Bruno Mars will play U.S. Bank Stadium in May.
The latest Drought Monitor out this morning shows slight improvement – still, 30% of the state is considered in drought with 4% characterized as severe. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
From Gallup, a 2025 survey found economic distress in Venezuela – fewer than four in ten approved of the government’s leadership. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ptexmq
By Axios’ count, yesterday’s shooting in Minneapolis was the seventh involving Department of Homeland Security officers since September. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3NhDJPu
From MSPBJ, businesses that closed early yesterday due to the shooting. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49LiE8P
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/450gHTn
DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek discussed the state’s new paid leave program on Sunday Take. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49in59J
The latest MNSider Fluence Brief – What does President Trump saying “Mike Lindell deserves to be Governor.” mean to the GOP race. READ: https://fluence-media.co/48R7fnM
Health Care will remain a top issue into 2026, the State of Health Care Fluence Forum panels from last week are now available in podcast form. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/FluenceForumPodcast
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
Blois
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NEW SINCE MORNING TAKE
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota employers added 8,900 jobs between September and November even as the United States as a whole was essentially flat, according to the most recent data released today by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota’s unemployment rate was 4.0% in November (compared to 4.6% nationally), rising by 0.3% since September as the state added more job seekers; the labor force increased by nearly 8,500 people from September to November and the labor force participation rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 68.2%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49bIKlh
CAPITOL SECURITY: Via DPS, VERBATIM: “A comprehensive independent security assessment of the Minnesota State Capitol complex found that while current security staff are professional and committed, targeted improvements — including access controls, weapons screening and updated technology — are needed to meet modern safety expectations while keeping the Capitol open and accessible to the public.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49nMzm9
MORE: The State Patrol released an executive summary of the assessment, but withheld the full report citing “sensitive security information.” From the report, QUOTE: “The assessment of the four primary buildings within the Capitol Complex resulted in hundreds of observations and recommendations across the core security domains. These domains include access control, internal circulation and zoning, perimeter conditions, staffing and protective operations, security technology, emergency preparedness, and protective intelligence.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LD5f9J
THIS MORNING: From KSTP-TV via Instagram, video of protestors clashing with ICE outside the Whipple Federal Building. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4q8RMp3
MORE: WCCO-TV reports three arrests. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/49Ixm0l
JAIL: Via a Facebook post from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, VERBATIM: “The Carver County Sheriff’s Office will not be pursuing a contract with ICE to house their detainees. Following careful review earlier this week, we determined that ICE’s requirements were beyond what our facility can accommodate. Their proposal would have required more than half of our jail space, exceeding our daily capacity. Facilitating this contract would make it impossible to meet the needs of Carver County. Our priority remains maintaining safety and serving our community.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4qJlsZU
FRAUD: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “This week, the White House released a fact sheet saying it was ‘unleashing a relentless assault to dismantle the massive fraud empires’ in Minnesota. That document detailed efforts by nearly every major federal agency, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture, to root out fraud. ‘Rest assured, this is an all-hands-on-deck effort from the entire administration to get to the bottom of this,’ Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said on Wednesday of fraud in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45KJ3kK
DAYCARE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A Minneapolis day care featured in a right-wing YouTuber’s video about alleged fraud in Minnesota is now closed, according to state records. Quality Learning Center closed on Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ licensing records. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families said that the center requested closure of its license effective Tuesday.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49wzBCV
BESSENT: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to speak today at the Economic Club in Golden Valley.
EARLIER: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for the Federal Reserve to continue cutting interest rates, extending his pressure campaign on US monetary policymakers. Lower rates are ‘the only ingredient missing for even stronger economic growth,’ Bessent said in prepared remarks scheduled to be delivered in Minneapolis Thursday, according to excerpts reported by CNBC. ‘Which is why the Fed should not delay.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LpSzTq
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)
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS
THC: Via BLNCD, VERBATIM: “First Avenue, one of the most iconic independent music and entertainment organizations in the country, has named Minnesota-based cannabis beverage brands BLNCD and Foundry Nation as its exclusive THC beverage partners for the next two years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jxBcgi
MEDTECH: Via Minneapolis-based Flywheel, VERBATIM: “Flywheel, the leading medical imaging data management and analysis platform, today announced key milestones achieved in 2025. The company also recently closed on an oversubscribed $25 million financing round, led by Novalis Lifesciences and 8VC.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NcmfnJ
MAPLE GROVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Maple Grove City Council members looked backed on 2025, while also shining a light on what to expect in 2026 at its Jan. 5 council meeting. One of the highlights: expect more growth in the city’s med-tech sector. ‘I believe you’re going to continue to see the med-tech business grow in Maple Grove with new buildings, new developments and new jobs coming to town,’ said Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4520Cww
APPLE VALLEY: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Crunch Fitness is opening a gym in a former JoAnn location in Apple Valley. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YuCUoY
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)
M & A
ACQUISITION: Via Bloomington-based Det-Tronics, VERBATIM: “Det-Tronics, a global leader in fire and gas safety systems, has acquired Optronics, a Norway-based company that specializes in optical gas detection technologies. Det-Tronics is part of Spectrum Safety Solutions that is based in Stamford, CT. Optronics, founded in 2018, is a technology leader in high-end optical gas detection products and solutions for energy, marine and industrial applications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YOWQTP
