WEEKEND HERE
Twins dreams crushed in Iowa last night. Vikings have the first preseason game tonight. Lynx host Vegas tmrw. Gopher football scrimmage this weekend
Minnesota flags are at half-staff today in honor of Leslie Washington, who died while fighting wildfires this week.
Northland bear activity is increasing, with at least three bears entering occupied homes. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/45snWTS
Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4bJh6gs
Sunday Take at 9AM on WCCO - let me know what we should talk about.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured a deep dive into the August primaries, the highs and lows of each candidate and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gm1n9B
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HEALTHCARE: Strong communities depend on sustainable nonprofit healthcare. By planning to join leading, nonprofit healthcare system Sutter Health, Allina Health will be better positioned to expand access to high-quality, innovative care in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin - supporting patients, caregivers, and communities for generations to come. Learn more about the Allina-Sutter partnership.. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/AllinaHealth (SPONSORED: Allina Health)
Michele Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan are making the rounds on local and national media. Flanagan was asked about fraud and points at Gov. Tim Walz and say “more should be done” and that Chuck Schumer should be replaced in Democratic leadership. FLANAGAN: https://fluence-media.co/4wyZdbD TAFOYA: https://fluence-media.co/4wrbfDI
DEBATES: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Republican Michele Tafoya and Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke to MPR this week about their plans for debates before the general election. Flanagan and Tafoya both said they were expecting to debate each other, and Klobuchar said she is committed to debating Speaker Lisa Demuth. As of Thursday, Demuth has not spoken to MPR about her general election candidacy yet. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qizEdh
Invites for debates for Sunday Take and WCCO Radio go out today.
FRAUD: Via MinnPost, the platforms for governor candidates Speaker Lisa Demuth and Sen. Amy Klobuchar reveal that they share many of the same ideas for fighting fraud. VERBATIM: “The fraud-prevention plan on [Demuth’s] campaign website has five planks, two of which the Legislature accomplished in May: the creation of a new inspector general office and the ability to freeze payments on government contractors suspected of fraud. Another component of Demuth’s plan is identical to [Tim] Walz’s own plan to transform Medicaid in Minnesota: let state agencies determine eligibility for public assistance instead of county government. … [Klobuchar] also supported the new inspector general office. She also calls for an agency-to-agency audit. And the DFL nominee is focused on modernizing IT used for public assistance, an issue on which Demuth has already stewarded bipartisan action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g6z65x
MORE: GOP Rep. Tom Emmer spoke to Fox News about why he thinks fraud will be a defining issue against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who he referred to as “a more masculine version of Tim Walz,” in the Senate race. EMMER: “I think fraud is going to be the theme all the way through. … She is tainted by Tim Walz’s disgusting reputation.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4czaZLN
MOTIVATION: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The results of the races for an open governor’s seat and an open U.S. Senate seat could come down to which party can do the best job of motivating voters. DFL Chair Richard Carlbom sees reason for optimism in the primary voter turnout. … ‘Sixty-three percent of them voted for the DFL Party, and to me, that gives me a lot of confidence,’ Carlbom [said]. … GOP Chair Alex Plechash points out primary voters are a lot different than general election voters. ‘I’m very pleased with where we are today,’ Plechash [said]. ‘I think we’re going to be very, very competitive. This election is not going to be won by the activists on either side, frankly. It’s going to be won by people in the middle.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S8s4FC
GOP VOTERS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Speaker Lisa Demuth lost the state GOP endorsement to Kendall Qualls in May. Then she lost the [Donald] Trump endorsement to Mike Lindell in June. But on Tuesday, she won the Republican primary for governor. How did she pull it off? Some in Demuth’s orbit believe Qualls and Lindell divided Republicans who wanted a political ‘outsider.’ That left a big enough lane for Demuth – who campaigned as an experienced legislator – even if she didn’t break 45%. … [Unlike] the Minnesota GOP’s endorsing convention…neither Qualls or Lindell were forced to drop out, so the ‘outsider’ vote never had a chance to coalesce around one candidate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bKzS75
ABSENTEE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected a case over the state’s witness certification requirement for absentee voting. The Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund and two Minnesota voters who regularly vote absentee sued Secretary of State Steve Simon, alleging that requiring voters to get certification from a witness to vote absentee violates the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act. The high court ruled that the requirement does not violate federal law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qizEdh
SD5: via Detroit Lakes Tribune, VERBATIM: “Sen. Paul Utke said [that] he is asking the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office for an explanation after his apparent primary election win early Wednesday morning turned into a loss, due to what he called a 1,400 to 1,500 vote ‘ballot dump’ that showed up after all precincts had been counted. … Utke said that in the past he has seen minor changes in the final vote count after all precincts had reported, but nothing like this.” UTKE: “We’ll be looking into everything just to make sure it’s done properly, for transparency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRLWaD
CD2: From the latest MNSider for premium subscribers, August heat and haze hung over Minnesota Tuesday, the race in CD2 is becoming more clear. Two suburbanite white guys running, when women are leading the top of the ticket. That takes away a gender dynamic that helped Rep. Angie Craig. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ufae4
FED SPIES
