Wild and Wolves win.
Via The Athletic, the Twins could have a new owner by opening day. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BW2zzh
This is a great video of Anthony Edwards – the NBA should refund his fines. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BQrTXs
15 endearing facts about the 2024 Minnesota Vikings. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/40oXgBP
Jen Larrick has returned to the Minnesota Aurora as head coach. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3PoLvVA
Massive fires engulf parts of Los Angeles. LATIMES: https://fluence-media.co/40owaKU
Taste of Minnesota will return to downtown Minneapolis in July. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/421c8HP
Celebrate National Take the Stairs Day today.
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Today’s morning take at 6:20 on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Ps80sE
Sunday Take had new GOP Alex Plechash to discuss how he feels about primaries, fundraising and the GOP opportunity. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WaJ8cL
CARTER: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Ted Mondale had a different childhood and time as a young adult than many of us did. MONDALE: "We saw a lot of great things, and went bowling at Camp David at Richard Nixon's bowling lanes," Ted Mondale recalled. "They're great memories, and yeah, I'm very lucky to have had them."… The bond between families lasted long after they left Washington D.C. On Thursday, Ted will fill out Carter's wish in lieu of his father…Ted was only made aware of the eulogy after his father passed in 2021, and will speak at Carter's funeral service on Thursday in the nation's Capital. The final eulogy is still being worked on, but we asked Ted to paraphrase a rough draft. MORE: "He talks about what a principled leader he was for human rights and civil rights," Ted said. "He talks about Carter as then a Georgia Governor in 1971 in his inaugural address, saying, you know, we need to stand up for the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. That was big." READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BPsrwJ
MITCHELL: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A Becker County judge has granted a request allowing Minnesota news outlets to record the jury trial of a Minnesota senator charged with burglary. In an order dated Monday, Judge Michael Fritz granted requests from MPR News, WCCO-TV, KARE 11, KSTP, FOX 9, Valley News Live and the Minnesota Star Tribune to gather video and audio recordings from Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s trial. … [However], Fritz declined a request for media outlets to livestream or live broadcast the proceedings. … The trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 27.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Wc7mmZ
HD54A: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A forthcoming ruling from a judge in a case challenging a state House race in Shakopee could throw another wrench in what's shaping up to be a shaky start to the legislative session next week….State legislative leaders, political observers and constituents of House District 54A await an order from Judge Tracy Perzel, who presided over the two-day trial in the election contest for the seat. She is expected to issue a ruling as soon as this week and the outcome will have implications for the balance of power in the chamber as the legislature readies for the 2025 session that starts next Tuesday…DFL Incumbent Rep. Brad Tabke narrowly defeated GOP candidate Aaron Paul in that race by 14 votes, a smaller margin than the 20 missing ballots from one precinct elections officials say were likely tossed in the trash by mistake.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4abaNzW
PRIORITIES: via news release from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Mitchell.: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce unveiled its policy priorities for the 2025 legislative session today, focusing on lowering costs for businesses and working families, fostering a competitive economy, and ensuring good governance through accountability and transparency. These priorities reflect voters' desire for a balanced, bipartisan approach to addressing the state's challenges while driving economic growth and innovation. These positions represent the needs of the Minnesota Chamber’s 6,300 member companies statewide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fS117f
MN DFL: House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman spoke to WCCO Radio about the “standoff” in the Minnesota Legislature, saying she’s optimistic both sides can find agreement before the session starts on Jan. 14. HORTMAN: “One week is an eternity in the legislative session. Usually you get a little conflict before you get a resolution, and that's the state we're in. … We've got to have assurances that when we get back to 67-67, we go to power sharing — because it doesn't make any sense to have a two-year power [distribution] based on a two-week set of time. … I made an offer on Sunday, and so I would happily entertain a counteroffer.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BMfHac
MN GOP: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Republicans [have] laid out their priorities and their intent to elect Rep. Lisa Demuth as speaker and take control of committees [next week]. … Their priorities are focusing on affordability issues, safety, returning taxpayer dollars to Minnesotans and addressing fraud. They are also calling for repealing the nuclear [energy] moratorium, repealing the Minnesota Dream Act that gives college tuition to undocumented individuals, creating a fraud [oversight] committee and repealing the tax on Social Security.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pr6abz
