Vikings in London. Gophers at The Ohio State University. Loons play KC tomorrow.
College hockey also starts this weekend.
The PWHL 2025-26 schedule is out, with the Frost hosting the first game of the season. SCHEDULE: http://fluence-media.co/3VMKfih
Good luck to everyone running the TC Marathon this weekend. Warm but not cancelled.
If you watched A Precarious State last night, send me your thoughts. It had 28K views on YouTube as of this AM.
Swifties tell me which songs are the best on the new album.
Gov. Tim Walz announced his Chief of Staff Chris Schmitter is leaving at the end of the month. Deputy Chief of Staff Patrick Tanis will take the job.
Tune-in Sunday at 9 AM on WCCO Radio for Sunday Take for a discussion on trends and data related to the economy of our region.
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
AUDIENCE: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
SPECIALSESSION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Grant Hauschild was deep in the woods of his northeastern Minnesota Senate district when the Democrat was confronted with the question he and other moderate legislators had evaded for weeks: Would you vote for bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines?...Hauschild, in the midst of an ATV tour near Silver Bay, deflected the question from a Minnesota Star Tribune reporter. Instead he mentioned the importance of working with the other side and listening to constituents in his largely rural district. HAUSCHILD: “We’re literally in the north woods right now,” said Hauschild, who won his 2022 race by about 700 votes and is one of a shrinking cohort of statehouse Democrats who still represent rural turf. “This is a place that really cherishes hunting and fishing in the outdoors, and I grew up in a home with guns on my walls as decoration.”… Some moderate GOP lawmakers from the suburbs who spoke to the Star Tribune took a different tone. They expressed skepticism, but not outright opposition, to new firearm restrictions…State Rep. Danny Nadeau, a Republican who represents northern suburbs such as Rogers and Champlin, said lawmakers shouldn’t be approaching a discussion about preventing mass shootings with their minds already made up… Seeberger, who won her largely exurban and rural district by 321 votes, joined Hauschild for the ATV ride last week. She’s meeting with gun rights and gun control advocates and other constituents, she said, but hasn’t yet decided how she would vote on the bans…SEEBERGER: “I would rather see us come in with a good plan that has a chance of passing and a real chance of making a difference than bringing us all together for the spectacle of a vote,” Seeberger said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mOrJkH
POPULATION: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are getting older, people here are earning less money, it’s dramatically more diverse than it used to be, and compared to other states, more people are moving out of the state than moving in. … Between 2011 and 2020, Minnesota lost 0.6% percent of its population to other states, while at the same time, Florida gained 7%. According to Susan Brower, the state demographer, Minnesota is not alone when it comes to people leaving. ‘We’re in a part of the country, in the Midwest, where we tend to see net losses to other states.’ … Brower says many factors contribute to declining birth rates, including the cost of children, preferences, and the skyrocketing cost of living. Minnesota’s median household income between 2019 and 2024 dropped from $91,000 to $87,000.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3KvGD1P
NONPROFITS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers awarded nearly $20 million to nonprofit organizations around the state since 2024 that do not appear to be registered with the state attorney general’s office, according to a review by 5 INVESTIGATES. Most nonprofits that solicit donations in Minnesota, like having a donate button on their website, are required to have an active registration with the AG’s office so the public can see their financial health. But the review found that at least 24 organizations that have received or are set to receive millions in taxpayer money were not registered.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pS9LjO
STPAUL: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “State Representative Kaohly Her is likely the strongest challenger in St. Paul’s mayoral race running against incumbent Melvin Carter… Her used to work alongside Mayor Carter. So, when responding to the city and the St. Paul Downtown Alliance’s Investment Strategy Report, there were some areas of agreement with points Carter had made during the FOX 9 roundtable discussion…Her said she thinks policy is not just about issues and ideas. She will also focus on the city’s operational efficiencies. HER: “A downtown with great potential, but it has been let to deteriorate to a point of which it is difficult for businesses to want to be down here,” said Her. “We can’t run this city and think some how we’re going to put up some buildings and people are just going to come here. If we don’t do basic city operations well of helping people usher them through the process of all of the different types of permitting and all of the different types of licenses that they need in order for them to build.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42ZBJ3i
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SHUTDOWN: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “The 2025 federal government shutdown stretched its second day on Thursday with no signs of an imminent resolution as Republicans and Democrats traded accusations of who is to blame. … The upper chamber will take up the House-passed bill and the Democratic alternative for votes on Friday afternoon.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/42jV7rF
