Wild win. Wolves lose.
Did you read Sports Take yesterday? READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OjgnXd
Minnesotans donated over $23 million to over 5,700 nonprofits on Give to the Max Day. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/3Z400T0
Minnesota on track to be top voting state. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/3AKvQMO
Two turkeys raised in Northfield, MN will be pardoned by the president next week. CNN: https://fluence-media.co/4fYrNev
Expect Gov. Tim Walz to host a pardon turkey event next week.
Sen. Scott Dibble tells Chad Hartman the Met Council should release their report on fmr. Police Chief Ernest Morales. WCCORADIO: https://fluence-media.co/3ZiHMi3
A city council race in Crystal, MN was decided by just one vote after a recount. KARE: https://fluence-media.co/3ZiIwUs
Donald Trump nominated former Florida AG Pam Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General just hours after former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz suddenly withdrew from consideration. AP: https://fluence-media.co/3Zh6dMN
Rep. Tom Emmer will be my guest on WCCO Radio’s Sunday Take at 9AM. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/WCCOLive
Blo
Tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
If you’re looking for a speaker to synthesize the election results and the upcoming legislative session email bloisolson@gmail.com
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MNLEG: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Republican and DFL legislative leaders convened with Gov. Tim Walz Thursday morning to set the table for power-sharing negotiations that will shape the course of the 2025-26 legislative session. The meeting was ‘cordial’ and ‘professional,’ though little progress was made on the specifics of how the parties will work together next year, said House GOP Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring. … House DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park referenced the acrimonious partisanship of the past few years: ‘I think everybody deserves a chance to have a fresh start.’ … Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said Thursday [that] ‘There was a lot of discussion of how we can work more bipartisanly.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YZXAoD
TODAY: Senate President Bobby Jo Champion will convene a meeting with Senate leaders Erin Murphy and Mark Johnson to clear the air from the end of last session.
RECOUNT: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, [defeated] Republican challenger Aaron Paul by 15 votes after election officials recounted thousands of votes by hand on Thursday. The results are unofficial because 4 ballots are still in dispute. Tabke’s margin of victory widened by one vote from an earlier count. A lawyer representing Paul suggested that he may challenge the results in court. … As election judges sorted and reviewed ballots at eight different tables, partisan representatives disagreed four times with the election judges’ assessment. Those so-called challenged ballots will be reviewed on Monday when the Scott County Canvassing Board meets to certify the election. … Reid LeBeau, an attorney representing the Minnesota House Republican Campaign Committee, said he had concerns about the 21 absentee ballots missing in the contest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3COFb6B
MORE: With the District 54A recount in Scott County completed, the next and final recount in the Minnesota House races will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday to decide the winner of District 14B in Sherburne County. If DFL Rep. Dan Wolgamott’s victory holds, the House will be tied 67-67.
CERTIFIED: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The State Canvassing Board certified the results of the 2024 General Election Thursday with the exception of two House races where recounts will be used to confirm the totals. … The five-member canvassing board met for just under 40 minutes Thursday to handle a slew of post-election tasks. … Instead of adjourning Thursday’s meeting, the board recessed as it awaits reports from the two recounts and plans to resume its work once those are completed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eCIn2J
VOTER FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “An election judge charged with two felonies after allegedly allowing 11 unregistered voters to cast ballots on Nov. 5 will be prohibited from serving in that role again, [says] Kay Rave, the Hubbard County auditor and treasurer. … Timothy Scouton, 64, of Nevis, Minn., stands accused in Hubbard County District Court of neglect of duty and voting by unregistered voter. … The county is now in the process of reaching out to the 11 voters to get them registered so their voter history is applied, Rave said. She believes all the voters are Hubbard County residents. Despite Scouton’s tenure as an election judge in Hubbard County [since 2016], Rave said she doesn’t have concerns that he allowed unregistered people to vote before this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OmYGG6
SPECIAL SESSION: With the state House expected to be tied in the 2025 session, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU-MN) issued a statement yesterday that calls for the DFL to hold a special session before the year is over and pass several progressive bills, including deportation protections and the Equal Rights Amendment. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i1RfBS
RESPONSE: Twin Cities government relations consultant Dan Pollock said on social media that the ACLU-MN’s request for a special session is unlikely to be fulfilled. POLLOCK: “Special sessions require support and consent to suspend rules from minority caucuses. Otherwise, all bills need a 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading plus review by all relevant committee hearings, debate, amendments. This list would take weeks. Probably months. … [However], committee chairs could have [December] informational hearings on these ideas to assess their legal strength.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3V2aXDw
TAKE: No chance.
