The Minnesota State Fair this morning announced this year’s specialty sips. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3IALEFb
Youth sports is a $40 billion industry. Now private equity’s getting involved and states are taking notice. STATELINE: https://fluence-media.co/4fIiLVL
Someone bought a Lotto America ticket now worth $34.12 million in Coon Rapids – the largest ever Lotto America jackpot in Minnesota. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bzQuhE
Fluence Advisory has released its Insights memo on “The Next Legislature”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aNNSMV
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Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fs7url
Sunday Take featured DFLers Matt Little, Sen. Matt Klein and Rep. Kaela Berg for the CD2 DFL primary debate. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yssTcu
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TUESDAY FEED
WILD: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Wild are providing more clarity about one of the biggest questions this offseason - not related to the roster. The team is launching a new multimedia television network where fans can watch Wild games throughout the season. According to a press release from the Wild, the broadcasts will be managed by the team in collaboration with NHL Productions, and shown on several platforms, including over-the-air, cable, satellite and streaming services.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wSUq5l
MORE: Via The Athletic, VERBATIM: “Many key details — including the exact streaming platform and that subscription price, plus cable and satellite channels and over-the-air partners — have yet to be finalized, said Mitch Helgerson, chief revenue officer and executive vice president, but those details will be announced as the NHL helps complete the negotiations of those carriage packages. Helgerson acknowledged the rollout is coming later than anyone would have preferred but said the organization wanted to give fans as much information as possible now rather than wait until every detail is finalized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w187yx
METRO SURGE: From CNN via Instagram, Jake Tapper previews a special set to air tomorrow investigating what happened in the days between the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. It includes an interview with Tom Calhoun-Lopez, one of the federal prosecutors who resigned. CALHOUN-LOPEZ: “It had become a toxic environment and it had become a lawless environment. And, from that lawlessness, came chaos. And from that chaos came the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and other people being injured.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wgh8V2
HOUSING: Zillow says it has more than 300,000 empty lots for sale on its site (including 4,962 in Minnesota). If those lots had homes built on them, the nation’s housing shortage would be reduced by 6%. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fbx9po
3M: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “3M increased its full-year targets as the conglomerate saw higher sales in safety and electronics. The maker of Post-It notes on Tuesday said it now expects adjusted earnings per share between $8.80 and $8.95 for the year, up from a previous range of $8.50 to $8.70. Analysts polled by FactSet currently expect full-year earnings of $8.74 a share. The company also anticipates adjusted total sales growth of over 4.5%, reflecting adjusted organic sales growth of more than 3.5%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ywAMxN
MORE: Via Investor’s Business Daily, VERBATIM: “3M (MMM) led the Dow Jones Industrial Average early Tuesday as the Post-it notes maker posted better-than-expected Q2 results and raised its full-year outlook. MMM stock cleared an early entry buy point. The industrial conglomerate has been shedding noncore assets and leveraging AI to accelerate product launches. 3M said it’s on track to launch more than 350 new products this year and 1,000 by the end of 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TLf0WW
ACQUISITION: Via Minneapolis-based Sleep Number, VERBATIM: “Sleep Number Corporation (Nasdaq: SNBR) today announced that it received Court approval for the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets and ongoing business operations to SNBR Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sleep Country Canada Inc., after making significant improvements to its prior proposal. The sale, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close by July 31.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b6jVrt
MORE: Via Sleep Country Canada, VERBATIM: “This acquisition, with now over 800 locations, positions Sleep Country‘s Family of Brands as the 2nd largest sleep retailer in the World, while also delivering a strong new sleep platform to serve our customers by combining Sleep Country’s market-leading retail expertise and customer-first approach with Sleep Number‘s sleep innovation, technology and personalized sleep solution, that is unmatched in the industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yt5PKZ
