Minnesota Frost opens traning camp today. Timberwolves at Portland tonight.
High school hockey practices opened yesterday.
Cam Bynum celebrations are going viral. TMZ: https://fluence-media.co/40O1vYl
75% of registered voters — including 53% of Harris voters and 97% of Trump voters — say they accept that Trump is the legitimate president. YOUGOV: https://fluence-media.co/48IS8Lp
The Timberwolves unveiled their “City Edition” jerseys for the 2024-25 season. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3O7fi4B
Following the election, Rochester will have an all-male City Council for the first time in three decades. PB: https://fluence-media.co/3YKtKV9
Comedian Jim Gaffigan says his preparation to play Gov. Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live” was rushed, and his Walz impression is largely based on his brother from Indiana. EW: https://fluence-media.co/3AAiGSq
Happy National French Dip Day!
Blois
Tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
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Leaders Melissa Hortman and Lisa Demuth on Sunday Take READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ABO3Mf
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RECOUNTS: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “On election night, a page on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website showed 100% of the vote was in for Minnesota House District 14B, with Republican Sue Ek four votes ahead. ‘I thought I had won, and my friends and people at the party were ecstatic,’ Ek said. But when the page refreshed, the results showed Democratic incumbent Dan Wolgamott was ahead with a 191-vote lead. ‘People are calling, texting, emailing saying, 'What happened? This doesn't make sense.' So we do need to get to the bottom of it,’ she said. … While the results are raising a lot of questions, election officials [said] this is an example of the system catching malfunctions and ultimately working.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48K1t5u
MORE: via news release, VERBATIM: “On Monday November 4th, a group of Stearns County voters submitted three Minnesota State Election Law Complaints with the Stearns County Attorney alleging that official election ballots were improperly posted for public use on the official website of the Minnesota Secretary of State. These complaints were directed at the official in charge of Stearns County Elections, and the Minnesota Secretary of State. On November 7, 2024, an additional two similar complaints were submitted against the same parties…The group of Stearns County voters are represented by Albert Lea attorney, Matt Benda….As stated by Benda, “These voters were shocked to learn that when they downloaded their personal sample ballot from the official website of the Minnesota Secretary of State that the ballot was not marked ‘sample’ and contained unique ballot tabulation identifiers.” The complaints allege that the posting of ballots with the official “timing marks” violated Minn. Stat. § 204B.43 which makes it unlawful to "deliver" an official ballot; or to "permit any ballot to be printed."
SENATE RACE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “For Democrats, the post-mortem continues as to why Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz performed more poorly with almost every demographic than President Joe Biden did in 2020. [But] in Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar did much better than Harris with some of those same groups. … Klobuchar fared much better statewide, beating her opponent 56% to 40%. Klobuchar carried 12 conservative counties that Donald Trump won.” KLOBUCHAR: “I think a lot of this is going to all 87 counties every year, year after year. It makes a difference to me. … In the end, you are not going to get every vote there. I know that. But they still come up to me and sometimes they say, 'I didn't vote for you, but I agree with what you did on veterans benefits.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48LhuYS
LATINOVOTE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Tomas Useche says his departure from Venezuela at age 7 seemed to come out of nowhere…It was 2010 and his father, who owned a money exchange business, suddenly found himself in disfavor with the Venezuelan government. They left in a matter of days and flew to Florida.
“My half sister lived down in Orlando. We were just told, ‘Hey, we’re going to go to Disney for a couple of days,’” he recalled… Useche’s story is a window into a notable trend in the 2024 election: Trump made inroads among Latino voters, a group that has traditionally favored Democrats. He had particularly strong appeal among Latino men.
