Happy Masters Weekend. Fmr. WCCO Radio reporter Paul Hodawanic is covering it for PHA.com. READ: https://fluence-media.co/43O4lxR
Wild win in a men’s league looking game.
Twins win. Wolves play tonight.
Jacob Frey says Minneapolis will not subsidize construction of a new Wolves-Lynx arena, but he still wants to make it happen. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/3FYfe6v
Via news release this morning, Al Franken, former U.S. Senator for Minnesota, endorsed Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan in her bid for the U.S. Senate.
Most tariffs have been scaled back to 10% for 90 days — except for tariffs on China, which are now even higher at 125%. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/3G0aXzj
A court ruled that the White House is no longer allowed to ban AP News from its events. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4jqb7ym
AI experts surveyed are far more likely than Americans overall to believe AI will have a very or somewhat positive impact on the United States over the next 20 years (56% vs. 17%). PEW: https://fluence-media.co/3ErhNNL
Happy National Siblings Day – Saturday is National Only Child day for those who celebrate.
Blois
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Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4i5a4me
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Medicaid Supports Health Care for All of Us. It keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan—regardless of income or health status—can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: Medicaid in Minnesota – Protect MN Patients (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
VETERANS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz was invited to speak at a veteran’s rally Wednesday and received a rocky reception. He took the stage in the Capitol Rotunda to a mix of cheering and booing along with a heckler yelling that Walz is a ‘coward.’ The governor asked the heckler to let him finish, while some other veterans shouted down the heckler. … Walz said [the heckling was] about his plans for funding veterans’ programs. … The governor says he understands why many veterans are frustrated, but most of their frustration stems from cuts [at] the federal level. … Walz says he’s proposing more funding for veterans than some legislative proposals, and they should be fighting with [the legislature], not him.” WALZ: “We’re going to have a debate, but I’ve made it clear I will not compromise with you on the budget. I will not compromise in the space of veterans’ issues.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XScNs8
MORE: Via KSTP’s Tom Hauser, video footage of Gov. Tim Walz being heckled at Wednesday’s veterans’ rally is available online. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43NOM9A
RECORDING: via Bill Glahn, the conservative think tank Center for the American Experiment, a recording of Attorney General Keith Ellison. VERBATIM: “Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, can clearly be heard pledging his support to individuals who would soon become his family’s campaign donors and later Feeding Our Future criminal defendants…His recorded statements flatly contradict his contemporaneous public statements and raise uncomfortable questions about the intersection between political fundraising and constituent services…American Experiment has exclusively obtained the complete 54-minute, 44-second audio file of a private December 2021 meeting between state Attorney General (AG) Keith Ellison and key figures in the Feeding Our Future scandal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42qV0tA
MORE: via House Republican Leader Harry Niska, VERBATIM: ““It’s disturbing to learn that Attorney General Ellison met with and offered verbal support to criminal defendants at the heart of the largest pandemic fraud scam in the country. He was even offered campaign contributions in this meeting, which he later accepted. The Attorney General must immediately release all public documents and correspondence related to his meetings and conversations with these individuals, and explain to the public why he felt it was necessary or appropriate to meet with them, let alone offer the support of his office…Earlier this session, Democrats voted to block legislation that would give taxpayers more transparency into the operations of the AG’s office. This incident underscores the need for that legislation and raises questions about why Democrats blocked it in the first place.”
