Older workers are 15% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs than their younger counterparts. SURVEY: https://fluence-media.co/3SQFJOr
TPT’s “Relish” won a James Beard Media Award. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45rnh6y
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZxbfET
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
Blois
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All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TODAY: Shooting suspect Vance Boelter will appear in federal court in St. Paul at 1:30.
NEW: From the Star Tribune’s Deena Winter via X, covering a news conference this morning, VERBATIM: “Interim US attorney Joe Thompson says Vance Boelter went to the homes of FOUR Minnesota politicians Saturday morning w/ the intent to kill them. FOUR. Not two.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3HJlY99
MORE: From the Pioneer Press’ Mara Gottfried via X, VERBATIM: “Boelter was dressed as a law enforcement officer. Footage from Sen. John Hoffman’s home is chilling, US Atty Joseph Thompson says . . . After shooting Hoffman and wife, went to home of Maple Grove legislator and rang doorbell. The state rep wasn’t home. She and family on vacation, so Boelter left . . . Boelter then went to home of New Hope state senator. New Hope police went to check on senator and officer saw Boelter’s SUV parked down the block. Officer believed it was a vehicle who’d been dispatched to the scene. Attempted to talk to him, but he stared straight ahead.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4l1owxu
MORE: Via KARE-TV, this morning’s news conference that also included representatives from the FBI, BCA and local law enforcement. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZxluJe
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Vance Boelter is held in the custody of U.S. Marshals as he awaits his first court appearance in federal court Monday afternoon, while Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said she intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against him. After being arrested late Sunday in a field in Sibley County, Boelter was booked into Hennepin County jail after being delivered by the Brooklyn Park Police Department just after 1 a.m. Monday. His bail was set at $5 million, but he is now being held by Marshals at the U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul. In a news conference Monday, Moriarty said they intend to seek the charge, but that federal officials took custody of Boelter at 10 a.m., she declined to say what role the federal government would have in prosecuting Boelter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SPUAbT
SOCIAL MEDIA: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota on Monday criticized a Republican US senator for recent social media posts on the weekend shooting of two state lawmakers from her party and their spouses. ‘I have condemned what Mike Lee did here at home, and I will speak to him about this when I return (to Washington) and what I’m going to tell him is, you know, this isn’t funny what happened here,’ Klobuchar told MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ when asked about a social media post from Lee . . . Lee, a senator from Utah, posted a photo of the suspect on Sunday, writing: ‘This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43KVj4l
POLITICAL VIOLENCE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Robert A. Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago and an expert on political violence, said the shootings in Minnesota are part of a larger, national trend. ‘America has had low levels of political violence, but in the last five years there has been a historical moment in political violence,’ Pape said. ‘We are a tinderbox of a country.’ The professor said that such escalations happened in the 1920s and 1960s, when there were rapid social changes and other factors – like a broadening of economic inequality.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HGOng2
MORE: Via statement from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, QUOTE: "This is a dark day for democracy. It is time to dial it down. We must recommit ourselves to upholding the values on which this country was founded and to find other ways, rooted in civility and respect, to settle our differences. Violence is never the answer." READ: https://fluence-media.co/43KpbOd
GUNS: Northern News Now talked with a gun control advocate about the Hortman / Hoffman shootings as well as two recent shootings in the northland. VERBATIM: “In the wake of this gun violence, Co-President of the Minnesota Chapter of Brady United Against Gun Violence, Joan Peterson, says the time to have a conversation about gun control is now.” PETERSON: “Why haven’t we done anything, and then they tell us, people who are working on this, ‘Oh now’s not the time to talk about this.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4aLzW
LABOR BILLS: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Having lost control of the Legislature and confronting a looming budget deficit, Democrats were forced to abandon plans to advance pro-worker legislation and instead defend their gains from the historic 2023 legislative session . . . Democrats introduced some labor-backed bills, laying out their agenda should they win back state government: a higher minimum wage, pay raises for teachers, staffing ratios for nurses and a path for Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize. None gained traction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e4YNSz
HORTMAN: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Americans talk constantly about how their country is split down the middle politically. Melissa Hortman lived that every day as a Minnesota House member. Her unique perspective on politics came from her job as the House’s top Democrat and its unusual challenge. She had to defend liberal priorities in a chamber divided 67-67 between Democrats and Republicans while working to see that the even split didn’t keep the Legislature from funding state government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n51ZSp
IMPOSTERS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Mary Dodge, a University of Colorado professor who has studied the criminal justice system for decades, said easy access to badges, gear and police-style lights has made it possible for anyone to pretend to be a law enforcement agent. ‘It is probably easier at this point of our history to impersonate a police officer than ever before,’ Dodge said Sunday. ‘I am surprised it hasn’t happened more often.’ In Minnesota, impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor; the crime is a felony only if someone repeats the offense within five years. And while it is against the law to misuse some police equipment, such as colored vehicle lights, it is not illegal to purchase most police gear.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n2eMVG
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)
SURVEY: Via news release from Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, VERBATIM: “U.S. Bank released its third Small Business Perspective survey report today, revealing how owners across the country are responding to an environment defined by rapid change . . . With more than half of U.S. small business owners now over age 55, succession planning is becoming increasingly urgent. While many owners are not yet ready to step away – with only 54% having created a succession plan – new generations are preparing to take their place: more than one-third (36%) of Gen Z and Millennial owners say they plan to acquire a business from a retiring owner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e57Se7
FUNDING: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “Using cedar from northern Minnesota, reclaimed barnwood from Kentucky and hickory from Mississippi, Lonesome Cottage became the largest rustic furniture manufacturer in the country . . . Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) funds, administered through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), subsidized consultancy costs used to help Lonesome Cottage at points throughout its history. Enterprise Minnesota, the MEP affiliate in the state, provided this below-market rate guidance to the company . . . Funding for MEP sits on precarious federal ground, with 10 states learning theirs wouldn’t be renewed earlier this year. President Donald Trump’s administration temporarily reversed its decision within weeks, but a long-term solution for these states and Minnesota, up for renewal on Jan. 1, isn’t assured.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n48Lrq
TODAY: Via Isaiah Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Elected officials, small business owners, and faith leaders from the Duluth area will gather this morning to call on Representative Pete Stauber to protect funding for Medicaid and SNAP. In late May, Stauber was among four Minnesota representatives who voted to strip health care and food assistance from lower income families in order to finance tax cuts that largely benefit top earners. The house budget bill passed by one vote. With the bill now on its way to the Senate, Representative Stauber will likely have another opportunity to vote on a new version of the bill, should it pass in both chambers.”
