A Twin Cities reporter shares her experience using AI to help create meals. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gcaMOK
A “messy storm” could land in the Twin Cities this weekend. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4gxzOYp
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BpVRRS
On Sunday Take, U of MN President Rebecca Cunningham shared legislative priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BkGFFq
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
CANNABIS: From Ryan Faircloth via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota cannabis regulators announced Wednesday they will no longer hold an early lottery for social equity applicants seeking business licenses in the new marijuana market, a move that could affect the rollout of the industry. The decision comes after a Ramsey County judge blocked the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from holding a license preapproval lottery after several applicants filed lawsuits claiming they were unfairly denied entrance to the pool. A lawyer representing the OCM had warned the judge that a delay could force the office to abandon the preapproval lottery entirely. The license preapproval lottery for social equity applicants was meant to give veterans, residents of high-poverty areas and people negatively affected by cannabis prohibition a head start in the new industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41v1RU6
MORE: From Kyle Brown via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “OCM officials had previously said the recreational cannabis market would be up and running by the first quarter of next year. OCM Interim Director Charlene Briner said the decision to end the preapproval process is meant to prevent any further delays to market launch.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Vv2M2X
MORE: Via news release from Blunt Strategies, VERBATIM: “A group of businesses approved for Minnesota’s cannabis license preapproval lottery has filed a writ of prohibition with the Minnesota Court of Appeals to challenge a stay issued last month by a district court judge that brought the preapproval lottery to an indefinite halt the day before it was scheduled to take place.” QUOTE: “This stay not only delays the progress of Minnesota’s cannabis market but undermines the very principles of equity and readiness that the legislature built into the preapproval process,” said Leili Fatehi, spokesperson for the petitioners. “The preapproval lottery was designed to ensure the most operationally ready social equity applicants could overcome systemic barriers and lead the market’s development. By halting this process, the court’s decision harms those applicants, disrupts market stability, and delays efforts to combat illicit markets. We need swift action to lift the stay, protect the integrity of Minnesota’s cannabis program, and uphold the legislative intent that prioritizes equity and public safety.” WRIT: https://fluence-media.co/41Neo5t
TIMBERWOLVES: Via NBA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Timberwolves, KARE 11, TEGNA’s NBC affiliate serving the Twin Cities, and FanDuel Sports Network are partnering to simulcast five home games this season giving fans a variety of options to watch Timberwolves basketball. This marks the first time the Timberwolves have aired on local, free over-the-air television since 2012 and the first time on KARE 11’s airwaves since a nine-year run from 1992-93 through 2000-01.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fiPqxz
INFLATION: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Inflation picked up slightly in November, according to data released Wednesday by the Labor Department, but likely not by enough to derail the Federal Reserve’s plans for another rate cut. Consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in November and 2.7 percent over the past 12 months, according to new Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41MJD0v
PATTERSON: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “[Mendota Heights-based] Patterson Companies has agreed to be taken private for about $4.1 billion by health investment firm Patient Square Capital, the animal and dental health equipment supplier said on Wednesday. The $31.35 per share offer represents a premium of 35.7% to the stock's last close. Shares were trading at $31 after markets opened . . . Earlier this month, Minnesota-based Patterson said it was evaluating strategic alternatives, including a sale or merger, after trimming its annual profit forecast.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DalpTu
MORE: From Patterson via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Upon completion of the transaction, Patterson will become a privately held company, and its common stock will no longer be traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (Nasdaq). Patterson will maintain its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZMkzF8
PRISON: From Ryan Hayes via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Last week the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced the Federal Prison Camp Duluth (FPC Duluth) will be deactivated. Employees of the prison camp are being told they’ll be able to relocate to the Federal Correctional Institution, Sandstone (FCI Sandstone) but union leaders said it may not be that simple. Ruark Hotopp is the National Vice President for District Eight of the American Federation of Government Employees. He said FCI Sandstone is unlikely to be able to take on all of FPC Duluth’s employees.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3VAfyNs
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
RESTAURANT FEES: From Nick Halter via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota restaurants are grappling with how to adapt to a new state law that will ban them from adding fees to customers' checks. Why it matters: The so-called junk fees law begins Jan. 1 and prevents businesses from tacking on all kinds of charges at the end of a transaction. The one most people will quickly notice is at restaurants, where adding a 3%-5% health and wellness fee has become common in the Twin Cities. The new law allows restaurants to add an automatic gratuity, but it must be clearly labeled and go to the wait staff. It also allows taxes, shipping and delivery charges to be added.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OT2hvT
