40% of American adults say the current economy is poor, up from 37% in October. 27% say the economy is improving, down four points from October. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/48xqbGt
A vehicle crashed into a natural gas pipe in Douglas County overnight – roads are closed and residents are evacuated. UPDATE: https://fluence-media.co/4rDezKM
A mountain lion sighting led to a lockdown of a Duluth middle school Wednesday. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3KI8Qmp
UST president Rob Vischer is TCB’s Twin Cities Business Person of the Year. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/44tRmRF
Tickets for TwinsFest are now on sale. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/3MaLrdX
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Kxc6ko
Sunday Take on WCCO Radio this week was a recap of Thanksgiving week and previews what to watch this holiday season and into 2026. And a replay the recent interview he had with the new Saint Paul Mayor - elect Kaohly Her. The take focuses on how to revitalize our urban neighborhoods – especially St. Paul. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pa02oi
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Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
First up: commuting. A new report from transportation analytics company INRIX ranks Minneapolis 209th on its Global Traffic Scorecard – we’ll lose an average of 32 hours sitting in traffic this year, up 23% from last year and 68% from 2023. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pt3fQ3
FORECAST
THE NUMBERS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota budget analysts project the state will have a surplus of nearly $2.5 billion in the current budget and a deficit of just under $3 billion in the next, a significant shift compared to a more bleak outlook of the state’s fiscal health earlier this year. Officials released topline figures early Thursday morning and were expected to detail the results at noon. The topline results show more money in the state’s current fiscal biennium and a looming deficit of half the size previously projected. But the budget lawmakers passed this summer did not cut that deficit by as much as previously hoped.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KdHmFf
DETAILS: Via MMB, VERBATIM: “A better-than-expected fiscal year close and higher near-term revenue collections, partially offset by increased spending estimates, result in a projected surplus of $2.465 billion in the current biennium. Higher health care costs and slow economic growth drive an increased structural imbalance in the FY 2028-29 planning estimates where the balance is now projected to be negative $2.960 billion. Total general fund reserves remain strong and at their statutory target of $3.771 billion.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48RSYXG
MORE: From MMB’s presentation:
SLIDE DECK: https://fluence-media.co/48mPrkc
JOBS: From the MMB forecast report, VERBATIM: “We forecast limited growth in employment, as we did in the February forecast. The state’s unemployment rate remains below the national rate, and we anticipate that this will continue throughout the forecast period. Minnesota’s job market remains favorable to job seekers, with more vacancies than unemployed workers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48QD6Vk
REACTION:
QUALLS: From GOP candidate for governor Kendall Qualls via X, VERBATIM: “After destroying our budget and losing billions in fraud, one thing is clear -- Tim Walz has no business near our state’s finances. Minnesota is one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation and its driving away families and businesses to neighboring states. We need a business leader like me in the Governor’s office.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/44aACP4
MMB is currently presenting its forecast at a news conference. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rDAlyb
Growing health care costs is listed as a driver of the higher spending forecast. We’ll explore that in more detail later today in health take.
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)
BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA
EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, from Minnesota-based companies:
HORMEL: “Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) on Thursday reported a loss of $56.1 million in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Austin, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 10 cents per share . . . The results exceeded Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of Spam canned ham, Dinty Moore stew and other foods posted revenue of $3.19 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4avLLOi
DONALDSON: “Donaldson Co. (DCI) on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $113.9 million. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 97 cents . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The maker of filtration systems posted revenue of $935.4 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oKZSmA
MORE ON HORMEL: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Hormel Foods logged higher sales in its fiscal fourth quarter, but the company swung to a loss as profitability remains under pressure due in part to ongoing cost inflation. Interim Chief Executive Jeff Ettinger on Thursday said the food company behind brands including Planters, Skippy and Spam has taken steps that aim to improve profitability, such as targeted price increases, reductions in administrative expenses and continued modernization investments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MgHy78
MINING: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “On the outskirts of the tiny town of Emily, a company called North Star Manganese has drilled more than two dozen holes, hundreds of feet below the surface. Geologists have spent the past five years studying the rock and mapping the mineral deposit deep underground. The results, they say, are incredibly promising. The deposit, the company claims, is the highest-grade deposit of manganese in North America. It’s a critical resource nowadays, as the metal is in increasingly needed to make batteries for everything from electric bikes, boats, buses and cars, to vacuums, leaf blowers and power tools. And right now, there is no other active manganese mine operating anywhere in the U.S. . . . But the prospect of a mine less than two miles from downtown Emily, in an area surrounded by clear lakes and quiet cabins, has many local residents alarmed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUpuOR
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)
COMMUNITY RISING
AIRPORT: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Over a hundred people rallied in 17-degree weather for over an hour outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to protest deportation flights that regularly fly out. Nick Benson, a photographer and longtime planespotter, said that deportation flights have been happening regularly on Wednesdays for years, though have been absent the past two Wednesdays, including the day of the rally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MEANMp
ST CLOUD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “More than 100 people gathered in St. Cloud on Wednesday for an event aimed at showing community solidarity, following President Donald Trump’s disparaging remarks about Somalis. Somali residents and other community members said they felt compelled to speak out against what they call the president’s unfair and divisive rhetoric, in which he called Somalis ‘garbage’ and said they contribute nothing. A sign on the podium read, ‘An attack on one is an attack on all.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a1WNLb
RELATED: The Associated Press put together a summary of the troubled recent history of Somalia as well as the current situation there. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pH66Vk