RAIL: Via news release from Canadian National Railway Company, VERBATIM: “CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately US$60 million in Minnesota, as part of its 2025 capital investment program. This investment will support track maintenance and strategic infrastructure initiatives in the state. The projects will help ensure the safe movement of goods and support long-term sustainable growth in Minnesota and across CN’s network.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/448i7tT
MOVE: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Brooklyn Park could soon be home to a Hindu place of worship. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is currently based in Brooklyn Center at 2300 Freeway Blvd. However, temple officials told the Brooklyn Park Planning Commission on Wednesday that the congregation has outgrown its building.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45mqvIp
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)
TODAY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A large area of Minnesota that includes the Twin Cities metro remains in an ‘enhanced risk’ zone for severe storms on Monday. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center's Sunday evening update has the enhanced zone cutting a large swath of the state, stretching from Worthington in the south to Brainerd in the north.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HJ4Ik9
TARGET: Via Retail Brew, VERBATIM: “Foot traffic at Target declined for the fourth consecutive month since it rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in January, and a reputation analytics company reports that the retailer’s reputation has suffered, too. For the month of May, foot traffic fell 1.6% YoY, which while nothing to pop the bubbly over was less grim than previous declines in February (-9%), March (-6.5%), and April (-3.3%), according to Placer.ai. While correlation—we’ll say it again—is not causation, the traffic slump began after Target announced it was rolling back its DEI efforts on January 24, the day after President Trump said he was acting to ‘abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense…throughout the government and the private sector.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FYEGcg
RETAIL: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Ross Dress for Less is opening two new stores in the Twin Cities next month. Ross Stores announced this week that it is opening ten new stores nationwide on July 19, including locations in Woodbury and Savage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Wnmz6
HOUSING: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A vacant plot of land in Golden Valley could soon be developed into a single-family home through the city’s ‘HOPE’ program. ‘Home Ownership Program for Equity. It’s a city-run program where we purchase vacant lots,’ explained Jacquelyn Kramer, a Golden Valley senior planner at a recent planning commission meeting. ‘So far, it’s just been vacant land that [the Minnesota Department of Transportation] had for highway projects that they never used or needed. And then we partner with qualified developers to build homes on the lot. Either, single-family homes or twin homes’ . . . However, at a Golden Valley Planning Commission meeting on May 25, some neighbors raised concerns. ‘This is a terrible lot. I’m not sure why we would want to develop housing for someone that’s facing a major highway on a busy frontage road,’ said Paul Robare, a resident who lives nearby.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LnnVi
THIS WEEKEND: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The countdown is on as Grandma's Marathon returns to Duluth next weekend. And Grandma's Marathon looks to be another record-breaker this year.” QUOTE: "We've had record registration this year," says Marathon marketing and public relations director Zach Schneider. "Close to 23,000 people are signed up for either the marathon, the half marathon, or the 5K, which is the best registration year we've ever had. And we expect that to translate to being the most people we've ever had in Duluth." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45q3l3S
ECOLAB: Via news release from St. Paul-based Ecolab, VERBATIM: “Ecolab Life Sciences today announced it has launched an innovative new resin to help achieve cost savings and optimize operations throughout the antibody manufacturing process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44k82ek
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GALLERY: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “A new art gallery concept, Prospect Refuge Gallery, headed up by Minneapolis-based Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio, opens today. The gallery will feature a rotation of regional talent through exhibitions showcasing collectable design. A core mission of Sass's is to champion regional voices and talent, inject them into the broader global conversation of collectable design, and place emphasis on the importance of handcrafted pieces to be handed down from generation to generation—in a world filled with mass produced things.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/442xpAi
BDAYS: AI expert Lori Ryan, nonprofit leader Erich Mische, attorney Matt Haapoja, lobbyist Wendy Underwood, Duluth leader Cecilia Zywicki, pr pro Kate Raddatz, Tunheim’s Sandi Scott
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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