The former Prince Andrew was arrested today – the first British royal to face criminal accusations in centuries. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s1qtxD
A photographer “turned into a popsicle” while documenting the weather along the North Shore Wednesday. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kJXLyF
The U.S. trade deficit on physical goods grew in 2025, leading The New York Times to conclude tariffs “scrambled trade but did not halt it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZKHW1i
Today’s Sports Take: Howard Sinker finds a quote from an unlikely source that’s good advice for both the Twins and Star Tribune sports. Also, a 12-overtime hockey game ends in a shootout (after three nights), the hottest team in Minnesota sports wins again, suburban hockey parents acting up and an early look at Vikings mock drafts. Coming this afternoon.
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/4aqt66f
Sunday Take featured Rep. Michelle Fischbach and Fluence sponsor Minnesota Corn’s Richard Syverson discussing E15, Congress and Homeland Security. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ayBI9H
Blois
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MIDDAY FEED
TODAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A federal judge will hear arguments Thursday on whether or not to further block a federal immigration operation targeting refugees who are lawfully in Minnesota. Advocates sued last month over Operation PARRIS, acronym for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening. That focused on reviewing cases of 5,600 Minnesota refugees yet to be granted permanent resident status.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZKxmaC
ICE AGREEMENT: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Tucked away on the southeastern shores of Mille Lacs Lake is the city of Isle, a small community that swells in the summer as tourists visit to fish, camp and snap a picture under a giant walleye statue. It’s hardly a hotspot for immigrants. Yet, amid controversy over Minnesota governments’ reluctance to help federal immigration enforcement efforts, it’s the first and only city in the state to sign an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement allows city police officers to perform some functions of federal immigration officers such as checking citizenship status during day-to-day work and executing search warrants for immigration violations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46cJXXM
DETENTION CENTERS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A major component of the Trump administration’s deportation plan has run into trouble as towns across the nation, including Woodbury and Shakopee in the Twin Cities suburbs, have pushed back against plans to purchase warehouses to store detainees. According to a recent memo from the agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hopes to implement what it calls ‘a new detention model’ called the ‘ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative’ by the end of the year. According to the memo, this new model, funded by $38.3 billion the agency received from President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ last year, aims to ‘meet the growing demand for bedspace’ and speed deportations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aDvSUu
MINING: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “A bill that would provide extended unemployment benefits to 45 Hibbing Taconite Co. workers laid-off earlier this year moved forward at the Minnesota House of Representatives.” QUOTE: “We just need another band-aid to to get us there,” John Arbogast, United Steelworkers (USW) District 11 staff representative said to the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee. “We’ll always bounce back.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MEjyvh
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)
IN THE CITIES
ST THOMAS: Via My Villager, VERBATIM: “University of Saint Thomas officials would like to build more campus housing, off-street parking and classroom space in the decade ahead. However, to do so, they need to reopen the 22-year-old conditional use permit (CUP) and the legal agreement that allowed Saint Thomas to expand its Saint Paul campus to include the two blocks between Summit, Grand, Cleveland and Cretin avenues. Saint Thomas officials said they are willing to reopen the 2004 CUP. They outlined plans for redeveloping the two-block expansion area on February 10 at a meeting of the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kSrMwA
PULLTABS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Pulltabs have become a staple of bar culture in Minnesota, a popular temptation at dives and VFW halls with large, plastic bins full of colorful tickets with perforated tabs and winnings posted on the wall. They’re available almost everywhere in the Twin Cities — except Edina. And not just for lack of dive bars in the tony western suburb. But now, Edina city leaders finally look ready to get in the game. Forty-five years after Minnesota legalized pulltabs, the City Council in March will consider allowing them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cB3k0j
WINMARK: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Winmark Corp. (WINA) on Wednesday reported net income of $10 million in its fourth quarter. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had profit of $2.69. The store concept franchisor posted revenue of $21.1 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46WLyRy
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)
AROUND MINNESOTA
IN HIDING: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “For more than two months, Minnesotans in immigrant communities have been in hiding – fearing arrest, detention or deportation . . . MPR News collected stories from several people under those circumstances across the state. They recorded voices memos or spoke to a reporter over three days between Jan. 24 and Feb. 4, sharing what their day was like. They answered questions including: did you leave the house today? What did you not get to do today that you normally get to do? How is this impacting your life?” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rYUwpG
SCHOOL ABSENCES: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “In the largest county in Nevada, child welfare officials typically are required by state law to investigate when a student repeatedly misses school. But recently, they made a striking request to the state. They asked to stop reporting serial absences. Across Minnesota, a band of school districts joined the same movement — seeking to handle absences in-house and stop relying so much on child protective services. And in New York, some advocates want the nation’s largest school system to follow their lead. The three recent developments illuminate a vexing and urgent question in education. Urban districts are struggling to reverse a surge in absenteeism as millions of American schoolchildren continue to miss significant class time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qGHYCp
TWO YEARS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Hearts are heavy in Burnsville as city leaders and residents remember three first responders killed in the line of duty two years ago this Wednesday. It was February of 2024 when Burnsville police officers Matthew Rugie and Paul Elmstrand, and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth were killed in the line of duty.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Op2vOn
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The salt used to treat wintry roads is partly to blame for five Duluth trout streams not meeting water quality standards. That’s according to a new report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, or MPCA. It shows Tischer, Kingsbury, Keene, Miller and Chester creeks all have excess chloride levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40nAusY
SURVEY: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “Rochester officials want to hear from residents on how they feel about tourism and its impact on the city. Experience Rochester released a new survey on Wednesday, February 18th, to gather input from residents on tourism and its role in the city’s future. Specifically, the survey asks residents about the pros and cons of tourism in Rochester, and their vision for the city as a destination.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kH37L8
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
NEXT WEEKEND: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “With so much of the wedding industry revolving around the bride and groom, the women who stand proudly beside them are often left to navigate this process alone. That defining—and often overlooked—reality is what fuels Mother Of, an online resource designed to help mothers of the bride and groom feel confident during one of life’s most meaningful milestones. Co-founded by local journalist Allison Kaplan, the online platform seeks to empower women who, Kaplan believes, are frequently underserved by traditional wedding retailers . . . On Feb. 28, Mother Of plans to deliver an answer. Taking over 50th & France for a multidimensional shopping, styling, and beauty experience, the brand’s ‘February Edit’ is tailored to one client and one client alone: mothers of brides and grooms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l3pyut
SOMALI CUISINE: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on plans by the owner of Afro Deli to open his first sit-down restaurant on Nicollet Ave. in south Minneapolis. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cDnLd7
GREAT CLIPS: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Great Clips announced its new CEO last summer, with Rob Goggins stepping into the top job after seven years as president, a role he maintains. At Great Clips since 2007, Goggins began as vice president of franchise development, became COO in 2014, and took over as president in 2018. Prior to Great Clips, he cut his teeth in franchise leadership as vice president of development for Service Brands International, a Michigan-based franchise system operator.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tHr2OC
WHAT’S NEXT?
THIS WEEKEND: Via Explore Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Welcome to the Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Extravaganza, better known as I.C.E. Fest! Join us for a FREE, family-friendly weekend of winter fun designed to stomp out children’s hunger, offering exciting activities for all ages and featuring world record ice carousels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4arwkGE
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnetonka and Israel-based Stratasys, VERBATIM: “Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) will release financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The Company plans to hold the conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rss2oz
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BDAYS: TV’s Guy Still, Allianz’s Rodney Meyer, labor guy Rick Varco, politico Nick Solheim
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