A majority of Americans oppose constructing AI data centers in their area.
More from Gallup, including a breakdown by political party. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nsWRYS
Minnesota chef Yia Vang is among those featured in a new HBO documentary titled “The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4u6yyT4
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We call on our state leaders to pass an infrastructure jobs bill with $100 million to replace lead drinking water pipes. Sponsored by LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota. FIXMN.org (SPONSORED: LIUNA MN + ND)
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Sunday Take featured Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya discussing her campaign, the war in Iran and what the GOP can do to win statewide. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3R09IG0
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FORWARD FRIDAY
THIS MORNING: Ecolab’s Christophe Beck was among the leaders talking about strengthening Minnesota competitiveness at a Minnesota Chamber Foundation event:
MORE: Via Minnesota Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber Foundation today released Minnesota’s economic imperative: A blueprint for growth, a new report outlining strategies to strengthen the state’s economy and expand opportunity and prosperity across the state for future generations.” QUOTE: “Minnesota has extraordinary strengths, including innovative businesses, a highly educated workforce and strong communities. But we are not translating those strengths into the level of growth we need for the future,” said Doug Loon. “Stronger economic growth means more opportunity for Minnesotans – better jobs, rising incomes, strong communities and a more competitive future for the state.” REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4ug999G
SESSION: House Speaker Lisa Demuth was on WCCO-Radio this morning talking about the DFL sit-in on the House floor to demand gun legislation be brought up for a vote. Demuth pointed to bipartisan legislation passed related to the safety of public officials. DEMUTH: “Gun bans were never a part of that conversation. So it’s really disingenuous to watch Democrats specifically say ‘we’re gonna pass this for ourselves, and we won’t talk about the guns. But we’re gonna politicize a very hard issue when it comes to schools and we’re gonna politicize it instead of trying to work together in a unified way.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tEOtqL
MORE: House DFL Leader Zach Stephenson was also on WCCO-Radio this morning. STEPHENSON: “Everyone, from the parents of the Annunciation children to members of our community, have been asking us to have a vote on meaningful violence prevention measures to try and get these weapons of war off the streets. And Republicans will do everything in their power to stop that vote from happening.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tDcpLe
ICYMI… today’s morning take is a must-read – comprehensive coverage of all that’s happened since the governor and legislative leaders struck a budget deal. It isn’t pretty. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ufT6bW
MORE: The Star Tribune is posting live updates as a DFL sit-in over guns continues on the House floor. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vaLWG7
DEMUTH: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “House Speaker Lisa Demuth this week used her negotiating skills and narrow hold on power in the Minnesota House to help forge a complex bipartisan deal. But as she campaigns for governor, the Cold Spring Republican now faces a tougher challenge: selling the deal to some conservative voters demanding change, not compromise. The GOP is set to endorse a candidate for governor at the party convention in Duluth later this month, where delegates will decide between Demuth and several other candidates, including retired health care executive Kendall Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dm3kQM
RULING: Via Commercial Carrier Journal, VERBATIM: “The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that federal law does not shield transportation brokers from state-level personal injury lawsuits, a decision that likely will have sweeping implications for how freight is managed nationwide. The 9-0 ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC allows a lawsuit to proceed against [Eden Prairie-based] C.H. Robinson, one of the country’s largest freight brokers. The case was brought by Shawn Montgomery, who lost a leg after being struck by a truck that C.H. Robinson had contracted to move a load through Illinois.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nz8H3M
MORE: Via C.H. Robinson, VERBATIM: “C.H. Robinson, the global leader in Lean AI supply chains, today responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Montgomery v. Caribe Transport case, which clarifies the legal framework governing how certain state-level claims may be applied to federally licensed freight brokers. While the company is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the Court’s ruling and remains committed to safety, service, and compliance across the nation’s transportation network.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ul9Xdy
PRAYER SPACE: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A Twin Cities school district’s plans to include spaces for prayer and washing of feet in new construction and building upgrades has drawn national attention and outrage. The district insists these updates come at the urging of ‘user groups,’ and that the prayer space comes as a multipurpose room that can be used for any number of activities . . . The news, however, has drawn the attention of America’s top elected officials, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Tom Emmer, who have compared the plans to Sharia law, and slammed the decision as a double standard of how faith is perceived in schools.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tAhzra
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)
CITIES
SKYWAY: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The closure of the Alliance Bank Center has cut off a key connection in the city’s 5-mile system of glass bridges, forcing residents like [Nancy Kehmeier] to navigate around the building and putting additional pressure on people with accessibility challenges. Driving the news: Kehmeier’s frustration isn’t unique. She co-founded a Friends of the Saint Paul Skyway group during the winter that has grown to roughly 575 members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PorhyM