MORE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The House GOP will have more votes next Tuesday, so [they can] assume sole control of the speakership and committee chairs. … What difference, though, does it make if the GOP has ‘an organizational majority,’ as [Lisa] Demuth called it Monday, but lacks a constitutional majority? They can’t pass bills without at least one vote from a Democrat. But they can convene hearings and conduct investigations and at least get bills to the House floor, forcing DFL members to take votes they might rather not take.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PrLAYx
QUORUM: Axios’ Torey Van Oot reports that a “battleground House Democrat” spoke to her privately about the DFL’s plan to boycott the House and deny Republicans quorum. The Democratic source said that despite coming from a battleground district, they “absolutely will not” show up on Jan. 14 unless a power-sharing agreement between the two parties is in place, and “the caucus is 100% united” on this issue. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4h6tur6
MORE: Via Axios Twin Cities, an update on the Secretary of State’s role in the legislative quorum decision. VERBATIM: “The call on what constitutes a quorum could come down to DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon, who presides over the first day. A spokesperson told Axios he’s ‘consulting with nonpartisan staff and legal counsel to review relevant House rules, statute, case law, and precedent.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMXmrn
SD60: The Minnesota Supreme Court has published its initial orders in the case against Mohamed Jama, a DFL candidate for Senate District 60 who is the subject of a residency challenge. The court will hold a hearing on the case Friday, Jan. 10. The primary for the special election is on Jan. 14, and early in-person voting begins tomorrow, Jan. 9. ORDERS: https://fluence-media.co/3W8hUUd
SPORTSBETS: Via a Senate DFL press release, Sen. Matt Klein previewed consumer protection items in his upcoming bill to legalize sports betting, which he plans to introduce at the start of session. VERBATIM: “Key protections in the Senate bill include:
A Minnesota-based helpline for problem gambling overseen by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Directing the Commissioner to develop strategies for identifying individuals at high risk for problem gambling.
Prohibitions on advertising in locations such as schools and college campuses. …
The mandatory establishment of self-imposed limits on daily wagering, with the option to waive these limits. …
A prohibition on college propositional bets to protect collegiate athletes and ensure the integrity of their sports. … [And more].”
See the full press release for a complete list of consumer protections. READ: https://fluence-media.co/425TUVn
TODAY: via news advisory, VERBATIM: “Senate Finance Committee will hold an informational hearing on the economic, health and social harms from online sports betting. The hearing will feature testimony from by authors on recent studies of sports betting and experts on the issue of gambling addiction… Prior to the hearing, Senator John Marty (DFL-Roseville) will hold a press conference to highlight the need for this discussion.”
MORE: A video illustrating the importance of safeguards for state-regulated gaming versus unregulated, illegal off -shore apps. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gXadZa
(DISCLOSURE: Sports Betting Alliance is a client of Fluence)
DNC: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “DFL Party Chair Ken Martin [plead] for labor support in his bid to lead the national Democratic Party during a candidate forum Monday evening. ‘We need to have party members talk to workers instead of celebrities,’ Martin said. … During the virtual forum hosted by the DNC’s labor council, there was unanimity that the DNC has to do more to include more union members. … Martin said he’d make sure labor is well represented on a ‘national coordinated campaign table,’ [which] he promised to establish at the DNC [to] work year-round to boost candidates. … This was the first of four candidate forums that will be held before the Feb. 1 election for a new DNC chairman.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PqeRCX
UMN: Minnesota’s Republican House delegation — Reps. Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber — sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing “serious concerns” about the University of Minnesota’s “Design Justice” program. EXCERPT: “While the Design Justice program has different elements, it segregates students by race and in general is only open to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). While the program does have events for ‘white allies,’ these are segregated events. The white ally events are open to everyone, but the BIPOC events are only for BIPOC students. This is a shameful, racially discriminatory program that has no place at a public university in Minnesota.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3C1c408
MPD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In efforts to throw out a defamation lawsuit filed by a top police commander against the creators of ‘The Fall of Minneapolis,’ dozens of former MPD officers filed sworn declarations this week saying former officer Derek Chauvin followed training protocol when he pinned his knee on George Floyd’s neck and killed him in 2020. … On top of the declarations by MPD officers, a handful of politicians from Minnesota swore to the public importance of the book and film and why they should be protected as free speech. They included U.S. Reps. Brad Finstad and Michelle Fischbach; Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson; and House GOP Deputy Leader Rep. Harry Niska.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ag123O
MORE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the city is already ahead of the game when it comes to implementing reforms outlined in the federal consent decree that the City Council approved Monday. That's because Minneapolis was already working on a similar agreement with the state, and he told WCCO [that] many items are similar. … But O'Hara said even though they've hit the ground running, there is still a lot of work ahead of them.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gM9PwA
