FRIDAY TAKE
An intense week, and travel yesterday was not interrupted. Today could be a different story. Thanking the TSA agents out loud was the least I could do.
Wild lose. Loons with a must win tomorrow. Vikings host Baltimore.
Snow this weekend? MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/43gE2zg
A good Elon listen is the All In podcast with Elon. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4hJ2C1A
40 airports impacted by flight cuts starting today, including MSP. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4nKK0jn
A White House adviser said there will be “no federal bailout for AI” if top companies fail. CNBC: https://fluence-media.co/4oPJTUC
Sunday Take will be a breakdown of the upset of the year in St. Paul….at 9AM on WCCO Radio.
Happy National Fountain Pen Day…
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
2026
SD65: DFLer Carlo Franco announced a run for Senate District 65 to fill the seat of DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas. Franco is the school board director for St. Paul Public Schools, and he has early endorsements from Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten and Reps. Mary Frances Clardy, Samakab Hussein and Maria Isa Perez-Vega, among others. Via his announcement, FRANCO: “In a time when our federal government is being dismantled by extremists and billionaires, our community can count on me to fight to make our lives more affordable and safer with policies that center our people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47KKQXg
MORE: Retiring Sen. Sandy Pappas (D-65) spoke to MPR about her 42-year career. First elected to the House in 1984 and moving to the Senate in 1990, Pappas is the longest-serving lawmaker currently in the Legislature. PAPPAS: “The Legislature has been so much a part of my life that leaving is like saying farewell to my family. … It’s been a long run, and I had a great last couple of years. I just think it’s time to go. I want to leave when I’m healthy [so] I can still spend time doing other things — traveling, being with my grandkids.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oRkhqk
DISCLOSURE: Your publisher briefly advised Sen. Pappas in her 1997 challenge to Mayor Norm Coleman. It quickly became true that “profit shouldn’t matter to small business” was a philosophy that couldn’t win nor should be amplified.”
EMMER: Rep. Tom Emmer joined the Ruthless podcast this week to share post-election thoughts on the federal shutdown, Gov. Tim Walz, fraud in Minnesota and more. Emmer’s segment begins at the 45-minute mark. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/47OvIZ6
FRAUD
MED FRAUD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “What started as a routine check of her Medicaid billing turned into a shocking discovery for Erna Hammerschmidt. … A company she’d never heard of or met with was billing her Medicaid [insurance] $188.90 multiple times a week, claiming to have provided Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services. ARMHS is a program overseen by [DHS]. … One of the new owners of Community Care Partners, Mohamed Mohamed, refused to meet for an interview – but confirmed there had been fraudulent billing. He wrote that after learning of a client’s allegations, ‘We immediately conducted an internal review and, that same day, terminated the staff member involved.’ … Mohamed did not respond to KARE 11’s follow-up email asking questions about the amount of money being refunded, the name of the employee fired, and which law enforcement agency the fraud was reported to.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Xest8b
AUDITOR: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is taking a closer look at why the State of Minnesota selected Optum as its third-party auditor for Medicaid billing. It is a $2.3 million contract for ‘pre-payment review’ this year, amid investigations into possible fraud. … On Thursday, [DHS said] the state looked at four vendors, approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and received bids from three vendors before choosing Optum. Optum is a division of Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. … Some service providers voiced concern about the decision. ‘I personally think if you’re going to have a true third-party audit of something with this, you have to ensure you’re hiring somebody who has absolutely no conflict of interest in any way, shape or form,’ said John Estrem, CEO of Hammer & NER. … A spokesperson [said] ‘Optum and UnitedHealthcare are separate entities and subsidiary businesses of UnitedHealth Group.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47L0gL6
GRUMBLE: Multiple DFL legislators are feeling frustrated for not pushing back against the implementation of a “Inspector General”. It could be an intra-party issue for the Governor.
