Timberwolves open in Portland. Wolves at New Jersey.
Carson Wentz will start Thursday – JJ McCarthy still hurt.
The Twin Cities archbishop met with Pope Leo XIV for the first time and shared letters from Annunciation students. MPR: http://fluence-media.co/3L6VPm9
The DFL will host its first town hall on Saturday on gun control, fmr. Rep. Gabby Giffords will attend. It’s expected Gov. Walz will also attend. This is a new effort to create support for law change in the legislature.
Did you know about Minnesota’s famous art heist? KARE11: https://fluence-media.co/49hwoIH
A new poll from The Economist finds that 59% of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction, including 68% of Independents and 22% of Republicans. In the same poll, 53% of respondents say the U.S. economy is getting worse. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3WhZzni
Today from 3-6PM I’ll be in for Jason DeRusha on WCCO Radio. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3qbzt8G
It’s National Tavern Style Pizza Day.
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Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nXy7aF
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AG: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Farmer’s finances are in peril. In the midst of trade wars and low commodity prices, loan defaults are rising among Minnesota producers. In fact, defaults have doubled in fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous year, according to University of Minnesota Extension data… By state law, mediation services must be offered to farmers who have defaulted on a loan of over $15,000. And Preisler’s office sees the default notices come through…The team works in tandem with Farm Advocates, a Minnesota Department of Agriculture program that offers business and crisis support for farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3L0ePCY
OCT 30: via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
SMALL BIZ: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The shutdown is affecting Minnesotans, from federal workers to families relying on assistance programs. [But] small businesses are feeling the economic strain, too. Berek Awend is the owner of his family’s 47-year-old drapery business in Golden Valley, Minnesota. … With the government shutdown, Awend says it’s making it difficult to hire workers, expand and even advertise. … The shutdown has already paused new small business loans from the Small Business Administration — something Awend says could derail future plans to grow or buy a building.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/49dNvLl
CHILDCARE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The federal shutdown threatened the operation of 30 Head Start centers run by West Central Community Action, a non-profit headquartered in Elbow Lake. West Central and three other nonprofits that run Head Start programs in the state that serve more than 1,300 pre-school children face a Nov. 1 deadline to receive federal funding that would allow them to continue operations for a year. But as the shutdown dragged on, those payments were in danger. … [But] the state came to the rescue. Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families advised West Central and the three other nonprofits [that] they are allowed to use state Head Start money to fund their November operations.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3L9t3RX
PAID LEAVE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The kick-off of Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program is just over two months away, and the pressure is on for a smooth rollout. … Greg Norfleet, the director of the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave program, told a room full of business owners and human resources representatives on Tuesday in Coon Rapids: ‘I can sense a little anxiety in the room.’ They had all kinds of questions, ranging from ‘What to do about people who work in Minnesota but live in Wisconsin?’ and ‘What happens with all the new personal financial data the state will be collecting?’ … The state estimates 12,000 to 15,000 Minnesotans will take paid family leave in the first year. However, that’s based on experiences with programs in other states.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3J8ekpV
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AG RACE: via SEIU Minnesota State Council announced they are endorsing Attorney General Keith Ellison.
MORE: Attorney General Keith Ellison spoke to Chad Hartman on WCCO Radio about running again. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/47iYWPv
RESPONSE: via a GOP Chair Alex Plechash statement, PLECHASH: “Keith Ellison running for a third term tells Minnesotans everything they need to know about the DFL’s addiction to power. He and Tim Walz act like kings who refuse to give up the throne — but Minnesotans are ready to end their reign.”
