65% of U.S. adults say society would be better off if more Americans were religious – down from 75% in 2013. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4ovpogZ
Just one in three AAPI adults say the United States is a great place for immigrants – 64% say it used to be. AP/NORC: https://fluence-media.co/4euyI04
No Minnesota winners at the James Beard Awards – the first time that’s happened in three years. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oGaRiz
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Here are the two MNSiders with insight from the state party conventions:
SAT: https://fluence-media.co/49se3rS
SUN: https://fluence-media.co/4u5nHIc
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Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vOuOpE
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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THE MONEY RACE
FIRST: New money totals in the race for governor – cash on hand as of May 31st:
Klobuchar: $3.8 million (report: https://fluence-media.co/4xypIQ0)
Demuth: $517k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4a3tC9G)
Qualls: $34k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4uCag2A)
Lindell: $11k (report: https://fluence-media.co/3SeYBcG)
MORE: Reports from other statewide races:
Attorney General
Ellison: $579k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4a55seT)
Madgett: $0 (report: https://fluence-media.co/4xwhZlv)
Schutz: $292k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4vWKGH0)
Auditor
Flipovich: $15k (report: https://fluence-media.co/3SIKkVM)
George: $5k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4epCRCt)
Jennings: $67k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4vMKvxG)
Jensen: $80k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4vK4Bsu)
Reeves: $2k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4em3SrL)
Wolgamott: $30k (report: https://fluence-media.co/43IeXNw)
Secretary of State
Jude: $8k (report: https://fluence-media.co/3QO0Hjn)
Kuhl-Stennes: $497 (report: https://fluence-media.co/4esAJtK)
Phillips: $225 (report: https://fluence-media.co/4goO5cR)
Simon: $416k (report: https://fluence-media.co/4aE4iar)
Tangen: $1k (report: https://fluence-media.co/43DZv56)
VOTING: Via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “As election officials across the country steel themselves for the midterm elections in less than five months, President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting voting by mail threatens to upend their preparations. The executive order instructs the U.S. Postal Service to refuse to deliver ballots in states that don’t provide lists of voters or meet other requirements. It has created a sense of deep uncertainty and concern among election officials as they consider how to comply, according to a review of court documents and interviews with election officials and experts on election administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QjN4s8
RELATED: Here’s Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s statement released when the executive order was issued. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vXadQh
CHARGES: The U.S. Attorney’s office held a news conference this morning to announce charges against people accused of being tied to two Minneapolis-based antifa groups. Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Officials say the case involves multiple defendants accused of conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers and related crimes that ‘violently oppose immigration law enforcement.’ Last fall, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43EkgO4
MORE: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The Immigrant Defense Network shared a press release, stating that HSI, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrested a legal observer and raided a home in south Minneapolis . . . Ahead of Tuesday’s press conference, posts began circulating on social media, appearing to show HSI officers making arrests. Minneapolis Ward 9 City Councilmember Jason Chavez also posted to his accounts, saying it’s possible officers are targeting legal observers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uFeCq0
THIS WEEK: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council will host two hearings this week to hear the public’s feedback as it considers repealing the longstanding ban on adult bathhouses and venues where people can have sex. Adult bathhouses are community spaces that were historically frequented by gay men in the 1970s and ‘80s where people could engage in sexual activity or relax after going out to bars. They were banned in Minneapolis in 1988 during the AIDS epidemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vgq5xi
MORE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Proponents say the ban has driven sex gatherings underground, as Council President Elliott Payne said in April. They believe regulated bathhouses would encourage safer sex, with access to hygiene stations, condoms and public health professionals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xDUJ5p
THURSDAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A multi-year project on one of the busiest roads in the north metro gets underway Thursday. The five-year $168.2-million project on Highway 65 focuses on safety and mobility. Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesperson Kent Barnard says a freeway design that includes interchanges will help curb frustrations felt by motorists stuck waiting at traffic lights.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4go1FNF
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)
POT & MORE
THC: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Omar Ansari watches thousands of THC beverages roll through Surly Brewing’s production facility each hour, wondering if he’ll have to shut down operations in a matter of months . . . a federal ban on hemp-derived THC products scheduled to take effect Nov. 12 could jeopardize Ansari’s operation and the brewery’s future.” ANSARI: “We have to be full throttle,” said Ansari, owner of Surly Brewing. “The plan has been, like most people in the industry, is fight like hell to either have a delay or to have this product regulated.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gllwgn
MORE THC: Via Foundry Nation, VERBATIM: “Foundry Nation, the Minnesota-based THC beverage brand known for reimagining nostalgic soda flavors, today announced the launch of two new additions to its 10mg Two Scoops THC Soda lineup: Classic Cola and Cream Soda.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fOFnEG
(DISCLOSURE: Plift is a Fluence client)
DOGS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Many of the people who walk the wooded trails and beaches of the Minnehaha dog park are rallying in hopes of halting a scheduled vote Wednesday at a Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting to close the popular off-leash area. Why it matters: The vote could determine the future of one of Minneapolis’ most popular dog parks while testing how much public input should shape decisions about culturally significant land.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vKPSxk
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
