An Iran-linked hacker group says it got access to FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email – the FBI confirmed a breech. REUTERS: https://fluence-media.co/4sNA77C
As of 9:15 this morning, wait times for TSA checkpoints at MSP were 5-10 minutes. UPDATES: https://fluence-media.co/4vdyX7p
At a St. Paul brewery, MPR found Minnesotans getting their signs ready for tomorrow’s No Kings rally. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vdxfmv
Bring Me The News has logistical information for those attending the rally in St. Paul and a list of others around the state. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4s4m50p
WCCO-Radio talked this morning with St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell about planning for tomorrow. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bVmCvz
Wisconsin, like us, will elect a new governor this year. A new poll finds 65% of voters are undecided. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4sBtd5o
It’s BACK…the TwinWest Legislative Breakfast on April 17, featuring Sen. Min. Ldr. Mark Johnson, DFL House leader. Jamie Long, Sen Asst. Maj. Ldr.. Nick Frentz and House GOP Ldr. Harry Niska in a mid-session discussion moderated by Blois Olson and presented by Fluence Advisory. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/4lWWmFM
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Sunday Take featured GOP Rep. Jon Koznick and DFL Sen. Scott Dibble discussing transportation in Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4t1X5aP
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
A BUSY FRIDAY
SURVEY: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “One in four Minneapolis residents and one in five St. Paul residents encountered an ICE or Border Patrol agent during Operation Metro Surge, a new survey found. Why it matters: The university-backed poll is a stunning measure of how deeply the immigration enforcement surge disrupted daily life in the Twin Cities . . . Residents’ reports suggest agents ‘frequently engaged in broad, non-targeted stops,’ wrote Tom Wong, who authored the survey for the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at UC San Diego.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sJnpHm
MORE: Via UC San Diego, from the survey:
READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dHXcnG
CHILD CARE: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Many child care providers in the Twin Cities metro area reported closing unexpectedly and more absences between December and February, driven by safety concerns from the incursion of 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota. Waves of seasonal sickness also contributed to the closures. Think Small, a Minnesota early education advocacy non-profit, sent an anonymous survey to 1,800 of the roughly 2,300 child care providers in the seven-county metro. Of those, 317 responded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NFhZ0F
MORE: Via Think Small, from the survey:
READ: https://fluence-media.co/47WCE7c INFOGRAPHIC: https://fluence-media.co/3PzDb8S
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)
ENERGY
DATA CENTERS: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota utilities set to power two proposed Google data centers near Rochester and Duluth say the massive computing facilities won’t raise regular customers’ electricity bills. There’s good reason to believe them, at least in the near term. That’s because Gov. Tim Walz signed a law last year creating a separate class of ‘very large’ utility customers separate from residential, commercial and most industrial customers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tgc69q
DIESEL/GAS: Via Mankato Free Press, VERBATIM: “As an independent truck driver who puts on up to 600 miles a day, Guy Johnson regards himself as lucky when it comes to skyrocketing diesel gas prices. ‘My truck is paid for so I’m pretty blessed that way,’ he said. ‘I drive slower and I don’t drive over 65. You get better gas mileage that way.’ Johnson is based in Andover and drives through Mankato every week or so. He estimates he’s paying $4.65 to $5 a gallon for diesel, depending on the state where he’s gassing up. AAA reports that the average price for diesel in Mankato as of Tuesday was $4.98 a gallon. That’s up from $3.47 a year ago and $3.63 a gallon on Feb. 24, just four days before the war in the Middle East began, said Brynna Knapp, AAA spokesperson.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uSPJbs
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)
PERSONNEL
UPS: Via Sourcing Journal, VERBATIM: “UPS has withdrawn its voluntary driver buyout program in 13 states amid pushback from dozens local branches of the Teamsters. The logistics giant rolled back the separation program after 37 Teamsters’ local unions filed grievances against it for violating their national master contract agreement signed and ratified in 2023, alongside the supplemental agreement for employees in the Teamsters Central Region, according to the union . . . The Teamsters Central Region comprises more than 68,000 UPS workers based out of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tgkJkk
PATTERSON: Via Mendota Heights-based Patterson, VERBATIM: “Patterson Companies has announced the appointment of Gregg Kunes as Patterson’s new chief digital officer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lXkbNG