FRAUD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Two of the top executives charged in the massive Evergreen Recovery Medicaid fraud case have become the first to plead guilty. Shantel Magadanz, Evergreen’s former CEO, and Heather Heim, CFO, entered guilty pleas in federal court Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting as part of plea deals that they played a role in the multi-year scheme to overbill taxpayers for addiction treatment services that were often never provided, or not eligible for reimbursement. The pleas mark the first convictions in the sprawling case that federal prosecutors say drained more than $30 million from government health-care programs meant to help Minnesotans struggling with addiction.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3WkzS5B
AUDIT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “As leaders in Minnesota continue the fight to stop fraud, lawmakers are asking a government watchdog to look closely at some specific programs that handle taxpayer money. … Each year, the [Office of the Legislative Auditor] compiles a large list of areas to audit and presents that list to lawmakers on the Legislative Audit Commission. The commission then identifies a handful of program audits for OLA to conduct the following year. The working list, reviewed by 5 INVESTIGATES, shows more than half of the proposed topics for 2026 deal with services that are reimbursed by Medical Assistance, Minnesota’s Medicaid program, [which] is currently at the center of multiple fraud investigations.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4naB4TX
GUNS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The number of guns found on school grounds in Minnesota has skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic. Nearly 200 firearms — including about 150 handguns — have been found in Minnesota schools since the 2021-2022 academic year. That’s almost three times the number found in the school years spanning 2017-2020 and 30% of the nearly 700 firearms associated with student disciplinary incidents going back a quarter-century. … School leaders and violence prevention researchers say rising weapons cases reflect broader spikes in youth crime and mental health struggles worsened by the pandemic.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3L4Ol36
INVEST BOARD: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A handful of pro-Palestine protesters staged a sit-in demonstration imploring the governor and other Minnesota officials to divest taxpayer money from companies and institutions it believes are ‘complicit’ in Israel’s war in Gaza. The protest, held in the lobby of the Retirement Systems Building in St. Paul, coincided with the Minnesota State Board of Investment’s quarterly meeting. … The State Board of Investment, chaired by Gov. Tim Walz, hasn’t met since March. Meetings are usually held in the Retirement Systems Building, but the board met virtually on Tuesday due to the planned protest. Also present during the meeting were Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, State Auditor Julie Blaha and Secretary of State Steve Simon.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4qEHa2b
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The group of activists [said] their priority was the divestment from and halt to purchasing Israeli bonds. … Demonstrators demanded the return to in-person public meetings each quarter [and] said Tuesday’s meeting was supposed to have been held on Aug. 20, or in the third quarter. … The board’s multiple cancellations or postponements of meetings this year has frustrated protesters.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3WOEr8p
ADS: via Office of the Sec. of State, VERBATIM: “On October 21, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced a new ad campaign to raise awareness of the robust security measures in place before, during, and after for every election. The ‘Trusted Elections, Crafted Locally’ campaign will feature multimedia ads that direct Minnesotans to mnvotes.gov/secure where they can learn more about how local election officials administer elections on behalf of Minnesotans. … Minnesotans will see ads promoting the ‘Trusted Elections, Crafted Locally’ [campaign] online and on displays across the Twin Cities Metro Area.” WEBSITE: http://fluence-media.co/4qijd0p
FED FUNDS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The city of St. Paul has joined Minneapolis, Ramsey County, Chicago, Denver, Boston and four other jurisdictions in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for allegedly placing ‘unlawful and unrelated conditions’ on more than $100 million in public safety and disaster grants. … St. Paul alone is at risk of losing $4 million in pending or awarded funds, including funding covering about half the staffing in the city’s Emergency Management department. … To qualify for grant dollars, the Trump Administration has demanded that local governments abandon diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and comply with all executive orders.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/470JXe8
BUCKET TRUCK: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “On a crisp autumn morning in Waconia, Minnesota, Laketown Elementary buzzed with excitement as fifth grader Grant Scotting kept his eyes trained on the parking lot. A birthday surprise for Scotting was in the works — and soon it rolled up: a shiny Xcel Energy bucket truck. Scotting, who has special needs and is nonverbal, is known for his love of Xcel Energy. His enthusiasm for the local energy company ranges from reporting outages on his family’s iPad to eagerly opening each monthly bill.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oq7uei (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
