Yesterday was the warmest Jan. 30 in Twin Cities history with a 52-degree high. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/4gjVpTw
At least eight flights from MSP were canceled following the plane-helicopter collision in DC. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/3PZvshk
In response to the D.C. plane crash, Donald Trump signed an order rolling back aviation diversity initiatives. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4gljPMt
Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was confirmed to be Secretary of the Interior. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/42COyRQ
McLaughlin’s January poll finds that Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar both have 3% support from Democrats to be the party’s 2028 presidential nominee. In December, Walz was at 5% and Klobuchar was at 1%. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3WJEliL
Donald Trump announced plans to follow through with 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada starting tomorrow. HILL: https://fluence-media.co/4aJuPlt
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On Sunday Take House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and GOP Rep. Kristin Robbins about the current state of the chamber. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jLC4xF
LAWSUIT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota House Republicans filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court on Thursday, accusing Secretary of State Steve Simon of overstepping his authority as presiding officer of the House. … House Republican leaders Lisa Demuth and Harry Niska, the petitioners, now say in a court filing that Simon has ignored their constitutional right to ‘compel the attendance of absent members’ and has ‘unilaterally’ convened and adjourned the House without recognizing any motions. … Simon’s office [said] ‘Absent a quorum and an organized House of Representatives, the only item in order is adjournment.’ … Niska said his party is looking at actions taken up by other state legislatures when lawmakers have intentionally denied a quorum.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40Tq5q5
MORE: A House GOP press release includes copies of the petition, memorandum and declaration documents. Via House GOP leadership, STATEMENT: “Secretary [Steve] Simon is illegally obstructing our ability to compel absent members as specifically stated in the Constitution. Because he refuses to allow a motion on the House Floor to hold Democrats accountable, we are taking legal action to make sure it happens. Democrats are obstructing House business, and it needs to stop.” DOCUMENTS: https://fluence-media.co/4hCQ22J
DETAILS: via MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan, VERBATIM: “The gist of the [GOP] claim is that the state constitution provides two instances when less than quorum can make motions. ‘The Minnesota Constitution authorizes them, when meeting in a session of the House, to adjourn from day to day and to compel the attendance of absent members.’ … But the response from [Steve] Simon will likely be that even those motions first require a quorum to be present on day one to organize the House.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4jzn1GZ
NEGOTIATIONS: Via Axios’ Torey Van Oot, House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman said in a statement yesterday that House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth had “refused to meet” for negotiations in the morning, but an anonymous Republican source said Hortman never actually sent a request to meet. Demuth later told reporters that she is “open to conversations if [Hortman] actually has something to offer.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4hBaelH
GOP AGENDA: via a Senate GOP press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Senate Republicans held a press conference to introduce the Minnesotans First agenda for the 2025 session. The Minnesotans First agenda aims to help Minnesotans with inflationary costs, rein in government spending, hold government accountable to fraud, keep Minnesotans safe, strengthen families, and protect children.” Via a Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson statement, JOHNSON: “The Minnesotans First agenda puts hard-working Minnesotans at the front of the line by balancing the budget without tax increases, demanding accountability from agencies to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse, and lowering the cost of living.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PXi11l WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PYApXA
RESPONSE: via a Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy statement, MURPHY: “My Republican colleagues are clearly uncomfortable talking about the threat Donald Trump’s reckless funding freeze poses to Minnesota’s budget, as seen by numerous public statements downplaying or denying the impact. … If Republicans want to make wise decisions with our budget surplus and prevent a deficit, they can start by condemning the Trump Administration’s attempt to force Minnesota, and millions of its people, into a state of emergency.”
