AC/DC will play US Bank Stadium in April. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fSDDaB
It’s a snowy Monday morning with a few traffic impacts. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/49gkb4Y
In western Wisconsin over the weekend, the snow was factory-made. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4f00BeB
Is it true that the Mall of America has no central heating system? MINNPOST: https://fluence-media.co/4eVTR1l
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49yalMd
Yesterday on Sunday Take, KARE 11’s John Croman on covering politics for over 30 years as he retires. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Zxsbvj
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Today we announce that Fluence Media tip sheets have a new home on the web via Substack. As part of our transition, we’re introducing The Daily Agenda, a news site that will be home to all the newsletters, podcasts and other content and allow us to grow with our audience.
After 14 years, it’s time for morning take, and the family of Fluence Media tip sheets to refresh. Your newsletters will keep coming, but they will be in Substack form and delivery. Substack has been a major accelerator in the growth of independent and innovative media channels and Fluence believes it’s the best channel for the future with our growing audience.
Why?
Greater impact on local issues with a real-time live updated website.
One hub on health care, agriculture, energy, politics and sports at your fingertips
A public facing site that will grow the audience for Minnesota most insightful and trusted newsletters.
Should help with delivery issues we’ve been experiencing
For lunch take subscribers, today is your last Mailchimp version, starting tomorrow you’ll get lunch take in your email, but the format will be slightly different in your inbox.
MN HOUSE: From KSTP-TV’s Tom Hauser via X, VERBATIM: “DEVELOPING: The MN House GOP and candidate Aaron Paul filed an election contest lawsuit in Scott County requesting a new election in District 54A. Last week Scott County acknowledged 21 ballots were accidentally discarded without being counted in a race with a margin of 14 votes.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/49kIfUA
MORE: Via the notice filed in court, VERBATIM: “This contest is based on two undisputed facts. First, following the recent election, Scott County election officials announced that they have irretrievably lost and failed to count 21 ballots cast for the Representative of District 54A-and that 20 of these were unquestionably lawful and validly-cast ballots that Minnesota law required to be counted. Second, after failing to count these 21 ballots, Scott County election officials declared that Rep. Tabke had been re-elected by a margin of 14 votes over Contestant Aaron Paul. In other words: Scott County election officials unlawfully lost and failed to count significantly more ballots than would be needed to change the announced result of the election, meaning at the very least the actual victor is in absolute doubt and at worst the candidate who received fewer votes has been announced as the winner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gezvBp
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will meet with University of Minnesota leadership, receive a briefing of from the National Guard and meet with the Children’s Cabinet.
TIE: From Dana Ferguson and Brian Bakst via MPR, VERBATIM: “All indications are that Minnesota is headed for a 67-67 state House of Representatives in 2025. But that road to a tied chamber has plenty of possible detours. If the tie remains intact when the House gavels in on Jan. 14, it would be only the second time in state history that's happened. While there are some clues in the prior instance as to how things might go, today’s Democratic and Republican leaders are charting their own course. There might be some surprises yet to come. Here’s how some of those outcomes could shape what gets done next year in St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ii5DG0
AGS: From Ana Radelat via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is joining his Democratic colleagues across the nation in preparing to battle in court to try to stop Trump administration policies they deem unlawful. For Ellison, and fellow Democratic attorneys general, the past is prologue. They banded together to sue the first Trump administration more than 130 times, with a win rate of 83%, according to a database compiled by Marquette University political scientist Paul Nolette. This time, they are even more important to a Democratic Party that has been weakened by its electoral losses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eVCE8e
MINING: From Dan Kraker via MPR, VERBATIM: “A controversial $2 billion-plus mining project on Minnesota’s Iron Range that has weathered an economic recession, missed deadlines and payments, bankruptcy, changes in ownership, three gubernatorial administrations and a high-stakes legal battle with a competitor now appears to be moving toward completion, 15 years after construction first began. Last month at the Mesabi Metallics mine site outside the small town of Nashwauk, 400 workers milled about, over mud stained a rich red from the iron in the earth. Towering cranes placed steel on enormous buildings where — if all goes to plan — millions of tons of iron ore will soon be dug out of the ground, crushed, processed and then baked in super-hot kilns into high grade taconite pellets, to help supply a new generation of American steel mills.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49jaXFl
