From bong water to standardized tests to chemtrails, Minnesota Reformer’s Christopher Ingraham takes a look back at some of the more memorable stories of 2024. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BG4g3I
ICYMI… morning take looks ahead to 2025. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fNveo9
The House Ethics Committee is expected to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz today. The New York Times has some early details. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZWTRsC
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fyIHA3
Yesterday on Sunday Take, Sens. Heather Gustafson and Mark Koran on efforts this coming session to curb fraud in Minnesota government. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZQMlzf
Fluence tip sheets will be on break until Jan. 2, starting tomorrow. Have a safe holiday and a happy new year!
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
MNLEG: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lawmakers are set to tackle a number of issues this upcoming session. Among them? The budget, waste, and fraud. And lawmakers have a new idea to help battle what has become a huge issue in Minnesota. The FBI raided Minneapolis and St. Cloud autism centers earlier in December as part of an investigation into Medicaid fraud in Minnesota’s autism program that a search warrant application said revealed ‘substantial evidence’ of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. Investigators found evidence of the autism fraud while investigating Feeding Our Future which blew up into one of the biggest COVID fraud cases in the country. Republican State Senator Mark Koran (Chisago-Isanti) telling WCCO Radio's Blois Olson on the Sunday Take that more needs to be done inside each agency, in terms of accountability.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Dv7veM
MORE: From Shannon Slatton via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Sen. Susan Pha (DFL-Brooklyn Center) says the 2025 legislative session will look much different without the significant budget surplus of 2023. ‘We have to be more conservative and make sure we protect the policies and programs we put in place for Minnesotans,’ said Pha. Top priorities for the session include passing a bonding bill that supports community projects.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41J3ZaP
BOARDING SCHOOLS: Via The Washington Post, VERBATIM: “A year-long investigation by The Washington Post has documented that 3,104 students died at boarding schools between 1828 and 1970, three times as many deaths as reported by the U.S. Interior Department earlier this year. The Post found that more than 800 of those students are buried in cemeteries at or near the schools they attended, underscoring how, in many cases, children’s bodies were never sent home to their families or tribes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/404WREi
MINING: From Dan Kraker via MPR, VERBATIM: “In early 2005, when PolyMet Mining first submitted its plans to the state to build what would be Minnesota’s first mine for copper and nickel, company officials were optimistic it could be built quickly. ‘This we hope will be reality in a three to five year period,’ PolyMet’s Warren Hudelson told MPR News in 2004. Now, 20 years later, the controversial mine in northeast Minnesota still hasn’t opened. It hasn’t even begun construction, because three key permits it needs to advance — approvals state and federal agencies granted more than five years ago — have since been revoked or suspended.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/408kDQ2
TRAIN: From Declan Desmond via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Some 300 travelers were stranded Saturday night as the Amtrak Borealis — the service's new Chicago-to-St. Paul line — was delayed for hours near Hastings. Reports say the train ground to a halt around 6:30 p.m. due to ‘switching problems,’ referring to the system that moves trains from one track to another.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZSTNKj
PRODUCING FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers s of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
SURVEY: From Liz Fedor via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “The pandemic forced white-collar employees to work remotely. But when it was safe to return to communal work, some employees looked askance at going back to the office. Employees sorted themselves into three groups based on preferred schedules—fully remote, hybrid, and in-office. A recent survey by human resource and talent recruiting consultant Robert Half found that 55% of Minneapolis-area managers were willing to increase starting salaries for professionals who work on-site. ‘On average, we’re seeing some new hires earning up to 20% more for in-office roles,’ the talent management company reported.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P9Ni0D
I-94: From Tim Harlow via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation is recommending that Interstate 94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul remain a freeway, ruling out an ambitious proposal to fill in the trench and replace it with a parkway or boulevard with at-grade crossings. MnDOT reached that conclusion after more than a year spent evaluating 10 options for the roadway, and taking input from the public and interested groups as it studies remaking one of the metro area’s busiest corridors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49SUNmn
NOG: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Northern Oil and Gas has made an acquisition offer for Granite Ridge Resources, a smaller U.S. producer with operations in basins including the Permian and Eagle Ford, according to people familiar with the matter. Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Northern has submitted at least two offers for Granite Ridge, the sources said, adding the latest bid, made in recent weeks, was at a roughly 20% premium to the target's share price.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DtRPIN
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
RETAIL: From Richard Chin via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hit by headwinds including inflationary pressures, competition from e-commerce sites, big box retailers, pop-up stores and even a helium shortage, Party City is going out of business. The closing of the nation’s largest party supply store, reported by CNN on Friday, is expected to shutter more than 700 retail stores in North America by the end of February, including 10 stores in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BTZmQx
MORE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Discount retail chain Big Lots is now preparing to hold going out of business sales ahead of closing all of its remaining stores, including its last location in Minnesota. The Ohio-based company announced Thursday that its sale to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management had fallen through.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fw1f3N
MORE: Via Power Sports Business, VERBATIM: “Harley-Davidson Sports Center in Hermantown, Minnesota, announced Monday that it would close permanently after being in business in the Duluth area for over 70 years, according to reports.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49OeQST
LISTENING, LEARNING AND REDEFINING INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS - “We want to build partnerships with Indigenous Nations. We continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, and that’s informing how we engage communities in B.C. and across North America,” said CEO Greg Ebel of Enbridge’s approach to be the “first-choice partner” for Indigenous Nation interested in pursuing energy infrastructure opportunities. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Yht20R (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
