Twins win. Wild win. Wolves lose.
A climate center handling Minnesota’s weather data has shut down due to federal spending cuts. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/4cJdRVx
Elon Musk announced he will step back from DOGE next month to focus on Tesla after the company reported a 71% drop in profits for Q1. WAPO: https://fluence-media.co/4lJ1xZn
Donald Trump said he has “no intention of firing” the Federal Reserve chair, five days after saying his “termination cannot come fast enough.” CNN: https://fluence-media.co/4lJuLaA
The Dow could see its worst performance for the month of April since the Great Depression if trends hold. WSJ: https://fluence-media.co/3Gk748B
The top producer of CBS’s “60 Minutes” resigned, citing a loss of editorial independence. CNN: https://fluence-media.co/4lG6FgQ
NOTE: This week's Sports Take will be delivered Friday morning, a day later than usual, to include news from the first-round of the NFL Draft and to preview where the Vikings stand going into Friday's and Saturday's picks. We'll also have the latest on the Wolves and Wild in their playoff chases, the Twins and their struggles and lots more as we look ahead to a busy sports calendar.
Blois
NOTE: This coming Saturday, we will publish a 15-year take to honor the launching of morning take in April 2010. Please send any good memories, or significant takes that you appreciated – bloisolson@gmail.com
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
On Sunday Take, DFL Chair Richard Carlbom says he believes Gov. Tim Walz will run for re-election and shares plans the DFL has to organize in greater Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Y7faYd
Sponsorships available – to reach over 25,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
15YRS: The kids were 7 and 5 respectively when morning take was started. This past holiday break, my daughter asked. “How did morning take start?”, she was interested because she was curious about the business side, and she has an entrepreneurial spirit.
I explained the story - it was actually her 5th BDay Party that prevented me from going to Duluth for the DFL convention. As I listened and texted people at the convention, there was context missing. That was some of the context in the first edition.
In later years, as I did the take before the kids went to school, Lily would click “send”, and the Mailchimp monkey would give a virtual “high five”. That also meant dad could make breakfast or help get ready for school.
The growth of the take meant pressure to produce, but it also allowed morning flexibility, and my kids observed it. They knew about the WCCO daily segment, and that was “just what Dad does”.
It became more clear and more insightful during the COVID-19, that the kids started to understand what our work meant, to them and to the state. Government was impacting them more than they ever knew, and it was educational. They were in high school, and when Dad breaks the news of schools closing, it struck a little different on Snapchat than the “good neighbor.” It was even labeled, “embarrassing” more than once.
Now back to the holiday conversation, and the first Presidential election they were able to vote in. I had never really talked or tried to preach to them about my work, but they had just observed. And Lily had no memory of life before the Take, when I would drive them to preschool, and stop for coffee.
Instead, she was asking about the economics, and the audience. My son Jack has found his political science classes some of the most interesting, and each of them observed the work. It had an impact, not on their political views, which we still don’t talk much about, but rather that if you get up and do the work, there are rewards for the sacrifices. Without realizing it, that was what I was teaching them, even though it wasn’t out loud or intentional.
I’ve kept personal and professional Blois somewhat separate for readers, but now with adult kids, I think they deserve a mention because they are more important and influential to this journey than any client, scoop or public officials’ opinion of the work. I’ve learned a lot about their generation from their experience, and hopefully they hold the learning of getting up and doing something from 15 years of a routine valuable.
ONETHING: What would I have done with my mornings the past 15 years if I hadn’t started morning take? It’s a question I often ask, other than a little more sleep, I can’t think of anything different.
TONIGHT: Gov. Tim Walz will give his annual State of the State address tonight at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, DFL Leaders Melissa Hortman and Sen. Maj. Leader Erin Murphy, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Sen. Min. Leader Mark Johnson will deliver responses.
TAKE: What will Gov. Tim Walz say? The State of the State is...split. Nothing is clearer than the House, that Minnesota is a split state. However, Gov. Walz has lost his ability to have credibility of a “One Minnesota” theme. His national tour didn’t help him at home, when there is work to be done. That said, Republicans are the other half of the split, they have more leverage than they have had since the 2011 legislative session, will they use it wisely? Or will they keep finding their own outlier issues to suck momentum out of mainstream issues?
There are populist issues that have bipartisan support, if only legislative caucuses and leaders would allow members to vote their consciousness, or their districts. Tonight’s test for Walz is: Does he try to stay focused on Minnesota or does he keep blaming President Trump for the ails of Minnesota?
