Northstar service was replaced by buses this morning after a train collided with a vehicle in Coon Rapids. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45wh0Gf
The FBI, this morning, searched the home of former national security adviser John Bolton. NYT: https://fluence-media.co/4mtG4DN
A study of Google searches found troubling signs for business. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMaHSd
How did a joint owned by a guy named Nibs turn into the Matt’s bar we know today? HISTORY: https://fluence-media.co/3JyAotv
This year’s crop art display at the Minnesota State Fair includes a piece commemorating the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mzCtUS
Last weekend, 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
Stop by and say hello, 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.
RETAIL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Walmart Inc. powered through an uncertain economic environment and tariff concerns and delivered solid second-quarter financial results that showed it keeps pulling in shoppers and outpacing peers like Target. The nation's largest retailer also on Thursday increased its annual profit and sales outlook . . . Walmart's results marked a big difference from that of its rival Target, which reported on Wednesday another quarter of comparable sales declines. The Minneapolis-based discounter has been struggling to find its footing as its pinched shoppers defect to Walmart and other stores where they perceive better prices and merchandise.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45HanQ5
TARGET: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis activists are continuing their boycott of Target, stressing that the departure of the company’s CEO is ‘only the beginning.’ Local leaders of the ongoing boycott of Target are urging continued action despite the upcoming departure of CEO Brian Cornell in February. Cornell will be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, who has been with Target for 20 years. He will become CEO Feb. 1. The movement is demanding the company reverse its DEI rollback and recommit to its 2021 $2 billion pledge for Black-owned businesses.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45Cs1Ew
FAIR FOODS: Minnesota food writers (including some on temporary food writer duty) have scoured the State Fair for the best new foods. Here are a few, in no particular order:
STEPHANIE MARCH: https://fluence-media.co/45Nnv6w
DARA MOSKOWITZ GRUMDAHL: https://fluence-media.co/479vsoJ
JASON DERUSHA: https://fluence-media.co/4lJ6Uql
SHARYN JACKSON & JOY SUMMERS: https://fluence-media.co/41PiOYn
HALEY NELSON: https://fluence-media.co/47JJSMz
NICK HALTER, KYLE STOKES, TOREY VAN OOT, AUDREY KENNEDY & CLAIRE REILLY: https://fluence-media.co/4mNRGRC
KATELYN VUE & MOHAMED IBRAHIM: https://fluence-media.co/45HWxgo
JESS FLEMING: https://fluence-media.co/3HpwMcR
KNOLLWOOD: Via RE Business Online, VERBATIM: “KPR Centers, a New York-based retail real estate development and investment group, has acquired Shoppes at Knollwood, a 451,700-square-foot grocery-anchored shopping center in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JqEPGN
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)
GOVERNOR: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Speculation is ramping up as to what Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will do after he told the WCCO Morning News on Thursday that he'll announce a decision on running for a third term after Labor Day. Second District Congresswoman Angie Craig (DFL), on with Vineeta Sawkar on the Morning News at the State Fair Friday, said she knows one name that won't be in the mix for governor.” CRAIG: "There's gonna be a big old field of Democrats running for governor," says Craig. "If the governor decides not to seek reelection, which I've said from the start, I hope he does run for re-election, we're gonna have a lot of great Democrats in that race. I will be in the U.S. Senate race." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4lCawdx
INTERRUPTERS: Via The Trace, VERBATIM: “At the height of the racial justice protests in 2020, the Rev. Jerry McAfee was on the front lines in Minneapolis. When residents filled the streets after George Floyd’s murder, McAfee and other veteran peacemakers handed out food, broke up fights, and tried to dissuade further violence. In one case, they formed a protective escort for police officers moving through a tense crowd to reach a stabbing victim. At that point, McAfee had walked the city’s most gun violence-stricken areas, working with active and former gang members to prevent shootings, for nearly three decades. ‘We were the line between the police and the community,’ McAfee said of 2020, recalling the climbing rates of violence at the time. ‘The city needed us out there.’ Five years later, the urgency has faded. Gun violence in Minneapolis has trended downward, though at a slower pace than in many other cities, and the network of street-level interrupters that emerged from that chaotic summer are caught in a contract standoff with the city, at risk of losing critical momentum in maintaining the decline in shootings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41jt1MN
STUDENTS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Colleges and universities across the country are seeing steep declines in the numbers of international students enrolling for the fall term, as the Trump administration tightens restrictions on student visas and has imposed bans on citizens of certain countries traveling to the U.S. Nationwide, colleges and universities are projected to see an estimated 35 percent decrease in new international student enrollment, according to the online publication Inside Higher Ed. But, little Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato is bucking that trend and is welcoming its largest incoming class of international students ever.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47FNjDU
