Vikings win. Timberwolves lose. Wild at Utah tomorrow.
Gophers going to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
In Minnesota, the most commonly searched word this year was “demure,” while the most-searched acronym was “DEI,” according to Google Trends data. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/3B95jJh
The ruby slippers stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, MN in 2005 sold for $28 million at auction and will likely not be returned to the museum. AP: https://fluence-media.co/3D53ZHL
The NYPD released two new photos of the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/41oBBdG
A Gallup poll finds that American views of U.S. healthcare quality are at their lowest point in at least 24 years. Only 5% said the country’s healthcare system had no problems — 25% say there are minor problems, 54% say there are major problems, and 16% say it is in crisis. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4fbpLqP
Yesterday on Sunday Take, U of MN President Rebecca Cunningham shared legislative priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BkGFFq
Thanks for your patience, as our transition to Substack went smoothly. You can always just go to www.TheDailyAgenda.com to get all your content.
It’s National Pastry Day!
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
LEGAL FEES: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Last week, the House DFL voted to approve [covering] more than $10,000 in legal fees for state lawmaker Rep. Bianca Virnig, who negotiated a settlement with her former private employer. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS obtained the agreement her attorneys negotiated, which shows Rep. Virnig was paid $108,224. The agreement also states that her decision to leave her job was ‘mutual’ and…that each side will be responsible for its own legal fees. … The agreement also stressed the two sides were to ‘endeavor to avoid publicizing this agreement.’ … DFL leaders on the House Rules Committee declined to release the detailed agreement before approving $10,391.40 in legal fees paid by taxpayers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41sUtID
MORE: The $108,224 settlement is available to read in full online, shared via KSTP. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZI05gT
RESPONSE: via a House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth interview, DEMUTH: “Even though the House has been now put on the hook to pay those private legal fees, we were not party to this agreement, nor did we ever see it. That is why this is absolutely wrong for Minnesota taxpayers to be on the hook for this. … I will be sending a letter on Monday to the chair of the Rules Committee, Jamie Long, [asking] him to call a special rules meeting to revisit this issue. I would like to see it reversed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41sUtID
MORE: via a Rep. Harry Niska tweet, NISKA: “In every other employment settlement, the plaintiff’s attorneys fees are paid for by the defendant as part of the settlement. There is no reason the state of Minnesota should be subsidizing the employer who acted badly in this case.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4gnisxa
BUDGET: The Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence released an extensive analysis of last week’s state budget forecast. EXCERPT: “For the last several years, revenue updates have regularly exceeded projections, ultimately reflected in larger than projected surpluses. [But new forecasts] put a damper on new 2025 budget ambitions. … GDP growth over 2025-2029 for the U.S. is now expected to be 0.2 percentage points faster than in the February baseline. However, some Minnesota-specific issues are appearing to weigh on the state’s economic performance. … Providing significant, targeted tax cuts while concurrently implementing a bold progressive spending agenda is tricky business, which the forecast now seems to be confirming. … [Also], nothing in the forecast takes into account the extraordinary federal policy uncertainty surrounding the second Trump administration and its potential implications for Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49rzasU
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Legislators will have to decide whether to start making budget adjustments now in anticipation of the projected 2028-29 deficit, or wait to see how the economy changes during the next four years. … Differences quickly emerged as legislative leaders debated potential solutions. [Gov. Tim Walz] and DFL leaders said everything is on the table, from budget cuts to tax increases. House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman…[said] a future deficit won’t be avoided by making cuts at smaller agencies, such as the Departments of Natural Resources or Agriculture. … House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth said the Legislature should look to cut spending across state government. It shouldn’t increase taxes, she said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fesNKF
