Twins lose. Lynx at Seattle.
Headed to FarmFest today, say hello if you’re there. The Ag Mafia dinner tonight is expected to be a record crowd.
Which politicians exploring 2026 statewide campaigns will we see at in Redwood Falls?
National Night Out today – knowing your neighbors is a good way to avoid polarizing conversations.
Research by Square estimates that nearly 38% of Minnesota coffee orders are made with oat milk. DATA: http://fluence-media.co/3J19v14
An AP-NORC poll finds that 53% of Americans find grocery prices to be a “major” source of stress, higher than any other economic issue. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/4lfDvnk
Have a great Tuesday – it is National Underwear Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take included an interview with OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel on the State of Cannabis in Minnesota and a discussion about the need for quality candidates in the 2026 elections. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3U9jDaz
30K: Sponsorships available – to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
TODAY: Minnesota FarmFest will host elected officials at its agriculture forums today. At 10:30 a.m., Reps. Angie Craig, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber will join a panel titled “Developing a Reliable Ag Policy Safety Net.” At 1:15 p.m., Sen. Amy Klobuchar will give a keynote address for the panel “Building a Sustainable Future for Midwest Agriculture.” A full list of FarmFest forums is available online. SCHEDULE: http://fluence-media.co/4mpRgRj
MNLEG: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The political violence that shook Minnesota's Legislature was front and center at a national conference of lawmakers Monday, where a state senator shot at his home in June urged lawmakers to dial back rhetoric that can fuel violence. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, who is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, spoke via video to the National Conference of State Legislatures conference in Boston. More than 50 lawmakers and staff from Minnesota were in attendance. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, and House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, also addressed the gathering. … In his widest public comments since the shooting, Hoffman said the nation was experiencing a ‘creeping erosion of public trust, not just in institutions, but in each other.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4fiVnwe
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota portion of the NCSL summit lasted about 20 minutes, starting with [Lisa] Demuth's comments. She recalled her friendship with [Melissa] Hortman across the aisle and told the assembled lawmakers about how Hortman invited her to weekly meetings starting in 2023. … [Erin] Murphy, meanwhile, implored lawmakers to tone down political rhetoric and pay closer attention to the threats posed by damaging conspiracy theories and political radicalization. … The NCSL legislative summit runs through Wednesday.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/45hvCrx
MORE: Here is the video of Sen. John Hoffman’s remarks. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4m4fnFz
HOUSING: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Amid allegations of pervasive fraud within the Minnesota Housing Stabilization Services program, some providers are seeking answers about what’s next for some of the state’s most vulnerable populations who rely on these services. … Jonathon Hansen, the owner and CEO of Loyal Home Health Care LLC, said the [HSS shutdown] news was sudden and shocking. … Loyal Home Health Care has helped house more than 80 clients over the last few years. … Hansen said DHS notified providers about some upcoming policy changes just a couple of weeks ago aimed at reducing fraud, like requiring clients to sign off on time cards to better verify that they actually received the services that the state is billed for. Stricter background checks were also among the expected policy changes. … Hansen said his organization currently has 140 clients, and the hope of continuing to help them is slipping away.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4m2VCOE
OIG: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “State Sen. Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS she intends to reintroduce a bill in the next legislative session which would create an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate government fraud in Minnesota. Sen. Gustafson’s bill passed in the 2025 session with 60 votes in the Senate, but it died in the House without a floor vote. … Gustafson said the initial cost to get the inspector general’s office up and running would be $9 million in its first two years.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4m3vKCh
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
QUORUM: NPR News has a report on similarities between the Minnesota DFL’s walkout at the state Capitol to deny quorum earlier this year, and Texas Democrats using the same tactic in their legislature this week. VERBATIM: “More than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers left the state [to] block the passage of a controversial new redistricting map. … Other states, including Oregon, Indiana and Minnesota, have also seen legislative walkouts in recent years with mixed results, [although] Minnesota [DFLers] managed to block Republicans from electing a speaker and conducting business for three weeks. … Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, says that while quorum breaks used to be relatively rare, they are happening more often as partisanship increases, in Texas and beyond.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45BwRTG
REDISTRICTING: Via MPR, Gov. Tim Walz expressed support this weekend for Democrats redrawing congressional districts in their states to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting plans. However, Walz did not say if he would support mid-decade redistricting in Minnesota, adding that he thinks the state’s maps are drawn fairly. WALZ: “We're not playing with a normal administration. We're playing one that's shoving all the rules out. … If the courts that he has packed aren't going to [fix] that, then I think it is incumbent upon states that have the capacity, the ability, to make sure that we are responding in kind. It is a terrible spot we're in as a country, but not responding is going to make it even worse.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3J17FNJ
MORE: Via States Newsroom, DNC Chair and former DFL Chair Ken Martin said he supports Democratic leaders redrawing congressional districts in response to Republicans doing the same. MARTIN: “If [Republicans] can’t win on their own merits, they’re going to cheat and steal. That’s essentially what they’re doing right now. … [But] we can’t be the only party that’s playing by the rules. … In the past, I think our party would bring a pencil to a knife fight. We’re going to bring a gun to a knife fight.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4fsm41O
NOTE: DFLers don’t currently have the votes to redraw lines, and this could be a discussion issue in the 2026 Governor’s race.