WALZ: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “With his defeat on the national stage, Gov. Tim Walz’s focus is squarely on state issues. … [But] the governor’s bid for vice president will add another chapter to his legacy in politics, and the Minnesota Historical Society has gotten a jumpstart on preserving it. Jennifer Huebscher, curator of photography and moving images at the historical society, [said] they’ve put out a call for materials, especially 3D objects.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WaLvML
‘MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED’ — EMPOWERMENT TRAINING OPENS PATHWAY INTO THE TRADES: Since 2019, a partnership between Five Skies Empowerment Training and Enbridge has broadened as unions, contractors and other groups look to connect Native American job seekers to meaningful careers. “They’re gonna open the door for you,” says Joel, a program graduate. “Before the 5 Skies program, I wasn’t aware there were so many opportunities,” explains Ashley. “My whole life changed,” says Melissa. Click here to submit an application, and find out more on upcoming training. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XoPg0D (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
RENTERS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities renters paid an extra $26 per month on average when their landlords used rental pricing algorithms to determine what they pay, according to a White House analysis. … Nationally, renters spent an extra $3.8 billion last year because of overall pricing algorithms — or an average of about $70 per month. … Two Minneapolis City Council members are pushing for a ban on the use of pricing algorithms locally. On Tuesday, they [asked] staff to draw up legislation on the topic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DYe0Xy
HOMELESS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “For two years or more, a sizable tent community has laid claim to the field south of the East Seventh Street entrance to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul. … [But] city officials tagged dozens of tents in the area [on] Tuesday morning with notices to vacate, giving residents of what’s believed to be the city’s largest or second-largest homeless encampment until Jan. 16 to find somewhere else to stay. The notices indicate the camp is ‘a danger to health and safety’ and encourage residents to coordinate with outreach workers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pr9bsA
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Two homeless encampments that went up in flames Monday in south Minneapolis have now been cleared out. … Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez [said] the city doesn't have enough shelter space, especially low barrier space that is more accommodating for people who are struggling with drug addiction. Chavez says many who live in the encampments do so because they're dealing with addiction and they can't give up their drugs completely, so they often can’t stay in the shelters. … Minneapolis firefighters are concerned the city could see more fires in the coming weeks.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4208Y76
DAM: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The bridge in Mankato that spans the Blue Earth River near the Rapidan Dam is starting to come down. Crews began demolition work Tuesday, months after extreme flooding pushed the river from its banks and eroded the land surrounding the dam. … Crews are still trying to figure out what to do with the dam, but say that project will take years. County engineers say they need to take down the bridge in the winter because spring melt could make the bridge less stable than it already is.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40airWG
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)
NURSES: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Registered nurses at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont have voted to decertify their union affiliation with the Minnesota Nurses Association. The vote [was] 26-15 in favor of removing the union, according to the National Right to Work Foundation, an anti-union nonprofit whose attorneys were involved in the petition to decertify. … The change comes as inpatient surgery, inpatient pediatrics and labor and delivery services are set to end at the Fairmont hospital this spring.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a51GAZ
PFAS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A cookware industry group is suing Minnesota in federal court over the state’s sweeping new PFAS ban, arguing the law is unconstitutional and discriminates against out-of-state manufacturers. … The Cookware Sustainability Alliance, a California-based organization, filed the lawsuit this week against Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Katrina Kessler. … MPCA said it cannot comment on pending litigation but that it believes the new law is ‘legally sound.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pt3ESm
WOLVES: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Fish & Wildlife service has denied two petitions from hunting advocacy groups to reduce federal protections for gray wolves. … The petitions asked the agency to recognize wolves in western Great Lakes states, including Minnesota, as a distinct subpopulation and delist them. … The hunters argued that wolf populations have surpassed initial recovery goals in the Great Lakes region. … The Fish & Wildlife Service disagreed, ruling that the petitions ‘do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40oSlko
