A $60 million Navy jet fell off an aircraft carrier. No, you’re not experiencing Déjà vu. It happened again. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4db26Y6
President Trump wants to rename another body of water – this time in the Middle East. AP: https://fluence-media.co/433FtzZ
Half or more of U.S. adults expect tariffs to increase prices for groceries, cars, gas, auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and personal electronics. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4iWLnsT
KARE-TV has new information on the “bling ring” targeting professional athletes and others. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4m6s9DU
The Minnesota Zoo has a new resident named Douglas and he really likes sweet potatoes. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/43awm0H
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3EWiGhE
Sunday Take discussed what schools need from the legislature with Kirk Schneidewind (Minnesota Association of School Boards) and Scott Croonquist (Association of Metropolitan School Districts). LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Yt4Gm9
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)
DAYCARE: Via news release from Redfin, VERBATIM: “In Denver and Seattle, families with one child pay nearly as much for daycare as they do for rent—while families with two or more children often spend significantly more on daycare than rent. That’s according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage . . . Minneapolis comes next in terms of where childcare costs most relative to rent. The typical daycare cost in Minneapolis is $1,186, equal to 78% of the area’s typical rent cost of $1,526 (155% for two kids).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yy5ciT
CURRICULUM: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is considering changes to the social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for the district’s elementary and middle schools. Social-emotional learning ‘is broadly understood as a process through which people build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships and making responsible decisions that supports their success in school and in life,’ according to the Minnesota Department of Education. However, some right-leaning circles have come to view the teaching style as pushing progressive or ‘woke’ ideas on children.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4327OH1
SENATE: Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan talked with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell about her candidacy for U.S. Senate. She was asked if tariffs helped her decide to run. FLANAGAN: “This is crushing folks. And, frankly, these tariffs are really taxes on small business owners but also taxes on consumers. It’s outrageous and it’s one guy, Donald Trump, who’s made this decision for all of us and we’ve gotta fight back.” Via X, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/436Vg1i
MORE: Via Facebook, Flanagan announced endorsements from St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Twin Cities OB/GYN Dr. Sakeena Futrell-Carter. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4m4xziD
ICYMI… morning take reported new endorsements for Rep. Angie Craig’s Senate candidacy. Read it at TheDailyAgenda HERE: https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
12 DAYS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “It's crunch time at the State Capitol, as Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders toil away at budget talks in hopes of striking a deal without a summer special session. The big picture: With 12 days to go until the May 19 adjournment deadline, lawmakers at the narrowly divided Capitol are at odds over both how much to spend (and tax) and whether to revise or repeal policies passed during the DFL trifecta. Threat level: If they can't figure it out by June 30, they'll trigger a state government shutdown.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42KFutW
ICYMI… morning take shared an interview with Governor Walz about the session and the prospect of needing a special session. READ: https://fluence-media.co/43jCchp
DWI: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Six days before his trial was set to begin for a drunken driving crash into the Park Tavern patio that killed two people and injured a dozen more, Steven Frane Bailey pleaded guilty to five felonies, including two counts of third-degree murder. At a hearing inside Hennepin County District Court Wednesday morning, Bailey agreed to a plea deal that will see him serve up to 30 years in prison.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m4N2zh
MORE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The plea comes as the state Legislature, in response to that crash, is looking to amp up punishments for people who have multiple DWIs. Final passage could happen as soon as this week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k8cx0T
MEDIA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities Public Television is furloughing some employees after a U.S. Department of Education grant wasn't renewed. TPT's president Sylvia Strobel announced the news in an email to TPT employees. She said the Ready to Learn grant was terminated on Friday and that the station is, ‘exploring a possible appeal.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d5t3MA
ST PAUL: Tuesday’s lunch take shared a Fox News interview with Twin Cities restaurateur Brian Ingram where he cited an increase in crime as a reason he closed his Apostle Supper Club near Xcel Energy Center. Bring Me The News notes the Apostle in Duluth also closed, that crime in St. Paul is down, and that others who work in the area dispute Ingram’s assessment. VERBATIM: “Peter McCormick, bartender at Zamboni's on 7th across the street from the Apostle Supper Club, told CBS News they haven't experienced the issues Ingram has complained of. ‘It's like any other city, you're gonna have something going on but you shouldn't feel unsafe walking around,’ McCormick said, acknowledging the presence of some homeless shelters near the Xcel and on West Seventh Street, which during the height of the pandemic drew complaints from local businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jQ1J7Y
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)
GRADUATION: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota posted a record high graduation rate of 84.2% in 2024, according to data being released Wednesday by the state Department of Education (MDE). Achievement gaps between white students and students of color also narrowed nearly across the board, an impressive feat given that 2024 graduates entered high school at the height of the pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/450j09D
CLOQUET: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Fourth and fifth graders from Cloquet schools took part in a fierce battle on Tuesday, testing their literary knowledge. Churchill Elementary School hosted the annual event for the eighth consecutive year with principal David Wangen serving as a competition judge.” WANGEN: “It’s kind of like a sporting event, but they’re using their minds, so it’s really cool that way.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RPzvhd
