GIVE TO THE MAX
It’s the 17th annual Give to the Max Day — we support Sanneh Foundation and Tubman.
Vikings Omni Lakes has the full push for holiday lights show going up.
Wolves and Wild win. Jessie Diggins announced her retirement from nordic racing after this season.
Nearly 75% of Minneapolis residents say they’re satisfied with living there — the 4th highest rating in the U.S. SURVEY: https://fluence-media.co/43DF7kV
Municipal liquor stores are losing revenue to less drinking – now add a THC ban and add it to the list of industry’s in disruption. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/3JZ7684
Minnesota has one of the nation’s lowest measles vaccination rates for kindergarteners. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/43DQF7K
The president signed the bill to release the Epstein files despite fighting it for months. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4raJhuI
Indeed Brewing workers to hold a strike authorization vote today – illustrating the tension when business is tough and workers want more.
It’s National Absurdity Day – seems like they happen more frequently these days.
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
2026
USSEN: via news relase from the Flanagan for Senate race, VERBATIM: “t. Governor Peggy Flanagan earned the endorsement of U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Peggy has now been endorsed by seven U.S. Senators. These senators join Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Senator Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.) and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in endorsing Peggy for Senate”
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker has informed key supporters that she has set her sights on another elected office — a seat on the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. The District 5 board seat…is currently held by County Board Chair Rafael Ortega, who was first elected in 1994. Ortega has not publicly announced whether he will seek another four-year term next November. … [Noecker] said she would make her decision to seek the County Board seat public in December.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oOVKCz
30A: Rep. Walter Hudson (R-30A) will seek reelection in 2026. Sources say he had been considering a run for Secretary of State.
22A: Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-22A) plans to announce he’s running for reelection, sources say, but he is currently serving in the National Guard and is restricted from making political statements.
GUN CTRL: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Senate Majority Leader expects the chamber will vote on new firearm restrictions next year. Erin Murphy told reporters yesterday that the issue has been top-of-mind for Minnesotans. While it’s not clear the measure can pass, she thinks it’s worth bringing an assault-style weapons ban to the floor.” … MURPHY: “I don’t think we get through the session without taking a vote on this issue. It’s not that I’m committing to it…[but] when I think about Sen. [Zaynab] Mohamed and Rep. [Emma] Greenman and the Annunciation community, I don’t imagine that we leave the session without taking a vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o7hoRx
ELLISON: via DAGA press release, VERBATIM: “The Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) announced today new leadership of the organization’s Executive Committee. … Minnesota AG Keith Ellison will join Illinois AG Kwame Raoul as Co-Chair of DAGA, leading the committee and uplifting the work of Democratic attorneys general across the country.” QUOTE: “After an exciting year where DAGA was able to help flip Virginia from red to blue, electing Democratic AG-elect Jay Jones, we look forward to the year ahead where DAGA will continue to play a vital role in supporting and electing Democratic AGs across the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r9UHyP
NOTE: The DFL has had a stream of leaders in roles with national Democratic organizations. Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have been chairs of the Democratic Governors Association and Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, respectively, and Sec. Steve Simon was vice chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State.
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PAID LEAVE PREP
PAID LEAVE: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee received an overview Wednesday of anti-fraud controls [for] Minnesota Paid Leave. … Strengthened security measures within the program include multi-factor authentication, three levels of identity proofing to protect a user’s private information, and dynamic security that adapts to users’ behaviors and risk factors. … Checks will include photo matching. In addition, continual software testing is performed by personnel with Minnesota IT Services. … Based on what she has seen so far, Legislative Auditor Judy Randall expressed optimism.” RANDALL: “There’s a lot of good things here, [but] the proof is in the pudding. … I’m encouraged, I’m hopeful — but we’ll be auditing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49MiZc7
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “DEED will use existing data from Minnesota’s unemployment insurance program [to] identify and lock accounts suspected of being compromised by hackers or impostors. … To access benefits, applicants must submit identification and take a photo of themselves to sign up through an online platform called LoginMN, a centralized sign-in site for state services. All claims must be certified by a health care provider or other appropriate professional.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KctYAY
CLAIMS: Via Axios’ Torey Van Oot, the state announced that parental bonding leave claim submissions are already open at “two of the state’s largest employers,” and they aim to open submissions to all Minnesotans “in the next few weeks.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4raQuLf
RESPONSE: via GOP Rep. Kristin Robbins, fraud committee chair, ROBBINS: “This is the first time we have ever held a hearing to evaluate a program for potential fraud before it becomes law. I hope this becomes a normal practice in the legislature. … Republicans pointed out numerous flaws with the law that remain unaddressed, including how eligibility of providers will be verified, how intermittent leave will be monitored, and how many caregivers can provide care for the same person for the same medical situation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48bdHo5