SOTS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “It has been a little more than six months since he came up short in his vice presidential bid. And it comes as Walz faces new challenges back home and a reelection decision creeping closer…Walz is straddling the two worlds: He wants to remain a major figure among Democrats that being on the presidential ticket gave him, but he also needs to find a way to navigate a session more complex than when his party controlled the Capitol and money was flush. This year, there is barely any fiscal wiggle room – and possible federal spending cuts could compound the difficulty for Walz and lawmakers. WALZ: “I think the state of Minnesota is in a very solid spot but I don't think any of us should kid ourselves: We're in very precarious territory,” Walz told reporters last week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lCMeRT
MORE: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) is looking for some unity, and she believes the Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz can find it. Speaking after Tuesday’s House floor session, Demuth said she believes it’s important for the governor to ‘pull everyone together,’ and that she sees Wednesday evening’s State of the State address as a fine opportunity to do so. ‘We’re looking forward to what he has to say,’ Demuth said. … As for agreed-upon budget targets, that’s a work in progress.” DEMUTH: “We haven’t finished putting together global targets at this point, but you’ll see the work coming out of the House this week and into next.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RvRxVx
MORE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said at an unrelated news conference last week that his [State of the State] address will touch on the effects of the Trump Administration’s decisions on Minnesota, including potentially large Medicaid cuts, as well as ‘things to be optimistic about’ and ways to ‘work together.’” WALZ: “We decided to pick trade wars with our allies…and states are under threat. … We’ve got some real decisions to make…[but] there’s many, many things to be optimistic about.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YGJJUO
MORE: via the Long Term Care Imperative, VERBATIM: “As Governor Walz prepares to deliver his State of the State address tonight, long-term care leaders are calling on him to acknowledge and reverse his proposed cuts to state Medicaid funding, which would devastate communities across the state…While the governor has raised concerns about federal Medicaid cuts, he must address his own budget proposals that include similar reductions. With Minnesota's senior population growing rapidly, access to care dwindling by the day and caregivers continuing to face a staffing shortage, the Governor’s proposed state cuts will only make it harder for seniors to access essential care and services…Tonight, we urge the Governor to confront these realities and demonstrate real leadership by acknowledging his own proposed cuts to senior care and commit to supporting the investments that seniors, families and caregivers need.” (DISCLOSURE: Long Term Care Imperative is a Fluence client)
BUDGET: via an MPR newsletter, VERBATIM: “A couple of House budget bills are still being negotiated after legislative deadlines because chairs in the tied chamber are at odds on what should move forward [in education and health]. … GOP leads of the health committees yesterday said they were stuck because they wanted to roll back a policy that allows undocumented people to access state-funded health insurance for low income people. Democrats oppose the roll back and said it’s worth funding to reduce costs for emergency care. … House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman said heads of the education committee were also working on their bills, but in disagreement about pushing back or removing new requirements for curriculum and services provided. … Hortman said the education committee chairs have ‘scoped out where they're willing to go with each other’ and she felt confident they could reach a deal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GkkdON
CHAMPION: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, denied to the ethics committee Tuesday that he did anything wrong when he spearheaded $3 million in state grants to a nonprofit run by [his] legal client, north Minneapolis Rev. Jerry McAfee. … [However], the Senate president testified that he’s open to changing Minnesota’s ethics laws to ensure accountability for lawmakers in various professions. … Ethics experts have said that Minnesota’s conflict of interest laws are among the weakest in the U.S., [ranking] 44th in the nation on legislative accountability. … The committee held its first hearing in the matter on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue deliberating Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GxC7h6
MORE: Speaking to the Reformer’s Michelle Griffith, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion said he thinks he’s being unfairly singled out for common legislative behavior, adding that “my conduct is no different from anyone else’s conduct.” Axios’ Torey Van Oot noted that it is unknown to the public how many other legislators are engaged in similar conduct because they aren’t required to disclose details and there is little outside enforcement or oversight. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GxC7h6 TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4jksGA6
PRISONS: via an MPR newsletter, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Corrections is pleading with the Legislature to free up more funding for the state prisons budget. … [In] a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell writes that he has deep concern about the adjustments the Senate is proposing for the agency's operating budget. … Schnell says lower funding would mean more idle time for inmates, which tends to lead to more misconduct and prison violence.” SCHNELL: “At this funding level, there will be direct impact to the DOC’s ability to maintain critical staffing levels, sustain rehabilitative programming, and ensure the overall safety of our facilities. Given that a majority of the DOC’s expenditures are staff-related, layoffs will be the only method for a balanced agency budget.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GkkdON LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4jO1vhd