AIRPLANE: Via Travel and Tour World, VERBATIM: “Sun Country Airlines has unveiled its inaugural custom-designed aircraft livery in honor of Minnesota Golden Gopher Athletics. This special livery celebrates the partnership between the airline and the university, which began in 2023 when Sun Country was named the Official Airline of Gopher Athletics.” READ/PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3BLsgSV
CIRRUS: From Duluth-based Cirrus via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Cirrus today announced the delivery of its 600th Vision Jet, a major milestone for the company and a defining moment in the evolution of personal aviation. As the world’s first and only single-engine jet to receive FAA certification, the Vision Jet has redefined personal aviation by combining advanced technology, exceptional safety features and outstanding performance in a light, sleek design.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gNuBvz
TOURS: From Nick Woltman via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Historical Society on Friday canceled a handful of holiday tours at the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul, which were mistakenly scheduled on the anniversary of the 1862 mass hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato. The Historical Society’s past practice has been to close the site to the public on Dec. 26 in observance of the anniversary, but an oversight caused four Candlelight Christmas Tours to be scheduled on that date this year, according to Ben Leonard, the Historical Society’s vice president of historic sites.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gpJch5
MAIRS & POWER: From Liz Fedor via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Mairs & Power, a venerable investment advisory firm for more than nine decades, has earned a place in Minnesota’s venture capital ecosystem. Mairs & Power Venture Capital was launched in 2022 by general partner John Bergstrom, who has a long history in the venture capital business. Scott Burns, a founder of GovDelivery and Structural, joined the initiative as a general partner in August 2023. Bergstrom and Burns, assisted by two younger staffers, have been busy evaluating a steady stream of entrepreneurs seeking early-stage investments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fzguJk
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
WINTER: From Kevin Schulz via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Eric Snodgrass wants you to have a terrible winter. ‘I want [farmers] to hate it; I want it to be a super active freeze-thaw cycle,’ says the senior atmospheric scientist with Conduit, who was formerly with Nutrien Ag Solutions. ‘I want there to be rain, ice and snow. … I’d like to dial up about an April 4 blizzard all the way to Kansas, and after that, then everything can be fine. But those are the things that winter can do to undo a drought so that we don’t have to rely on spring rains only.’ Coming off the driest fall on record paired with a weak La Niña leads Snodgrass to say that scenario lends itself to a 6 in 10 chance that next growing season will experience a drought, although he is quick to add ‘that’s better than 50-50, but that also means four in 10 years it rains, right?’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41MaqKa
WILD RICE: Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, VERBATIM: “If she closes her eyes, Danelle Larson can still remember how the stretch of Mississippi River in front of her looked as recent as a decade ago: nothing but open, muddy water. Today, it’s covered with impressively tall and thick beds of wild rice. Larson, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Alicia Carhart, Mississippi River vegetation specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, surveyed the plants by airboat in mid-September . . . In the past several years, wild rice has exploded on this part of the upper river, particularly on a section of it called Pool 4, near Alma, and Pool 8, near La Crosse. Historical records show it was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but poor water quality and other problems caused widespread aquatic vegetation die-offs in the 1980s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4grsXzO
GRAIN: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst sees a surplus of corn and soybeans overshadowing a year of strong demand. Naomi Blohm is senior market advisor with Total Farm Marketing.” BLOHM: “The theme has been bigger production, bigger supply. Demand of course has been fantastic, but we have not had any serious weather threats.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/405gXyv
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PERFUME: From Alfonzo Galvan via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Maybe you haven’t seen it or heard about it. But Mia Ton, a Minnesota-based social media influencer, says you’ve probably smelled it: The sweet, floral and fruity scent in a pink bottle that has been trending on social media, becoming a must-have item this holiday season. ‘It’s the pink Yara, I just got it,’ Ton said. ‘Every single guy I’ve talked to, they always say it smells so good.’ The demand for the viral pink Yara by Lattafa has hit the Twin Cities and has been fueling business at fragrance stores that are seeing an influx of new customers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZOKzyD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PRINCE: From Macy Harder via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s hometown hero is among the 2025 honorees for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. Announced Friday, joining Prince on the list of 2025 honorees are Frankie Valli, the Clash, Roxanne Shanté, Frankie Beverly, Dr. Bobby Jones, and Taj Mahal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DE5MUl
MUSIC CRITIC: From Steve Marsh via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Did you know that one of the most prolific music critics in the country is a middle-aged dad who lives in New Hope? Steven Hyden is having a huge year—his book There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA and the End of the Heartland dropped last summer, just in time for the 40th anniversary of Springsteen’s biggest hit album, and now, just in time for the holidays, Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary was released on HBO, a documentary for which Hyden did the story editing, as well as swinging in a murderer’s row of music critics that includes The New Yorker’s Amanda Petrusich, GQ’s Alex Pappademas, and Questlove of The Roots (and The Tonight Show).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZTcrSa
BDAYS: GOP insider Dan Johnson, NFIB’s Brianna Erickson, DFL operative Marissa Luna, GL’s Matthew Michalski, researcher Michael Brodkorb, public affairs guy Ryan Kelly, House DFL staffer Amanda Rudolph. Canadian Consulate’s Joel Wessman Other BDAYS over the next week… hockey mom and attorney Kelly Eull, insurance guy Mike Nelson, advocate Irene Folstrom, movie guy Tim Lammers, CD1 GOP leader Aaron Farris, WCCO Radio’s Susie Jones, car wash guy Cory Kampschroer, fmr. St. Paul City Councilor Jane Prince, public affairs pro Kevin Morris, KFAN’s Brandon Mileski, real estate leader Jeff Hornig, ranger Aaron Brown, realtor Zach Strouts, radio guy Al Travis lobbyist Meredith Beeson, Scott County’s Barb Brekke, MBP’s Abby Loesch
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