Gallup warns of a “silver tsunami” – more than half of U.S. business owners are 55+ but only 54% say they’ve created a succession plan. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tV2bWV
A new ProPublica / Frontline documentary looks at the tactics and force used in the recent immigration crackdown as well as the observers who were swept up. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QnoqX4
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her this morning delivered her first State of the City address. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vEP11R
In downtown Minneapolis, an immediately-recognizable former office building is set to become a hotel. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QQouyH
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WAYMO IS READY FOR MINNESOTA: With 13x fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans, Waymo is already making roads safer in major U.S. cities where we operate — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. We are ready to bring these safety benefits to Minnesota, and look forward to working with the state legislature to pass a law that allows us to provide rides in the state. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/waymo (SPONSORED: Waymo)
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mCQj9A
Sunday Take featured four leaders at the TwinWest Legislative Breakfast — GOP Senate Ldr. Mark Johnson, GOP House Flr. Ldr. Harry Niska, DFL Senate Asst. Maj. Ldr. Nick Frentz and DFL House Flr. Ldr. Jamie Long — discussing the final month of session. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mFbCY1
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Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
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MONDAY HEADLINES
TARIFFS: NPR this morning checked in with Beth Benike, owner of Oronoco-based Busy Baby about her struggles to use the system set up to get refunds for tariffs paid. BENIKE: “I paid about $50,000 over the course of the last year that I expect to get, but the damage is way beyond that. Because I had to leave my inventory [in China]. I ran out of inventory here to sell and I have a half a million in lost revenue.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sPAiif
MORE: Via Simply Wall St, VERBATIM: “Polaris Inc. said that recent tariff policy changes, excluding any potential refunds, are not expected to have a material impact on its 2026 full-year guidance, highlighting the support of its large domestic manufacturing base in states such as Alabama, Indiana, and Minnesota. This announcement underlines how Polaris’ US manufacturing footprint may help cushion the business against tariff-related cost pressures that could otherwise disrupt planning and profitability expectations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4czJXDf
GROCERIES: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “More grocery shoppers are picking a side: trading down to bargain chains or trading up to higher-end grocers, leaving middle-market retailers like Target with less room to compete. In the Twin Cities and across the country, the industry’s growth continues to concentrate at opposite ends of the market.” QUOTE: “You look at the overall grocery landscape — by and large, it has remained bifurcated,” said Amanda Lai, director of food industry practice at McMillanDoolittle. “The grocers in the middle are probably feeling more of the squeeze.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vEzqPZ
FIRE RISK: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “A Red Flag Warning has been issued in 66 Minnesota counties as state officials warn that fires could spread fast in warm, dry and windy conditions on Monday. The warning runs through 8 p.m., according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and covers counties all across the state. Minnesota’s Weather Authority says wind gusts will range from 20-30 mph on Monday, and that wind combined with dry conditions creates dangerous conditions for potential fires.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vNeJ4D
BEMIDJI: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “More information is now available on the fire and explosion that destroyed multiple structures in Bemidji on Thursday, where it appears an unattended campfire led to the incident. It happened in a residential neighborhood near the Bemidji State University campus around 2:30 that afternoon. More than 50 first responders were on scene to battle the blaze, and an entire block near Bixby Avenue and 15th Street was evacuated.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mCcAo0
FRAUD: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The fight over how to prevent fraud in Minnesota hit a snag last week. Committee work on a bill adding more investigation and prosecution of fraudsters in the state hit an impasse Thursday that left only a year of funding for increased staffing for the state’s Medicaid fraud investigation unit. Republicans blocked a measure that would have gave the Attorney General’s fraud prevention team more money. Those in favor say they want to hire more investigators to help address the growing number of referrals which tripled last year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cwLav5
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)
FOOD
BROOKLYN CTR: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A sweet treat with a healthy spin is now based in Brooklyn Center. FIt Butters, a nut butter spread company with sweet flavors and healthy ingredients, recently started production at its brand new headquarters.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/424aQux
ROCHESTER: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “After more than 20 years in business, a Rochester brand is taking a step into the future, one kernel at a time. Carroll’s Corn, an iconic snack giant in the Med City, recently purchased the former site of Deutsch Furniture Gallery on Commercial Avenue SW to take its production to the next level. The move, according to CEO and owner Seamus Kolb, aims to increase the company’s output and efficiency, while automating certain processes.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mLnXdA
BUGS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Sujaya Rao arrived Saturday at the University of Minnesota’s student center in St. Paul with her usual trays of homemade brownies. But there was one key difference in Rao’s chocolate treats. ‘You can’t see the insect. You can’t smell it. There’s no odor, but tonight it’s going to chirp in your stomach’ Rao joked with curious passersby who sampled the brownies. The retired professor — a self-proclaimed ‘insect evangelist’ — tabled at the Great Minnsect Show. Rao, professor emeritus in the entomology department, helped start the event in 2019 to showcase the wonders of bugs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41FBnhs
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)
IMMIGRATION
NEW CITIZENS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “About 100 Minnesota residents gathered on the 15th floor of the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Minneapolis on a cloudy Friday morning and walked out of the building a couple hours later as new citizens. Many expressed relief, excitement and joy after taking their oath. Some told Sahan Journal that family members pushed them to apply for citizenship as President Donald Trump’s administration ramped up efforts targeting immigrants across the country. They also said the opportunity to make their voice heard by voting motivated them to complete the process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vEQzcr