FED AGENTS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Homeland Security investigators conducted a wide-ranging surveillance campaign against Minnesota labor unions, trying to find evidence that they were part of an Antifa conspiracy to finance domestic terrorism, according to federal records provided to a group of protesters federally charged with impeding [ICE]. … The lawyer for lead defendant Issac Sant revealed the discovery materials in a court motion Thursday in which he demanded additional disclosures and indicated he intended to file a motion to dismiss for ‘selective prosecution.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S9D4Cr
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Information from discovery [shows] that just four days after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents, Homeland Security Investigations launched something called Operation Puppet Master. … As part of this effort, the [federal] government sent people posing as protesters to public meetings at churches, parks, libraries and union halls. … [HSI] also obtained financial records from unions like the SEIU and Communications Workers of America, [and] told grand jurors that these groups were supporters of the conspiracy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hz6nJ3
SURVEILLANCE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security spied on Minnesota churches, unions, libraries and schools in its investigation. … One report describes an undercover agent going to a meeting focused on deescalation training and nudging others toward ‘more direct action.’ In another instance, agents allegedly staked out a meeting at a Roseville church, captured attendees’ license plates and later compiled dossiers of their lives, including their names, photos, jobs, home addresses and families.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4cp1gHZ
MORE: via New York Times, VERBATIM: “The undercover agents also infiltrated group chats on Signal, listening as activists discussed coming demonstrations. … So far, none of the organizations targeted by the homeland security inquiry, conducted with the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota, have faced charges. … A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney [has] declined to answer questions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qjoN31
SWING: What do Minnesota swing voters think? A survey of 947 swing voters by the Swing Voter Pilot provides insight in to the mood of the most coveted voters.. The poll defined “swing voters” as independent or undecided voters who “could plausibly support candidates from either party” based on key factors. LEARNMORE: https://fluence-media.co/4cw1k8M (SPONSORED: Swing Voter Project)
CAPITOL: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A working group tasked with making recommendations for a proposed new state park within the Capitol Area met for the first time Wednesday. The park would be named for the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. … The group plans to meet every three weeks on Wednesdays with possible future meeting topics focused on sustainable funding, public safety, [and more]. … The working group’s statutory directive is to make recommendations that include funding for establishing and maintaining the park, with a report of its recommendations due to the Legislature by Feb. 1, 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4x0HHOy
ST. PAUL
BUDGET: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “To close a projected $26 million budget gap, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her plans to forgo $20,000 in her own salary and hike EMS ambulance fees as she trims hours at rec centers, permanently shutters the Dayton’s Bluff Library and shrinks the St. Paul Police Department’s authorized force. Her 2027 budget proposal, unveiled Thursday, foresees three municipal lay-offs impacting supervisors and management-level employees. … The overall city property tax levy would increase 6.8% next year, increasing property taxes $58 for the year for the typical median-value home.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SciOA9
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s inaugural budget proposes a 4 percent spending reduction across the board, [but] also includes areas where the mayor would like to spend more money. Her’s budget includes investments in cybersecurity improvements. … She also wants to invest in modernizing the city’s payroll and benefits systems, and adding a workers’ compensation analyst to reduce workers’ compensations costs down the line. The budget also triples spending on climate resilience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bNhv1g
MIN WAGE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When the city of St. Paul adopted plans to move toward an inflation-adjusted $15 minimum wage in 2018, it incorporated a handful of exceptions, including a 90-day ‘youth wage’ for people ages 14 to 17. … [But] Council Members Molly Coleman, Nelsie Yang and HwaJeong Kim recently proposed eliminating the youth wage, citing ‘basic fairness.’ … Their ordinance amendment, approved by the council on Wednesday, will take effect Jan. 1. A public hearing last week drew no public testimony and no letters of opposition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hzdRvM
MORE LEADERS. MORE IDEAS. COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION: You are invited to attend Compeer Financial’s complimentary Rooted & Rising: Rural Forum this September 14-16 as leaders from across rural communities come together to strengthen the towns we call home. The event brings together community champions, local officials, nonprofit partners and business leaders to explore strategies that strengthen rural economies and expand opportunities. You’ll join more than 30 speakers and fellow leaders for practical ideas, inspiring stories and meaningful connections focused on economic development, workforce, housing, entrepreneurship and community leadership. We encourage you to invite a colleague, community partner or fellow rural changemaker to join you. Registration will remain open as space allows. Secure your seat at no cost today. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/4q3pJZ2 (SPONSORED: Compeer Financial)
FLOCK
FLOCK CAMS: Via Star Tribune, two more Minnesota communities announced they are shutting down their Flock camera programs this week. VERBATIM: “On Thursday, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office revealed that it shut down its Flock cameras and has begun the process of removing them. Sheriff’s Cmdr. Ben Zawacki explained: ‘We put a high value on our relationship with the people in the communities we serve.’ … The North Branch City Council on Wednesday voted to remove its Flock cameras indefinitely. ‘I understand the government overreach stuff,’ Mayor Kevin Schieber said, before a unanimous vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cGAJWG
