REGROUP THURSDAY
The Timberwolves were the horse, and San Antonio engaged the spurs last night. Ouch. Wild play Saturday. Twins also took one on the chin.
Frost play tonight against Montreal, series is tied 1-1.
Regroup, we’re Minnesota fans.
Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to re-nominate Chief Brian O’Hara this morning.
The fishing opener is this weekend, which should be decent whether.
A program that lets hunters donate venison to food banks is rapidly growing. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/48HPDtZ
The average U.S. price of a domestic flight is over $360 — a $70 increase from January. WSJ: https://fluence-media.co/4duSA3G
Marist finds that 63% of Americans say the economy isn’t “working well” for them, and 79% think A.I. will erase more jobs than it creates. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4nhjiQK
Happy National Tourism Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take was all about the playoffs as sports historian Dan Whenesota and sports take’s Howard Sinker discussed why things feel different in Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w6ZraL
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Next Monday, there will be an event at the Capitol to demonstrate “mobile voting” technology, it has bipartisan support and sparks a good discussion. Probably worth checking out if only for the “how would this work?” debate that I’m sure would be rational. Not sure it will make the finish line, but it’s a glimpse forward which is something we need more of in 2026.
Don’t forget the DNR was supposed to have mobile fishing licenses by now, and a couple years ago in Massachusetts the rental car counter suggested I renew my license on my phone. I explained I was from Minnesota.
The simple stuff should be easier, and hopefully we’re still ready to invest in modern technology for state government this session. It’s something fmr. Sen. Paul Gazelka told me post-MNLARS, that he would be supportive of spending on in the first term of Gov. Tim Walz. That was January 2019.
Last year at the North Star Summit, Mayo’s CEO said that government can’t keep up with technology via regulation, in fact its slowing innovation and efficiencies especially in health care. It’s a consideration for the state’s future economy when workforce shortages will remain.
This is all a set up for us to acknowledge that when the Minnesota Family Council is sending out anti-tech emails, and DFLers are screaming about tech billionaires. Progress and modern efficiencies are challenging.
If only the coders, and tech visionaries would yell loudly that they see the future, and it has a chance to “Make Minnesota” like supercomputers, med tech, bioscience and ag science – which drove the quality of life we’re hanging on.
TURNOVER: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The woman overseeing Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office said she was fired Wednesday, May 6, a day after she led a statewide ceremony. … Guadalupe Lopez, an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, was appointed director of the office in July 2025. … Kim Babine, the executive director for DPS’ Office of Justice Programs, will lead the MMIR office in the interim. … [Lopez] said the reason given for the firing was ‘insufficient progress in demonstrating leadership.’” LOPEZ: “When I was let go, I said to the [DPS] commissioner that it is hard to be a Native American in the state system already, but this position was never set up for success, and neither is this office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cRWuDC
NEGOTIATIONS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “It wasn’t a conference committee, but it looked a lot like one. … Members of the House and Senate Taxes committees [sat with] Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart, who is customarily at the table when the two groups hash out differences between their omnibus tax bills. But the House has yet to present such a bill, while the Senate’s passed out of its taxes committee and awaits floor action. … When the next meeting of the discussion group will occur was left unresolved.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PdJA9M
FRAUD CMTE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee held its first meeting in early 2025, [and] the Republican chair of the committee, [Rep. Kristin Robbins], says the mission has been accomplished. … The DFL lead on the committee, Rep. Dave Pinto, disagrees with the assessment. … The committee did hear testimony from whistleblowers, the legislative auditor, and state agency leaders, but mostly about fraud cases that were already known about. The committee also passed just one minor bill. … Robbins [said] although no major legislation originated in the committee, its members authored legislation heard in other committees. … It’s unclear whether the committee will continue to function at all next year. That all depends on which party wins control of the House.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4f6NU5k
ROBBINS: “The goals of the committee were to expose fraud, to pass legislation that strengthened internal controls, and to provide a portal for whistleblowers. … All three of those we have met in spades.”
PINTO: “The [fraud] topic is really important. Unfortunately, the fraud prevention committee, no, had very little impact on preventing fraud this session.”
OIG: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A reworked bill to create an Office of Inspector General is headed to a floor vote [today]. … If it passes the House, the Senate can either adopt the changes made or the two bodies will hold conference committees to get fuller agreement on it between the two bodies. The office would operate outside of the executive branch decision tree for the most part.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P1kJpR
TAKE: Yesterday’s MN Chamber poll confirms, even if it is off by a few points, that Minnesotans top issue not being health care or education should be a strong signal for DFLers. Rather than listen to the noise of the loudest class, understand the signals that the state’s residents have been sending. It aligns with internal Fluence research for clients.