ACQUISITION: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Since Lemonada Media was founded in 2019, the Minneapolis-based podcast production company has gone on to make shows with the likes of comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus and British royal family member Meghan Markle. Now, the company is set to be acquired by an overseas podcast investment group. On Tuesday, Stockholm-based PodX Group announced that it has reached a deal to acquire a majority stake in Lemonada.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m3dPf9
TARGET: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Target CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged in an email to staff a gap in communications over the past few months that has led to uncertainty. The Monday email acknowledged that it has been ‘a tough few months’ between the retail economy ‘headlines, social media and conversations that may have left you wondering.’ Cornell said Target’s culture and commitment to staff has not changed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m5y2B2
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)
TAXES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County is bracing for a steep tax hike — one of potentially historic proportions. ‘We are, and I’m being honest with everybody, looking at possibly the largest tax levy increase in history of Hennepin County,’ said District 1 County Commissioner Jeff Lunde, who spoke Friday to the Brooklyn Park City Council. Lunde said legislation at the state Capitol would shift costs from the state to counties to help the state address a looming deficit.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4da6bM8
EPA LAB: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth City Council will be considering a resolution requesting federal officials to keep the EPA Lab in Duluth open. The resolution is on their agenda for Monday. This comes after Minnesota federal and state lawmakers have pushed to keep the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division lab in operation.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3SmZrAW
EXCELSIOR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Plans were announced today for two new restaurants coming to downtown Excelsior, to be housed directly above the basement-level Parlour location that opened up last year. The main-level concepts will include Mirabelle, serving up American cuisine, and Shiki, an Asian-inspired noodle bar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EHyDbD
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, quarterly reports from Minnesota-based businesses:
TECHNE: “Techne Corp. (TECH) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $22.6 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 14 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and amortization costs, came to 56 cents per share. The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of medical testing and diagnostic products posted revenue of $316.2 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44to0n4
DAYFORCE: “Dayforce Inc (DAY) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $14.9 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had profit of 9 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 58 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations . . . The provider of human-resources software and services posted revenue of $481.8 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k98iSJ
HARLEY: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Influential proxy advisory firms recommended divergent paths for Harley-Davidson investors ahead of a shareholder vote that could shape the motorcycle maker’s future. ISS said in a report this week that an activist investor, H Partners, hasn’t made a compelling case to remove three members of Harley’s board, each of whom has served for at least 17 years . . . Another firm, Glass Lewis, reached a different conclusion . . . Jason Bremer, who owns three Harley dealerships in Texas and Minnesota, also holds shares in the company. He hasn’t yet decided how to vote but lamented the boardroom dispute, saying it was causing patrons to question the brand’s long-term future.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42MoVhf
TODAY: The Minnesota House is scheduled to convene at 11, recess, then reconvene about 3:30. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3DRfDDw
THIS WEEK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “If you’re looking to add a little color to your home — or pick up something for Mother’s Day — there’s an event happening in Brooklyn Park this week that also benefits local students. Tuesday marked the kickoff of Hennepin Technical College’s annual plant sale.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/436nnO7
MAY 16-18: Art-A-Whirl takes over the Northeast Minneapolis arts district. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d4XGlD
DIAMEDICA: Via news release from Minnetonka-based DiaMedica, VERBATIM: “DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for preeclampsia and acute ischemic stroke, announced today that its first quarter 2025 financial results will be released after the markets close on Tuesday, May 13th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RQfaIH
CELCUITY: Via news release from Minneapolis-based Celcuity, VERBATIM: “Celcuity Inc. (Nasdaq: CELC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing development of targeted therapies for oncology, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter 2025 after the market closes on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Management will host a webcast/teleconference the same day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and provide a corporate update.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jICqo2
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
RETIREMENT: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “The first time Sue Remes retired from her career as a global beauty industry consultant who spent more time on planes than at home in Minneapolis, she quickly got lured back to work by a longtime client in need. Sure, it was on her terms—limited hours, no travel—but it wasn’t the true break she felt ready to make. In 2024, after nearly 40 years in the beauty business, she retired again. This time, she says, it’s official.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jKupPG
SPENGA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Spenga Woodbury is all about werking smarter to werk harder—while keeping joints happy and sprinkling in variety to keep sweat-ers coming back for more. With a background in exercise physiology, Patty TenBroek dreamt of opening a fitness studio, when she stumbled upon the Spenga workout.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iQfCkY
BDAYS: attorney Kelly Keegan, Eagan City Councilor Cyndee Fields, writer Lynda McDonnell
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