Wolves lose in Cleveland.
Arbitrators ruled for Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in the Timberwolves/Lynx ownership dispute. ESPN: https://fluence-media.co/4aXjDlC
Minnesota Aurora’s owners say they will try to join a professional soccer league again. MINNPOST: https://fluence-media.co/3WRdzoP
A dog from Minnesota was named “Most Valuable Puppy” during Animal Planet’s annual “Puppy Bowl” on Sunday. FOX: https://fluence-media.co/4aXoWS4
The Institute for Responsive Government gave Minnesota an A+ on its 2024 “Election Policy Progress Report.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4aUecUe
Blois
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Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40Sbava
A conversation with Minneapolis candidate for Mayor DeWayne Davis on Sunday Take. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4179dfz
Sponsorships available – to reach over 25,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
EMMER: Minnesota Congressman and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer was interviewed on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and CNBC yesterday. Emmer discussed attending the Super Bowl with Pres. Donald Trump, new tariffs, Elon Musk’s DOGE team, passing a federal budget through Congress, and more.
On tariffs, EMMER: “President Trump is the master negotiator, and everybody understands that these tariffs are simply a tool that he uses to make sure that America gets treated fairly [following] years of abuse by other countries.”
On grocery prices, EMMER: “The key is going to be to get America’s economy moving again, and it starts with affordable, efficient and abundant energy from all sources. … Trump has made it very clear he’s going to make sure that [the U.S.] goes back to being a leader in energy, and when we do that, we’ll not only help our allies around the world…but we will start to see the impacts right here at home when it comes to inflation and, hopefully, the prices that were jacked up under the Biden Administration.”
On DOGE’s data access, EMMER: “Elon Musk is a special federal employee. He has every bit as much a right to that information as the Secretary of the Treasury. … The president, he’s going to keep calling this stuff out. Donald Trump ran on shaking up the status quo.”
On DOGE’s spending cuts, EMMER: “I’m an Article I guy — Congress will determine that [budget] stuff. … [But] the stuff that is being exposed by DOGE and Elon Musk, it’s exactly what Americans wanted. … I think they’re doing a great job. … There are some [good] programs within USAID — and frankly, all of these different departments that DOGE [is] looking into. The problem is, we should be disgusted and upset that the good things that were intended have been literally undermined by people who want to spend U.S. taxpayer dollars on fairy dust.”
On passing a budget, EMMER: “This week, the goal in the House was to mark up a budget resolution. … It’s been a point of contention in the House — where is the floor on savings and cuts. … [But] we made some progress last week in the White House with President Trump, and I think you’ll see more this week. … Republicans are going to get this done. I still believe the House will lead.”
See the full interviews for more details. GMA: https://fluence-media.co/4hPo83K CNBC: https://fluence-media.co/4aXneQE
JUDGES: via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Legal and constitutional experts warned Sunday that the United States could be headed toward a ‘constitutional crisis’ or a ‘breakdown of the system’ after Vice President JD Vance suggested judges don't have jurisdiction over President Donald Trump's ‘legitimate power.’ … It wasn't clear what judge or court order Vance was referring to or whether he was making a broad statement. Several of Trump's sweeping agenda items have met legal roadblocks since he took office. … Others in Trump's orbit, including [Elon] Musk, have floated ignoring court orders. On Saturday, Musk reposted a post on X from a user who wrote, ‘I don’t like the precedent it sets when you defy a judicial ruling, but I’m just wondering what other options are these judges leaving us.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QaLRj0
RESPONSE: Sen. Amy Klobuchar was interviewed on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to discuss Vice Pres. JD Vance’s comments on the powers of the executive and judiciary branches. KLOBUCHAR: “There are three equal branches of government in this country, and it is clear that the judges have started stepping in. … As we lead this fight, we lead it through the courts, we lead it with the Congress, and we lead it with our constituents by our side. And yes, some of these completely unconstitutional things that they have attempted have been stopped, including by a Trump-appointed judge.” CLIP: https://fluence-media.co/4aWe6vn