STUDENT AID: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The [Minnesota State Grant] financial aid program — Minnesota’s largest — awarded $214 million to 68,000 undergraduate students in fiscal year 2023. But state officials now project a $211 million deficit in the program for the 2026-27 biennium. The shortfall, which was recently disclosed in a report, is raising alarm among higher education leaders. … Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said the good news is that a projected state budget surplus could be put toward the deficit. But as the outgoing chair of the Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee, he said it might be ‘a little bit difficult’ to get done with the House split equally between Republicans and Democrats.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z2121T
HEGSETH: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around [Minnesota native] Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration. … As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans appear to be betting that they won’t face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially since Trump won reelection after being found liable for sexual abuse. … Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hTgM05
LABOR: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed a city council plan for a controversial ‘labor standards board,’ though the council may have the votes to overrule him. … The board was designed as a venue to propose new workplace protections for low-wage workers, though it would not have lawmaking powers. Frey initially supported the idea, even appearing publicly this year with the labor unions and worker rights groups that champion it. … [But] the mayor broke with the council authors over concerns that the board's makeup and voting rules would leave its pro-business representatives overmatched by pro-labor voices. … It passed the council last week with a veto-proof majority. The council must hold an override vote at its next full meeting on Dec. 5.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hXOXDH
MORE: Mayor Jacob Frey sent a letter to the Minneapolis City Council following his veto, asking them not to override it and to create a new Labor Standards Board proposal that includes his top three recommendations: a 50/50 split between employees and employers on the board, an equal number of appointments made by the council and the mayor, and requiring a supermajority vote from the board to pass along recommendations to the council. LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3OiibzF
RESPONSE: via Minneapolis Regional Chamber, STATEMENT: “We thank Mayor Frey for his decision to veto the Minneapolis Labor Standards Board resolution and for standing with the business community during this critical time for our city. … The stakes are simply too high for the future of our city. We urge the City Council to sustain the Mayor’s veto and make the right decision for Minneapolis businesses and the communities they serve.”
ST PAUL: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “There’s been plenty of heated debate over the creation of a Labor Standards Board in Minneapolis. But labor standards work is already being done in many cities. … For example, a week before the Minneapolis City Council approved a labor board, the St Paul City Council passed a wage theft ordinance that was recommended and brought forward by the city’s Labor Standards Advisory Committee. … The St. Paul Labor Standards Advisory Committee and the to-be created Minneapolis Labor Standards Board [have key] differences. … Both groups, however, are tasked with engaging employers, employees and community members and advising on labor standards issues in their respective cities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AIrYfh
FLOYD SQR: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council's Climate & Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously Thursday to advance the conversation about plans for George Floyd Square. … Redesign plans were in the works before 2020, but they were stalled after George Floyd’s murder. Plans include creating areas for the community to meet, places for memorial, art and more green space. They also highlight the need to rebuild aging infrastructure and bring public transportation back. … All committee members voted to bring this to the city council. The full council meets next on Dec. 5.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48YukTP
MORE: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Mayor Jacob Frey is calling on the City Council’s Climate and Infrastructure Committee to take action [and] approve the proposed street concept plans for George Floyd Square. … Pending Council approval, the City could begin construction in 2025, just after the five-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. However, if approval is delayed, it could extend completion to 2028 or later.” FREY: “We’ve listened to the voices of thousands of community members who have been clear: it’s time to move forward. Letting the intersection stay the same would be a disservice to those who live, work, and visit the area.”
TEACHERS: Minnesota Reformer’s Max Nesterak provided an update on plans for the Minneapolis teachers union to host an event with controversial pro-Palestine speaker Taher Herzallah, who was publicly denounced by Mayor Jacob Frey and several Jewish organizations this week. VERBATIM: “MFT Educators for Palestine announced they are moving an event planned for Friday at the union hall that concerned some members. They blame the location change on Mayor Frey causing safety concerns with an ‘inaccurate description.’ … [But] Minneapolis teachers union president Marcia Howard told me: ‘MN Educators 4 Palestine’s online statement seems to cite safety concerns brought on by Frey’s statement without acknowledging the member meeting where the venue change was made. That characterization is…a choice.’ … Howard said the meeting with concerned union members over Taher Herzallah’s invitation to the union hall was planned before Frey issued his statement.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3V55Zpw
HOMELESS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis city council members have introduced ordinances to try and combat homeless encampments across the city. They’re looking at cities like Denver, Colo., and Duluth, Minn., to get ideas on how to effectively combat homelessness in the city. … Council members Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury and Aisha Chughtai are introducing Safe Outdoor Spaces and Safe Parking Spaces to provide a consistent [living space] for those living in homelessness. … The next step is to officially draft ordinances related to these efforts.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fChm0l
