Nearly 40% of Minnesotans say they’re lonely. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4hhO1to
The new Drought Monitor released this morning shows 42.55% in severe drought, up from 28.24% a week ago. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eQDUu2
Sunday Take was all about polls with American Strategies’ Joe Goode. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4dVKnT6
Sign-up for Walz Watch: https://fluence-media.co/walzwatch
Fluence publishes the fast-growing SportsTake today. SIGNUP: https://fluence-media.co/SportsTakeSignUp
Sunday Take will host a debate between Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Royce White. Live at 9AM on WCCO Radio.
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LIST: Target, M.A. Mortenson, Medtronic, and Hormel all made Vault’s list of the 150 best internship programs. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48hHJ9f
SURVEY: From Minneapolis-based Thrivent via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “A new survey from Thrivent finds 2 out of every 3 Americans have concerns about how they'll manage their holiday finances this year, including 27% of people who are 'very concerned.' This may explain why Americans plan to shift their holiday spending habits in 2024. Given the current economy, 33% are planning to purchase less expensive gifts and 31% are planning to buy fewer gifts overall, according to Thrivent's 2024 Holiday Spending Survey.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e00z5K
MORE: Via Thrivent, from the survey:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3YmsEOS
DONATION: Via Lakeville-based Post Consumer Brands, VERBATIM: “Today, Post Consumer Brands, a leading cereal and pet food manufacturer with headquarters in Minnesota, announced it has donated $500,000 to Second Harvest Heartland. The donation will benefit the Make Hunger History initiative, which aims to cut hunger in half for all Minnesotans by 2030.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48mrurs
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FALCON HEIGHTS: From Greg Stanley via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Years after their contentious split, St. Anthony police officers will once again patrol the city of Falcon Heights. The Falcon Heights City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to contract with the St. Anthony Police Department for the first time since 2017 when their partnership ended following the highly publicized killing of Philando Castile by a St. Anthony police officer. St. Anthony had policed the neighboring suburb for more than 20 years until the two cities severed their agreement after Castile was killed during a 2016 traffic stop in Falcon Heights.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40dZqVf
CHILDCARE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The community hosted a forum in Duluth addressing the childcare crisis. Parents, providers and lawmakers discussed issues Wednesday as well as potential solutions as a number of childcare centers closed in the city. Minnesota House 3B candidates, incumbent Republican Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar and her DFL challenger Mark Munger attended the forum. Both say this is a crisis that has reached a boiling point. Many households are dual income and yet are struggling to find childcare.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hhaaYY
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Flint Hills Resources makes fuels and other products people need and use every day, products that help keep Minnesota moving. The company does this while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship and contributing meaningfully to the community. STEWARDSHIP WITH A PURPOSE: Four pillars of stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ST LOUIS CTY: From Hannah Morgan via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Current St. Louis County Third District Commissioner Ashley Grimm is running for re-election against Duluth City councilor, Janet Kennedy. The commissioner elected will represent West Duluth. The County Commissioner oversees county activities to make sure that the needs of citizens are met and that federal and state requirements are fulfilled. This is everything from maintaining roads to overseeing health issues.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbnVbw
RIVER: Via MPCA, VERBATIM: “In consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is pleased to recommend removing body contact restrictions at Munger Landing and Spirit Lake in the St. Louis River estuary near Duluth, Minnesota. Until now, signs warning the public of the risk of exposure through bodily contact were posted at each site. After many years of investigation, design work and construction, the Great Lakes Legacy Act remediation projects at these sites are complete.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fhIIbH
MAPLE GROVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “As we approach the holiday shopping season, Maple Grove has seen a number of new businesses open, including a new boutique called Mama’s Happy . . . Mama’s Happy opened along Main Street on Oct. 10. The boutique features clothing, refinished furniture, home decor and items from local artists. City officials say Mama’s Happy is one of 10 new businesses that either have opened, or will open, this fall.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbnsGi
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)
NEXT MONTH: From Anoka-based Vista via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) today announced that it will hold the special meeting of stockholders to vote and approve the merger with the Czechoslovak Group a.s. at 9 a.m. (Central Time) on November 25, 2024. Vista Outdoor and CSG have received all regulatory approvals required under the merger agreement for the CSG Transaction and are prepared to close the CSG Transaction, subject to receipt of stockholder approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40d5VaP
LIFE TIME: Via Zacks, VERBATIM: “[Eden Prairie-based] Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (LTH) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.21 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.13 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 23.81%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.16 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.25, delivering a surprise of 56.25%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NCvDxS