CONGRESS: Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke to NPR News about Pres. Donald Trump’s tariff policy, his recent decision to fire an official responsible for U.S. job reports, and how these two items could affect the economy. KLOBUCHAR: “Congress should just reassert itself, get its power back. … He needs to get this under control, and if he won't do it himself, Congress's role — and the Democrats are united on this — is to be a check on him. … People behind closed doors say they don't like these tariffs, [even] if they're Republicans. But yet they still vote to rubber-stamp what he's doing time and time again.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/45zea33
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On Monday, Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
MAYOR: In a video posted to social media, Minneapolis mayoral candidate DeWayne Davis said his campaign is planning to work with fellow candidates Omar Fateh and Jazz Hampton to oppose Mayor Jacob Frey’s reelection as “a coalition” supporting new leadership. Davis said they will likely not be “joint campaigning,” but he wants to host group fundraisers. He emphasized that Minneapolis using ranked choice voting for city elections enables mutual support and cross-endorsements, as seen in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor earlier this year. WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3J5lomF
MPLS: via Ward for Ward 5, VERBATIM: “Maurice L Ward, a dedicated advocate for justice and community empowerment, officially filed to run for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 5 today. … Maurice aims to become the first Justice-Impacted Individual in Minnesota’s history to seek a seat on the city council. His campaign focuses on transformative policies that prioritize public safety, affordable housing, livable wages, and inclusive city contracts that support second-chance citizens. … Maurice’s platform emphasizes empowering small businesses through fair regulations and strengthening workers’ protections across Minneapolis. His vision is rooted in justice, equity, and community-led growth.” WEBSITE: http://fluence-media.co/45AOCTa
MORE: Minneapolis City Council candidate Maurice Ward spoke to KSTP about his work with JIIVE, an advocacy group for formerly incarcerated people, and why he wants to push the city to bolster civil rights protections and fight discrimination based on criminal history. WARD: “It’s crime prevention, it’s safety, it’s everything, because I feel as though 99% of the people coming home want to do good and they just want that opportunity. … I was once the person who messed it up. I wanted to be [the] person that fixed it.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/452lBj5
ST PAUL: via Carter for St. Paul, VERBATIM: “Mayor Melvin Carter [has] officially filed for re-election to continue serving as Mayor of Saint Paul. Mayor Carter is running on his record of bold leadership through historic challenges and a clear vision for the future. … The campaign’s next phase will focus on accelerating that momentum — building new tools to address the fentanyl crisis, ensuring safe and accessible public spaces, creating good-paying union jobs, continuing our downtown recovery, and building quality housing as quickly as possible.”
Yesterday in lunch take…: “ST PAUL: Via news release from the Her campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, Kaohly Her, State Representative for District 64A, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Minnesota House, and co-chair of the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, announced her candidacy for Mayor of Saint Paul.” HER: “Our city needs safe streets, strong schools, and thriving neighborhoods. The cost of living continues to rise, our emergency services are stretched to the limit, housing is expensive and out of reach for many, and economic growth is at a standstill. We need leadership that meets this challenging time. We must expect more from our leaders to deal with the cruelty and volatility of Trump’s tariffs, immigration policies, and cuts at the federal level that threaten the livelihood of our community.”
