CHILLY MONDAY
A deputy shot and a suspect killed last night near Walker.
Wild win. Wolves host Dallas tonight. Vikings lose.
Despite not highly reported, including here in Minnesota - Axios has the “rolling layoff” data. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3LK4HP0
The weekend podcast listens were The Grill Room about prediction markets and politics, and Tina Brown on NYT The Interview. New season of Landman didn’t disappoint. A whiplash weekend for Trump supporters on the Epstein Files, including Minnesota “liberty” folks.
Will there be another Lt. Gov. announcement this week – and there’s more speculation about Gov. Walz not having a running mate.
Southern Minnesota could see snow tonight. MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/4pfBhH8
The U.S. House is expected to vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files tomorrow. CBS: https://fluence-media.co/3WZJVxq
Sunday Take included Fluence Advisory client Plift COO Glenn McElfresh discussing the federal hemp ban, how it impacts Minnesota THC businesses, and how lawmakers can help before it’s too late. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Xupc4S
Happy National Butter Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar on the Epstein Files, trade missions and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nYMZog
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
FORWARD
FEDBUDGET: via The Hill, VERBATIM: “House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) says he wants to see Congress finish work funding the government for fiscal 2026 by late December, a month ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline. EMMER: “I would like to see us getting it done around Christmas, rather than waiting till January, but we’ll see,” Emmer told Punchbowl News… The appropriators … they told us that those first three bills were essentially ready to go. Clearly they were. They would have been done back in September had we actually kept the government working for the purpose that we’re supposed to be here,” Emmer said. “Unfortunately, politics on the left, I believe, got in the way.”…Emmer added that “there are going to be bumps along the way” in finishing the nine bills because “Republicans and Democrats don’t agree on all these things.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r2OgO3
Gov. Tim Walz is leading a trade mission to Switzerland and Germany that runs until Friday. Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The delegation of Minnesotans will visit Zürich, Düsseldorf and Berlin in an effort to boost Minnesota exports. … Last year, Germany was the 8th largest market for Minnesota goods, and Switzerland was the 22nd. Combined, the countries bought $881 million in Minnesota exports. … Key areas of focus will be in medical technology, agriculture, higher education and renewable energy technology.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LAXPnc
MORE: Via his public schedule, Gov. Tim Walz was in Germany yesterday visiting Kuppenheim City Hall and attending a trade mission welcome event. Today, he’ll visit multiple corporate headquarters and another welcome event in Switzerland. Meanwhile, questions await about some of his answers from last week’s Texas Tribune interview.
64A: DFLer Meg Luger-Nikolai, an attorney at Education Minnesota, will run for House District 64A to succeed outgoing Rep. Kaohly Her. Via Luger-Nikolai’s announcement, QUOTE: “I am stepping up to protect and improve the worker protections that our legislature has enacted in the last three years. … I have dedicated my career to protecting the rights of employees and union members, and I want to bring that spirit to the legislature.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LRu817
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her…submitted a letter to Governor Tim Walz announcing her resignation from the [House] effective Monday at 11:59 p.m. … Her said her ‘one regret’ during her time in the legislature was not getting the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment ‘over the finish line.’” HER: “I am a better leader today because of my work at the legislature. I thank my constituents from District 64A for choosing me.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3M4FnDn
HER: St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her discussed leaving the Legislature and preparing for her new role with KARE 11 and WCCO-TV. She said transition work has been ongoing ever since her election victory, and she is already in touch with City Council members about major policies. QUOTE: “I actually started working on the urban wealth fund, so I’ve been working with…an individual who advises on this. I have met over half of the City Council members, and I am meeting with the last three next week.” KARE: https://fluence-media.co/4nXw4T6 WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/3WZWBnW
DEMUTH: Speaker Lisa Demuth discussed why she’s running for governor with WCCO-TV. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pcu1eX
HOFFMAN: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Sen. John Hoffman is out of the hospital after undergoing a 9-hour surgery for injuries he sustained in June’s lawmaker shootings. … Hoffman underwent surgery [last week] to repair bullet impact injuries to his kidney, bladder and colon, the release said. He was discharged from the hospital on Friday and is expected to make a full recovery.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LGFJA5
(DISCLOSURE: Fluence Advisory is providing media support for the Hoffman family)
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BIG ISSUES