CCAP: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee asked Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), some tough questions about [investigations] of child day care centers in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) opened the hearing Thursday morning. … Brown said she was committed to looking into the issues raised [and] her department is putting in new measures to combat fraud, waste and abuse with things like a new electronic attendance record keeping system statewide, which includes CCAP. … Rep. Kristin Robbins is the lead Republican on the newly created Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee. Robbins told KSTP her committee, once things are sorted out at the [House], will also hold hearings about the findings.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42x0tAN https://fluence-media.co/42A7Gjy
OIG: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “Sen. Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights) is introducing legislation establishing an independent Office of the Inspector General — a first of its kind office in Minnesota that will be tasked with ensuring accountability, transparency, and integrity in the operations of state agencies and programs. The office would also be authorized to issue subpoenas; refer matters for civil, criminal, or administrative action; recommend legislative or policy changes; and issue public reports. … The legislation is a bipartisan proposal, with two Republican co-authors and 3 DFL co-authors. S.F. 856 has been referred to the State and Local Government Committee.” BILL: https://fluence-media.co/3WF4eAu
NEW BILLS: On social media, MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan highlighted two bills introduced in the Minnesota Senate that would significantly affect state lawmakers. Senate File 789 would implement 10-year term limits for both the state House and Senate, while Senate File 786 would prevent people from being placed on primary ballots unless they were certified by the respective party chair. The latter bill would also make the party’s endorsed candidate the first name printed on all primary ballots. SF789: https://fluence-media.co/42CQvOa SF786: https://fluence-media.co/40xBU3Y
PAYCHECKS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota legislators are paid $51,750 annually. … [But] while the Minnesota House isn’t functioning, taxpayers continue to be on the hook. All told, the 133 House members were collectively paid nearly $265,000 during the first two weeks of the legislative session. … House Democrats, who say they’re still meeting with constituents and working with staff on bills, have collectively been paid more than $130,000 over the past couple of weeks during their boycott that has brought the chamber to a standstill. The 67 Republicans in the House have also been paid as much.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hDn56Y
MORE: via a Rep. Brad Finstad post, FINSTAD: “It is past time for Governor [Tim] Walz to be the adult in the room and call on the Minnesota House Democrats to show up to the Capitol and get back to work. We have massive problems with fraud and corruption and need to address these issues head on.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4hEOdma
DNC: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The 448 voting members of the Democratic National Committee will decide Saturday who will lead the Democratic Party. … Eight candidates are in the running to replace [the] outgoing DNC chair. … Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin’s Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley are the three frontrunners. But party insiders say the race will likely come down to the two Midwesterners. … The three leading candidates have been locked in a fight over endorsements. Martin’s campaign says he has 200 backers. Wikler, who just won the backing of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, says he has 183 supporters, and O’Malley’s campaign says he has 137. But those numbers total more than the 448 DNC voting members, and none of the campaigns has released a full list of supporters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WGPZuP
MORE: via The Nation, VERBATIM: “[Paul] Wellstone, the progressive senator from Minnesota who died in a 2002 plane crash, [always] mounted the sort of economic populist campaigns that top Democrats now all seem to agree they need to run. … Wellstone inspired a generation of young progressives, including a teenager who volunteered for his breakthrough Senate bid in 1990. That teenager was Ken Martin. … On Saturday, Martin will find out if the lessons he learned from Wellstone, and his own track record as a winning state party chair, will be enough to win him election as chair of [the DNC].” MARTIN: “Paul understood that what connected a corn farmer in southern Minnesota, an iron miner on the Iron Range, and a new refugee in the Twin Cities was economics — kitchen-table issues.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jGe1zR
PATEL: via Forbes, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee Kash Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday for his confirmation hearing and decried accusations from Democrats that he would act with political bias if confirmed, after Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., brought up Patel’s own statements about seeking revenge against his enemies. … After Klobuchar brought up an ‘enemies list’ of anti-Trump government officials Patel included in his 2023 book and the nominee’s suggestion he wants to ‘shut down’ the FBI’s headquarters and reopen it as a ‘museum of the deep state,’ Patel called it a ‘gross mischaracterization.’ … Klobuchar responded she was ‘quoting his words directly.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42ySMd8
MORE: Via CNN, the heated exchange between Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Kash Patel during the latter’s confirmation hearing is available to watch online. KLOBUCHAR: “He is asking to be head of the FBI, and he's saying that their headquarters should be shut down. … I am quoting his own words from September of 2024. It is his own words. It is not some conspiracy, it is what Mr. Patel actually said himself.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jvy83X
