FAIR FOOD THURSDAY
First, the Minnesota State Fair NEW foods, including a new treat from Blue Barn. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4gomoRA
Lynx win. Cheryl Reeve becomes the most winningest coach in the WNBA.
Twins win with a walk off. They play a day game today – if you don’t want to work.
Today in Sports Take - A radical idea for the playoff-contending Twins, remembering columnist Doug Grow, soccer injustices and more in today’s Sports Take. Coming this afternoon.
The Catholic Church is considering the canonization of the first saint from Minnesota. FORUM: https://fluence-media.co/4aEDozs
Maine Democrat Graham Platner has ended his Senate campaign, allowing the party to replace him. NBC: https://fluence-media.co/4aEDUxo
Oil prices are up and stocks are down worldwide after Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is “over.” AP: https://fluence-media.co/4pccsNr
Happy National Sugar Cookie Day.
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Sunday Take featured Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan discussing her Senate campaign, her time in state government and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SBPx1V
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GOPGOV: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “As they compete for the GOP nomination in an August primary, Minnesota’s Republican governor candidates are promising to slash state spending. They’ve committed to hefty tax cuts, too…With financial constraints and, for now, a closely divided Legislature, those budget-related ambitions could be easier said than done…Not long after former healthcare executive Kendall Qualls locked down the Republican Party’s endorsement for governor, he pledged a massive tax cut if he wins the race. QUALLS: “Under my administration, we’ll deliver a $9 billion fraud rebate,” Qualls said in a June campaign video, citing a former federal prosecutor’s figure about potential fraud over almost a decade. Criminal cases so far have not alleged that level of loss…Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she’d do it, too — and stresses she has already done it as part of negotiations in the narrowly split Legislature. DEMUTH: “When we set the budget going forward, we reduced state spending by $5 billion,” Demuth said at a recent campaign press conference at the Capitol. “We look forward to doing even more.”…Minnesota’s overall budget size did fall between the budget before she became speaker and the one after. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44TE9Ba
DFL: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “State Sen. Heather Gustafson hears a lot about President Donald Trump when she knocks on doors in the northeast suburbs…But the Vadnais Heights Democrat is also hearing about another issue: fraud. GUSTAFSON: “‘Are we going to clean things up or what?’” Gustafson recalled some voters asking her. “‘What’s your plan to get this under control?’”…While Democrats nationwide are riding a wave of anti-Trump sentiment into the November midterm election, DFL candidates in Minnesota are having to convince voters their party has gotten serious about a sprawling fraud crisis in the state…Four out of five voters surveyed in a June Minnesota Poll expressed some level of concern about fraud in the state’s social services programs. More respondents said they trusted Republicans than Democrats to address the problem…In Anoka, GOP state Sen. Jim Abeler said fraud is a frequent topic of conversation among independent and Republican voters. People are angry that taxpayer money has been wasted while they’re feeling the pressure of the economy, he said….Voters have been clear about who they blame for the problem, Abeler said.
ABELER: “It’s pretty universal that they’re blaming the governor and the administration,” he said. “Nobody is saying the Republicans caused the fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vpHAum
SENATE RACE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “An already heated race for U.S. Senate is heating up more as two Democratic candidates continue to clash over outside spending and TV ads. … In a press conference [yesterday], Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan called on U.S. Rep. Angie Craig to answer for a ‘flood’ of outside spending while touting the grassroots nature of her own campaign. Flanagan claimed $12 million in outside spending from political action committees in support of Craig has made this the most expensive primary in Minnesota history. … The heat comes just ahead of the second round of campaign finance reports for federal elections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fqmuXR
RESPONSE: via Rep. Angie Craig statement, CRAIG: “I’ve run in five competitive races in Minnesota and in every one of them Super PACs have come after me. I never once called a press conference to cry about it. If you think this is bad, wait until Republicans come after you for the fraud issues in Minnesota. There is too much at risk in our nation to not just say it: Peggy Flanagan could lose this Senate seat for Democrats.”