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)
MN in DC
HEMP/THC: via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “There’s an effort underway to rally federal lawmakers representing Minnesota to push the Trump Administration to scale back a recently enacted ban on hemp-derived THC by providing a carve-out for states that want to regulate cannabinoid products, a Democratic congresswoman tells Marijuana Moment. … Rep. Ilhan Omar [said] she and other legislators are working to see if they can secure ‘exemptions’ from the ban ‘for states that have already rolled out their hemp policies.’ … The congresswoman said that her office has been working to ‘gauge interest’ among colleagues from Minnesota about the possibility of signing a letter to the Trump Administration laying out their concerns. … Omar said she’s primarily speaking with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, ‘because if we can move them, we can try to build a broader coalition.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49tY7pO
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Democrats on the Minnesota Senate Commerce Committee [have] called for the state’s congressional delegation to work toward a fix that would allow Minnesota’s hemp-derived THC industry to survive. Their request comes after Congress approved a bill last week effectively banning hemp-derived THC products. … QUOTE: ‘Minnesota is home to more than 10% of all hemp-beverage companies in the country, and these products have provided a needed boost for small businesses navigating a changing alcohol market.’ … The state Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing early next year to understand the impact of the ban, the senators said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oQJfqo
AI: via Axios, VERBATIM: “The White House is floating an executive order to override state AI laws [including Minnesota’s] by launching legal challenges and conditioning federal grants after President Donald Trump publicly backed a federal regulation standard, per a copy of the draft. … This approach would have far less teeth than legislation, and could face legal scrutiny. … [But] states that aren’t in line with the executive order would have grants funds at risk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ia501L
SPORTS: via Rep. Tom Emmer release, VERBATIM: “Congressman Tom Emmer led the Minnesota Republican congressional delegation in a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz requesting that the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) adhere to Title IX and reverse their policies that allow students to compete in athletics based on their ‘gender identity or expressions.’ … The Walz Administration would not offer a ‘substantive response’ to the Trump Administration due to the federal government shutdown. Now that the government has reopened, the Minnesota Republican delegation is calling for a response.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3McnZg0
PERMITTING: via Progressive Caucus advisory, VERBATIM: “Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition [and] the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition [responded] to the current status of permitting reform negotiations in Congress.” STATEMENT: “Any serious permitting reform package must address — as a threshold matter — the Trump Administration’s active undermining of America’s clean energy industry. … Ensuring that clean energy projects are treated fairly and can move forward where appropriate is the prerequisite for serious, practical negotiations on a reform package capable of meeting the nation’s energy needs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xq9jN3
JUSTICE
SETTLEMENT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison and a bipartisan coalition of nine states announced the filing [of] a proposed $7 million settlement to resolve claims against Greystar Management Services LLC as part of the coalition’s ongoing litigation against property management software company RealPage. … Minnesota’s share of the settlement is roughly $483,000. … The proposed consent decree, if approved by the court, would require Greystar to refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X2Od79
ICE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Families and advocates say they’re trying to reach their loved ones who were detained at a St. Paul manufacturer during a federal law enforcement operation. … At a press conference and vigil outside Bro-Tex on Wednesday morning, immigrant rights advocates said the operation is sparking fear in the city, [and] COPAL is helping family members of two workers who were detained at the site get legal assistance. … St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her criticized the operation. She and other elected officials said federal agencies didn’t give them any information ahead of time.” HER: “Flooding our neighborhoods with ICE and other federal agents only heightens tensions on the ground, rather than calming it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48680Ya
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)
MSP
MPLS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The end of November [is] when ‘truth in taxation’ notices arrive in mailboxes detailing estimated 2026 property taxes. Precisely how much money depends on the city’s final budget, set to be voted on by the [Minneapolis] City Council on Dec. 9. Leading up to the vote, the council is hearing public comment on Mayor Jacob Frey’s proposed budget, which increases property tax rates by 7.8% — the maximum limit set by the city’s Board of Estimates and Taxation. … Due in part to steep declines in downtown real estate values and the resulting loss in commercial property taxes, Minneapolis homeowners will cover about 54% of property tax collections this year, up more than 4% since 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oTecu3
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council voted 6-1 on Wednesday to ban cryptocurrency kiosks citywide, setting up a possible legal confrontation with machine operators who recently sued the city of Stillwater over a similar ban. At least 32 of the ATM-like machines have proliferated in convenience stores and small shops across St. Paul, drawing scrutiny from police and others. The [machines] have been linked to 51 scam reports statewide, amounting to $700,000 in losses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a0ygFZ
