RAINY HUMP DAY
Twins lose. USA plays tonight in the World Cup.
NHL free agency opens today, will Quinn Hughes sign today?
With LeBron James leaving the Lakers, Gov. Tim Walz tried to sell him on Minnesota. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4vB2IyB Does it help or hurt?
Burglars in Eagan broke into an arcade to steal Pokémon cards. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4gPsfzm
AP-NORC finds that a supermajority of Americans think some of their freedoms are being threatened, including the freedom of speech (78%), the right to bear arms (69%), the freedom of religion (68%) and the right to vote (66%). Only 1 in 3 say the American Dream still holds true today. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4eFaYYt
Fmr. Rep. Karen Clark passed away, she was the first openly lesbian member of the Minnesota legislature.
Happy National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day.
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The socials send the messages in campaigns today, from the creator mindset of candidates to the way to drive the message without traditional media, rarely is any post not very intentional. It was just a few weeks ago the Emmer-Craig hug created the buzz of the week. Yesterday shared photos from notable meetings on social media yesterday.
Attorney General Keith Ellison with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, while Rep. Angie Craig was with the governor’s son, Gus Walz.
Each of these send a signal, for Ellison that he’s going to lean into the left which could be critical to energizing the DSA voters in CD5 for the DFL and for Craig it adds to the buzz about the Walz family’s feeling about Flanagan-Craig race.
SOCIALS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Starting Wednesday, Minnesotans who scroll through social media sites were set to see new warning labels aimed at raising the potential risks of excessive use…Lawmakers passed a bill requiring the warning labels in 2025, citing concerns about how the sites and apps can cause mental health issues, especially among young users. They said the labels will be like warnings for tobacco products or alcohol…As of early Wednesday morning, a check of multiple social media sites did not show any displaying the warning label.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QUzn35
What kind of warnings should political posts have?
NEWLAWS: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “New laws in Minnesota often take effect either July 1 or Aug. 1, depending on whether a bill includes state funding or is the result of a policy change…Since the state’s fiscal year begins annually on July 1, new laws that begin on that date often deal with state budgets, government spending and agency appropriations, while August 1 laws primarily focus on public safety and regulatory policies.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4y08203
SCHOOLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “As of July 1, the State of Minnesota is giving all public school districts one year to set up their own anonymous reporting system policy. Lawmakers are hoping to prevent another tragedy like the Annunciation school shooting. … To help districts get started, lawmakers set aside $4 million to cover startup, implementation and maintenance costs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fd0v6E
RAISES: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he’ll accept a council-approved pay raise after bypassing recommended salary bumps during his seven years in office. It will bring his pay to more than $16,600 per month for the remainder of his tenure. … Other constitutional officers, agency heads and judges will also see pay hikes under recommendations adopted by the state’s compensation council. Those will take effect because the Legislature didn’t get in the way of the raises.” WALZ: “I didn’t expect to get rich in public service. … [But] this year, I am going to take it on the way out the door to make sure that the next governor is at the appropriate level that the legislators set.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wnrwdx
MORE: Other state officeholders will accept pay raises this year besides Gov. Tim Walz. Sec. Steve Simon and Auditor Julie Blaha both told MPR they will take raises, but Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan confirmed through a spokesperson that she will not accept hers. Attorney General Keith Ellison has not said what he will do with his raise.
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250TH: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Over 100 Minnesota National Guard members are on a voluntary deployment to Washington, D.C. to help with [250] celebrations. … The majority of soldiers who went are from the Mankato-based 2-135 Infantry regiment [and] will remain activated until July 23. … Gov. Tim Walz [said] the Guard has done similar things on several other occasions.” WALZ: “We’ve got a booth there, a Minnesota booth, as others do. Some states opted not to do that. I’m just gonna be candid with you — I trust Minnesotans to tell our story, so we did our own booth. … But our troops are there, just assisting people, telling them where things are at, helping people if they’re overheated.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4woxlYe
SCHWARZE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s endorsed Republican for U.S. Senate has taken out a big line of credit with a bank to aid his campaign. According to a revised economic disclosure form Adam Schwarze filed late last week with the U.S. Senate, he has a $50,000 to $100,000 credit line from Chase bank, with a pretty hefty interest rate on demand of almost 27 percent. A version of the disclosure form he filed in May did not include the loan.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oWryq5
NEW OFFICE: via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has launched the Office of Public Service, a new statewide office aimed at encouraging new opportunities for public service. The office will exist within [DEED] and will offer new grant opportunities for service organizations across the state. … The office announced its inaugural list of grantees: eight established service organizations from around the state that will altogether receive $712,500.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ePCEIP
MNLEG: via MN Senate advisory, VERBATIM: “Republican Senators Michael Kreun (Blaine) and Mark Koran (North Branch) were appointed to the Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission, tasked with making recommendations for a State Inspector General to the governor, and conducting hearing[s] to oversee their work.”
