Twins lose.
US Tennis Player Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend is from Minnesota – Morgan Riddle.
Grand Casino Arena launches today – hockey season starts soon!
2025’s State Fair attendance was over 1.94 million — the highest total since 2019, but still short of a record. Only one of the 12 days set a new individual record this year. MPR: http://fluence-media.co/466HmgZ
Food & Wine named Diane’s Place in Minneapolis as its 2025 Restaurant of the Year. SEE: http://fluence-media.co/4lSaqi5
St. Paul native Tommy Brennan will be part of the Saturday Night Live cast in October. PIPRESS: http://fluence-media.co/3UYfpTA
A St. Paul student was arrested after bringing a gun to the first day of school. BMTN: http://fluence-media.co/41yopSW
Speaker Lisa Demuth is on WCCO Radio today at 7:20. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/WCCOLive
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured Republicans Kendall Qualls and Rep. Kristin Robbins discussing their campaigns for governor at the State Fair. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4g3PEuv
AUDIENCE: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
TODAY: via a White House advisory, VERBATIM: “Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance will visit Minneapolis, Minnesota to pay their respects to victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting. They will hold a series of private meetings to convey condolences to the families of those affected by the tragedy.”
HOUSE POLL: The Minnesota House shared results from its annual State Fair poll of 9,945 self-selected respondents. Topics included gun safety, undocumented migrants, school schedules, fiscal policy and more. Here are some of the most notable results:
● No guns in the Capitol building: 79% support, 17% oppose, 4% undecided
● No undocumented immigrants in state programs: 27% support, 66% oppose, 7% undecided
● Starting school before Labor Day: 40% support, 36% oppose, 24% undecided
● Higher taxes for highest earners: 67% support, 25% oppose, 7% undecided
● How to balance MN’s state budget: 44% increase revenue, 41% decrease spending, 15% undecided
● No free school meals for $150K+ households: 42% support, 54% oppose, 4% undecided
● Allowing cities/counties to ban cannabis shops: 48% support, 42% oppose, 10% undecided
● State money for sports arenas: 19% support, 69% oppose, 12% undecided
Full results for all 12 questions are available online. DATA: http://fluence-media.co/4mLL7zC
SPECIAL SESSION: Gov. Tim Walz said he intends to call a special session this week regardless of whether or not he has the votes to pass a suite of student safety proposals, as seen in yesterday’s lunch take. Now, House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she is on board to support bipartisan safety proposals after speaking with the governor. DEMUTH: “After a long-overdue conversation with the Governor, the facts are clear: if he decides to call a special session, anything that we do needs to have bipartisan support. The House proved that we can work in a bipartisan fashion last session, and that cooperation needs to continue. If Governor Walz and Democrats are focused on partisan accusations and demands, this special session will not be productive for the people of Minnesota.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mS6G1C
MORE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A narrowly divided legislature will make any sweeping [gun] changes a tough sell. … Even with a trifecta, DFLers weren't able to get a couple gun laws across the finish line, including safe gun storage and reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns. A bill that would've banned assault weapons and large-capacity magazines was introduced, but never got a hearing.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3UTPDjh
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “With a narrow split in the Legislature, only bills with bipartisan backing will advance. So while top line-items for Democrats could be up for debate, others like boosting mental health supports and school security measures, would have a clearer path forward…Only Walz can call a special legislative session. But lawmakers call the shots about what they take up and when they adjourn. Typically, governors and legislative leaders strike a deal in advance about the parameters of a special session to keep it from going off the rails… So far, there hasn’t been much detail put behind the call for added services. That leaves it unclear whether that would mean publicly funded health services, if there would be more in-school counseling and if people who seek out care could be steered away from guns or other tools that can inflict harm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pcdxV9
CITIES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A slate of mayors from the Twin Cities and its suburbs ramped up calls for new gun laws on Tuesday in the wake of last week’s mass shooting. … Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse, and about a half-dozen other metro-area mayors said state legislators need to convene to pass bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. … If legislators are unwilling, they should at least change a state law that prevents local governments from passing their own gun control rules, Frey said. … The state law that pre-empts local governments from passing their own tougher gun regulations, which the mayors are now targeting, dates to 1985 — and was backed by rural Democrats.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/41yfC3x