CRASH: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “One of the 67 people killed in Wednesday's deadly air collision in Washington, DC is originally from Minnesota, according to online posts by family members. A verified GoFundMe page says Wendy Jo Shaffer was on board American Airlines Flight 5342 when it collided with a military Blackhawk helicopter on approach to Reagan National Airport. … Public online records show Shaffer attended Mahtomedi High School, then known by her maiden name of Wendy Wigstrom, where she played hockey and other sports. She was most recently living in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40QwjqN
RESPONSE: via a Rep. Betty McCollum statement, McCOLLUM: “As we search for answers, I offer my prayers to the 60 passengers, 4 crew, and 3 servicemembers, and I offer my sincere condolences to their families. With recovery efforts underway and continuing in the days to come, our nation’s transportation and aerospace officials must learn as much as possible from this tragedy to prevent a similar accident from occurring in the future.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gk42xp
TRAVEL BAN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “[An] executive order has roiled immigrant communities [and] refugee resettlement agencies in the state and is believed to put in peril the visas of foreign students who are attending or want to attend Minnesota colleges. [Donald] Trump has ordered the Department of Homeland Security, State Department and Director of National Intelligence to submit, in 60 days, a list of all nations that the agencies determine do not properly vet people who want to visit, live or study in the United States. The executive order…has been compared to the ‘Muslim ban’ Trump implemented in his first term in office. … [But] the new initiative is expected to go much farther, affecting at least 20 nations including Gaza, Somalia, Syria and other Muslim-majority countries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EeFetc
HOUSING: via NOTUS, VERBATIM: “Key Democrats on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee are trying to get answers from the Trump Administration on how its intended federal aid freeze could or has affected federal housing programs. In a letter obtained by NOTUS, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the ranking member of the committee, and Sen. Tina Smith, the ranking member of a subcommittee focused on housing, requested more information about which Housing and Urban Development programs were part of the freeze.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EhpFRH
CYBERSECURITY: via AP News, VERBATIM: “The nation’s cybersecurity agency has played a critical role in helping states shore up the defenses of their voting systems, but its election mission appears uncertain amid sustained criticism from Republicans and key figures in the Trump Administration. President Donald Trump has not named a new head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and for the first time since it was formed, there are no plans for anyone in its leadership to address the main annual gathering of the nation’s secretaries of state, which was being held this week. … Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon [said] it was understandable that a new administration needed time to decide what role it wanted for the cybersecurity agency. But he hoped its work with the states would continue, both in improving election security and highlighting disinformation campaigns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ElmDMo
INTERVIEWS: Sen. Tina Smith was interviewed by the I’ve Had It podcast and the Meidas Touch network to discuss how and why Senate Democrats are impeding the president’s agenda. SMITH: “We need to call it like we see it, and we need to not be shy about speaking out about this. And I honestly think one of the things that happened in this election that we have to be really aware of is that people want to see us fighting. They can see that things aren’t working well in this country…and they want to see Democrats standing up. … This is why people hate politics. [Donald Trump] is incapable of taking responsibility for anything he has ever done.” PODCAST: https://fluence-media.co/4hiKTgs MEIDAS: https://fluence-media.co/4hkbB8K
LGBTQ: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump…is rewriting regulations for transgender men and women. It's an issue he campaigned on and drew cheers for at his rallies. … Minnesota DFL state Rep. Leigh Finke has appeared on CNN, becoming one of the nation's most visible and outspoken transgender leaders.” FINKE: “Trans people knew that if Donald Trump was elected, he was going to do the things that he said he was going to do to our community — and we are seeing that attempt unfold. … There's a lot of fear. I get emails every day about it.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40TwIZB
BRINGING SAFETY TO ‘THE NEXT LEVEL’: As part of Enbridge’s work on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota, Enbridge has brought in family-owned and Indigenous-owned Northern Lights Family Outfitters to fully outfit project workers right on the job site with personal protective equipment (PPE) from its 48-foot mobile trailer. “Enbridge really brings safety to the next level,” says Patti, a project liaison for Enbridge and the Fond du Lac Band. “It’s really helpful to have a mobile unit, especially for this kind of work.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OQYmjn (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
SCHOOL RAIDS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the last week, school officials across the country have had to assess what they’d do if U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement agents show up on campus [after the] Department of Homeland Security rescinded a policy protecting people from deportation when in ‘sensitive zones,’ which include schools. … What would Minneapolis and St. Paul schools do if ICE agents come knocking? Both districts [said] they are leaning on existing policy about visitors, including law enforcement. St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is also providing training to staff, including principals and security personnel, on how to respond if ICE enters school property.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hCRVg4
