mn good | School Bus Driver Hailed as Hero

2.7.25

Feb 07, 2025

Nine years after the police killing of Jamar Clark in Minneapolis, the Police and Black Men Project traveled to Montgomery, Alabama – the center of the slave trade and Civil Rights Movement. They asked MPR’s Angela Davis to join them. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gydYDo

The Minnesota Vikings’ Fan of the Year is in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4grUwrX

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Blois

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

RADIOTHON: From Lindsey Peterson via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “WCCO listeners and sponsors once again stepped up in a big way Thursday, raising over $427,000 to benefit Second Harvest Heartland during our 16th annual ‘End Hunger Together Radiothon.’ Presented by Lindus Construction, Lexus of Wayzata and Maplewood and Compeer Financial, the amount raised brought the overall fundraising total to over $4.5 million since inception.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gtAkGf

(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a sponsor of Fluence)

ST CLOUD: From A.J. Kaufman via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “The City of St. Cloud will be front and center this fall during the second season of the series, ‘My Town.’ Cory Hepola, an erstwhile Twin Cities television and radio anchor, is the program's director and host. The show positively portrays rural America and aims to accurately explain rural living, since so many people today rely on ‘long-standing negative stereotypes,’ Hepola said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aSk4gF

HOUSING: From Hayley Raatsi via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A new Duluth housing complex is ready to welcome seniors and veterans who are homeless. Duluth leaders held a ribbon cutting for the Skyridge Flats development on Wednesday.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WMNRBK

VOLUNTEER: From Derek James via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “One Twin Cities volunteer has just logged her 25,000th hour of service for one organization, the equivalent of 12-plus years of 40-hour weeks. Inside Allina Health's Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Donna Brandell is always moving at the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Courage Kenny Kids. She is flourishing over a decade after a brain tumor diagnosis threatened her life. Following her surgery and therapy at Courage Kenny, Brandell dedicated her time to giving back to people like her after wrapping up her 30-year career as a school teacher.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40O24zx

EMS: From Sydney Dick via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Anna Schuh’s whole life was changed in an instant after a collision with a plow truck just over three years ago . . . After many surgeries and much recuperation, Schuh owed her life to first responders. She’s now raising money for a lifesaving device to help those responding to the scene of an emergency . . . Schuh has a goal to raise $27,000 for a LUCAS machine, an automatic CPR device keeps patients’ internal organs functioning so medical professionals can focus on other tasks such as transporting them to the nearest hospital.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Qt1SBf

BUS DRIVER: From Susie Jones via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A school bus driver in Onamia, Minnesota is being called a hero after his quick thinking averted a potential disaster . . . The Mille Lacs County Sheriff's office released dramatic video of the ‘near miss’ on Thursday. The bus driver was heading south on Highway 169 in central Minnesota, when a northbound semi truck crossed over the center line.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hNzbu2

MATCHMAKING: From Macy Harder via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “When Katherine Gyolai’s 21-year-old son with Down syndrome asked if he could download Tinder, her immediate response was ‘absolutely not’ . . . In an effort to help her kids find these connections in a safer environment, Gyolai started searching for online services that could accommodate their needs, but she came back empty-handed . . . About a month ago, after workshopping the idea with other parents, Gyolai launched Find Love Safely—a personalized matchmaking service for adults with intellectual disabilities in the Twin Cities metro.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/415QEbK

SKIRTS: From Chandra Colvin via MPR, VERBATIM: “Every evening Dannah Nephew sits in her living room, alongside a small table with her sewing machine. Fabric and ribbons in a variety of colors drape across her lap. Between her part-time job and full-time studies, she works diligently to create ribbon skirts for Native American students entering medical school at the University of Minnesota. ‘I’m thinking about who would be wearing this ribbon skirt and what colors they might like,’ she said. Nephew is Ojibwe from the White Earth Nation. As a third-year student in the program, she wants to help upcoming Native American students feel welcome in an industry she says has a complicated history with tribal communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jRVxwD

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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson

Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)

TOMORROW: From Jeffrey McClure via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A local non-profit is holding a benefit to raise money for those battling cancer as they help them ‘catch their moment’. The Catch Your Moment Foundation started in Duluth three years ago as a nonprofit dedicated to providing a fishing outlet for cancer patients, at no cost to them. The foundation will hold a cancer benefit on Saturday evening at Clyde Iron Works to raise money for the fishing trips.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aMukHr

BLOOMINGTON: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Every February, Bloomington recognizes Black leaders who have left a lasting imprint on the community through the Pioneers and Changemakers series. These individuals, through their work in education, advocacy, business, and social justice, have paved the way for future generations while continuing to uplift those around them.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hmrkE6

ARTIST: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The New York Times honored a Perpich Arts High School student’s artwork last month. The act of being creative isn’t always rewarded, but when it is, that recognition can feel like a big boost. At Perpich in Golden Valley, art is recognized every day. It isn’t hard to find inspiration within its art studio. Visual Arts student Jamie Davis said he’s been encouraged to think outside the box within his program.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3CP8SF2

RETHOS: From Brielle Bredsten via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rethos Places Reimagined, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the use of old buildings and sites, is laying roots in the community with its new downtown location. Rethos partners with neighborhood groups, developers, homeowners and main street communities on historic designations, saving important structures, historic tax credit advocacy, investment partnerships, building maintenance and rehabilitation classes, tours, building material reuse education and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40KbnAF

COMMUNITY IMPACT: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Roger Backstrom, a longtime Brooklyn Park business owner, is the inaugural recipient of Foundation Elevation’s inaugural Community Impact Award. The award is designed to recognize community members who go above and beyond to help those around them.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/414uN4n

BUGS: From Minnesota Zoo via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “As Valentine's Day approaches, love is a-buzz at the Minnesota Zoo. This year, you can give a gift as unique as the nearly one million known species of insects found throughout the world. Make a $15 donation to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation before midnight on February 14 to name a bug in someone's honor and help feed Minnesota Zoo animals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Eqxepb

MINNESTAR: Via Minnestar, VERBATIM: “Minnestar, the nonprofit dedicated to fostering Minnesota’s technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem, is excited to announce Meg Steuer as its new executive director. Meg brings extensive experience in community building, scaling initiatives, and fostering innovation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4166Mdt

GRANT: From Marathon Petroleum via Access Newswire, VERBATIM: “Marathon Petroleum's refinery in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, is supporting a unique program in the Twin Cities with a $40,000 investment. This program helps local car repair garages offer low-cost repairs while also reducing the environmental impact of older cars. Project Clean Air Repair (Project CAR) is an innovative program from Environmental Initiative, a Minnesota nonprofit dedicated to improving environmental, economic, and public health outcomes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EssgZ8

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