HEMP/THC: Via Pioneer Press. VERBATIM: “The ban is set to take effect in one year, which beverage producers say sets up a life-or-death countdown for their businesses. … A ban on THC products would also significantly impact other businesses in the beverage supply chain too, from can manufacturers to distributors to liquor stores. … As local breweries see beer sales continue to decline in the years since Covid-19, industry leaders say, producing THC beverages has been a vital lifeline for them to remain operational. … The state Office of Cannabis Management plans to continue licensing businesses, verifying safety and overseeing all THC products including beverages in this interim period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48iSsSc
MORE: One of the co-founders of DFLer Ryan Winkler’s THC beverage company has been charged with stealing $76,000 from the business. Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Christian Schenk, 46, is charged with theft by swindle and theft in Hennepin County for a series of illegal transactions related to Crooked Beverage Company. ‘He is a menace,’ Winkler said of Schenk. … Winkler announced [last] week he will make another run for the state House of Representatives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LJz5cn
AG ECONOMY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Corn, wheat and soybean growers across the Upper Midwest produced record or near-record crop yields this year, according to the latest survey of agricultural lenders by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, but that’s not leading to much optimism among farmers. … The reason is that crop prices are down and farm incomes have plummeted in the quarter, according to the data. … Joe Mahon, regional outreach director at the Minneapolis Fed, was hoping for better news. … According to Mahon, [farmer] bankruptcies are expected to keep growing.” MAHON: “It’s certainly fair to say that the amount of uncertainty this year is higher, both in terms of what’s going to happen with trade policy and the price environment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JDeEgH
PAID LEAVE: via NFIB advisory, VERBATIM: “The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Minnesota’s leading small business advocacy organization, recently released a resource page focused on the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) mandate that goes into effect on January 1st, 2026. … The webpage includes a recent PFML webinar, information employers need to know, previous news stories, and a place for small business owners to share experiences and concerns.” WEBPAGE: https://fluence-media.co/4o2PSo1
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)
ECONOMY
DATA CENTERS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Excelsior-based Oppidan has paused work on data centers in North Mankato and the small city of Hampton in Dakota County, [saying] the state would take too long to permit backup generators. … While the company is moving ahead with a data center in Apple Valley, the announcement signals that concerns over Minnesota’s regulatory climate will slow an industry that had been poised for explosive growth in Minnesota. … Even without the two Oppidan projects, more than a dozen major data centers have been proposed in Minnesota to help Big Tech grow its artificial intelligence products and cloud computing muscle. … The influx of [proposed] data centers has sparked debate over whether the facilities will help or hurt Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/482shy2
MORE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Upper Midwest is attractive for data center developers due to its available power, fiber, and proximity to large population centers. Minnesota’s cooler climate also offers lower cooling costs compared to other parts of the United States. … ‘In Minnesota, there are no hyperscale data centers currently operational in the state,’ said Minneapolis Federal Reserve analyst Haley Chinander. … ‘There is one under construction in Rosemount that’s under Meta, but at the moment, we have about 12 proposed centers across the state.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43Bbyk1
MINING: Franconia, a subsidiary of Twin Metals Minnesota, has submitted a proposal to the Dept. of Natural Resources to pursue exploratory drilling on state and private land next to Birch Lake, which flows into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Per the proposal, Franconia is planning for activity at up to 19 drill sites from the time of approval to March 31, 2027. PROPOSAL: https://fluence-media.co/4riC9wu
RESPONSE: via Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, STATEMENT: “This exploratory drilling proposal is a precursor to copper mining underneath Birch Lake. … This continuation of exploratory drilling serves as an important reminder: the threat posed by copper mining in this special place is far from gone, and the entire watershed of the Boundary Waters — particularly state land — needs permanent protection from copper mining, not just federal lands.”
ELECTIONS
RCV: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “With 16 mayoral candidates on the ballot this year, Minneapolis voters could have ranked over 5,800 potential combinations of first-, second- and third-choice votes. But nearly 1 in 5 voters chose the same approach: they ranked Mayor Jacob Frey and no one else. … Ranking [Omar] Fateh, DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton as first, second and third choices [was] the second most common ballot. … Minneapolis has used ranked-choice voting in municipal elections since 2009. Supporters of the system have argued that it leads to the election of candidates with broad support. But ‘undervoting,’ or leaving a choice blank, is common.” READ/DATA: https://fluence-media.co/48i1COX
TAKE: Think about it, a plurality of voters didn’t vote for any of the three candidates against Mayor Jacob Frey. RCV advocates have long said it would give people more choices, but in Minneapolis – voters and candidates took it as a binary choice. Even in city council races with multiple candidates, voters treated races as binary – and no other – in wards where DSA candidates won, the won with a majority. It’s time to end the RCV experiment – it’s not doing anything that advocates have said it would.