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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)
FLYING
THIS MORNING: From a Star Tribune reporter at 6:40 a.m., VERBATIM: “Nationally, airlines were cutting deeper into their schedules Friday morning to meet the FAA’s directive throttling air travel. As of Friday morning, Delta Air Lines, the dominant carrier at MSP, had canceled 173 flights across its network, representing 3.8% of its schedule, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Flight-tracking website FlightAware counted 31 inbound and outbound cancellations at MSP.” UPDATES: https://fluence-media.co/3LNk5Ko
MSP: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Starting [today], airlines will cancel flights at busy airports across the country, including the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration directed airlines to cut traffic by 10 percent to keep travelers safe during the government shutdown. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since Oct. 1, and that has exacerbated staffing problems. … ‘Travelers should be prepared for flight disruptions at MSP and other airports across the country,’ a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Airport Commission, which oversees MSP, said in a statement. … As of Thursday afternoon, the flight tracking website FlightAware reported 24 cancellations at MSP Friday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4otweTx
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Kyle Potter, of Twin Cities-based….Thrifty Traveler, said placing [flight] restrictions with less than 48 hours’ notice is bound to cause disruptions. … ‘I don’t want to scare people, but at the same time, it’s hard not to see this as having a really debilitating effect on all air travel,’ Potter said. … He said travelers should already think about backup plans — traveling by car or train instead — and to know their rights.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47O1yFr
RESPONSE: via a Sen. Tina Smith statement, SMITH: “It’s long past time for President [Donald] Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson to act like grown-ups and sit down and talk to us about how to get out of this shutdown so we don’t see impacts like the ones at MSP. … I won’t vote for a bill that hurts Minnesotans and does nothing to make life more affordable. The only path forward is through negotiating, so air traffic in the skies above Minnesota and the country can keep operating safely and at full capacity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nKDR6N
SHUTDOWN
SNAP: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A week after two federal courts ordered the Trump Administration to ‘immediately’ pay food stamp benefits for November, none of the nation’s 42 million recipients, including 440,000 in Minnesota, have had any help and are likely to not receive it for weeks. … The USDA has told states to recalculate the payouts to each beneficiary, who would now receive half of their benefits. The USDA also told the states to reduce benefits for households with a certain level of income. … Because of the new income-based requirements, which were not mandated by Congress or the courts, states like Minnesota are forced to recode their eligibility systems. … That will take states like Minnesota some time, [thus] leaving food insecure Americans without any immediate assistance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LqnxKW
MORE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump Administration Thursday to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, a decision that the administration promptly appealed. … The order was in response to a challenge from cities and nonprofits complaining that the administration was only offering to cover 65% of the maximum benefit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oPHWHM
SMALL BIZ: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) funding freeze due to the ongoing government shutdown has stopped $170 million from reaching 320 U.S. small businesses daily. … ‘35 small businesses every week in Minnesota are being denied access to about $18 million in funding,’ said Kelly Loeffler, SBA administrator. ‘If we look at the impact over one month in Minnesota, it’s upwards of $80 million that should be out, being deployed on Main Street for hiring, for building businesses, for expansion that is currently locked up.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oWtkGA
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)
EDUCATION
UMN: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Enrollment data from the University of Minnesota shows that changes to the visa process resulted in a significant drop in new students from India — one of the top home countries for U of M international students. … Overall, international student enrollment at the University of Minnesota is relatively stable this year compared to last year, with a decrease of 1%. But new international student enrollments dropped by 9% overall — and new international students from India declined by 27%. … University officials and alumni say that if the trend continues, it could mean not only fewer Indian international students in Minnesota, but less innovation and economic growth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hVHaa0
MPS: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Negotiations continue between Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and the Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE), but a teaching strike is still possible as early as next week [on] Nov. 11. … While MPS says it is ‘committed to reaching an agreement quickly,’ [the district] sent parents details on how to prepare for a strike. The notice shared details on available childcare and meals that can be obtained by students should a strike take place.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4877REf
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
MN GOVT
AG GRANTS: via MDA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Cooperative Development Grant Program. This grant helps new cooperatives develop business plans and strategies to successfully produce, process, or market Minnesota-grown agricultural products and services. … The MDA may award up to $185,000 through this round of funding. Applicants may request between $2,500 and $50,000 per project and must commit to matching at least 50% of the total project cost.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47EH2Xy
MOVE: via MN Commerce advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Commerce today announced that Sara Payne has been appointed assistant commissioner of enforcement, effective Nov. 19, 2025. … Payne [has] served as General Counsel since 2021.”
MOVE: via MDVA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) named Diane Lynch-deCombhs to the new position of Assistant Commissioner - Healthcare Division. … Most recently, Lynch-deCombhs held the role of Division Administrator of Veterans Homes for the State of Wisconsin.”