POLICE: via an MPPOA press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association’s Legal Defense Fund team has filed an amended complaint in the already-pending action against the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (the POST Board). The new complaint alleges a class action against the POST Board for its serious violation of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The suit arises from the unauthorized release of personal information in August 2024, which was discovered last week, including the identities of 257 undercover law enforcement officers, putting their safety and privacy at risk. The lawsuit…alleges that the Minnesota POST Board improperly disclosed private data, which under the MGDPA is protected from public access.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aMdkkz
MORE: Via Pioneer Press, the amended MPPOA lawsuit claims that an undercover officer reported a “hit” was placed on him after his identity was disclosed. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4goftUN
MPD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis is planning to start charging fees for hiring off-duty police officers. The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to charge a fee when officers take after-hours gigs. Minneapolis police officers are able to take extra jobs working security at events, bars and businesses while they’re off the clock. They use their city uniforms, squad cars and gear. … The council has yet to determine the specifics, like the exact cost, and who will pay it; officers, their off-duty employers, or some combination.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hiOc7u
FRAUD: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today he has filed a lawsuit against David Singleton, five Minnesota nonprofits for which Singleton serves as president, and a for-profit legal consulting business owned by Singleton, seeking to end Singleton’s longstanding fraudulent and deceptive behavior. The [lawsuit] alleges Mr. Singleton has engaged in a deceptive pattern of either founding or taking over nonprofits with governmental sounding names to sow confusion for his own gain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WE4lvO
SETTLEMENT: via an MDHR press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Rights today announced a settlement agreement with Home Depot after its investigation found several employees sexually harassed another employee and Home Depot failed to stop the harassment. … The Department of Human Rights reached a settlement agreement that requires Home Depot to pay the former employee $65,000. Under the agreement, Home Depot must also work to create a workplace free from sexual harassment by enforcing anti-harassment policies, conducting training on those policies, and holding store managers accountable. The Department of Human Rights will monitor Home Depot’s compliance with this agreement for two years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aMewEz
FEED FRAUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A 40-year-old Chaska man charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Thursday. Court documents state that Mohamed Muse Noor, a.k.a. ‘Deeq Darajo,’ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Noor was previously indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42CtbQG
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
EMISSIONS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A new report shows Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions rebounded after falling sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every two years, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Department of Commerce calculate [emissions]. … The latest inventory, released Thursday, tallies greenhouse gas emissions released between 2005 and 2022. Overall, Minnesota's emissions dropped 14% during that period. But from the end of 2020 through 2022, they increased more than 6%. … Greenhouse gases from transportation, electricity generation and agriculture remain below 2019 levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hzWpE4
METRO TRANSIT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle brought a message of optimism for Metro Transit’s continued expansion to the annual State of the Region address. … This year, the Met Council will open a record number of new transit lines, all bus rapid transit. The Gold Line, which will run from downtown St. Paul’s Union Depot to Woodbury, is slated to open March 22. It will eventually be extended to Minneapolis in 2027. The B Line, from downtown St. Paul to Lake Street and France Avenue in Minneapolis, is expected to open June 14. The E Line, from the Westgate area in St. Paul to Southdale in Edina, is expected to open sometime in 2025. Metro Transit has several other projects in the works but not opening this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q3Xvfn
DOWNTOWN: via Business Journal, VERBATIM: “Onward Investors has purchased the 31-story Ameriprise Financial Center in downtown Minneapolis. The Minnetonka-based investment firm announced the acquisition Thursday afternoon. The 960,000 square foot building…went up for sale last fall as the building's namesake tenant, Minneapolis-based Ameriprise Financial Inc. plans to soon vacate the property. … Onward said it is still exploring options for the future of the property, whether to convert all or some of the building to another use other than office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jFCOnA
MORE: via Axios’ Nick Halter, VERBATIM: “The Ameriprise tower has sold for $6.25M. That’s less than 3 cents on the dollar compared to the $200M sale price in 2016. … The problem [is] that with Ameriprise leaving, you have to spend millions to convert it to a multi-tenant building. … That’s hugely expensive and this building is not historic, so no 20% tax credit. … I was told by two sources that people had pitched the idea of just tearing it down. The owners, GHR Foundation, said they were not going to do that.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4aI9Cso
MOVE: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Audrey Partridge to serve as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission. … Audrey is the director of policy for the Center for Energy and Environment [and previously] held the roles of senior regulatory analyst and local energy policy manager with CenterPoint Energy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hxNEdA
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
