WINDY WEEKEND
Six years ago, this weekend the world shutdown. This weekend apparently windy and “snowpacoplypse”
Wild lost in a SO, great crowd and great to see so many friends.
Vikings signed former Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for a one-year deal. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4b7VzxX
In another rock lobby….curling fans are lobbying for their sport to get a specialized license plate in Minnesota. KARE: https://fluence-media.co/3N3NcdH
The Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4usigEK
For the first time, the DNR FalconCam has sound. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/4cEOMgp
YouGov finds that 47% of Americans think AI’s impact on society will be negative, while 16% think it will be positive. People who say they’re “very liberal” are 10% less likely to regularly use AI and 28% more likely to say it has negative impacts than people who are “very conservative.” POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4sBIFhy
See you at the Frost-Torrent game tonight. Happy National Coconut Torte Day…coconut is underrated.
Sunday at 9AM on WCCO Radio – Sunday Take – Tune-in.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take discussed the state of Minnesota’s workforce with MN Chamber’s Sean O’Neil and Doug Loon, UMN Pres. Rebecca Cunningham, MSU Chancellor Scott Olson and UST Pres. Rob Vischer. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bxGdmo
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
FRIDAY FEED
REDACTIONS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Legislators are one step closer to uncovering what’s under the black lines of a heavily redacted third-party audit of the state’s Medicaid system. However, the public would remain in the dark. Passed 107-27 by the House on Thursday and sent to the Senate, HF3378 would require the release of the full Optum report to legislators. … Members have argued they need full access to the report to inform their decision making. Redacted portions of the report included sections on general vulnerabilities and policy recommendations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NBl6qe
FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz has flooded state legislators with ambitious proposals to fight fraud…but opposition from Republicans, skepticism from some fellow Democrats and a shrinking window of time raise doubts of whether the DFL governor can muster the political momentum to solve a complex crisis that threatens to stain his legacy. … Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, said Walz should work with legislators to upgrade the state’s antiquated IT systems rather than proposing sweeping structural changes.” ROBBINS: “I think the most helpful thing he could do in the last 10 months of his term is to help us really get the technology piece done, and then leave it to the next governor and the next administration to look at what should possibly be centralized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cFYrTW
MORE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Walz Administration’s stance is that diagnosing the [fraud] problem is played out. The Legislature cannot ‘just continue to have hearings that should have happened five years ago,’ [Tim] Walz said. … Walz’s approach may reflect that new fraud information is at an impasse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of Minnesota has not announced new criminal charges since the division was gutted in January, the [anti-fraud] committee has not uncovered new findings, and state Attorney General Keith Ellison testified to lawmakers this week that he needs to hire 18 more people in order to sufficiently go after Medicaid fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P316gM
AFFORDABILITY: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Minnesota House Republican leaders rolled out the caucus’ affordability plans for the session this week. The proposals include lowering car tab and boat fees, making the state’s reinsurance program permanent, repealing the retail delivery fee and returning a portion of future surpluses to taxpayers. It also includes a popular federal tax conformity measure — no tax on tips and overtime. … Much of the House GOP’s agenda aligns with Senate Republicans. One measure that differed was Senate Republicans’ proposal for a cap on property taxes, which House Leader Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, [is] open to looking at.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bmc6xg
GOV RACE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Kendall Qualls called for a ‘drastic strategy change’ for Republicans running for governor during a debate in Apple Valley [and] argued against the GOP picking [Speaker Lisa] Demuth to face off against U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. … Demuth shot back over the course of the debate by saying, unlike Qualls, she has a record of beating DFLers. … The debate was the closest glimpse yet of a head-to-head battle between Qualls and Demuth, two front-runners for the GOP nomination, because just three candidates were at the debate. It was open only to Republican candidates who have pledged to abide by the GOP endorsement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47HqWNz
A new level of insight and information….
