Four members of Michigan’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the Canadian Government demanding a stop to wildfire smoke crossing the border. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4wSfnxu
With the Boundary Waters closed, MPR offers up some alternative destinations. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4w9bX9D
Fluence Advisory has released its Insights memo on “The Next Legislature”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aNNSMV
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Sunday Take featured a preview of the CD2 DFL primary and Sec. Steve Simon discussing how federal changes could affect state elections. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pB3865
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FRIDAY FEED
TONIGHT: Via Willmar Radio, VERBATIM: “ABC’s 20/20 tonight will air an updated, two-hour investigative episode titled ‘Where Are You Jacob?’ Airing from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., exploring the decades-long mystery of the 1989 kidnapping of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling of St. Joseph.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SWj6vj
BATTERIES: Via Spearmint Energy, VERBATIM: “Spearmint Energy, a next-generation energy company delivering stable, secure and cost-effective energy solutions to the grid through large-scale battery storage, today announced that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved a Site Permit for the Midwater Energy Storage Project, a 150 MW / 600 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System in Freeborn County, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ysXbvE
NO PHONES: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “There was a roomful of frustration at Waconia City Hall Thursday, where CenturyLink representatives met with a group of the carrier’s customers—- some of whom, haven’t had landline service since late May . . . Back in June, 5 Eyewitness News reported how Representative Jim Nash (R-Waconia) had been collecting information from 125 Waconia-area households who’ve told him about dropped service.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4f3EW8E
COURTHOUSE WEDDING: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Erling Soren Holdahl and Kendra Sue Johnson’s happily ever after starts with a prison sentence. The Twin Cities couple wed at the federal courthouse in St. Paul on Wednesday, minutes after being sentenced to 12 and six years in prison, respectively, for their involvement with a Mexican drug cartel.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SXJgxJ
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)
FIRES
BWCAW: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “It started out as a normal fishing trip for Tom and John Connelly. The brothers put in on Saturday for what was supposed to be 10 days of paddling, camping and quiet in Quetico Provincial Park, just across the Canadian border from the Boundary Waters. Then they saw smoke. Then came the fire, and the start of a sometimes heart-pounding struggle to get out alive. Coming out of the wilderness Thursday off Moose Lake, just outside the Boundary Waters, they told a story of a long, harrowing journey they said could have ended in death.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4f8kuDG
ICYMI… morning take had maps from both yesterday and today showing fire locations and air quality. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fjN97D
ELY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Ely City Council held a special meeting Thursday to share wildfire information with residents as fires continue to burn within miles of the city . . . City leaders used the meeting to dispel rumors of a planned evacuation. Officials also warned the fire season could be prolonged.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vwZY4j
FORECAST: Via The New York Times, the smoke forecast showing the worst of it moving out of Minnesota. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4wPeCFf
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)
POLITICS
SENATE: MPR notes the flood of ads about Minnesota’s DFL U.S. Senate primary race – some from the candidates themselves. VERBATIM: “But another, often more-caustic slough of ads make the rounds on those same platforms. Political action committees are pouring money into the race. They use their ad time to bash the opponent of their favored candidate. There, [Rep. Angie] Craig is the lopsided beneficiary. One PAC, North Star Dawn, is airing hundreds of commercials per week — sometimes multiple ads during the same TV program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SXuh6W
ICYMI… morning take with the ongoing battles between primary candidates in the Senate and Governor races. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fjN97D
SUNDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “From traditional dance and live music to hands-on activities and sweet treats, Minneapolis’ annual Sister Cities Day invites visitors to experience cultures from around the world—without leaving the city. The free celebration returns to Nicollet Island Pavilion this Sunday, July 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a recognition of the global partnerships that have connected Minneapolis with other communities across the world for more than 60 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yxGFee
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
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “In June, a video went viral, showing people fighting in the road at Lake Avenue and Superior Street as crowds arrived for Grandma’s marathon. Days later, the city announced the closure of a portion of the skywalk due to ‘unwanted behaviors.’ For many, those headlines confirm what they already feared -- downtown and Canal Park are headed in the wrong direction.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4yj77b8
SMOKE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The area tracked an all-time record for hazardous air quality levels this week as smoke from wildfires burning in and around the Boundary Waters a couple of hours to the north engulfed the region, along with much of the state and the country. That left some travelers scrambling as they tried to decide whether to refocus their vacations to more indoor activities or cancel altogether. Others adapted plans but still made a point to see landmark locations in the region.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gJehPQ
SUN COUNTRY: Via Airline Geeks, VERBATIM: “Sun Country reduced its September schedule after higher-than-expected crew attrition and additional cargo flying created staffing pressure, according to an internal memo viewed by AirlineGeeks. In a July 3 message to Allegiant and Sun Country flight crews, Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson said the carrier trimmed its fall scheduled capacity ‘due to higher-than-expected front-line crew attrition combined with increased cargo flying.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T1Blzr
THEATRE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Children’s Theatre Company announced a permanent expansion to its current acting company. The new core company serves as an “artistic think tank” that brings creatives who play different roles in staging productions into conversation together, according to CTC’s artistic director Rick Dildine.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4warlTa
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “From pool noodles to pontoon boats, any flotation devices are welcome seating options for viewing the annual float-in movie on Silver Lake in St. Anthony. Starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday, the 1993 classic Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey will be projected onto an inflatable screen facing the water.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ytGO25
THIS WEEKEND: Via Bring Me The News, details of this weekend’s Yacht Club music festival on Harriet Island. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ysrfaW
THIS WEEKEND: The Minnehaha Falls Art Fair is at Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4btzU2U
ALSO: The Aquatennial continues. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/3Rinx2Y
THIS MONTH: Via Minneapolis-based Piper, VERBATIM: “Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, will release its second quarter 2026 financial results prior to the opening of the market on Thursday, July 30, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wIJdUP
THIS MONTH: Via Minneapolis-based SPS, VERBATIM: “SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSC), the leading intelligent supply chain network, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, after the market close on Thursday, July 30, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnIiSX
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
UNCLAIMED CASH: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “I have seen and bypassed headlines over the years about how state governments are holding millions in unclaimed property . . . Then my brother alerted me to a website called missingmoney.com, which is a database for the National Association of State Treasurers. My name was on the list, he said. I was skeptical, but I checked it out and indeed, the state of Minnesota was holding an amount over $100 for me.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44AMKbS
BDAYS: Rep. Cal Bahr, Thrify Traveler’s Kyle Potter, MPR Exec Duchesne Drew, GOP local leader David Sturrock, arts advocate Bonnie Marshall, St. Thomas’ Phil Esten, media guy Alberto Monseratte. SAT: DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson, Allina’s Kerri Gordon, organizer Javier Morillo-Alicea, Star Tribune’s Laura McCallum Bryan, Fox 9’s Paul Blume, House staffer Margaret Martin. SUN: Sen. Michael Kreun, professor Kathryn Pearson, fmr. First Lady Susan Shepard Carlson
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