AMERICA, HAVE YOU HEARD?
Twins lose.
Premium MNSider content previewing DFL and GOP US Senate races last night. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4fJWdnU
Minnesota’s summer outlook: definitely drier than normal, possibly warmer than normal. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/4dNMCK6
Morris Day and The Time say they will not perform at the White House’s “Freedom 250” concert, disputing the organizers’ announcement a few hours earlier that they were booked. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4e91HY9
A 26-year-old was fatally shot in Shakopee during a prayer service. KARE: https://fluence-media.co/4nQn97y
The White House is considering a plan to keep international travelers out of major airports in “sanctuary cities,” which could include Minneapolis. REUTERS: https://fluence-media.co/49KXJ5J
Rep. Angie Craig is on WCCO Radio this morning at 7:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/WCCOLive2
Today is National Hamburger Day.
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Get smarter… Long Term Care – Is Minnesota Ready? Care Providers Minnesota and LeadingAge Minnesota hosted providers, Senator Grant Hauschild (03, DFL), Representative Natalie Zeleznikar (03B, GOP), and Representative Nathan Nelson (11B, GOP) for a conversation about the future of careing for our seniors. This coming week the conversation moves to St. Cloud. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ue3YXA
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Gov. Tim Walz has nothing on his public schedule today but he didn’t have Olympic athletes visiting the Governor’s Residence last night on his schedule either, however they were there. Photo via Phil Drobnick
GOP: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Republicans will gather in Duluth this weekend to attempt to resolve a problem that’s eluded them for two decades: How to win a statewide race here…The party is working to come out of the political wilderness and sizing up a formula that can help them notch November wins in open races for U.S. Senate and governor, among others…That question about the best path has stirred disagreements, with some Republicans pursuing an uncompromising platform aligned with President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, others say taking a more moderate approach could be more palatable to the political middle this fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nUNql3
USSEN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Angie Craig built her career winning over swing voters. Now, she has to win over Democrats. … Craig wants Democrats to see her as a battle-tested pragmatist: progressive enough for the party base, but moderate enough to win swing voters who have drifted away from Democrats nationally. … Craig is quick to note that prominent Democrats — including Gov. Tim Walz — have lost the party endorsement and still gone on to win the primary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wTkZZ5
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race got a pre-convention jolt Wednesday when Democratic Rep. Angie Craig announced she would bypass the state DFL endorsement process entirely and go straight to a primary against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. … Flanagan was seen as the favorite and is now a virtual lock to get the [endorsement]. … As Craig filed for the primary ballot Wednesday, she said [that] the endorsement process ‘just doesn’t reflect the full scope of the party that we are and the purple state that we have become.’ … Flanagan’s campaign was quick to declare victory. ‘If you can’t show up and face your own party, then you’re not ready to face Republicans,’ Flanagan said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nUfbu1
Premium MNSider content previewing DFL and GOP US Senate races last night. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4fJWdnU
Tonight, premium subscribers will receive the Governor’s race weekend preview. SIGNUP:
CD2: Star Tribune’s Sydney Kashiwagi tweets that U.S. Rep. Angie Craig had two CD2 candidates, state Sen. Matt Klein and state Rep. Kaela Berg, stand behind her at yesterday’s press conference. DFL endorsed candidate Matt Little was not there. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/49qd0Zm
LEGISLATORS STEPPED UP FOR HCMC, BUT MORE SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR RURAL HOSPITALS: Savings from the 340B drug program help local hospitals sustain access to cancer treatment, specialty services, and technology investments in rural communities. While drug companies continue to raise prices and rake in profits, rural hospitals will be forced to stretch limited resources even further if legislators don’t step up to strengthen the 340B program. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4v5Qo8Q (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
MPLS: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing questions from the City Council following the abrupt resignation of Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who was determined to have interfered with an independent investigation. … Despite those investigations, Frey nominated O’Hara for a second term earlier this month, when the latter [probe] was still pending. [Elliott] Payne and others argued Wednesday that Frey’s failure to disclose allegations and investigations to the City Council — against O’Hara or any other city employee — inhibits the council’s ability to perform oversight duties.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f6R0q6