VETERANS: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Senate is expected to vote on a bill Wednesday that would grant some veterans benefits to Hmong and Lao soldiers who fought with the United States military in Laos during the Vietnam War. More than an estimated 900 Hmong and Lao veterans in Minnesota would receive benefits recognizing their contributions. … Some of the benefits include special designations on their drivers licenses, veteran burial ceremonies and gravemarkers. Healthcare benefits would not be included.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YLR19R
MITCHELL: via a Senate GOP press release, VERBATIM: “Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) today announced that he has formally filed a complaint with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFB) regarding a potential conflict of interest involving Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury). … The [complaint] centers around Senator Mitchell’s participation in a Senate vote on January 27, 2025, that directly affected her status as a member of the legislature. … Senator Drazkowski asserts that Senator Mitchell’s vote constituted a personal financial conflict of interest and should have triggered disclosure and recusal under Minnesota State Statute 10A.07.” COMPLAINT: https://fluence-media.co/42UG3kJ
MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
LAWSUIT: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's top lawyer sued President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday over executive orders related to transgender people, ratcheting up a dispute over legal protections the state has put in place. … The administration has threatened to withhold funding from schools or states that don't follow new federal restrictions enacted through presidential orders. In a federal lawsuit, DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison said it amounts to discriminatory and illegal bullying. … Minnesota is among the states that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has singled out for possible sanctions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cKK1zY
MORE: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “The lawsuit [claims] the executive orders and DOJ letters violate the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution by exceeding the President’s powers…[and it] violates the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the federal government from commandeering the States to carry out federal law or policy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S1cmbv LAWSUIT: https://fluence-media.co/4jF4tFb
RESPONSE: via a Speaker Lisa Demuth statement, DEMUTH: “It's extremely disappointing that Attorney General [Keith] Ellison would rather risk federal funding and file yet another taxpayer funded lawsuit against the Trump Administration than simply do the right thing and keep boys out of girls sports. It's a waste of taxpayer money to further a political agenda that makes girls less safe and makes sports less fair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44aFJzH
HIGHER ED: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Five Minnesota college presidents joined nearly 200 leaders of U.S. colleges and universities in signing a letter Tuesday against ‘unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.’ … Five presidents of Minnesota institutions signed the letter: Brian Bruess from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, Alison Byerly of Carleton College, Deidra Peaslee of St. Paul College, Paul Pribbenow at Augsburg University and Suzanne Rivera from Macalester College.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ggi9Y7
STUDENT LOANS: via Patch News, VERBATIM: “The Department of Education plans to begin collecting next month on federal student loans that are in default, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of borrowers in Minnesota. … Federal student loan debt in Minnesota totals $26.6 billion, or about $34,292 per student, according to Education Department data. About 775,700 student loan borrowers…live in Minnesota. Of those borrowers: 54.5 percent are under the age of 35; 12.9 percent owe less than $5,000; 24.1 percent owe between $20,000-$48,000; [and] 1.8 percent owe more than $200,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YbDDvy
SCHOOLS: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The number of intensely segregated school sites in the Twin Cities has grown almost five-fold, from 21 to over 100, since the turn of the century. … If enacted, HF2899 would fund incentives for districts to integrate schools within their boundaries, as well as participate in programs to bus students across district lines to reduce segregation between school districts. The bill would also create a system of four magnet schools open to students in the metro. Additional state funding would go toward transportation costs for the three integration programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42UOY5I
BETTING POLL: Support is surging among Minnesotans who want legal wagering on sporting events. New polling by the Sports Betting Alliance of Minnesota indicates 60% of voters in the state support the legalization of sports betting. The survey of 1,000 Minnesota voters also revealed overwhelming support for legal wagering among 18–29-year-olds, with 75% of females and 73% of males in favor of allowing sports betting in Minnesota — something that is available in 39 states. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/49uj4OF (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
ELLISON: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “In the aftermath of the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud trial involving two of the organization’s leaders, a conservative group highlighted secret recordings of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison meeting with some representatives of the group [in 2021], asking for his help. … Ellison answered questions from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Tuesday about the 2021 meeting after he held a news conference on another topic. Ellison acknowledged he later realized the fraud case would grow to be much larger.” ELLISON: “I was in a meeting with constituents who I thought [were] there in good faith. When I learned…the scope of the problem, what I will tell you is that [I’m] sure it was far more than that.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lHtXmz