RESPONSE: via a GOP Rep. Paul Novotny statement, NOVOTNY: “State firearm preemption laws safeguard Minnesotans from a confusing patchwork of local rules that could turn law-abiding citizens into criminals simply for crossing a city or county line. The Second Amendment does not change depending on your zip code, and every law-abiding Minnesotan deserves the same right to protect themselves and their family no matter what city or county they are currently in. Constitutional freedoms shall not be infringed by a county or city government, and I trust the courts would agree.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46hzESl
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DELEGATION: Via a Rep. Tom Emmer post, all eight members of Minnesota’s U.S. House delegation led a bipartisan moment of silence in the chamber yesterday. EMMER: “This evening, we held a moment of silence on the House floor to honor the victims of the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Our prayers continue to be with the families of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, as well as with all those who have been impacted by this tragedy.” PHOTO: http://fluence-media.co/429xnGo
OMAR: DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar was on CNN’s “State of the Union” this week to advocate for passing new safety laws at the federal level in response to last week’s mass shooting in her district. Omar said she supports gun regulations, funding for mental health programs and bolstered security. QUOTE: “We oftentimes look at this issue as a Democratic issue or Republican issue. … But this is about our children. Our children don't have a political ideology. They deserve the right to grow up, to be adults, to raise their own children and contribute to the future of this country.” WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3K0cEP4
34B: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Just months after the Hortmans were killed in their own home in an assassination that shocked the country, [Xp] Lee is in the awkward position of being on the precipice of moving his political career forward — and into the seat occupied by [Melissa] Hortman for more than two decades. Lee and his Republican opponent, Ruth Bittner, are in the final weeks of a campaign that shouldn’t be happening right now. But it is, and the two candidates are carefully making their case even as the shadow of the assassination looms. … The race for House District 34B, which includes parts of Brooklyn Park and Champlin in Hennepin County, and part of Coon Rapids in Anoka County, will be decided in a special election on Sept. 16.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3JK3ypE
EPA: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Alexander Cole wasn’t surprised when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired him by email. … [Cole] was among the six employees at the EPA’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth placed on leave July 3 for signing a ‘Declaration of Dissent’ criticizing the Trump Administration’s politicization of the agency. The leave period was initially supposed to be two weeks long so EPA could investigate the employees, but the agency kept extending it until it reached nearly two months. … According to Cole, he and another probationary employee were fired Friday, while the other four Duluth employees placed on leave received either a one-week extension of leave or a ‘notice of proposed removal.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46pTudl
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)
PRESCHOOL: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “State lawmakers last year agreed to fund another 5,200 seats of free, voluntary pre-kindergarten in Minnesota. That commitment allowed the St. Paul Public Schools to roughly triple pre-K slots this fall to 1,500. … The new opportunity, though, comes with a cost for private child care and preschool operators who worry the state’s big bet on publicly funded preschool could put them out of business. … The cost of infant and toddler care far exceeds the cost of pre-school care, which means tuition from those older students help the [child care] businesses to break even or make a profit. Losing those students means a serious hit to revenue.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4p5hV8d
SUPERINTENDENTS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “As many school districts face budget cuts and consider new tax levies, 5 INVESTIGATES reviewed the contracts for every superintendent at the 30 largest school districts in the state. … The documents reveal eye-popping perks, monthly stipends, allowances, and [more]. … Dr. David Law at Minnetonka easily earns the most – and not just through his [$298,917] base salary. According to his contract, Law also earns up to $59,783 a year in performance pay if he meets certain goals. Law also receives $1,000 per month for business use of his personal car. The monthly car allowance is a common perk at the 30 largest school districts. According to the 5 INVESTIGATES review, at least 19 of the 30 superintendents receive a stipend for their cars, ranging from $400 to $1,200 every month.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3JJrSIn
EXPANSIONS: via a DEED press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced $4.2 million in business expansion funding for three projects across Minnesota. The projects are expected to create or retain 587 jobs and leverage more than $270 million in private investment.” The recipients are Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, Louis Industries in Paynesville and West Fraser US EWP in Solway. READ: http://fluence-media.co/3I3JY7g
