A restaurant in south Minneapolis won the James Beard Award for best new restaurant in the country. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4n6DQed
A St. Paul chef won Best Chef: Midwest. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4kNuDGa
How much rain did we get yesterday? TOTALS: https://fluence-media.co/44ddDSO
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kEoo7q
Sunday Take was dedicated to the legacy of House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman following her tragic death. Rep. Jeff Witte and former Rep. John Lesch discussed her life, her career, and how her killing could change Minnesota politics forever. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kL12x4
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TOMORROW: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “In the wake of the tragic shootings that claimed the lives of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, both University of Minnesota alumni, and seriously injured Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, the University of Minnesota invites faculty, staff, students, and alumni to a community gathering for reflection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4luRk1Z
VACANCY: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The murder of Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, left a legislative chamber that had been evenly divided between the parties with a one-vote Republican majority. But Democrats say a shocking act of political violence should in no way be shrouded by concern over a looming political controversy. There will be plenty of time to hold a special election to fill Ms. Hortman’s seat before the next legislative session begins next February . . . As of Sunday, no public statements had been made about a timeline for filling the now-vacant House seat. Under state law, the governor is required to call a special election.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ecOZq0
TRUMP: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “President Trump said early Tuesday that he would not call Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) after two Democratic lawmakers in his state were gunned down in a ‘politically motivated’ shooting over the weekend.” QUOTE: “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from the Group of Seven (G7) summit. “Why would I call him?” “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call, but why waste time?” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l9vG2W
SEN. LEE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Utah Sen. Mike Lee is facing outrage and calls for his resignation over social media posts that baselessly claim the man charged with targeting Minnesota lawmakers in shootings during the weekend has ties to the political left. The big picture: Prominent right-wing figures, including Elon Musk, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, spread now-debunked claims that leftist politics motivated the shooting spree that left one Minnesota state representative dead and another wounded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SQD2wh
DEMUTH: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Melissa Hortman became Minnesota Speaker of the House on Jan. 8, 2019, the same day Lisa Demuth started in the Legislature. ‘The first day when we were sworn in, she became speaker, and then gave her speech. I remember her pointing out her family specifically in the gallery, and mentioning them,’ Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and the current House speaker said in an interview Monday. ‘And I don’t remember anything else she said. I just remember looking at a woman with strength and experience.’ That Hortman spelled out not just her policy preferences but life priorities was galvanizing, Demuth said. And her respect for Hortman buoyed the Legislature passing budget bills last week amid a House split evenly between Republicans and DFLers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SSmWCn
MORE: CCX Media talked with Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston and Rep. Mike Freiberg about Hortman and her legacy. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45rJmlf
MORE: Northern News Now talked with Northland lawmakers. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kEPXxv
BILL: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Northland health care professionals, clergy members and elected officials rallied outside of Representative Pete Stauber’s office speaking out against federal cuts to programs that impact northlanders. The group delivered a letter to the congressman urging him to vote against the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ The ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which is on its way to the senate, will make cuts to programs like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps children of low-income families get the food they need, as well as childcare and Medicaid.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Ts9KEh
BROADBAND: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The name might’ve sealed its fate. Continuing his crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, President Donald Trump announced he was shutting down the Digital Equity Act in May. He took to his Truth Social social media platform to accuse the bipartisan legislation passed in 2021, designed to steer grant funding to organizations working to bridge digital divides, of giving out ‘woke handouts based on race.’ It didn’t matter that the Digital Equity Act was set to pour investments into rural areas, where residents overwhelmingly voted for him; Trump declared it ‘racist and illegal,’ in all caps.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HLO1F2
