As President Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan was involved in setting policy and strategies to deal with some of the world’s most pressing issues, including the global pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and relations with China. Sullivan will reflect on the Biden administration’s policies and the future of America on the world stage in an event on June 5, hosted by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45uhKMe
NEXT MONTH: Via Indivisible Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies. On Saturday, June 14, we’re taking to the streets nationwide. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZFSoat
THIS SUMMER: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “From rhubarb to garlic, to Judy Garland and Prince, and everything in between, you're bound to have a good time at these local festivals.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/38xwlvl
CARGILL: Via news release from Cargill, VERBATIM: “Cargill earned the top spot on the inaugural Edible Oil Supplier Index 2025, published by global nonprofit Access to Nutrition initiative (ATNi). The ranking recognizes the company’s leadership in removing industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) from its entire edible oils portfolio, even in markets with no regulatory mandate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dCIDzL
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
LATE NIGHT: Via Eater, VERBATIM: “It’s no secret that the pandemic decimated late-night dining — especially in the Twin Cities, where 24-hour restaurants were already in short supply. But things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. Yes, the list of pre-dawn dining spots has dwindled, but there are still late-night tacos to be munched, oysters to be slurped, and nightcaps to be sipped.” LIST/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3vNcbZH
FROYO: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Remember last spring, when news broke that the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was getting its very own food and drink stand? Lake Harriet has Bread and Pickle, Minnehaha Park has Sea Salt, etc., as we all know—thanks to a partnership between the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Sculpture Garden was finally joining the city’s grand tradition of pairing public parks with good eats. A request for proposals was launched, and then there was a bit of a lull as we waited for updates. That lull is no more: Fro Yo Soul Sips and Snacks is the chosen one.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kjT51E
BDAYS: Rep. Cheryl Youakim, farm broadcaster Don Wick, public affairs guy John-Paul Yates, consultant Jake Spano, pr guy Brian McClung
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