ENERGY: via Politico, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration’s termination of roughly $8 billion in clean energy projects in blue states will choke off funding to dozens of projects aimed at shoring up the grid and creating thousands of manufacturing jobs — and the pain is likely to stretch into more than two dozen GOP districts, according to a list obtained by POLITICO. … Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, released a breakdown Thursday that showed at least 28 GOP lawmakers would see spending tied to their districts canceled, while 108 Democrats’ districts would be hit.” The cancellations will impact constituents of Reps. Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Pete Stauber, Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar, per DeLauro’s list. Affected organizations include Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power and more. READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Kw9Olk LIST: http://fluence-media.co/4nZ1tou
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A dozen of the [321] canceled awards were for projects in Minnesota, including one planned by Macalester College. … A $464 million grant for a seven-state transmission line project, which was originally submitted by organizations including the Minnesota Department of Commerce, is among the canceled projects.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/487oJw5
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A $70 million grant for an experimental long-duration battery system Xcel plans to use in Becker is on the termination list, [and] the Trump Administration is also targeting a $50 million grant for Duluth-based Minnesota Power to modernize a transmission line. … State officials said losing the transmission line construction project could lead to higher energy prices.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/42JOlMb
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel Energy is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
LAWSUITS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “High-profile federal lawsuits were put on pause [this week] as the U.S. Department of Justice saw money for civil causes put on hold. They say only cases that are ‘emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property’ are moving ahead as usual. … The pause impacts a lawsuit filed just last week against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to release statewide voter registration data to federal officials. Another lawsuit in limbo is a case that names Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison as defendants. That one deals with tuition assistance to people living in the country without legal status. The requests give no timetable for resuming the litigation.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nYZwIG
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)
FARMERS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “A lot of Minnesota farmers will be the first to feel the effects of the government shutdown that started Oct. 1. They’re missing some critical help just as harvest season has arrived. … The USDA planned to furlough about half of its workforce, including 67% of employees at the Farm Services Agency and nearly everyone in Rural Development. Both have locked up their St. Paul offices…which a lot of farmers rely on to make sure they can survive the season.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3KpVw5Q
HUNGER: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The ranks of the hungry are expected to grow as grocery prices remain high — and could go even higher — and the federal government has cut food stamps and other nutrition programs, including grants that help food shelves in the state. Moreover, the shutdown of the federal government has put the funding of food stamps, and other federal food programs, under threat. … According to the last USDA hunger report, the level of food insecurity in Minnesota is lower than the national average, which is 12.3%. But the report indicated that hunger in Minnesota and across the nation is on the rise.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nA8pJb
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Some federal assistance programs could run out of funding if a government shutdown that started Oct. 1 drags on into next month, Minnesota’s top budget official said on Thursday. But for now, most of the effects of the shutdown on the state are yet to be seen. … Food assistance benefit programs should have funding through October, Minge said, but if the shutdown extends into November, two major programs could run out of money: SNAP [and] WIC.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46zHlUr
SNAP: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will see a modest monthly bump under the Department of Agriculture’s annual cost-of-living update. Starting Oct. 1, the new maximum allotment for Minnesota recipients will start at $298, [which is] up $6. … For the second year in a row, SNAP recipients will only see a modest increase after several larger bumps during the pandemic due to inflation and an update to the program under the Biden Administration.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3KxjrQP
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)
