Gophers win. Lynx lose.
WCCO-TV has a list of ways you can help support victims of the Annunciation shooting. LIST: http://fluence-media.co/4n567kn
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its 2025 Best Awards. LIST: http://fluence-media.co/47Qfdx2
State Fair attendance has been above 100,000 every day so far this year. DATA: http://fluence-media.co/4mH1bTg
The U.S. is ending its “de minimis” exemption for imported packages today, raising prices on some items from overseas. NPR: http://fluence-media.co/4oZeZKm
morning take will return on Tuesday due to the holiday weekend.
Sunday Take will be live from the WCCO Radio Porch at 9AM Sunday at the State Fair.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take was live at the State Fair as GOP Rep. Keith Allen and DFL Sen. Doron Clark discussed their lifelong friendship and how to bridge political divisions. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/3HuzoGl
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SHOOTING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Families have identified the two children who were killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School Wednesday as Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10. … Joe Thompson, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, said Thursday the shooter left behind hundreds of pages of writing expressing ‘hate towards almost every group imaginable’ and seemed to be obsessed with harming children. Authorities searched three homes in Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and Richfield that are associated with the shooter. Thompson said the FBI hasn’t found evidence to indicate that the killer had any help Wednesday, but that’s something they’re still looking into.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mIxIbu
SECURITY: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today ordered the deployment of state law enforcement personnel to support public safety efforts around schools and places of worship in Minneapolis. … The Governor authorized the deployment of 20 state personnel, including 14 Minnesota State Patrol troopers and six Department of Natural Resources enforcement officers. The responders will be organized into two-person squads, with two squads assigned per precinct across five precincts in Minneapolis, with a particular focus on schools and places of worship. The troopers and enforcement officers will coordinate with the Minneapolis Police Department to assist with patrol coverage and visibility.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/41o7IK0
GUN CTRL: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A group of Minneapolis political leaders and gun control advocates called for a ban on assault weapons in the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting. … U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minneapolis Major Jacob Frey were among those calling for a ban on Thursday, echoing a similar call from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison at a vigil on Wednesday evening. … Leaders were speaking [Thursday] alongside representatives from Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. Frey reiterated his call for a statewide and nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, though he said if nothing happened at that level, he would try to implement restrictions at the city level.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mDxVN9
MORE: Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-3rd) spoke to WCCO Radio about her belief that studying gun violence more will help spark bipartisan reforms. MORRISON: “As a doctor, I'm a big believer in gathering evidence and using the best available information to set policy. One of the things that we need to do is to study gun violence in America more to help us come up with those solutions. … There's not going to be one thing that is going to solve it.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/45W6E14
RESPONSE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Some Republican lawmakers said the state should allocate more funding to improve security in schools and houses of worship. ‘Now is the time to make school security funding a priority,’ state Sen. Julia Coleman, R-Waconia, said on X. ‘I’m engaging with legislators, community leaders, and families to chart a path forward. This isn’t a time for partisan politics or blame.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45DAlFt
VICTIMS: via FOX 9’s Seth Kaplan, VERBATIM: “City of Minneapolis and public safety officials say one additional injured victim has been identified in yesterday’s shooting at the Church of the Annunciation. Total injured is now 18, previously reported at 17.” TWEET: http://fluence-media.co/3Vpi6gW
From yesterday’s lunch take:
HEALTH: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A day after a shooter opened fire on children praying at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Hennepin Healthcare has released an update on the conditions of the victims in their care. … During a news conference Thursday, Hennepin Healthcare shared that six patients were in ‘satisfactory’ condition — five children and one adult. One child and one adult were in serious condition, and one child is in critical condition. One patient had also been discharged as of Thursday morning.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oT6uk5
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DFL: The official X/Twitter account of the Minnesota DFL shared numerous posts yesterday criticizing specific Republican state legislators for voting against various gun control bills in the past. DFL Chair Richard Carlbom defended the practice after GOP strategist Jennifer DeJournett publicly asked them to stop. CARLBOM: “Honesty isn’t your strong suit. Accountability for inaction. You are part of the obstruction. You are an apologist for the gun lobby. Reflect on your inaction.” TWEET: http://fluence-media.co/47Sg9B8
LGBTQ: Rep. Tom Emmer told the New York Post that he wants Minnesota to address Wednesday’s mass shooting by repealing its legal protections for transgender people. AP News reported that suspect Robin Westman’s gender identity has not been confirmed, but records show that Westman’s name was legally changed in 2020, with their mother writing that Westman “identifies as a female.” EMMER: “We got to respect everyone. We got to have compassion for everyone. But we got to understand that we’ve got some serious mental health issues that are being exacerbated by these types of messages by people like Tim Walz and everybody who supported that law. … They should immediately repeal it, but they won’t.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3JD9elp
