RIP Replacements guitarist Bob “Slim” Dunlap. VARIETY: https://fluence-media.co/41Jl0BE
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has waived extradition and is headed to New York. NBC NEWS: https://fluence-media.co/49NdWpN
The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows a slight improvement in the percentage of the state in severe drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41H1BRF
On Sunday Take, Rep. Angie Craig on the state of the Democratic party, her political future and possibility of a Farm Bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BxVV20
Blois
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WALZ: Governor Tim Walz was on WCCO-Radio this morning talking with Vineeta Sawkar on “The Morning News.” He was asked about reports this morning of a rift with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. He denied any rift exists, saying he and the Lt. Governor are often apart in public because they’re trying to cover more of the state than they’d be able to if they were together. He also was asked about reports that he was upset Flanagan tapped into his campaign funds. QUOTE: “I have nothing to say on that. I don’t know about that. And I’ve certainly never heard anyone say it to me.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fx9RHk
MORE: From Clay Masters via MPR, VERBATIM: “After Democrats lost the presidential election, Walz is now back home working out of the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., where he recently described the one question that keeps him up at night - why more voters chose President-elect Donald Trump, who Walz described as a billionaire, rather than the Democratic presidential ticket.” QUOTE: “I thought it was a real flex when the Wall Street Journal pointed out that I might have been the least wealthy person to ever run for vice president,” Walz said in an interview with MPR’s Dana Ferguson last week. A Wall Street Journal story published in August noted that he and his wife, Gwen, had less wealth than most recent vice presidential candidates with a net worth between $112,003 to $330,000, not including pensions. “And I thought that would be something people say, ‘Well, this guy knows where we’re coming from. He’s had to pay his bills, he had to and still does.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fx0jMl
ICYMI… morning take had extensive coverage and analysis of what appears to be a strained relationship between Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3ZZ0QSO
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota added 2,500 jobs and its labor force grew by more than 4,600 workers in November, according to data released today by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota has added jobs nine of the last 12 months. Minnesota's unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.5%, lower than the national rate of 4.2%, which also rose at the same rate. The labor force participation rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 67.8% over the month, compared to 62.5% nationally – a decline over the month before.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Dpg1Mt
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are 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, Rookie; 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
TWINS: From Nick Halter via Axios, VERBATIM: “The two brothers reportedly interested in buying the Minnesota Twins already have a track record of creating a more fan-friendly franchise. Catch up quick: The Pohlad family put the team up for sale this fall. Justin and Mat Ishbia, who made their money in private equity and their family's United Wholesale Mortgage, emerged as possible suitors last week. Why it matters: The two brothers are worth nearly $15 billion combined, which would make them the second wealthiest MLB owners, behind the Mets' Steve Cohen, according to Forbes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VKWlZH
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LIST: Executives from Land O’Lakes and Target are on Fortune’s list of “the 25 most powerful rising executives in the Fortune 500.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gL8So7
TARGET: Via The Wrap, VERBATIM: “Target has been sued for allegedly breaching its contract with the company that supplied its iconic dog mascot, Bullseye. ‘Target seeks brand loyalty from customers. It has shown that it is anything but loyal to those responsible for bringing its brand to life,’ read Worldwide Movie Animals’ suit, which was filed Wednesday in the Central District Court of California. The legal document states the department store ended its business relationship with the company and then failed fulfill a payment agreement. WWMA provides animals for films, television, commercials and live events.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Dl6V3l
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
GUNS: From Cyntia Moothart via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Gun violence victim and gun violence prevention leader Tommy McBrayer applauds the decision by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to sue gun manufacturer Glock Inc. Ellison filed against Glock and its Austrian parent company on Dec. 12 for manufacturing, marketing, and selling semi-automatic handguns that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with a cheap device known as a ‘Glock switch.’” QUOTE: “As an organization that’s trying to prevent gun violence, here’s a system that wants to keep the violence going,” said McBrayer, founder and CEO of Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops. “Gun manufacturers don’t care about the violence from these switches. We need to go after them because once these things hit the streets it’s too late. I support Keith Ellison, appreciate him for what he’s doing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gKVVdF
PACKAGING: From Talia McWright via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans generate about 6 million tons of waste each year, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. In new efforts to reduce the harmful impacts, the state is adopting policy geared toward decreasing that tonnage. The MPCA, local officials and business leaders gathered Wednesday at Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store in St. Paul to discuss a new law that aims to phase out packaging in Minnesota that is not refillable, reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2032.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41MsMuJ
