60% of Americans think the United Nations plays a necessary role – but far fewer think it does a good job solving problems. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/48ttHDr
Tornado sirens were heard around Mankato early this morning. There were no active storms. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4msAkJs
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4o3BLQ7
After 40+ years in the legislature, Sen. Ann Rest is retiring at the end of her current term. On Sunday Take, an exit interview reflecting on her time in office and the shifts she’s seen over the years. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gvKcki
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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.
POT: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Whether it comes from courtrooms or the Capitol, Minnesota’s cannabis laws look in need of clarification in response to wide interpretations by cities. Local governments by law can cap the number of cannabis retailers, place restrictions on where businesses are located and set hours of operation. Prohibition is a step too far. Cities are using the law’s language, or finding areas not addressed by the law, to achieve similar ends, however, raising questions that may end up being hashed out by judges or lawmakers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3I8cgOg
TARGET: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by TRC Capital Corporation to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of Target's common stock at a price of $89.00 per share in cash, without interest. The offer is for approximately 0.33 percent of the outstanding shares of Target's common stock. Target is not affiliated with TRC Capital and does not endorse this unsolicited mini-tender offer. Target is not associated with TRC Capital, its mini-tender offer, or the mini-tender offer documentation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VZZRPp
STOCK: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation’s stock has reached a significant milestone, hitting a 52-week low of 87.26 USD. With a market capitalization of $40 billion, the retail giant’s shares are currently trading at an attractive P/E ratio of 10.3x while offering a substantial 5.2% dividend yield. This marks a challenging period for the retail giant, as the stock has experienced a substantial decline over the past year. The 1-year change data reveals a steep drop of 43.65%, underscoring the difficulties Target has faced in the current market environment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46vEOZT
DAYTON: Via news release from Forgent, VERBATIM: “Forgent Power Solutions, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment, today announced the opening of a new 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Dayton, MN. The new facility increases Forgent’s manufacturing footprint in Minnesota to 630,000 square feet and brings the company’s total North American manufacturing footprint to over two million square feet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46hr86b
BAXTER: Via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “The Baxter City Council approved the pursuit of extending its sales tax. The council Tuesday, Sept. 16, approved a Flaherty & Hood proposal for legislative services in the pursuit of a sales tax extension. Baxter’s sales tax started in 2006 and was extended in 2014.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46jtscI
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)
TWINS: Via The Athletic, VERBATIM: “For much of this season, a big question was whether or not the Minnesota Twins would set a new record for the lowest attendance in the history of Target Field. The answer is yes, and then some. Not surprisingly, the Twins’ late-season ticket sales plummeted along with fan morale following the one-two punch to the gut of the front office’s trade deadline fire sale and the Pohlads pulling the franchise off the market more than 10 months after putting it up for sale.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42rCaDB
KIRK: Via The New York Times, from a story about Sunday’s memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona, VERBATIM: “Danney Tanner, 58, drove 1,600 miles in his 1970 Chevy Chevelle — featuring a Stars and Stripes paint job — from Marshall, Minn., to Glendale. This week, Mr. Tanner added three new words to his custom paint job: ‘I am Charlie.’” QUOTE: “When you believe in people, and you believe in what they stand for, you’re connected,” said Mr. Tanner, who stood next to his car outside the stadium. “We are all Charlie.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gCBGjB
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “An estimated 10,000 people attended this year’s Chester Bowl Fall Fest, where they can enjoy some great food, support local vendors, and connect with others in the Duluth community . . . People hopped from one tent to another, supporting the 135 vendors tabling at the festival.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42AZRJq
ELECTIONS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Election Day isn't until Nov. 4, but early voting is already underway in local races across the Twin Cities. Why it matters: Voters in dozens of metro-area cities and school districts are choosing leaders and deciding whether to approve or renew tax increases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46gVohu
TRANSIT: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Exactly six months into the operation of the east metro’s first rapid bus service known as the Gold Line, ridership is struggling to meet even Metro Transit’s most conservative projections. The agency’s most recent data from July shows average weekday rides climbed above 1,400 for the first time since the Gold Line opened in March, but that number is still far short of the 5,900 daily rides estimated in the first year of service.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ItB1V8