POETRY: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “It’s time for Public Art St. Paul’s Sidewalk Poetry Contest. This year’s contest is a collaboration with the Capitol Region Watershed District on the theme of water. Taking inspiration from the Watershed District We Are Water exhibit, participants of all ages are asked to explore motifs, feelings, and symbolism surrounding water. Submissions close on June 3.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tzWmNW
GEESE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Rochester locals seem to have a love-hate relationship with the large, black and white waterfowl. Many residents shared fond memories of the geese with MPR News — of feeding them, listening to them honk on an early morning walk. Others complained of the birds’ aggressive behavior and goose poop littered across playgrounds and smeared all along the walking paths. Rochester has been steadily trying to bring down the population count for years, and it seems to be working.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43esc8c
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)
THE DRIVE
GAS PRICES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “As gas prices have spiked again this week, some rideshare drivers in Minnesota say they’re struggling to make ends meet. Uber and Lyft drivers pay for their own gas. With gas in the state now averaging more than $4.35 a gallon, those costs are up — and driver pay rates have stayed flat.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P5nqH3
TICKETS: Via DPS, VERBATIM: “A driver so distracted by their phone they failed to notice a deputy trying to pull them over. Another cited for their sixth violation of the hands-free cell phone law. A driver even caught for using both a laptop and phone while in traffic. Those were just a few of the dangerous behaviors Minnesota law enforcement officers encountered during the April distracted extra enforcement and awareness campaign. During the statewide campaign, 296 Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported 5,426 hands-free cell phone use citations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48XCQ6U
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)
BUSINESS MOVES
HOTEL: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, who has lived atop the Saint Paul Hotel for 17 years, will now become majority owner of the distinctive hotel that was built in 1910. Ecolab and Securian Financial are among the downtown St. Paul businesses and local leaders buying the hotel from Travelers Insurance. Also included in the ownership group are St. Paul real estate developers Jim Kelly, Carl Kaeding, and David Williams. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnMtQ7
BEER: From Bauhaus Brew Labs via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Unfortunately, we have faced a number of serious challenges over the past few years, including substantial cost increases in our supply chain, shifts in consumer preferences away from craft beer, a global pandemic, and most recently, a surge in federal immigration enforcement that directly targeted our wonderful city and deeply affected businesses across the hospitality industry. We have been working furiously to identify ways to shift our business model, reduce costs, increase revenues, and find a pathway to operational stability. Despite pulling every lever available to us, the financial headwinds have proven to be insurmountable, and we have made the very difficult and heartbreaking decision to close our doors.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/3Raa78M
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
BROOKLYN CENTER: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A new coffee shop could be coming to Brooklyn Center. Scooter’s Coffee, which is based in Nebraska, aims to open a new drive-through fast-casual coffee shop at 6245 Brooklyn Blvd.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tA9umc
NORTH LOOP: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A new Irish pub is taking shape in the North Loop of Minneapolis. Killen’s Irish Pub is now projecting a mid-June opening, according to an update from the North Loop Neighborhood Association.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dpQAsa
ELECTRO-SENSORS: Via Stock Titan, VERBATIM: “[Minnetonka-based] Electro-Sensors (NASDAQ: ELSE) reported first quarter 2026 results for the period ended March 31, 2026. Net sales reached a record $2.579 million, up 15.2% year over year, with gross margin of 51.3% (up from 48.4%). The company reported an operating loss of $218,000 and a net loss of $116,000, or $(0.03) per diluted share.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uOCsQr
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
WHAT’S NEXT?
THIS WEEKEND: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Northeast Minneapolis’ beloved arts festival, Art-A-Whirl, returns May 15-17 with more than 1,600 artists and vendors at more than 100 locations around the city. Organized by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the nation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ty35bc
TOMORROW: From Turbo Tim’s via Facebook, car crushing at the Crush-A-Whirl. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3PqXLIS
SUNDAY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Celebrate smelt season this weekend with silver clothing, music and a parade. The 13th annual ‘Run, Smelt, Run’ parade and party takes place on Sunday, May 17.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49vLHgc
SUMMER: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Cedar Cultural Center’s annual run of free concerts on its plaza will return this summer. The Summer at the Cedar series will feature five Wednesday night shows on the small plaza outside the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood venue, beginning on July 8.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4txchN7
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MINI GOLF: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There’s a certain kind of pressure that comes with adult mini golf. Usually, it involves a flimsy paper scorecard, someone losing a pencil halfway through hole three, and at least one mildly competitive friend insisting they absolutely did not take six strokes. Puttshack eliminates all of that. My husband and I recently checked out the Edina location at Southdale Center (our visit was comped), and what surprised us most wasn’t even the tech—it was the vibe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tGw90d
BDAYS: Rep. Danny Nadeau,marketer Kathy Pavek, Star Tribune’s Jeremy Olson, community leader Roxane Battle, fmr. Mpls City Council member John Quincy.
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