The walleye limit on Mille Lacs Lake increased over the weekend. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41X12CA
A Minnesota startup called EFFBOMB will compete on a business competition reality TV show. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mqcUFw
It’s move-in day at the University of Minnesota. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/465K1sp
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mAul6v
Sunday Take was live at the State Fair as GOP Rep. Keith Allen and DFL Sen. Doron Clark discussed their lifelong friendship and how to bridge political divisions. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3HuzoGl
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Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
2032: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The year is 2032. Studying the Electoral College map, a Democratic presidential candidate can no longer plan to sweep New Hampshire, Minnesota and the ‘blue wall’ battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and win the White House. A victory in the swing state of Nevada would not help, either. That is the nightmare scenario many Democratic Party insiders see playing out if current U.S. population projections hold. After every decennial census, like the one coming up in 2030, congressional seats are reallocated among the states based on population shifts. Those seats in turn affect how big a prize each state is within the Electoral College — or how a candidate actually wins the presidency. In the next decade, the Electoral College will tilt significantly away from Democrats.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fSRe2c
IMMIGRANTS: A new analysis out this morning from Pew estimates 130,000 unauthorized immigrants lived in Minnesota in 2023, up from 100,000 a year earlier.
VERBATIM: “The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has also become considerably less geographically concentrated over time. In 2023, the top six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UKbMk0
TOURISM: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “On Sunday morning, volunteer Daniel Jokinen had a steady stream of fairgoers keen to use Visit Duluth's new penny press machine to transform one-cent coins into souvenirs featuring a kayak, a ship, a lighthouse or the Aerial Lift Bridge. ‘It's been pretty positive,’ said fellow volunteer Laura Myers about attendee responses. ‘Everyone's like, 'I love Duluth!'’ Visit Duluth and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center have partnered with Madden Media to bring the city's tourism promotion efforts to the Great Minnesota Get-Together. It's the first time, at least in recent memory, the city has had a tourism promotion presence at the State Fair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ULQFhg
DIAPERS: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Procter & Gamble (PG) is selling luxury aloe-infused ‘bumbum’ brand diapers made in China at retailer Target (TGT) as its top-selling Pampers and Luvs brands lose ground to a growing number of imported rivals touting similar features. The move is unusual for the Cincinnati-based consumer products maker, the biggest globally, because most of what it sells in the United States is manufactured domestically. Target said earlier this year it would offer bumbum as part of an overhaul of its baby and toddler products, but did not identify the brand's manufacturer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fPaa1Q
BLAINE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's multimillion dollar emergency hub is now open. Minnesota's new emergency operations center in Blaine was built in part with funds allocated by the legislature in 2023. Public safety commissioner Bob Jacobson says the facility's efficiency has already been proven after work began here on June 1, where it played a key role in the preparedness around the attacks on lawmakers later that month.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mXGjXx
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)
MINNEAPOLIS: On TikTok over the weekend, Mayoral candidate Jazz Hampton said his car was stolen and that it’s the third time that’s happened. He used it as an opportunity to talk about crime. HAMPTON: “From all the broken windows we’ve seen across the city of Minneapolis, over 500, I think, at this point, we need a dedicated group of officers that are addressing these crimes directly. And, when we actually arrest and find these folks, we need to have a restorative justice system that can ensure that we aren’t just punishing people, we’re insuring they know there’s better opportunities out there than what’s happening right now.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45UFiZz
SD41: morning take reported Rep. Tom Dippel will run for Senate District 41. The campaign’s news release is now out. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mXnweR
HD41B: Via news release from the Beck campaign, “William Beck announced Monday that he is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 41B, which includes Cottage Grove, Hastings, Denmark Township, and Nininger Township . . . William Beck will seek the Republican endorsement and has pledged to abide by the decision of the delegates. While running, he will take a leave of absence from his role on the 2nd Congressional District Republican Party’s executive board.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mxvgEw
CHEERLEADERS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Videos of two male cheerleaders dancing on the U.S. Bank Stadium field in recent weeks have drawn homophobic social media comments and claims that Vikings fans are canceling their season tickets. Reality check: Anyone shocked to see Louie Conn and Blaize Shiek holding pom poms hasn't been to many NFL stadiums in recent years. A third of NFL teams already have male cheerleaders, some as far back as 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45BeT3S
STATE FAIR: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “When the attendance figure for Sunday's Great Minnesota Get-Together is announced on Monday afternoon, the total for the first four days will surpass 500,000 people. The attendance on Thursday topped 137,000, just short of the daily record set last year. Almost 154,000 hit the fairgrounds on Friday and over 198,000 on Saturday with some fall-like, refreshing temps making it pretty ideal for fairgoers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4660VHs