FEEDLOTS: via an MPCA press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today took another step forward in addressing nitrate pollution statewide by issuing updated water permits for about 1,000 large feedlot operations. These permits take effect when the current ones expire. … In conjunction with the updated permits, the MPCA is launching a new online nutrient management tool that will help feedlot operators plan manure and fertilizer applications. People who apply for the new permits will be required to use the tool.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/405YmRu
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)
ST CLOUD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “When Dave Kleis was first elected mayor of St. Cloud in 2005, George W. Bush was president, and Tim Pawlenty was Minnesota’s governor. Kleis gave his final State of the City address on Tuesday before he leaves office next week. In the packed City Council chambers, he praised city leaders and community partners he worked with during his tenure, and said it’s been an honor to serve as mayor for two decades.” KLEIS: “I cannot say enough about how much gratitude I feel for your willingness to entrust me with your home. I am so proud of this community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/405f2bY
DULUTH: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $11,200,000 for the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. The grant, provided through USDOT’s RAISE program, will rehabilitate this historic bridge, including surface preparation and repainting, lead abatement, replacement of deteriorated sections, miscellaneous structural steel repairs, repairs to spalled and delaminated concrete, and replacement of the bridge sidewalks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gEPsS2
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A five-year, $500 million Olmsted County capital improvement plan was approved Tuesday with up to $60 million of the first year’s cost to be covered through new debt. … The planned projects [will] extend through 2029. The improvement plan details costs associated with anticipated major, one-time physical expenditures, such as acquiring land, building construction and upgrades, public infrastructure and equipment purchases costing more than $10,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ja6MAe
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)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
STATE WORKERS: via a House GOP press release, VERBATIM: “On December 9th, each GOP committee chair sent letters to agency commissioners under their committee jurisdiction requesting information on remote work policies, DEI-related FTEs, unfilled positions, and other information. … Those requests gave a deadline of January 6, allowing nearly 1 full month for agencies to compile the information that they should already have available. Following every state agency's refusal to respond to those requests, Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, released the following statement.” DEMUTH: “Taxpayers deserve accountability for how their money is being spent, and the refusal to answer reasonable questions about remote work policies, DEI staffing, and unfilled positions is unacceptable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DLCvYd
MPD: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke to WCCO Radio about the federal consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice the City Council approved Monday. He said the city’s police department is on board. FREY: “They want to get in on the ground level, the Minneapolis Police Department, and be part of something really special. We’re the city, obviously, where George Floyd was murdered. We’re also the city that’s gonna set the example for so many others to follow. We’re gonna get this right. I’m very optimistic where we’re going right now.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4h2kxPt
RADON: via an MDH press release, VERBATIM: “With doors and windows shut tight against the cold, dangerous levels of cancer-causing radon gas can build up in homes during the winter months, posing a health risk to Minnesotans. Health officials are reminding Minnesotans that now is the time to test or retest their home for radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soil and can enter homes through cracks and other openings in the walls or foundation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a4oBfT
ALL THE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in your inbox and on our new website, The Daily Agenda. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets and share our web content with your friends. SIGNUP: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz has no public events scheduled.
TODAY: via an SEIU advisory, VERBATIM: “Home care workers with SEIU Healthcare MN & IA and the seniors and people with disabilities they care for will rally in the Rotunda of the Capitol on Wednesday, January 8th at 10:30 a.m. as union bargaining for over 35,000 workers approaches the deadline for an agreement with the state of Minnesota. The rally comes ahead of the January 10th deadline to reach a tentative agreement to be included in this year’s budget.”
JAN 14: The Minnesota Legislature will begin its 2025 session on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
JAN 14: Primaries will tentatively be held for the special election in Senate District 60.
JAN 14: The Minnesota Latino Leadership Alliance (MiLLA) announced they will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on the first day of session to discuss political priorities.
BDAYS: Rep. Bernie Perryman, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, marketer Janet Rosseth, agency leader Tracy Call, MNCU communicator Julia Miller, fmr. Rep. David Bly
SHARE: Signing up for Fluence tip sheets is easy. Please share with your friends, colleagues and family. HERE: http://bit.ly/2019FluenceTipSheets
TIPS: How do we get the best news and most buzzed about stories? Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
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