Snow tonight could make tomorrow’s commute difficult. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/3Bpcc9k
1 in 5 Americans admit they drink and drive during the holidays. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41yPKoG
Dunwoody College of Technology is celebrating 110 years. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4iq2GTX
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4grz6f7
On Sunday Take, U of MN President Rebecca Cunningham shared legislative priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BkGFFq
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
AUDIT: Via Legislative Auditor, VERBATIM: “The Department of Human Services did not comply with the significant finance-related legal requirements we tested and generally had inadequate internal controls. The more significant instances of noncompliance and internal control weakness were in the areas of recovering outstanding provider dept and accurately reporting the accounts receivable amount on the state’s financial statements . . .
· The Department of Human Services has not attempted to recover over $40 million in outstanding overpayments to Medical Assistance providers’ accounts.
· The Department of Human Services is planning to forgo recovery of outstanding provider debt that may still be recoverable.
· The Department of Human Services has not accurately reported its accounts receivable balance to Minnesota Management and Budget for inclusion in the state’s financial statements since 2019.
· The Department of Human Services was unable to provide adequate data to enable us to confirm the outstanding provider balances.”
READ: https://fluence-media.co/41L5Dc7
TOMORROW: Via Office of Cannabis Management, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will announce its next steps to launch Minnesota’s cannabis industry following a Ramsey County District Court judge’s decision to stay the cannabis license preapproval lottery originally scheduled for Nov. 26. OCM remains committed to launching an equitable, sustainable, and responsible cannabis marketplace in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gtEu1m
PRODUCING FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers s 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)
MEDIA: From Adam Platt via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “In October, the Star Tribune launched its Local News Fund, a charitable fund under the umbrella of the Minneapolis Foundation. The endeavor puts the newspaper into a new niche of nonprofit media, joining the ranks of MinnPost, Sahan Journal, Minnesota Public Radio, and the Minnesota Reformer, to name a few. The Strib’s quirk is it is not transitioning to a nonprofit; it’s just created a vehicle for tax deductibility, something funders and high-net-worth individuals expect. Why does the newspaper need donations? Well, like all legacy media, the Strib struggles with an atrophying revenue model rooted in the loss of traditional advertising and circulation sources.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iFcqtQ
SCSU: From Lauren Breunig via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Mikhail Blinnikov put down roots in St. Cloud 25 years ago. He and his wife raised their two sons here, and he spent more than two decades educating St. Cloud State University geography students and conducting research. However, since SCSU cut the geography program in June, he is unsure how much longer he will be able to stay in the community he has come to care about . . . Blinnikov and other university faculty whose programs have been cut are facing an uncertain future. Some of his colleagues have found jobs in the private sector or moved out of the area to find work, he said. But the end result could be a mass exodus of institutional knowledge, which would negatively affect the university and the community, Blinnikov said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49zwqdg
LIST: Minneapolis-based Thrivent is among ten companies on Fast Company’s list of “brands that matter.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3D1Azu3
VITAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT FUELS THE FUTURE OF THIS WISCONSIN TRIBE - In 2017, one of the “glaring needs” for the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, in northwest Wisconsin, was an expanded wastewater treatment facility. “It was at capacity. We were not able to expand any of our businesses or facilities,” says Jason, the LCO Band’s Emergency Management Coordinator. With the support of Enbridge and several other partners, the LCO Band quadrupled its wastewater treatment capacity—allowing for creation of a new preschool, fire hall, 40-unit apartment complex, police headquarters and, still to come, health clinic and new residential community. “I’m very grateful for the partnership we’ve developed with Enbridge,” says Jason. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49v4mHc (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
DULUTH: From Hayley Raatsi and Ryan Hayes via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “After much controversy, the Duluth City Council has approved an out-of-state firm for their next tourism marketer. On Monday, the council approved Arizona-based Madden Media as the city’s new tourism firm for the next two years after an 8-1 vote. Duluth City Council President Roz Randorf voted yes, but said she felt her hands were tied on the matter.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BnKNEI
WAYZATA: Via Wayzata West Metro Chamber, VERBATIM: “For 85 years, the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce has been a cornerstone for business connections and community growth in the Twin Cities’ western suburbs. Today, the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber proudly unveils a bold new identity: Wayzata West Metro Chamber, complete with a fresh logo that captures its vibrant vision for the future. The new name reflects the Chamber’s deep roots in Wayzata while embracing its expanding membership across neighboring communities.”