NEXT YEAR: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Coming off the success of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship last winter in St. Paul, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced Duluth will be the location for the 2027 Under-18 Men’s World Championship. Ten teams will play out the 29-game tournament at AMSOIL Arena, home of University of Minnesota Duluth hockey, as young talent looks to prove themselves to NHL scouts, fans, and media during the 11-day international competition. Bill Guerin, president of hockey operations and general manager of the Minnesota Wild and the gold medal-winning 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, knows the gravity of this tournament.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a1ZtYe
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Nearly $2.2 million is being added to construction contracts for the planned Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex to restore elements cut late last year to keep the project on budget. The Rochester City Council approved the change Monday, restoring plans for artificial turf on two rectangular fields, multiple outdoor basketball courts, dugout roof and spectator shade elements, as well as a connection to the future Willow Creek Trail extension.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4veDaas
WAITE PARK: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “The District 742 school board will review and vote on the proposed 2026-27 budget, which includes approximately $192 million in general fund expenditures, during its meeting on Wednesday, June 17. Due to funding fluctuations at the state and federal levels, the district took a cautious approach to budget planning. … District 742 is projected to receive increased revenue from state English Learner funding and compensatory aid, while simultaneously facing rising special education costs that continue to outpace state reimbursement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a1WjUo
PINE ISLAND: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Thursday’s Goodhue County District Court hearing will take a next step in the case against the development of a data center in Pine Island. The hearing, scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, June 18, will see Judge Patrick Biren either set future dates for more discovery in the case [or] give parties a deadline for motions for summary judgment. … Currently, no new motions for discovery have been filed since the hearing date was set on May 29.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vf0C7x
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
TOURISM: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A new luxury resort is now open on the shore of Lake Superior in Two Harbors. The Harbors, approximately three miles south of downtown, features a collection of luxury villas and cabins, as well as geodesic dome tents for a shoreline ‘glamping’ experience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vloUNe
AOR: Via Preston Spire, VERBATIM: “Preston Spire, the independent, employee-owned, Minneapolis full-service creative agency focused on delivering Good Wins, announced today it has been selected as Agency of Record by Meet Minneapolis, the city’s official destination marketing organization, in partnership with the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District (MTID).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QuZXiS
RETAIL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “I honestly didn’t know if I’d live to see this day: H Mart, the largest Asian supermarket chain in the U.S., might be coming to St. Paul. Per the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, an entity that appears to be H Mart’s real estate arm has purchased Midway Marketplace on University Avenue for $6 million. (If that price seems remarkably low to you, it is: Previous owner Kraus-Anderson bought the 324,000-square-foot property for $31 million in 2019; its value has plunged 80 percent following some big retail departures, including Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Cub Foods.)” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ux7zPT
RETAIL: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “By the time local Blaine officials stepped outside the front doors of Asia Village to cut the ribbon and officially inaugurate the space, sisters Rose and Duo Yang had been waiting in line outside the mall for almost three hours. ‘We feel so dumb,’ Rose said, laughing. The two had been the first to arrive, at 8 a.m. sharp. When they made it to Asia Village, the mall was deserted, save for employees setting up for the grand opening. For the sisters, the wait Saturday morning was worth it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4anBiUv
MEATBALLS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Jim Stone, who owns Sweet Taste of Italy in Brooklyn Park, also owns a line of food trucks called Kenny’s Meatball Wagon. He’s opening a brick-and-mortar Kenny’s Meatball Wagon booth at U.S. Bank Stadium, serving football fans, as well as concert-goers and other special event attendees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4edpxSH
EGGS: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Korean-style egg sandwich shop EggFlip will close in Rochester this month. Richard and Jennifer Veopraseuth, who opened the breakfast spot inside the First Avenue Food Court in November 2025, have announced the restaurant’s final day will be Friday, June 26.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QKnNYb
NEW CIO: Via Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bank announced today that Daniel Farley, CFA, is its new chief investment officer (CIO) for the Wealth Management Asset Management Group.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SaBRuA
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 Mall of America, VERBATIM: “Join us for a free public screening of two FIFA World Cup 26™ group stage matches in the Huntington Bank Rotunda. Portugal vs Democratic Republic of the Congo kicks off at noon, followed by England vs Croatia at 3 p.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SaI2yG
THURSDAY: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Seagate wants to expand its Bloomington campus. The Bloomington Planning Commission will host a public hearing on the proposal Thursday. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vWBimK
THIS WEEK: The Twin Cities Jazz Festival runs Friday and Saturday with pre-festival shows on Thursday. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eq6WBU
SATURDAY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is about to welcome one of the biggest events in its history. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games arrive June 20-26, bringing together 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and an estimated 75,000 fans from all 50 states.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QmYR92
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BLOOMINGTON: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “The Bloomington Farmers Market returned for its second week June 13 at Bloomington Civic Plaza, continuing a season that runs Saturdays through Oct. 17.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xsCEal
BDAYS: AI thinker Lori Ryan, KSTP’s Jonathan Yuhas, advocate Erich Mische, attorney Matthew Haapoja, lobbyist Wendy Underwood, entrepreneur Cecilia Retelle Zywicki
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