lunch take | REPORT: National Economic Trends could have"Broadly Adverse Effects" on Minnesota
7.15.25
The Minnesota State Fair this morning added Nelly to its Grandstand lineup. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3TCCKcL
Is a convenience store really Minnesota’s best late night food spot? SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3TGdG4A
The Emmy nominations are out this morning. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4lr6hCj
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eSjUYL
Excerpted from the Minnesota Business Partnerships NYSE bell ringing last week, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry and Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha discussed the Minnesota Headquarters’ Economy on Sunday Take. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/469gEpE
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
MN ECONOMY: From a recent report issued by Minnesota Management and Budget, VERBATIM: “The outlook for the U.S. economy for 2025-2029 has deteriorated since Minnesota’s Budget and Economic Forecast was prepared in February 2025. In their July forecast, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI), Minnesota’s macroeconomic consultant, has lowered their baseline forecasts of real GDP growth, consumer spending, and business fixed investment compared to their February baseline forecasts. At the same time, their baseline forecasts of inflation and unemployment have been revised upward. If realized, these shifts would likely have broadly adverse effects on Minnesota’s economy.”
“The current forecast does not include a recession but rather a period defined by low GDP growth – below two percent annually – and rising unemployment into 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GyyOH3
MPD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot Amir Locke during a no-knock raid in 2022 is the instructor responsible for leading the police department’s use-of-force training, the police department confirmed. Police chief Brian O’Hara said Sgt. Mark Hanneman, who’s been with MPD for nearly a decade, is an ‘outstanding’ trainer committed to bringing positive change to MPD. But Locke’s family and other community members say nothing justifies placing the officer who shot and killed a 22-year-old Black man at the helm of use-of-force training.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kIpazn
LAWSUIT: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The parents of a 20-year old shot and killed by police during a south Minneapolis standoff in 2022 are suing the Minneapolis Police Department over his death. It was three years ago when Andrew ‘Tekle’ Sundberg was shot by two Minneapolis police department snipers, who authorities say believed he was armed. Instead, video shows Sundberg was holding a cellphone as he was hanging out of his second floor window of his apartment at 9th Street and 21st Avenue South.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40MCVpK
ICE: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “Protesters gathered outside federal immigration court in Minneapolis on Monday, calling for an end to ICE arrests and what they described as complicit actions by court staff. What they're saying: Volunteers with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) claim they witnessed four men detained by plain-clothes ICE agents in a single day last week, and they believe these courthouse arrests are occurring almost daily now.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44w9NW3
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The practice is not unique to Minnesota. Across the country, similar arrests are occurring at federal immigration courts as President Donald Trump’s administration continues intensified efforts toward detention and deportation — often met with legal challenges. Historically, ICE generally did not make arrests at locations like schools, hospitals, courthouses and churches. But during the first Trump administration, the agency adopted a policy explicitly allowing courthouse arrests of ‘specific, targeted aliens,’ arguing it was especially important in ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions where officials do not notify the agency before releasing immigrants facing deportation cases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ePbEZr
HOMEOWNERSHIP: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota homeowners spend an average of $19,000 a year on property taxes, upkeep and other ‘hidden expenses,’ according to a recent Bankrate study. Why it matters: Overlooked costs, beyond monthly mortgage payments, can catch unprepared homeowners off guard. State of play: Keeping up with a single-family home in Minnesota is still cheaper than the national average of $21,400.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44uqJfG
EICHORN: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Prosecutors are pushing back on claims that they singled out a former Minnesota state senator for federal charges after authorities arrested him in a child solicitation sting. Justin Eichorn quit the Minnesota Senate in March after he was arrested in the law enforcement operation in Bloomington along with more than a dozen other men. A judge released the 41-year-old Grand Rapids Republican to a Duluth halfway house, and he pleaded not guilty at a hearing in April. Most of the suspects arrested in the sting are facing state charges, which carry a maximum prison term of five years. Eichorn and at least three others were charged federally, and if convicted of attempted enticement of a minor, they face a 10-year mandatory minimum.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GsODz3
FLIGHT: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “A flight bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport had to turn around early Monday morning after an engine issue. Sun Country tells KARE 11 the flight from LAX to MSP experienced the issue after taking off, and an emergency was declared. The flight turned around and safely landed back at LAX at 12:54 a.m. PST.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UeGyRA
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)