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)
TARGET: Via Drugstore News, VERBATIM: “Target is seeking emerging, innovative suppliers for its upcoming Wellness Summit at Target headquarters on Sept. 4. The event, in conjunction with RangeMe, will highlight new and better-for-you products in the food & beverage and health & wellness spaces, with a focus on functional items like high-protein snacks, clean-label formulations, vitamins, supplements and other wellness-driven innovations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZCnakF
RENT: Via news release from Realtor.com, VERBATIM: “As rents have cooled, most major U.S. metros saw median rents pace below national inflation in the last 6 years: San Francisco (-3.2%), Minneapolis, Minn. (3.9%), Oklahoma City, Okla. (7.7%), Seattle (7.9%), Denver (8.9%) and San Jose, Calif. (8.9%) saw the least growth in median rent prices since May 2019. Federal policy shifts such as tariffs, employment reductions and international student visas are driving divergent rental trends across U.S. metros.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jN81UN
HIGHWAY 169: Via news release from Wisconsin-based Tutor Perini, VERBATIM: “Tutor Perini Corporation (NYSE: TPC), a leading civil, building and specialty construction company, announced today that its subsidiary, Lunda Construction Company, has been awarded a project valued at approximately $34 million to construct four bridges and 14 cast-in-place retaining walls along Highway 169 in Jordan, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4efXrEU
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)
THE HORTMANS: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Since 2017, Melissa Hortman was the top leader of the House DFL caucus. She served as House speaker, minority leader, and as speaker emerita this year when the chamber was split 67-67. Her political roles put her in the media spotlight. Simultaneously, Mark Hortman was building a career in business outside of the media glare. Since January 2021, he worked as a program manager at nVent, a St. Louis Park-based public company that provides electrical solutions for customers. With a strong information technology background, Mark Hortman recently was helping teams ‘replatform onto new CMS technology and relaunch several major e-commerce websites,’ according to his LinkedIn profile.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/444J29A
IRON RANGE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “School leaders broke ground on a new building on the Iron Range. The new $17 million Northland Learning Center is in Mountain Iron. The 32,000-square-foot school is replacing the aging facility at the former James Madison Elementary School in Virginia.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44jX0G0
UTEPILS: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Utepils Brewing stays afloat by wetting the whistles of thirsty beer lovers across Minnesota and the country. But Monday, the Minneapolis brewer itself got TOO wet, no thanks to a downpour of rain that left the Utepils plant flooded. The brewery posted on social media that Utepils would be closed Monday night, and perhaps beyond, after nearby Bassett Creek pushed over its banks, swamping the facility and leaving them temporarily unable to operate.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jQRbEN
CLOSING: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Here's an ending that's hard to wrap your head around: Chef Ann Kim's wood-fired pizza restaurant Young Joni is planning to close on September 14, per a press release sent out this afternoon. According to reps for Kim's restaurant group, Vestalia Hospitality, the restaurant was unable to come to terms on a lease renewal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l8HrXp
FRIDAY: The Crystal Police Department will host a retirement celebration for Chief Stephanie Revering. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3FYllId
GRADUATES: Via news release from Minnesota Connections Academy, VERBATIM: “In June, 795 graduating seniors from communities across Minnesota received their high school diplomas as members of Minnesota Connections Academy's Class of 2025. The tuition-free, public online school serving students in grades K-12 recently celebrated the graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center on June 7th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45sJLUz
CANNABIS: Via news release from Minneapolis-based Vireo, VERBATIM: “Vireo Growth Inc. (CSE: VREO; OTCQX: VREOF), today announced a series of corporate updates following the closing of all its previously-announced definitive merger agreements, which transformed the Company into one of the largest U.S. multi-state cannabis operators and expanded the Company’s portfolio to six states with active operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HJASME
XCEL: Via news release from Xcel, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy announced today Ryan Long as the company’s executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, effective immediately. Long, currently president of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, takes over the role held by Rob Berntsen, who accepted a position outside the company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zy8lzD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TWIN CITIES: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “If you think the rivalry between St. Paul and Minneapolis is petty now, get a load of what happened on this day back in 1890.” HISTORY: https://fluence-media.co/45XRUQX
BDAYS: lobbyist Sarah Psick, marketing leader Maureen Bausch, retired and gardener Kim Isenberg
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