Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open.” UPDATES: https://fluence-media.co/41F3j56
The UofM’s women’s gymnastics team is headed to the NCAA finals for the first time. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ctneZE
The Lynx re-signed five-time All Star Napheesa Collier. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tShShy
What was it like to have Prince as a babysitter? A family remembers the neighbor they knew as Skipper. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tQvERP
As Skipper… er… Prince reminded us, sometimes it snows in April. FORECAST: https://fluence-media.co/4ciokbY
Luverne is the tenth best place to retire with a million bucks in savings – it’ll last 28.4 years there, according to GOBANKINGRATES: https://fluence-media.co/4tiaLiH
It’s BACK…the TwinWest Legislative Breakfast on April 17, featuring Sen. Min. Ldr. Mark Johnson, DFL House leader. Jamie Long, Sen Asst. Maj. Ldr.. Nick Frentz and House GOP Ldr. Harry Niska in a mid-session discussion moderated by Blois Olson and presented by Fluence Advisory. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/4lWWmFM
Sunday Take will include highlights from the Twin West Legislative breakfast – listen at 9AM on WCCO Radio.
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
WAYMO IS READY FOR MINNESOTA: With 13x fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans, Waymo is already making roads safer in major U.S. cities where we operate — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. We are ready to bring these safety benefits to Minnesota, and look forward to working with the state legislature to pass a law that allows us to provide rides in the state. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/waymo (SPONSORED: Waymo)
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Sunday Take featured DFL Sen. Mary Kunesh and GOP Rep. Ben Bakeberg discussing education issues and what fixes are being considered this session. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cEc99g
Blois
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Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
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FRIDAY FEED
TODAY: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and shooting another is set to return to court on Friday, and prosecutors may update where their death penalty decision stands. Vance Boelter is accused of murdering House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, last June at their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot at their home in Champlin but survived.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OOUId7
(DISCLOSURE: Fluence provides media support for the Hoffman family)
NEW VIDEO: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “New video shared with WCCO shows the scuffle in which a reporter says she got hurt outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis on Saturday. The cases against three people arrested in that fight are now in the hands of the Hennepin County Attorney for potential charges . . . Turning Point USA contributor Savanah Hernandez said she was ‘brutally assaulted by multiple people’ for filming and reporting on Saturday’s protest.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mLfBCz
ST CLOUD: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “On a bright sunny day, cars are packed in the parking lot of the Star City Mall at 33rd Street and Third Avenue North in St. Cloud. People eat in restaurants, peruse the shelves at a market, and sit in a clinic waiting room. It’s a stark contrast to the chaos and fear that dramatically played out three months ago, on Jan. 12, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and protesters clashed here during Operation Metro Surge. Bystanders were pepper-sprayed, at least three people were arrested, and the St. Cloud Police Department responded in an attempt to calm the scene and control traffic. In the weeks that followed, the parking lot at the multicultural mall, which hosts numerous restaurants and other Somali-run businesses, was nearly deserted.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41F8iTo
TRAINING: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “The state of Minnesota needs to maintain funding support for law enforcement training, Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen told Minnesota legislators. Last week, Wallen traveled to St. Paul to testify before the Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. Wallen said he and other law enforcement agencies are asking legislators to sustain funding levels in the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund. The fund helps reimburse the cost of mandatory training in areas like de-escalation, use of force training, and autism awareness.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OzVydw
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)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
DC: Via Stateline, a broader implication of this week’s U.S. Senate vote to overturn a ban on mining near the BWCA, VERBATIM: “By using an obscure tool known as the Congressional Review Act to open the national forest for mining, lawmakers have called into question the validity of every management plan issued by the U.S. Forest Service over the past several decades. That could result in legal chaos for thousands of permits covering logging, grazing, mining and outdoor recreation. Over the past year, Congress for the first time has used the Congressional Review Act to revoke management plans for regions managed by the Bureau of Land Management, seeking to allow more mining and drilling. Such plans had not previously been considered ‘rules’ subject to lawmakers’ review.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4crwttf
ST PAUL: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A bill to ban local officials from signing nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, has bipartisan support in a Legislature where that is a prerequisite to get anything done. Its co-authors, Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis, and Rep. Drew Roach, R-Farmington, describe HF 4077 as simple and much needed legislation. They’re confident it would pass if it received a floor vote. But no such vote is in the hopper, after Republicans blocked the bill from moving out of a committee last week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tTUb8O
