Twins win. Lynx play tomorrow.
JJ McCarthy likely out next Sunday with a sprained ankle.
Wild training camp opens Thursday.
Eight people shot homeless encampment in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis late Monday. WCCORADIO: https://fluence-media.co/4pgM8kK
Five wounded yesterday at a transit station shooting. FOX9: https://fluence-media.co/42zkSEi
An appeals court ruled that Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook will not be fired for now. CNN: http://fluence-media.co/3Idhfgy
The Senate confirmed White House adviser Stephen Miran as a new Federal Reserve governor. NBC: http://fluence-media.co/3JXiFwe
In his first interview, Pope Leo XIV gave his thoughts on a number of political topics, including polarization and income inequality. CRUX: http://fluence-media.co/4mlHTl7
Peace and Prayers with those returning to Annunciation today.
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take on Walz and Trump, with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3K5XtUL
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger and GOP Rep. Danny Nadeau discussing how they want to move forward with a special session as purple district legislators. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4gxlhNy
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.
2026: Expect an announcement for Gov. Tim Walz’s re-election to run again today. His website has been refreshed overnight. Gone is the “One Minnesota” message, uploaded are new photos.
A new message: “We’ve overcome unprecedented challenges to provide historic investment in education, prioritize clean energy, create new good-paying jobs, increase access to health care, and invest in small businesses and economic development to improve the lives of Minnesotans in every corner of the state. And we’re just getting started.”
That comes after a video on his official X account last night. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4plPOlv
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no events on his public schedule today.
TODAY: Voters will decide between DFLer Xp Lee or Republican Ruth Bittner to fill the seat of late Rep. Melissa Hortman in House District 34B’s special election. Polls will close at 8:00 p.m.
FIRST: via letter from House and Senate Republicans released later today, VERBATIM: “A group of Minnesota House and Senate Republicans on Tuesday sent a joint letter to Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans formally requesting the complete autopsy and toxicology report of the Annunciation Church school shooter. The lawmakers are also asking the BCA to conduct an expanded toxicology analysis to screen for a wide range of substances, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, and more.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/46oAw6y
HORTMAN: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump said Monday he would have ordered flags to be lowered in honor of the Minnesota state lawmaker who was assassinated this summer at her home if he had been asked. The White House has paid tribute in numerous ways to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Mr. Trump, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff. … The moves have prompted criticism about why the president did not take similar actions after the fatal shooting of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat.” TRUMP: “Had the governor of Minnesota asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4glnHys
MORE: Pres. Donald Trump’s full response to a reporter’s question about honoring Rep. Melissa Hortman can be viewed on social media. Trump initially said he was “not familiar” with her before saying he was not asked about it. TRUMP: “I wouldn’t have thought of that, but I would’ve if somebody had asked me. People make requests for the lowering of flag, and oftentimes you have to say no because it would be a lot of lowering — the flag would never be up.” WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/41T1xOd
RESPONSE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “Walz spokesperson Claire Lancaster said in response Monday night that ‘Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a president for all Americans.’ The governor also tweeted a video call for unity that featured references to Hortman’s assassination. … ‘The world feels crazy right now, but we won’t lose hope. We will get through this together,’ Walz said in the video.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4ppxyY9
KIRK: Rep. Tom Emmer was one of the speakers at a vigil in Washington, D.C. honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk this week. Emmer called Kirk’s assassination “a horrific scene that we’ve witnessed unfold too many times before,” comparing it to the assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman earlier this year. The full speech can be viewed online. EMMER: “There is no place in our country for politically motivated violence. None. … How did we get so far away from the values our nation was built upon? More importantly, how do we get back?” WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4pozDnn
OMAR: via Axios, VERBATIM: “Two House Republicans on Monday introduced separate resolutions to punish Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for her comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. … Omar, in a Zeteo interview last week, recounted Kirk's positions on gun control, police reform and race, and spoke dismissively of ‘people who are out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate.’ … Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) introduced a one-page resolution Monday that would kick Omar off the House Budget and Education & Workforce Committees. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also introduced a three-page measure that would kick Omar off her committees and censure her for the comments. … Mace said she plans to exercise her ability to unilaterally force a vote on the measure by the end of this week, telling Axios she hasn't spoken to leadership.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4puJkRm