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
THE FEED
FUNDRAISING: via Politico, VERBATIM: “Republicans’ cash advantage just got a lot more powerful thanks to the Supreme Court — and the Democratic National Committee’s fundraising struggles just got a lot more concerning for their party. … The court’s Tuesday decision [will] allow political parties to freely coordinate with candidates. … The ruling swiftly ratcheted up scrutiny of embattled DNC Chair Ken Martin, who has long faced external frustrations over the committee’s lagging fundraising efforts. … ‘Democrats have gotten accustomed to having enormous, overwhelming spending advantages in competitive campaigns,’ said Tim Saler, the chief data consultant for Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. ‘Those days are over.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QTYkvx
TRANSSPORTS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Supreme Court’s decision on transgender athletes could have ripple effects in Minnesota, even though the state’s rules aren’t directly impacted right now. … The issue is likely to come up again in the campaign leading up to the November elections and in future legislative sessions as both sides prepare for the next round of debate. … Gov. Tim Walz said, ‘The Supreme Court has allowed states to be as cruel as they want to be to transgender people.’ … Rep. Peggy Scott [said] ‘I hope that my bill to protect girl sports will move forward in the legislature given this ruling today.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eXPWDn
RESPONSE: via Rebecca Lucero, commissioner of the Minnesota Dept. of Human Rights, LUCERO: “In 1993, state legislators made Minnesota the first state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling does not erase rights guaranteed under Minnesota law for transgender and gender expansive students. … The Department of Human Rights is committed to enforcing state civil rights laws.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wiFtJs
MORE: Yesterday’s lunch take featured more coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court’s transgender athlete ruling, including reactions from Minnesota party chairs Richard Carlbom and Alex Plechash, among others. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4fcOGNL
FED FUNDS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general and two governors, won his lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration [over] billions of dollars in funding [for] families experiencing homelessness. … Ellison and the coalition sued the Trump Administration to protect more than $3 billion in Continuum of Care funds [from] the Department of Housing and Urban Development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oU2W17
DRUGS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Federal and state officials on Tuesday announced new criminal charges as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation in Minnesota that has so far resulted in indictments for 25 defendants. Leaders from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office discussed the charges and a slew of new arrests during a news conference.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gg3MmO
SCREWWORM: via BAH advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced new import restrictions on the importation of dogs and cats from states with active New World Screwworm (NWS) infestations, including a ban on importing any animals from an actively infested NWS site. These domestic restrictions are in addition to existing international restrictions on companion animal imports from NWS endemic areas published in April.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aummnq
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)
ISSUES
POLLUTION: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Minnesota regulators have proposed rules for a new law intended to offer more environmental protections. … After a three-year development process, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has released its proposed rules. … The law will require the MPCA to more carefully review applications for polluting facilities that seek to operate in ‘environmental justice areas’ — census tracts designated in state law due to demographic diversity or economic struggles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44EWSQQ
SELF HARM: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s suicide rate increased 4% in 2025 compared to 2024, according to preliminary data from the state’s Department of Health. … Despite the increase, suicide rates continue to be lower than a peak in 2022. [However], Minnesota’s suicide rate has increased around 36% in the last two decades. … Firearms were the leading mechanism of suicide deaths. Suicides from firearms reached an all-time high in 2025, and made up 51% of Minnesota suicide deaths compared to 43% in 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b06Vn6
TRAVEL: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Though more Americans plan to travel this summer, fewer plan to travel far. … Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans say they plan to take a summer vacation this year, up from 66% from last year, per a new survey from transportation company Enterprise Mobility. Even so, most travelers (69%) say they’re opting for weekend getaways, with about half citing affordability as the reason. … Average domestic airfares out of MSP were up 10.8% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest federal data. Nationally, fares jumped 4.8%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v4Pzww
NEIGHBORS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Several area nonprofits recently launched a new project aimed at combating divisiveness [called] Land of Neighbors. … To put the project into action, organizers created a ‘neighbors team’ leading the work with advisors from a variety of backgrounds, industries and locations across the state. They started convening over the winter. … To kick off the campaign, Minnesota: Land of Neighbors organizers will convene a listening session in Fergus Falls on July 15.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44a1lLc
MOVE: Ireene Green is the new Director of External Affairs at Children’s Theatre Company.
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold-certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
SCSU: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “As St. Cloud State University begins a new fiscal year on Wednesday, July 1, the $12.8-million renovation of the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center is on schedule. … It includes a new refrigeration system, cooling system below the ice, boards, plexiglass, netting around the arena and new lights for both sheets of ice. … If the project stays on schedule, SCSU will get the rink back from the contractor some time in September.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4awWAPv
KASSON: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools will hold a referendum in November, asking voters to approve an operating levy that would generate at least $500 per student per year for the next decade. The district’s school board approved the decision during a special meeting. … The levy amount of $500 per student would generate $1.07 million per year. … If approved, it would last for 10 years and would be adjusted for inflation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eFPwCw
HINCKLEY: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Willard Munger State Trail, which connects Hinckley to Duluth, is slated to reopen to the public on Wednesday with several new recreational features and enhancements. … Among the new features is a restored 200-foot stretch of trail between Pulaski Street and Riverwest Drive, which had been closed to the public since November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RcrVjR
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Allina physicians at Unity and Mercy Hospitals will announce the results of a strike vote over Zoom at 11:00 a.m.
TODAY: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will host a press call at 11:30 a.m. to discuss “outside spending” by PACs that support Rep. Angie Craig in the DFL Senate primary, per a release.
SATURDAY: The U.S. will celebrate its 250th Independence Day.
JULY 7: Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, Rep. Esther Agbaje and Rep. Fue Lee, all DFL, will host a joint town hall meeting for Senate District 59 constituents in Minneapolis at 5:30 p.m.
JULY 13: Attorney General Keith Ellison will host a community listening session on Monday, July 13 to discuss the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health. The event is in St. Paul at 6:00 p.m.
We won’t ask for “membership” to list your BDAY, and we won’t have pledge drive but you can support the Fluence work by paying for premium content.
BDAYS: Sen. Zach Duckworth, Rep. Marion Rarick, comms pro John Vomhof Jr., DFL operative Ellen Watters, recruiter Paul DeBettigneis, retired exec. Jeff Peterson
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.