Timberwolves open training camp today. Lynx have their end of season media availability.
The Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli after seven seasons. WCCO: http://fluence-media.co/3KoIV2N
The “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” contest is down to four finalists, with a winner being announced next week. SEE: http://fluence-media.co/4gKSeGa
A New York Times poll finds that a plurality of voters think Israel is intentionally killing civilians in Gaza, increasing from 22% in 2023 to 40% now. Among ages 18-29, it’s 66%. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/46DCvFL
Today is Love People Day – celebrate.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured an extensive recap of the latest Minneapolis mayoral debate and what it could mean for the city’s future. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4q4IZ8j
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SHUTDOWN: Via AP News, federal leaders did not reach a budget deal to avert a government shutdown yesterday due to an impasse on extending health care benefits. Unless a deal is passed and signed by Pres. Donald Trump before 11:59 p.m. tonight, the federal government will shut down. The most recent shutdown occurred during Trump’s first term and lasted for 35 days, the longest on record. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n0vXG9
MORE: GOP Rep. Tom Emmer and DFL Sen. Tina Smith exchanged thoughts on social media regarding the impending government shutdown, demonstrating how each party plans to message on the issue.
● EMMER: “Democrats are planning to shut the government down tomorrow unless illegal aliens get taxpayer-funded healthcare. Their political games will have dangerous impacts.” TWEET: http://fluence-media.co/488f4p1
● SMITH: “Not true, Tom. In fact, this is about the 11,000 Minnesotans in your district and over 89k across the state looking at huge health insurance premium increases. Doesn’t that concern you?” TWEET: http://fluence-media.co/46FYlHe
TODAY: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith will join him for a livestream to “discuss a government shutdown” at 3:00 p.m. Central time. DETAILS: http://fluence-media.co/3Ks33B5
IMPACT: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “With a federal government shutdown possible, most of the 27,000 [federal] workers in Minnesota will be furloughed and won’t get paychecks. Those deemed essential will continue working, but also won’t get paid until after the shutdown. That includes air traffic controllers and TSA agents. In the [previous] government shutdown in 2018 and 2019…there were very long lines at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, when the TSA agents stopped showing up for work. … President Donald Trump is [also] threatening to fire thousands of furloughed workers during a shutdown.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4q4SIeP
IMMIGRATION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Minnesota and the Twin Cities over their respective immigration enforcement policies. The lawsuit, filed in federal court Monday, argues Minnesota’s ‘sanctuary’ policies that limit police cooperation in federal immigration enforcement violate U.S. law. … The suit, which names Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hennepin County and top state officials, targets a number of city, state and county ordinances, including policies that limit what data can be shared with federal immigration agents and when police can ask about a person’s immigration status. … Attorney General Keith Ellison denied that Minnesota’s laws inhibit the federal government from prosecuting people, [saying] ‘This baseless lawsuit is just more political retaliation against Minnesota and we will respond in court.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4pNL8os
MORE: via Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, FREY: “Minneapolis will not back down. We will fight with all our strength for our immigrant neighbors — and we will win. Donald Trump has built his career on attacking immigrants and dividing Americans, and now he’s dragging our city into court. … We won’t be bullied. We won’t cave. Minneapolis will always stand with our neighbors over Trump’s politics of fear.”
MORE: via St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, CARTER: ““City employees don’t work for the president, we work for the people who live here. We will stand with our immigrant and refugee neighbors no matter how many unconstitutional claims the White House makes. We’ve proven our resolve in two successful court actions already this year, and we look forward to winning our third legal victory in a row against this embarrassing federal regime.”