DHS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Senate approved a provision Wednesday strengthening requirements for ‘continuity of care’ to ensure that people with disabilities don’t lose services when their providers are accused of fraud. The Senate passed the measure as part of a broader supplemental Human Services spending package. … As the bill moves forward, DHS has expressed support for the increased requirements.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dc6M0i
BONDING: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) is a ‘Nervous Nelly’ about the state of the bonding bill. At a press conference on lead line replacement Wednesday, Pappas, alongside the House Capital Investment Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Mpls), highlighted the importance of bonding — especially for drinking water projects — but said that negotiations for the size and scope of the bonding bill were still ongoing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P1m93F
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
MOVEMENT
HOA: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A bill to curb the power of homeowners associations gained final passage in the Minnesota Legislature. … Among the reforms [are] caps on fines HOAs can charge to homeowners and a requirement for board members and property managers to recuse themselves from decisions in which there may be a financial conflict of interest. … Additional provisions strengthen transparency requirements [and] prevent local governments from mandating HOAs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wgtyNe
NOTE: Some of the best doom scrolling can be found on HOA focused accounts.
SECURITY: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) sponsors a public safety funding and policy package that would spend $24.17 million in the 2026-27 biennium to fund legislative, judicial, and State Capitol security programs. … The House passed HF3230/SF3432*, as amended to include the House language, 92-42 Wednesday. It now returns to the Senate for concurrence.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cTDqVA
SAFETY: via Office of the Sec. of State, VERBATIM: “The Safe at Home Program helps people who fear for their safety keep their home address confidential by providing a P.O. Box for participants to use as their legal address. … Passed with unanimous support in the Minnesota House and Senate, HF 3676 updates existing law to strengthen protections for minors and further prevent the disclosure of a participant’s address.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48NVIoN
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES CONTINUE TO SOAR: While Minnesota’s safety net hospitals navigate bleak financial outlooks, drug manufacturers continue to raise drug prices at rates that far outpace inflation, rising 23% in the last year alone. By strengthening the 340B drug pricing program, local hospitals can weather these soaring prices and continue to deliver the care and treatments that Minnesotans need. MNLEG REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/48xEXhB (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
TERM LIMITS: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Minnesota legislators are considering a bill that would limit candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to two terms. … If the measure were to pass through the Legislature, it would end up on Minnesotans’ ballots in November as a constitutional amendment. The bill has received generally bipartisan support in the House. … [But] a companion bill, authored by Sen. Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, in the Senate hasn’t been heard yet. Asked about its chances in that chamber, Rarick said [that] ‘I believe it would pass pretty overwhelmingly if it goes as a measure on the ballot.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42ECeQ5
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)
FEDS
EVIDENCE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The federal government has turned over evidence from the shooting death of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross to a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court for Minnesota, according to an attorney. … The federal government [has] turned over a digital drive with the evidence to comply with an order issued by Judge Jeffrey Bryan. The deadline to turn over the evidence was May 1. … This is the first known instance of the federal government supplying its own investigative evidence to the courts from any of the three shootings that took place in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42TizvC
ICE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have immediately stopped [ICE] agents from operating near or on school grounds. Two Minnesota school districts along with the state teachers union had filed a lawsuit asking courts to require the Department of Homeland Security to treat schools as protected areas. … While the request for an immediate end was denied, the case continues.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4du7KGs
RECORDS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Children’s Minnesota is fighting a demand by the Trump Administration to obtain confidential patient records, calling it an ‘invasive fishing expedition’ intended to intimidate providers and recipients. … The Children’s subpoena raises broader issues beyond gender-affirming care. The privacy of patient records is a bedrock of U.S. health care, [and] federal law sets a high bar for the government to override privacy protections and obtain personal medical records.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QUd5Oy
REJECT 340B EXPANSION: A new Minnesota Department of Health report shows hospitals made at least $1 billion dollars from a federal drug discount program known as 340B. The program should help patients, but experts say there is little accountability for where the money goes. The report was delayed and only recently released, showing the program isn’t working as intended. But Minnesota politicians are fast tracking a bill to expand the 340B program anyway. Lawmakers: reject House File 3609 / Senate File 3769. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4uUobCQ (SPONSORED: Community Action for Responsible Hospitals)
ISSUES
MEDICAID: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “As the Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session nears the finish line, Medicaid access advocates spoke at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 6, about what state lawmakers can do to mitigate upcoming changes to Medicaid. … The press conference for the This Is Medicaid coalition focused on some aspects of H.R. 1 that take effect in 2027 that coalition members anticipate will lead to people losing Medicaid coverage: work reporting requirements, more frequent eligibility checks and a shorter retroactive coverage period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nciIng