MNLEG
HORTMAN: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Minnesota House lawmakers voted unanimously to name the state’s community solar garden program after Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. … A community solar garden, or CSG, allows a subscriber to participate in a solar energy system along with others, who then share the electricity generated by the project as a credit on their electric bill.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sC9LFi
Failed on a tie vote…
DONATIONS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Corporate donations to candidates in Minnesota have increased exponentially since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010. … Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Mpls) told the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee [that] corporations only have the power the state grants them by law, so she sponsors HF3419 to prohibit entities — including business corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies and foreign entities that do business in Minnesota — from disbursing money to a candidate, political committee or statewide or local ballot measure. … HF3419 [failed] on a 10-10 party-line vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40t0Km0
AGENTS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A bill introduced in the Minnesota House would restrict when federal agents can gain access to a college campus. … Republicans pushed back over the potential cost for colleges and universities to train personnel to enforce the law, and one questioned the practicality of the bill. … That bill failed to pass. … [But] in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, there was bipartisan support for a similar bill pertaining to child care centers, where valid identification, a ‘statement of purpose’ and valid judicial warrant would be required for federal agents to gain access.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rujMU3
MISCONDUCT: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Under current law, a public officer or employee who commits certain misconduct is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. Because Rep. Walter Hudson (R-Albertville) sees those penalties as insufficient, he sponsors HF3822 to increase the penalty to a felony, meaning up to five years behind bars for repeat offenders. He said the bill aims to stop specific types of misconduct by state employees that led to fraud. … The bill [failed] to get out of the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday along party lines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s4dkUN
DAYCARES: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota could become the first state to require cameras in child care centers this year. A proposal is being workshopped in the Legislature after reports of children being mistreated — or, in one case, killed at the hands of a child care employee. A similar effort last year was constrained to require cameras in centers that are the subject of maltreatment investigations, with 28 days of footage retention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4brpXCl
TUITION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, in-state tuition runs $18,482, compared with $41,368 for out-of-state students. … That lower number could entice families to settle in the state, said Rep. Kari Rehrauer (DFL-Coon Rapids), who sponsors HF3432 [to] extend in-state tuition eligibility at Minnesota State colleges and universities to individuals who have accepted full-time employment in the state. … The bill, as amended, was laid over Thursday by the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee pending a fiscal note.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ltDgGX
MINNESOTA’S ATV RIDERS ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS: Last September, hundreds of riders joined the ATV Minnesota President’s Ride — families, veterans, small business owners, and volunteers from across the state. They represent thousands of Minnesotans who responsibly use and maintain Minnesota’s ATV trail system. As decision makers evaluate trail policy, funding, and land-use decisions this session, we invite you to hear directly from the people they represent. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4u4dGw9 (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
CONGRESS
HOUSING: via NPR News, VERBATIM: “The Senate has passed the largest housing bill in decades — bipartisan legislation designed to improve housing affordability and availability through deregulation, expanding old programs and banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes, with few exceptions. The bill passed 89 to 10. … Much of the bill mirrors one passed by the House last month, [but] the major difference between the two bills is the Senate’s introduction of a ban that would prevent any investor that owns at least 350 homes from buying more. … Research is mixed on the impact that these large investors have on housing prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4usEExw
MORE: Sen. Tina Smith’s office announced that one of her housing bills was included in the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. VERBATIM: “Smith’s bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act would preserve up to 400,000 affordable homes in small towns and rural communities across the country, and more than 9,000 units in Minnesota, by making commonsense updates to programs at the USDA’s Rural Housing Service for the first time in decades. The bill was included in the final package that passed the Senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sfrfI0
CHILDCARE: via Rep. Pete Stauber advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced his Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act, legislation that strengthens penalties for childcare providers who defraud the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. … For non-citizen providers convicted of fraud or involved in terrorism-related activity, this legislation establishes grounds for inadmissibility or deportation and bars asylum or adjustment of status.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cEq2F4
IVF: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison [is] leading the effort to expand infertility treatment for veterans. Today, she is announcing her new bipartisan bill, the Warrior Infertility Act, which will expand access to infertility treatment for veterans by making infertility a presumptive condition for toxic exposure under the PACT Act. The bill is endorsed by more than a dozen veterans service organizations and medical advocacy groups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rtEkMA
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
HEALTH
OVERDOSES: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The number of drug overdose deaths in Minnesota remained the same from 2024 to 2025, indicating that improvements over the past two years are slowing down, according to preliminary numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health. The agency reported 994 provisional and confirmed overdose deaths in 2025, the same number as 2024. The figure is still a 28% drop from the 2022 peak and lower than overdose deaths in 2020.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lriAiJ
PAID LEAVE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota mother said she’s been left without income for months as her frustrations with Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program continue to grow. The program launched Jan. 1, but some Minnesotans who applied shortly after that date said they are still waiting for approval. … [The mother] said she submitted two medical leave applications, one of which was approved late Thursday afternoon, after 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS started asking [DEED] questions about the delays. The other application, a reduced-leave application, is still in review, she said.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3P8mZLw
TRANSPORT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Health insurer UCare failed to transport a patient for life-sustaining dialysis treatments in January, which state regulators called a critical example of systemic scheduling and customer service problems at the remaining business. After state officials took over the insurer at the brink of financial insolvency late last year, many patients in legacy UCare health plans have found it virtually impossible to line up medical transportation because of excessive hold times to reach customer service.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40p4KUC