TARGET: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “The retailer, which gained a loyal following over decades for its quirky, progressive and chic approach to big-box retail, now appears stuck as it tries to grow again and bounce back from lower store traffic, inventory issues and customer backlash. Shares of Target have fallen about 61% since their all-time high in late 2021. That peak came after Target’s sales rose more than $15 billion in the fiscal year following the start of the Covid pandemic, but its annual revenue has stagnated for the past four years. And Target said in May that it expects sales to fall this year. Target leaders have described the weaker performance as a blip, pointing to higher inflation or other temporary factors, and expressing confidence in its long-term strategy. In May, Target said sluggish sales resulted from weaker discretionary spending, uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s tariffs and backlash to its decision to roll back key diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lwqlmY
MORE: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “Target fans will soon have more stores to choose from. The popular Minneapolis-based retailer has plans to open new stores across 22 states, including six new stores in both Florida and Texas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IvpCDV
IMMIGRATION: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s population has grown in three ways: naturally via more births than deaths, people moving here from other states and international migration. Demographers point out, however, that in as few as four years, international migration will become the primary driver of the state’s population growth. And continued population growth will help address labor force shortages, increase the number of consumers and entrepreneurs, and broaden the state’s tax base. But these projections, which demographers have been watching for years, are taking place against a decidedly anti-immigration national backdrop.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44KojIG
NEWSLETTER: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Mukhtar Ibrahim identifies as a journalist but thinks like an entrepreneur. The founder of Sahan Journal, a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on the stories of Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color, his decision in 2024 to step down as CEO and publisher just five years after launch surprised many in media circles—but not from the lens of a founder. Sahan was operating smoothly, which was Ibrahim’s cue to move on to the next thing. He immediately stood up a management consulting firm called Sayid Group and spent a year as a strategic advisor to the Minneapolis-based humanitarian support organization Alight. But Ibrahim couldn’t resist the inclination to share stories.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lXZVKB
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)
TRAFFIC: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A combination of major road closures, rail maintenance and a high-attendance music festival is creating a perfect storm of traffic and transit delays in the Twin Cities. This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is preparing to close the reversible E-ZPass lanes on Interstate 394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100. The closure, which begins the evening of July 27, is part of a two-year construction project to repair 34 bridges.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IsUg0M
SCSU: Via news release from St. Cloud State, VERBATIM: “St. Cloud State University is introducing five new online business degree programs in Fall 2025 to support the evolving educational and workforce needs of communities across Minnesota. These programs reflect the university's mission as a comprehensive regional institution committed to delivering accessible, career-relevant education.
New offerings include an MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics, a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics, and three undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Management.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44Icq64
MOA: Via news release from Axis, VERBATIM: “Mall of America, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lTKJOu
NOODLES: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A Canada-based noodle chain has selected Minnesota as the location for its first U.S. restaurant. Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodles has been announced as the newest food entry at the Mall of America, with the eatery specializing in Chinese cuisine set to debut later this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44L4L6R
NEXT WEEK: Via Minnesota Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber’s upcoming Women in Business Minnesota Conference on Wednesday, July 23, will highlight the powerful role women play in expanding Minnesota’s economic footprint through international business.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Ite04o
(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Chamber is a Fluence sponsor)
NEXT MONTH: The fourth annual On The One Music Festival is August 16th in Bloomington. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4lVvy7F
SURVEY: Via news release from Thrifty Traveler, VERBATIM: “A new survey from the leading travel site Thrifty Traveler suggests that many once-loyal Southwest flyers are booking with other carriers after the airline ended its free baggage policy this spring. The recent online survey, conducted in May and June - just before and after Southwest began charging most passengers for baggage - found that roughly two-thirds of travelers who said they regularly flew Southwest are now considering (or already booking) other carriers as a result of that baggage policy change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IokPnT
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BBQ: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “It’s a massive, meaty scale up for Animales Barbeque Co.—from a food truck to the former Royal Foundry space in Minneapolis’s Harrison neighborhood, a 12,500-square-foot venue with a sprawling dining room, a sizable patio, and a kitchen big enough to keep hundreds of barbecue and live music lovers fed. (The walk-in meat cooler in Animales’s new space is nearly as big as the original food truck.)” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4nPpNtK
PEACE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Matt Keil, who was the bassist of Canadian band Comeback Kid before becoming a realtor in the Twin Cities, has died following a 19-month battle with ALS.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44uzPJm
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 © 2025 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427