DOGE: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Tina Smith, alongside 15 of her colleagues, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Education Denise Carter, seeking answers after reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has infiltrated the Department of Education (ED) and students’ personal, private data. There are over 40 million federal student loan borrowers in the United States, and the student loan database infiltrated by Musk contains millions of borrowers’ highly sensitive information, including Social Security numbers.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4hT8IeG
OVERSIGHT: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “On the day testimony began at the trial of the alleged ringleader in the Feeding Our Future scandal, a new House committee began working toward better preventing state grant dollars from being inappropriately spent. Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) chairs the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee. … In the office’s presentation, Deputy Legislative Auditor Jodi Munson Rodriguez [said] a lack of training for grant management staff and the lack of a standard statewide grant registry system are among problems encountered. … Officials from the Office of Grants Management [are] expected before the committee at some point.” ROBBINS: “We are currently sitting at about $610 million in fraud over the last six years in the state of Minnesota. … The mission of this committee is to ensure taxpayer money is not going to the greedy but is going to serve the needy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jUe0IF
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The newly formed House Fraud Prevention and State Oversight Policy Committee was a GOP requirement in the deal that brought Democrats back to the Capitol. … The committee is made up of five Republicans and three Democrats. Republicans will have control of it for the next two years regardless of who wins a special election next month that could make the chamber evenly divided again between the two major parties. … More House Republican bills aimed at combating lapses in spending or outright fraud are sprinkled across committee agendas all week. … Senate Democrats are also reviewing bills in the area, [and] Senate Republicans plan to discuss their own slate of anti-fraud bills on Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EvLsFk
MITCHELL: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Prosecutors charged Sen. Nicole Mitchell with a second felony count on Monday. … Mitchell, a Democrat from Woodbury, was charged with felony burglary in April 2024. … [Now], prosecutors added a second felony charge for possession of burglary or theft tools. In the criminal complaint, prosecutors said that Mitchell was carrying a flashlight with a black sock over the light to limit the brightness. She was wearing black clothing and a black hat…[and] the victim called police later that morning to point out a blue crowbar she didn’t recognize. … Mitchell will go before a jury sometime after May.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hSD9lq
RESPONSE: via a Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson statement, JOHNSON: “The circus surrounding the Senate needs to stop. We have real business to attend to: balancing a budget, addressing fraud, and putting Minnesotans First. Senate Democrats need to demonstrate that they are serious about solving problems in a bipartisan manner and do the right thing: end the sideshow and let the voters pick a new senator.”
DFL AGENDA: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Senate Democrats outlined their priorities for the legislative session, now in its second month, and DFL Senate Leader Erin Murphy (St. Paul) says they want to balance the budget and protect the state from what she calls Washington's ‘chaos agenda.’ … Murphy says their top priority is to come up with a balanced budget, which must be completed when the session ends in May.” MURPHY: “We intend to continue the work that we started two years ago to make Minnesota the best place to live, work, and raise a family. … [But] the chaos agenda that is coming from D.C. could serve as a wrecking ball to the stability of our state's budget and to family budgets across the state.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gzHed9
WALZ: Gov. Tim Walz finally brought his “bipartisan lemon bars” to the Capitol yesterday. Walz traditionally serves them on the first day of a legislative session, but DFL lawmakers were not in the building on Jan. 14 this year, so Walz and his desserts were absent that day. PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4gIMyuY
NOTE: Traditionally, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan had accompanied Walz when delivering bars, but she appeared absent this year.
