The Minnesota State Fair begins tomorrow. bestpixmn has a bingo card. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41hNtxw
When should you go? If you’re looking to avoid the biggest crowds, history says opening day typically has the lowest attendance. NUMBERS: https://fluence-media.co/41QvApw
Fox Sports speculates on what an MLB realignment might look like – their version has the Twins in an AL Great Lakes division. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/45p1SKI
31% say they have “a lot” or “some” trust in the federal government to act in society’s best interest. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/3JmY2cs
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oLet2p
Sunday Take featured Molly Coleman discussing her election to the St. Paul City Council and Rep. Kaohly Her sharing why she’s running for St. Paul mayor. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UBcf7Y
Sunday Take will be live at the Fair both Sunday mornings. This Sunday a bipartisan conversation with Rep. Keith Allen and Sen. Doron Clark. Join me live at 9AM at WCCO Radio at the Fair.
Blois
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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.
TARGET: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Target Corp. (TGT) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter profit of $935 million. The Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of $2.05 per share. The results did not meet Wall Street expectations . . . The retailer posted revenue of $25.21 billion in the period, surpassing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JGnoly
MORE: Via Quartz, VERBATIM: “Target maintained a full-year forecast of declining revenue, despite beating Wall Street’s expectations for sales and profit, while a second quarter savings drive had partly ‘offset continued tariff-related and other cost pressures’.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Jq0rTF
MORE: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Target has been in a deep slump for years, a result largely of its own strategic missteps. The company has struggled as customers have purchased less of its home goods and clothing . . . Target’s (TGT) stock is among the worst performing companies in the S&P 500 this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mKYhMM
CHANGES: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Target thinks a lifelong employee can lift the company out of its funk. Investors aren’t buying it. Shares of Target fell more than 8% Wednesday after the company said its chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke, would become Target’s new chief executive officer in February. He succeeds Brian Cornell, who has held the top job for 11 years. Cornell will become executive chairman of the board, the company said. Target’s stock had risen slightly in recent months, as investors hoped that the retailer’s turnaround plans and sales results could bring a stock surge. They didn’t.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fKwY2V
MORE: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to hold key positions in finance, merchandising, human resources and operations. He is now the operations head and was finance chief from late 2019 to February 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41LqdrF
CANNABIS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A last-minute tax hike on cannabis products passed as part of Minnesota lawmakers’ special session budget compromise may prove to be a boon to illicit dealers. That’s according to cannabis industry experts, business owners, and at least one prominent DFL lawmaker who say the state’s relatively high cannabis tax will give consumers reason to avoid regulated, legal dispensaries in favor of informal sources on the black market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mKRnHm
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)
CAPITOL SECURITY: The Advisory Committee on Capitol Security began meeting this morning to discuss potential changes to access to the capitol. Via KSTP-TV, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Jsdjsl
SNAP: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program helps low-income families supplement their grocery budget—but local hunger relief leaders say the program is about to see a significant funding cut. Leaders from Second Harvest Heartland, The Food Group and ICA Food Shelf spoke about SNAP at a news conference in Brooklyn Park on Monday afternoon. Those leaders, alongside Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minnesota), held the conference to raise awareness of how it could affect Minnesotans.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46031Ze
ICE: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “At last week’s city council meeting, the Crosslake City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting Crow Wing County’s agreement with ICE. Crow Wing County originally entered into the agreement in March, which gives local officers the authority to perform specific functions under the agency’s direction.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mum2sM
WATER: Via Alliance for the Great Lakes, VERBATIM: “The Great Lakes region faces the prospect of water shortages, groundwater conflicts, and contaminated aquifers as demand sharply increases from large water users such as data centers, agriculture, and critical minerals mining. A new Alliance for the Great Lakes report details how access to water in the region will be undermined in the coming years if serious planning, policy, and regulatory actions are not taken. Some places in the region are already seeing these conflicts play out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ms6plH