GOV RACE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “DFL Chair Richard Carlbom [said] he spoke with Gov. Tim Walz this week about his political future as Walz weighs whether to seek a third term. Carlbom thinks Minnesota will know Walz's decision ‘in the next couple of weeks.’ But for now, Carlbom said Walz is ‘going through his process’ and does not know if the governor is running for a third term.” CARLBOM: “I've known Gov. Walz and First Lady Walz for nearly 20 years, and they are very thoughtful, deliberative decisionmakers and they have a process by which they make decisions like this — and that process obviously was delayed because of the assassination of Melissa Hortman. But they are working through their process and ultimately, I hope Gov. Walz runs for re-election. I think he has served the state extremely well.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mCJjbV
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)
TESTSCORES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota test scores held steady in 2025 — still leaving about half of students short of grade-level benchmarks in math and reading, new data show…Black and American Indian students, and students of two or more races, showed some progress, however, in closing some of the nation’s widest achievement gaps… Students still are struggling to meet grade-level standards in math, and racial disparities persist, according to the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) data.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3VngHYb
ICE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota isn’t anywhere near the top of the list of states when it comes to ICE and CBP contracts, although those agencies purchase a variety of goods and services in the state that range from ammunition sales to translation services. … Minnesota has $2.1 million worth of contracts in force since the beginning of the year, while Texas has more than $414 million, Arizona has more than $478 million and California has about $329 million. … An analysis of federal contracts shows that in Minnesota, ICE and CBP have spent the most money on the purchase of ammunition, mainly from Anoka-based Vista Outdoor Sales. That company signed about $60 million in contracts. … But there are other notable contracts. The Personnel Decisions Research Institute in Minneapolis signed one valued at more than $1 million with CBP to implement license exams.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mNOTsb
FED FUNDS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Latino nonprofit COPAL Minnesota is scrambling, trying to save a building project to support its job training program after two key government grants were cut. Dozens of other nonprofits providing help to businesses and job seekers also are pivoting, as their funding either declined or was canceled. Included is Wildflyer Coffee, which provides training for homeless youth. … The cuts also affect groups like Enterprise Minnesota, which helps mostly rural manufacturers with all sorts of support from equipment and efficiency consulting to industry certifications. And the AARP Foundation, which provides money for job training programs for older adults. It recently cut its staff after learning it will soon lose nearly $300 million in federal funding.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3HYLho3
PREP: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration is threatening to cancel funding for a program that provides sex education to young Minnesotans unless references to so-called ‘gender ideology’ are removed within 60 days. The Minnesota Department of Health, which administers Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grants to local organizations and schools, confirmed it was one of 46 states and territories that received the request, [but] a department spokesperson said no funds had been cut and that officials were determining next steps. … Minnesota received $690,000 from the federal government in fiscal year 2024 for PREP programs. The dollars are distributed to local programs across the state.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4n9gBj1
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)
CYBERATTACKS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota cities and counties can better prepare to respond to a cyberattack, but aiming to prevent one in the first place may be futile. … Places like St. Paul, hit by a ransomware attack last month, are especially vulnerable. ‘As larger, more savvy organizations batten down their hatches, we have seen [attackers] shift to smaller organizations, to cities and more vulnerable entities,’ said state Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove. … Bahner spoke Wednesday during a meeting of the Minnesota Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity, which took testimony from St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and other city officials. … Carter said that the only ongoing service interruption is erratic Internet access at libraries.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45FOBO3
WEST NILE: via Board of Animal Health, VERBATIM: “A handful of West Nile Virus (WNV) cases across Minnesota began on Aug. 11 when the Minnesota Board of Animal Health received a report of an unvaccinated Kittson County horse testing positive for WNV, a mosquitoborne disease. This marks the first confirmed equine detection of WNV disease in Minnesota this year. … Infected horses cannot spread the virus to people or other horses, [but] four horses have died.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/41vUx9U
WILLMAR: via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Campaign volunteers for 7th District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., spent [an] evening enjoying an ‘end-of-summer happy hour’ [with] only campaign volunteers and U.S. Rep. Fischbach supporters allowed to enter the room. … More than a dozen people stood on the public sidewalk outside The Oaks holding signs criticizing Fischbach’s support of the policies of the Trump Administration. … Fischbach [answered] only one question: Did she plan to host a town hall for her constituents to ask questions and get answers? … Fischbach stated she had spent all day in her office speaking with her constituents before shutting her car door and driving away.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4n6UYjk