HCMC: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A group of Hennepin Healthcare System board members Monday came out against a plan for the county to take over HCMC and dissolve their board. A number of board members of color appeared at a news conference Monday, calling the potential changes a political move rather than what is best for HCMC patients. … The Hennepin County commissioners introduced a resolution to dissolve the health care system board on July 29. The move came after years of budget shortfalls. … The 14-member health care board of community volunteers, hospital leaders and county officials is hoping to stop the resolution from taking effect. On Monday, they urged their supporters to speak out at a public meeting Tuesday.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45e291K
POT: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The race to be the state’s first licensed cannabis retailer should cross the finish line this week, one way or another. Those groundbreaking sales will happen in either Duluth or Albert Lea, but getting a legal supply is the latest speed bump. … Four retailers [will] race to the starting line. Only Duluth's Legacy Cannabis has nearly all the pieces of the red tape puzzle put together, but supply is the last piece. The state also recently licensed five cultivators, but they're not expected to have any flower for several months. For now, White Earth Nation is the only place wholesaling cannabis.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4ol5FQD
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)
CYBERATTACKS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The city of North St. Paul experienced a cyberattack, just a week after the city of St. Paul announced it was experiencing one too. An emergency city council meeting was held Monday, where it was announced the city needed to respond to a ‘business email compromise incident’ which may have led to the disclosure of personal information. According to the agenda for the meeting, the cyberattack was experienced within the police department and some data may have been compromised. The council voted to approve a contract with the law firm McDonald Hopkins, which will analyze and respond to the breach.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3JjeD0z
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The City of St. Paul is carrying out city business with pen and paper in the wake of a major cyberattack. In an update Monday, the city said the July 25 breach is still impacting internal and online services – including those utilized by the Department of Safety and Inspections. ‘To provide continued service until full functionality is restored, we will temporarily process permits and licenses the old-fashioned way: on paper and in-person,’ the city shared.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3H9EW8Y
FEED FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A defendant in the Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud who was arrested at the Minneapolis airport in May pleaded guilty [to] wire fraud. … Hibo Daar, 51, of Eden Prairie pleaded guilty in connection with the $250 million fraud. … From November 2020 through January 2023, Northside Wellness Center, of which Daar served as executive director, received $1.78 million in reimbursements while under Feeding Our Future's sponsorship. But an indictment of Daar said the organization spent less than $2,000 on food. Hamdi Hussein Omar also pleaded guilty [to] wire fraud in connection with the Feeding Our Future scheme. Omar ran a food site in St. Paul that received more than $1 million in reimbursements.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/455KVoA
POLICE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison, a Democrat from the 3rd District, and Rep. Brad Finstad, a Republican from Minnesota’s 1st District, would provide millions of dollars to help law enforcement recruit and retain officers. … The measure would make $50 million a year available for recruitment efforts for five years. The money would be distributed through a competitive grant making process. Additionally, the bill would provide $250 million over five years to fund a nationwide campaign to encourage people to consider careers in law enforcement.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45pBLCb
SPEEDCAMS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Mendota Heights Police have a camera focused on finding speeders — it’s a first-of-its-kind pilot program in the state of Minnesota. … Mendota Heights Police Chief Kelly McCarthy [said] ‘We’re hopeful that this is…the least intrusive way you can enforce traffic laws.’ … The legislature approved the city’s pilot program, which started on August 1st and will run for four years. The traffic camera was purchased by the city for around $17,000. … Minneapolis is [also] starting a red-light camera pilot program that will start in the coming weeks.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3HiRM4D
EPA: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), joined by 16 of her Senate colleagues, called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to reinstate workers placed on administrative leave for expressing concern with the agency’s direction under the Trump Administration. … In the letter to Administrator Zeldin, the Senators emphasize that public employees have the right to speak their views on issues that matter to them in their personal lives under the First Amendment.” LETTER: http://fluence-media.co/4fiu7hg
ALLINA: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Allina Health announced [last week] it will close four of its clinic locations — Inver Grove Heights, Maplewood, Nicollet Mall and Oakdale — effective Nov. 1, 2025. In a statement from Allina Health, the Minneapolis-based health care system cited underutilized clinic space and a need to better align its resources with patient care models that continue to shift away from traditional in-person visits. … Allina Health said it will assist affected patients in transitioning their care to other locations and will provide information on provider availability, new clinic options and further updates in the coming months.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4m9f9gj
NEWBORNS: via a Rep. Kelly Morrison press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03), an OBGYN for more than 20 years, led a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressing for additional information on his decision to disband the nation’s advisory committee on newborn screening, [arguing] the HHS’s decision to disband the committee threatens years of successful, life-saving, and life-changing treatment.” LETTER: http://fluence-media.co/4m50O4G
EXPORTS: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) reintroduced the Promoting Rural Exports Act, bipartisan legislation to formally establish a National Rural Export Center within the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) and authorize the creation of up to nine Regional Rural Export Centers. The bill aims to help businesses in rural areas increase their exports by improving access to international markets.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4m50GlI
DEER: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A U.S. appeals court upheld a ruling brought before it by deer farmers and the Minnesota Deer Farmers Association. … MDFA and its members sued the state Department of Natural Resources last year over a 2023 law change related to farmed cervidae. … The legislation was aimed at curbing the spread of chronic wasting disease involving deer farms. … The deer farm groups claimed the new laws violated their constitutional rights and contended the state was overstepping [because] deer farms should be regulated by the federal government. The appeals court decision said that the plaintiffs failed to present evidence that white-tailed deer farming was entitled to heightened constitutional protection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46H1Fni
GRANTS: via a MnDOT press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Departments of Administration and Transportation announced grant awardees for the State of Minnesota’s Buy Clean EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) Grant Program. The grants will assist in the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for manufacturers of eligible materials utilized in Minnesota construction, such as concrete and asphalt. The three grantees are the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota (ARM of Minnesota)…the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA)…and McNamara Contracting. … Over $260,000 in grant funding has been allocated.”