Useche says his family’s experience becoming U.S. citizens fuels his views on immigration. His family moved to the United States legally and he’s frustrated by illegal immigration. USECHE: “We waited at our turn; we filed for our papers,” he said….He says his parents were able to stay in Orlando on work visas and soon secured green cards. Eventually they became citizens…”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O2FPQi
DISINFO: via AP News, VERBATIM: “A relatively trouble-free presidential election was good news for those working to restore faith in the system. Less encouraging was a flood of disinformation that sought to undermine trust in voting and sow chaos, something experts say is likely to get worse in the years ahead…Steve Simon, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, praised the quick work done by federal agencies to call out the disinformation.” SIMON: “The nature of their response and the timeliness of their response really helped confront and limit the influence of those messages.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hCFIsx
DNC: DFL Chair Ken Martin is reportedly under consideration to be the new DNC chair, as seen in morning take last week. Lame duck Rep. Dean Phillips offered his public support for Martin over other candidates. PHILLIPS: “‘Democracy protectors’ Nikki Fried (FL), Ben Wikler (WI), & Anderson Clayton (NC) colluded with the DNC to keep competitors off their primary ballots so Biden could sleepwalk to victory. Then Trump won each of their states. [Martin] would be a good candidate for DNC because he knows how to help Democrats actually win.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3YNnJH4
ELLISON: As seen in yesterday’s morning take, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Friday that his office is requiring the charity Urban Advantage Services to shut down due to “multiple governance violations.” Star Tribune’s Deena Winter pointed out that the charity is owned by the wife of Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman, and Minnesota Reformer’s Max Nesterak noted that Ellison endorsed Osman’s reelection bid after filing the lawsuit against his wife’s charity. TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3AOGGkC
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Ellison ruled UAS racked up several violations and that it never registered as a charitable organization or filed tax forms, abandoned its registered office address and ceased its operations in January 2022. GLAHN: "They didn't keep proper records, they didn't file tax returns and it's been documented that this nonprofit took $461,000 out of these programs and there has never been any financial accounting for where the money went," said Bill Glahn….Glahn is a fellow with the Center of the American Experiment, a conservative public policy organization, and has covered the food charity for years…."I'm not aware that Councilman Osman or his wife have ever answered any questions, other than perhaps to the attorney general, but certainly not the media or to the voters," said Glahn. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3AslcKv
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “There is perhaps nobody who expects everyone who feels invested in the future of George Floyd Square to be satisfied with whatever the city of Minneapolis decides about its upcoming redesign. The Minneapolis City Council is plunging into the issue anyway, with its Committee of the Whole to review Tuesday a recommended plan to reshape the intersection. … The goal is to start construction in 2025. … Following two town hall meetings about the recommendations — one organized by the city and the other by residents — Council Member Andrea Jenkins, who represents the area, said residents and others with strong attachments to the site aren’t any closer to a unified vision for George Floyd Square. ‘I guess it’s like the American electorate – very divided,’ Jenkins said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z5f9oI
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “After announcing tentative plans to close multiple public skating rinks across Minneapolis, the parks and rec board for the city have amended their plans. Previously, to address a $1.5 million funding gap, the board announced the number of ice rinks would be slashed from 22 to 17. … On Friday, board members decided Windom NE will have general skating and one hockey rink restored. Two broomball and a general skating rink will open at Logan Park and Van Cleve Park will host one hockey, one broomball and one general skating rink. … The board has until Dec. 10 to finalize the list of rink closures, ahead of the finalization of the City of Minneapolis' budget.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3O54PXm
TONE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is pledging to turn the page after the vice-presidential candidate lost in last week’s election. … At a Veterans Day event in Arden Hills, Walz backed off his criticism of [Donald] Trump and struck a conciliatory tone. … Walz, himself a National Guard veteran, talked about the importance of honoring and caring for people who serve in the nation’s military [and] stressed bipartisan unity.” WALZ: “We had a free and fair election. We now come back together to ensure that President-elect Trump is [as] successful as he possibly can be, especially on the issues that we care about.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AtcHyO
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Senator Amy Klobuchar agreed [with Walz], saying now is the time for both parties to work together. ‘When you look at the sacrifice our veterans make for our country, it's an example for all of us. There are causes larger than ourselves.’ … That message of unity resonated with many veterans who say when they served, it didn't matter if the person next to them was Republican or Democrat. … ‘I think back to 9/11 when the country came together, but then somewhere along the line we lost that and I hope that doesn't happen this time,’ Army veteran Steve Karlson said.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3O1y0KX
VETERANS: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz visited the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis on Monday. … Less than a week after election night, Walz’s visit to the Veterans Home was one of his first public appearances as governor since being back in Minnesota post-campaign trail. Walz, who was among several speakers at the veterans home, highlighted recent statewide efforts to support veterans. … In 2024, Minnesota became the first state to open three veterans homes simultaneously.” WALZ: “There is no politics involved in the care of veterans, and these legislators in Minnesota prove that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fmdEYR