CANADA: via a Rep. Pete Stauber press release, VERBATIM: “This week, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) sent a letter to the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, David J. McGuinty, requesting that he clear up any confusion surrounding the future of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit program. … The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released inconsistent and contradictory information which has only confused the public and worsened the situation. The many people who utilize these permits have been blindsided by the CBSA’s ineptitude and are now without answers.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3PXrPs8
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “After months of deliberation, it appears a site has been selected for Rochester’s $65 million sports and recreation facility. The City Council will vote Monday on a proposed $5 million purchase of 160 acres of land in southeast Rochester. … The sports complex is being funded through sales tax revenue. … Rochester Parks and Forestry Division Head Mike Nigbur wrote in a report sent to the Rochester City Council [that] ‘This decision reflects a balanced approach that prioritizes equity, accessibility, economic impact and long-term development potential while aligning with broader citywide long-term goals.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40AA1DH
CROW WING CTY: via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “The Crow Wing County Board authorized [an] agreement for law enforcement services for the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Services will be paid at $90 per hour per deputy, not to exceed $11,500. Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said they were happy with the depth and quality of the ice and were pushing everyone east and closer to Highway 371 to avoid the ice heave that is running north and south in the usual fishing contest area. The Ice Fishing Extravaganza will take place [tomorrow].” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4go4N8L
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County Attorney Mark A. Ostrem announced Thursday, Jan. 30, that he will retire at the end of March 2025. Ostrem was first elected in 2006 and began his tenure as county attorney on Jan. 2, 2007. Ostrem was subsequently reelected for four additional terms. … Ostrem’s current term is set to expire on Jan. 4, 2027. According to state law, the Olmsted County Board will be tasked with the process of filling the position for the 21-month balance of Ostrem’s term.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hm4EUI
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
SPORTSBETS: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “Senator Matt Klein (DFL – Mendota Heights) announced the introduction of Senate File 757, a bill to legalize and regulate sports wagering in Minnesota. After reaching an unprecedented all-party agreement at the close of the 2024 legislative session, Senator Klein is ready [to] bring this bill across the finish line in 2025.” KLEIN: “My bipartisan bill unites key stakeholders, including all eleven tribal nations, two commercial horse racing tracks, professional sports teams, bipartisan legislators, and most important public support. We are ready to legalize and regulate sports wagering in a responsible manner in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PUmySn
(DISCLOSURE: Sports Betting Alliance is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
IMMIGRATION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hospitals in Minnesota are advising their employees on what to do if immigration agents show up — a possibility that had been remote until last week, when the federal government lifted its own restriction on enforcement actions around health care facilities. Hospital workers at Children’s Minnesota and Hennepin Healthcare received written guidance over the past week reminding them to preserve patients’ federal privacy rights by not sharing information if government agents show up and to call security for help.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WBmv1y
DEI: via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “In the wake of President Donald Trump’s assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives…one Minneapolis-based DEI consultant is imploring her clients to stay the course. … Management consultancy McKinsey has been tracking business performance in relation to workforce diversity since 2015 and reports a steady upward trend in financial performance among companies with diverse executive teams. McKinsey’s latest report, from 2023, finds companies with representation of women exceeding 30% are ‘significantly more likely to financially outperform those with 30% or fewer.’ The results were similarly positive for companies with ethnic diversity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CGCVyF
ALL THE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in your inbox and on our new website, The Daily Agenda. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets and share our web content with your friends. SIGNUP: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: No committee meetings today. SENATE: No committee meetings today. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/40Gu2wW
TOMORROW: via a Senate DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “Senator Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead) will be hosting an in-district listening session on Saturday, February 1 at Moorhead Public Library. The listening session is an opportunity for constituents to ask questions and provide comments about the current legislative session.” The event is at 11:00 a.m.
WEDNESDAY: via a POCI Caucus advisory, VERBATIM: “From 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., members of the Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus will hold a community town hall. The event will focus on the unprecedented start of the 2025 legislative session and how the actions of the House GOP will [affect] historically underserved communities.”
FEB 7: The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is hosting a free webinar to discuss the latest results from its annual survey of manufacturers, which is conducted in partnership with MN DEED. The virtual event is at 9:00 a.m.
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