Vikings play tomorrow in pre-season.
Here’s yesterday’s Sports Take.
In Blaine, an 80s rocker’s new guitar is best viewed from the air. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45unaoZ
54% of marijuana consumers say they expect it be federally legalized in the next three years. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/47j28vY
53% of adults say voting is “extremely important” – but that varies greatly with age. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/40XW8VE
Hot and humid today with chances of storms tonight. FORECAST: https://fluence-media.co/4lh3zi0
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take included an interview with OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel on the State of Cannabis in Minnesota and a discussion about the need for quality candidates in the 2026 elections. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3U9jDaz
30K: Sponsorships available – to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
2026: Former CD3 candidate Tom Weiler (R) will announce he’s running for the Senate seat currently held by the retiring Tina Smith.
SENATE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has a rare open Senate seat, which is tantalizing to state Republicans, even as some are hoping for a more robust field of candidates for retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s Senate seat. There are two major declared GOP candidates in the race, former NBA player Royce White and Adam Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL. Although White has run for office before — most recently against Sen. Amy Klobuchar last year — he has not held political office. Neither has Schwarze.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fvKkjq
SECURITY: Via 19th News, VERBATIM: “Vote Mama — the umbrella organization Grechen Shirley founded that supports parents who run for office — is elevating the use of campaign funds for security measures. Its lobbying entity has begun advocating for policies on the state level that ensure parents and others with concerns about the safety of their families have more financial means to protect themselves. The organization’s research arm, Vote Mama Foundation, released a report on Monday that shows federal candidates are increasingly spending money on security. While the expenditures do not focus on parents, the report’s findings conclude that the increase in spending indicates a dwindling sense of safety for candidates, which ‘creates a barrier to entry for caregivers seeking office and discourages a new generation of candidates with young families from running for office up and down the ballot nationwide’ . . . The issue reached renewed attention following the death of Hortman and her spouse in a shooting at multiple private residences that also injured Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ma4bHs
MORE: Via Vote Mama Foundation, from the report:
FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4fnJNjm
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)
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On Monday, Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
CAPITOL: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Land of 10,000 Lakes is on a shortlist when it comes to the accessibility of its state Capitol building. It’s one of eight states currently without metal detectors at its highest governmental center. 42 states—that’s 84%—require visitors to pass through weapons screenings to enter their Capitol complexes. Minnesota’s lack of metal detectors is shared by neighboring Wisconsin, along with Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45qXzxm
COURTHOUSE: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “New procedures and training measures have been implemented at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office following a defendant’s brazen escape from a courtroom six weeks ago . . . A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Sheriff Dewanna Witt was not available for an interview, but a review of the incident found that no polices had been violated during or after the incident. However, in response to the incident, the spokesperson tells 5 INVESTIGATES that the department implemented new procedures centered around improving communication on the proper channels during this type of rapidly evolving situation.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/459u5Fh
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)
GHOST GUNS: Via Senate DFL, VERBATIM: “Following a decision Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court allowing Minnesotans to possess ghost guns without a serial number, Senator Ron Latz announced Thursday he will introduce legislation in the 2026 Legislative Session aligning state law with federal law and require serial numbers on ghost guns in the state.” QUOTE: “No one could’ve foreseen a world where you could print the parts to make a gun at home, but that’s the world we live in today,” said Senator Latz. “This decision makes it clear that our state gun laws need to reflect this new reality and the increasing prevalence of ghost guns. As Wednesday’s decision lays out, it is up to the legislature on how we regulate these guns, and I will introduce legislation closing this loophole.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47ht1R2
MISSING KIDS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A 12-year-old girl disappeared from her south Minneapolis neighborhood on Saturday. Police sent out a citywide emergency alert three days later — just hours before she was found safe at a friend’s house. The next day, an Amber Alert was issued within hours after a 3-week-old baby was abducted in Columbia Heights. Both children were ultimately found unharmed. But the timing of the alerts — one delayed, one immediate — has renewed questions about how Minnesota agencies determine when and how to notify the public in missing child cases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m7xPgD
SUMMER SAVINGS: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “Home cooling can account for about half of your summertime electric bill. Here are five simple, effective ways to boost energy efficiency in your home and save money.”