40B: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “State Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson, who’s been accused by his Republican opponent of not residing in the district he was elected to represent, said in court documents [last] week that the staffers from his GOP opponent’s campaign were ultimately surveilling the wrong apartment unit. GOP candidate Paul Wikstrom last month filed an election contest against Johnson, who won the race for House District 40B. … Johnson said he’s been living in Roseville Estates apartment #303 since Oct. 15 because apartment #103 had maintenance issues. … [But] Republicans argue there was little evidence of anyone living at apartment #103 before Oct. 15. … An evidentiary hearing was held on Thursday and Friday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49pX4VR
MPLS: via Minneapolis City Council, VERBATIM: “At [Friday’s] meeting of the Budget Committee, Minneapolis City Council Members presented a 1.4% cut to Mayor Jacob Frey’s existing levy [from 8.3% to 6.9%] by prioritizing budget reductions in three key areas: raises for the 160 highest-paid city staff, technology project deferrals, and delaying the purchase of internal software. … Council Members supporting these strategic innocuous reductions to the City’s budget [said] through targeted budget conservations, we can guarantee a functional City while effectively lowering Mayor Frey’s proposed historically high property tax.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BfvCgR
MORE: via Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, VERBATIM: “Mayor Jacob Frey is proposing a 1.9% levy reduction to his 2025-2026 proposed budget while urging the City Council to reconsider their 73 proposed amendments and reign in new spending. The amendments are…more than double the typical number of amendments seen in the City’s recent history. … If the Council eliminates many of the amendments that relate to the [mayor’s concerns], the mayor will support a package that reduces the overall levy from 8.3% to 6.4%.” Frey included more details on his alternative proposal in a letter to the council. LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4f7kwbI
MORE: via Star Tribune’s Deena Winter, VERBATIM: “The City Council began debating revisions to [Jacob] Frey’s budget on Friday in what promises to be a series of marathon ‘markup’ meetings before the council votes on a final budget Tuesday night. … Frey said the council skipped his amendments, most likely for political reasons, but he’s happy to see that members want to cut taxes. … The council will continue work on the budget Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZF6U2J
VETOES: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “If it seems to you that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is particularly prone to use his veto authority, you’re not wrong. So far this year, the mayor has vetoed five actions and has vowed to nix a sixth action passed by the council Thursday. When that happens, he will have vetoed 16 actions since he first took office in 2018. That’s more vetoes than the previous two mayors combined. … Frey’s disagreements with the council have at times appeared to be based on partisan politics, even though all Minneapolis’ elected officials [are liberals]. The council majority, however, does lean more left than the mayor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Vwskwx
UMN: via a UMN press release, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota researchers fueled another record-breaking year in annual research expenditures. … Fiscal 2023 totals were up 10% over the previous year — $1.35 billion systemwide and $1.32 billion for the Twin Cities campus, maintaining its rank of 12th among U.S. public research universities. Vice President for Research and Innovation Shashank Priya will celebrate the achievements that drove this continued growth in his annual report about University of Minnesota research to the Board of Regents Mission Fulfillment Committee on Thursday, Dec. 12. … The Board is also expected to discuss the University’s next systemwide strategic plan with President Rebecca Cunningham.” The regents will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Friday. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OJ9oH4
METRO TRANSIT: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Faced with growing community concerns about crime and fare evasion, last fall Metro Transit began a study on installing turnstiles at four of its light-rail stations. This past July, they learned how much that would cost: $14 million, according to a report prepared by a consultant and obtained through a data practices request. … The agency does not have any concrete plans to implement turnstiles at this time. Metro Transit leaders and HNTB are worried that, because of the low floor height, people could simply walk on the tracks and step onto the platform, bypassing the turnstiles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VqUc5a