LISTENING, LEARNING AND REDEFINING INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS: “We want to build partnerships with Indigenous Nations. We continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, and that’s informing how we engage communities in B.C. and across North America,” said CEO Greg Ebel of Enbridge’s approach to be the “first-choice partner” for Indigenous Nations interested in pursuing energy infrastructure opportunities. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Yht20R (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
PUBLIC SAFETY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Experts from the NYU School of Law Policing Project were back in Minneapolis on Wednesday, a year after presenting the city-commissioned Safe and Thriving Communities report, which laid out goals for improving crime response, prevention and restoration in the city. The presentation before a Minneapolis City Council Committee on Wednesday was a data analysis of the work the city is doing that meets the goals of the report and also listed gaps to be filled. ‘The thing that actually surprised me was that we actually have some things we’re doing right,’ said Officer of Community Safety Director of Design and Implementation Amanda Harrington during exclusive interviews ahead of the City Council meeting.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Z3zycx
SPPD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “There's no doubt the St. Paul City Council will budget more for public safety in 2025, but just how much remains a matter of negotiations with Mayor Melvin Carter. The mayor's budget blueprint for next year calls for a $9.5 million increase for police, which would be a 9% year-to-year boost compared to what was budgeted for 2024. Chief Axel Henry spent an hour in front of council members explaining the current staffing situation, how overtime pay works, and why even maintaining the status quo will cost more.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fCi7GJ
RED FLAG: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Nearly a year after Minnesota’s red flag law took effect, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says it’s looking to expand information and training on how it works. The law enacted in January allows a judge to temporarily confiscate a person’s firearms and stop them from purchasing more if they are at risk of harming themselves or someone else. … Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said she’s already seen the law save lives. … Hennepin County has issued 26 of these orders so far, Moriarty said. That’s about a quarter of the statewide total.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AUfAJ2
SETTLEMENT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his office has obtained a settlement with Conagra Brands, Inc. over its failure to provide seasonal workers at its Waseca fruit and vegetable processing facility with key information prior to the start of employment and their failure to retain records as required by law. Under the terms of the Assurance of Discontinuance filed in Ramsey County, Conagra Brands agrees to provide seasonal employees with employment statements that comply with Minnesota Statutes section 181.86. Conagra Brands also will pay $142,000 in restitution to workers for its past non-compliance with the law, which the Attorney General will distribute to workers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWREFB
JUDGES: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Kathryn Lorsbach and Kimberly Wimmer as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. The seats will be chambered in Park Rapids in Hubbard County and Grand Rapids in Itasca County. … Lorsbach will replace the Honorable Robert D. Tiffany for a seat chambered in Hubbard County. … Wimmer will replace the Honorable Korey Wahwassuck for a seat chambered in Itasca County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CEYBuQ
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)
ROBBINSDALE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Administrators at Robbinsdale Area Schools said they will be making budget cuts and reducing staff after an error left the district with a $20 million shortfall. The school district held a town hall meeting Wednesday night to discuss its budget. … School officials declined to comment specifically on how the budget error occurred and who caused it. Robbinsdale needs to make up the gap in its 2025-26 fiscal year budget and the district is considering budget reductions, building modifications or closures, and a potential future funding referendum. The district has a $200 million budget.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eKqgI5
REFERENDUMS: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Residents in three [St. Cloud] area school districts will be asked to answer referendum questions in 2025. During its Wednesday, Nov. 20, meeting, the St. Cloud Area School Board unanimously approved two referendum questions asking voters to help the district make upgrades to Apollo High School and build an indoor multipurpose athletic center. … On Feb. 11, 2025, voters will decide whether Riverview Intermediate School will get a new $21.9 million HVAC system and if fields and physical education spaces at the Sartell High School will get $8.48 million in upgrades. … The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District will ask voters for money for an early childhood center and for developing an outdoor activities complex.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CQjaV1
MORE: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Just three months after a nationwide election, voters in Chatfield will return to the ballot box to determine whether to grant their school district $11.03 million for the construction of a new gymnasium. The district’s school board approved the decision to hold a special election…on Feb. 11, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OkP3ry
BOARDING: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Gabe Desrosiers describes it as ironic. The University of Minnesota Morris teacher works to preserve and pass on the very thing that the federal government once sought to eradicate. The campus sits on land that was once the Morris Industrial School for Indians, a federally run boarding school. … As the federal government takes responsibility for the policy of the time, school leaders at U of M Morris are moving ahead in their commitment to researching the school’s past.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/414cDQZ
AQUACULTURE: via an MDA press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is seeking input on a draft state aquaculture plan. Comments are being accepted now through December 18. … The state’s draft plan assesses the current state of the aquaculture industry in Minnesota and provides sector analysis. Sectors include fish for food, bait fish, stocker fish, and ornamentals. It also provides top priorities and recommendations. … Once public comments are evaluated, the finalized plan will be presented to the Minnesota Legislature in February 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fBDAQ9
