As The New York Times puts it, “the American economy continues to stride past obstacles” – U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs in June. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SHtR4n
The new Drought Monitor out this morning shows some improvement even before the rain we got the past couple of days. As of Tuesday, 72% of the state was abnormally dry or worse, with 30% in formal drought status. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
Too much rain in southeastern Minnesota this morning – a stretch of I-90 in Mower County was closed. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3SFaGbn
From KAAL-TV, more roads closed in the area. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vJfjzG
A St. Louis County sheriff’s deputy is among two injured in a crash Wednesday night near Cook. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QvLm7a
When should you call 911 over fireworks? AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/3SZ7w2h
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will be on Sunday Take at 9 AM Sunday.
At the Great American State Fair in DC, you can find Minnesota-made crop art. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gB7jML
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/4eQt9dT
Sunday Take featured a breakdown of 5 key things to watch before the Aug. 11 primaries in Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gca1bg
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
SPONSOR: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
HOLIDAY WEEKEND LOADING…
CLOSED: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has shut down Hiawatha Beach and two beaches on Bde Maka Ska after tests revealed elevated bacteria levels.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4p2qUHB
FRAUD: Via release from Rep. Tom Emmer, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) joined Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) in introducing the Federal Responsibility and Accountability for Unchecked Dereliction (FRAUD) Act. The FRAUD Act will ensure that Governors and other state officials take action to stop fraud in their states by requiring them to report credible suspicions of fraud involving federal funds to the Federal Bureau of Investigation within 180 days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RbmRMG
$250 MILLION: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota could be on the hook for as much as $250 million in its next budget to pay for a share of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, thanks to a provision in the Republican megalaw on tax cuts and spending passed a year ago. The law, which President Donald Trump named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, requires states to pay more for SNAP, which provides food assistance to low-income people and families. States with a higher rate of erroneous payments must pay a higher percentage of SNAP benefits in their state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vdvX9M
CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A MinnPost analysis of ‘gift travel’ filings found that both Democrats and Republicans in Minnesota’s congressional delegation have joined colleagues from all other states to take advantage of a congressional perk – trips whose every expense is paid for by special interests. From Jan. 1, 2025, until the end of May of this year, the eight members of Minnesota’s delegation to the House and their staffers took 74 such trips.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wrhAjg
POT: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Some residents in Osseo are pushing back on the city council’s proposal to build a municipal cannabis dispensary. Planning for the project has been ongoing for years with a potential development site already in the city’s coffers . . . That plan has some residents questioning the council’s wisdom.” QUOTE: “I can’t even think maybe of a dumber thing than a weed store,” one resident said during a June 22 public hearing. “And I don’t trust any of you to be able to make sure it works. I don’t think any of you are smart enough.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4awaPUC
GILBERT: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A cherished lake in this Iron Range city has mysteriously dropped at least 10 feet in recent years, forcing the closure of its only boat landing, hamstringing a public beach and endangering the city’s tourism economy. Deep and clear Lake Ore-Be-Gone formed when three open-pit mines filled with water when iron production stopped in the early 1970s. (Its Lake Wobegon-styled name was produced by a contest in the 1980s.)” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SXT9LA
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)
AROUND MINNESOTA
DULUTH: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “For years now, the City of Duluth has been addressing long-standing city issues in retaining and attracting new and old residents. Today, Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert announced his roadmap to improve the city for future generations . . . Recent studies found Duluth in critical need of housing, citing about 5,000 units in the next 5 years. At Monday’s Duluth City Council meeting, the council approved 9-0 to update the city’s current Unified Development Code (UDC), making building easier within city limits.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wsfK1v
RIVER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The question of whether two locks and dams on the Mississippi River in the heart of the Twin Cities should be removed is getting new attention. Several groups are exploring the pros and cons of removing the structures and returning the river to a more natural state. Those groups are also studying how it would change everything from safety to recreation. Centuries ago, the stretch of Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul was a lot more wild and free-flowing before it became an important navigation route for barge traffic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eQbaEp