VACANCIES: Via NPR, the number of federal lawmakers who aren’t running for reelection in 2026 has reached a record high as concerns about political violence become more widespread. Minnesota has two upcoming vacancies — Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Angie Craig. VERBATIM: “The [total] number currently stands at 10 senators and 27 House members. Fifteen are retiring from public office, with the rest running for a different office. … There are more Republicans signaling their desire to exit Washington (27) than Democrats (10). … On the Democratic side, several of the party's older lawmakers are passing on the torch to a new generation of elected officials.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4gnpmUd
MORE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth and DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson [said] they don’t expect a stampede for the exits for incumbents next year. There will be lawmakers pursuing other roles, but Stephenson and Demuth said they’re not hearing that their members are wavering about service given growing concerns about political violence.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nSrlTl
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GUN CTRL: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “The Senate’s Gun Violence Prevention working group met for the first time on Monday, joined by parents and community members impacted by the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting. … One of those parents present was Carla Maldonado, whose children survived the shooting. … Maldonado implored lawmakers to pass an assault weapons ban, the bill at the forefront of the proposals Monday, introduced by Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, DFL-Minneapolis. … Other Democratic proposals to come out of the hearing include a re-enactment of the state’s binary trigger ban that was struck down on Aug. 15 by a district court, a requirement for serial numbers on guns, safe storage requirements, gun safety training and the creation of a civil commitment division in the Attorney General’s Office.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3HY21Mo
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Republicans are pushing to increase funding for mental health treatment beds and school security measures. … Rob Doar, senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, testified in front of the working group that he did not believe an assault-weapons ban or other gun-control measures would curb mass shootings. He urged spending on mental health resources and crisis intervention.” The working group will meet again tomorrow. READ: http://fluence-media.co/3IiXLXQ
SECURITY: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board could sign off this week on two advisory opinions that directly relate to the shootings at the homes of two state legislators. The board is prepared to give political parties permission to use donor money to contract with third-party vendors to provide security guards, threat assessments, guest screening and other safety steps for candidates and at party events. The request came from the DFL this summer. … The second opinion deals with how lawmakers and others at the Capitol cope with the tragedies. The campaign board was asked by Secretary of the Senate Tom Bottern to permit a nonprofit group to provide sessions on trauma and anxiety for legislators and staff.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nSrlTl
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
RURAL MN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Rural Minnesotans have less access to health care providers than their peers in metro areas, a gap that could widen even more with upcoming Mayo clinic closures in Greater Minnesota. Mayo Clinic Health System [has] recently announced that it will close clinics in [six] cities on Dec. 10. … Apart from Belle Plaine, located on the edge of the Twin Cities in Scott County, the other sites are in Greater Minnesota counties. The closures come after the health system closed at least 17 clinics, mostly in southern Minnesota — a few were in northern Iowa — between 2017 and 2024.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4gnMxxI
WAGES: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Most Twin Cities residents aren't seeing their wages rise as fast as the national average, according to new federal data. Ramsey County wages increased by 5.3% between early 2024 and early 2025. It was the only one of the state's five largest counties to see average pay increase more than the national rate. … Inflation rose about 2.7% during the period, cutting into or completely erasing some wage gains.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nvWhZ7
TOWN HALL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Attendees filing into Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale for a town hall with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar on Saturday saw new levels of security. Guards searched bags and waved metal wands before welcoming guests into the event. It's part of a new reality of political violence. … Attendees at the town hall talked about [Charlie] Kirk's assassination, the war in Gaza, gun violence and the federal raid on Lake Street in Minneapolis earlier this summer.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mmUJzQ
HEALTHCARE: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig and Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced their bipartisan Diagnostic Accuracy in Sepsis Act to improve patient safety and lower health care costs by reducing blood culture contamination. This common-sense legislation requires CMS to add a blood culture contamination rate measure to the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction (HAC) Program. Inaccurate sepsis tests due to blood culture contamination cost Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars annually.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/42h1Gvd
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)