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
MGHS: From Corey Bork via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Osseo Area School District has submitted plans to expand Maple Grove High School. The expansion would include several multi-story additions to the high school, totaling 52,000 square feet, according to city planning documents. The project has been in the works for months and is needed to address capacity concerns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iiq7ys
THE MOON: From Rena Sarigianopoulos via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Tucked away in a lab on the University of Minnesota campus, there is a microscopic level of work being done to potentially help preserve our whole world. The concept sounds futuristic, but it’s happening right now. ‘What we're working on is both cells, tissues, whole organs, and whole organisms, and how to cryopreserve them and have them available as living biological systems that can be stored, or shipped, or banked for social impact and for the good of all,’ said Professor John Bischof. Professor Bischof’s work in cryobiology is groundbreaking. Combined with several other scientists across the country and the Smithsonian Institute, they plan to use it for something that may seem more like science fiction.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gfYy74
MONOPOLY: From Molly Guthrey via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When we recently wrote that a game maker was seeking nominations for spots on a St. Paul edition of the Monopoly board game, readers sent us ideas for places, spaces and shops. Carole Needels, however, had some news for us. ‘There already is a St. Paul game of Monopoly,’ the 83-year-old St. Paul resident informed us. ‘Years ago, we bought one from Junior Achievement.’ In an online search, we also found other editions of Monopoly from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, our suburbs … as well as a Hasbro-authorized Twin Cities edition that dates back to 1997.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BkEn9f
MHA NATION-ENBRIDGE AGREEMENT: “IT’S AN AWESOME DAY” - Enbridge has sold its Plaza/Wabek Pipeline in North Dakota to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, paving the way for the MHA Nation to become the first Tribal shipper on the Enbridge liquids pipeline network. The pipeline will “create an avenue” from the MHA Nation’s Thunder Butte facility, notes Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation, “to move our very valuable assets and resources to the marketplace.” Adds Bernie Fox, Thunder Butte’s CEO: “I’m thankful to Enbridge, because now they’re part of our history. They’re our partner.” As part of Enbridge’s Indigenous inclusion strategy, “we want to provide even more opportunities,” says Mike Koby, VP of our U.S. Liquids Pipelines group, “to partner with the MHA Nation and other Tribal communities along our operations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47ozrun (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
REOPENED: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Patrick McGovern's Pub on West Seventh Street is open again after it suffered fire damage caused by a driver who had crashed into a nearby transformer. The St. Paul pub confirmed it was open in a Saturday Facebook post following the Friday night fire.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41anY1T
RETAIL: From Allison Kaplan via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Holiday shoppers headed to Southdale Center will find the Edina mall in transition, as owner Simon Property Group executes on its $400 million remodel. Puttshack, the indoor mini-golf venue, is open next to Kowalski’s. Some new stores, like Breitling and Swarovski, recently opened in center court. But the transformation is far from complete. The buzzed-about luxury wing is slated to open in June. Another 20 or so stores are still to be announced. And there are a number of question marks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fT8yTY
HOLIDAY MARKETS: Form Katelyn Vue via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Several cultural holiday markets are back, buzzing with local vendors and shoppers, and growing in popularity. Arts and craft fairs are popping up to offer special handcrafted gifts as the holiday season rolls around. Many local vendors say cultural markets help them reach shoppers whose attention is harder to grab in larger marketplaces like online platforms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZjrJiK
MOA: From Madeline Nachbar via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “There seems to be a makers market (or two, or three) to hit every weekend during the holiday shopping season—many of them put on by Minneapolis Craft Market. Now, the community social hub and incubator for local artists is bringing its handmade goods to the megamall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZffDHx
MAPLE GROVE: From Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's first dedicated ‘dirty soda’ shop, Sota, opens in Maple Grove on Monday. For the uninitiated: We're talking about pop with cream, syrups and other flavors mixed in, not using a carbonated drink as a base for booze.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ghHduN