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AMENDMENT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz has suggested a voter-approved constitutional amendment could break the legislative gridlock that has stymied his plans for bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But there’s a problem: Such an amendment would still need approval from a closely split Legislature that has so far seemed unwilling to take action on guns. … The support of a majority of legislators is needed to send a constitutional amendment to voters. … A spokesperson for Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth said Monday that Walz has not mentioned a possible constitutional amendment to her in any official capacity yet.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4gJZcLC
SPECIAL SESSION: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The majority of Minnesotans in recent polling want lawmakers to reconvene for a special session on gun control and pass a ban on so-called assault weapons. … Results from a recent Everytown for Gun Safety poll were especially stark in the suburbs: 62% of suburban Minnesotans said they support the Legislature taking action to ban assault weapons. … On the assault weapons ban, 93% of Democrats said they support it, while 68% of Republicans said they oppose it. In other words, Republican lawmakers face the prospect of angering their own base. … While [Tim] Walz is blaming Republicans for the special session stalemate, it’s unclear whether Senate Democrats have the votes in their own party to pass an assault weapons ban.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mJYsY9
RED FLAG: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota [is] the 21st state to allow authorities to take firearms from people who pose a threat to themselves or others. Since the [red flag] law took effect in January 2024, judges have used it to bar 281 people from legally owning guns for at least two weeks. That includes 10 people who had threatened violence at schools or day care facilities and 40 who openly discussed targeting a workplace or engaging in a gunfight with police officers. … But a Minnesota Star Tribune review of 301 cases filed in the past two years also reveals alarming gaps in the way the law is being implemented. Law enforcement sometimes dropped cases or failed to appear in court, allowing firearms to fall back into the hands of several people who later committed violent crimes.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3IpOWM1
PUBLIC SAFETY: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “A deadly attack at a [Michigan] church…hits close to home for many faith leaders in the Twin Cities who are still reeling after the deadly attack at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. Ethan Roberts, the deputy executive director at the Jewish Community Relations Council for Minnesota and the Dakotas, says security has become a daily topic of conversation for faith leaders. … Roberts says the JCRC often shares tips, information and security strategies with other faith leaders, including Christians, Muslims and Hindus. … A spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis agrees that faith leaders from several faiths are now having active discussions about security following the attack at Annunciation Church.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4pMQVdT
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
WALZ: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz is firmly committing to serve the entire term if he wins reelection next year. Walz conveyed the pledge during an interview [last week] in which he also talked about his run for vice president, his thoughts on a possible special session and his hopes for another term. Walz said he ‘100 percent’ would serve out a full, four-year term if elected and said has no aspirations for seeking another office in 2028. … When pressed whether it means a 2028 national bid is off the table, he said ‘yes, yes.’ Walz is hoping to become the first with three consecutive [four-year] terms as governor.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4pDNkii
STEPHENSON: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota lawmaker chosen by his colleagues to replace Melissa Hortman as leader of House Democrats must now use the skills he learned as her protege to forge a path forward in a Legislature left reeling by her assassination. DFL Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, knew Hortman his whole life and was schooled in her heads-down, straightforward style of politicking. … He’ll attempt to strike deals on new gun restrictions and a host of other issues with Republicans in a tied Minnesota House while charting a path back to the majority for Democrats.” QUOTE: “It’s worth remembering that the reason why you…are talking to me right now and not someone else is because Melissa Hortman was killed in an act of gun violence.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4pDO07k
THOMPSON: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Over the last two weeks, federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged nine people with defrauding two different Medicaid programs, and they say this is just the beginning. … This is all on top of more than six dozen people charged so far in the Feeding Our Future child nutrition scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson is the prosecutor in charge of all these cases. He sat down with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini for a wide-ranging conversation about fraud in Minnesota.” QUOTE: “These are traditional health care fraud schemes or government benefit fraud schemes that have nothing to do with COVID and have everything to do with problems in the way our programs are run here in the state of Minnesota.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3Kz4Iol
ABORTION: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a coalition of attorneys general in issuing a joint statement addressing concerns over a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of mifepristone. This review was referenced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Makary in response to a letter from Republican state attorneys general to the FDA calling for restrictions on or withdrawal of mifepristone from the market.” STATEMENT: “For more than 25 years, mifepristone has been used safely and effectively…[as] the most common method for early-term abortion care in the United States. … If access to mifepristone is challenged, we will take action to protect it.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mEcASQ
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
TRIBES: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Indigenous communities across Minnesota and Wisconsin are mourning the loss of Ernest L. ‘Ernie’ Stevens Jr., longtime chair of the Indian Gaming Association, who also was a staunch advocate of tribal sovereignty. Stevens died suddenly on Friday at the age of 66. He was a citizen and former councilman of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. … Grand Casino Minnesota shared a tribute to Stevens on its Facebook page. ‘Chairman Stevens dedicated decades of service to protecting and advancing Tribal self-determination,’ the casino operator wrote.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46wLrwA
SUMMER SAVINGS: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “Home cooling can account for about half of your summertime electric bill. Here are five simple, effective ways to boost energy efficiency in your home and save money.
