65% of shoppers say inflation will impact their holiday spending. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4nL86ve
62% of Americans say the federal government has too much power – it was 51% a year ago. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4h6VGLt
What are the headwinds and tailwinds facing the regional economy? - Sunday Take featured UMN’s Myles Shaver discussing the current state of the headquarters economy in Minnesota. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3IPKVR8
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Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
LIST: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal spotted products from Minnesota companies Medtronic and Sleep Number on Time’s list of the best inventions of the year. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KKhH6L
MORE: Via Time, the list. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3J4cyWy
EXPORTS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota exports of agricultural, mining and manufactured products were valued at $5.8 billion in the second quarter of 2025, a drop of 19% ($1.3 billion) over the second quarter of 2024, according to data released today by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Mineral fuel and oil exports to Canada accounted for more than half of the decline.” QUOTE: “Minnesota’s export statistics were particularly sensitive to changes in the oil market this quarter, but overall declines to our biggest export markets illustrate the risk of tariff uncertainty to our economy,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “In light of the federal government’s chaotic approach to trade, we’re working to remind our international partners that Minnesota is open for business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mWWh3y
ST PAUL: Via Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, VERBATIM: “The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) today announced it has acquired the Alliance Bank Center building from Madison Equities. The transaction gives the SPDDC full ownership and control of the site, located in the core of downtown Saint Paul at 55 and 56 5th St E., after purchasing the property’s bank note earlier this year . . . The SPDDC has hired private property management and security partners to oversee the building, which will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future to ensure safety and security. This includes the skyway closures that have been in place since April 2. The skyway connections to Osborn370 and Treasure Island Center remain open.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47ih6ls
CANNABIS: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “An Oklahoma-based cannabis retailer is one step closer to setting up shop in Oak Park Heights. The Oak Park Heights Planning Commission voted Thursday night to recommend a conditional-use permit for a retail cannabis business to open in the space currently occupied by Joseph’s restaurant. Mango Cannabis, as the business would be known, is expected to occupy the entire building at 14608 60th St. N. and Joseph’s is expected to move to a different location in the area, according to a staff memo.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WtPdki
NATL GUARD: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s novel use of National Guard troops for law enforcement purposes has reopened a debate over states’ authority to control police powers, as dueling briefs from current and former state leaders filed in Illinois’ lawsuit against the president show. A bipartisan group of former governors said Trump’s federalization and deployment of National Guard members to Chicago to control ‘modest’ protests upended the careful balance between state and federal powers. At the same time, a group of 17 current Republican attorneys general told the court they supported the administration’s move that they said was necessary to protect immigration enforcement officers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KK9oYC
MORE: Via Court Listener, the governors’ brief which lists among the supporters former Minnesota Governors Arne Carlson and Mark Dayton. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ohoELa
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)
DOWNTOWN MPLS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Erin Fitzgerald, an investor in downtown Minneapolis commercial real estate, isn’t happy with how a recent film by former TV anchor Rick Kupchella portrays the city . . . She said she believed the film was going to highlight momentum in the city while also exposing how, she said, “Democratic Socialist” council members have held the city back from more progress . . . Fitzgerald’s comments during the RE Journal‘s annual Minneapolis Downtown Summit on Wednesday illustrate a divide among downtown real estate leaders over how they talk about the city. While almost all of them, including Fitzgerald, say downtown still needs more police presence, many are ready to turn the page on messaging.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47guoyW
FATEH: Minnesota Reformer reports Sen. Omar Fateh, a candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis, has threatened to leave the DFL party on three occasions. VERBATIM: “He never left the Senate DFL caucus, but the implied threat underscores Fateh’s political style — marked by a refusal to be a typical go-along-to-get-along lawmaker and a willingness to aggravate his colleagues and big players at the Minnesota Capitol if that’s what it takes to get his priorities through.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oc10Q7
NUCLEAR: Via news release from Minnesota Rural Electric Association, VERBATIM: “More organizations and Minnesotans are seeing the need for reliable nuclear power and joining the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance (MNEA), which seeks to remove Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium. The latest group to join the alliance is the Rural Minnesota Energy Board (RMEB), an eighteen-county joint powers board. The RMEB was formed to provide policy guidance and a venue for collaboration on issues surrounding energy development in rural Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mWPIy8
KMART SITE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The City of Minneapolis is taking a big step forward when it comes to redeveloping a vacant lot on Lake Street once occupied by a Kmart store. The city has officially opened the bidding process for developers and is releasing an official Request for Proposals for the first phase of new buildings at the site. Dubbed ‘New Nicollet,’ city leaders are looking to revitalize the 10-acre lot and re-open Nicollet Avenue where the Kmart once stood.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IPVP9B
BRAINERD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Brainerd City Council has set the preliminary levy for 2026 at an 8% increase from this year. Council members came to the decision during a special meeting last week after an initial motion to set the preliminary levy at 10% failed in a 6-1 vote.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nKH3Qs