OAK PARK HGTS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Former Oak Park Heights City Council member Mark Swenson is back on the council after a 6½-year hiatus. Swenson, 61, who served on the council from 1994 to 2018, was appointed [this week] to fill a vacancy on the council. He was one of five residents who applied for the position, which was left open when council member Chuck Dougherty became mayor after the May 26 death of former Mayor Mary McComber. … Swenson will serve on the council until a special election to fill the seat is held in November 2026. … Swenson will be sworn in at the Sept. 9 council meeting.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4oXk7P7
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO CELEBRATE: Flint Hills Resources and its employees are proud of the company they keep, including many community partners that help make Minnesota a better place to live and learn. Not only is the Pine Bend refinery celebrating 70 years, many of the company’s long-time partnerships have milestones in 2025 — 25 years of the Flint Hills Family Festival in partnership with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 25 years with Friends of the Mississippi River to restore critical habitat, 30 years with the Minnesota Zoo, and 40 years with Ducks Unlimited. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZfDkjY (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
BECKER CTY: via Detroit Lakes Tribune, VERBATIM: “To the dismay of local environmentalists, the Becker County Planning Commission wants to make it easier and cheaper to build retaining walls in shoreland areas. The planning commission agreed [with] only one dissenting vote to recommend that the county board change the ordinance so that conditional use permits are no longer required for shoreland zone retaining walls. … A half-dozen or so people spoke against the proposed changes. … Willis Mattison of Osage [said it] ‘would significantly weaken our county's shoreline ordinance and deny public access to the permitting process for construction of certain retaining wall structures.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3JD8Gfl
AFTON: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The city of Afton, which has been holding council meetings on Zoom since the COVID-19 pandemic, had to shut down the online option for remote participation last week when a meeting was hijacked by hackers sharing pornographic videos. City officials immediately tried to close out the videos, but ‘there were multiple sign-ins/people, so we could not get rid of them,’ said Mayor Bill Palmquist. When they restarted the meeting, the videos came back after just a few minutes, Palmquist said. ‘Unfortunately, we had to shut it down and just stop the feed,’ he said. ‘I guess this has happened to other cities as well. It is very disappointing, to say the least.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4g23ldy
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
RESEARCH: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “In the wake of the Annunciation School tragedy, the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University shared statistics on mass shootings at schools and houses-of-worship from 2000 through 2025. Researchers focused on 125 shootings across the nation with more than 2 fatalities or more than 3 casualties. Here are the patterns they found.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JA7klv DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4n219ou
COUNSELING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Sarah Jerstad, psychologist and medical director of outpatient mental health services at Children’s Minnesota, spoke with MPR News senior health reporter Erica Zurek about how to help children process and manage their feelings of distress related to school shootings.” JERSTAD: “First of all, hear their story and understand what they have been through. Many kids observe situations like this on TV or hear about them through the news. They often feel significant fear because most kids go to school and think, ‘This could happen to me.’ Even if a kid has not experienced it directly, many will struggle with going to school and feeling safe.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4p4U60r
BROADBAND: via a DEED press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today released the state's draft final proposal for using federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds to expand broadband availability. The proposal would extend broadband access to 75,000 Minnesota homes and businesses, covering every location eligible for BEAD funding in the state. DEED is accepting public comment on the proposal for seven days, after which it will finalize and submit the plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for approval before the end of the year. Construction could begin in late spring or early summer 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fVR0HI
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events scheduled.
TODAY: via an MDE advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will release Minnesota's 2025 Assessment and Accountability data Friday, August 29.”
SUNDAY: MN 50501 and numerous labor unions are hosting a “Workers Over Billionaires” protest at MSP Airport on Labor Day as part of a national day of action opposing income inequality and the Trump Administration. The event is at 12:30 p.m.
WED-THURS: The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture is hosting two virtual sessions to gather public input and ideas for the 2026 legislative session. The first is Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 12:00 noon. The second is Thursday, Sept. 4 at 5:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/46W26Kr
THURSDAY: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter will give his annual city budget address on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 10:00 a.m. This address was previously scheduled for Aug. 14 before being postponed due to a citywide cyberattack. Carter will also deliver his library budget address at 1:00 p.m. the same day.
BDAYS: labor guy Richard Kolodziejski, Regent Ellen Luger. SAT: Rep. Alex Falconer, Trade Office’s Laurence Reszetar, PR guy Ryan Mathre. SUN: DFL Senate staffer Justin Emmerich, IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina public affairs pro Rachel Eason, fmr. Sen. Dean Barkley, fmr. state Rep. Betty Folliard. MON: communication pro Val Martin, attorney Andy Brehm, Habitat CEO Chris Coleman, Rep. Cal Warwas, Fed’s Alene Tchourumoff
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