COVID BABIES: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Children born during the pandemic — often called ‘COVID babies’— are now entering preschool and kindergarten, and some are showing unique developmental and social challenges.” QUOTE: “A COVID baby would be a child born during COVID, so a child that was born in 2020 generally or 2021. They were born during the time of the pandemic either during social isolation time,” explained Mary Muhs, who chairs the Early Childhood Education Department at Rasmussen University. “Not all children are experiencing these challenges or differences, but it is important to know that they look to us as their guiding light.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46hUr8G
40 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are celebrating 40 years of partnership, a longevity landmark that makes Flint Hills one of DU's longest-standing corporate partners. Working together over the past four decades, Flint Hills and DU have contributed to conserving more than 250,000 acres of wildlife habitat and natural areas in Minnesota and over 900,000 acres across North America. LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
TOWN HALL: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Three women stood together on stage at a town hall in Plymouth, Minnesota on Sunday, bound together by the tragedy their children experienced inside Annunciation Catholic Church on August 27. ‘I don't want any other parent or family to feel this misery,’ said Malia Kimbrell. Kimbrell's 9-year-old daughter Vivian was rushed to the hospital after over 100 bullets shattered the windows of Annunciation Catholic School. Vivian was shot multiple times. Now, Vivian is recovering at home and Kimbrell is advocating for a ban on assault weapons.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nnO7CI
HIGHER ED: MPR looks at rising enrollment at universities in Minnesota, including at University of Minnesota Rochester which saw an 80 percent increase in first-year enrollment over last year. VERBATIM: “UMR president Lori Carrell said the big surge in enrollment is due to a lot of factors. Last year, she said enrollment was down due to confusion around changes to the college financial aid program. From 2020-2023, enrollment fluctuated in part due to the pandemic. But Carrell said the school recently revamped its recruitment strategy, focusing on students who are naturally passionate about health care, and who might not otherwise have access to college.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VOgsG9
ROCHESTER: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For months, residents have asked what’s next for Destination Medical Center (DMC), the public initiative that promises to create an international medical hub in southeast Minnesota now that it’s on track to meet its financial goals. DMC officials revealed few concrete details concerning its future at an annual meeting Thursday, but officials did promise one thing: A lot more construction is in the works for Minnesota’s third-largest city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IzHkq8
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)
LAKES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Swimmer's itch is caused by microscopic parasites in the water. When those parasites come into contact with people, they can burrow into their skin, causing an allergic reaction, also called cercarial dermatitis. It’s not a new phenomenon in Minnesota lakes, and the rash usually goes away within a week. But in the past few years, reports of severe cases of swimmer’s itch have been on the rise. Scientists are working to figure out what factors are driving the increase, and whether anything can be done to prevent it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nAVV3m
DODGE CTY: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “Officially, only four of Minnesota’s 87 counties have zero lakes. Dodge County is often considered the fifth, but they're hoping a trip to the Capitol could bring a cascade of water . . . So the county is asking for $1.5 million in state funding to change the map. They have a limestone quarry nearing the end of its lifespan. Rep. Duane Quam, (R-Byron), whose district includes Dodge County, says those quarries often become just fenced-off sandpits.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nNxkbX
ROSEMOUNT: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Just a few weeks after opening a facility in Mounds View, Planet Fitness has unveiled an opening date for its new 19,000-square-foot center in Rosemount. The company, which has opened multiple Twin Cities area locations over the last year, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the workout hub at 10 a.m. on Sept. 27.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KjeKK5
WEDNESDAY: Via news release from St. Paul-based H.B. Fuller, VERBATIM: “H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) announced plans to report its financial results for the three-month fiscal period ended August 30, 2025, in a press release issued after the market close on September 24, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nsN2ZP
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation's (NYSE: TGT) Target Circle Week is returning Oct. 5-11 with seven days of savings across everyday essentials, top fall style picks, Halloween items and early holiday gifting ideas in apparel, toys, music and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48uOZR3
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BEER: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “In the craft district, many were celebrating the fall season’s honorary fashion piece, the flannel. The annual Flannel Festival took over Bent Paddle Brewing Co. on Saturday as everyone celebrated the kick-off event for new seasonal beers.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mreCWo
CIDER: Via WDIO-TV, VERBATIM: “September 21st marks the United Nations International Day of Peace. A tradition started in 1982, where peace groups across the globe call for conflict resolution. To join in the tradition, members of Lake Superior Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80 and Northland Grandmothers for Peace. At Central City Park in Superior, they invited the community to join in ‘Press for Peace,’ a time to call for peace while pressing apple cider.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nbZ89P
BDAYS: media pro Carla Beaurline, Rep. Wayne Jennings, fmr. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton
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