MPLS: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “Several members, including Council President Elliott Payne, say they have lost confidence in management of the city’s violence prevention efforts that go beyond traditional policing. And they want the county to step into administering those ongoing efforts for the rest of the year… Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette has previously called the city council’s proposal "ludicrous", while city council members argue the community is not getting adequate violence prevention outreach because of the department’s mismanagement. BARNETTE: "I don't think it's a wise decision to move funds. In fact, I think it will interrupt the services that are there. But I don't know, because I don't know what the plan is. I haven't been engaged to say, hey, this is what we're thinking. What's your thought? How is this going to work?" Barnette said. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40UTRJN
MORE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “The decision comes with more controversy for the Minneapolis City Council as well…/Reverend Jerry McAfee of New Salem Baptist in North Minneapolis took over a podium and interrupted the council committee meeting, expressing his outrage over the move. MCAFEE: "I called you Friday and I sent you another message today because you all got everything y'all need but y'all keep playing games with my people," McAfee told the council. "And I'm not gonna allow you to do it anymore."..McAfee continued…"What's wrong with you all? Or maybe you all have not tasted or smelt the blood. Maybe you all are in these offices so much that the personal touch, the thing that moved you all to go into these offices, maybe you all have lost that. I need you to get your fire back 'bout why you ran in the first place." READ: https://fluence-media.co/40UQVwN
MORE: Watch the compelling and emotional raw video of Jerry McAfee addressing and interrupting the council. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/439JHIn
FEED FRAUD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Jurors heard opening statements Monday in the trial of Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and Salim Said, one of her co-defendants. Federal prosecutors allege that Bock was the ringleader of a $250 million scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs during the pandemic and that Said’s restaurant siphoned $16 million of that. … Bock, 44, is among 70 people charged in the case since 2022. Said, 36, is a former co-owner of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis. … Defense Attorney Ken Udoibok said that Bock should not be held responsible for the crimes of others.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aSw5mi
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Attorneys presented their opening statements Monday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. … Bock and Said maintain their innocence and have pleaded not guilty to 22 charges. Seventy people have been indicted in connection to alleged fraud tied to Feeding Our Future, 30 of whom have already pleaded guilty. Five defendants were convicted at trial last year. … Some who have pleaded guilty have agreed to testify against Bock and Said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jWSGm7
TARIFFS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Costs for many Minnesota factories just jumped as [Pres. Donald] Trump placed new [25%] tariffs on steel and aluminum. … While U.S. steel and iron companies will likely benefit, the manufacturers did not plan for the costs, so many will take a financial hit. … U.S. companies import about 80% of aluminum used, [and] Canada sourced about 56% of it in 2023. … Less steel is imported, but of that, most also comes from Canada, leaving Minnesota’s factory heads scratching their heads. … In many cases, they [use] steel or aluminum supplies that are simply not manufactured in the United States.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WTjQjC
NIH: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today co-led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general [in] suing the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. … The coalition argues that this action violates the Administrative Procedure Act, including a directive Congress passed during President [Donald] Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to indirect cost reimbursements. The coalition is seeking a court order barring the Trump Administration and NIH from implementing the action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QbxaME LAWSUIT: https://fluence-media.co/3QcjiBL
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham on Monday accused the federal government of launching a ‘direct attack’ on her institution’s public service mission by cutting funding to equip and maintain its research facilities. … Minnesota stands to lose more than $117 million [in] NIH funding. … More than $60 million in funding is at risk for the U and more than $50 million for Mayo Clinic in Rochester.” CUNNINGHAM: “This decision would cut reimbursements for research facilities and administrative costs, which cover critical, lifesaving research activities ranging from patient safety to research security.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WXkpJn
RESPONSE: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar statement, KLOBUCHAR: “This illegal move endangers critical clinical studies and research, and extinguishes hope for so many Americans looking for cures. At the University of Minnesota alone, it could derail life-saving medical research on cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. NIH research also supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and spurs economic growth, including nearly 8,000 jobs and $1.7 billion of economic activity in Minnesota. This lawsuit is a crucial step to reversing this.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qaqvm3
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)
30KNET: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Roughly 130,000 new residents arrived in Minnesota last year. … While the COVID pandemic put a damper on Minnesota’s population growth, new estimates for the fiscal year 2024 show it has returned to a 0.7% annual increase, on par with the state’s average growth rate for the first two decades of the century. … As birth rates have declined, migration is having greater influence [on growth]. During the most recent fiscal year, of the 40,000 net residents Minnesota added, about a quarter were babies and the rest were migrants. … Last year, [Minnesota] saw an estimated net increase of about 30,000 international migrants, [and] more than 100,000 people moved to Minnesota from other states.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40RuloP
RELIGION: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The Public Religions Research Institute’s second annual Christian nationalism survey finds that 24% of Minnesotans adhere to or support those beliefs, down slightly from 28% the prior year. Christian nationalism, in brief, is a belief in the [necessity] of Christianity in law and politics. Adherents support statements like ‘the U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation’ [and] ‘God has called on Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of society.’ … Minnesotans are somewhat less likely to hold these beliefs than Americans as a whole.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CztS2L