1. Ceiling fans cool you, not the room.
2. When away, adjust your thermostat.
3. Hot air belongs outside.
4. Cook smarter to stay cooler.
5. Let nature dry your clothes — plus, your chores can wait until evening.”
(SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “More speed enforcement is coming to Minneapolis streets this week, and it won’t require any additional police officers. The first traffic safety cameras to enforce speed limits in Minneapolis will officially activate on Wednesday. … Cameras will flag drivers who go at least 10 mph over the speed limit or run a red light and snap a picture of the vehicle’s license plate. At the start of this pilot program, the cameras will only be in five locations. … If all goes well, more cameras could be added, up to a total of 42.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/46G0BOI
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The CVS Pharmacy building anchoring the corner of University and Snelling avenues opened as new construction in 2007, only to [close] in April 2022. Fast forward three years, and rather than draw energy and investment to a major business intersection, the sizable building remains a shuttered emblem of the challenges facing urban American retail, the Midway and growing corners of St. Paul. … A growing drumbeat of residents, elected officials and even business advocates are calling for 499 Snelling Ave. N. to be torn down — the first step, they hope, toward removing blight and drawing the interest of private developers.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46AImtS
BLOOMINGTON: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “The Bloomington City Council is expected to pass a financing plan on Tuesday that will help fund a massive, new waterpark at the Mall of America. … Construction could begin next spring with the project expected to be completed in 2029. As for the funding, the City Council in Bloomington would use Tax Increment Financing, along with private investment for the project.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3Wg17y2
BROOKLYN PARK: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Nilfisk, a Denmark-based manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment, will permanently close its Brooklyn Park facility and lay off approximately 105 employees, the company said. … The company will end its U.S. manufacturing operations, according to a Monday news release, but plans to maintain a presence in the Twin Cities by relocating its U.S. commercial office to another Twin Cities site in the first half of next year. Ashley Riley, Nilfisk’s Americas vice president of marketing, said the remaining 75 to 100 commercial employees who worked in Brooklyn Park will move to the new location.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mGSKq7
EDEN PRAIRIE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Eden Prairie has the fourth-lowest tax rate in Hennepin County, but it is still one of many cities proposing a possible city tax hike this year. The city is proposing a tax levy increase of 5.6%, which would result in an additional $142.00 in annual city taxes for a median-value home. According to a report from the city, residential property values continue to rise, while commercial property values decline — shifting the tax burden toward residential property owners. … The proposed tax hikes will be voted on by the Eden Prairie City Council on Dec. 2.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/46J7ezF
40 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are celebrating 40 years of partnership, a longevity landmark that makes Flint Hills one of DU’s longest-standing corporate partners. Working together over the past four decades, Flint Hills and DU have contributed to conserving more than 250,000 acres of wildlife habitat and natural areas in Minnesota and over 900,000 acres across North America. LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ALBERT LEA: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The city of Albert Lea broke its own rules when it denied a business license to the first [cannabis] retailer licensed in Minnesota, according to a recent court ruling. A judge ordered the city to issue a license to Jacob Schlichter or explain why it is violating its own ordinance at an Oct. 13 hearing. City manager Ian Rigg tells FOX9 they’re not issuing a license. The judge indicated Schlichter had suffered financial injury, and he’ll ask for damages. Outside lawyers were hired by the city’s liability insurance company and Rigg says the city hasn’t received any bills yet, so the cost to taxpayers is unknown.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/42NDv7E
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Rochester is collecting roughly $15 million in local sales tax revenue annually on its way toward $205 million from an extension approved by voters in 2023. While the $65 million being used to create a new Regional Sports and Recreation Complex has been the subject of recent Rochester City Council discussions, city staff took time Monday to provide updates on the three other projects approved with the tax extension. The added approvals are $50 million for an economic vitality fund, $50 million for street reconstruction and $40 million for flood control and water quality efforts.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/42NZ08k