METRO TRANSIT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A violent takedown involving private security guards and a 22-year-old man outside a Metro Transit light rail station in Minneapolis is now the subject of at least one ‘active investigation’ after 5 INVESTIGATES demanded answers about the incident. … Metro Transit says it reviews all allegations of misconduct, but the incident is raising larger questions about a contract with security giant Allied Universal. Metro Transit is on the hook to spend up to $11 million of taxpayers’ money for supplemental security at light rail stations in the Twin Cities.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Gka70x
SUPPORT SF 2929 AND HF 2677: Third-party lawsuit funding (TPLF) — or “lawsuit lending” — is a growing and extremely concerning trend in courts across the state and throughout the country that encourages frivolous lawsuits and threatens to drive up the costs of products, services, and insurance for Minnesota consumers. Fortunately, lawmakers are considering legislation — the Consumers in Crisis Protection Act (SF 2929 & HF 2677) — to increase transparency around this highly secretive practice and reasonably regulate third-party lawsuit funders to protect consumers and help keep premiums low. MORE INFO: https://fluence-media.co/4jivOfT (SPONSORED: ASPCIA)
TRADE WAR: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “For clues on how tariffs and trade deals might end up affecting the state, we can look at how Minnesota has already positioned itself in the global economy. … In 2024, Minnesota exported $26.6 billion worth of goods to 199 countries, [representing] 6% of the state’s GDP. … [There was] a 24%, or $5.2 billion, increase in the state’s export value between 2014 and 2024. … There are currently more than 8,100 exporters in Minnesota, responsible for supporting roughly 115,000 jobs. … The state’s top exporting sector is agriculture. … [Meanwhile], more than $40.6 billion of imports flowed into Minnesota in 2024, with fuel and oil, medical and optical products, machinery, and electrical equipment accounting for over half of that topline number.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GmOXin
MORE: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar post, KLOBUCHAR: “On my 19-county tour across Minnesota, I consistently heard from farmers and small business owners about the strain tariffs are putting on their livelihoods. We need trade policies that help, not harm, our economy.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4lCc5cF
TARIFFS: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities brewery owners say President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are having negative impacts on their businesses. … ‘The uncertainty is the biggest problem we have in the back,’ says Back Channel Brewing's Matt Olson. ‘It kind of feels like we're in that COVID time where all of a sudden you'd get that email saying 'this went up by 30%, this went up by 40%,' and you just had to adjust.’ … A number of brewery owners joined Minnesota Third District Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D) in Eden Prairie in calling on the Trump-Vance Administration to provide relief for small business owners.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cGAxFH
VISAS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A federal court judge Tuesday ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to temporarily restore the student visas of five Concordia University graduate students. The five plaintiffs are citizens of India and earned master's degrees in information technology and management. … In his order, U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim said the plaintiffs ‘clearly face irreparable harm’ after having their student status terminated. His decision comes after two other judges granted similar restraining orders last week to other students targeted by the DHS.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lDvbzj
DEEPFAKES: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar [and others] reintroduced the bipartisan Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act. This legislation aims to protect Americans' voice and likeness and combat the proliferation of AI deepfakes. … The NO FAKES Act would: Create a property right in a person’s AI-generated digital replica; Hold individuals or companies liable if they produce an unauthorized digital replica of an individual; Establish a notice-and-takedown process so victims of unauthorized deepfakes have an avenue to get online platforms to take down the deepfake; Exclude certain digital replicas from coverage based on recognized First Amendment protections; Largely preempt State laws addressing digital replicas to create a workable national standard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S7Cqlf
MISSISSIPPI: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) reintroduced the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act (H.R. 2977) on Tuesday, aiming to establish a non-regulatory initiative to coordinate restoration and resilience opportunities along the Mississippi River corridor. MRRRI is modeled on the highly successful Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jr344M
IT’S POSSIBLE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY UPHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND GROW OUR ECONOMY: Minnesota’s lengthy and uncertain permitting process has frustrated businesses for decades. A recent report found that air permitting in Minnesota can take up to six times longer than comparable states. A coalition of business and labor groups are advocating for reform that will shorten timelines and increase certainty while maintaining our strong environmental standards. Contact your legislators and tell them to support streamlining the permitting process. CONTACT: https://fluence-media.co/3Ea5Tbe (SPONSORED: Minnesota Chamber of Commerce)