FED FUNDS: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced a new dashboard Minnesotans can use to track disruptions and cancellations of federal funding and their impact on services available to Minnesotans. Federal disruptions and cuts so far include grants to track measles and avian influenza, provide heating assistance, and mitigate flooding. … Minnesota Management and Budget [will update] every weekday. The site lists which grants or awards were disrupted or canceled, the federal agency that awarded the funds, the state agency that oversees the funds, a description of the impacted grant, the total award, the amount of the award impacted by the federal action, and the date of the action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42qBpK2 DASHBOARD: https://fluence-media.co/426Nm8N
MORE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration has so far cancelled $296,455,163 in federal funds promised to Minnesota, with an additional $55,989,150 in funding temporarily disrupted. Those figures come from a new Walz Administration tracker of federal funding pauses and recissions. … The bulk of the funding cancellations, totaling roughly $230 million, affect the Minnesota Department of Health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j6OG1x
CANADA: via Axios’ Torey Van Oot, VERBATIM: “Gov. [Tim] Walz says he's planning to accept an invite from Canadian Premiers [Doug] Ford and [Wab] Kinew to travel to Canada to discuss trade relationships in light of tariff uncertainty.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/43H0Rx7
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
TARIFFS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump announced a sudden reversal in his administration's trade policy Wednesday, pausing new tariffs for most countries while dramatically escalating duties on Chinese imports to 125%, effective immediately. … [But] the unpredictable trade environment is creating anxiety among consumers and business owners alike. … Andrea Raffo, senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, [said] ‘It's an environment that is making business planning a little bit more complicated.’ … Small business owners are already feeling the effects of trade tensions. Molly Blanski, who has owned Statement Boutique in Minneapolis' North Loop for 13 years, works with more than 25 Minnesota companies. ‘Some of my vendors say the tariffs could cause them to increase their prices anywhere from 5 to 40 percent,’ Blanski said.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3EgwiUz
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Tariffs on Minnesota’s largest trading partners will mean higher prices for electronics and apparel imported from China, fruits and vegetables from Mexico and lumber and auto parts from Canada. It could take days to months for the impact of tariffs to show up in prices after they are implemented. … Gas prices have risen 5% in Minnesota since Canadian tariffs started in March.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QIXhux
UMN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota is one of over 50 schools under investigation as part of an executive order President Donald Trump signed in January. … University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham sent a letter [to] faculty, students and staff underscoring her commitment to preventing antisemitism. … It includes three specific initiatives: a mandatory module on antisemitism for all instructors, the inclusion of antisemitism questions in the U’s 2026 Campus Climate Survey and the creation of a dedicated Jewish alumni network.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4299lfn
IMMIGRATION: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records for international students at St. Cloud State University and Metro State were terminated recently. St. Cloud State says that two international students’ SEVIS records were terminated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Metro State added that one of its international students also had their SEVIS records terminated. Both schools say they weren’t notified ahead of the terminations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j4qTiM
MORE: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A week after five international students at Minnesota State University Mankato had their visas revoked and a sixth was detained, about 50 students, staff and supporters rallied on campus to show support for their classmates and push for the detained student’s return. The rally outside the student union was organized by Mavericks for Change, a Mankato student group.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iawd2K
BETTING POLL: Support is surging among Minnesotans who want legal wagering on sporting events. New polling by the Sports Betting Alliance of Minnesota indicates 60% of voters in the state support the legalization of sports betting. The survey of 1,000 Minnesota voters also revealed overwhelming support for legal wagering among 18–29-year-olds, with 75% of females and 73% of males in favor of allowing sports betting in Minnesota — something that is available in 39 states. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/49uj4OF (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
NEGOTIATIONS: via an MPR newsletter, VERBATIM: “Closed-door budget negotiations are ongoing – and, in some cases, that means committee meetings are on hold for now. A variety of committees cancelled their meetings [this week] as co-chairs continue negotiating what will end up in their areas of the budget. Some are waiting on the overworked Revisor’s Office to get them done. … [For example], Rep. Jeff Backer, a Republican from Browns Valley, said he and House Health Committee Co-Chair Robert Bierman, an Apple Valley Democrat, met throughout the weekend and had exchanged nine offers back and forth. … Negotiations over a budget blueprint between the House, Senate and governor are also in process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i6hy8z
HOUSING: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee finished its budget bill Wednesday, moving HF2445 as amended with a delete-all amendment to the House Ways and Means Committee. Sponsored by Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township), the bill would provide $319.62 million from the General Fund for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. … Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) successfully offered an amendment that would provide incentives for communities to adopt pro-housing policies. … Howard said the change would make it easier to build housing, especially affordable housing, and would help state funds go further because ordinances requiring things like large lots and two- or three-car garages add to the cost of building homes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lpUIM0