SPENDING: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s campaign finance regulators have a special meeting [today] to assess the possible state impacts of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on party coordination with candidates. … The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board will discuss whether Minnesota law is also implicated. Expenditure limits for candidates who take public campaign subsidies is one discussion point. Independent expenditures by party committees are also being examined. The 10 a.m. hearing will be available remotely.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aKdSZt
AMID RURAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN NEW IRON RANGE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: Essentia Health is investing in a $13 million project to remodel and expand its emergency department in Virginia, MN. With support from the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board and philanthropic partners, the project will improve emergency care and mental health resources through new technology, safety and security measures, and a behavioral health suite. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4o79h9j (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
VOTER REG: The Office of the Legislative Auditor has released a program evaluation report on Minnesota voter registration. EXCERPT: “The Office of the Secretary of State (OSS) and individual counties share voter registration responsibilities. While we found that OSS has largely established adequate procedures for processing and maintaining voter registration records, we found some instances in which counties did not update records accurately. We make several recommendations to counties, OSS, and the Legislature to improve aspects of the voter registration system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bvAgpG
RESPONSE: via Sec. Steve Simon statement, SIMON: “We are proud the report found our office has established the appropriate procedures for counties and that counties have performed their work with a nearly perfect record of accuracy. … There is always room for improvement, and we accept and agree with the few recommendations provided by the OLA to improve our work and have already begun to bring them into implementation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eTE5Hu
PAID LEAVE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s paid leave program has paid out far more than it has brought in so far. … In its first six months, the state paid out $598 million while bringing in $344 million through a new wage tax known as ‘premium payments.’ … DEED [said] another $70 million is available for benefit payments, left over from a $688 million one-time startup fund. … There appeared to be a funding gap between the benefits paid out and the money to cover them as of the beginning of July. However, DEED has not directly addressed this.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aGMxr7
MORE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “An early spike in applications for the state’s new paid leave program has since tapered off, and applications by the end of the year may match up with pre-launch estimates, according to [DEED]. … DEED is currently working with an actuary and the agency will announce new 2027 payroll tax rates by the end of the month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eUfvXa
Over 25,000 visits so far, and now a refresh of the Fluence Election Tracker.
VISIT: https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
THE FEED
MEDICAID: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The fight between a Minneapolis home care company and the state over suspended payments is headed to federal court at the state’s request. This is one of several lawsuits against the Department of Human Services (DHS) over payment suspensions due to suspected fraud. … What happens in this case could affect a number of providers facing similar payment suspensions. … State and federal court records show at least a dozen providers have sued the state over withholding Medicaid funds due to what the state calls credible allegations of fraud.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44kMTA4
TRUMP: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Somali American and Muslim community members in Minnesota are raising concerns about safety and Islamophobia after President Donald Trump posted a video showing children at a St. Paul kindergarten graduation ceremony, including several young girls. … At a press conference at Minneapolis’s Karmel Mall on Wednesday, [leaders] said the repost amplified online narratives targeting Minnesota’s Somali and Muslim communities and has left families concerned about the safety of children and schools.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h37rVh
MORE: Children’s entertainment star Ms. Rachel shared a message to “the kindergarteners in Minnesota” for her 5.1 million Instagram followers, saying “hijabs are beautiful” and “every child deserves kindness.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gMpa3p
PREGNANCY: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) led nearly 80 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) and the Democratic Caucus in demanding the immediate reversal of the Trump Administration’s cancellation of 53 active Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP) grants, totaling $68 million in funding — including one awarded in Hennepin County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vTlpOh
HIGHER ED: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “An expanded federal grant program is opening doors for Minnesotans seeking fast-track training for in-demand careers, but options are limited for now. Hennepin Tech and Lake Superior College are the only Minnesota schools currently submitting Workforce Pell Grant programs for approval. … Most Minnesota colleges are holding off on offering Workforce Pell Grants, citing uncertainty about meeting the strict federal requirements.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vTf4lF
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
STATE
HEALTHINSURANCE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A new analysis shows insurers in the marketplace are proposing a second straight year of double-digit premium hikes. Affordable Care Act insurers have submitted their proposed rates to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, with the final numbers to be released October 1. … ‘The proposed rates are from 10% to around 13% increases,’ Julia Dreier, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, said.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pdyeAf