HENN CTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County will pay $3.4 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Lucas Bellamy, the son of St. Paul Penumbra Theatre founder Louis Bellamy, after he was left to die in a Hennepin County jail despite crawling on his hands and knees and begging for help while in custody over several days in 2022. A court filing for the distribution of wrongful death proceeds notes it ‘is believed to be one of the largest settlements ever reached in Minnesota for a death occurring in a jail.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O6bL6y
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)
METRO TRANSIT: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Metro Transit has big plans for 2025 and beyond with several new major bus lines and service improvements in the works. … A public comment period is open for Metro Transit’s Network Now plan through November 15. The plan seeks to expand service by 35% and increase the rate of metro area jobs accessible by a 45-minute transit ride by 25% by the end of 2027. … Public transportation was derailed by the pandemic, but is continuing its gradual rebound. Metro Transit ridership is up 9% from last year, and is averaging 142,067 riders each weekday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hC0YOW
PIPELINE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “An administrative law judge report recommends that Minnesota approve a small segment of the massive Summit Carbon Solutions project that would pass through states including South Dakota and store millions of tons of carbon dioxide underground in North Dakota. A final decision from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission could come at its Dec. 12 meeting. … The 28-mile segment in Otter Tail and Wilkin counties would connect the Green Plains ethanol plant at Fergus Falls in northwest Minnesota to about 2,500 miles of pipeline. … If built, the five-state pipeline network would send carbon emissions from ethanol plants to a permanent underground storage area northwest of Bismarck.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AOkhnz
MINING: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “President-elect Donald Trump has promised to reverse the Biden administration’s 20-year mining ban on federal land within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, bolstering the hopes of copper-nickel mining industry supporters but worrying environmentalists who fear pollution. … The mineral withdrawal, which bans mining on 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest until 2043, and non-renewal of key federal mineral leases to Twin Metals’ proposed copper-nickel mine effectively killed the company’s plan to build an underground mine and tailings-storage facility processing plant along Birch Lake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O7jPE9
CANNABIS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “With legal cannabis dispensaries set to open in Minnesota in early 2025, many state residents — especially those involved in the addiction treatment world — want to know more about the impact. … Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School hosted its first-ever Cannabis Summit, a gathering designed to help academics, mental health professionals and others build a greater understanding of the risks and effects of cannabis use, and to learn more about research and public policy as well as the potential impact that cannabis can have on the developing brains of adolescents. … Kevin Doyle, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School president and CEO, said…the event attracted more than 100 attendees. ‘Hopefully the summit contributed to that conversation. We’re seriously talking about doing another one next year.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48InLVn
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)
UMN: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, one issue veterans face is finding a job after they finish their service. They have skills, of course, but they are not always valued as work experience. The University of Minnesota Medical School is hoping to change that [with] a new program [that] grants medics who meet the MCAT and GPA requirements automatic entrance. … One of the leaders of the medical school says they are thrilled the program puts the veterans' years of service to full medical use.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3O5ojv6
THE X: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The majority owner of the Minnesota Wild announced expanded renovation plans for the team’s stadium in downtown St. Paul before the season started. The plans would now cost more than $300 million and likely depend on at least some public money…from the state to help cover the cost of expanding renovation plans. … The debate over spending tax-money on stadiums for professional franchises is nothing new, especially in Minnesota. One reason St. Paul even has an NHL franchise is because the Minnesota North Stars relocated to Texas after a dispute over public funding for stadium renovations in the early 1990s.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3YKqRDN
DEER: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “This weekend was the Minnesota firearms deer hunting opener. While it's been a success for many hunters, there have already been several accidents resulting in injuries [and] two hunters were shot. … ‘We require everyone to go through firearm safety before they purchase a license so they're getting that education and resources ahead of time so they can make those good hunting decisions,’ said Minnesota DNR conservation officer Brianna Shaw. [But] hunting incidents have gone down in recent years. Last year, there were 11 incidents and none of them were fatal.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48HKcKh
MORE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Longer nights mean more roadkill, but it’s not all for naught. Minnesota law allows people to harvest deer killed in car crashes, and many gladly take the animals. … A 1987 Minnesota law allows people to harvest roadkill by contacting the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or local road authorities, who then issue possession tags to people who want them. … So far in 2024, the DNR has issued about 1,149 possession permits for animals killed on the road.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UOeeWS