MORE: A few photos from Fluence Media’s Blois Olson, captured Friday:
MEXICO: Via Thrifty Traveler, VERBATIM: “A brand-new airport opened in the buzzy Mexican destination of Tulum (TQO), prompting U.S. and Canadian airlines to practically fall over themselves to add nonstop service and give travelers a way to bypass Cancún (CUN). The Tulum airport was booming. But almost before it began, the airlines are retreating from Tulum. Delta is the latest airline to cut back, dropping its Saturday seasonal service from both Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Detroit (DTW) – leaving only nonstops from Atlanta (ATL).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lD45qB
(DISCLOSURE: Delta is a Fluence client)
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers 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)
MALI CENTER: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “St. Paul native Tyrone Minor has held many titles: Track star. Educator. Trainer. Husband and father. But for the past year the self-proclaimed ‘son of Rondo’ has been getting used to two new ones — commercial developer and building owner . . . He opened The Mali Center as a business hub last year, hoping to seed the effort to revitalize his neighborhood by inspiring other entrepreneurs and building wealth for his community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45UvsGV
LIFE TIME: Via news release from Chanhassen-based Life Time, VERBATIM: “As professionals and students continue to seek optimal efficiency and productivity around the clock, Life Time (NYSE: LTH), today announced the completion of its 55th dedicated Work Lounge space, with more than 30 in progress across the U.S to be added into next year. By repurposing space within existing clubs, members now have yet another way to be supported in how they blend productivity, wellness, community all under one roof.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oMIRJH
FERGUS FALLS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Since Dairyland opened in 1955 in Fergus Falls, teenagers have been borrowing the family car to drive to the local strip with friends. They’d stop at Dairyland drive-in for a burger or a shake, maybe getting their order taken by a carhop. Today, those teenagers are grandparents. And instead of visiting the restaurant with friends, they’re bringing their grandkids . . . Dairyland is at an inflection point. Connelly and his wife Jean announced their plans to leave the 70-year-old business after this season. Now the search is on for someone to pick up the mantle to continue Dairyland's legacy for the next generation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UGYlBl
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)
ST PAUL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Opening a new restaurant is always fraught—financiers vanish; stoves die; inspections fail and bring new headaches. But in all my years, I’ve never heard of an opening that involved dropping out of college twice, a mom not speaking to her kid for a year, and a ready-to-open restaurant burning to the ground. Which is to say, it may seem like a no-brainer that a son of the Quang family—in fact, a son of the main Quang chef—who was raised in one of the highest-volume and most beloved restaurants in the state, has opened his own upscale Vietnamese spot, Khue’s Kitchen, at the tender age of 25.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lItT4Q
WADENA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The smell of popcorn fills the air as Dave Quincer turns on lights and sets up the projectors for a Tuesday evening crowd at the Cozy Theatre on Jefferson Street in Wadena. ‘It's bargain night and it's raining, so we're going to be busy tonight,’ Quincer predicts before the doors opened for a 7 p.m. show with ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘Superman’ on the marquee. A Quincer family member has been running the Cozy for more than a century, starting with Dave's great-grandfather, who left the South Dakota farm where he grew up and bought the theater in 1923.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fT1Ez7
BROOKLYN CENTER: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A business that provides childcare and early education in Brooklyn Center will soon be moving to another location within the city. ‘It’s really exciting to us that we’re gonna be able to provide more space for children and have some different components that are kind of new to early childhood in that space as well too,’ said Kami Thompson, a district manager with New Horizon Academy. New Horizon Academy has rented space in a Brooklyn Center strip mall along Humboldt Avenue for many years.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oSYRtL
TOMORROW: Via news release from New Prague-based Electromed, VERBATIM: “Electromed, Inc. (NYSE American: ELMD), a leader in innovative airway clearance technologies, today announced that it will issue its financial results press release for the fiscal 2025 fourth quarter ended June 30, 2025, on August 26, 2025 after the close of the stock market. Company management will host a conference call the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/413rMkA
WEDNESDAY: Via Bloomington-based Donaldson, VERBATIM: “Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, will webcast its fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l3E8QQ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FAIR SHOPPING: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Apart from its 33 new foods, eight new food vendors, and typical everything-on-a-stick fanfare . . . there were plenty of new and returning local shopping vendors to peruse. From handcrafted Scandinavian goods to sentimental hand-engraved jewelry, here is our Style Editor’s comprehensive guide to this year’s state fair shopping must-hits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fTzi7U
NON-ALCOHOLIC: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Every year, the Minnesota State Fair releases their Specialty Sips, a bevy of boozy beverages that always catch eyes and taste buds (looking at you, soft-serve beer). However, the fair has plenty to offer in the way of non-alcoholic drinks as well. Here are some of the most lively libations at the fair with an ABV of zero.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UGHWwK
BDAYS: business leader Ingrid Christensen, Comcast’s Anna Boroff
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