DWI: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A procedural error that state law enforcement officials say affected more than 200 breath tests of suspected impaired drivers might have been prevalent for years, according to attorneys and law enforcement documents. Attorneys worry there could be hundreds, if not thousands, of cases affected. ‘We’re just scratching the surface,’ said Charles Ramsay, of Twin Cities-area Ramsay Law Firm PLLC. … He has documentation of law enforcement using DMT instruments with PBT gas cylinders dating back to 2020. Then, on Friday, Oct. 10, the BCA called for a temporary statewide halt to use of DMT instruments. … ‘When the BCA is saying we have three counties [affected], I’m saying it’s more — it’s definitely more,’ he said.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4qkdc30
MPS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis teachers and district leaders met Tuesday in their last scheduled mediation session, but after nearly seven hours of negotiations, they had yet to reach a settlement to prevent the union from going on strike. … Tuesday’s talks marked the seventh closed-doors session between the district and the teachers union since bargaining began in April. … Minneapolis Federation of Educators leaders [said] last week that the union would conduct a strike authorization vote beginning Thursday if an agreement was not reached Tuesday.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3JqsGSx
MEASLES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A pediatric patient at Mayo Clinic was diagnosed with measles, exposing others at the Rochester medical campus to the infectious disease and raising Minnesota’s case count to 21 for the year. Minnesota has now had its fifth-worst year since at least 1997 for measles, according to an update Tuesday by the state Department of Health. The highly infectious disease is increasing in Minnesota at the same time as the state’s vaccination rate is declining.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3WCgLEp
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)
LAND GRANTS: via a DEED press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced nearly $2.3 million for five site redevelopment and demolition projects statewide. The projects will collectively create or retain 269 jobs, increase local tax bases by $2.4 million and leverage over $157.9 million in private investment. The four grants from DEED’s Redevelopment Grant Program and one loan from the Demolition Loan Program are expected to redevelop 33.8 acres and establish 488 housing units.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Wi9eKB
AG GRANTS: via an MDA press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program will support agricultural and rural electric cooperatives registered as 308A or 308B within the state of Minnesota so they can invest in green fertilizer manufacturing. … The MDA expects to award up to $3.8 million for business-ready and shovel-ready projects. Applicants may request between $250,000 and $3.8 million. Applications are due by Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4o7xY4w
MOVE: The Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs announced that Rosa Tock, MCLA’s executive director, is retiring after 32 years of public service in Guatemala and Minnesota. Her successor will be announced in November.
MOVE: Xcel Energy has named Bria Shea as its new president of the Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota division, succeeding Ryan Long. Per a release, Shea was most recently the company’s regional vice president for planning and policy.
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel Energy is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis auditor is providing more clarity with what he’s describing as a lack of participation from police officers as his office looks into how multiple high-profile and violent cases were handled. … In an update to the audit committee Monday, Robert Timmerman provided a timeline as an example of what he calls ‘resistance and delay,’ outlining that more than two months after requesting to speak with a MPD investigator, it still hasn’t happened.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3WVzQBf
HENN CTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County jail is fully staffed for the first time since 2020, and the state of Minnesota has lifted restrictions on its incarcerated population. That progress is expected to save the county money on overtime staff and the housing of incarcerated people at other jails, which the county has spent more than $2 million on this year. But the Hennepin County jail will remain under additional state oversight due to concerns over well-being checks and living conditions.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4hncIoV
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “AFSCME union members and others representing Ramsey County workers picketed Tuesday in protest of the county’s proposal to close its Detox and Withdrawal Management Program. … County officials have said the program has underperformed financially and averages 10 clients a day while its operational capacity allows it to serve 50 people. Moving to community providers is expected to reduce county costs by at least $2 million annually, according to county officials. … But union members say county officials did not communicate concerns of underperformance with program workers and that the program’s closure will limit access to detox care in the area.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/49fWBr3
40 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are celebrating 40 years of partnership, a longevity landmark that makes Flint Hills one of DU’s longest-standing corporate partners. Working together over the past four decades, Flint Hills and DU have contributed to conserving more than 250,000 acres of wildlife habitat and natural areas in Minnesota and over 900,000 acres across North America. LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ROCHESTER: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “At Art Heads Studio in downtown Rochester, [the] owner Leah Bee [has] recently doubled the size of the shop by moving next door, which she says she couldn’t have done without a $55,000 Main Street grant from the Minnesota Department Of Employment and Economic Development. Hers is one of about 100 businesses in Rochester that received the grants, and the money was meant to help businesses stay afloat during the retail doldrums of the pandemic. … But they’ve helped Bee succeed in a city of businesses that are also coping with seemingly never-ending waves of construction and road closures. … She said with all the road and sidewalk closures, detours and orange cones everywhere, it’s been challenging to operate a business downtown.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3KZuiTQ