US BANK: Via Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), parent company of U.S. Bank, announced today that Toby Clements will become its new senior executive vice president and chief operations officer. In this role, Clements will oversee the company’s client service centers and global operations teams, leading more than 16,000 employees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PKXaS0
HORMEL: Via Austin-based Hormel, VERBATIM: “Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced that Richard Carlson, vice president of global food safety and quality management, will be retiring after a 35-year career with the company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sAkNLv
YOUR NEIGHBORS RIDE ATVs: From the Twin Cities to the Iron Range, thousands of Minnesotans own and ride ATVs. They are families, veterans, teachers and small business owners who rely on Minnesota’s trail system for recreation, tourism, and economic activity. ATV riders aren’t just “up north” — they live in the Twin Cities metro area. And they care deeply about maintaining safe, well-managed trails. As the legislature considers trail policy, funding, and land-use decisions this session, ask them to support Minnesota’s ATV community and the outdoor opportunities they value. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4td9sRR (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
GREATER MINNESOTA
BEARS: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Black bears are starting to come out of hibernation as temperatures warm. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warns that the animals will be hungry and looking for food. Andrew Tri, a bear project leader with the agency, said his department gets reports of black bear sightings every year across the state, including a small population in southeast Minnesota.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sNiViA
MOVE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The College of St. Scholastica has a new leader. The board of trustees named Dr. Brenda Kelly as the school’s 14th president. She is currently the provost at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and was chosen during a nationwide search.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40XEm4s
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: Environmental Stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
POT: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Therese Haugen, a woman who lives within the Leech Lake Reservation, has spent the last few years building her dream business: a cannabis cultivation plant . . . In late December, however, Haugen received a letter from the Leech Land Band of Ojibwe Cannabis Regulatory Commission. It said that cannabis businesses within reservation boundaries may only be licensed by the state if the tribal government provides consent, and that the current version of the Leech Lake Regulatory Act does not have a licensing mechanism for non-Band members.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4109dgN
MAPLE GROVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Over the last seven years, Abby Jimenez, the owner of the renowned Nadia Cakes cupcake shop in Maple Grove, has pulled off a rare double feat: maintaining an award-winning bakery while becoming one of the most celebrated romance authors in the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PCdhRQ
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Get ready to celebrate as we joyfully welcome back the herons, cormorants, and egrets that make Minnesota their summer home! After their long migratory journey along the Mississippi River, these magnificent birds are returning, heralding the arrival of spring and a season of renewal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lYwfOL
TOMORROW: St. Paul Brewing hosts Hamm’s Fest. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4thk1Ds
TUESDAY: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation is inviting the public to a construction kick-off meeting next week for the upcoming two-year, $46 million Washington Street improvement project in Brainerd.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41Cb63j
NEXT MONTH: Via Polaris, VERBATIM: “Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced today that it will release its first quarter 2026 financial results on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and will hold a conference call and webcast at 9:00 AM central time on the same day to discuss the results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sJyh88
SEPTEMBER: The Minnesota Orchestra’s new season begins September 25. MplsStPaul has the schedule. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4det96S
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PEACE: Via North News, VERBATIM: “Eric Austin ran a Minneapolis soul food restaurant, and for those nine years, his reputation for elevating classic dishes drew visiting celebrities from Shaquille O’Neal to Angela Basset. ‘Chef E’ brought that same care to the free meals he prepared and served out of the kitchen at the Oak Park Community Center from 2013 to 2016. When news of his passing on Feb. 25 began circulating on social media, friends, family, and former customers wrote messages of love, fondness, and farewell.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47oQuix
BDAYS: Sen. Torrey Westrom, public affairs pro Rebecca Kanninen. SAT: Rep. Patty Mueller, Colate netminder Jack Olson, DFL insider Ellen C. Anderson. SUN: civic leader Laura Bishop, MN BioFuels leader Brian Werner
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.
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