MORTENSON: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Golden Valley-based Mortenson, one of the largest construction companies in the United States, announced Thursday that it’s opened BLUlabs, a state-of-the-art research and development facility in Fridley. Mortenson provides building, development, and engineering services in the commercial, institutional, and energy sectors.” QUOTE: “The newly opened BLUlabs provides 40,000 square feet of configurable industrial space designed to support real-world testing, prototyping, and product development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41WEtho
ST PAUL: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “It could be a few more weeks until the city of St. Paul restores its IT systems following a serious data breach. St. Paul proactively shut down its systems and launched an investigation after suspicious activity was detected on July 25. Few details were shared until weeks later, when city officials revealed that it was a ransomware attack. Mayor Melvin Carter announced Thursday that he will give his annual budget address on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. from Allianz Field. It was originally planned for Aug. 14 but had to be rescheduled due to the city's ongoing response to the cyberattack.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HDJS6k
GOLF: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “City officials in Brooklyn Center are mulling ways to help the city-owned Centerbrook Golf Course become profitable. One idea: partnering with the youth development organization, First Tee, to make the course their state headquarters. First Tee describes itself as an organization that empowers kids and teens through the game of golf.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4msX2lA
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)
FILM: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “‘Action!’ resonated throughout the immediate block of West Superior Street in Duluth. A crew of filmmakers stood ready with cameras and equipment in front of Jonathan Thunder's art gallery as they filmed a scene out of Thunder's upcoming short film, ‘Ish Meets a Mermaid.’ ‘The film itself started out as a seed idea. And it has gotten bigger and bigger and bigger and is going much better than I could have imagined,’ Thunder said. Thunder is a local artist and citizen of the Red Lake Nation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g8RlHr
BABANI’S: Via Eater, VERBATIM: “The cool thing about the Twin Cities restaurant scene is it’s never trying too hard. Case in point is Babani’s, a Kurdish restaurant in St. Paul. Having opened way back in 1997, this small, family-run, no-frills restaurant named after owner Jamal’s tribe is widely considered the first Kurdish restaurant in the United States. Once located in downtown St. Paul and now tucked into an inconspicuous industrial space overflowing with parking options in the capital city’s West Side neighborhood, Babani’s has been going strong slinging affordable and flavorful Kurdish food for nearly 30 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41f9MUv
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)
U OF M: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports instructors at the University of Minnesota earn the highest average salary in the state, $120,000 annually, ranking it 120th in the nation. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4moevvz
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is considering changes after a consulting firm recommended a shift in priorities. The DECC is a major economic driver for the region bringing in more than $14 million last year. Officials say the facility welcomes about 500,000 visitors annually and in its almost 60 years of existence, leaders say changes are on the horizon.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45QR5YF
RECALL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “More packages of frozen shrimp potentially affected by radioactive contamination have been recalled, federal officials said Thursday. California-based Southwind Foods recalled frozen shrimp sold under the brands Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street. The bagged products were distributed between July 17 and Aug. 8 to stores and wholesalers in nine states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mOHnwK
THIS WEEKEND: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Music will be rocking from Bayfront Festival Park this weekend, and it’s all for a good cause. The Tribute Fest returns to Duluth on Friday and Saturday, August 22 and 23.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mRKRyv
THIS WEEKEND: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The original Rochester Greek Fest kicks off on Friday August 22 and runs through Sunday August 24 with music, food, and dances teaching the community about Greek culture.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mQZu57
NOV 4: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Residents in the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District will vote on a two-question referendum this coming November.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mTQcp9
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FAIR STRATEGY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “If you’re going to the Minnesota State Fair with the goal of trying as many new foods and old favorites as possible, then your best strategy is this: Divide and conquer. With your friends, of course. We found three groups of fair-loving friends doing just that: Walking around the fair, sharing foods, and all-around having a great time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fNWynD
BDAYS: Hospitality MN’s Angie Whitcomb, MN Corn’s Adam Birr, fmr. Sen. Ember Junge, writer Steve Dornfeld. SAT: business guy Andrew Eklund, public affairs guy Todd Rapp, SUN: social media consultant Arik Hanson, Mille Lacs leader Jamie Edwards, food and drink aficionado Dan Bredahl turns 50!
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