BABIES: via a Rep. Kelly Morrison press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) introduced the bipartisan Better Availability of Birth Centers Improves Outcomes and Expands Savings (BABIES) Act, which will improve access to birth centers and expand birth and maternity care through Medicaid, ensuring mothers and babies can get affordable, quality health care. This bipartisan bill is co-led by Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02).” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nq9hPS
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)
NATL GUARD: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today filed an amicus brief in support of D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to the District of Columbia. … Ellison and the coalition urge the District Court for the District of Columbia to grant a preliminary injunction and make clear that the Constitution prohibits the use of soldiers as local law enforcement.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nai3Sw
DEEPFAKES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Investigators on the front lines say they’re facing [increases in] child pornography created using artificial intelligence. … It’s now easier for bad actors to flood the internet with abusive depictions of children that are nearly indistinguishable from actual images of child sex abuse. The influx of what they call child sexual abuse material has placed a strain on law enforcement resources. … More than 10,500 cyber tips reporting child pornography have been flagged in Minnesota this year, images created with generative AI and others without. The number is on track to outpace last year’s 12,595 tips to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4n8hfO7
INSURANCE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A COVID-era policy by the Biden Administration that has lowered the cost of an insurance policy in the ACA marketplace, called MNsure in Minnesota, will end on Dec. 31 unless Congress acts. … More than 167,000 Minnesotans obtained private health care coverage through MNsure this year, mostly students, younger retirees, contractors and the self-employed, including farmers. A majority of those enrollees — 90,000 — benefited from the Biden-era enhanced subsidies. … MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum [said] ‘If Congress doesn’t act quickly…Minnesotans who get federal tax credits through MNsure will see their monthly premiums go up by 54%, on average.’” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3IoLSzy
MOVES: via a Rep. Pete Stauber press release, VERBATIM: “Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) announced four new additions to his District Team: Jacob Ringstad is now serving as the Deputy District Director, Payton Crotty is serving as the Southern Field Representative, Kara Lindstrom is serving as the Western Field Representative and Director of Grants, and Tommy Finstad is serving as a part-time Field Representative.”
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis police response times came to light during a city council meeting Monday about next year’s department budget. Minneapolis Police Department data shown during the meeting showed a 39% increase since 2020 in response time for Priority 1, or life-threatening crime calls. Data showed the median time for priority calls was eight minutes and 29 seconds in 2025, compared to six minutes and six seconds to a call about five years ago. … The city council is expected to vote on a final budget in December.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3K5sZSL
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Property taxes for homeowners in St. Paul’s poorest neighborhoods are poised to rise next year by as much as 8% to 16% or more, depending upon how final numbers play out as city, county and school district levies are approved this December. Together with about $125 in rising water, sewer and recycling fees, that could add well over $600 to total charges for residential property owners in [some] neighborhoods. … Downtown St. Paul would see their property taxes go up the least of any neighborhoods in the city, percentage-wise, while still seeing hikes of several hundred dollars. … Moreso than at any time in the recent past, ‘the tax burden is shifting from commercial to residential,’ said Madeline Mitchell, budget manager for the city of St. Paul, addressing a roomful of elected officials Monday.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4goQYIF
UNDISTURBED LAND: One of the largest undisturbed natural areas in the Twin Cities metro area is the Pine Bend Bluffs in Dakota County. Situated along the Mississippi River, these hundreds of acres owned by Flint Hills Resources are a key migration corridor for millions of songbirds and 40% of North America’s waterfowl and shorebirds. Collaboration among Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening and Flint Hills Resources volunteers help to restore this natural area to pre-settlement conditions. The Pine Bend Bluffs has earned Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification since 2001. The site recently earned gold certification, making the Pine Bend Bluffs currently the only gold certified site in Minnesota and the first ever in the metro area. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4241cZ2 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
MANKATO: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Some faculty are warning that a plan to lay off seven tenured professors at Minnesota State University, Mankato could spell the end of tenure at the school. In August, administrators announced a plan to cut costs by eliminating seven tenured positions through a yearlong process called ‘retrenchment.’ The Faculty Association said in a statement that they were caught by surprise, believing there would be no layoffs of tenured staff because the school already cut almost 100 courses and raised tuition by 8%.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46dyd6c
