What started out as a social media prank took on a life of its own – get ready for a grocery shopping-themed dance party at First Ave. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f1Ky24
The weather dampened or delayed some fireworks over the weekend. In Rochester, it was a different problem. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4y1LV9H
The Upper Mississippi River and Mille Lacs both made the top ten in the Central Division of Bassmaster Magazine’s rankings of the best bass lakes. LISTS: https://fluence-media.co/4vdtUlQ
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
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/4aGD0Aq
Sunday Take featured Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan discussing her Senate campaign, her time in state government and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SBPx1V
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
SPONSOR: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
MONDAY INNOVATION
NEXTGEN: Via Duluth-based Cirrus, VERBATIM: “Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd.), the best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft manufacturer for over two decades, introduced the TRAC10, a newly designed flight training aircraft purpose-built for professional, collegiate, and career-oriented flight schools.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4golR1Y
COOLEST: Via Minnesota Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce announced today that nominations are open for the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota’ contest, a public-driven competition that celebrates the most innovative and impactful products made right here in Minnesota.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3AMjdQJ
TEXAS: Via Eden Prairie-based Kidcreate, VERBATIM: “Kidcreate Studio, one of the nation’s largest brick-and-mortar children’s art enrichment franchises, is seeking franchise partners throughout Texas as families increasingly prioritize hands-on, screen-free activities. Kidcreate currently operates six studios across Texas in Houston, Cypress, Austin, San Antonio, Mansfield and Brownsville, providing a strong proof of concept for continued statewide expansion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wtxObr
WEEKDAYS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For decades, many of the Twin Cities’ waterfront suburbs have lived by the same rhythm. Day-trippers arrive when the weather is warm, the boats are out and weekends invite people to linger. Weekdays are quieter. City leaders have long tried to find ways to draw people out in the winter. Now they’re also trying to draw crowds on the weekdays of warmer seasons. They’re looking for ways to make Tuesday feel a little more like Saturday. Destination communities around the metro are investing in redevelopment, housing, festivals, medical districts and hybrid office space in hopes of creating a steadier stream of customers throughout the week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p39s5M
SARTELL: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Sartell is seeking a developer for 26 acres of riverfront land as city leaders pitch big plans for the former Verso Paper Mill site. The city bought the former site in 2023 for nearly $1 million and recently presented two development plans for the property . . . ideas include markets, housing, hotels and other amenities.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QZsduf
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)
PUBLIC SAFETY
GUN DEATHS: Via Protect Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Minnesota recorded 549 firearm deaths in 2025, a slight decline from 564 deaths in 2024, according to a new analysis released today by Protect Minnesota. While firearm homicides fell by nearly 20%, firearm suicides increased and now account for more than three out of every four gun deaths in the state. Data from the Minnesota Department of Health show that 424 Minnesotans died by firearm suicide in 2025, up from 406 in 2024. At the same time, firearm homicides declined from 148 deaths in 2024 to 119 deaths in 2025.”
WILDFIRE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that was detected during a routine fire patrol flight on Thursday was determined to have been caused by lightning, Superior National Forest officials announced Friday. The Long 2 wildfire is located south of Pine Lake in the Boundary Waters and is west of McFarland Lake towards the end of the Arrowhead Trail in Cook County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aCYo9G
MORE: From the U.S. Forest Service via Facebook, a Sunday update reporting the fire is 100% contained. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wxVsnn
TRAFFIC STOPS: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ten years ago, a St. Anthony police officer pulled over Philando Castile for a broken taillight. The encounter ended with the officer fatally shooting Castile in Falcon Heights. Such a traffic stop would be less likely today, with Ramsey County’s top prosecutor and law enforcement leaders asking officers to focus on moving violations rather than equipment violations. The goal in enacting the change in 2021 was for moving violations to increase to more than 90 percent of traffic stops and equipment violations to fall to 10 percent or less in participating cities, and that has happened, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said recently.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pfEYO7
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
HIGHER ED: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Local professionals looking to advance their careers in medical technology or counseling will soon have an option to do so in Brooklyn Park. North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) has officially partnered with St. Cloud State University (SCSU) to host several of the university’s graduate programs directly on the Brooklyn Park campus starting Aug. 3.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eOy13a
GOLF: Via Hmong Times, VERBATIM: “For nearly a century, Manitou Ridge Golf Club has been a staple of the East Metro golf community. Opened in 1928, the Ramsey County-owned facility has challenged generations of golfers with its rolling terrain, strategic bunkering, and demanding greens. But after a comprehensive renovation project, Manitou Ridge is entering a new era – one focused on making the game more enjoyable and sustainable for golfers of all abilities. The recently completed renovation touched nearly every corner of the golf course.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wrimfS
ROCHESTER: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “The Somali population in the Med City was out in full force on Sunday celebrating their own Independence Day, after what they say has been a really tough year. The country’s independence day falls on July 1st. [Somalis’ on Sunday [said] this year’s celebration is different, after spending much of last year in the spotlight, making headlines they said were unwanted.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4b8wWRg
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: Environmental Stewardship (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
ST PAUL: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Downtown St. Paul civic leaders are feeling good about some new momentum but say the area’s revitalization is a long-term process. First, there’s still work to do before part of the skyway system that closed down a year ago can reopen, says Joe Spencer President of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance.” SPENCER: “It’s not colossal kinds of capital costs but meaningful, you know, construction work that has to get done to make these buildings safe to traverse. And that includes adding security.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44M3exN
GROCERIES: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “Daniel Hernandez said he is ‘in a race against time’ to keep his Northside grocery store, Colonial Market and Restaurant, open amid crushing economic forces, including the lingering impact of Operation Metro Surge. Hernandez recently closed his south Minneapolis location after President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, which forced families to stay home in fear of being detained and deported, bled off business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44LTTWK
BROOKLYN PARK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “There’s an estimated 35,000 Liberians living in Minnesota, with many of them in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. And thanks to recent legislation, they’ve got a chance to grow their community gathering spaces. The Minnesota Legislature allocated $400,000 to the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) to expand and remodel its Brooklyn Park facility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aD5Wcw
ECOLAB: Via Barchart, VERBATIM: “ECL is expected to release its Q2 2026 earnings on Tuesday, July 28, before the market opens. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company’s EPS to be $2.08 on a diluted basis, up 10.1% from $1.89 in the year-ago quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f5st2Z
NEW PRESIDENT: Via Minneapolis-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) announced today that Christopher W. Ede has been appointed President of the Company’s Architectural Glass segment. Prior to his appointment, Ede served as Vice President, Business Development, a position he held since joining the Company in 2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p8w4lw
WHAT’S NEXT?
TOMORROW: DEED will host a virtual media availability about the first six months of Minnesota’s paid leave program.
TOMORROW: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “Beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, crews will close the ramp from eastbound Highway 13 to southbound Interstate 35W in Burnsville, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f186E2
SATURDAY: Chicano Fest at Saint Paul College. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gXSjbG
THIS MONTH: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Looking for a free summer outing that offers a little inspiration—and maybe the chance to discover your next favorite local artist? National Craft Open Studios Weekend, happening July 18-19, invites visitors inside the working studios of artists across the country, including more than a dozen right here in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vTHSe6
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PEACE: Andrew Bachman, co-founder and CEO of medical cannabis dispensary LeafLine Labs. OBIT: https://fluence-media.co/4vNPxuj
BDAYS: ag leader Jeanne Poppe, restauranteur Brent Frederick, energy developer Julia Sonnen
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.
about morning take- Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.
Copyright © 2026 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427