AMPHITHEATER: From Christine Schuster via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A 19,000-capacity amphitheater set to open in Shakopee next year will be operated by Live Nation, the venue's developer said Monday. The amphitheater will become one of Minnesota's largest outdoor music venues and the crown jewel of the 140-acre Canterbury Commons development, which has transformed the land surrounding Canterbury Park into a new hub for entertainment, dining, housing and commercial offices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OP1ewN
RESORT: From Dan Kraker via MPR, VERBATIM: “The backers of a controversial, $45 million proposed resort expansion outside Ely and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness have asked a judge to withdraw their permits, after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sued to block the project. Owners of the more than century-old Silver Rapids Lodge, between White Iron and Farm Lakes, proposed building a new lodge and restaurant, renovating a motel, and building 49 new ‘fractional share’ cabins, each of which would have four different owners. While some area residents supported cleaning up and updating the historic resort, others decried the development, saying it would bring increased visitor and boat traffic to a quiet area near the wilderness.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f8eRC3
SUPER BOWL AD: Via General Mills, VERBATIM: “On February 9, Totino’s Pizza Rolls will tackle the 2025 Big Game with a touchdown-worthy debut. For the first time, football fans will see Totino’s Pizza Rolls in prime time on sport’s biggest night, marking General Mills’ return to the Big Game after more than a decade.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4grzbzw
NEXT WEEK: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Please join us for this complimentary webinar to learn about agrotechnology market opportunities in Central Asia for small—to medium-sized companies in the State of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gcpsgQ
NEXT MONTH: From Minneapolis-based Apogee via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) will report its fiscal 2025 third quarter results on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, before the market opens. The Company will also host a conference call to discuss its financial results. This conference call will be webcast beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, on January 7, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BnpfIf
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
FARM BILL: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Senior agriculture lawmakers are still battling over a deal to extend the current 2018 farm bill. And time is running out. Lawmakers are facing down a Dec. 31 deadline when key farm programs expire. Democratic and Republican negotiators agree they have to attach a one-year extension of the current 2018 farm bill to the year-end funding stopgap Congress needs to pass before Dec. 20. But negotiators are locked in a tense back and forth over the details of the agreement, and what extra farm aid funding they may include.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f8LRdA
TAXES: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is engaged as Congress prepares to write a new tax bill in 2025. NCBA president-elect Buck Wehrbein says there are several provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that expire next year. ‘We call it the death tax, the estate tax, that that stays where it is or is improved upon. And (Congress) is talking about some other deductions and things like that, and if we can get the bill as it stands now that is a good thing.’ The Nebraska custom feedlot operator tells Brownfield those tax provisions were important to President-elect Trump during his first term.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41xlZEK
BIRD FLU: Via Los Angeles Times, VERBATIM: “Health officials in Marin County are investigating a possible H5N1 bird flu case in a child. Officials have been investigating since last week and are working with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine how the child was exposed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41JIYwP
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters
CIRCLE K: Via CStoreDecisions, VERBATIM: “Circle K recently announced that it has signed lease agreements for three distribution centers in Midwestern U.S. as part of its strategic effort to optimize its merchandise supply chain. Circle K plans to contract out all warehouse and distribution operations at these sites to leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers with expertise in supporting convenience and other small format retailers. The company expects to award 3PL contracts before the end of the year. Located in Otsego, Minn., Lockbourne, Ohio, and Hazelwood, Mo., the three distribution centers average approximately 266,000 square feet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g5LXUB
SOLAR: From Fergus Falls-based Otter Tail via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR), plans to add two solar facilities to its energy generation fleet to meet customers’ future energy needs. On December 9, 2024 the company requested Minnesota Public Utilities Commission determination that the costs associated with Solway Solar and Abercrombie Solar are eligible for cost recovery.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41rkcRC
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FIELD TRIP: From Sarah Alain via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Fifth graders from Weaver Lake Elementary School recently received some real-world experience. The students took a field trip to Junior Achievement BizTown North. The hands-on learning site in St. Paul welcomes students to spend a day managing a simulated town. The kid-size city is complete with a bank, city hall and medical research facility. Students even elect a mayor from their grade. But this is more than just a make-believe city.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OP3ofT
BDAYS: WCCO-TV’s Jennifer Mayerle, lobbyist Melissa Reed, Supreme Ct. Justice Paul Thissen, Du Nord’s Jennifer Pennington
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 © 2024 Business Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427