If you’re at the Capitol at 2PM in the Vault Room, there’s free custard from Culvers compliments of Hospitality Minnesota. And as a reminder, Craig Culver is a UW-Oshkosh grad.
How well read are we? From usafacts, library circulation by state. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4vjdUQI
Think gas is pricy now? It’s about to get worse. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/3PXdgbt
Lynx forward Napheesa Collier will be in the next SI Swimsuit issue. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ve0qFX
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
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
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 Tom Hauser in for Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48xBIX6
On Sunday Take, GOP Floor Leader Harry Niska and DFL Rep. Matt Norris discussed what the Legislature did on break and what they expect to get done this session. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3O830wr
Blois
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PROMOTING THE TWIN CITIES
MICHELIN GUIDE: Via Urban Milwaukee, VERBATIM: “Michelin, the French tire manufacturer behind the prestigious Michelin Guide, will consider area restaurants for potential inclusion in its upcoming American Great Lakes edition — the first time the globally recognized rating system could feature Milwaukee establishments. The guide will also consider establishments in Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. Known as one of the culinary world’s most influential endorsements, the Michelin Guide was first published in the early 1900s, reportedly as a way to encourage more road travel.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mBsD5L
MORE: Via Michelin, QUOTE: “This is a defining moment for Minneapolis. We have the talent, cultural diversity and quality to stand with any culinary destination in the world,” said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “With the incredible and enduring reputation of the MICHELIN Guide, this is a moment that moves us from being a ‘best-kept secret’ to being part of the global culinary conversation. And through a collaborative approach made possible through our new Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District, it will inspire more of the world’s food lovers to visit our city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PYFOBl
$750K: Over at The Download, Jason DeRusha reports that Meet Minneapolis paid $750,000 over three years to be a part of the Michelin guide. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ccZxER
HOSPITALITY: Via Hospitality Minnesota, from the State of Hospitality report released this morning, VERBATIM: “From all angles, our industry is being squeezed. Federal tariffs have increased wholesale prices. State and local regulations are punishing businesses for attempting to create high-paying and quality jobs.”
“Consumers are pulling back due to economic uncertainty and tightening budgets. For long-term recovery and survival, our industry needs major reform with business-friendly policies that encourage a thriving hospitality industry instead of hindering it.” REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/41T3mtV
(DISCLOSURE: Hospitality Minnesota is a Fluence Advisory client)
POLITICS
TAFOYA: GOP Senate candidate Michele Tafoya talked with KSTP-TV’s Tom Hauser this morning on WCCO-Radio. She talked about developments in Iran, the uproar over the President’s Easter morning message, and her recent suggestion that people upset over gas prices should take fewer trips to Starbucks. TAFOYA: “I feel the expense of daily life just like everyone else does. Of course, my opponents are going to take it and twist it. What I was saying at the time was, we’ve got men and women over in Iran putting their lives on the line for this effort. Some of them not coming home. This is a blip, what we hope to be short bit of pain, and it used to be in America that when our service men and women were fighting abroad, we did everything we could to support them.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QsvqBS
ACROSS THE BORDER: From WisPolitics’ JR Ross via X, VERBATIM: “Another example of how bad it is out there for Republicans/conservatives in Wisconsin tonight River Falls Mayor Dan Toland, in office since 2012, lost to Dem Alison Page, who’s lost a couple of bids for the state Legislature.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/41hGQuH
IMPEACHMENT: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar called for President Trump to be impeached on Tuesday after he threatened Iran with genocide unless the country makes a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.” OMAR: “Donald Trump must be impeached,” she said. “When will it be enough for my Republican colleagues to grow spines and remove him from office?” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dv23sm
RELATED: Via Lakeland PBS, a protest Tuesday in Bemidji pushing to remove President Trump from office. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4t0stao
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)
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES
POWERLINES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The powerlines [Houston County resident Dayva Goetzinger] doesn’t want cutting across her bucolic landscape are a part of a massive, $21.8 billion effort to update and expand the Midwest’s power grid. If approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the so-called ‘electricity superhighway’ will include a 765-kilovolt backbone across the lower half of Minnesota - the first of its size in the state and some of the largest transmission infrastructure being built in the country right now. Electricity companies and renewable energy advocates say the project is needed to make the grid more reliable, meet increased demand for electricity and to distribute solar and wind energy throughout the Upper Midwest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sq3MCR
MIGRANTS: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “The millions of migrants who were released into the country during the immigration surge that began in 2021 and peaked in 2023 caused a political firestorm when Republican states transported them to Democratic cities. Now, according to a new analysis, many of them are back working in the states that expelled them . . . A Stateline analysis of court records shows that the largest numbers of recent asylum-seekers are in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Utah, all of which have populations that are at least 1% higher than they were in 2020 because of the new migrants. Also in the top 10: Texas, Connecticut, California, Illinois and Colorado.” READ/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4bZdNSS
TEXAS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Approximately 3,400 people detained by federal immigration agents in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge were transferred to detention centers in Texas; about 530 of those detainees still remain there as of early March, according to Sahan Journal’s analysis of ICE data.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4viHQMP
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)
CRIME
FREED: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A man who has spent nearly 18 years in prison for a Minneapolis murder is free after prosecutors dropped the charges due to new evidence. A Hennepin County judge vacated the first-degree murder conviction of Jerrell Michael Brown, 38, after advancements in 3D microscopy technology recently allowed two experts to examine ballistics evidence in the 2008 shooting outside a nightclub that killed Darius Ormond Miller.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cdTkbJ