VOTE FRAUD: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Last week, President Donald Trump released a trove of documents during a primetime address to the nation that allies had hyped as a smoking gun that would prove his long-debunked allegations of mass voter fraud . . . WCCO’s Adam and Jordana turned to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon to analyze the claims made by the president, and detail what we know, and what is being done about allegations of fraud.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4puMt41
LAZZARO: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump has rejected a request by a former Minnesota Republican operative for a commutation of his sex trafficking sentence. In a Justice Department posting dated July 10, Anton ‘Tony’ Lazzaro’s name is among thousands of denials listed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4whGjH5
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)
MINNEAPOLIS
WAREHOUSE DIST: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Warehouse District, nestled between the North Loop and downtown, used to be called the city’s jewel. Now it’s falling behind as revitalization activity in the neighboring North Loop takes off. The Minneapolis Renaissance Coalition, a public-private organization involving property owners, business leaders, and city departments, hopes to change that.” QUOTE: “Someone said, ‘If there’s an artery that flows within your city, this was sort of the clogged one in between,’” said Dario Anselmo, the organization’s current president and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. “It’s a little bit of a, Let’s start this over again and maybe build it back better mentality.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ftNAfE
TOMORROW: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “As the Minneapolis Aquatennial continues, Wednesday, July 22, offers two signature events that showcase the city’s summer spirit—one on the streets and one on the Mississippi River.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wiNa2S
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)
GOVERNMENT + BIZ
MN RANKING: Via The Center Square, VERBATIM: “Some are pushing back after new rankings from CNBC placed Minnesota among the top five states nationally as one of the ‘best states for business’ . . . While the results gained national attention, both positive and negative, Minnesotans also addressed the rankings.” QUOTE: “Businesses in top industries, from healthcare to renewable energy and manufacturing, understand the benefits of investing and growing in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “Proud be ranked a top five state for business.” QUOTE: “This ranking is completely bogus,” said John Phelan, an economist with the Minnesota-based Center of the American Experiment. “These rankings … are not correlated in any meaningful way with what businesses actually do, such as start themselves or hire people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bp7G9N
MORE: Phelan shares more analysis this morning via Substack. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45euSUn
HENDERSON: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Drivers who head south on Highway 93 in Henderson have seen the same sights for about three summers: orange barricades, closed road signs and detour arrows. Some drivers don’t even bother taking the long way and bypass the small town in Sibley County altogether. Schuette’s Ice Cream Shoppe is one of several small businesses in Henderson to have seen less traffic because of the highway closure. Owner Sarah Schuette said the reopening of the highway couldn’t have come sooner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RvfZtA
OSSEO: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Will the city of Osseo build a municipal cannabis dispensary? The answer to that question is unclear. The city council took an important step toward financing the project on July 13 — but some council members are hesitant to throw their full support behind the concept.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45ebcA1
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS: Flint Hills Resources is celebrating summer with thousands of Minnesotans at local festivals and parades. Look for Flint Hills employees – along with their families and friends – as they show their hometown pride at many local celebrations, including Rosemount Leprechaun Days, Hastings Rivertown Days, Inver Grove Heights Days and Saint Paul’s Lowertown Sounds. For decades, Flint Hills Resources has supported programs, organizations and events that improve our quality of life in our communities. LEARN MORE: Community Partnerships (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
MOA: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Adidas will showcase the brand’s attention to personal style at a new, immersive store set to open at Mall of America this fall. The 9,161-square-foot store moving in on level two, east, will become the retailer’s first full-price store in Minnesota, complete with an Anthony Edwards shop and opportunities to personalize your items.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bUjPDz