HUNGER: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “At the State Capitol on Wednesday, volunteers packed hundreds of pounds of food for families who cannot afford their next meal. According to Second Harvest Heartland, one in five Minnesota households struggles to afford food. … Channel One and Second Harvest Heartland food banks are asking lawmakers for $20 million in permanent state funding to keep up with rising demand.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uwUTcf
FISHING: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Anglers are just days away from the 2026 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener, and you can bet lakes and rivers are going to be busy. … Brian Nerbonne, regional fisheries manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, [said] ‘We estimate there’s about half a million people that will be out fishing, if you can believe that, on opening day.’ … Stillwater is hosting this year’s opener for the first time, with a celebration Friday night and the fishing on Saturday.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dt3YwW
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival on May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dhpdBM (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
COUNCIL: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “11 out of the 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council sent a letter to the Charter Commission ahead of their meeting on May 6th asking the Charter Commission not to move forward a ballot question that would change, and ultimately strip away, some of the City Council’s power in the appointment process for charter department heads.” Elizabeth Shaffer (Ward 7) and Linea Palmisano (Ward 13) were the only members who did not sign on. LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4dtUr8V
GRANDMAS RIDE ATVs TOO: Check out Donna’s story — a powerful reminder that ATV riding is about more than trails; it’s about people, community, and connection. Donna’s message reflects what so many riders across Minnesota believe: responsible riding, strong local economies, and protecting access for future generations all go hand in hand. Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story and helping put a face to what “I Ride” truly means. Check out Donna’s story HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4tDeK9r (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
MPS: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Amid an ongoing financial crisis, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) has addressed an expense coding issue, which will add almost $21 million to its budget over the next two years. … MPS has worked with an outside firm to conduct a financial analysis [which] resulted in MPS determining that it’s in line to receive an additional $10.7 million in special education funding from the state of Minnesota this school year and $10.8 million next school year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49AWzcD
MORE: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday morning in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging the contract between the teachers union and the [Minneapolis] school district discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex and national origin. … Patrick Schiltz, the chief judge for the U.S. District of Minnesota, [said] he would take his time to decide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Kp6My
340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Washington should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://phrma.org/340B (SPONSORED: PhRMA)
WYOMING: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “While cities in Minnesota debate whether to fly the old or new state flag, a city in Chisago County has chosen a third option: neither. … The city council of Wyoming voted 5-0 to stop flying any Minnesota flag, regardless of [its] design. Instead, city property flagpoles and other displays will only contain the United States flag, the city of Wyoming flag, and, when deemed appropriate, the POW/MIA flag.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4utoSlm
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “After revisions, the Stillwater City Council [has] approved a site plan for a townhome development at the southeast corner of Manning Avenue and 80th Street North. The council voted 4-1 to approve a planned unit development and preliminary plat for a 106-unit townhome.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uyTFNN
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “District officials, current and former school board members and community leaders gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the APEX Athletic Center. … The St. Cloud Area School District officially launched the $15 million multipurpose facility, funded through the voter-approved ‘Building Brighter Futures’ referendum passed in April 2025. District leaders say the project will expand opportunities for student athletics, activities and community use.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4urGXQK
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives — in the U.S. and abroad.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
AHEAD…
SESSION: No House floor session. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. FLOOR: The Senate will hear bills on the Permanent School Fund, veterans homes, hospital construction and the housing omnibus. HOUSE: Ways & Means will hear a deadline waiver for workers’ compensation recommendations. SENATE: Rules & Admin. hears bills on technical corrections, requiring helmets for minors on electric bikes and more. Finance hears the agriculture, broadband & rural development omnibus. State & Local Govt. hears bills on thermal energy, cybersecurity and more. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4es8qx3
TODAY: U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer will host two roundtable discussions today. The first is covering agriculture in Chanhassen at 10:30 a.m. The second is covering public safety in Blaine with U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen at 4:00 p.m.
TOMORROW: The St. Paul Area Chamber is hosting its 2026 Small Business Summit and Expo from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TOMORROW: U.S. Rep. Angie Craig will hold a rally in Minneapolis commemorating the one-year mark since she launched her U.S. Senate campaign. The event is at 4:00 p.m.
MAY 11: Advocates will host a demonstration of “vote from your phone” technology at the Capitol from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The Minnesota Legislature is considering bills to legalize mobile voting, and lawmakers are invited to attend this event.
MAY 13: The Minneapolis Fed will host a virtual event at 12:00 noon discussing results from their latest regional survey of Minnesota’s child care businesses.
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BDAYS: Eagan City Councilor Cyndee Fields, attorney Roy Ginsberg
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.