BRINGING SAFETY TO ‘THE NEXT LEVEL’: As part of Enbridge’s work on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota, Enbridge has brought in family-owned and Indigenous-owned Northern Lights Family Outfitters to fully outfit project workers right on the job site with personal protective equipment (PPE) from its 48-foot mobile trailer. “Enbridge really brings safety to the next level,” says Patti, a project liaison for Enbridge and the Fond du Lac Band. “It’s really helpful to have a mobile unit, especially for this kind of work.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OQYmjn (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
DOWNTOWN: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Downtowns everywhere have contracted since the onset of the pandemic, [and] St. Paul’s skyway vacancies were growing even before the pandemic. Still, while some may hope that the capital city draws a Fortune 500 spin-off to employ locals and shore up its tax base, it’s perhaps more likely that the city’s fortunes rest with homegrown companies emerging organically from small-business startups in affordable commercial spaces. … The St. Paul Downtown Alliance [started] the Grow Downtown program around May 2022 in hopes that at least a few new retailers will [fill] vacancies and draw needed foot traffic. … Not all the shops have stuck around, but organizers say the results have been even better than expected.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g7Uvua
HOUSING: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The median home price in the Twin Cities was about four times that of the median household income in 2023, according to a new Harvard study. While the metro area is still a relatively affordable place to live compared to other big cities, the trend line over the past 15 years has not been good. Home affordability improved last year as wages grew faster than local home prices, [but] that only tells part of the story. Heightened mortgage rates have made buying homes more expensive, especially for first-timers. Plus, rapidly rising costs for hazard insurance and property taxes have made it more costly for those who already own their homes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41F5cjx
MANUFACTURING: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced $19 million from the State of Minnesota to support SkyWater Technology’s plan to expand its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Bloomington, which is expected to create approximately 70 new jobs. The total project cost is $127 million. … Part of SkyWater’s multi-year capital investment plan, this incremental funding would accelerate modernization and equipment upgrades to enhance production for customers in aerospace and defense as well as biomedical, industrial, thermal imaging, and quantum computing markets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Bjx6qi
UTILITIES: via Star Tribune’s Walker Orenstein, VERBATIM: “Jennifer Schultz has applied to an open spot on the MN Public Utilities Commission. The former DFL state rep from Duluth and two-time candidate for CD8 in Congress lists two government affairs jobs as her current work. I don't believe she served on energy committees at the [legislature]. … Schultz did not appear to submit a cover letter. Her application does not include the words 'energy' or 'utility' in the context of power and mentions climate resiliency once. She lists expertise in economics, public policy and health care.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4g1aVED
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
DNC: AP News interviewed the four declared candidates running to be the next Democratic National Committee chair: Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and New York state Sen. James Skoufis. Martin, who is also the current DNC vice chair, is considered the favorite by some news outlets and fellow candidates. Martin’s interview responses have been sorted by topic.
● BIDEN: On whether Pres. Joe Biden should have ended his reelection campaign sooner, MARTIN: “To me, it’s an academic exercise. You can’t change the past, so for us it’s really about what lessons can we draw right now that can inform the future.”
● REPUBLICANS: On whether Vice Pres. Kamala Harris spent too much time appealing to Republicans, MARTIN: “We have to make sure that we are competing in all spaces and we’re talking to all voters. … I’m not suggesting we spend a lot of time talking to Republican voters, [but] we need to make sure that we are reaching outside of just our comfort zone and our base and trying to really make a significant play for independent voters.”
● LATINOS: On Democrats appealing more to Latino men, MARTIN: “Every hot take right now that we see is completely garbage. It’s just hogwash because it’s not based in any research. We don’t know how much ad spend was spent targeting the Latino man. We don’t know what the outreach and field programs were. … All of that has to be on the table to really figure out [the problem], and then you can apply the prescription.”
● PRIMARIES: On restoring Iowa and New Hampshire as the first primary states, MARTIN: “What I think is important is to make sure that that process is open and transparent, that all states who want to have an opportunity [will] be considered and that ultimately the end product, whatever calendar we come up with…[is] putting us in a position to win by having a rigorous and efficient process that battle tests our nominee.”