MORE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “MPR News host Phil Picardi spoke with Helena Volzer, the report’s author. Volzer explained where the increasing and unprecedented demand for Great Lakes water is coming from — and how to address it.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fLmWyn
HOUSING: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “St. Peter resident Lisa Gallegos welcomed a special visitor to her apartment Tuesday. Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN dropped by Maplewood Apartments to speak about the increased need for affordable housing in rural areas. Which is a message Gallegos appreciates.” GALLEGOS: “Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve it. But then when the senator comes in and tells you, yes you do, that’s amazing to hear that.” SMITH: “We have somewhere between three and a half and seven million units short we are of housing for people.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3HHscXd
MINNEAPOLIS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority broke ground Tuesday on a redevelopment project in northeast Minneapolis. The MPHA is calling it the largest housing redevelopment in the city’s history. The complex is known as Spring Manor. The agency initially estimated the project at $65 million, but finances closed at $78 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/474Pi4D
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
TWINS: Via Minnesota Twins, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Twins today announced details for their presence at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair, with interactive games, giveaways and special appearances all part of the team’s daily lineup.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4mk00c9
BLAINE: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on a request by Wings Credit Union to open a new branch in Blaine. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oG0jjb
MEDIA: Via The New York Times, from a story about MSNBC’s rebrand, VERBATIM: “The new logo ‘does not have the same charm to it,’ said Allan Peters, a graphic designer in Eagan, Minn., who has written a book about logo design. Some social media users expressed confusion around why the ‘MS’ remained in the network’s name 20 years after the end of its TV partnership with Microsoft, outlasting the ‘NBC’ association that only just finished. Mr. Peters said that the space between the logo and the capital letters was larger than that between ‘MS’ and ‘NOW,’ exacerbating the confusion by drawing attention to the ‘MS.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lC7x4T
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)
COFFEE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Red Coral Coffee opened a few months ago inside Longfellow’s Okome House. Owner Ben Wu operates on weekdays before the restaurant opens at 4:30 p.m., mixing chai lattes and steaming cappuccinos at a mini coffee bar off the kitchen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45BqVdL
ANIMATION: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “MAKE, a creative studio known for impactful animation and original storytelling, has officially opened applications for the 2025 MAKE Animation Thesis Grant. The annual program offers senior animation students funding, production resources, and promotional visibility to help bring their thesis films to life exactly as envisioned.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Jmw8gF
NEXT MONTH: Via Bloomington-based Toro, VERBATIM: “The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC), a leading global provider of solutions for the outdoor environment, today announced that it will release its fiscal 2025 third quarter results on Thursday, September 4, at approximately 7:30 a.m. CT.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41LkB0z
BRIDGEWATER: Via news release from St. Louis Park-based Bridgewater, VERBATIM: “Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB), the parent company of Bridgewater Bank, today announced several upcoming executive leadership transitions as part of a thoughtful, well-planned succession strategy designed to support continued organizational growth and leadership continuity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lGdmym
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SHHH: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Last October, Questlove, the polymath drummer for The Roots, bandleader for The Tonight Show, and Oscar-winning documentarian, flew to Minneapolis for two film projects he describes as ‘Prince heavy.’ He explains that in order to get a response from ‘The Park,’ as he refers to the Prince estate’s HQ, oftentimes it’s best just to show up in person. While in town, he figured he could also cross two purple side quests off his list: an Airbnb stay at the Purple Rain house and a visit to Orfield Laboratories, home of the certified quietest place on earth.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lFskET
STATE FAIR: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “For 140 years, the Grandstand has held a variety of entertainment acts, speeches and sparks of cultural change. But how did this towering piece of the past become a fixture of Minnesota summers? Long before head-bobbing hip-hop concerts and adrenaline-filled auto races, fans at the grandstand fancied true horsepower.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mpJ5Vu
BDAYS: AgriGrowth’s Darin Broton, Farm Bureau’s Dan Glessing, communicator Joanna Hjelmeland
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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