Two-thirds of Americans say they’ve suffered financial hardship because of the cost of fuel. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4xMHP55
Minnesota Aurora asked players to pronounce Minnesota city names. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uSaAdJ
We still need rain. The new Drought Monitor out this morning shows 41% of the state in formal drought status, up from 38% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
Sports Take coming soon: Lots of thoughts on the huge Wolves trade. Also, the NCAA gets something right, the Twins sell out and the end of Edina’s one-of-a-kind summer hockey league.
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Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43Vzy12
Sunday Take covered the status of third parties in Minnesota with Chip Tangen, Libertarian candidate for secretary of state, and Jay Reeves, Forward Independence candidate for state auditor. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uICwRf
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$11.3 BILLION DEAL
ACQUISITION: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “German drugmaker Merck KGaA said on Thursday it will acquire [Minneapolis-based] biotech firm Bio-Techne Corp for $11.3 billion, its largest deal in over a decade, as it looks to strengthen its life sciences business. Shares of Bio-Techne rose 20% in premarket trading following Merck’s offer of $73 per share, which implies a 24% premium to Bio-Techne’s close on Wednesday. Merck KGaA shares were up 3%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QM55zg
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “[Bio-Techne] has more than 3,000 employees, with 2,300 of them in the U.S., and has 15 manufacturing facilities. Last year, it had revenue of more than $1.2 billion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44yLgyE
MORE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “The proposed deal comes as suppliers of life-sciences tools are positioning themselves to tap in to heavy investments by pharma companies in research and development and a recovery in funding for biotech companies, which struggled to raise money when central banks raised interest rates after the Covid-19 pandemic. U.S. rivals Thermo Fisher Scientific and Danaher have also made multibillion-dollar acquisitions over the past year. The acquisition of Bio-Techne brings a portfolio of disposable lab supplies, instruments and services, while strengthening Merck’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities, the German company said Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4agREhx
ENDORSEMENT: Via news release from the Frazier campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, DFL-endorsed Hennepin County Attorney candidate Cedrick Frazier announced a major endorsement from Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith. Senator Smith’s backing marks the highest-profile endorsement of the 2026 Hennepin County Attorney race to date and underscores the growing momentum behind Frazier’s campaign.” Via Facebook, STATEMENT: https://fluence-media.co/4oO8yKf
DEBATE: Via release from the Kendall Qualls campaign, VERBATIM: “The Qualls campaign has accepted the first invitation from the Republican Party of Olmsted County on July 21st in Rochester. This debate will be televised by KTTC with partners across the state. Will Lisa Demuth show up or is she using Joe Biden’s bunker basement strategy to hide from voters?”
FED BLDG: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports the Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis is among eight the Public Buildings Reform Board recommends be sold. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v0q9QK
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, reports on Minnesota-based companies:
H.B. FULLER: “H. B. Fuller Co. (FUL) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter profit of $67.8 million. The St Paul, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of $1.23 per share . . . The results surpassed Wall Street expectations . . . The adhesives company posted revenue of $950.3 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44tpQTA
WINNEBAGO: “Winnebago Industries Inc. (WGO) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $14.5 million. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 51 cents . . . The results missed Wall Street expectations . . . The recreational vehicle maker posted revenue of $698.7 million in the period, which also did not meet Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SwnoJo
MORE: Via Winnebago, from CEO Michael Happe, QUOTE: “Industry retail demand was pressured by broader macro factors, including elevated fuel costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and weak consumer confidence which continued to drive cautious dealer ordering and tighter inventory management across the channel.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b3R0UL
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)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
ICE HELP: Via KAXE-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office’s cooperation with federal immigration agents continues to draw both public ire and support. Eight residents spoke during the public forum portion of the Tuesday, June 23, County Board meeting, seven of whom asked commissioners to consider withdrawing from agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. About four dozen people filled the benches of the Historic Courthouse. People have been commenting on this issue for months. But on Tuesday, many were answering the call of the Minnesota branch of the American Civil Liberties Union to pack the room in light of recent ICE activity in the region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g58kML
RENEE GOOD: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The Justice Department is asking for an additional two weeks to return the vehicle Renee Good was driving when she was shot and killed by an immigration agent in January. Good’s widow, Rebecca Good, filed a motion to get the vehicle back from the government, and earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed for an extension.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vByqfg
MPD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A report released this week found that Minneapolis police often mishandled officer discipline cases in past years. The report was issued by Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA), the group responsible for monitoring the policing agreement between the city of Minneapolis and the state’s human rights department. It found that Minneapolis police in the past often wrongly routed discipline cases to coaching rather than harsher discipline, and that cases often went unresolved for long periods of time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eHu7rw