SENATE RACE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Politics Friday [asked] U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schwarze about his biography and his priorities as he campaigns for the Republican nomination. … Schwarze claimed that Peggy Flanagan, the current lieutenant governor and a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, ‘racked up $354,000 on a government credit card’ over two years without receipts. The attribution to Flanagan is false, according to auditors. … Legislative Auditor Judy Randall told MPR News this week that Flanagan wasn’t issued a purchasing card during the period reviewed. ‘Those payments related to Governor’s Office employees (not the Lieutenant Governor) who had state purchasing cards during that period,’ Randall said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47QdypC
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)
HOUSING
FED FUNDS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A federal shift in homelessness policy could jeopardize Minnesota’s permanent supportive housing system, the backbone keeping thousands of people off the streets. … A sweeping change from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [now] signals a pivot away from permanent supportive housing — affordable apartments paired with on-site case management — and toward transitional programs with treatment or work requirements. Minnesota received $48 million from HUD to treat homelessness last year. … Provider groups warn the new priorities could shrink or cap those dollars, forcing organizations to overhaul permanent supportive housing that took decades to build.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p2ZrFb
ENCAMPMENT: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A Minneapolis landlord who allowed a homeless encampment on his property was fined $13,000 for failing to clear out the area near Lake Street. The fine covers the cost of the city clearing the property earlier this year. He appeared in civil court [last week] asking a judge to dismiss the case against him. The judge declined. … This comes about two months after one person was killed with several others hurt during a mass shooting at the encampment.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44gey5t
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46lTpIs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
METRO
MPD: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Community organizers led by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee are using the 2026 MPD contract negotiations to demand stronger sanctuary policies. Their primary concern is the lack of consequences for officers who violate the city’s Separation Ordinance by assisting ICE. … [MIRAC] was joined in support by a small group of Minneapolis City Council members, including Ward 2 Councilmember Robin Wonsley. … Alongside council members Jason Chavez and Elliot Payne, Wonsley will meet with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey next month to demand implementation of their requests.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nVnwft
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Police Department is ordering its officers to cooperate with the city auditor’s office amid a probe into how it handled two high-profile cases after a city official raised accusations of stonewalling. … Last month, City Auditor Robert Timmerman expressed frustration during a public meeting about the police department’s ‘resistance’ and ‘delays’ to the investigation. The complaints led to the order for cooperation last week from the police department’s second-in-command to all MPD employees. … The memo issued by Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell [says] ‘Failure to comply shall result in discipline.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43xIoCn
SPPD: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “As some patrol officers in the Twin Cities are starting to use artificial intelligence for composing their reports, the St. Paul Police Department isn’t yet taking the leap. … The department recently implemented its first policy on the use of AI. St. Paul police major crime investigators have already been using AI technology to transcribe interviews with victims, witnesses and suspects. … The police department says that’s the only way they’re using AI in reports at this time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oTAJqv
ST PAUL: Longtime St. Paul City Clerk Sheryl Moore is retiring. Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “She’ll retire next month after nearly 40 years of service to St. Paul’s local elected officials and the public at large. … Moore, who became acting city clerk in 2005, was appointed city clerk the following year, a role in which she swore in elected officials and oversaw virtually every printed document that came before the city council. She served under 49 council members and six mayoral administrations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oKKDeb
WAYZATA: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Wayzata Public Schools Board has given the green light to ask voters for more money to build new schools as the district is faced with climbing enrollment and not enough space to accommodate students. … School funding requests [will] appear on a special election ballot in April 2026. The ballot questions will ask voters to approve $500 million in potential tax hikes. … The first ballot question would renew a technology levy that is already in place with no impact on current taxes. The next question will ask voters for $465 million to build a new elementary school and a new middle school in Medina, and expand the city’s existing high school. … The third question would ask for $31.2 million to build a new 8-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47L3zmY
GREATERMN…
CLAY CTY: via MDA press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) expanded its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of another weather station in West Central Minnesota. … The new station is outside Rollag, situated within Parke Township in Clay County. … By closing coverage gaps, the network empowers producers with more accurate, site-specific information to guide decisions about irrigation, crop health, soil management, and water conservation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47V4z6F
ELY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Some Ely residents aren’t too thrilled about their newest neighbors. The rural city in northern Minnesota — located just outside the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — has become a regular hangout for several gray wolves that have appeared in town at least three times this month alone. … That has some Ely residents worried the wolves are becoming too comfortable around humans, potentially leading to dangerous conflicts with pets or children. The encounters follow renewed debate over the status of the U.S. gray wolf population and whether it should continue to be listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i35JSh
WABASHA: via Rep. Brad Finstad advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) announced that Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Wabasha, MN was awarded more than $1.6 million in federal funding as part of a Community Project Funding request submitted by Congressman Finstad earlier this year. … The award provides $1,601,954 million to be used for the hospital’s primary care, rehabilitation, and retail pharmacy expansion project.”