BENCH AND BAR
US ATTY: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen has filed notice with the court to disqualify federal Judge Jeffrey Bryan from presiding over an ongoing habeas case because of potential bias. … Bryan’s wife is the state’s Solicitor General, who is lead counsel on separate federal litigation. … This isn’t the first time Rosen and Bryan have been at odds. Judge Bryan recently ordered Rosen to appear in court under threat of contempt over alleged violations of the judge’s orders. … Daniel Suitor, the immigration attorney of record in the habeas case, tells the FOX 9 Investigators he will oppose any motion to remove Judge Bryan.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lsCSIW
COURT ACCESS: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis-based immigrants rights organization The Advocates for Human Rights sued the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday over growing restrictions on public access to immigration court proceedings. … In the past year, court observers have been met with locked doors to publicly scheduled hearings and blanket closures of entire case dockets, where every scheduled court hearing is made inaccessible to the public. In recent months, master and individual hearings have also been increasingly hosted remotely, with observers left in virtual waiting rooms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sAVvwu
CATALYTIC: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Data shows that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities. … There were 97 reported catalytic converters stolen in the first two months of this year. That’s about 37 more than what was reported in the same time period of 2025. … St. Paul Police Deputy Chief Kurt Hallstrom said there isn’t enough information yet to determine what’s behind what he described as a ‘slight uptick.’ He said that it’s possible that some of the metals and minerals found in catalytic converters — which help reduce noise pollution and toxic exhaust — are becoming more valuable.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rsaBDq
340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3OLZOGG(SPONSORED: PhRMA)
METRO
MPLS: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Thirty Minneapolis residents were in court Thursday afternoon facing eviction after not being able to pay their rent during Operation Metro Surge. … Demonstrators chanted and held signs inside the Hennepin County Government Center, blasting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for vetoing a measure passed by the City Council that would require landlords to wait 60 instead of 30 days before filing an eviction notice. … Frey, meanwhile, is proposing an additional million dollars in emergency rental assistance that residents could access immediately.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sN3J50
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The City of Minneapolis [said] Thursday that Homeland Security investigators are ‘conducting work’ downtown. City officials clarified that the work is not related to immigration enforcement. … Court filings show there were about 400 federal agents in the state in late February into March.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bFAPOd
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “What kind of economic impact did Operation Metro Surge, the Trump Administration’s mass deportation operation in Minnesota, have in St. Paul? City Hall officials acknowledge their numbers are rough estimates at best, but based on a similar U.S. census data methodology used by the city of Minneapolis a few weeks ago, the Capital City’s foreign-born workers lost an estimated $118 million in income across January and February. … The St. Paul figure dwarfs the $94 million in estimated lost wages in Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40t7Oz8
ANOKA-HENN: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Cory McIntyre will be leaving the position by the end of this school year. McIntyre announced Thursday he would not be renewing his contract after his term expires on June 20. The Anoka-Hennepin School Board will determine a leadership plan before the 2026–2027 school year.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/416bRRW
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students 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, Paulie; 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/49AHNSE (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
AROUND MN
FARIBAULT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services paid nearly $1 million to Faribault Public Schools over the last three years through a grant to prevent substance use…but specific details about how the district actually spent the money from DHS are only being revealed after repeated requests by 5 INVESTIGATES under the Minnesota Data Practices Act. … The district spent more than $40,000 on equipment and uniforms to support a ‘Somali Youth Soccer League,’ which was widely considered a success. The district also spent $10,000 to send staff to the Montana Institute for additional training around ‘Positive Community Norms’ at the Big Sky Resort.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/410M4uq
ELK RIVER: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “City council members in Elk River are considering adopting a resolution to fly the former Minnesota state flag on city-owned property. Councilors will discuss the measure on April 6, and are asking for residents to weigh in ahead of their meeting. … Elk River is now the second Twin Cities exurb to make moves to fly the previous state flag. City leaders in Champlin approved an ordinance to fly the 1983 state flag instead of the state’s redesigned version late last month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cKjAMQ
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A northeast Rochester resident is gearing up to challenge the incumbent Ward 5 Rochester City Council member. … Ruchi Gupta, who was named to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission in 2022 and currently serves as its chairwoman, [said] her planning and zoning experience has provided insight into Rochester’s housing needs and development pressures, and she sees seeking a seat on the City Council as the next step in public service. … While the May filing period is two months away and incumbent Shaun Palmer has yet to formally announce whether he will seek a third term, Gupta’s ramping up efforts for a challenge. … [Meanwhile], Rochester City Council member Patrick Keane has announced plans to seek a third term.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bFC3ZP https://fluence-media.co/4rsoPEo
AHEAD
SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: No committee meetings. SENATE: Judiciary & Public Safety hears a large package of gun violence bills, including: a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; a new Dept. of Health office on gun violence prevention; allowing police to open expunged records to determine eligibility for having a firearm; a ban on “dangerous weapons” at the Capitol; gun storage requirements; and more. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/412TFsu
TODAY: Protect MN is hosting two days at the Capitol this week. On Friday, advocates will rally for gun violence prevention at 9:00 a.m.
TODAY: St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her will host a tour of the Downtown Improvement District’s Safety Communications Center to discuss outreach and public safety efforts “as we prepare to welcome visitors downtown for Saint Patrick’s Day next week,” per a release. The event is at 11:00 a.m.
MARCH 24: MN Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (MNASCA) will host its “Day at the Capitol” on Tuesday, March 24.
NOV 20: The MN Broadcasters Hall of Fame will host its 2026 induction ceremony and dinner in Stillwater on Friday, Nov. 20 at 5:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4usigEK
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BDAYS: Sen. Maj. Leader Erin Murphy, realtor Meta Webb. SAT: RDO’s Jennifer Maleitzke, Rep. Sandra Feist, Sports Take’s Howard Sinker, lobbyist Julie Idelkope, SUN: senior care leader Mark Anderson, writer David Hakensen, lobbyist Jeff Peterson
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.