PENSIONS: via a House GOP press release, VERBATIM: “The Suburban Solutions Caucus (SSC) presented two new teacher pension reform proposals last night during a hearing before the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. The bills, authored by members of the caucus, were laid over for possible inclusion in a larger omnibus pension bill. … The proposed pension changes — House File 2318 and House File 2329 — would be funded by reallocating Q-Comp and savings from reforms proposed in House File 2201. … HF 2201 would preserve free breakfast for all students while asking families of four earning more than $156,000 to cover the cost of their own children's lunches. This change would free up approximately $112 million annually to be redirected toward pensions and flexible funding for classrooms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XVyN5w
SOCIAL MEDIA: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Minnesota could become the first state to tax social media companies if a new DFL [proposal] gets passed. … A pair of DFL bills would create a use tax on social media in Minnesota, generating an estimated $92 million a year in revenue. The bill would charge an escalating tax on social media platforms based on their number of users in Minnesota. Sites with more than 100,000 users would be subject to the tax — there are 14 of those right now, according to the Department of Revenue. Tech lobbyists and Republicans opposed the bills, saying it could impact small businesses that rely on social media.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42pPuXU
CHILDCARE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “The state House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee recently heard a bill that aims to reduce the cost of child care for Minnesotans. The bill calls for a scholarship program for families needing child care for young children and aims to prevent Minnesotans from spending more than 7% of their annual income on child care. … Bill author Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie, said the goal of 7% is an affordability benchmark set by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2016.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ghi724
MET COUNCIL: As seen in Tuesday’s morning take, the Metropolitan Council is facing bipartisan scrutiny again following the release of another audit — and now, a bill in the legislature could change its makeup. Via a Star Tribune newsletter, VERBATIM: “The auditor's findings haven't prompted any changes to the structure of the Metropolitan Council, whose members are appointed by the governor rather than elected. Critics contend that elected council members would be more accountable to the public. GOP Rep. Jon Koznick of Lakeville has a bill this year that would see elected officials in the metro serve on the council in staggered terms, but it's unclear if it will gain traction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i7QR3i
IRENTALS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Legal aid attorneys from around the state say many low-income rental buildings have serious problems that go unrepaired for long periods of time. And because of severe housing shortages in many areas of the state, city leaders are hesitant to hold those landlords accountable. In documents and interviews, MPR News found problems tied to inspection processes and local political pressures that leave low-income renters in potentially unsafe buildings across greater Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/424F0OX
USPS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For years, residents of Lakeville, Apple Valley, Eagan and other south metro communities have complained about widespread service delays — of three, four, even five days. And the problem persists, neighbors say, with many losing hope that their mail will ever be reliably delivered. A recent performance report found only 79% of first-class, two-day mail in the Minnesota-North Dakota region arrived on time. That’s eight points below the national target of 87% set by the Postal Service.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4idCT0b
FAA: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with…Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN)…are pressing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for information regarding the recent Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system outages and the status of past-due upgrades to the system.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/42qfVNc
PUSH BACK AGAINST TAX BREAKS FOR BIG TECH DATA CENTERS: Our tax money should be going to essential services for Minnesotans, like education, health care, and infrastructure — not subsidies for billionaire owned data centers. The current tax credit has already cost our state an estimated $5 million a year since 2011. In 2025 it will be over $100 million. It’s time to stop these skyrocketing numbers. Tell your legislators, ‘No big tax breaks for Big Tech.’ LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3ErmQh8 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy)
MPD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “A judge has sided with Alpha News and reporter Liz Collin, who asked for a defamation suit filed by the Minneapolis Police Department's Assistant Chief to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Judge Edward T. Wahl found that Assistant Minneapolis Police Chief Katie Blackwell failed to make a case for defamation under a new Minnesota law meant to prevent frivolous lawsuits that prevent commentary on matters of public concern. He also ruled that none of the statements challenged by Blackwell are ‘defamatory as a matter of law.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jvSBop
RESPONSE: MPD Chief Brian O’Hara spoke to FOX 9 about a variety of topics, including the dismissed defamation lawsuit. O’HARA: “The speech that was made in that [Alpha News] documentary is clearly protected, which makes perfect sense to me. … Reading through the judge's rationale, the judge makes it clear that a lot of the statements were ambiguous in nature. … [But] the implication that Derek Chauvin was somehow a scapegoat, that he did not know what he was doing was wrong…that is just ridiculous.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ieC4Ei