AWARD: via NewDEAL advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, Minnesota State Senator Grant Hauschild was one of 25 leaders to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of Democratic state and local elected officials with more than 200 members across the country.
UNDISTURBED LAND: One of the largest undisturbed natural areas in the Twin Cities metro area is the Pine Bend Bluffs in Dakota County. Situated along the Mississippi River, these hundreds of acres owned by Flint Hills Resources are a key migration corridor for millions of songbirds and 40% of North America’s waterfowl and shorebirds. Collaboration among Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening and Flint Hills Resources volunteers help to restore this natural area to pre-settlement conditions. The Pine Bend Bluffs has earned Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification since 2001. The site recently earned gold certification, making the Pine Bend Bluffs currently the only gold certified site in Minnesota and the first ever in the metro area. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4241cZ2 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
MPLS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Starting [today], drivers who are caught speeding on safety cameras in Minneapolis won’t get warnings — they’ll get actual citations for driving 10 mph or more over the speed limit. The cameras, installed at five problematic intersections known for excessive speed, have been operational for one month, and according to initial data, they appear to be making a difference. Across all five locations, the rate of drivers operating at 10 mph or greater than the speed limit is down 30% when compared to the level of speeders before the cameras were installed.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4r1yVxg
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Despite last-minute objections from attorneys for CVS and a mystery property owner, the St. Paul City Council has ordered the demolition of the vacant former CVS building at Snelling and University avenues, an eyesore property that has loomed large over neighborhood discussions and even the recent mayor’s race. The seven-member council voted unanimously on Wednesday evening to order the [property] demolished within 15 days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49Dv6Yz
FARIBAULT: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “One week after Allina Health said it will preserve labor and delivery care at its Owatonna Hospital, the health system announced Thursday, Nov. 6, that it will end that service line at its Faribault Medical Center. The changes come after Mayo Clinic Health System, which provides some surgical providers at Owatonna Hospital, announced it would no longer provide OB-GYNs to the Owatonna facility’s birth center. … Outpatient prenatal, postpartum, pediatric and gynecologic care will continue to be offered at Faribault Medical Center. However, on Monday, Dec. 1, the Faribault Birth Center will close, shifting those services 16 miles south to Owatonna.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LOrYzd
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Stillwater community members sent more than 100 emails to the city’s planning department expressing concern over a proposed adult-use recreational cannabis retail store opening near facilities frequented by minors. … Stillwater City Council members voted Wednesday on three businesses that applied for permits to open adult-use recreational cannabis retail stores in the city. After much debate, the council approved a permit for one location and denied two locations: one near the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center and the other near a Catholic school.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XmlEkZ
CANNON FALLS: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “With a chorus of residents speaking out both for and against a proposed data center development, the Cannon Falls City Council on Wednesday voted in favor of a conditional use permit for a project that would bring a data center to the city. After all the discussion and a presentation from City Administrator Jon Rademacher, the City Council voted 4-2 to approve the conditional use permit (CUP) that outlines the allowed uses at the Cannon Falls Technology Park. … The council also voted to approve a development agreement with Tract, the developer behind the project. That vote followed the same 4-2 count.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hIaTCY
COMING UP
TOMORROW: A protest will be held at the Capitol as part of the “National Handmaids’ Day of Action” on Saturday, Nov. 8. Speakers will include elected officials and organizers with 50501, Indivisible, and other groups. The event is at 1:00 p.m.
TUESDAY: via MDVA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Minnesota National Guard Armory in Mankato, Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs invites Veterans, families, elected officials and community members.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3LKwFdm
NEXT WEEK: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “On Nov. 12-13, Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Senator Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and members of the Capital Investment Committee will travel to 12 communities in Northwest Minnesota to learn about proposed projects requesting state matching funds, meet with local officials, and tour project sites.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4p1LKG6
BDAYS: cookie leader Tina Rexing, Ramsey County Commissioner Garrison McMurtey, radio legend Tom Barnard, singer Erin Livingston, Lisa DeMuth advisor Ben Golnik. SAT: Fluence’s wise guy Bruce Gordon, A4L provocateur Jake Duesenberg, Fox 9’s streaming host Amy Hockert, lobbyist leader Chas Anderson. SUN: Senate DFL media guy Marc Kimball, attorney and lobbyist Sam McCollough
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take from now to the future is in memory of Melissa Hortman her accessibility, leadership and commitment to public service.
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