VETERANS: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Legislature has heard roughly 60 veteran-related bills in this year’s session, and while progress is being made, veterans’ benefits still are not a major topic of conversation for lawmakers. Two bills, HF 3544 and HF 3467, made it to the Senate floor Thursday, April 16, and passed unanimously, with almost no discussion. HF 3544 clarifies that veterans or members of the armed forces who have forfeited federal benefits — for example, by being dishonorably discharged — then do not qualify for state benefits either. The other bill, HF 3467, allows the commissioner of veterans affairs to direct non-monetary agency resources, such as staff and time, to veterans initiatives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sLOR6l
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)
THE LOCALS
MINNEAPOLIS: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has issued a veto seeking to reinstate his pick for public safety commissioner, despite the city attorney determining that he doesn’t have to authority to do so. The Minneapolis City Council voted 7-5 last Thursday against a second term for Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, with the more progressive majority arguing that he hasn’t lived up to their expectations for one of the city’s highest-paid employees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QftzjX
BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Brooklyn Park City Council is considering giving its top figurehead a substantial pay raise. Currently, Brooklyn Park’s part-time mayor is paid $21,995 per year, plus a $50 supplement for attending certain municipal functions. And if you ask the council, that’s not nearly enough. The city’s governing body moved ahead with plans on Monday to raise the mayor’s pay to $50,000 per year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/483Ibcj
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)
RETAIL
N/A: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Almost every nonalcoholic bottle shop in the Twin Cities has closed this year — and the only one remaining is on the brink of shutting down, its owner tells Axios. The big picture: Nonalcoholic drink sales are booming nationwide as Americans cut back on alcohol. Yes, but: The popularity of booze-free beverages means more establishments, including liquor stores and restaurants, are now stocking once hard-to-find products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cxzXuw
EDINA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Dugo is closing this summer as founder Nancy Shank retires, ending a run that helped define a niche corner of Twin Cities retail: elevated dressing for weddings, galas, and milestone celebrations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cr1vBy
STORE REMODELS: Via Walmart, VERBATIM: “Walmart today announced continued reinvestment across Minnesota, with plans in 2026 to remodel 16 stores as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the in-store and digital shopping experience – upgrading layouts, technology, and services to offer faster, more convenient shopping and delivery in as little as an hour for most customers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dNUa1k
STORE LEASE: Walgreens is looking to unload 60 leases, including the now-closed store on Central Avenue in Hilltop. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mGsMVy
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
TARIFFS: Via Medina-based Polaris, VERBATIM: “Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced today that it expects that the recent changes to tariff policy, excluding potential refunds, will not have a material impact to the Company’s 2026 full year guidance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41F6HwS
ACQUISITION: Via New Brighton-based APi, VERBATIM: “APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wtech Fire Group, a comprehensive provider of fire protection, suppression, and detection solutions across Europe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vrwG8u
100 YEARS: Via Minneapolis-based Graco, VERBATIM: “A century ago, in the depths of a Minnesota winter, a downtown Minneapolis parking lot attendant named Russell Gray grew fed up with grease guns that froze, failed, and injured workers while servicing cars. That frustration, and a belief that work should be safer and more reliable, resulted in the invention of an air-powered grease gun that solved a real customer problem, launching Graco Inc. This month, Graco marks its 100th anniversary as a $2 billion global industrial technology company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OoFcoe
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via Bring Me The News, Record Store Day events. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4cr36Hy
NEXT WEEK: Via MplsStPaul, Earth Day events around the Twin Cities. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3QLEAtp
NEXT MONTH: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “Fire departments from across Minnesota are joining together for Women Explore Fire Day in Minnesota, a coordinated statewide initiative to introduce women to careers and volunteer opportunities in the fire service. Hibbing Fire Department is hosting Region 3 for the event on Saturday, May 2, at 2320 Brooklyn Drive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tgDkNf
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THIS SUMMER: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Scores of local musicians will be performing in Minneapolis’s hip North Loop neighborhood this summer. The Hewing Hotel, Graze Food Hall, and North Loop Green have each announced outdoor concert series as the weather warms up.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tkh9Gc
BDAYS: Rep. Steve Elkins, radio guy Scott Kozenowski. SAT: Rep. Jim Joy, reporter John Lauritsen, lobbyist Todd Hill. SUN: Sen. Omar Fateh, operative Linden Zakula, wine family leader Page Cowles, restaurant designer Jim Smart, teacher Lisa Johnson
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.
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