CLOSING: From Joy Summers via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Today chef Yia Vang announced that his first restaurant concept, Union Hmong Kitchen, will shift entirely away from in-person dining with the immediate closure of its West Lake Street restaurant in Minneapolis. Instead, the eatery will focus on catering events, in-home feasts, boxed lunches and the operation of its sports stadium stands.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BOZ5OK
VITAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT FUELS THE FUTURE OF THIS WISCONSIN TRIBE - In 2017, one of the “glaring needs” for the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, in northwest Wisconsin, was an expanded wastewater treatment facility. “It was at capacity. We were not able to expand any of our businesses or facilities,” says Jason, the LCO Band’s Emergency Management Coordinator. With the support of Enbridge and several other partners, the LCO Band quadrupled its wastewater treatment capacity—allowing for creation of a new preschool, fire hall, 40-unit apartment complex, police headquarters and, still to come, health clinic and new residential community. “I’m very grateful for the partnership we’ve developed with Enbridge,” says Jason. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49v4mHc (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
ROBBINSDALE: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The embattled Robbinsdale School Board has rebuked one of its own members a second time this year. Board Member Sharon Brooks was censured on Dec. 16. The censure is tied to a disagreement surrounding race between Board Member Caroline Long and Brooks. Long says she is Black. According to the censure, Brooks, who is also Black, has questioned Long’s racial identity and made comments related to her race.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BEUQp4
MUSEUM: From Izabella Zadra via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth Children’s Museum has received 20k in Tourism Tax Dollars from the city. Those dollars go towards basic upkeep and marketing, but the museum also wants to renovate the facility. ‘We are quickly outgrowing our space here and so we are working with a lobby firm in the Twin Cities to pursue some state capital investment funds to expand into our second floor,’ said Executive Director Drew Jensen. Jensen said he and other museum staff are working closely with local legislators to prep their state funding ask. The museum is asking for around 1.3 million dollars not only to add new facilities to the second floor but to add an elevator in the building.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41EKhNd
GRANTS: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced three grants to provide high-speed, reliable internet to residents in rural Minnesota, and that includes a local company in the Brainerd Lakes Area.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gJCX7u
PEACE: From Christa Lawler via Star Tribune, former legislator James Ulland has died. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fqoQmy
SATURDAY: From Madeline Cisneros via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the start of winter. After the solstice on Saturday, December 21, the days will begin to get longer again. Goodbye darkness, hello sun! If you’re looking to welcome the start of a new beginning, check out these Winter Solstice celebrations.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3P6gnKq
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
BIRD FLU: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The H5N1 virus is a concern for pork producers going into 2025. Swine Health Information Center executive director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says there’s risk associated with poultry and dairy.” NIEDERWERDER: “Are our animal caretakers on the swine farm potentially having access to dairy farms or poultry farms? Are there other operational connections that could put our swine farms at risk such as contract crews that maybe work at poultry farms and then come to a swine farm?” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZLm1q8
DAIRY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the second round of states coming on board as part of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) that was launched Dec. 6., and which requires that raw (unpasteurized) milk samples nationwide be collected and shared with USDA for testing. Today’s announcement represents the next step toward conducting complete nationwide surveillance under the NMTS and continues to build on measures taken by USDA and its federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BEpgYv
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GEN MILLS: From General Mills via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American premium Cat feeding and Pet treating business from NXMH in a transaction valued at $1.45 billion. The business, which includes the Tiki Pets and Cloud Star portfolio of brands, is a growth leader in the Cat feeding and Pet treating segments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gt98Z1
REGIS: Via Minneapolis-based Regis, VERBATIM: “Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM: RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, announces the acquisition of Alline Salon Group (ASG), its largest franchisee, in a transaction valued at $22 million of initial consideration, with the ability for ASG to earn an additional $3 million ($1 million annually) through earn out payments over the next three years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gHCra1
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GIFTS: From Jerrod Sumner via Minnesota Monthly, a holiday gift guide. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4frtdxm
NYE: Via MplsStPaul, a guide to Twin Cities celebrations. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3H7edEb
BDAYS: Sen. Julia Coleman, Rep. Jamie Long, Rep. Peggy Scott, public affairs and Jewish leader Laura Monn Ginsburg
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