EARTH DAY: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Dozens of Minnesotans gathered at the state capitol on Tuesday for an Earth Day rally, urging policymakers to double down on curbing climate change and protecting Minnesota's natural resources. … Advocates condemned efforts from the Trump Administration that they say would hurt the environment, including the Boundary Waters. … Others who spoke at the event focused on state proposals that they worry would [repeal] a new law banning PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products. … [Proposed bills] would exclude electric bikes for children, internal product components that don't come in contact with the skin or mouth, and firefighting foam in airport hangers from the ban.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42GsELP
BIOFUEL: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Researchers at the University of Minnesota say they’re planning to plant more crops that can be converted to airplane fuel. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials gathered next to a field of bright-green pennycress at the University’s St. Paul campus to announce $75,000 in state funding for the U of M’s research into sustainable aviation fuel. … MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler said sustainable aviation fuel is a way to cut down on emissions from transportation — Minnesota’s biggest source of pollution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EABm6m
POT: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is launching a new program to provide funds to organizations helping farmers navigate the cannabis business. The organizations that receive the CanGrow farmer training grants will provide education, training and technical support to farmers, officials say. The CanGrow farmer loan grants will fund nonprofit organizations to assist farmers by providing low-interest loans to enter the cannabis industry.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jsIdya
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul and Minneapolis area chambers of commerce have discussed merging before, but never as seriously as now. The discussions come after a grim year for the Minneapolis Regional chamber. Its CEO abruptly departed after an internal investigation discovered the apparent disappearance of about $290,000. An ensuing budget shortfall led to layoffs. Those woes are a catalyst to merger talks, though not the only one. The two chambers of commerce — like their counterparts nationwide — are coping with stagnant membership, financial pressures and questions about their relevancy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iuKs2z
TAKE: The merger is a bad idea, but if they are going to do it, they should do it, and stop talking.
FOREST LAKE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Forest Lake Times is moving to Stillwater [tomorrow]. The weekly newspaper, published by Adams Publishing Group, has decided to consolidate the Forest Lake office with the office of the Stillwater Gazette, also published by Adams. … Forest Lake Mayor Blake Roberts called the decision to close the Forest Lake office ‘extremely disappointing.’ ‘The Times has been an institution in Forest Lake for well over 100 years,’ he said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GguDzd
PUSH BACK AGAINST TAX BREAKS FOR BIG TECH DATA CENTERS: Our tax money should be going to essential services for Minnesotans, like education, health care, and infrastructure — not subsidies for billionaire owned data centers. The current tax credit has already cost our state an estimated $5 million a year since 2011. In 2025 it will be over $100 million. It’s time to stop these skyrocketing numbers. Tell your legislators, ‘No big tax breaks for Big Tech.’ LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3ErmQh8 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy)
STEARNS CTY: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “A Wright County judge has postponed a hearing for emergency guardianship over a longtime Stearns County commissioner until Wednesday, April 23. Alice Lenzmeier had requested that the court continue her emergency guardianship over her husband, commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier. Judge John Bowen on Monday, April 21, decided to close the hearing to the public due to privacy concerns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GgoItK
MANKATO: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Amazon deliveries in the Mankato area might get a little faster. A new 60,000 square-foot delivery hub is being built in North Mankato’s North Port Industrial Center. The project is expected to open in December, and it’s anticipated to bring about 75 new jobs into the area. Mark Fischer, North Mankato’s director of community development, said Ryan Companies, which represented Amazon, approached the city about nine months ago about purchasing land for the project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EAWt8H
EDEN PRAIRIE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “IV Media, LLC, the parent company of home shopping network ShopHQ, has announced the number of layoffs at its Eden Prairie operations will increase to 200 employees. The company announced in January that it would lay off 121 workers, [then] 128, [and now] 200. The layoffs are expected to take place during a 14-day period beginning on June 16.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cH1RUp
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. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
HOUSING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Some lawmakers and lobbyists in Minnesota say state intervention is needed after an MPR News investigation found inspection processes and local political pressures leave low income renters vulnerable in Greater Minnesota. According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Minnesota needs more than 100,000 units of housing to meet current demand. MPR News found some cities have become lenient with landlords whose buildings fail inspections because of a shortage of alternative housing options. Other cities don’t have rental inspections at all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jhXX6N