HELIUM: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “Pulsar Helium is expanding its footprint. The international helium developer seeking to develop a helium project near Babbitt, has acquired a company that holds mineral rights on land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40FjAXG
EARNINGS REPORTS
CHS: Via World-Grain, VERBATIM: “Thanks to strong results in its Energy segment, CHS, Inc. posted a 6% year-on-year increase in net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The US-based agricultural cooperative, which released its earnings results Jan. 7, posted net income of $260.5 million and revenues of $8.9 billion for the quarter that ended Nov. 30, 2025, which compared with net income of $244.8 million and revenues of $9.3 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4swWA9u
THIS MONTH: Via St. Louis Park-based Bridgewater, VERBATIM: “Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB), the parent company of Bridgewater Bank, today announced that it will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NmbKy9
SKIING: Via Fox21, VERBATIM: “According to the Spirit Mountain Ski Patrol, the area has seen plenty of fresh snow, and with a little added help from Snowmakers, the entire mountain is now open to all skiers and snowboarders.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Z8DA3r
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: About the Pine Bend refinery. (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
AROUND THE STATE
REAL ESTATE: Pending home sales in the Twin Cities are down 22.8% year-over-year – one of the metros with the biggest decreases according to Redfin. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3YvlZCD
VIRGINIA: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “One week into the new year, Virginia remains without a Mesabi Humane Society animal control contract. The city rescinded the previously agreed upon fee of $600 per animal in a Dec. 23, 2025 letter to MHS. Since then, the two sides have not been able to come to terms on a new deal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jGf4QP
SENATE RACE: via York for Senate, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmer, computer scientist, and former White House Fellow Mark York is announcing his campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat. … Mark will be running as a Republican.” YORK: “We can make housing and childcare affordable. We can bring critical mineral production back to Minnesota. And we can cut fraud and waste to make each taxpayer dollar go as far as possible. … Minnesota deserves a senator who understands the technologies shaping our future, the challenges facing younger generations, and how to actually get things done in Washington.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sKLVrY
FLANAGAN: via MPR, VERBATIM: “One of the Republicans seeking Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat this fall is going after Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan about fraud. … David Hann, the former chair of the state Republican Party, spoke outside the governor’s office yesterday about Flanagan. HANN: ‘Flanagan was derelict in her duties as lieutenant governor, and has no business in her current office, and she should resign.’ … Flanagan responded by saying the Walz Administration is working to address it and make sure people are convicted. She also pointed the finger right back, saying Republicans back [Donald] Trump, who has pardoned more than 20 people convicted of fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49sLBFe
MORE: via Flanagan for Senate, VERBATIM: “Voters of Tomorrow, the largest Gen Z-led political organization in the country, has endorsed Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Founded in 2019, Voters of Tomorrow is a youth-led organization dedicated to building political power for young people.”
MAPLEWOOD: via Chonburi for Mayor, VERBATIM: “Maplewood City Council Member Chonburi Lee is announcing his run for mayor in Maplewood. … Currently an at-large member of the city council, Chonburi Lee is entering his fourth year as a city council member.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/44XyKcT
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)
HUMAN RESOURCES
MOVE: Via St. Louis Park-based Concord, VERBATIM: “Concord, an H.I.G. Capital portfolio company and leading provider of technology and digital transformation solutions, today announced the appointment of Chris Baker as Executive Chairman. Baker brings over two decades of global leadership in technology services. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of SoftServe, a technology services firm, where he led the company through an eightfold increase in revenue over seven years, while scaling operations across more than fifteen countries in Europe, North and Latin America, and the Middle East.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z3dSgQ
MOVE: Via St. Paul-based Patterson, VERBATIM: “Patterson Companies Inc. has announced the appointment of Patrik Eriksson as Patterson Dental’s North American president . . . Eriksson comes to Patterson with more than 25 years of experience, most recently serving as CEO at Vimian Group, where he led the company in building a world-class animal health organization, focused on strategic growth through acquisitions and operational improvements.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NBrtJG
MOVE: Via Minneapolis-based Solifi, VERBATIM: “Solifi, a global provider of secured finance software solutions, today announced the appointment of Sarah Glass as Chief Customer Officer (CCO).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4snlJmS
WHAT’S NEXT?
THIS WEEKEND: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Films about adventure and the outdoors return to the big screen in Duluth this weekend. The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour will be featured at the DECC Symphony Hall Jan. 9 and 10.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49LSXFe
THIS WEEKEND: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “As the city of St. Paul begins setting beams for the new Kellogg Blvd/3rd Street bridge on the east end of the city’s downtown, both directions of Interstate 94 will close Friday evening, Jan. 16.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NBihVG
THIS MONTH: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “For more than three decades, one of Minnesota’s most enduring tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has unfolded not as a march or rally, but around a breakfast table centered on education, opportunity, and collective responsibility. On Monday, January 19, 2026, General Mills and UNCF will host the 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49npG2g
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NE MPLS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Saffron, chef Sameh Wadi‘s groundbreaking Middle Eastern restaurant that graced Minneapolis’s Warehouse District with duck leg tagine, turmeric-gilded cauliflower, and sweet corn soup with chile-poached figs from 2007 to 2016, is really, truly, back. Wadi has purchased the former Young Joni space in Northeast Minneapolis and hopes (if all goes as planned) to officially reopen Saffron 2.0 within the coming year in partnership with his brother Saed Wadi.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4puuusQ
BDAYS: Rep. Bernie Perryman, fmr. Mayor Melvin Carter, fmr. Rep. David Bly, MNCUN’s Julia Miller
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