TAXES: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Starting its legislative journey in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Monday was the almost-annual effort to create an individual income tax subtraction for all Social Security benefits. … It’s all part of HF5, sponsored by Rep. Jim Joy (R-Hawley). … In addition to exempting all Social Security benefits from the state’s individual income tax, the bill would: repeal the retail delivery fee, currently 50 cents on deliveries of $100 or more; halt indexing on the motor fuels tax, leaving the per gallon gasoline excise tax rate at 31.8 cents; re-allocate some transportation-related state and regional sales taxes; and direct the Department of Public Safety to perform an analysis of the motor vehicle registration tax.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EKmsKo
CELLPHONES: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A new state law takes effect next month requiring all Minnesota school districts to have a [cell phone] policy. … [But] some Minnesota lawmakers are already proposing changes that would ban cellphones in all classrooms, and most schools entirely, beginning next year. Senators Alice Mann (DFL-Edina), Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) and John Marty (DFL-Roseville) have authored the latest proposal, S.F. 508, which would amend Minnesota's law to add [statewide restrictions]. … Current state law requires districts to adopt a cell phone policy, but it allows for local school boards to decide what the policy directs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QxUaG1
HHS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The Departments of Health and Human Services are facing structural deficits and some uncertainty around federal funding heading into their next biennium budgets. Leaders from the two departments walked the House Health Finance and Policy Committee through their proposed budgets Monday. Though much of the funding for health care programs comes from the federal government, health care costs account for an increasing amount of the state budget. Among the proposals to curb that growth are an increase to the HMO surcharge and higher inspection fees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jV48yk
MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “After a long and sometimes heated discussion Monday afternoon, the Minneapolis City Council agreed to move forward with a controversial proposal to shift around $1.2 million to Hennepin County so that [the county] may temporarily take over the management of two city violence prevention programs. … Supporters of the measure say the city’s Neighborhood Safety Department has mismanaged funding for the program, resulting in some vendors not being paid for providing services. Minneapolis Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette opposes the plan. … The council’s committee voted narrowly, 7-5 to forward the proposal to the next full council meeting scheduled for Thursday without recommendation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hygQS4
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)
REGULATIONS: via a Rep. Brad Finstad press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad [and others] reintroduced the Prove It Act, bicameral legislation that gives small businesses a voice in the regulatory process. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate. … The Prove It Act requires federal agencies to analyze the impact of their regulatory action and limit these impacts for small entities by creating a way for small businesses to raise concerns when regulators do not consider both the direct and indirect costs their regulations place on them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gxWZRL
WORKFORCE: via a Rep. Ilhan Omar press release, VERBATIM: “Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) outlined her agenda as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The Congresswoman also unveiled her fact sheet. … Omar will prioritize protecting workers’ rights from GOP attacks and holding corporations accountable for labor violations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aRfYFR
TRANSPORTATION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Duluth’s Blatnik Bridge funding would go up, and state funding for mass transit would go down. Those are two of the big-ticket items that Gov. Tim Walz’s administration is recommending in state transportation funding for the next biennium. As presented to the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Monday, the governor proposes $1.3 billion in increased spending from the Trunk Highway Fund in the next biennium, a significant portion of it intended to match federal funding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hQRnmS
ENERGY: via a joint press release, VERBATIM: “Several energy providers launched their plan to provide long-term electric reliability for customers by developing the Upper Midwest’s first 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission project, which will meet the significant growth in electricity use projected in the coming decades and improve access to new energy sources needed to serve communities throughout the region. Great River Energy, ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy have filed Notice of Intent to Construct, Own and Maintain the new 765- kV electric transmission line with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. This notice kicks off the permitting, public outreach and environmental review process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40VoleM
BIOFUELS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The potential exists to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel from residual wood products and other non-petroleum-based sources that can reduce an airplane’s carbon footprint. ‘The technology to fly airplanes with wood exists but needs to be scaled up to show the true potential,’ Rick Horton, executive vice president of Minnesota Forest Industries, told the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee at an informational hearing Monday. … Horton was one of several testifiers who said using sustainable aviation fuel to power airplanes is in its infancy and needs large-scale development — and probably government subsidies — to make it economically viable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Pg0vG
MORE: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “Senators Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown), Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead), and Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) said they are leading a Senate push to make Minnesota a leader in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). … The Senators are preparing bipartisan proposals to provide tax credits to help Minnesota blend more SAF into the aviation fuel supply, and to expedite the permitting process for SAF producers.”