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “The St. Cloud City Council voted 5-2 at its Monday, Oct. 20 meeting to greenlight an amendment to a planned unit development to allow recreational cannabis sales at RISE. It will mark the second dispensary in St. Cloud, but doesn’t count towards the set limit of six cannabis establishments within city limits because of its existing medical cannabis license. RISE [opened] its recreational sales on Tuesday, Oct. 21. … Mike Conway and Mark Johnson were the two dissenting votes on the item on Monday night. After the meeting, Conway told St. Cloud LIVE his vote was not a reflection of his feelings on cannabis, but rather zoning.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3WNueZR
WHITE EARTH: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The White Earth Nation’s Bison Program recently expanded its herd with the arrival of 45 new bison, which includes yearlings, mature cows and two cow and calf pairs. In August, the program welcomed its first bison calf. … With the newly added bison and those already in the program, [the] tribal nation has a total of 55 bison between a breeding herd near Naytahwaush and a harvest operation near Mahnomen.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nsgXkA
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
HEALTHCARE: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Sticker shock is expected to spread fast this open enrollment season. After eating rising costs for everything from eggs to electricity in recent years, many Minnesotans are bracing for another price jump they can’t avoid: their health insurance rates. Minnesotans buying insurance on the state’s Affordable Care Act individual marketplace, called MnSure, starting next month will see an average premium increase of 22%, per the state Department of Commerce.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4na1tkN
HERMANTOWN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A controversial proposed data center in northeast Minnesota received a key approval Monday evening, when the Hermantown City Council voted for a zoning change that allows the massive development to continue to move forward. The 4-0 vote to rezone the property about eight miles west of Duluth came after a marathon meeting that lasted nearly six hours and ended just before midnight. More than 50 residents of Hermantown and nearby communities addressed the council, most pleading with council members to reject the zoning change, or at least table it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JjSJux
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will attend a meeting of the Municipal Legislative Commission Board of Directors at 12:00 noon.
TODAY: via a TZD advisory, VERBATIM: “More than 800 traffic safety professionals will gather to share the latest information and ideas to help stop these heartbreaking fatalities and life-changing injuries during the State Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Conference in Prior Lake. The Minnesota Departments of Health, Public Safety and Transportation offer the conference [as] a forum for sharing information on best practices [and] identifying new approaches to reducing the number of traffic fatalities.” The event is at 8:30 a.m.
TODAY: via Faith in MN, VERBATIM: “State lawmakers and Minnesotans will raise alarm bells this Wednesday at 9:30am on the impact and shock families across the state are experiencing now that they are able to preview their monthly premiums for 2026. … Representative Jamie Long and Senator Dr. Alice Mann will highlight immediate and long-term effects the Congressional Republicans’ cuts [could] have on Minnesota’s healthcare system.”
TODAY: via a CTUL advisory, VERBATIM: “At 11:00 a.m. on Wed, Oct. 22, Minneapolis voters will speak out about their excitement to vote on the first day of early voting at the downtown Minneapolis voting center less than two weeks before election day. The group will include [members] of organizations like SEIU, CTUL Action Fund, Renters For Political Transformation, Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE), UNITE HERE Local 17, TakeAction Minnesota and more. Speakers will share why they are ready to elect a new mayor and council.”
TODAY: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL-Afton) and Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham will host a town hall discussion in Cottage Grove. The town hall will primarily focus on the impact of federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, the effects on our counties, and what Minnesotans might experience as a result.” The event is at 5:30 p.m.
TOMORROW: via WIAOFC, VERBATIM: “The family of Stephen Washington…is demanding transparency and accountability from the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC), the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department following his death at Rush City Prison on October 9, 2025. … The Washington family is calling for a full, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Stephen’s death and for immediate transparency from state officials. Community members, advocates, and media are invited to attend the press conference.” The event is at 2:00 p.m.
SATURDAY: via MN DFL, VERBATIM: “Former Congresswoman and gun violence prevention advocate Gabby Giffords will join elected officials, gun safety organizations, doctors, educators, survivors, and community members from across Minnesota to stand up for gun violence prevention at a town hall in Waconia this Saturday.”
SATURDAY: Protect Minnesota will host its “all coalition meeting” in St. Paul to discuss the future of gun violence prevention efforts in the state. The event is at 10:00 a.m.
BDAYS: fmr. Rep. Terry Morrow, retired lobbyist Phil Griffin, communicator Patty Dunn, attorney Keith Halleland, policy pro Jennifer Billig
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