PET SALES: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A growing trend of local ordinances banning the sale of commercially bred animals has put the issue on the state's legislative agenda, brewing a discussion about a statewide ban. 12 Minnesota cities have already passed similar ordinances as communities like Blaine join the movement. DFL House Representative Matt Norris, who represents the north suburban area, is leading the charge. … Norris says a new bill will likely be introduced next session that would allow existing stores to sell animals, but only if they work with licensed breeders.” READ/LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4n7gMLr
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)
TARIFFS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison lauded a ruling from the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals [that] the tariffs Attorney General Ellison challenged in court are unlawful.” ELLISON: “As I travel Minnesota, I continue to hear from people that prices are too high, and these reckless tariffs are only making that worse. My mission is to help Minnesotans afford their lives, so I had to stand up to [Donald] Trump and challenge his illegal tariffs in court.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4n7hoAJ
PRODUCT SAFETY: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) [and others] led 23 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief urging the Fourth Circuit to preserve the independence and effectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in response to President [Donald] Trump’s illegal firing of the CPSC’s three Democratic Commissioners – Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka. … The brief argues that, under the Constitution, Congress has the authority to structure federal agencies and create multimember, independent agencies whose board members are protected from removal without cause.” BRIEF: http://fluence-media.co/4g5yyN2
MEDICAID: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Angie Craig hosted a press conference at Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus alongside state legislators, union members and health care advocates to stand against the sweeping cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act tax credits enacted through the President’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ These cuts have put 140,000 Minnesotans in jeopardy of losing their health care coverage. Rep. Craig was joined by State Representative Robert Bierman; State Senator Judy Seeberger; [and others].” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/45LcTGj
MEASLES: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “More than one in 20 kindergartners in Minnesota schools last year lacked inoculation against measles, one of the most contagious infectious diseases, due to families’ personal objections. That rate has nearly doubled in the past decade, from 2.9% in 2015-16 to 5.7% in 2024-25. … Public health advocates say the ongoing trend leaves Minnesota children increasingly vulnerable to a disease that is highly contagious, potentially deadly and easily preventable.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3V0Bh0u
SPPS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is the second-largest school district in the state, serving around 33,000 students with a billion-dollar budget. … Dr. Stacie Stanley, the new superintendent for the district, discussed the issues and the opportunities ahead as the school year begins. … The district is asking St. Paul residents to vote on an operating levy in the November election to cover a budget shortfall. If approved, it would raise property taxes; for instance, the increase for a St. Paul home valued at $289,200 would be an extra $309 a year. St. Paul currently has an approved billion-dollar budget for the 2026 fiscal year, but still faces a $51.1 million shortfall. Stanley says she has spent the summer explaining the need to residents.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4lWMCd6
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County officials are proposing increases of 9.75% in 2026 and 7.5% in 2027 to the property tax levy as part of the county’s budget. The proposed budget totals $929.25 million in 2026 – a 6.57% increase from the 2025 supplemental budget of $848.5 million. The 2027 proposed budget of $968.45 million is a 4.22% increase from 2026. … The average tax increase on a residential median-value home is estimated at a 4.4% increase, or $22 per month according to county officials.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/463WbRw
ST LOUIS CTY: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Six commissioners lined up squarely Tuesday behind a proposal to increase St. Louis County’s property tax levy by 12.4% next year, but one did not. Ashley Grimm, who represents the county’s 3rd District, including Duluth’s western neighborhoods, made it clear she did not intend to go along with what she considered the proposed budget’s questionable priorities. … In particular, Grimm singled out a plan to set more than $2 million aside to help build a student scholarship endowment. She questioned the need for that scholarship program in light of the state’s North Star Promise Program.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nfNr1J
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)