MPLS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council passed a 2025 budget late Tuesday night. The $1.88 billion budget passed after the council added more than 70 amendments to Mayor Jacob Frey’s proposed budget — a process which began last week. The adopted budget includes a 6.9 percent property tax levy increase, which is lower than the 8.1 percent increase proposed by the mayor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gxzyZr
DULUTH: From Dan Hanger via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “The city of Duluth’s largest employee union, AFSCME Local 66, voted Tuesday to authorize a strike, demanded ‘fair wages and dignity’ and called on Mayor Roger Reinert to fix it. AFSCME called the city’s next contract offer ‘insulting, inadequate and unacceptable,’ according to a news release. The union said the police and fire departments got 8% market adjustment to their wages without any concessions in their last contracts. But for AFSCME, union officials said the city proposed a 1% market adjustment in the first year and 6% over three years, while demanding concessions.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49umgdR
ORCHESTRA: From Ross Raihala via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra announced a balanced budget for the fiscal year ending June 30 at its annual meeting of members on Tuesday. It marks the orchestra’s 29th balanced budget out of the past 31 years. The group made a planned dip into its Rainy Day Fund to achieve the goal. The SPCO has seen a significant decrease in corporate and foundation support, a high inflationary environment and a significant decline in subscription revenue since 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41pg6cX
BEER: From Mitch Keegan via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “After more than 12 years in business, The Mankato Brewery announced it will be closing. In a post on Facebook, owner Tim Tupy said the brewery and taproom will be closing after the final pints and merchandise have been sold. Back in August, Tupy announced plans to retire along with plans to sell the business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BlNaIc
MHA NATION-ENBRIDGE AGREEMENT: “IT’S AN AWESOME DAY” - Enbridge has sold its Plaza/Wabek Pipeline in North Dakota to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, paving the way for the MHA Nation to become the first Tribal shipper on the Enbridge liquids pipeline network. The pipeline will “create an avenue” from the MHA Nation’s Thunder Butte facility, notes Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation, “to move our very valuable assets and resources to the marketplace.” Adds Bernie Fox, Thunder Butte’s CEO: “I’m thankful to Enbridge, because now they’re part of our history. They’re our partner.” As part of Enbridge’s Indigenous inclusion strategy, “we want to provide even more opportunities,” says Mike Koby, VP of our U.S. Liquids Pipelines group, “to partner with the MHA Nation and other Tribal communities along our operations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47ozrun (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
MICE: From Alex Chhith via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Temperatures are dropping and many Wisconsin and Minnesota residents are noticing more mice . . . But the mouse population isn’t necessarily exploding everywhere. John Loegering, an Extension wildlife specialist at the University of Minnesota Crookston, said he hasn’t received more calls about mice this year. ‘There might be more favorable conditions in the regions where people are noticing them,’ he said. Stephen Kells, a U professor who studies arthropod and rodent pests in structures and nonfarm stored products, also said he hasn’t seen evidence of a mouse influx.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g5fuxu
WASTEWATER: From Matthew Freeman via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “According to a study done by the Northern Township Board, there is a desperate need for improvements to the septic systems in Northern Township, with potentially up to 70% of current septic tanks in the area being over 25 years old. The Northern Township Board is currently seeking to implement a mechanical plant along Lake Bemidji to help with the issue and centralize wastewater management for the township. The total cost of Phase 1 of the project alone will be a little under $13 million dollars, with $6 million of that being paid for with grants and township road funds. But what many residents of the township have a problem with is where the rest of the money will come from.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49vOxAK
PRAIRIE ISLAND: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant will have a large emergency responder presence on Wednesday. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is working alongside other Minnesota state and local agencies. Wisconsin state and local agencies will also be involved in the simulation drill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g8A8gl
BROOKLYN CENTER: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Social Security Administration has plans to open up a new office in Brooklyn Center, bringing expanded services to the northwest suburbs. Currently, Social Security card services are only available at three metro locations in Minneapolis, Bloomington and St. Paul. However, the new Brooklyn Center office would offer card services along with benefits assistance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OO7iFM
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
EV: From Tina Nguyen via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “When Brian Altstatt went looking for a used electric vehicle in 2019, specifically a Tesla Model S, he found that a marketplace for secondhand EVs essentially didn’t exist. Popular used car sites might have had EV listings, but they lacked specifics, such as filters and charging specs. For Altstatt and co-founder Dan Oksnevad, both with tech backgrounds, the path was obvious. They launched Find My Electric (FME), a used-EV marketplace, in 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OQCzbb
MY PILLOW: From Brooks Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “MyPillow and CEO Mike Lindell are suing another merchant cash advance company over an allegedly illegal loan. The Chaska-based manufacturer borrowed $1.5 million from Cobalt Funding Solutionsin September and agreed to make 50 daily payments for a total repayment of $2.2 million, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Carver County District Court. The resulting 409% interest rate is ‘many times greater than the maximum interest rate permitted under the applicable state usury law,’ the suit says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZthlFf
MEDIA: From Brooks Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Star Tribune’s top editor, Suki Dardarian, is retiring in February after more than a decade at the news organization and 43 years in journalism. During her tenure, the Star Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize and was named a finalist for the prestigious award multiple times for work that served Minnesotans and fueled changes to state law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OPNQsw
NEXT YEAR: From Emma Salomon via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Bundle up and get ready for the annual celebration of all things Minnesotan—The Great Northern Festival is coming back, from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2. This festival honors cherished winter traditions, from saunas and outdoor activities to thought-provoking art and music, while fostering important conversations on climate change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gvCUvK
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
WEIGHT: From Andy Steiner via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “When Covid restrictions eased and [Nancy Manther] was able to go back to the doctor for a checkup, she told clinic staff that she had just completed treatment for anorexia and didn’t want to see her weight. ‘I stood backwards on the scale,’ she said. Clinic staffers were good about accommodating this request, Manther recalled, ‘except when they gave me the after-visit summary, and my weight and BMI were printed right at the top’ . . . So Manther fired off an email to Sameer Badlani, MD, executive vice president and chief strategy and digital officer at Fairview Health Services, telling him about her experience and requesting that the health system somehow adjust their policies . . . Badlani took Manther’s request seriously and pulled together teams of M Health Fairview employees to address her concern. The change happened surprisingly quickly.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BcDn7j
AI: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “A child in Texas was 9 years old when she first used the chatbot service Character.AI. It exposed her to ‘hypersexualized content,’ causing her to develop ‘sexualized behaviors prematurely.’ A chatbot on the app gleefully described self-harm to another young user, telling a 17-year-old ‘it felt good.’ The same teenager was told by a Character.AI chatbot that it sympathized with children who murder their parents after the teen complained to the bot about his limited screen time . . . These allegations are included in a new federal product liability lawsuit against Google-backed company Character.AI, filed by the parents of two young Texas users, claiming the bots abused their children.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZNYrKw
SHOOTING: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “For years, patients in the U.S. health care system have grown frustrated with a bureaucracy they don’t understand. Doctors are included in an insurer’s network one year but not the next. Getting someone on the phone to help can be next to impossible. Coverage of care and prescriptions is often unceremoniously denied. This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZMqmuu
DRESSERS: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “Many are taking part in this year’s season of giving, including a Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer. Burt Blyleven and members of the Twins’ front office partnered with Bridging to assemble about 30 dressers in an effort to help others.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZxReNB
CULTURAL CORRIDORS: From Myah Goff via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “This fall, the city awarded $690,000 to projects in seven cultural corridors, including Franklin Avenue East, where grants were focused on Native storytelling and cultural heritage.
Other corridors included East Lake Street, Cedar Avenue, 38th Street, West Broadway, Lowry Avenue and Central Avenue. Each district is supported by a ‘Cultural District ambassador,’ who receives up to $15,000 over 12 months to empower local artists, support organizations and facilitate community projects through quarterly meet-ups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OOEJbC
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DULUTH: From Hayley Raatsi via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Developers broke ground on Tuesday for a $500 million project in Duluth, hoping to create growth and opportunity for the city. The historic project, Incline Village, will be built at the former site of Duluth Central High School. One of Duluth’s most scenic overlooks will become home to more than 1,300 multi-family market-rate condos and apartments, retail shops, and green space.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZNS0r2
BEMIDJI: From Sydney Dick via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce held its 117th annual gala last Thursday, and this year they had their biggest turnout ever with over 250 people in attendance.” QUOTE: “It’s important to bring our businesses together,” said Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Brad Olson, “because again, if there’s issues that come up that they want their voices to be heard, sometimes it’s better to have that and with more people to be able to do that versus you going out on your own, and so this is a place to bring everyone together.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41AvH9o
BREAD & BUTTER: From Cam Bonelli via Minne Inno, VERBATIM: “Venture capital firm Bread & Butter Ventures has promoted Stephanie Rich to partner. Rich served as the head of platforms, where she led post-investment support efforts such as building and designing resources, tools and networks to the firm's portfolio companies and founders for four years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4inNo22
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
UNION DEPOT: From Madison Bloomquist via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Union Depot, built in Lowertown St. Paul in 1926 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, has long been a destination for events and travel—but although stores, coffee shops, and restaurants have haunted its halls for decades, it’s been a while since it’s felt this buzzy, Union Depot general manager Lindsay Boyd says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g8EW5k
BDAYS: lobbyist David Prestwood, nonprofit Laura Hameed, conservative host Mitch Berg
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