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Processing credit card payments cost Rochester Public Utilities roughly $650,000 in 2024. ‘That is growing as we have more and more people adopting credit cards as the form of payment,’ RPU General Manager Tim McCollough told the Rochester City Council on Monday. He said 25% of electricity, water and sewer fees are paid through credit cards, which accounts for 85% of the city-owned utilities payment processing costs. To offset the expense, RPU plans to institute a $3 convenience fee on all payments made using a credit or debit card. Official approval of the change is expected with the adoption of an RPU budget later this year.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/466786l
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
RHETORIC: via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “While there were condemnations of the [Charlie Kirk] killing and calls from both Republicans and Democrats immediately afterward to cool the nation’s political rhetoric, there are signs the latter sentiment is already fading away. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) on Friday reposted a video of an influencer calling Kirk a ‘reprehensible human being’ and criticizing the right’s reaction to his death. Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) condemned Omar, writing: ‘You used your platform to share a disgusting video—a video full of lies that tries to justify the actions of the deranged coward who murdered Charlie Kirk.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4npokcA
GUN CTRL: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota, reliably among the bluest of states on matters from health care subsidies to presidential elections, defies easy categorization when it comes to guns. One gun control advocacy group placed it a mere 15th best in the nation on gun laws. ‘Moving from New York, I had to make an adjustment as an organizer to the strong hunting culture here,’ said Kathleen Anderson, a St. Paul resident and volunteer with Moms Demand Action, which is advocating for an assault weapons ban. Indeed, other states including Texas did little to change gun laws after a mass shooting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mdtKqb
DATA CENTERS: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “As data centers are looking at the Northland's cold climate as an opportunity, concerns over energy and water consumption arise. Area Partnership for Economic Expansion held a member meeting [last week] which featured a presentation on ‘Demystifying Data Centers.’ Lucas Mistelske of Ark Data Centers provided an update on the real-world functionality of data centers. The company has been in operation in Duluth for 13 years and has 12 data centers across eight states. Data centers serve as the central operating environment for modern-day business, Mistelske said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4669Mcn
TODAY: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “City Council Members Jamal Osman…Robin Wonsley, Aurin Chowdhury, and Katie Cashman [will host] a press conference to kick off the Slumlord Tier Oversight and Protection ordinance, aka STOP Slumlords. … STOP Slumlords requires that properties that are below city standards have a more rigorous process to renew their license, including a public vote by the City Council.” The event is at 12:30 p.m.
TODAY: via a Pete Stauber advisory, VERBATIM: “Representatives Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) will join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to announce the introduction of the Faster Labor Contracts Act — [a] bipartisan bill aimed to speed up the process of the first collective bargaining agreement between a newly unionized group of workers and their employer.” The event is at 2:00 p.m. DETAILS: http://fluence-media.co/468hK4J
TODAY: via an MN Senate advisory, VERBATIM: “Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) will host a special town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 16 at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in Minneapolis to help people in his district understand how the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting their lives now and into the future.” The event is at 6:15 p.m.
TOMORROW: via an MN Senate advisory, VERBATIM: “On Sept. 17, Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Senator Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and members of the Capital Investment Committee will travel to 12 communities in Southeast Minnesota to learn about 14 proposed projects requesting state matching funds, meet with local officials, and tour project sites. This one-day tour kicks off the committee’s travels across Minnesota prior to the 2026 legislative session.” SCHEDULE: http://fluence-media.co/4ppaNDW
TOMORROW: The Minnesota Senate’s Gun Violence Prevention working group will meet Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. They will only hear proposals previously introduced at Monday’s hearing.
TOMORROW: The Minnesota House’s Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight committee will meet Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to “discuss fraud within Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) and Integrated Community Supports (ICS),” per a release.
THURSDAY: via an MDH advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. on Allina Health’s closure of the inpatient chemical dependency unit at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus in Fridley as well as changes to the Kidney Transplant Program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.”
THIS MONTH: via MN Health Plans, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Council of Health Plans expects a final announcement soon from the state’s Department of Commerce about health insurance rates for Minnesota’s individual market and small businesses. Lucas Nesse, president and CEO of the Council, will be available to provide a statement and/or comments about the Commerce Department announcement. This announcement is due on or before October 1st.”
BDAYS: Allette’s Dave Chura, Rep. Kaela Berg, fmr. Rep. Jerry Newton, neighborhood guy Jim Poulter, Insight News publisher Al McFarlane
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