APOGEE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises Inc. (APOG) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $23.6 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of $1.10 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 98 cents per share. The glass products company posted revenue of $358.2 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48WsNQ0
40 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are celebrating 40 years of partnership, a longevity landmark that makes Flint Hills one of DU’s longest-standing corporate partners. Working together over the past four decades, Flint Hills and DU have contributed to conserving more than 250,000 acres of wildlife habitat and natural areas in Minnesota and over 900,000 acres across North America. LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
NEXT WEEK: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 9,018 Black women in Minnesota filed for unemployment benefits between the months of February and April. ‘We about to change that in Minnesota,’ [Sheletta Brundidge, owner of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, a multimedia production and podcasting company, and host on WCCO Radio] vowed. ‘I’m hosting a Job Fair and Brunch and I promise it ain’t no regular job fair.’ Brundidge’s Job Fair and Brunch for Black Women is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, from 9 am to noon at The Coliseum at 2708 E Lake St. in Minneapolis. It is free and open to all.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VVIMq3
FOOD APP: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Food as medicine—the idea that prioritizing nutrition can improve health and help prevent disease—has been around for a while, but it was Minneapolis-based Food for Health that digitized it and made it accessible to grocery shoppers through an AI-powered, software-as-a-service app, explains founder and CEO Adam Southam. The app, GoNo Food Finder, brings in data from more than 107,000 peer-reviewed clinical studies from institutions such as John Hopkins and Harvard to analyze the efficacy of each ingredient in a product or a recipe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/493E8Oe
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)
ICE: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A Ghanaian national who lived in Minnesota is alleging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement illegally deported him earlier this week. Martin Berchie, who had been detained by ICE in Sherburne County Jail since August, alleges that ICE forged his name on the travel document used to deport him to Ghana on Tuesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VVHtHF
BEMIDJI: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The contested boundary trial continues between Northern Township and the City of Bemidji. The second and final public comment portion of the trial was held Wednesday at the Sanford Center. 14 people provided a comment for the record during this meeting. Most spoke in favor of the city’s attempt to annex properties along the north shore of Lake Bemidji into the City of Bemidji. Northern Township officials, however, believe that with more people speaking in favor of incorporation during last week’s public comment hearing and the evidence provided, Judge Palmer-Denig will rule in the township’s favor.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4n2l06K
SUPCT: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The hearing begins with an ‘all rise.’ Seven berobed justices file in to take their seats. Attorneys step up to a lectern, citing settled cases to bolster their arguments for competing interpretations of the law. Seated in front of them, the justices pose questions, scrutinizing each argument. The hearing adjourns. Everything described so far was part of a real case that came before the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday. What set the hearing apart is where it took place — not in the court’s St. Paul chambers, but at Owatonna High School.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KHkEFg
NEXTGEN: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Thousands of people gathered in early October at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the AISES 2025 National Conference. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society holds its national conference in different cities across the United States each year, bringing together Native professionals, educators and those interested in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, careers. The conference was held over a course of three days at the convention center with hands-on learning sessions, lectures and networking opportunities.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4obxJVx
TODAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Friday is the annual University of Minnesota Homecoming Parade. It steps off at 6:00 p.m. on University Avenue, which will be closed to traffic between 11th Avenue and Oak Street until 8:00 p.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3L5iTSc
OCT 31: Via Maple Plain-based Protolabs, VERBATIM: “Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) announced today that it will issue its financial results for the third quarter of 2025 before the opening of the market on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Protolabs will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. EDT on the same day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47iSf0X
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from Chanhassen-based Life Time, VERBATIM: “Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LTH) today announced that its financial results for third quarter 2025 will be released before market open on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET that day to discuss the financial results and provide a business update.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mUDGVV
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from Minnetonka-based NOG, VERBATIM: “Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE: NOG) announced today that it plans to issue its third quarter 2025 financial and operating results on Thursday, November 6, 2025, after the market closes. Additionally, the Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KHNeX3
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HALLOWEEN: Via MplsStPaul, “A guide to the Halloween pop-ups at local bars and restaurants this spooky season.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3IOyIfz
BDAYS: business leader Laura Boyd, Essentia’s Mychal Vlatkovich, attorney Tina Syring, Baker Tilly’s Will Roach, Post Bulletin’s Dené Dryden, St. Louis Park Councilor Tim Brausen, retired Packer fan Patti Cullen, lobbyist Phil Stalboerger SAT: WCCO’s Craig Schroepfer, retired photojournalist Joe Berglove SUN: leader Allison O’Toole, activist Kyrstin Schuettte, once a Senator Ted Mondale, fmr. Gov. candidate Cory Hepola
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