TITLE IX: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota education leaders face a fight to protect millions in federal funding in a standoff with the Trump Administration over the state’s policy allowing transgender athletes to play girls’ sports. … What consequences could await Minnesota are unknown [as of] this week. … The topic received short mention during Thursday’s regularly scheduled MSHSL board meeting, and Executive Director Erich Martens said his team is ‘in receipt of their information, and right now, our legal counsel is reviewing all aspects of it.’ He had no further comment afterward.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/472U2qR
DOWNTOWN: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Hailed as the heart of downtown’s revitalization, Nicollet Mall has become a temporary landing spot for some of the city’s displaced homeless population. … The Minneapolis Downtown Council is monitoring an up-tick in the homeless population on Nicollet Mall. President Adam Duinick says the ‘most logical explanation’ for the increase is people shifting through the city following the closure of city encampments elsewhere. He says for now their ambassador team is initiating some baseline counts to track any potential trends. … He went on to say this is a fairly recent change.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3KQ8w4C
ICE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A crew of roofers working in St. Paul were taken into custody Thursday in an apparent immigration enforcement raid, according to a state representative and a St. Paul City Council member. Rep. Athena Hollins, who represents the area, said in a Facebook post that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were in unmarked vehicles in St. Paul’s North End where they ‘snatched up a whole crew of roofers who were minding their own business, doing their job.’ … The St. Paul Police Department was not involved in any way, according to a department spokesperson.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nrvwW8
LANE SPLITS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Three months into Minnesota’s new law allowing motorcyclists to move through traffic under certain circumstances, state agencies say more education is needed to get everyone on the road on the same page. … Officials have not been able to clearly track how many riders are illegally lane splitting and filtering — but overall, Minnesota’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) feels the new law is off to an up-and-down start. ‘There’s been some positives and there’s been some negatives, but mostly there’s been a bunch of questions,’ Jay Bock, OTS’s Motorcycle Safety coordinator, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/46QWcsw
TAKE: Lane splitting is a little scary when they “zoom” past you. Seems less safe for a state that claims it has goal of zero traffic deaths.
MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “An ordinance passed by the Minneapolis City Council which supporters say would curb gentrification is facing a veto, as Mayor Jacob Frey says it could instead stall real estate deals and lower commercial property values. The City Council passed the ‘Commercial Advance Notice of Sale’ ordinance last week. It would require commercial property owners in several designated cultural districts, plus areas in north Minneapolis and near the University of Minnesota, to give 60 days’ notice to the city and any tenants before putting their buildings on the market. … Frey issued his veto on Wednesday. … The council can take up the ordinance again and vote to override the veto, but supporters would need to swing a few votes.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Kq90hZ
WHITE BEAR LAKE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A 22-year-old Forest Lake man who attended classes at White Bear Area High School last month skirted around the enrollment process by claiming he was a homeless youth and by using a birth certificate from another country that indicated he was 18, the school district said Thursday. … He remains jailed but not charged in the school enrollment case. White Bear Lake Police Chief Dale Hager said Thursday investigators are pursuing possible crimes related to fraud, forgery and unlawful conduct involving interaction with minors. Dennis Gerhardstein, a spokesman for the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, said Thursday a case has been presented against the man and is under review for possible charges.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3WlxZWa
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Republican Rep. Elliott Engen represents District 36A, which includes White Bear Lake, and is demanding that Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak resign.” ENGEN: “This failure represents a catastrophic lapse in basic enrollment verification protocols, student safety measures, and administrative oversight, which are core responsibilities that fall squarely under your leadership as Superintendent.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4nuvCfD
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Rochester Public Schools has recorded its first increase in enrollment since 2021, surpassing the number of students it had predicted for the year by more than 460. … RPS has a total student count of 17,441, which is 118 more than the 17,323 that was recorded at the same time last year. … The two grades with the largest influx of students were kindergarten and seniors. Across the district, there were 110 more kindergarteners than expected, which was 10.6% more than the district planned. There also were 169 more seniors than expected, which was 11.4% more than the district planned.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4gPlI5Q