DESIGNER COLLAB: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced Rosie Assoulin x Target, a new limited-time designer collaboration that reinforces Target’s style and merchandising authority through an exclusive partnership that gives guests high-quality, designer pieces at an incredible value. Launching July 25, the collection brings the New York designer’s signature silhouettes and vibrant use of color to an exclusive assortment of apparel, accessories and her first-ever multi-item collection in the home category, with most items priced under $50.” READ/SEE: https://fluence-media.co/450eBTf
FURNITURE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Sky blue or soft pink cotton covers to be clutched tight during bedtime stories; delicate wooden details that won’t bend to change but accommodate it: Bria Hammel Interiors for Pottery Barn Kids takes children seriously, imbuing bedroom furniture and décor with the brand’s signature sophistication. Launched in June, the collaboration makes the St. Paul- and Charleston-based design company’s esteemed style (usually reserved for the firm’s full-service interiors) accessible online and across the country at all Pottery Barn Kids retail locations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vLF0iz
BURNSVILLE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Buzz Coffee & Cafe in Burnsville, known for its selection of over 200 waffles, is winding operations after a 10-year run.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T7vBEl
COOKBOOK: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Gail Rosenblum has a confession to share: Before she met her current daughter-in-law, Kait Ziemer-Davis, she had never been to Sea Salt Eatery . . . Sea Salt Eatery: Recipes to Enjoy Year-Round, co-written by the mother-and-daughter-in-law pair, is officially out July 14 from University of Minnesota Press. It’s part cookbook, part memoir, and part oral history that describes the paradoxical story of a landlocked seafood place only open half the year that somehow took the Midwest by storm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44KKOxA
AWARDS: Via Inspire Leadership Network, VERBATIM: “The 2026 Minnesota ORBIE Awards honored leading chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) from Minnesota Twins, Medtronic, Sanford Health, Cirrus Aircraft, City of Saint Paul, Data Recognition Corporation, Transamerica and Medica for their exceptional leadership. Hosted by MinnesotaCIO and MinnesotaCISO, two of over 50 Inspire Leadership Network chapters, the prestigious award honors CIOs and CISOs who drive business transformation and industry impact.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pwVAAU
WHAT’S NEXT?
THURSDAY: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Please join the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) for the latest webinar in our Latin America Series. This webinar will help you to take a deeper dive to learn the best strategies to enter Mexico’s sophisticated market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fQ1Q2D
NEXT WEEK: Via Helio, VERBATIM: “Helio Corporation (OTCID:HLEO), a developer of advanced Space-Based Solar Power and engineering technologies pioneering commercial lunar hardware, today announced a three-city Midwest investor roadshow spanning Chicago, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee from Wednesday, July 29 through Friday, July 31, 2026, giving investors across the region a firsthand look at Helio’s rapidly evolving commercial, operational, and financial position.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vCXYaP
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Orchestra, VERBATIM: “Few artists move as fluently between opera, classical, gospel, jazz and popular music as countertenor John Holiday . . . Joined by celebrated Twin Cities vocalists Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, Holiday and the Minnesota Orchestra bring the summer festival to a close with a vibrant program drawn from the American Songbook.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yN5jYm
THIS/NEXT MONTH: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Fringe Festival is just around the corner, opening August 6. Ahead of it, comic actor and Fringe veteran Lauren Anderson is reviving her hit one-woman show, ‘Jewelry Power Elite,’ for a two-weekend run at Minneapolis’ Dudley Riggs Theatre.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44KagDp
NEXT MONTH: Via Park Dental, VERBATIM: “Park Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: PARK), a leading dental resource organization, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 after market close on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vKm5Vk
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
LITERARY SALON: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Graywolf Press, a literary publisher based in Minneapolis, is bringing prominent voices in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and publishing off the page and into conversation together at its annual Literary Salon at Glass House. On September 10, Twin Cities-based poet Danez Smith will emcee the dialogue with authors Deb Olin Unferth and Karen Tei Yamashita, as well as Graywolf’s executive director and publisher Carmen Giménez and Graywolf’s publicist Caelan Ernest Nardone.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vMT3UV
BDAYS: housing leader Christopher LaTondresse, travel entrepreneur Andrea Mokros, Fargo – Moorhead chamber leader Shannon Full
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