JAN 6: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Rep. Drew Roach, R-Farmington, and Sen. Bill Lieske, R-Lonsdale, called the Jan. 6 insurrection a ‘hoax’ and repeated a false conspiracy theory that [people] who stormed the Capitol were ‘actors,’ during a video podcast posted Monday. … Lieske and Roach host a show called ‘Minnesota Liberty Network.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Eg00cw
‘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)
MINING: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislation that would protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) from the threat posed by sulfide mining in the surrounding watershed. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act would permanently prohibit new sulfide ore mining on 225,504 acres of federal forest land in the Rainy River watershed, which drains into the BWCAW. … This bill would not ban or otherwise restrict existing or potential mining projects in Minnesota outside the withdrawal area in the Rainy River Watershed. It would not affect any of the taconite mines in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YgfWSX
RESPONSE: via a Rep. Pete Stauber statement, STAUBER: “I am disappointed yet not surprised that another harmful piece of pro-China legislation has been introduced by an out of touch Democrat. … With the introduction of this legislation, Senator Smith has once again proven herself to be anti-union. Fortunately, Senator Smith is in the minority and retiring soon, so any chance of this legislation becoming law is virtually impossible” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lwuKXx
NEW CAUCUS: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Pat Ryan (NY-19) launched the Monopoly Busters Caucus, a new caucus with nine founding Members to fight corporate greed, lower costs and promote a pro-worker, pro-consumer, and pro-small business economic agenda.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i2SmzP
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)
BIRTH CTRL: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith [and others] introduced the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, a bill that would safeguard funding for Title X – the country’s only federal program dedicated to providing family planning and preventive health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and reproductive health care. … In 2023 alone, more than 1.5 million visits to Planned Parenthood health centers were made possible by the program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44kzRnf
STUDENTS: via a Rep. Ilhan Omar press release, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) reintroduced a pair of bills, the Ending PUSHOUT Act and Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, which would collectively end the discriminatory treatment of Black and brown students, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities in schools, and invest in safe, nurturing learning environments for all students.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i6Ifdq
BOOKS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison has today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the United States to defend the discretion of public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, to incorporate LGBTQ-inclusive books into their curricula without offering parents an opt-out option. The brief was filed in support of the respondents in Mahmoud, et al. v. Taylor, et al.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XOJd6Y
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. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
AUSTIN: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A ‘WARN’ letter from Fortex says 72 employees will be permanently laid off from the Quality Pork Processors plant in Austin, MN, according to a notice from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. … The layoffs are due to a sanitation contract ending on May 3, with workers being offered the opportunity to be relocated to other Fortex facilities in the area. The facility employs about 1,250 people; it is unknown if those affected by the layoff are represented by a union or which specific positions are being impacted.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yt89RB
ST CLOUD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Voters in the St. Cloud Area School District approved a levy referendum Tuesday for up to $65 million in improvements to Apollo High School. The first ballot question asked voters for up to $50 million to pay for upgrades to the building, including a secure front entrance, storm shelter and renovated spaces for health care, advanced computing, auto mechanics and fine arts. It passed with about 62 percent of the vote. … The second question will raise up to $15 million to build an indoor athletic facility at Apollo High School, including a full-size turf field and walking track. It passed by a smaller margin, with about 54 percent of the vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EqKPwZ
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Stillwater Area School District officials next year will be changing how science is taught at the elementary-school level in order to increase time spent on literacy instruction. Beginning next year, science will be taught by specialists at the elementary level. Art and media instruction, currently taught by specialists, will be integrated into classrooms, said Caitlyn Willis, the district’s executive director of elementary education. The change, presented by Willis and others during a school board workshop on Tuesday night, is needed as the district has adopted a new literacy curriculum that requires an additional 40 minutes of literacy instruction each day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ecbde6
HERMANTOWN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Some tenants evicted from a neglected Hermantown, Minn., trailer park have settled with its owner, attorneys shared in St. Louis County Court. … Owner Elevated Management LLC, was set to argue why plans to close the park weren’t retaliatory, after the city of Hermantown asked that the company be held in contempt for not complying with court orders. An attorney for the tenants said amounts were still being finalized, but his clients were happy with the resolution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iY4cfW
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
KEYS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “A law meant to protect kids from harmful materials could also make it harder for Minnesotans to obtain or replace keys for homes, cars, boats and more. The law, passed in 2023 as part of a broader spending bill, makes it illegal to import, manufacture, sell or offer keys and other items containing certain levels of lead and cadmium. … Those lobbying for a change, including the auto and boat industries, say ‘commercially viable’ alternative materials for making keys and FOBs aren't available.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E3mFsu