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO CELEBRATE: Flint Hills Resources and its employees are proud of the company they keep, including many community partners that help make Minnesota a better place to live and learn. Not only is the Pine Bend refinery celebrating 70 years, many of the company’s long-time partnerships have milestones in 2025 — 25 years of the Flint Hills Family Festival in partnership with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 25 years with Friends of the Mississippi River to restore critical habitat, 30 years with the Minnesota Zoo, and 40 years with Ducks Unlimited. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZfDkjY (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
BENTON CTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Construction crews are slated to start work…across the street from the Benton County Government Center. That lot is the site of a proposed new building that will replace what county officials say is an outdated and undersized complex now used by licensing, human services and other county departments. But a group of residents who hope to pause the project plan to attend the County Board meeting Tuesday and speak during a public hearing on how the board plans to fund the facility.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mbVXOQ
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “HealthPartners union employees in Stillwater voted on Monday to authorize another unfair labor practices strike. SEIU Healthcare MN & IA, which consists of more than 80 [members], voted to authorize the strike with an 84% approval rate. … The two sides have met eight times since May, but remain apart on key issues. … Union members held a four-day strike in July. If the union decides to call another strike, they have to file a 10-day notice.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lczDDB
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “There will be no shortage of candidates to fill an empty City Council seat, following the recent unexpected early departure of 2nd District Councilor Mike Mayou. In all, six people stepped forward to offer their services before the deadline for applications at 4 p.m. Monday. … Council interviews will begin Thursday, Aug. 7, and three finalists will advance to Monday, Aug. 11, when a final pick is expected.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3UaAOIP
LONG PRAIRIE: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Scores of Haitian immigrants working at a western Minnesota meat packing plant have been laid off after losing their work permits due to President Donald Trump’s move to end programs allowing people from the Caribbean nation to live and work in the United States. About 80 Haitians working at the American Food Groups meat packing plant in Long Prairie were laid off. … The union is working to support members who suddenly lost their jobs because of the changing status. Many of their Haitian members who were laid off are looking for other programs that will allow them to stay in the country and work legally.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mvedTf
SLEEPY EYE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Leaders in a small Minnesota town are asking residents to do something deeply outside their nature: confront neighbors who are doing their yardwork the wrong way. Residents in Sleepy Eye are being asked to tell their neighbors to not mow their grass into the streets in order to help stop a smelly, toxic algae bloom that’s closed down the city’s lake. … The beach at Sleepy Eye Lake has been closed since July 29, the second time this year, because of a blue-green algae bloom.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4laDBfO
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
FUNDRAISING: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “In the four-way race for the Ward 4 seat on the St. Paul City Council, no candidate comes close to raising the kind of cash that Molly Coleman has commanded during her short time on the campaign trail. Coleman, 33, has raised about $57,000 in five months, spending $22,000 of it as of her most recent campaign finance filing on July 24. That’s more than double the $25,000 raised by Cole Hanson in the same period, and many times more than the $4,500 raised by Carolyn Will as of her last campaign finance filing mid-June, though Will said Thursday that she has raised additional dollars since.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UcqArq
34B: via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Early voting is underway for the Aug. 12 special primary election that will trim a field of three DFL candidates running for the late state Rep. Melissa Hortman’s House District 34B seat. … The League of Women Voters hosted a forum for all the candidates that allowed them to discuss a range of issues. One of the questions they were asked was whether they would support additional legislation to address gun violence. The topic was top of mind due to Rep. Hortman and her husband, Mark, being fatally shot.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oiA81G
STAUBER: via MPR News, VEBATIM: “Minnesota has been hit hard this summer by wildfire smoke-filled skies, prompting some GOP lawmakers from Minnesota and Wisconsin to send a letter to Canadian officials criticizing their forest management. Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber…was among the signatories of that letter. Stauber joined MPR [this week] to talk about air quality, cuts to Medicaid and rural health care, the One Big Beautiful Bill and more.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mkLMaw
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will interview candidates for vacancies on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota.
TODAY: via a 2nd Harvest advisory, VERBATIM: “Representatives from Second Harvest Heartland (Brooklyn Park) and Channel One Regional Food Bank (Rochester) will hold media availability at this week's Farmfest…The event is at 11:30 a.m.
TODAY: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council [will hear] a presentation by the City Auditor on the after-action review of the City’s role in the federal law enforcement operation that took place on June 3rd, 2025, on East Lake Street and Bloomington Ave. Given the context of the current federal immigration operations taking place across the country, Council unanimously requested an after-action review of the City’s role in the federal operation.” The event is at 1:30 p.m.
BDAYS: Fox 9’s Jason Matheson, retired Hormel lobbyist Jeff Grev, wife of the Senate GOP Leader Skyler Johnson, fmr. GOP ED Jennifer DeJournett
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