AMERIPRISE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. (AMP) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $511 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had profit of $5 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs including severance expenses, were $9.02 per share. The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The financial services company posted revenue of $4.4 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $4.35 billion, which topped Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YhVxvK
FREE SHOT: From Dustin Nelson via Bring Me The News, St. Paul’s Moscow on the Hill is celebrating 30 years in business. VERBATIM: “As it commemorates three decades in St. Paul, the restaurant, which has served Russian, Ukrainian, and Eastern European fare since 1994, will serve up a complimentary shot for anyone who has purchased an entrée (and is of age).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dY9HrS
DIANE’S: From Macy Harder via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Since opening in April of this year, Diane’s Place in Northeast Minneapolis has received widespread acclaim from critics and local foodies for its Hmong American brunch fare and pastries. Now, Chef Diane Moua and her team are gearing up to offer dinner service.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BUzG5X
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NEXT WEEK: From Sun Country via Globe Newswire, VERBATIM: “Sun Country Airlines (NASDAQ: SNCY) will hold its third quarter 2024 earnings call on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hgqNE5
NEXT MONTH: From Minneapolis-based Deluxe via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Data company, will report third quarter 2024 financial results on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, following market-close. On the same day, management will hold an open-access conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. CT).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AcD5wv
NEXT MONTH: From Minneapolis-based Regis via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM:RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, will issue financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 before the market opens on November 6, 2024. Following the release, the Company will host a presentation via webcast for investors beginning at 7:30 a.m. Central time to discuss its corporate developments and financial performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e5qEAy
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
FARM TO SCHOOL: Via Minnesota Senate DFL, VERBATIM: “October is Farm to School Month, to highlight Minnesota’s successful Farm to School program and the month Senate Agriculture Chair Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) released the following statement.” QUOTE: “Through this program, our students receive healthy, high-quality food that helps them learn and grow while providing a financial spark for local farms. The food grown by Minnesota Farmers is the foundation this state is built on, and the students of Minnesota are the foundation our future is built on. I am so glad that in our state, we work to bring those two foundations together.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fhdiCo
DRY: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The impacts of a dry end to the growing season are evident in southwest Minnesota. Bryan Biegler grows corn and soybeans near Lake Wilson and says the area has only received around two inches of rain since July.” BIEGLER: “Soybeans this year were a little disappointing, we had two big things against the soybeans this year. They sat with wet feet all spring up till the 13th of July, then the rain shut off.” He tells Brownfield corn yields are decent. “Some fields where it’s been really dry (the corn) has been knocked down. And then where it was wet this spring, a little bit disappointing in those areas. But overall, I’m more encouraged by the corn yields than I was the bean yields.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BXqvlk
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GRACO: Via RTTNews, VERBATIM: “[Minneapolis-based] Graco Inc (GGG) announced earnings for third quarter that decreased from the same period last year and missed the Street estimates. The company's earnings came in at $122.2 million, or $0.71 per share. This compares with $133.1 million, or $0.77 per share, in last year's third quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dX10hj
NVE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “NVE Corp. (NVEC) on Wednesday reported earnings of $4 million in its fiscal second quarter. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had net income of 83 cents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3A88hNB
CLEARFIELD: From Minneapolis-based Clearfield via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLFD), the leader in community broadband fiber connectivity, today announced a strategic leadership transition, appointing Anis Khemakhem as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) effective January 1, 2025. Khemakhem, who joined Clearfield earlier this year as Vice President of Global Technology Platforms, brings with him over 25 years of industry experience, with diverse leadership skills.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hx42vZ
FRANCHISE: From Fly Fitness via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Fly Fitness Studios, a health and wellness brand offering high-intensity workouts in an uplifting environment, announced today that it is franchising and actively seeking entrepreneurs to bring its people-focused concept to key Midwest markets, starting with Denver, Kansas City, and Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BRFXzm
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HORROR FEST: From Madeline Cisneros via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Whether guts and gore tickle your fancy or a psychological thriller raises the hair on the back of your neck, the Twin Cities Horror Festival will have something to give you a proper fright. From Oct. 24–Nov. 3, watch live performances of horror-themed productions that are sure to keep you up at night.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3A81NOL
If you like podcasts, listen to Beers with Blois... https://fluence-media.co/3vkqhMN
BDAYS: Rep. Dan Wolgamott, communication pro Drew Henry, DFL insider Shivanthi Sathanandan, fmr. MPLS police chief Janeé Harteau