Ceiling fans cool you, not the room: Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature, but they make you feel cooler. Set your fan to spin counterclockwise in the summer to create a wind-chill effect.
When away, adjust your thermostat: During the summer months, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill for every degree you raise your thermostat.
Hot air belongs outside: Air leaks around windows and doors can let hot air in and cool air out. Sealing these gaps with weatherstripping or caulk is a low-cost DIY project that can make a big difference in your cooling efficiency.
Cook smarter to stay cooler: Using your oven or stove during the hottest parts of the day can heat up your home and make your AC work harder. Instead, try grilling outdoors, using a microwave or preparing no-cook meals.
Let nature dry your clothes—plus, your chores can wait until evening: Air drying your clothes or adding tennis balls to your dryer can help clothes dry faster and save energy. Running your dishwasher, laundry machines or other large appliances during cooler evening hours can reduce strain on the grid and helps keep your home cooler during the day.
(SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
LIGHT RAIL: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Business owners and community members rallied outside Metro Transit headquarters on Thursday to protest recent changes they say will delay funding to those affected by Blue Line construction. Work on the $3.2 billion Blue Line extension is expected to begin in 2027, bringing disruption to communities from north Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park. Last year, the Legislature set aside $10 million in a first round of anti-displacement funds. But activists say new insurance and other requirements will make it much harder for community members and small businesses to access those funds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ldFsRb
STATE FAIR: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Have a favorite parking spot on the street in Falcon Heights that you use every State Fair? Well, if you're headed out there this year, parking on the street may cost you for the first time. Earlier this year the Falcon Heights City Council approved a one-year contract with Park Mobile for hundreds of street spaces to charge $25 per spot.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oxljsq
CANNABIS: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “Eight out of 11 applicants were selected in the Olmsted County microbusiness lottery Thursday, Aug. 7 . . . A cannabis microbusiness may operate a single retail location, grow up to 5,000 square feet of plant canopy indoors, or up to a half-acre of mature flowering plants outdoors, and may sell immature plants, adult-use cannabis flower and products, as well as hemp-derived products.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3J4gs1u
STILLWATER: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Stillwater city officials plan to continue studying the possibility of creating a downtown social district before deciding whether to proceed with a test run. ‘I think it could be a net positive,’ said Mayor Ted Kozlowski. ‘My issue right now is, is it worth the effort for staff to go through it? There’s a lot of people downtown who want to see this happen, and there’s a lot of people downtown who are afraid of it. I would like to get all of them really involved.’ Staff at the Stillwater City Council meeting on Wednesday presented the results of an online community engagement survey on social districts, where people are allowed to walk around and shop with alcoholic drinks in hand. Of the more than 425 people who responded, 50 percent were against the idea, 44 percent were in favor and 5 percent were neutral.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ldHTTP
MARSHALL: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “The Marshall Public School District is pursuing a $2 million, 10-year operating levy with an upcoming November election, and Superintendent Jeremy Williams and Director of Finance Sarah Kirchner provided updates on the referendum at Monday’s school board meeting.” QUOTE: “We are looking at some serious financial challenges. We talked about these a couple of years ago, starting in 2022 (when) we went out to the community and asked for an operating referendum (which failed),” Williams said. “We had some (legislative) funding that came through with some COVID funds that have kind of covered us for a while. Those funds are gone, and we still have these financial needs that have existed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/456JLcj
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO CELEBRATE: Flint Hills Resources and its employees are proud of the company they keep, including many community partners that help make Minnesota a better place to live and learn. Not only is the Pine Bend refinery celebrating 70 years, many of the company’s long-time partnerships have milestones in 2025 — 25 years of the Flint Hills Family Festival in partnership with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 25 years with Friends of the Mississippi River to restore critical habitat, 30 years with the Minnesota Zoo, and 40 years with Ducks Unlimited. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZfDkjY (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
PRISON: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hundreds of inmates have already left Stillwater Correctional Facility as part of a years-long plan to close the aging prison. The closure, announced by legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz in May as part of a larger budget deal, came as a surprise to inmates and staff. Inmates have since complained that their voices have gone unheard as relocations get underway. Some Republican legislators and correctional officers have also blasted the closure, saying the decision was made without necessary plans in place.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40WBAgl
