What was that 9-year-old doing at Robbinsdale City Hall? Running the place. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45FGW0N
Red Wing’s St. James Hotel is the only Minnesota establishment named a finalist in Historic Hotels of America’s annual Awards of Excellence. READ: https://fluence-media.co/41WNHdw
The Wall Street Journal asked readers about their best family trips. One wrote about time spent in Alexandria, Minnesota. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45QXCCF
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CELEBRATING 70 YEARS: The Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount is a landmark like no other – the tall columns, bright lights and steam during cold winter days can be seen from miles away. Generations of workers have helped operate, maintain and transform the refinery, making it one of the nation’s most innovative and efficient energy facilities of its kind. This year, Flint Hills Resources celebrates 70 years of dedicated employees at the Pine Bend refinery who have produced the fuels that help move us forward. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dRlutF (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
SHOES: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “When Dr. Sam Sayed was in elementary school, his older sister, Dayna, took him and his brother to the shoe store where she worked. She offered to buy any sneakers they wanted. For two boys growing up in poverty, this was a pivotal moment . . . Nearly 30 years later, Dr. Sayed helped give 56 Rochester Boys & Girls Club members that same gift. He applied for a Mayo Clinic Community Contributions grant through his nonprofit, Dayna's Footprints, funding an Aug. 13 event that let the kids pick their dream kicks at a local shoe store.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45uXGJw
SCARECROWS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A Robbinsdale woman has a State Fair tradition all her own. It doesn’t involve cheese curds or pronto pups, but it does require a lot of creativity. Kate Richardson enters the scarecrow contest annually. She said she loves the creative freedom this contest gives her.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3UGHZIY
HOYA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Hoyo Sambusa started up 10 years ago with a mission to employ Somali women who otherwise struggle to find work. The company has grown large enough in recent years to sell their sambusas to grocery stores and school districts around the state, and now they are joining the Minnesota State Fair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lEygOk
SNACKS: Via General Mills, from a news release sharing results of a survey showing that shopping for food and snacks was a big source of back-to-school stress for parents. VERBATIM: “That’s why General Mills and Box Tops for Education are stepping in to help with Free Snacks, a double-digit rebate offer designed to bring real savings to families and continued support to schools.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41gCTXu
SOFTBALL: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Duluth Fire Department and the Duluth Police Department are going head-to-head in a softball game and it’s all for a good cause . . . Every year, the Northern Lights Foundation hosts this event. It’s an organization that provides financial support to families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. Since founded in 2006, the foundation has raised more than $500,000 and issued grants to more than 200 families in Duluth.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45Tdc0O
SERVICE DOGS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A nonprofit that trains service dogs has established a fund to honor the lives of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert. The Hortmans were avid volunteers for Eden Prairie-based Helping Paws — including training Gilbert, a golden retriever, who they adopted after he was found to be too friendly to work as a service dog.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47H4G7o
ST. RAPHAEL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “There was joy in St. Raphael Catholic School on Wednesday as parishioners celebrated the grand opening of a renovated gym. The school reopened the gym Wednesday night after a significant renovation. The revamp brought new floors, banners and paint to the gym. However, the event was more than just a ribbon cutting. It was also a chance to celebrate a longtime teacher.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41PvNJB
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)
NEXT MONTH: Via Xcel, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy invites the public to join employees and their friends and families on Thursday, Sept. 11 through Saturday, Sept. 13 for its 15th annual Day of Service, an opportunity to give back to their communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41it4Iz
WRITER: Via news release from Associates of the Boston Public Library, VERBATIM: “The Associates of the Boston Public Library proudly announces Zarlasht Niaz of Minneapolis, MN, as the 2025-26 Writer-in-Residence. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous investor, Zarlasht will receive a stipend of $70,000, a $20,000 increase over last year's amount.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lClUpJ
RECYCLING: Via news release from Minneapolis-based Winmark, VERBATIM: “Winmark Corporation today announced a major sustainability milestone: its resale franchise brands have collectively recycled more than 2 billion items since 2010. This achievement, driven by the combined efforts of over 1,360 locally owned and operated franchise locations, reaffirms Winmark's position as a leader in the circular economy and a champion of sustainable small business ownership.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45GGpvx
ORGANICS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Organics consists of everyday refuse items like food waste, fruit peels or animal bones, and used napkins. [Hennepin County waste reduction specialist Kristin Wahlberg] says it makes up 25 percent of what we throw in the trash . . . It’s why Hennepin County is on a mission to get people and businesses to recycle their organic materials . . . From 2023 to 2024, Wahlberg says there’s been a 30 percent increase in organics recycling participation in Hennepin County.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mkV3zM
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