66% of Americans say they plan to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary in some way.
When you isolate older adults and Republicans, the numbers get higher. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4a0k9A0
Sago and Ziggy are proud parents of the newest sloth at Como Zoo. PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4xADkdy
RIP Sister Roz. KARE-TV: https://fluence-media.co/4oANpmQ
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Sunday Take featured DFL Reps. Kelly Moller and Mike Howard remembering the life and legacy of Melissa Hortman one year after her passing. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gfrsri
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MID-WEEK CHECK-IN
NOTE: Tuesday’s lunch take shared newly-filed campaign finance reports from statewide races. While Adam Jennings filed a report in the race for State Auditor, he did not file to run in that race.
MANGIONE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Luigi Mangione will assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a judge said Wednesday. Judge Gregory Carro said Mangione’s lawyers have informed him they will attempt to show that he was suffering from ‘extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence.’ By asserting a psychiatric defense, Mangione would effectively be admitting that he killed Thompson but did so because of mitigating circumstances.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43CpgTk
TODAY: Via Minnesota IWOC, VERBATIM: “Over 100 men in the most dangerous prison in the state, MCF Rush City, hit their first week of canteen strike today. They are taking peaceful protest to demand safety, time out of cells, communication with loved ones, basic medical, mental health, programming and hope. To commemorate the first week of the peaceful action loved ones are rallying at Central Office to demand that officials go to Rush City, speak to the men, and make solutions to the problems that have been growing more toxic over the last 6 years, leading to multiple instances of violence, including the unnecessary murder last year.”
OWATONNA: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “Owatonna voters will decide whether the city moves forward with a $65 million police and fire station project after the City Council approved a petition. The Owatonna City Council approved the petition Tuesday night after more than 2,000 residents signed on to force a vote in November.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4xARoUz
HOUSING: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has the 10th highest homeownership rate in the country, but the sixth largest disparity between Black and white households, according to a recent report by the Minnesota Department of Housing. While the overall homeownership rate is nearly 72%, Black households own homes at less than half that rate. ‘This has been a homeownership gap that’s been in the making for a long time,’ said Kayla Schuchman, assistant commissioner for single-family at Minnesota Housing.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uH0qN8
CHILD CARE: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “The director of Seward Child Care anticipates that the center will raise costs just to keep the staffing levels needed.” QUOTE: “We figured out the math that if we wanted to keep everything the same as last year, keep our same staffing schedule, keep our same benefits for our teachers, keep our same spending for our materials at school, and going on field trips, we would have had to raise our tuition by 20 percent, which is insane,” Director Johanna Villa said. “No family can absorb that cost.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eMCP8R
ICYMI… Last week, lunch take share the Minneapolis Fed survey showing 80% of child care providers described the system as in crisis. READ: https://fluence-media.co/43qqaSJ
POLLING… today’s morning take shared new polling data on the governor as well as fraud in Minnesota and the president’s performance. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Q848RT
MORE: Reaction to the numbers from the Republican Party of Minnesota, QUOTE: “The latest Minnesota Poll confirms what Minnesotans already know: the DFL brand is collapsing because Tim Walz, Peggy Flanagan, Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, and Steve Simon offer nothing but more of the same,” said Chairman Alex Plechash. “This year’s DFL ticket is Walz-Flanagan 2.0 — the same failed politicians, the same broken priorities, the same excuses, and the same disastrous results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SdpXA2
CD6: Via ABC Newspapers, VERBATIM: “The candidate field is now set for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, with U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer facing two challengers in the Republican primary and Hanover attorney Doug Chapin running as the lone Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate. The filing period for federal offices closed June 2. Emmer, a Republican from Delano who has represented the district since 2015, filed for re-election and will face Chris Corey and Mike Foley in the Aug. 11 Republican primary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vg5E3l
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)
THE METRO
ST PAUL: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The office vacancy rate in downtown St. Paul was 37.1 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to the commercial real estate brokerage Colliers . . . A loose coalition of local government leaders, businesses, philanthropies and investors is working now to transform downtown St. Paul’s empty office corridors into a hybrid neighborhood defined by a vibrant mix of residents, offices, retail, and entertainment. But it’s a massive challenge.” QUOTE: “There’s no question that the future of every downtown is that it’s going to be partly a residential neighborhood,” said Thomas Fisher, director of the Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota. “The idea that downtowns are primarily for work, with just a few residents — those days are over.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4otXstK
ANOKA CTY: Via ABC Newspapers, VERBATIM: “Anoka County will receive another round of federal funding for a program that promotes alternatives to driving alone in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. The Anoka County Board approved a contract June 9 with the Metropolitan Council for a two-year, $210,000 grant through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, or CMAQ. With a required 20% local match of $52,500 from the county transportation tax, the program budget totals $262,500.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fRdzPT
STADIUM ROOF: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bank Stadium will be getting a partial roof replacement after hail damage from a 2023 storm has reignited questions about the material used on part of the building. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority originally defended the material’s longevity, but is now accepting proposals to replace the clear side of the roof with something different.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uGVxDM