RESPONSE: Via FOX 9, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey responded to City Councilors’ criticism that he nominated former Chief Brian O’Hara for a second term despite the ongoing investigation. FREY: “I don’t make decisions based on rumors and anonymous complaints because that would mean making decisions based on optics, not facts. I took action promptly after receiving the investigative report with substantiated findings. … But decisions this serious have to be grounded in facts, evidence, and completed investigations.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wP5HEx
SETTLEMENT: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey selected Brian O’Hara as the city’s next police chief in the fall of 2022, in large part because of O’Hara’s experience navigating police reform efforts in Newark, New Jersey. … The city entered into a state settlement agreement in 2023 with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. … [But] that work, which has been ongoing for more than three years, is now in limbo after the abrupt resignation of O’Hara. … The ability to navigate the state settlement agreement will be a key component in the interview process for chief candidates in the coming months.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PpZ0rW
O’HARA: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara highlighted ‘significant progress’ within the department in his first public statement since his resignation. O’Hara, in a statement released through an attorney, also said he was ‘proud to serve Minneapolis’ and now plans to return to his family in New Jersey.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vzd5mj
ICYMI: Yesterday’s lunch take had more reactions from the Minneapolis City Council regarding the police chief’s resignation. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4dyvaL0
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival on May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dhpdBM (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
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NEWS STREAM
PARDON: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “For the second time this month, the Minnesota Board of Pardons has unanimously granted a pardon for a noncitizen facing potential deportation. The Board of Pardons — comprised of Gov. Tim Walz, Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson and Attorney General Keith Ellison — held a special meeting on Wednesday to pardon Jai Vang, a 49-year-old Laotian man who was convicted of aggravated robbery in 1994, when he was 18 years old. Vang served a four-year prison sentence for his crime and hasn’t committed any other criminal offenses since then.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uBk0Ll
NURSING HOMES: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Thousands of nursing home employees are set to get $400 and $200 checks courtesy of the state of Minnesota. … It was prompted by an indefinite delay in the implementation of a first-of-its-kind Minnesota law that would set wage standards specifically for the nursing home industry. … The state planned to use federal Medicaid dollars to help nursing homes meet these new wage standards, which required federal approval. … But the Trump Administration [has] yet to approve this use of taxpayer dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49q9oGM
(DISCLOSURE: Long Term Care Imperative is a client of Fluence Advisory)
IRON RANGE: via IRRR Board, VERBATIM: “At today’s Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board meeting in Eveleth, more than $10.7 million in projects were reviewed that grow new businesses, modernize infrastructure and public facilities, increase the housing inventory, support communities and pre-K-12 schools, expand higher education and advance future mining operations. … [Also], the FY27 IRRR budget was approved.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4nWJMr4
SIGNED: Gov. Tim Walz announced that he has signed the final bills of the 2026 legislative session, addressing bonding projects, grooming in schools, IT upgrades, the READ Act, numerous omnibus bills and more. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/43xIppc
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
DC
FED FUNDS: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Rochester celebrated a trio of federally-supported projects, drawing all three of the city’s congressional delegates to town. Starting with a groundbreaking for the latest update to the Rochester International Airport, city staff also highlighted new plans for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the pending opening of the city’s newest roundabout, [with] federal support covering at least a third of each project’s cost. … U.S. Sen. Tina Smith [attended] along with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49TAq9G
VETERANS: via Rep. Kelly Morrison release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) announced her legislation to end veteran homelessness. … Morrison’s Housing for All Veterans Act will take Minnesota’s success nationwide by guaranteeing housing vouchers to all low-income veterans to prevent and end homelessness. … The Housing for All Veterans Act is the U.S. House companion to U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Senate bill of the same name.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PNzVHh
SOCIAL MEDIA: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a nationwide, bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general in opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (“KIDS Act”), H.R. 7757, arguing the bill would weaken states’ ability to protect children online. … The coalition sent a letter to leaders in Congress warning them that the KIDS Act would broadly preempt state laws addressing online harms to minors, including social media harms, obscenity, social gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S62W1D