ELECTRIC CARS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “[Electric vehicle] sales are growing in Minnesota. Last year, a record 16,000 thousand EVs were sold in the state— 7.6 percent of all car sales. And manufacturers have tried to make EVs appealing. … They’ve invested over $100 billion in the technology over the past five years, spurred forward by federal government incentives. Prices have plummeted. And there are myriad options now, with over 100 EVs available in the U.S. market. But the rate of sales growth is slowing. And so is the excitement over them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cpx66d
SPONGY MOTH: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's plan to combat an invasive pest is canceled after federal funding fell through, the state said. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture planned to apply an insecticide called Btk to 12 areas throughout the state to fight the spongy moth, whose voracious appetite is devastating to forests. But the department said it did not receive the necessary federal funds in time." READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jtDtYE
THRIFTING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Cheryl Classen is the manager of Flying Pig Thrift, a shop located in a former bookstore near Hamline University on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. The shop carries carefully organized clothes, jewelry and knickknacks. Classen opposes President Donald Trump’s new tariffs but thinks they could have a positive impact on Flying Pig Thrift.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YrprOX
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
SESSION: House floor session at 3:30 p.m. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. HOUSE: Commerce hears debt changes and the commerce and cannabis budget bill. Taxes will hear new tax credits, exemptions and more. Numerous other committees are hearing their omnibus bills. SENATE: Taxes will hear changes to electric vehicle surcharges. Environment, Climate & Legacy hears data center changes. Numerous other committees are hearing their omnibus bills. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4lfU6bQ
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will visit Philips to highlight their new Plymouth expansion, meet with legislative leaders, and have a call with Attorney General Keith Ellison.
TODAY: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz will visit Philips to discuss their new expansion [in Plymouth, MN], which will bring significant job growth, a new medical technology training center, and additional manufacturing capacity to Minnesota. The state supported the project with $3.5 million.” DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek will attend. The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TODAY: Citizens League will honor Peter Bell, former Metropolitan Council chair, and Sharon McMahon at the 2025 Civic Celebration. The annual Civic Celebration is an inspiring evening, gathering hundreds of Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds, parties and ideologies to celebrate our state’s enduring civic culture, leadership, and commitment to public service. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/3EKmNge (SPONSORED: Citizens League)
TODAY: The Midwest Poultry Federation will host the PEAK 2025 poultry trade show and convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center from April 8 to April 10.
TODAY-TMRW: The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is hosting public hearings throughout the Northland during the week of April 7 on Minnesota Power’s proposed private equity acquisition. Thursday’s hearing is virtual, starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday’s hearing is in Little Falls at 12:00 noon.
SATURDAY: via a MNLEG advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, the House DFL, Senate DFL, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced a [joint] town hall meeting to fight back against federal government actions that are hurting Minnesotans. The event will take place in St. Paul on Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Reps. Kaohly Her, Samakab Hussein, Liz Lee, María Isa Pérez-Vega, Dave Pinto and Jay Xiong will also attend.
MONDAY: Rep. Angie Craig announced that she will host her first in-person town hall of the year in Lakeville on Monday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3GcWwI5
TUESDAY: via a House DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “The House DFL and Senate DFL announced a Duluth town hall meeting to fight back against federal government actions that are hurting Minnesotans. The event will take place in Duluth on Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. and feature DFL state legislators.”
APRIL 21: via City of St. Paul, VERBATIM: “Mayor Melvin Carter will deliver his 2025 State of Our City Address Monday, April 21, 10 a.m., at the new North End Community Center. … His address will highlight the city’s shared success and outline key initiatives that will guide the future of our community. Following the address, all are welcome to stay for tours of the new North End Community Center, which will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.”
APRIL 23: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, April 23…Governor Tim Walz will deliver the State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota State Legislature, beginning at 7:00pm.”
APRIL 28-29: via an FFA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota FFA State Convention takes place at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Monday and Tuesday, April 28 and 29. This year’s theme is Stand as One, selected by the FFA’s State Officers.”
MAY 6: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, May 6, Mayor Jacob Frey will give his 2025 State of the City address at 11:30 a.m. in Minneapolis. … The address will be hosted in person and will be live streamed on the City’s YouTube page.”
MAY 12: The MN GOP announced its annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner will be held on May 12 with presidential adviser Alina Habba as the keynote speaker. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/41WJ7LK
BDAYS: U of MN Regent James Farnsworth, issue management guy Jon Austin, environmental leader Michael Noble
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