COPPER WIRE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis streets may seem a bit brighter. Mayor Jacob Frey says crews have been working to replace 26 miles worth of copper wire stolen from lights.” QUOTE: “We’re proud to report that that backlog of over 700 lights out is gone. They are now lit,” says Frey. “By the way, we are also changing these street lights over from copper wire to aluminum.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4dTZiBd
GRANDMAS RIDE ATV’S 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
ST CLOUD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “St. Cloud Mayor Jake Anderson reflected on a challenging first year in office during his State of the City address on Tuesday. Anderson took the helm as mayor of St. Cloud in January 2025. He replaced longtime mayor Dave Kleis, who did not seek reelection after almost two decades in office.” QUOTE: “You left big shoes to fill, and they didn’t fit quite right,” Anderson told Kleis, who was in the audience. “So I had a couple things I’ve had to pivot on.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vjDJ2X
FUEL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “For everyday commuters, it’s a hit to the pocketbook. For businesses other entities that drive for a living, it’s an even bigger blow. ‘I think we average about 16,000 gallons per month,’ said Zach Lundberg, internal operations manager at the city of Maple Grove’s Public Works department. His department operates about 450 vehicles, such as snow plows and police cars, that run on diesel and unleaded gasoline. And even as prices continue to rise, the city can’t abandon these vehicles and the core services they provide.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tasyrO
BRAINERD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Brainerd City Council members have voted to allow a homeless shelter in the city to remain open throughout the summer. Bridges of Hope first requested a year-round permit in April 2025 for The Bridge on 7th Overnight Shelter, and the council then voted only to allow a permit for the shelter to be open from September through April.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eaNnPj
MPLS: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “Ward 10 residents should plan for a construction-heavy spring and summer. Council Member Aisha Chughtai‘s latest newsletter maps out four overlapping infrastructure projects that will reshape key corridors across the Whittier neighborhood and surrounding areas, with work already underway on at least two fronts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dATQmy
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
BATTERIES: Via Simply Wall St, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy (NasdaqGS:XEL) now has a regulatory green light to own and operate a sizeable fleet of grid scale batteries in Minnesota, giving the utility more direct control over how storage is planned and used . . . This approval gives Xcel Energy more direct control over how battery storage is integrated into its grid, rather than relying solely on third party developers. That could tighten the link between customer load growth, data center agreements, and where storage is actually installed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tFV2db
ICYMI… morning take had Xcel commenting on how data centers impact residential bills. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4tuKduc
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)
POT: Via SMSC, VERBATIM: “The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s (SMSC) new cannabis dispensary, Flame & Flora, will officially open to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Flame & Flora, located at 2571 Credit Union Drive in Prior Lake, will offer high-quality cannabis products in an upscale retail environment, with products ranging from pre-rolled options, edibles, drinks, concentrates and more.”
RETAIL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “In a city often defined by its practical style sensibilities, Denimani Livingstone is making a case for something riskier and more expressive. With Grainline, his new Minneapolis concept space in Loring Park, the designer behind his eponymous label, Denimani, is introducing a different kind of fashion experience—one that blends retail, studio, and community under one roof.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41mbNOg
PLYMOUTH: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “In the world of fine dining, art isn’t always found hanging on a gallery wall. Sometimes, the most impressive masterpieces are built on a wooden board using nothing more than cured meats, artisanal cheeses and a dash of creative vision. Since opening last October in Plymouth’s Waterford Park Plaza, Charcuterie Bar has quickly become a go-to destination for date nights, girls’ nights out, and local celebrations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4e9UDuO
ACQUISITION: Via NFP, VERBATIM: “NFP, an Aon company and leading property and casualty (P&C) broker and benefits consultant, today announced the acquisition of Sherman Insurance Agency, Inc., a full-service agency specializing in trucking, commercial, personal and benefits insurance solutions. Based in South St. Paul, Minnesota, Sherman strengthens NFP’s presence in the Upper Midwest and enhances its Transportation and Logistics practice.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47KBhbN
WHAT’S NEXT?
THIS WEEK: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “The inaugural International Festival of Minnesota, otherwise known as IFest-MN, will take place April 10-11 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, bringing together over 70 ethnic groups to showcase Minnesota’s diverse heritage through food, music, art, dance, traditions, and cultural demonstrations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vhldIH
THIS MONTH: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Lake of the Isles’ giant pencil sharpening will hit the silver screen this month at the return of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. The big picture: The 2026 festival, which runs April 8–19, features over 200 films, panels, discussions and parties across six theaters in the Twin Cities and Rochester — and many are Minnesota-made.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vfE4ng
APR 21: Via St. Louis Park-based Bridgewater, VERBATIM: “Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB), the parent company of Bridgewater Bank, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Bridgewater will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cx0Akg
APR 29: Via Eden Prairie-based C.H. Robinson, VERBATIM: “C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRW), announced today that it will issue its first quarter 2026 results after the market closes on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The company will hold a conference call at 5:30 pm Eastern Time on the same day to discuss the quarterly results and answer live questions from the investment community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4meQgR8
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DIANE’S: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “You likely caught wind a few months ago that Diane’s Place, chef Diane Moua‘s much-loved, much-celebrated Hmong American restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis, was cooking up an expansion. But the details were largely under wraps until now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41kMEni
BDAYS: Gianni’s proprietor Terri Huml, Senate Tax staffer Mitch Berggren, construction leader Jessi Noble, pr guy Brant Skogrand
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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