From not enough to too much – there’s a flood advisory in effect for the Boundary Waters. READ: https://fluence-media.co/48VA3ep
One local business reported getting the first tariff refund today, $1.2 million of over $4 million they are owed.
This isn’t good:
The biggest drops in job optimism, according to the Gallup poll, were among women, the highly educated, and those who don’t already have full-time jobs. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4dzlBeG
In south Minneapolis, a crash this morning killed the driver of a truck and sent a Metro Transit bus careening into a house. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4u7B8Z8
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/4djliDm
Sunday Take featured Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya discussing her campaign, the war in Iran and what the GOP can do to win statewide. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3R09IG0
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
BATTLE LINES
MIN WAGE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “When the Minneapolis City Council approved a controversial $15 minimum wage in 2017, no one knew what would happen next . . . Nearly a decade later, businesses in Minneapolis and St. Paul — which passed its own similar law in 2018 — say they’re stretched thinner than ever, and both cities have lost thousands of jobs. Pressure on the hospitality industry is particularly acute. Restaurants and other leisure-related businesses say shrinking margins have left them less able to weather economic shocks, such as the federal immigration crackdown that forced many to temporarily close this winter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ubAwBS
REDISTRICTING: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Some Minnesota Democrats are openly discussing whether to try to redraw the state’s political maps if they win control of state government in November. Why it matters: Shaking up the district lines before the next scheduled redistricting cycle could impact both the makeup of Minnesota’s elected representatives and the balance of power in Washington. State of play: A mid-cycle partisan gerrymandering by lawmakers would be a major departure from local norms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ffsanP
NUDITY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The City of Blaine has moved to include a woman’s bare breasts in its definition of nudity and ban their exposure in public in response to a 2025 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling. Last week, the Blaine City Council passed an ordinance formally banning nudity in public spaces.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wlRnDp
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)
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
ONE WEEK: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lawmakers are lined up for the final sprint of the legislative session with several priority issues left unresolved. By next Monday, it’ll all be over. Legislative leaders have yet to make a big-picture agreement that will usher the session to a tidy close. Some priorities from fraud to infrastructure financing to school safety remain top of mind. Lawmakers are also racing to ink a deal to keep a critical safety-net hospital — HCMC — afloat. Despite that, some of the details and political dynamics in the narrowly split Legislature have made compromise hard to come by.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u2DND8
MORE: The Star Tribune identifies five things to watch in the session’s last days. READ: https://fluence-media.co/430kXkh
EXIT INTERVIEW: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) has stepped away from her campaign for governor. She’s also leaving her seat in the House of Representatives at the end of this legislative session. In this edition of Newsmakers, which is transcribed below, she reflects on that decision and considers her work as chair of the House Fraud Committee.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4whps7r
SOMALI: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Following the Friday prayer, leaders of the Somali community gathered at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis to condemn what they described as escalating anti-Somali rhetoric linked to ‘Operation Metro Surge’ and right-wing politicians and media. Community and faith leaders said hateful rhetoric is fueling harassment and threats, and spreading fear among Somali Minnesotans. Imam Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of the Islamic Association of North America, said recent ‘attacks did not come out of nowhere. They are fueled by years of reckless rhetoric, political scapegoating, and media narratives that repeatedly associate Somalis with crime, danger and social problems.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pf5xoY
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)
CONFLICTS
ELLISON V. OIL: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration’s latest lawsuit against Minnesota aims to short-circuit a six-year effort by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office to hold two fossil-fuel companies and the industry’s top U.S. trade association accountable for what Ellison calls ‘a campaign of deception’ targeting his constituents. The two-term Democrat told the Reformer he won’t be cowed.” QUOTE: “This case has been pending for six years because the industry has been throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us,” he said. “Ellison won’t quit — never.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4twRqK3
BIRDS V. SIGN: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “In real estate, the saying goes: location, location, location. A pair of ospreys nesting above Highway 12 in Wayzata apparently agrees — and no amount of orange cones was going to change their minds. The birds have built a nest on a green road sign structure along Hwy. 12, a spot MnDOT had planned to remove and replace as part of ongoing road construction. The agency worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in March to secure a permit. The department said it carefully removed the nest after confirming no eggs or baby birds were present.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4twYcPD
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)
THE CITIES
SURVEY: Via Friends of the Saint Paul Skyway, results of a survey of skyway users:
See the survey summary HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4tsKxta Full results HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4noERPh
THE GROUP: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Nancy Kehmeier, a resident of the Landmark Tower condominiums, loves downtown St. Paul’s elaborate, climate-controlled skyway system, which runs five miles and 47 blocks of interconnected floors and bridges two stories above ground level . . . But she’s the first to acknowledge that one of downtown’s greatest selling points for residents, especially seniors, has struggled since even before the onset of the pandemic . . . Alarmed by growing difficulties for skyway-level residents, workers and shop owners, Kehmeier joined forces with fellow skyway denizens to launch Friends of the Skyway in January. Part advocacy group, part social network, the nonprofit association, alternately known as Friends of the St. Paul Skyway, maintains an elaborate website (SkywayFriends.org) with online maps, invitations to group dinners and social hours, and new survey results highlighting the pleasures and pains associated with skyway living.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u65Rpq
REAL ESTATE: Via Fortune, a Redfin data analysis identified the hottest neighborhoods in the country – six are in the Midwest. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u5fncc
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Family Festival (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
AIRPORT: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports the leases on 48 shops, restaurants, and coffee spots are set to expire in the next two years. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uEpXXF
TARGET: Via Marketing Tech, VERBATIM: “Target is testing its AI Trend Brain tool to help apparel teams identify fashion trends and adjust product decisions more quickly. The tool was introduced earlier this spring and is being rolled out to designers working on Target’s own brands, including Wild Fable and Universal Thread. It uses inputs like social media content, runway images, and purchasing trends to help the retailer assess where fashion demand may be heading. Target has been using Trend Brain in apparel, including swimwear, a category where the company wants to maintain its market share.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4trTCCo
PROMOTIONS: Via SGB Media, VERBATIM: “Target promoted Gena Fox to SVP of design; Tara Russell to SVP of merchandising, apparel and accessories; and Sarah McMullin to SVP of owned brands product operations and manufacturing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uGaRRh
ANI: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ANIP) on Friday reported first-quarter profit of $29.5 million. The Baudette, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of $1.28 per share . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The drugmaker posted revenue of $237.5 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d3mMTp
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 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 2026 third quarter ended March 31, 2026, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 after the close of the stock market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48qqjIU
WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Regis, VERBATIM: “Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM:RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, will issue financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, before the market opens on May 13, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48MROwh
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THIS WEEKEND: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There’s a certain rhythm to Northeast Minneapolis in May—streets buzzing, doors open, and creativity spilling into every corner. As Art-A-Whirl takes over the neighborhood, Earl Giles once again leans into the moment with the return of Earl-A-Whirl Market & Bizarre and Earl-A-Weed (1325 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis), a three-day event that captures the intersection of art, culture, and community in one place.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pu1Dc5
BDAYS: Walmart’s Lisa Nelson, Rep. Brad Tabke, lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel, communication pro Dennis Stauffer, lobbyist Lori Grivna, marketer Ruth Glaser
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