IMMIGRATION COURT: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A federal judge in Washington, D.C., heard arguments last week from a Minnesota-based group that says the Fort Snelling immigration court is violating federal regulations and the First Amendment by restricting access to court proceedings . . . The case has national, as well as regional, implications. A successful injunction is expected to apply to all of the country’s immigration courts. The Advocates hope it will return predictability to how courts function – a departure, they say, from the inconsistent and unexplained rules that have characterized Trump 2.0.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/424924J
GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO! Check out Donna’s story - a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails...it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Check out Donna’s story: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
HUMAN RESOURCES
AI: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Nearly half of college students say they’ve thought at least a fair amount about changing their major or studies because of AI’s potential impact, according to recent polling from Lumina Foundation and Gallup. Driving the fears: College graduates are entering a tumultuous job market that’s been rocked by a massive tech evolution, reshaping career prospects for entry-level workers. Concerns about the economy add to the stress. ‘The future feels uncertain, and a lot of these students, there is a lot of anxiousness moving forward,’ Marcos Cruz, associate director of career advising at Macalester College, tells Axios.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Y1m7D
MEDIA: WCCO-Radio’s Steve Simpson says he’s retiring. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sN5Q8u
NEW PRESIDENT: Via Bayport-based Andersen, VERBATIM: “Andersen Corporation today announced the appointment of Shawn Brown as president of Bright Wood Company LLC. Andersen announced its plans to acquire Bright Wood in December 2025, initiating a leadership transition from the family-owned and operated company to an independently operated business owned by Andersen and managed by an independent local leadership team.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41FPlzV
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)
HOSPITALITY
MINNEHAHA FALLS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Cloudy, rainy conditions didn’t take away the excitement at Sea Salt Eatery which officially opened for the season Friday morning at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. A line of about a dozen people braved the weather to get their first taste of the seasonal staple.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4dSvK6S
BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Brooklyn Park’s Skaalvenn Distillery is known for pushing the boundaries of craft spirits. But this month, the atmosphere in the cocktail room feels especially lively. The vibrant colors of the Cambodian flag hang high above the bar. It’s a tribute to the heritage of co-owner Mary Schnitker. For many, that flag is also a beacon of community. Bar manager Luke Young admits that it played a huge role in why he chose to work at Skaalvenn.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4to206A
DULUTH: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “A German tradition celebrated in the Twin Ports since 1995 returned to the Fitger’s Complex in Duluth. The annual Bockfest is a celebration of spring and kicks off with the blessing of the bock.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4evrydo
STEAK: Via Fox Business, VERBATIM: “A Kansas-based restaurant group with several steak and seafood locations in Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, Nebraska and Iowa, has filed for bankruptcy. 801 Restaurant Group LLC filed for Chapter 11 reorganization last Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Kansas, the company confirmed to Fox Business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sOB4Mi
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: Via St. Louis Park-based Bridgewater, VERBATIM: “Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB), the parent company of Bridgewater Bank, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Bridgewater will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cx0Akg
WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Graco, VERBATIM: “Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG) announced today that it will release its First Quarter 2026 earnings after the New York Stock Exchange closes on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/488Tyj4
WEDNESDAY: Via Barchart, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Bio-Techne Corporation (TECH) develops, manufactures, and sells life science reagents, instruments, and services for the research, diagnostics, and bioprocessing markets worldwide . . . TECH is expected to release its Q3 2026 earnings on Wednesday, May 6, before the market opens. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company’s EPS to be $0.48 on a diluted basis, down 4% from $0.50 in the year-ago quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42hverR
THURSDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Ameriprise, VERBATIM: “Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) plans to release its first quarter 2026 results at approximately 4:15 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 23, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41pkuHv
FRIDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) a leading provider of architectural building products and services, as well as high-performance coated materials used in a variety of applications, today announced the company will report its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full year results on Friday, April 24, 2026, before the market opens.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4veA2fa
THIS SUMMER: Via Treasure Island, VERBATIM: “Get ready to live ‘Young, Wild & Free,’ sip some ‘Gin and Juice’ and ‘Drop It like It’s Hot’ because Snoop Dogg headlines the Treasure Island Amphitheater Saturday, September 5, during Treasure Island Resort & Casino‘s 2026 Summer Concert Series.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48blMdd
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HIBBING: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “On the pleasant front lawn of Hibbing’s fine City Hall is a Statue of Liberty. It often catches the eye of visitors and on tours of the town Joe and I are always glad to give a quick history of the statue. But even we did not know many of the details that make the story of the statue all the more interesting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tQp6mm
BDAYS: KSTP’s Boston Marathoner Tom Hauser, AI thinker Gia Vitali, fmr. Commissioner Gail Dorfman, non-profit leader Ethelind Kaba, lobbyist Scott McMahon, funny man Nate Dybvig
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