Valleyfair’s now old enough to join AARP. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4tV7Cog
From Wisconsin, a cautionary tale about driving around “road closed” signs. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nSOqGH
A train derailed near Ogema last night. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nQXYSt
Consumer confidence and the stock market are headed in opposite directions. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4wR7fhi
One in three Americans say they feel their lives are dictated by circumstances out of their control. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4u1xgYO
RIP Sonny Rollins.
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uBE68u
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
SHORT WEEK
CRUISE SHIPS: Via Wisconsin Public Radio, VERBATIM: “Great Lakes cruises are growing in popularity, with 2026 expected to be a record-breaking year. The economic impact of cruising on the Great Lakes is projected to be more than $300 million this year, up 25 percent from last year, according to Cruise the Great Lakes, a marketing program aimed at bringing more passengers to the region. Ten ships across seven cruise lines are slated to operate on the Great Lakes this year. Together, they will carry more than 23,000 passengers, up 5 percent from 2025, Cruise the Great Lakes says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RxmQT9
IRON RANGE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “State steelworker unemployment benefits, extended 26 weeks last year after a bipartisan push from lawmakers, will run dry this month for the 630 laid off last year. As families leave the region for other work or reduce spending to stay afloat, the constellation of Iron Range cities dependent on the mining economy is suffering, said Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe Jr., and their future feels uncertain. Mining represents just 0.2% of Minnesota jobs, but the industry is still critical to both the Twin Ports and Two Harbors shipping industries. A University of Minnesota Duluth study shows that mining supports thousands of other jobs and contributes billions to the state’s economy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49pWqJ3
NUCLEAR: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Advocates for nuclear energy achieved a victory at the end of the legislative session when state lawmakers approved funding to study the possibility of building new nuclear plants in Minnesota. A coalition of utilities, counties, clean energy groups and labor unions pushed the Legislature to fund the study, hoping it will be the first step toward lifting the state’s 32-year-old moratorium on new nuclear plants in the state. They say Minnesota needs nuclear energy to provide reliable power amid growing demand and to meet a state goal of carbon-free electricity by 2040.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u3pZaR
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)
CHURCH PROTESTS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “At least four states have adopted laws this year making it a crime to disrupt worship services, a reaction to a high-profile protest inside a Minnesota church that prompted outrage from faith leaders. The Republican lawmakers sponsoring most of the legislation say those gathering at sacred sanctuaries deserve protection beyond what existing trespassing laws provide. They also say these new laws will prevent escalating clashes between congregants and protestors as many churches, mosques and synagogues remain on edge over recent mass shootings and acts of violence targeting religious groups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u3sIRD
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 LOCALS
LEAD PIPES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Lobbyist Bradley Peterson started the Minnesota legislative session with a quarter-billion-dollar ask. That’s how much money he said was needed to keep funding the replacement of lead service lines, which connect water mains to buildings. It’s going to cost about $1 billion to replace all of the lead lines in Minnesota, and the money initially invested into the program is drying up. The state has already capped the money available for new projects. Still, Peterson, who represents more than 100 local governments in the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, knew that asking for that much more money would probably be a hard sell.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PEJWGW
MINNEAPOLIS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Some City Council allies of Mayor Jacob Frey recently floated an idea to resolve a standoff over who should serve as Minneapolis’ top public safety official: Hire no one for the role, at least for now. Why it matters: It’s a sign of how deeply frustrated some city leaders have grown with the Office of Community Safety (OCS) — the agency meant to unify the city after a divisive 2021 police ballot measure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tTmDab
BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A long-awaited expansion to the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center (CAC) is one step closer to reality, thanks to a multimillion-dollar boost from the state legislature. Lawmakers officially awarded the city $7.5 million in the latest state bonding bill to help fund a brand new, multi-court gymnasium at the facility. The expansion aims to accommodate a massive spike in local demand for indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball and wrestling.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uBzT4C
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)
DRIVING
LAYOFFS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “First Student, Minnesota’s largest school bus provider, announced layoffs and a closure of its facility in Plymouth, according to a notice filed Thursday with the state. The WARN Act notice filed by the company says approximately 125 layoffs will be laid off as part of the closure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S2DdqR
ROAD WORK: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Motorists traveling on Interstate 94 this summer can expect delays in central Minnesota, with traffic reduced to single lane in both directions in two stretches. The Minnesota Department of Transportation say bridge repair and upgrade work will start in two locations between Melrose and Sauk Centre in Stearns County on Tuesday, May 26, and last through late October.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o0iTT5