WABASHA: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “One southeast Minnesota school district has yet to start school this year after mold was discovered in several elementary classrooms. Wabasha-Kellogg public schools has postponed classes at its lone building until further notice to fix the mold issues, which cropped up over the past two weeks as district officials prepared for the school year. An environmental testing team found elevated levels of common mold spores; workers deep-cleaned the affected areas last week but the process delayed ongoing construction.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Vsxnxx
PLAINVIEW: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools informed its families about an issue with mold in its Pre-K-3 building. According to a statement from Superintendent Courtney Frie, the district has been working with multiple contractors to remove the mold and test the air quality. The district expects to have the results of the tests back on Wednesday, Sept. 3.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4g2OJdQ
LEECH LAKE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The tribal agency that oversees the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s housing program is recovering from a fire that consumed its building early Monday morning. Reuben St. Cyr, executive director of the Leech Lake Housing Authority, said he was on the scene of the fire. … The building in Cass Lake, approximately 20 miles east of Bemidji, serves as a hub for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, including the tribe’s housing program. St. Cyr described the building, which served as a repair garage and office space for more than 35 staff members, as a ‘total loss.’ The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s office has opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/460NpUp
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
DHS AUDIT: via a Rep. Kristin Robbins press release, VERBATIM: “In late July, Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), Chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, and other GOP lawmakers, sent a formal letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requesting a federal audit of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). … [Now], the committee received news that the federal government is already conducting an audit of Minnesota Medicaid autism therapy services and would potentially expand its investigation to consider the serious issues raised in Robbins' letter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41yG3WM
2028 POLL: via Emerson College, VERBATIM: “California Governor Gavin Newsom leads in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary with 25% support, a 13-point increase from the Emerson June national poll. Sixteen percent support former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, 11% former Vice President Kamala Harris, 5% Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and 4% support Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, respectively.” The full poll results show Governor Tim Walz at 2.2%, up from 1.7% in June. READ: https://fluence-media.co/46dLE7v DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4oZ1b2B
SENATE RACE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Democrats across the country continue to grapple with what went wrong in 2024. … For [Lt. Gov. Peggy] Flanagan, it starts with a fighting stance. ‘I know resiliency, and survival, and fight, and overcoming challenges and any obstacle that people put in our way,’ she said. Flanagan’s opponent in the Democratic primary is U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate who has represented the south metro in Congress since 2019. As Flanagan courts the party’s progressive grassroots, Craig has long appealed to centrist suburban and rural voters, emphasizing her record supporting law enforcement, border security, agriculture and collaboration across the aisle.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47qpvEc
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events scheduled today.
TODAY: via Sierra Club, VERBATIM: “Tomorrow, elected officials, community members and organizations parties to the case will hold a press conference outside of Minnesota Power’s headquarters in opposition to the proposed Minnesota Power/ALLETE private equity acquisition.” Sen. Jen McEwen will attend. The event is at 2:00 p.m.
TODAY: Protect Minnesota is hosting an event in Minneapolis for writing postcards to House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson that will “call on them to agree to a Special Session to ban weapons of war in Minnesota,” per a release. The event is at 6:00 p.m.
TODAY-TMRW: 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
TOMORROW: 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.
TOMORROW: via an MNJRC advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) announced today it will host its annual Reimagining Justice Conference, themed ‘Committing to Progress in Policing,’ on Thursday, November 20, 2025 in Minneapolis. … The in-person event will include informational and engaging conversations about tools for making our state’s law enforcement more accountable, equitable, and restorative.”
BDAYS: Gov Walz Press Secretary Claire Lancaster, journalist Kirsti Marohn, PR pro Alyssa Hayes, Rep. Pete Johnson, lobbyist Shep Harris, retired lobbyist Bob Ambrose, marketer Brendan Kearin, PPL’s Pauleen Le
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