More details, including responses from other candidates, are in the full article. READ: https://fluence-media.co/41qs4TB
COUGH: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is reporting the highest number of whooping cough cases in more than a decade, the state Department of Health says. As of last Wednesday, 2,324 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, were reported by health care facilities, medical labs and schools and child care centers, with the majority in the Twin Cities metro. That’s the highest number reported at this time of year since 2012, when there were 4,144 cases. Health officials expected the spike because the disease peaks every three to five years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zv6sD1
TRIBES: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, and Steve Daines, R-Montana, have introduced the bipartisan Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act to combat drug trafficking in tribal communities. … The PROTECT Act would expand the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction program to allow tribal nations to prosecute non-Native American offenders for drug crimes and gun crimes in furtherance of drug trafficking and other STCJ crimes. … Tribal leaders across the nation voiced their support for the legislation, including Red Lake Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41r9RW8
MUSEUM: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “For 66 years on the Minnesota Capitol grounds, a 50-caliber gun with a barrel mouth 4 inches wide has served as a reminder of the distant Pearl Harbor attack. … A St. Paul-based reservist crew helped man the gun on the USS Ward destroyer that day. They’re credited with firing the first shots in defense of Pearl Harbor. … A relocation petition that gets its initial airing on Dec. 19 seeks to transfer the USS Ward Gun Number Three to an under-construction military museum near Little Falls and Camp Ripley, the Minnesota National Guard training facility. There, petitioners say, it would fit in with other military artifacts and get the care and preservation it deserves.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iqWH1e
LE SUEUR: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “As Chris McPhillips winds his way through the cavernous rooms of the former Green Giant research facility in Le Sueur…he sees the potential for a green revival within the white concrete block walls — not from vegetables, but cannabis. ‘I think the city of Le Sueur will rise again,’ said McPhillips, founder of Minnesota Valley Cannabis. ‘We’ll just rise again with a different crop.’ … All McPhillips needs is a license to operate from the state. But, that process is on hold. … Even though McPhillips doesn’t have an answer yet on what will happen with his licensing application, he’s still optimistic about his company's future in Le Sueur. The level of interest shown by the city and its residents has convinced him the investment is worth the waiting game.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BhkEYc
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A pair of tax-increment financing districts will be considered Monday for two city-supported housing projects. Acting as the city’s economic development authority, the Rochester City Council will receive public comments and consider TIF support for an apartment complex north of the Mayo Civic Center, as well as the creation of for-sale homes in northwest Rochester. The proposed $130 million apartment complex planned by Sherman Associates would create two buildings on a city-owned parking lot.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g3RH12
NORTHERN TWP: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “As it continues its long, arduous process of installing a sanitary sewer system around Lake Bemidji, Northern Township invites its residents to voice their thoughts and concerns about the project at a public hearing set for 6 p.m. [tonight]. … Sparked by some septic system issues and failures in the last few years, the township has long sought a solution to protect Lake Bemidji — namely with a centralized system that would be easier to maintain and regulate compared to individual systems on each property.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BhP90a
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: https://fluence-media.co/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ABSENCES: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Last year, the state Education Department determined more than 1 in 4 students missed at least 10 percent of school days due to unexcused absences or suspensions. … [Now], some state lawmakers are ready to talk through their findings at the Capitol. They’re focused on better data collection, along with improving outreach to families and changes around transportation that could make it easier for kids. BAKEBERG: ‘The hard part is, the root cause in every case is different, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,’ said Rep. Ben Bakeberg, R-Jordan, co-chair of the Student Attendance and Truancy Legislative Study Group.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iziAM2
SOLAR: via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Solar farms displacing productive farmland will likely remain a sensitive topic among farmers in 2025. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says solar sites should not be located on prime crop ground. ‘But then I see the investments [by] utilities, [so] they want it close to their transmission lines, and it’s more economic for them to do that. But it is a concern, we don’t want to lose prime farmland. But then again, it gets to be a property rights issue too.’ He tells Brownfield another concern is landowners who don’t actively farm.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VqB0oa
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TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will speak at the annual conference of the Association of Minnesota Counties and stop by a meeting of the House and Senate DFL caucuses. Later he will interview candidates for vacancies in the Fourth Judicial District.
TOMORROW: via an MN Chamber advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber will be joined by more than 20 legislators at the Women in Business Minnesota: Annual Legislative Luncheon on Tuesday, December 10. The event will offer an exclusive opportunity for business leaders to connect with policymakers and gain valuable insights into how public policy will shape the business landscape in the 2025 Legislative Session. This year, the luncheon will feature introductions from newly elected and re-elected legislators, along with a keynote address from Brooke Lee, CEO of Anchor Paper Co.” The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TOMORROW: Progressive group Mpls for the Many will host a press conference on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to show support for the Minneapolis City Council’s proposed budget before it goes up for a final vote.
THURS-FRI: The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Friday.
BDAYS: Senate GOP leader Mark Johnson, starter extraordinaire Paul Spangrud, BBY’s’s Josi Hellier
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