MACALESTER: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Macalester College’s new residence hall and welcome center is designed to do more than add student housing. College officials say the $88 million project will reshape how prospective students experience the campus, how current students connect with it, and how the institution pursues its long-term climate goals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4erRipD
ROBBINSDALE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “As Robbinsdale Middle School closes its doors this year, an adjacent gym and recreation center will shutter as well. Robbinsdale Community Gym and Fitness Center’s last day of operation is Aug. 30, according to a Monday announcement from the city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eLGrIi
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)
AROUND MINNESOTA
DEI: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “St. Louis County Commissioner Ashley Grimm said that internal discussions led to the removal of LGBTQIA+ and other diversity-related sessions from last year’s Public Health and Human Services conference at the DECC. In a statement, county spokespeople said it was viewed as potentially conflicting with federal orders from the Trump administration in January of 2025, calling for an end to government DEI offices and positions and equity action plans or initiatives, among other things. Grimm said the board needs to give formal guidance on the issue, not just for the conference, but for broader county decisions on the topic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SbNrFH
DULUTH SCHOOLS: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Families, students and staff within the Duluth Public Schools system would find it normal to receive dozens of emails, newsletters and notifications from the district during any given month of the school year. However, a recent audit produced mixed results regarding the effectiveness and accessibility of those communications. While the district received relatively high marks from parents and staff for communications about school safety matters such as closings, serious incidents, and school crises, the report found that, across the board, families, employees and community members felt underinformed about ‘high-stakes’ topics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aBlhtY
FISHING: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Ah, the serenity of fishing. Just an angler, a fishing pole and maybe thousands of dollars worth of sonar equipment offering an exact image of what that walleye or bass is doing in the watery depths below. It’s called forward-facing sonar, and the hot-selling products are not only helping anglers increase their catch, they are raising questions about why people go fishing in the first place and whether fish populations can survive the new technology.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44edTB7
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
THIS WEEKEND: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “Grandma’s Marathon is estimated to generate $40 million in economic benefits to the region and with the race celebrating its 50th anniversary, local hotels are preparing for an even larger influx of people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4edLz7Y
MAPLE GROVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Officials from Life Time and the city of Maple Grove on Monday celebrated the start of a development project that’s been years in the making. Construction on Life Time’s newest luxury club is now underway.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QMI1k0
NORTH MANKATO: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Hi Cloud Dispensary, a sister store to Hi Cloud Tobacco and 507 Tobacco in Mankato, says it is preparing to open North Mankato’s first combination medical and recreational marijuana store at the end of June. Michael McMahn, a manager at Hi Cloud Tobacco, says the business originally planned to open at 300 Belgrade Avenue back in November, 2025, but due to changes in regulations, it had to reapply for its license.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4evNfZo
MENDOTA HEIGHTS: From OneTen Cycles via Instagram, VERBATIM: “After much thought and many sleepless nights, I have made the difficult decision to close OneTen Cycles.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/44ghXRo
COFFEE: Via Dunn Brothers, VERBATIM: “Dunn Brothers Coffee, the Minneapolis-based coffee company known for roasting premium coffee in small batches daily, is proud to announce the signing of a new franchise agreement that will bring the brand to Chamberlain, South Dakota, further expanding its presence throughout the Upper Midwest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xuPNQh
CHEESE + ICE CREAM: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A new Twin Cities ice cream shop is open just in time for summer. Bogati recently celebrated its grand opening at 740 Mainstreet in downtown Hopkins, serving a wide variety of helado con queso (ice cream with cheese).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S5obB1
NEW COO: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a world leader in cleaning equipment and solutions, today announced that Richard H. (Rusty) Zay has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Zay, currently serving as the organization’s Chief Commercial Officer, has been on the company’s leadership team since 2010.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ovkC2V
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?
TOMORROW: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon and Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyen will be available from 10:00-10:30 a.m. to answer questions from the press regarding the May employment data.”
NEXT WEEK: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is inviting North Minneapolis residents and park users to help shape the long-term future of North Mississippi Regional Park, the 67-acre riverfront green space along the city’s northern Mississippi shoreline. At a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting set for Tuesday, June 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., attendees will review initial design concepts and offer feedback that will help planners merge those ideas into a single, final recommendation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43GXYes
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MYSTIC LAKE: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “A vibrant new backstage mural, designed by illustrator Brent Schoonover and brought to life by muralist Adam Turman, serves as a colorful welcome to the Land of 10,000 Lakes—and a lasting tribute to the state’s creative spirit. The collaboration began as something much smaller.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4grBPZ3
BDAYS: fmr. St. Paul council member Jay Benanav, lobbyist Sarah Psick, health care advocate Kim Isenberg
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