CAR THEFTS: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Duluth police say 2025 brought the city’s lowest recorded number of car thefts in more than a decade, and they credit Auto Theft Investigator Morgan Cekalla and new tracking technology for the drop. Duluth recorded more than 300 reported car thefts in 2021 and reported 115 thefts in 2025. Through past grants, Duluth now uses automatic license plate reader technology in squad cars and Flock stationary cameras placed throughout the city. The systems alert law enforcement when a stolen plate is located.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w4r3N2
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)
MINNESOTA ISSUES
SOCIAL STUDIES: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Social studies classes will look a little different for most K-12 students this fall when Minnesota’s new standards hit classrooms in all districts for the first time. State educational standards get updated every ten years. These have been in the works since the 2020-2021 school year. This time, the state made a couple of big changes in how it wants teachers to present social studies to your kids.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vvE9TP
HOUSING: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “A new report by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and New York University highlights Minneapolis as an example of how one city helped keep rents down. The report came on the same day that Congress passed the bipartisan federal Road to Housing Act, which aims to do some of the same things Minneapolis did: relax local regulations and encourage construction. President Trump said on Wednesday that he won’t sign it until Congress passes an election reform bill he wants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v0b6GK
LAKES: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “University of St. Thomas biology professor Chip Small and University of Minnesota researcher Becky Forgrave are leading a project tracking water quality and visitors’ perceptions of water quality at urban lakes across the Twin Cities. ‘One piece there’s not been much data on is how this investment impacts how people are experiencing water quality,’ Small said. They are collecting data at 17 lakes in the Twin Cities. Students help Small and Forgrave collect weekly water samples measuring levels of phosphorus, E. coli and other variables that affect water quality. The project is also soliciting opinions from guests to gauge their thoughts on the waters they visit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vqPAfn
RELATED: Temperance River State Park is the third best place in the country to camp near water, according to The Dyrt. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4y6y81F
FAIRMONT: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Fairmont City Council approved a new amendment to section 2 of its City Charter on Monday. City Councilmember-at-Large Britney Kawecki says the change was meant to update old language and remove the possibility for misunderstandings surrounding the city’s weak mayor-strong-council system which it has had since inception.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Spej5e
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
WINE: Minnesota’s Laughing Otter Winery is among this year’s Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge winners. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/44w8N3i
HAIR CARE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “In a crowded category, Minneapolis-based hair care brand Odele Beauty, co-founded by Britta Chatterjee, Shannon Kearney, and Lindsay Holden (right), has carved out a fast-growing niche by doing something surprisingly simple: giving people something they didn’t realize they were missing. Holden, a Minneapolis native, built her career as a Target merchant—not a beauty or salon expert.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vADGQ8
FOOD HALL: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports NEON Collective Kitchens, a food hall in north Minneapolis, has signed up two more stall operators. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QM6oOG
REBRAND: Via New Hope-based Mixly, VERBATIM: “Mixly Cocktail Co., the brand known for clean-ingredient cocktail and mocktail mixers, today announced its rebrand to Mixly Beverage Co., marking the company’s evolution beyond the bar cart and into a broader beverage platform built for the way consumers drink today.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eGMHjd
SOCCER + CLOTHES: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Aurora FC is teaming up with the local indie-rock band Hippo Campus on an apparel collection. Official League, a lifestyle merchandiser focusing on sports, music, and more, debuted the Hippo Campus x Minnesota Aurora FC collection this month as part of a larger Local Legends series nationwide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SqtjQh
TELEVISIONS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Best Buy announced Wednesday it is the exclusive national retailer for RGB LED TVs, putting the electronics chain at the center of a rollout the company calls the biggest change in TV technology in more than a decade.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f3Q2dC
NEW CEO: Via PUC, VERBATIM: “Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) has named Signe V. Harriday its next President and Chief Executive Officer. A nationally recognized executive leader, Harriday brings more than 20 years of leadership experience and a 25-year relationship with PUC in a variety of roles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eNFpKP
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 SUMMER: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Lakeside festival grounds, downtown parks, and art galleries host a wide range of music, art, and outdoor gatherings each summer that bring people together from all across the state. It doesn’t matter if it’s a community performance, an art exhibit, or a huge weekend festival–these spots are sure to showcase the best of what summer in Minnesota has to offer.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4alClUJ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
WATERFRONT: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it’s only right that Minnesota has great dining to pair with an equally great view. Whether it’s a calm summer sunset on the patio or a busy Saturday night, there’s a spot waiting for you on the water.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3SspPga
BDAYS: community leader Elizabeth Patty, political insider Sarah Kruger, agency leader Patty Voje, CFAN’s comms leader Tim Loesch, truth speaker Billy Dinkel, professor Rand Park, Strib spin guy Chris Iles
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