AI: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A former leader at Mayo Clinic is suing the hospital system, alleging the Rochester-based health care provider recklessly cut corners to stay competitive in the fast-moving field of AI research. Traci Tamiko Eto, Mayo’s former director of research operations, claimed she was wrongfully terminated last year after raising concerns that lax safety standards could result in AI tools that make faulty medical decisions or fail to protect the privacy of medical records. … Specific allegations in the lawsuit include that Mayo researchers tried to cover up or ignore research results showing that the health system’s MAYA digital assistant tool had a 67% error rate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vXj0lE
MORE: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “[The] lawsuit requests a jury trial [and] the following relief: back pay, front pay and lost benefits, damages under the ADA and False Claims Act, litigation costs and other monetary relief.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ycnyWE
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)
STP
HOMELESS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The city of St. Paul will begin systematically dismantling its most sizable homeless encampments on Aug. 5, beginning with the gathering on Fish Hatchery Road by Pig’s Eye Park. … Additional sites will be cleared out on a rolling basis after that, according to St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s office, which noted two overdose deaths this year, reported sexual assaults and a series of tent fires had created unsafe conditions at encampments throughout the city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fptDrk
HOUSING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity [was] showcasing five affordable homes under construction Wednesday in St. Paul’s Greater East Side. Called ‘The Heights,’ the project is Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s largest affordable housing project in Minnesota. The organization plans to build 147 homes on the 112-acre former Hillcrest Golf Course.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pffq3J
SPPD: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry joined FOX 9’s All Day on Wednesday to discuss a number of topics. … He addressed violence involving Somali gangs, how St. Paul uses drones, their non-fatal shooting investigative unit and how they approach traffic stops. … Henry encourages people to come to St. Paul for summer events, saying it’s safer with more people in it.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wweSc7
TREES: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council’s long-awaited tree preservation ordinance has been overshadowed [by] questions for well over a year, with homeowners and tree advocates at times burrowing into technical details. … On Wednesday, more than a year after the original tree preservation ordinance proposal was undercut by pointed public feedback, the city council hosted a public hearing on a wide-ranging new policy meant to govern how contractors will replenish the city’s tree canopy when municipal work replaces trees in public boulevards.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4guIrpJ
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold-certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
BEMIDJI: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “While 24 chapters of law were passed [this session], an effort in windstorm recovery for Beltrami County from June 2025 was not included. … Darrin Lee [of] Flaherty & Hood, which provides comprehensive legal and legislative support to local governments in Minnesota, detailed the aftermath of the 2026 legislative session and how it will impact Beltrami County during the Beltrami County Board’s work session. … ‘Unfortunately, I feel like the governor pulled the rug out from under us,’ Lee said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ybsCdP
ROCHESTER: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A Wisconsin-based developer is in talks to bring a stadium to Rochester. The Rochester City Council on Monday approved an exclusive negotiation agreement with Landmark Development for the potential transformation of the Silver Lake Power Plant and surrounding land into a new mixed-use district. … The [proposal] envisions new indoor and outdoor sports venues alongside a mix of retail, dining and entertainment attractions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eT3kcX
AUSTIN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Torrential rain led to flash flooding in parts of southern Minnesota on Wednesday, forcing the closure of a stretch of Interstate 90 for the second time in less than a week. The city of Austin was particularly hard-hit by this latest round of heavy rain. The National Weather Service said the city had received between 3 and 5 inches of rain as of about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, with more falling. ‘Water is fully over the roads in many low areas,’ the Austin Police Department reported.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f3vjp9
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events.
TODAY: Representatives from Xcel Energy, Google and the Pine Island City Council will host a public information session on data centers with the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce at 8:00 a.m.
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel Energy is a Fluence sponsor)
TODAY: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and more will attend the grand opening of Opportunity Crossing in Minneapolis at 10:00 a.m.
TODAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Hilltop Mayor Terry Wiggin will host a CD5 town hall in Columbia Heights at 6:00 p.m.
TOMORROW: U.S. Rep. Angie Craig will visit St. Cloud for a small business roundtable with state Sen. Aric Putnam at 9:30 a.m. Later, Craig will visit Little Falls for a “canvass launch” with state Senate candidate Tara Killen at 5:30 p.m.
TOMORROW: via Families Over Billionaires, VERBATIM: “At 12:00 pm, Families Over Billionaires and state partners will bring the Who Pays? Bus Tour to Mankato. The event will lift up local stories on the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) one year after its passage.”
MONDAY: Attorney General Keith Ellison will host a community listening session on Monday, July 13 to discuss the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health. The event is in St. Paul at 6:00 p.m.
MONDAY: DFL Sen. Aric Putnam will hold a town hall in St. Cloud at 6:00 p.m.
JULY 24: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will host a rally in St. Paul on Friday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m.
JULY 25: via MIRAC advisory, VERBATIM: “Starting at 10:00 a.m. at George Floyd Square, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will lead ‘Roll 4 Justice 2,’ a protest on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and more to demand ‘No More ICE + Police Terror.’”
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BDAYS: Compeer’s Perry Aasness, labor guy Bernie Hesse, reporter Dave Campbell and we remember organizer Mike Kennedy on his heavenly birthday
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.