USPS: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar advisory, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General David Steiner to reconsider their recent policy changes that plan to lower service standards and eliminate end-of-day mail collection at most of the nation’s post offices, particularly in rural areas, disrupting service for local newspapers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49W3dKI
MORE: via Rep. Brad Finstad advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) announced the introduction of legislation designating the post office located at 200 1st Avenue SE in Austin, Minnesota, as the ‘John Madden Memorial Post Office.’ John Madden [was] born in Austin in 1936.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dzERZB
ACROSSMN
FOND DU LAC: via UMN advisory, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are moving forward with the return of the Cloquet Forestry Center land, wholly located within the Fond du Lac Reservation. The effort is enabled by provisions in the state bonding bill. … Several administrative and governance steps remain before the land transfer is finalized. These include administrative action by the State, continued coordination between the University and the Band on implementation and operational agreements, followed by review and action by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents related to the transfer process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PQ110t
CRYSTAL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Roughly 22,000 people in Crystal are dealing with a 15.87% property tax increase this year after a 16% increase last year. … Crystal Mayor Julie Deshler said the city’s savings were low after years of some of the smallest property tax increases in metro suburbs. She said unexpected costs for a new city pool, a new police department and rising wages added pressure. City Manager Adam Bell said the city had been expecting another increase of 12.6% next year, but leaders are now considering a lower number.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dwEqze
VIRGINIA: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Essentia Health will expand its emergency department at its Iron Range hospital as rural health care services in northern Minnesota decline and more patients with serious needs are funneled to it. The Virginia, Minn., hospital serves as a regional health care hub and its emergency department treated about 13,500 patients last year — roughly a 13% increase from two years prior.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vefuCn
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia Health is a Fluence sponsor)
BLOOMINGTON: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Citing ongoing maintenance and safety concerns, the city of Bloomington will be removing a familiar landmark with no concrete plans for what will replace it. The Bloomington Clock Tower will be coming down at some point this year. … The cost to repair and restore the tower is said to be substantial, and outweighed the clock’s useful life. The city did not give a specific timeline for the clock tower’s removal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dCvpVu
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced Wednesday she plans to appoint Ia Xiong, a licensed engineer and career public servant with a background in transportation infrastructure, as the next director of the Department of Safety and Inspections. She replaces Angie Wiese, [who] will remain with the department in an administrative leadership role.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u5eS1h
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives — in the U.S. and abroad.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
LOOKING AHEAD
TODAY: CD2 candidate and state Rep. Kaela Berg will officially file to run for U.S. Congress in St. Paul at 1:45 p.m.
TODAY: Senior staff members from Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s Senate campaign will preview the DFL convention on a press call at 2:15 p.m. Note that Flanagan herself will not participate.
TODAY: DFL Sen. Aric Putnam will hold a campaign kickoff for his reelection bid in St. Cloud at 5:00 p.m.
TODAY: Americans for Prosperity MN will host a debate for Republican gubernatorial candidates on Thursday, May 28 in Duluth at 6:00 p.m. — one day before the party’s endorsing convention. KSTP’s Tom Hauser will moderate the debate.
TODAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a town hall with state Rep. Jamie Long, Edina Mayor James Hovlund and Minneapolis City Councilor Linea Palmisano in Minneapolis at 6:00 p.m.
FRI-SUN: The DFL will hold its 2026 convention in Rochester this weekend, while the state GOP has its convention in Duluth. Both parties will decide endorsements for statewide races, including governor, U.S. Senate, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.
JUNE 5: Via Minneapolis Fed, Regional Outreach Director Erick Garcia Luna will host a webinar discussing results from the spring survey of construction firms across the Ninth District. The event is at 9:00 a.m.
JUNE 5: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will speak at the DFL’s annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner in Minneapolis on Friday, June 5. The event is at 6:00 p.m.
JUNE 8: Attorney General Keith Ellison is hosting a community forum on the proposed acquisition of North Memorial Health by Sanford Health. The event is in Robbinsdale on Monday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m.
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BDAYS: Rep. Huldah Hiltsley, hockey writer Jess Myers, lobbyist John Kavanagh
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.