HOUSING: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is facing a housing shortage, and the resulting higher housing costs are harming low-income residents the most. One in four Douglas County residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, meaning they are ‘cost-burdened’ by their rent or mortgage, said Lori Anderson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County. [Brittany] Johnson’s new home is in a new neighborhood called Summer Meadows, the first affordable housing development in Alexandria since 2002. She opened her door on Thursday to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, who toured the neighborhood to see the impact of federal funding on affordable housing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fwS4BM
MMIR: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “Guadalupe Lopez is the new director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office. She began July 30. Lopez brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives to the MMIR Office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mqHzly
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
SENATE RACE: Via news release from the Flanagan campaign, VERBATIM: “Today Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) will head to Minnesota to support Flanagan’s campaign for U.S. Senate. The two will hold a rally in Minneapolis on August 22nd to share their plans on how to change the status quo in Washington and make the government work for working people.” QUOTE: “We need Democrats in the Senate who are going to fight for working families with everything they’ve got. Peggy is the only candidate in this race who has the guts to shake up the status quo in Washington and actually deliver for working people,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “I’m inspired by Peggy because she understands that you don’t get what you don’t fight for, and she gives me hope for the future.”
MPLS MAYOR: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's leading election opponents have ramped up their criticism of Police Chief Brian O'Hara, faulting Frey's oversight and the chief himself for a string of policing controversies. Why it matters: November's election could again become a referendum on the management of a long-troubled department still under court orders to rein in misconduct and racially biased enforcement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J39VUM
STORM DAMAGE: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Beltrami County Emergency Management Director Chris Muller announced Wednesday night that the county has come up short to be eligible to request federal assistance for the severe storm that rolled through the area on June 21. He says they fell $800,000 short of the indicator to be able to request federal aid.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fqt6nv
MORE: From Beltrami County Emergency Management via Facebook, QUOTE: “In my experience, disasters always get more expensive as you go. Due to the short timeframe to be able to request federal assistance and the monumental clean up efforts, that window has closed even if we close that gap. The good news is Minnesota’s state program will be able to assist us in the financial recovery. It will be 75% reimbursement versus 100%. Unfortunately, the lack of a federal declaration means some entities that could’ve been eligible for assistance aren’t under the state program.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4mwOo5a
VACCINES: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted.” KENNEDY: "To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we're prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don't collapse when viruses mutate." READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lhhwfE
MORE: University of Minnesota epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm had this response on NPR, OSTERHOLM: “The only trouble that those programs ran into was the fact that ideologically, this administration wants to reject the mRNA technology because it just reminds them of what happened with the pandemic. It's notable that this discovery of the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccine for COVID actually came out of the Trump 1 administration and was heralded as a major advance for which the president and the administration took a great deal of credit. So it's somewhat ironic, if not painful, to hear four or five years later that now they're totally rejecting it. So that's the only problem we have right now with the vaccine.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4m2VX3H
TOMORROW: The 18th annual Minnesota Garlic Festival takes place in Hutchinson. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3J73no7
TOMORROW: Competitive eater Joey Chestnut will take on something called the “Land of 10,000 Calories” at the Saints game. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3J71dor
NEXT WEEK: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Briefly setting aside weighty issues such as cyberattacks and special elections, city officials and business leaders will gather next week to help unveil ‘Monopoly: St. Paul Edition.’ This invite-only reveal will happen at Can Can Wonderland in St. Paul on Thursday, Aug. 14, with dignitaries including St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Mr. Monopoly in attendance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Uf4SD4
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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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