PLYMOUTH: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The city of Plymouth is spending $4.5 million to buy a hotel near two busy highways. Elected officials say the purchase will help with redevelopment and transit plans. The Red Roof Inn is located at 2600 Annapolis Ln. N., near the intersection of Highway 55 and Interstate 494.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Vm63BE
DWI: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Law enforcement agencies are increasing DWI enforcement efforts on roads across the state this holiday season. More than 300 local law enforcement agencies will be providing extra DWI enforcement on weekends through New Year’s Eve.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4irikP8
NOTE: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in other newsletters. If you love lunch take, sign up for the other tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TOMORROW: From Bloomington-based Donaldson via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, will webcast its first quarter 2025 earnings conference call on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AmB2Gl
THURSDAY: From St. Paul-based Patterson via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Patterson Companies (Nasdaq: PDCO) today announced that it will hold its fiscal 2025 second-quarter conference call on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET). The company’s earnings release will be issued that morning before the market opens.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41fbg1N
THIS MONTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Get ready to experience the magic of the season at Holidazzle 2024! From Dec. 18-22, Nicollet Mall will transform into a dazzling holiday spectacle, bringing festive fun for all ages to downtown Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49iFweb
From Wednesday’s Fluence newsletters:
TREE: From Mark Freie via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A 19-foot Frasier fir now stands tall at the Minnesota State Capitol thanks to Happy Land Tree Farms in Sandstone which delivered the tree to St. Paul on Tuesday just in time for the holiday season. Happy Land Tree Farms was the 2024 Minnesota State Fair Christmas Tree Grand Champion for a third-straight year which came with the honor of placing one of their Christmas trees in the rotunda.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4i5nJLx
MORE: From Happy Land via Facebook, the tree at the capitol. PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Vbt9e8
FINANCES: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A southern Minnesota farmer is focused on cost as he plans for the 2025 growing season. Sam Ziegler of Good Thunder tells Brownfield his area has suffered consecutive years of poor corn and soybean yields. ‘A lot of it is putting behind us that year and really focusing on going forward, trying to pick varieties with having kind of not great plots and stuff in our area for the past couple of years. It’s a little bit of a challenge to pick those varieties.’ He says managing costs will be critical with commodity prices below the cost of production.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VdNDCR
SIDE GIGS: Via Marketplace, VERBATIM: “Only 37% of farmers held a primary job off the farm in 1974. Today, roughly 85% of family farmers rely on other jobs to support their livelihoods, according to a 2023 report from the Department of Agriculture. The cost of seed, fertilizer and labor have generally gone up, but the prices farmers get for their products are down. Agricultural economist Daniel Munch with the American Farm Bureau Federation said competing in a global market means farmers have to keep scaling up.” QUOTE: “We’re never in the position of saying it’s bad that farms are getting bigger,” Munch said. “They’re just doing it because that’s what they need to survive in the marketplace we have now … which is a harsh reality.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4g6Y6rN
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters: fluence-newsletters.com
HALL OF FAME: From Charles Hallman via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame has existed since 1958. But for most of his existence, there’s been no permanent home. It was dormant from 2006 until it was revived in 2019. Starting Friday, November 29th, The Hall of Fame will be a pop up exhibit on the lower level of the Dayton’s Project (the old Dayton store) located on Nicolett Mall in downtown Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CVtQBV
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
VINAI: From Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “. . . the brand-new Vinai, which just opened in Northeast Minneapolis this past July in the historic Northeast Bank building, now elegant with high-hung golden lamps above the hard-to-score tables in a room pulsing with center-of-the-dining-world energy. The minute it opened, Vinai instantly became probably the nicest Hmong restaurant in the world. A place where Hmong home and unity quite literally are in your glass and flowing through you and surrounding you at every turn.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eXhLcA
BDAYS: Fox 9’s Dawn Mitchell, editor Amy Nelson
Fluence Media curates, produces and distributes specialized media products to thought leadership audiences across the Midwest and about the region. Our publications cover, politics, public policy, health care, agriculture, business, real estate, sports and more. Visit www.fluence-media.com to learn more.
about morning take- Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.
Copyright © 2024 Business Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427