RELATED: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Immigration agents in Minnesota face significant obstacles. The pool of people that meet the criteria for removal is relatively small since the vast majority of Somalis in Minnesota have legal status in the United States. And this week, Minnesotans are grappling with severely cold weather, which may limit how much time agents can spend outdoors searching for people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pO9mOI
FLOYD SQUARE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “An influential grassroots group has released a proposal it hopes will resolve a years-long debate over the future of George Floyd Square — and it wouldn’t involve a pedestrian mall. The big picture: The Minneapolis City Council has been studying pedestrianizing the square for the past year, delaying city officials’ plans that would’ve installed permanent infrastructure around Floyd’s memorial. The fight has become a vessel for at least five years of pent-up frustration among activists, neighbors and business owners living at the epicenter of a global racial reckoning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ptVoS8
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
CAR TAX: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new formula for vehicle registration taxes led to a 22% increase in the amount drivers paid in the first year of the changes. Why it matters: When state Democrats passed the new tax structure in 2023, it wasn’t clear how much it would cost motorists. But an Axios analysis shows it amounted to an increase of $170 million in 2024, most of which was paid by owners of newer vehicles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MlfShl
ENERGY ASSISTANCE: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Thousands of Minnesota households will now be able to receive energy assistance after a monthlong delay caused by the federal government shutdown. The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Wednesday said they’d received $112.7 million in federal funds for the energy assistance program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4osYLrf
SCHOOLS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Robbinsdale City Council members heard from Robbinsdale School District Superintendent Teri Staloch on recommendations for school closures at their meeting this week. The superintendent’s presentation offered a painful realization: Robbinsdale could lose both its schools to closure. ‘I don’t want you to think we’re leading without empathy,’ said Staloch, who took over as superintendent in 2024 as the district faced a budget crisis. The Robbinsdale School District is expected to close two elementary schools and one middle school. The closures are part of a state-mandated plan to get the district out of statutory operating debt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/446WlY6
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: About the Pine Bend refinery. (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
AROUND THE STATE
13B: Via WJON-Radio, VERBATIM: “The list of St. Cloud area lawmakers calling it a career continues to grow. State Representative Tim O’Driscoll of Sartell has announced he will not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House in 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44BUzyo
31B: Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) this morning announced she’s running for reelection.
SD44: Civil rights attorney Leslie Lienemann is running for Senate District 44, currently represented by DFLer Tou Xiong. She last ran in 2022 and finished third in the DFL primary.
AIRPLANE: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Wednesday marked 49 days since a pilot from Roseau had his plane seized by Red Lake Nation authorities after making an emergency landing within the reservation. The pilot is now arguing for his plane back since he still hasn’t been officially charged with anything. Darrin Smedsmo was flying from Roseau to Bemidji on Oct. 15 when the plane’s engine seized, forcing Smedsmo to make an emergency landing on the west side of Lower Red Lake. When tribal authorities arrived to help with the situation, they cited a 1978 resolution prohibiting the flying of airplanes less than 20,000 feet over the Red Lake Reservation and then seized and impounded the airplane.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XBXUtv
MEDIA: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Cities 97.1 entertained listeners in an unexpected fashion on Tuesday night. In what appeared to be a technical error around 7:30 p.m., the station began looping a few seconds from Max McNown‘s ‘A Lot More Free.’ The short loop of harmonica and guitar played without stopping for more than two hours, creating a viral moment — or at least what passes for one in 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pJKRSD
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor out this morning shows no improvement over last week – 30% of the state is in drought, 4% severe drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
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)
NEW BUSINESS
DISTILLING: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “There’s a through line from 11 Wells Spirits, which resided in St. Paul’s Hamm’s Brewery complex from 2013 to quite recently, and Volière Spirits, the distillery that opened there this December. That through line is lead distiller Seth Reid, who worked at 11 Wells in its early years and has now returned to the space, the former Hamm’s blacksmith and millwright shop, as it enters a new chapter as Volière.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4awVhk9
RETAIL: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Gucci has opened its doors in the luxury wing at Southdale Center, adding another shop to the recently updated Edina mall. The luxury brand’s first standalone boutique in the Twin Cities is almost 8,000 square feet, according to an announcement from Southdale.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUjOo1
HOLIDAY MARKETS: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Across the state, festive markets transform into crossroads of tradition, where handmade treasures meet authentic flavors and community spirit.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3MhTDcj
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Only recently reopened following a spring fire that closed the shop for much of the year, the Herbivorous Butcher is roaring back during its first month open. The vegan butcher in Northeast Minneapolis will appear on the Dec. 5 episode of Food Network’s ‘Triple D Nation,’ a spin on Guy Fieri‘s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ that revisits restaurants from past episodes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oFEmPX
TOMORROW: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “It should come as no surprise that Craig Taborn is now semi-officially a ‘genius,’ having been one of 22 ‘creative people’ awarded a 2025 MacArthur Fellowship this past October . . . Raised in Golden Valley, Taborn, now 55, is back in town on Friday night as part of Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra at the Walker Art Center, a venue frequently cited by Taborn as a major influence growing up and a place that has in turn hosted more than one event where he has played with numerous groups (and solo) over the course of a single evening.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49SqGNO
NEXT WEEK: Via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Hear what construction firms from across the Federal Reserve’s Ninth District have to say about recent construction activity and the near-term outlook during a webinar Friday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Central.”
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BDAYS: civic leader John Stanoch, photographer Jerry Holt, golfer and writer Jerry Zgoda, editor Nicole Lee-Norfleet
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
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