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)
EDINA: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “If you live in Edina, your property taxes could be on the rise again. The city approved a preliminary budget for next year, and that includes a property tax levy increase of about 11%. The city says on a median-valued home of $735,200, this would mean an increase of $25 a month. Edina City Manager Scott Neal remembers when property tax increases were hardly noticeable and believes what’s been happening recently is uncommon. … Neal says the reasons for the proposed increase include capital spending, investing in city staff, and a big chunk of it will go towards public safety.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/477SVpK
ST PAUL PARK: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Park officials last week approved the final plat for a new housing subdivision, the first in the city since the mid-1980s. Homebuilder Lennar Corp. plans to build 61 single-family homes on 30 acres located east of the railroad tracks and south of Summit and Ashland avenues. Construction of homes in the development, called Geneva Meadows, will begin in late 2025 or early 2026, with first closing expected to be in the spring of 2026, said Danielle Tocco, vice president of communications at Lennar Corp. Home prices are expected to start in the low- to mid-$400,000 range, she said.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mIciKV
GOLDEN VALLEY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Golden Valley City Council [held] a closed-door meeting Thursday night to discuss potential litigation against the city that’s connected to the police chief. Chief Virgil Green was placed on paid administrative leave in May for reasons that have not been made public. … The city said in June that the chief’s absence is until further notice, pending review of a complaint. City leaders said they can’t share the nature of the complaint, [but] sources told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS in June that the city was investigating the chief regarding ‘administrative issues.’” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4ny1fVH
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
MAYOR RACE: Sen. Omar Fateh, a candidate for mayor of Minneapolis, has been ordered to pay a $500 civil penalty. The Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings ruled he violated the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act by distributing campaign materials that said he was endorsed by the DFL after the party rescinded its endorsement. RULING: https://fluence-media.co/3IveyXU
THC: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota hemp and cannabis businesses are warning state regulators that new rules set to take effect next year could devastate local companies, shutter breweries and pull popular THC-infused products off shelves. About 60 industry representatives gathered on Wednesday to meet with Office of Cannabis Management officials and press for changes. … QUOTE: ‘This could be an existential risk to many Minnesota businesses, including craft breweries and retailers that rely on these products,’ said Glenn McElfresh, co-founder of the Plift hemp-infused beverage brand. ‘We’ve really got to find a solution in the coming weeks.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ILqsNk
(DISCLOSURE: Plift Beverages is a client of Fluence)
TODAY: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “City leaders and community partners will provide an update on the Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative.” WHO: Mayor Frey, MPS Superintendent Sayles-Adams, Hennepin County Housing Director David Hewitt, MPHA Executive Director Abdi Warsame and others.
TODAY: via an MN DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “This Friday, October 3, the Minnesota DFL Party will host a community rally in Mankato [called] ‘Republicans Are Closing Your Clinics: Rally to Fight Back.’ … Households in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, represented by Brad Finstad, can expect an average cost increase of $229 per month, or $2,748 annually—more than any other district in the state.” DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, Sen. Nick Frentz and 18A candidate Leah Hanson will attend. The event is at 4:00 p.m.
NEXT WEEK: via an MN House advisory, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, October 7, the House Capital Investment Committee will begin their second regional tour of the fall, visiting communities in Northeast Minnesota. This bipartisan tour will consist of sites of proposed investment in state infrastructure which will be considered for inclusion in a 2026 Capital Investment Bill. The week’s tour will bring the committee to the communities of Vadnais Heights, North Branch, Pine City, Moose Lake, Carlton, Proctor, Duluth, Silver Bay, Grand Marais, Ely, Virginia, Eveleth, Chisholm, Hibbing, and Floodwood.” SCHEDULE: http://fluence-media.co/432s0t4
NEXT WEEK: via an MBP advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Business Partnership has curated a museum-like exhibit for HQElevate 2025’s ‘A Night at the Museum,’ where artifacts and from over 50 Minnesota businesses tell the remarkable stories behind the state’s economic success.” The event is at 4:15 p.m. on Oct. 9.
BDAYS: fmr. Rep. Mike Osskopp, PR pro Teresa McFarland, organizer Dan Cramer. SAT: journalist Brandon Stahl, attorney Matt Entenza, ag guy Dave Ladd, reporter Walker Orenstein, business leader Tom Gegax SUN: biotech lobbyist Lilly Melander, fmr. Commissioner Sandy Layman
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