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT: From Grand Rapids, a conversation about opportunities and challenges to economic growth in Greater Minnesota with Tuleah Palmer, CEO of the Blandin Foundation, Roy Smith of the IRRRB and Steve Loney from Kiesler Wellness Center. From workforce to energy costs, a thoughtful conversation on how leaders are working together to push the region’s economy forward. Mainstreet Minnesota is presented by Compeer Financial. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MainstreetMN2
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “The city's public school district announced it will reduce its overall budget by approximately $5 million for the 2025-2026 school year. This follows $2.6 million in cuts already made for the current school year. Staffing will see an 8% reduction, including $1 million at the elementary level and $1.35 million at the secondary level. … The district service center staffing will be reduced by $1.1 million (or by 10%), and the special education/care and treatment department will drop by $1 million (or 3.5%). The need to reduce the budget stems from financial challenges, the release said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z0bp7z
RICHFIELD: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield…is getting a boost after Richfield voters last week approved a half-cent sales tax increase that looks to raise $65 million for a trio of projects, including a new community center, updates to Veterans Park, and a new educational facility at Wood Lake Nature Center. The educational facility will replace the center's current building, which welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually. ‘The project will start in spring of 2025 and run through 2026,’ said Karl Huemiller, Richfield's Recreation Services Director.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48JN75g
STILLWATER TWP: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Come January, for the first time in 30 years, Sheila-Marie Untiedt will not hold a seat on the Stillwater Township Board. Untiedt was defeated Tuesday by Mike McMahon Jr., who served on the town board from 2018-2022, by a vote of 550 to 538, in the race for Seat 4. McMahon Jr. said he decided to challenge Untiedt because he has a ‘a deep feeling that people that have been in public service for so long need to be challenged from time to time.’ … Untiedt said she is proud of her years on the board and believes that she is leaving the township in ‘excellent condition.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CocNIy
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Flint Hills Resources makes fuels and other products people need and use every day — products that help keep Minnesota moving. The company does this while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship and contributing meaningfully to the community. That’s Stewardship with a Purpose. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3ALNT4U (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
SENATE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Another point of contrast between Minnesota and everywhere else: Sen. Amy Klobuchar ran an impressive 5 percentage points better than Kamala Harris, a bigger overperformance than any other Democratic Senator, with the exception of Montana’s Jon Tester, who lost. Klobuchar won 21 of Minnesota’s 87 counties on her way to a 16-point victory over challenger Royce White. Harris, by contrast, took just 9 counties.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4erLtqa
DEPORTATIONS: via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari…offered his views on the economic impact of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promise to deport immigrants who are in the United States unlawfully.” KASHKARI: "If you just assume people are working — either working in farms or working in factories — and those businesses now lose employees, that would probably cause some disruption. The implications are not entirely clear to me. Ultimately it is going to be between the business community and Congress and the executive branch to figure out how they would adjust." READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AsmzZE
FARM BILL: via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A U.S. Senator who will become Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee in the next Congress is concerned about extending the current farm bill another year. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar says funding and tax reform will be prominent in 2025.” KLOBUCHAR: “Which interests all of us in the Midwest in different ways. The farm bill will be just kind of plopping along there, and we’re going to have to try to get floor time or be part of something else. And I am concerned that it will get lost.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3O4WliO
MORE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in additional newsletters. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TODAY: via news advisory, VERBATIM: “Business owners and representatives from prominent industry organizations will gather for a press conference on Tuesday, November 12 at 12:30 PM to speak out against the proposed Labor Standards Board (LSB) as it quickly moves through the Minneapolis City Council. The proposal, which passed the Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday, November 7, is scheduled to go before the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Nov. 12, with a final City Council vote set for Thursday, November 14.”
TODAY: On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Citizens League is hosting a “Mind Opener” discussion panel on geographic disparities in Minnesota’s healthcare system. DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild and GOP Sen. Jordan Rasmusson will be two of the panelists. The event is at 12:00 noon.
TODAY: Governor Walz will meet with Secretary of State Steve Simon.
TOMORROW: via an AARP advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Secure Choice Retirement Program is a new state-sponsored plan designed to help small businesses offer employees an easy way to save for their future, set to launch after January 2025. … Join AARP Minnesota and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber for an insightful conversation on Secure Choice. This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered and to learn how Secure Choice can benefit your business.” The online event is at 12:00 noon. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/3O3aVas (SPONSORED: AARP Minnesota)
BDAYS: lobbyist Steve Johnson, PR pro Kent Wipf
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