TRANSIT: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “The Metropolitan Council’s Contracts and Procurement division has published a new cycle of solicitations offering opportunities for regional infrastructure developers, planning consultants, and media firms across the Twin Cities transit network. A headline solicitation in the current procurement cycle is Transit 26P056, a comprehensive request for proposals covering transit-system advertising services. The Met Council is seeking competitive bids from media firms to manage and execute advertising placements across the regional bus and light rail networks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/430IQZ5
GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO! Check out Donna’s story - a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails...it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Check out Donna’s story: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
MORE NEWS
IMMIGRATION CASES: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “While getting an application for asylum approved has always been exceedingly difficult, new priorities and procedures at the federal level have trickled down to the nation’s 60 regional immigration courts, including Fort Snelling, which administers cases from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Changes over the last 16 months have made it even harder for applicants to have their full case heard on the merits as the Trump administration narrows the legal pathways available. At the same time, judges are under pressure to clear a backlog of cases by making quick rulings, often issuing summary judgments even before the full evidentiary hearings in which applicants and lawyers traditionally bring out their strongest arguments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vcfcvX
NEW HOPE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “No one can deliver excitement quite like an elementary school teacher. Nickie Hayes hosted a golf putting station with prizes at stake at Sonnesyn Elementary’s end-of-year carnival . . . The celebration is bittersweet because Sonnesyn Elementary will close at the end of the year. It’s one of four schools in the Robbinsdale School District that will shutter or be repurposed due to budget cuts and declining enrollment.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fa6REj
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
NEXTGEN: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “The Northside Economic Opportunity Network, or NEON, celebrated the grand opening of NEON Collective Kitchens on Thursday, unveiling a 25,000-square-foot commercial kitchen and food business incubator designed to support caterers, bakers, food truck operators and consumer packaged goods businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u295th
HB FULLER: Via Ancora, VERBATIM: “Ancora Holdings Group, LLC today released the below letter to [St. Paul-based] H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL), which outlines the firm’s strong opposition to an acquisition of Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc or any other business . . . Ancora Holdings Group, LLC is the beneficial owner of more than 2% of the outstanding common stock of H.B. Fuller Company. Given our belief that H.B. Fuller has attractive businesses and a depressed public market valuation, we intend to continue increasing our stake in the Company. We plan to proceed in this manner despite our reservations about the competence, candor and strategic judgment that have been exhibited by management and the Board.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ugTt5n
SUSHI: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “After a few gut-punch closures in a row, it’s great to have a phoenix story to end the week. Northeast’s Momo Sushi, which has remained closed since an overnight fire destroyed its kitchen late last summer, is finally reopening in a new space. Even better, it’s staying in the neighborhood.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wPTcsf
BOWLING: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Brooklyn Park’s sole bowling alley is getting a new name. Bowlero, located at 7545 Brooklyn Blvd., is being rebranded to Lucky Strike. It comes after the Brooklyn Park Bowlero hosted the world’s best bowlers this April during the Professional Bowler’s Association (PBA) World Series of Bowling.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RmZ9gm
SHINEBOX: Via MediaPost, VERBATIM: “Shinebox, the Minneapolis-based brand agency, has announced a new president and group creative director – both veterans of the Twin Cities agency market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dTDKmC
NEW CEO: Via Minneapolis-based Peytant, VERBATIM: “Peytant Solutions, the medical technology company that developed the first and only stent covered with human-derived amniotic membrane to receive FDA De Novo granted clearance, today announced the appointment of Tom Douthitt as chief executive officer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PBPfqB
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?
FRIDAYS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Did someone say Friday? There are only so many fleetingly beautiful summer Fridays each year. So, what are you going to do? We’ve packed this guide with patios to visit, pizza farms worth a road trip, paths to bike or hike, and more.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4vgLzK9
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FESTIVALS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Best of Summer Party, the official kickoff to summer, is on May 29 at Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge. After that? We’ve got your summer down. From rhubarb to garlic to Prince and everything in between, you’re bound to have a good time at these local festivals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dBGdBG
BDAYS: Rep. Paul Novotny, journalist Derek Wallbank, attorney Gregg Fishbein
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 © 2026 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427