HARRIS: via Rep. Pete Stauber advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) announced that $1.37M in federal funding was secured for the City of Harris Municipal Water System Improvement and Water Main Looping project. … This critical investment will address structural vulnerabilities in Harris’s water system, create redundancy to prevent service disruptions, loop water mains to eliminate dead ends and boost fire protection, install shut-off valves for localized repairs, and upgrade aging infrastructure for greater reliability and water quality.”
COMING UP
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz is in Switzerland to visit the headquarters of Ecolab Europe GmbH, Georg Fischer, and Bühler. He will also attend a “welcome reception” in the evening, per his public schedule.
TODAY: via joint advisory, VERBATIM: “A coalition of immigrant and minority-led nonprofits, community organizations, and small businesses will hold a press conference [at] 11:00 a.m. [to] address what they describe as harmful, politically motivated actions by state agencies and media narratives that are disproportionately targeting minority-led service providers. … [DHS] implemented an expanded ‘prepayment review’ process for 14 Medicaid-funded services, many of which are primarily delivered by immigrant and minority-owned agencies.”
TODAY: via UNITE HERE, VERBATIM: “Airport food workers at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will hold a press conference [to] announce strike dates planned during the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The workers [are] represented by UNITE HERE Local 17.” The event is at 12:00 noon.
TODAY: via MN House, VERBATIM: “From 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Reps. Leigh Finke (DFL-Saint Paul), Heather Keeler (DFL-Moorehead), Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth), and Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake) will hold a town hall on the rights of gender expansive and trans Minnesotans with Outfront Minnesota, Fergus Area Pride, and SAGA Youth.”
TOMORROW: DFLer Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Republican Michael Holmstrom, Jr. will be sworn in for Minnesota Senate terms following their special election victories this month. The Senate will once again have 34 Democrats and 33 Republicans.
TOMORROW: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “Senator Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) and Representative Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis) invite Minnesotans to join them in a discussion of human services needs in their communities at a Human Services Town Hall on Nov. 18.” The event is at 5:30 p.m. in Minneapolis.
WEDNESDAY: via MN Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber will host its 2025 Economic Summit: Minnesota’s Economic Imperative next Wednesday. … This initiative will bring together business leaders, innovators and policymakers. … The event will also feature the release of the 2026 Business Benchmarks report, an annual data-driven analysis of Minnesota’s economic competitiveness.”
WEDNESDAY: The Minnesota House fraud oversight committee will hold a hearing on “fraud prevention in the Paid Family and Medical Leave program” with DEED officials at 10:00 a.m.
THURSDAY: via MN House, VERBATIM: “From 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Representative Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) and DFL members of the House Health Committee will host a listening session focused on rural healthcare affordability in Saint Peter. … Health committee members will hold a series of listening sessions in rural Minnesota through the end of the year.”
THIS WEEK: via DEED advisory, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz will lead a trade mission to Switzerland and Germany November 15-21. … The delegation will travel to the major business centers of Zürich, Düsseldorf and Berlin. The mission will focus on growing the state’s exports of goods and services.”
SATURDAY: The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers will hold its annual gala in Minneapolis on Nov. 22. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will be the keynote speaker.
BDAYS: Rep. Pam Altendorf, civic leader Mike Schardin
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