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
FED FUNDS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota legislators and others debate policies in response to the mass shooting last month at Annunciation Church and School…an approach to try to prevent violent shootings is under threat from Trump Administration funding cuts. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension program is called the Behavioral Threat Assessment Management team (BTAM). Its job is to set up systems to investigate threats that could lead to violence. … [But] the program was at least partially defunded after the federal government in July retroactively canceled $18.5 million in violence prevention grants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WdUoEN
FARM BIZ: via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “The past few years have been challenging for farmers in the Ninth District. Growing pressure is borne out in the Minneapolis Fed’s Ag Credit surveys, which show slumping incomes and worsening financial conditions over the last two years. … The number of farm operations filing for bankruptcy [has] increased in the first two quarters of this year. … However, this increase comes off of a very low floor, and the overall level is still very low. Only nine farms in the Ninth District filed for bankruptcy in the second quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nZ4nKc
THIS WEEK: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today declared September 29 – October 5, 2025, as Soybean Week in Minnesota, highlighting the critical role soybean farmers play in Minnesota’s economy and the growing challenges they face from federal trade policy.” WALZ: “Soybeans are Minnesota’s largest agricultural export and the heart of our agricultural economy – but our soybean farmers are confronting a crisis they haven’t seen since the 1980s. They’ve produced a bumper crop this year, just to find out they have nowhere to sell their harvest thanks to [Donald] Trump’s trade policies.” PROCLAMATION: https://fluence-media.co/4nsVF7b
TODAY: In Ireland, Gov. Tim Walz will attend an event with Medtronic and the University of Galway in the morning, participate in a foreign direct investment event and panel at noon, and tour the Kerry Global Innovation Centre in the afternoon. Later, Walz will meet virtually with legislative leaders at 5:30 p.m. Irish time (11:30 a.m. Central time).
TODAY: via a PRG advisory, VERBATIM: “PRG Inc. will host an Interactive Rehab Home Tour [today] from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The event highlights the next phase of the Brick By Brick (B3) initiative. … This event showcases one of the first vacant properties to be fully rehabbed by a nonprofit development partner and offered for sale.” Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will attend.
TODAY: via an SEIU advisory, VERBATIM: “At 1:30 p.m., workers and union members with SEIU Local 26 who are sub-contracted to provide janitorial and security services in Hennepin County will speak out in support of the resolution being introduced by the county to create a ‘Responsible Contractor’ ordinance that would set standards for future companies wanting contracts with the country.”
TMRW: via Dept. of Commerce, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Commerce releases finalized rates for individual and small group [health insurance] plans October 1. … As Minnesotans prepare for the fall open enrollment season and get ready to make decisions for 2026, lack of federal action has made it more costly for Minnesotans.” Commissioner Grace Arnold, MNsure CEO Libby Caulum and Farmers Union Pres. Gary Wertish will attend. The event is at 11:00 a.m.
TMRW: The Minnesota Senate’s subcommittee on federal impacts will hold a hearing at 12:00 noon to discuss “changes to eligibility and funding cuts to SNAP by federal action,” among other hunger-related topics. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3VFpUve
THURSDAY: via a Senate DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) and Reps. Esther Agbaje (59B) and Fue Lee (59A) will host a Town Hall Meeting for constituents on Thursday, October 2 at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center [in] Minneapolis. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by discussion of current issues from 6:15 to 8 p.m.”
BDAYS: photographer Glen Stubbe, Judge John Tunheim, business guy Paul Jaeb, MDA Leadership’s Scott Nelson, entrepreneur Morgan Molitor
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take from now to the future is in memory of Melissa Hortman her accessibility, leadership and commitment to public service.
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