BECKER CTY: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “White Earth Nation has entered into a multi-year funding agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, located in Becker County, which includes lands within the White Earth Reservation. White Earth was able to gain this new partnership through the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vBjM7A
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)
LAW & ORDER
MPLS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis leaders are announcing a new plan to target open-air drug markets across the city during a news conference on Thursday morning. The push for a new plan comes after 25 people were charged in a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking case involving two Minneapolis gangs.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4v94DJG
POOLS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case questioning whether the state can regulate private backyard pools the same way it can regulate public swimming facilities if they are rented out through online platforms. The legal showdown of Hittner v. Minnesota Department of Health, a lawsuit brought by the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) on behalf of local homeowners, began in 2021 when the health department issued guidance that a homeowner who charges for access to their pool should have to classify it as a public facility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eSbl0y
NEW HOPE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “In an effort to maintain a ‘family-friendly experience’ at their aquatic park, the city of New Hope is implementing several new rules and regulations. The city notes in a social media post that ‘violations of aquatic park rules and behavior that puts the safety of visitors and staff at risk will not be tolerated’ following a recent altercation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b2MzcU
EGGS: In Wednesday’s ag take, we shared news of a DOJ settlement with egg producers accused of inflating prices. Via Minnesota Reformer, more information on Minnesota’s cut. VERBATIM: “As part of the agreement, settlement documents show, Minnesota will receive 2 million out of 53 million eggs procured at the companies’ expense to be donated to food banks and nonprofit organizations. All eggs donated by the defendants must be equivalent to products sold at grocery stores, according to settlement documents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eWa6h2
ICYMI… You can read Wednesday’s ag take HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4xZPygd
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
ST. PAUL: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Bank Center building in downtown St. Paul is under new ownership. The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) announced it has purchased the building located at 101 E. 5th St. SPDDC is working to redevelop the property by acquiring its distressed mortgage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eWUJVm
ACQUISITION: Via Minneapolis-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG), a leading provider of architectural building products and services, as well as high-performance coated materials used in a variety of applications, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Kalwall Companies from the Keller family. The transaction, valued at up to $115 million, was completed following satisfaction of customary closing conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4paacGn
ACQUISITION: Via New Brighton-based APi, VERBATIM: “APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG) announced that on July 1, 2026, it closed the acquisition of WTech Fire Group, a leading provider of fire sprinkler, suppression and detection solutions across Europe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ffIKDK
GYMS: Via St. Louis Park-based Discover Strength, VERBATIM: “Discover Strength, a franchise offering personalized strength training, is set to continue its impressive 2026 start fueled by seven opened locations, franchise momentum and strong consumer demand.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ePqQX6
RETAIL: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports a new Costco store is planned for Otsego. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gR9v2r
ART + PETS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “From bear hunting in a frosty forest to napping cozily in an owner’s lap, the Cats and Dogs in Soviet Art: Workers, Teachers, Friends exhibition at The Museum of Russian Art presents the full landscape of what our furry friends meant to their people in Soviet Russia. Running until July 12, the 40-painting exhibition fills the museum’s entire second floor and features 13 paintings that have never been displayed before.” READ/SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4wjDYe5
WHAT’S NEXT?
SATURDAY: From Indigena by Owamni via Facebook, a chef’s table event, VERBATIM: “This is not a celebration of July 4th. It’s a reimagining of what American food has always been and who made it. The foods this country was built on did not begin in 1776. They begin with the First Nations of this land.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4boVA03
THIS MONTH: Via U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) will release its second quarter 2026 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, July 16, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/448yiI0
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NORTHROP: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota recently announced its 2026-2027 performance season, which starts in late September and goes until late April. The upcoming lineup, called ‘A Season of Radical Joy,’ is packed with musical collaborations, theatrical performances, and dancing, particularly, ballet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SXJ1T4
BDAYS: Rep. Duane Quam, lobbyist Joyce Peppin, retired reporter Bill Wareham. In the coming days, Chamber Chair Brooke Lee, Rep. Jon Koznick, developer Pete Deanovic, U of MN’s Sarah Youngerman
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