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Prosecutors have charged a Sauk Rapids teenager with felony damage to property after he allegedly cut down and destroyed an automated license plate reader, commonly known as a Flock camera. … The complaint says [the teen] admitted to investigators that he bought the saw blades and used them to cut down the camera, which will cost an estimated $3,525 to repair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4x1uzZz
MORE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “Flock Safety, the surveillance technology company increasingly under scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties, [said] it is making changes to its platform intended to quell privacy concerns and address documented abuses. … Dozens of cities and agencies have nixed their relationships with Flock amid concerns that the data can be accessed for immigration enforcement or used in unauthorized tracking, after a flurry of examples surfaced of law enforcement officers misusing the technology for personal searches.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qdRez8
PUBLIC SAFETY
CYBERSECURITY: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar advisory, VERBATIM: “Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act to improve cybersecurity in America’s water infrastructure in the wake of recent cyberattacks against water utilities. The legislation would strengthen federal oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provide critical funding for local utilities, and safeguard drinking water and wastewater systems from cyberattacks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wqtadI
FEED FRAUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A defendant in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case was sentenced Thursday to 33 months in prison. Ahmed Mohamed Artan pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2025. After nearly three years in prison, he will spend one year on supervised release. Artan is scheduled to turn himself in on Oct. 13.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S2CR49
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)
METRO
STATE FAIR: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Prosecutors argued their case to block two rival gangs from the Minnesota State Fair during two hearings in Ramsey County Court Thursday. The lawsuit was filed by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to prevent violent outbursts by the gangs. … Prosecutors argue there is enough reason to issue a court order to ban these gangs from the Minnesota State Fair this year to keep fairgoers safe since the two gangs have been involved in several violent shootings and attacks against each other in the past.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4qguNcs
3RD PRECINCT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis has pushed back the opening of its new 3rd Police Precinct again. … Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette said Thursday the new Third Police Precinct, which the city has named the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center, is expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. … Demolition work is underway inside the building as crews replace utilities and begin turning the former commercial warehouse into a police precinct and community center.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3UgAFGN
MPLS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called it a placeholder. Park commissioners say it’s a nonstarter. In his 2027 budget address Wednesday, Frey floated a 2.5% property tax levy increase for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, less than half the 5.86% the park system is seeking. … MPRB Vice President Kedar Deshpande (District 3) said the board’s proposed increase was already a bare-bones ask to cover wages and maintain service levels, and that halving that amount could mean layoffs, reduced maintenance, and closed recreation centers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fWIn1p
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)
GREATER MN
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A pair of vetoes by Rochester Mayor Kim Norton are seeking new options for two divisive Rochester City Council decisions. Norton rejected a decision to move forward with designing a section of the Willow Creek Trail to pass through a property against the owner’s objections, and she also vetoed an unrelated item that would spend up to $350,000 in contingency funds to relocate commercial wood debris management operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TWLs99
BEMIDJI: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “In the city of Bemidji, voters chose between three candidates for the city council’s at-large seat, with incumbent Audrey Thayer receiving 712 or 35.55% of the votes cast, and Ron Johnson receiving 780 or 38.94%, meaning they will move on to battle it out in the general election. … Also on the ballot was newcomer Grace Wilder, who received 511 votes, or 25.51%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qiveDo
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “The future of the former Lester Park Golf Course will not go before voters, a state district judge said Thursday. In an order, Judge Shawn Reed sided with the city of Duluth, which argued two questions on whether to rezone the former golf course, closed since 2019, could not be voted on by the public because state law on land use and zoning overrides local charter rules.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4z97JR4
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has had no public events all week.
WEDNESDAY: DFL Senate candidates Mark Legvold and Kristy Janigo will host a roundtable with local veterans on Wednesday, Aug. 19 to discuss the issues they’re facing. The event is in Richfield at 2:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: Sen. Torrey Westrom and Rep. Paul Anderson, both GOP, will host a roundtable to discuss the reopening of the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 2:30 p.m.
SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
We won’t ask for “membership” to list your BDAY, and we won’t have pledge drive but you can support the Fluence work by paying for premium content.
BDAYS: DNR’s Chris Niskanen, attorney David Asp, association leader Deb McMillan. SAT: Rep. Kristin Bahner, restauranter Gary Windschitl. SUN: emergency pro Kristi Rollwagen, retiring radio’s Al Schoch, tech guy Gino Giovanelli, organizer Geri Katz
SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.