(DISCLOSURE: Delta Airlines is a client of Fluence Advisory)
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)
HASTINGS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Family and friends of a Hastings School Board member are mourning after her sudden death over the weekend. According to family members, Jenny Wiederholt-Pine died Saturday at the age of 44. Wiederholt-Pine had served on the board since 2023, and her current term was scheduled to end on Jan. 1, 2029. … Wiederholt-Pine leaves behind a husband and three children. Her cause of death hasn’t been released.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40RJ9UC
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Aspirus St. Luke’s Duluth Clinic [is] expected to close in March. Some of the clinic's services include primary, diabetes and pregnancy care; lab and X-ray services; wellness visits; and clinical nutrition. Patients will be seen in other locations in Duluth and Hermantown, effective March 17. … Health care system officials decided the clinic's closure would help ‘provide a better patient experience and improve efficiency and collaboration.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CNM74v
COUNTIES: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “Hubbard County is partnering with Beltrami County on commercial organics collection. As part of a $1.5-million Organics Management Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) received last year, Hubbard County Solid Waste Administrator Josh Holte said he budgeted the purchase of a live floor trailer to haul organic material and shredded wood waste. In November 2024, the county acquired a horizontal grinder, costing $1,165,788, to manage wood waste in Hubbard County and a nine-county region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hzyXr4
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:
POT: via an OCM press release, VERBATIM: “Today, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management announced a new program to help fund projects addressing a range of community needs, including economic development, public health, violence prevention, youth development and civil legal aid. CanRenew Community Restoration Grants will be awarded to eligible organizations for investments in communities where long-term residents are eligible to be social equity applicants. These communities are recognized for facing significant challenges under previous cannabis prohibition policies, which negatively impacted their economic and social landscapes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WTnwSL
REFUGEES: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Fourteen refugees were on the verge of being resettled in southern Minnesota and being reunited with family members with the help of Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota when their trips were canceled after President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the program, a spokesman for the Catholic organization said. All 14 had purchased plane tickets and were scheduled to arrive in the region this month when Trump authorized the suspension. Two of the 14 refugees were living in Thailand but were native to Myanmar. One of the two was an elderly grandmother who was being reunited with her family in Austin.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qa00gv
SEWERS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis officials are pondering new ways to help homeowners deal with broken sewer lines. Property owners are responsible for the full length of the sewer lines that connect their house to the street. In Minneapolis, the average cost to repair a leak or break has soared over $10,000 in recent years. City Council Member Emily Koski formally asked staff to report back on new sewer line repair programs that could use city assistance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/416k4Xc
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: State Govt. hears bills to protect public employee whistleblowers, require more auditor reports to the legislature, and require state employees to report suspected fraud. Taxes will hear an expansion of sales tax exemptions on baby products and a requirement to return portions of budget surpluses to taxpayers. Higher Education hears bans on certain state services to undocumented noncitizens. SENATE: Education Finance hears updates on READ Act implementation. Finance holds a confirmation hearing for MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell. State & Local Govt. hears the creation of an Office of Inspector General and other anti-fraud bills. Elections will hear a ban on being fired for running for office and a resolution advocating for Citizens United v. FEC to be overturned. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/42L7DBx
TODAY: Indigenous advocates and allies will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Minneapolis City Council committee of the whole meeting to call for the Minneapolis City Auditor to undertake an independent after-action review of the city’s actions related to the death of Allison Lussier, an indigenous woman found dead in her apartment.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend a Quarterly Commanders Task Force Meeting and have meetings with Secretary of State Steve Simon and legislative leaders. Later, he will speak at the annual Commission on Judicial Selection Convening.
TOMORROW: The Senate GOP will host a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday showcasing “a comprehensive package of bills to hold government accountable to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse,” per a release. Sens. Mark Johnson, Julia Coleman, Michael Kreun, Jordan Rasmusson, Steve Drazkowski, Mark Koran, Andrew Mathews, and Carla Nelson will attend.
TOMORROW: via an MCUN advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Credit Union Network will be rallying at the State Capitol to celebrate 100 years of credit unions making a positive impact in Minnesota, advocating for the continued support and recognition of the credit union movement. This rally will be held at the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4hwauTc
BDAYS: creative guy Jake Nyberg, video journalist Ben Garvin, freelancer Elizabeth Millard, fmr. Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik
SHARE: Signing up for Fluence tip sheets is easy. Please share with your friends, colleagues and family. HERE: http://bit.ly/2019FluenceTipSheets
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