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT: From Grand Rapids, a conversation about opportunities and challenges to economic growth in Greater Minnesota with Tuleah Palmer, CEO of the Blandin Foundation, Roy Smith of the IRRRB and Steve Loney from Kiesler Wellness Center. From workforce to energy costs, a thoughtful conversation on how leaders are working together to push the region’s economy forward. Mainstreet Minnesota is presented by Compeer Financial. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MainstreetMN2
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A ballot recount confirmed Kelly Miller’s victory in the District 7 Ramsey County commissioner race Thursday. Prior to the recount, Miller had won the race with a 28-vote lead over opponent Sarah K. Yang. … Following the recount, [officials] put Miller at a total of 15,435 votes to Yang’s 15,404, with 10 ballots challenged by the two candidates. The county canvassing board, which meets Dec. 4, will rule on the challenged ballots and certify the recount. … A recount also was done this week for the Arden Hills City Council race between Kurt Weber and David Radziej. That recount concluded that Weber received 2,045 votes and Radziej received 2,041, a one-vote increase for Radziej.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hTAQzn
WABASHA CTY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A simmering conflict between the top elected prosecutor in a rural county south of the Twin Cities and the board that controls his budget erupted in public this week. The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners took the highly unusual and likely illegal step of attempting to cut County Attorney Matt Stinson’s pay by more than $20,000. Board members were aware that state law bars them from cutting Stinson’s salary in the middle of his term, [but] a 3-2 majority voted for the pay reduction because they wanted to send the prosecutor a message about what they see as his poor job performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g0wbts
BELTRAMI CTY: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners had a packed agenda [this week] addressing a variety of community topics. During the meeting, there was a progress report on the county jail project, details on efforts by the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, an update from the Northern Dental Access Center, and a conservation partnership for the Upper and Lower Red Lake Watersheds, along with some other county updates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zhp3U7
EAGAN: via Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, VERBATIM: “The planned redevelopment of the former Thomson Reuters campus in Eagan includes a 3.6 million-square-foot industrial building for an as-yet unidentified tenant. However, there are signs that e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. is behind it. … While Minneapolis-based Ryan hasn't confirmed any of the project's secured tenants, building plans in city documents suggest that Amazon could be a tenant for a multistory industrial building dubbed Project Nova. A legend for that building's exterior design includes color swatches that have shown up in plans for other Amazon warehouses in the United States, including one with a color code tied to a label called Amazon Prime Blue.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZgdY5L
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: https://fluence-media.co/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
AUDIT: via Office of the Legislative Auditor, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Lottery generally did not have adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with significant legal requirements and industry standards we tested. We identified a number of internal control weaknesses. … The Lottery generally complied with the significant legal requirements we tested, but there were some specific instances of noncompliance related to background checks for retailers, retailers continuing to sell lottery tickets with expired contracts, reimbursement for lost or stolen scratch game tickets, and system access management.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/492wemq
GOOGLE: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of state attorneys general and the Justice Department in proposing a robust package of remedies to end Google’s unlawful monopoly over internet search engines and to restore competition to benefit consumers. In December 2020, Attorney General Ellison and a bipartisan coalition of 38 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit alleging that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines through anticompetitive contracts and conduct.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CPfgvB
MORE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in additional newsletters. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TODAY: via a House DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “The 2024 Winona Model Legislature will convene on Thursday, November 21st, and run through Friday, November 22nd. Members of the media are invited to attend the annual session and opening address at 9:00am, Thursday, in the Kryzsko Commons Ballroom on the Winona State University Campus.” Rep. Gene Pelowski will attend.
TODAY-SUN: via an MFU advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members from across the state will gather Nov. 22-24 for the 83rd annual Minnesota Farmers Union State Convention. … The event begins on Friday afternoon with panel discussions. The discussions focus on food regulations surrounding selling products direct from the farm, finding funding for projects on your farm and what weather trends mean for farmers. On Saturday and Sunday, members debate the organization’s policy. The policy guides the organization’s advocacy work for the coming year.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3ARx4Wk
MONDAY: The ACLU-MN and Attorney General Keith Ellison will host a town hall at 2:30 p.m. discussing plans to create a legal “Firewall for Freedom” in response to the proposed policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration.
MONDAY: Rep. Dean Phillips announced he will hold his final town hall meeting as a congressman on Monday, Nov. 25 in Minnetonka. The event is at 6:00 p.m.
BDAYS: GiveMN’s Jake Blumberg, fmr Mpls Councilor Paul Ostrow, TGT’s Beth Cieslik SAT: Blue Plate’s Stephanie Shimp, Realtor Kris Campbell, Bain’s Sherry Dopp, Bolder Options Darrell Thompson. SUN: mining advocate Ryan Sistad, attorney Matt Little
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TIPS: How do we get the best news and most buzzed about stories? Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
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