EDINA: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Edina City Council is proposing a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and other gun control measures. … It’s similar to one in Saint Paul that passed last week. Both city councils say they know it’s largely symbolic since Minnesota state law doesn’t [currently] allow cities to enforce their own gun bans. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus says it’s preparing to sue Edina if the ordinance is approved, calling it unconstitutional.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3LXLglT
LAKEVILLE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Lakeville City Council unanimously approved the establishment of the city’s first mosque. … This will save worshipers about 45 minutes of driving, with the closest alternative mosques located in Rosemount or Burnsville. … Some residents [shared] concerns over traffic and noise.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3X2qcgu
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46lTpIs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
GREATER MN
ST CLOUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The St. Cloud City Council is considering a plan that would make nearly 3,000 parking spots free in city-owned lots and ramps during evenings and weekends. To offset lost revenue with the free parking, the plan calls for higher hourly rates for on-street parking, increased parking violations, and parking permit fees. ‘It would actually be a slight increase in revenue is what we are projecting,’ St. Cloud Mayor Jake Anderson said. … Free parking on evenings and weekends could be a boon for shops and restaurants. … But for folks who come downtown during the day, the price to park on the street could go up from $1 to $1.50 per hour, according to the proposal.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rf2Ylg
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “After reporting that the district would need to make more than $10 million in cuts for the 2026-27 school year, Rochester Public Schools has since reduced that estimate to roughly $8.4 million. Superintendent Kent Pekel made the announcement. … The reason for [reducing] the estimate to $8.4 million, Pekel said, is that the district reported more revenue last year than expenses due to unfulfilled staff positions. That surplus can be applied to next year’s budget to reduce the amount of cuts that will have to be made.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JYwLOc
BRAINERD: via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “A few items have been crossed off the list of budget reductions for Brainerd Public Schools, while several others are still in the running, including a change in the temperature of buildings. … Ideas still on the table to balance a projected deficit of about $3 million include selling the school farm, selling the red house near Riverside Elementary and reducing the high school day from seven periods to six. A change in structure for middle school activities is still being looked at. … Business Services Director Marci Lord and Executive Director of Schools Kari Ross gave more information on the items during a School Board work session.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LOo49S
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Dozens of Duluth homes have been turned into short-term vacation rentals in recent years, producing handsome financial returns for property owners but sometimes igniting heartburn for neighbors. City officials have struggled to strike a balance, recently calling for a one-year timeout to re-examine current policies and consider possible changes. … Four councilors [have] successfully brought forward an ordinance to place a moratorium on new short-term vacation dwelling unit licenses for up to a year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oJsq0k
NEXT
TODAY: In Germany, Gov. Tim Walz will participate in the 19th Transatlantic Business Conference, meet with His Excellency Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and take part in an energy transition roundtable at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Later in the day, he will meet with His Excellency Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr, State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, participate in a Transatlantic Business Initiative roundtable, and attend a reception with the Minnesota trade delegation.
TODAY: via MN House, VERBATIM: “From 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Representative Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) and DFL members of the House Health Committee will host a listening session focused on rural healthcare affordability in Saint Peter. … Health committee members will hold a series of listening sessions in rural Minnesota through the end of the year.”
SATURDAY: The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers will hold its annual gala in Minneapolis on Nov. 22. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will be the keynote speaker.
NOV 30: via MNLEG advisory, VERBATIM: “On Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (Parks’ Birthday), Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-Saint Paul), DFL Vice Chair of the House Legacy Committee, and Minnesota Senate Legacy Committee Chair Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-Saint Paul), will be joined by Dr. Robin Hickman -Winfield, executive producer and CEO of SoulTouch Productions, Amy Mino, executive director of the Landmark Center, community members and legislative leaders at the Landmark Center to honor the legacy of Gordon Parks.”
DEC 2: via MDH advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, covering several changes in services provided at Allina Health Faribault Medical Center. … Allina Health Faribault’s birth center will close on Dec. 1 with all labor and delivery services consolidated to Owatonna Hospital.”
BDAYS: Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL comms guy Donald McFarland, United Health’s Peter Glessing, Ron Paul insider Marianne Stebbins
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