EMMER: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District repeatedly dodged [interview] questions about whether the U.S. president has the legal power to ‘deport’ U.S. citizens, or whether he would be supportive of such a move. … Emmer declined to answer [three times]. … The episode represents a remarkable about-face on civil liberties for Emmer, a man who used to commemorate Constitution Day on social media, and who once took to the floor of the U.S. House to read the portions of the 6th Amendment that protect the rights of the criminally accused.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YKlogT
DRINKING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota Supreme Court justices in January considered whether Gov. Tim Walz had the power to speed up a special election to fill a pivotal state House seat, they took a deep dive into an obscure law. … The case served notice that some laws long on the books can’t always be read at face value and their mere existence doesn’t mean they still carry force. Another, perhaps more obscure law is just two paragraphs down. It allows for removal of a lawmaker in cases of habitual drunkenness, an issue that concerned Minnesotans long before Prohibition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S6Hpmd
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The first newly-built fire station in St. Paul in 15 years officially opened Tuesday, replacing a building that dated to 1930. The $12 million station in Dayton’s Bluff has room for more emergency vehicles and firefighters than the old station, which will mean they can have a bigger impact on the East Side, said Assistant Fire Chief Jeramiah Melquist. It was also constructed with firefighter health and wellness in mind. … The old Station 7 was 9,000 square feet vs. the new station’s 19,000 square feet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lJuSTy
BROADBAND: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Comcast plans to extend its high-speed internet services to four more Minnesota cities. On Tuesday, the internet provider announced its network expansion in Prior Lake, Savage, Victoria and Waconia. The company said it’s estimated that the expansion will reach an additional 30,000 homes. … Expansions to Chanhassen and Nowthen are also planned for sometime this spring.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cNaoFp
DULUTH: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “As Duluth enters its peak tourist season, staffing and (potentially) operating hours at one of the city's centerpiece attractions are being impacted by President Donald Trump's federal hiring freeze. The freeze leaves the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility, unable to hire park rangers. As of May 17, the facility will lose one of just a few rangers on staff. … Matt Baumgartner, president of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, [said] if museum hours are negatively affected by the hiring freeze, [it] could have a significant impact on Canal Park and the city generally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/444OtHn
MOORHEAD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The White Earth Nation has purchased 280 acres of farmland just east of Moorhead, [and] White Earth Nation Tribal Utility Commission executive director Nate Mathews told the Clay County Commission [that] ‘We've looked at this land as a resort casino complex area.’ Mathews said the project is still in the preliminary planning stages but would likely include a casino, a hotel and convention center, several restaurants and a truck stop. He said the complex could employ 450 to 550 workers. … [However], County Commission Chair Kevin Campbell said there are many financial and environmental questions, and the county is not yet prepared to support the project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jpl6ED
SESSION: House floor session at 11:00 a.m. Senate floor session at 12:00 noon. HOUSE: Capital Investment hears numerous funding requests. Ways & Means will hear budget bills for higher education, transportation, state government and elections. SENATE: Finance hears omnibus bills for elections and state/local government. Taxes will hear omnibus bills for education and health and human services. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/3GjH0KC
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will meet with legislative leaders and deliver his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota State Legislature.
TOMORROW: The Council on Latino Affairs announced they will be hosting the 2025 Latino Day at the Capitol on April 24. This year’s speakers include Attorney General Keith Ellison, Sen. Alice Mann and Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega. The event is at 2:00 p.m.
WED-FRI: Rep. Angie Craig announced that she will host in-person town halls outside her district this week. She will visit St. Cloud on Wednesday, Willmar on Thursday and Mankato on Friday. All events are at 6:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/43WhWTP
SATURDAY: Via a joint press release, Iron Range officials — including Sen. Robert Farnsworth, Sen. Grant Hauschild and Rep. Cal Warwas — will host an event to oppose moving the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame from Eveleth, MN to the Twin Cities. The event is at 4:00 p.m. in Eveleth.
APRIL 28-29: via an FFA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota FFA State Convention takes place at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Monday and Tuesday, April 28 and 29. This year’s theme is Stand as One, selected by the FFA’s State Officers.”
MAY 6: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, May 6, Mayor Jacob Frey will give his 2025 State of the City address at 11:30 a.m. in Minneapolis. … The address will be hosted in person and will be live streamed on the City’s YouTube page.”
MAY 12: The MN GOP announced its annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner will be held on Monday, May 12 with presidential adviser Alina Habba as the keynote speaker. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/41WJ7LK
JUNE 13: The MN DFL announced its annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner will be held on Friday, June 13 with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as the keynote speaker. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4iiEa5R
BDAYS: Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, attorney Sara Vergan, outdoor advocate Ron Schara, lobbyist Marty Seifert
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