Twins win.
Five things to watch when the pads come on for the Vikings. PI: https://fluence-media.co/3UBGnzW
UnitedHealth gave 2025 earnings guidance that fell well short of Wall Street’s expectations. CNBC: https://fluence-media.co/4o9m6PJ
Wakesurfing becoming a debated topic on impact on Minnesota lakes. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/45q6hNh
Happy National Chicken Wing Day.
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Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN:https://fluence-media.co/4lGBWQh
Sunday Take focused on Capitol security concerns and state Sen. Eric Pratt discussing his run for U.S. Rep. Angie Craig’s seat. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mk2GWV
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MAYOR: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, a former policy director for St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, is exploring a run for mayor and asking fellow lawmakers for their ‘support or neutrality,’ according to political organizers with knowledge of her campaign. It’s a decision that would put her on a political collision course with her own former boss, a fellow DFLer. Her, 52, did not return calls…but others at St. Paul City Hall or with connections to state lawmakers said they were confident she was preparing to announce a mayoral run.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mezQXN
DOMAIN: The web domain HerForMayor.com was registered on July 24th.
HOUSING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said he paused funding to dozens of housing stabilization recipients on Monday, citing concerns about potential misuse of the money. Walz told reporters at an unrelated event that about 50 of the largest recipients of Medicaid funding aimed at helping people get and keep stable housing would not get paid as a result. … Walz said new laws allowing state agencies to stop grant funding when they detect potential fraud allowed him to pause the payments. It wasn’t immediately clear how long they’d be on hold.” WALZ: “The payments that were scheduled to go today are not going out to them. I fully expect some of those folks will sue the state of Minnesota.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4meBjgL
CANADA: A Fluence analysis of the latest Customs & Border Protection data shows that border crossings from Canada to Minnesota this fiscal year are currently below FY2023 and FY2024 levels, but above FY2022 numbers during the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, border crossings in FY2025 roughly matched FY2024 rates until the inauguration of Pres. Donald Trump — after that, rates began to decline.
SECURITY: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said Monday that the state should consider hardening capitol security after a man accessed the Senate Chamber this weekend. … The governor said he participated in another briefing with public safety officials Monday morning, although he was in contact with them throughout the weekend. … Walz said legislative leaders are scheduled to meet this week with the Department of Public Safety to discuss security protocols, which could include conversations about potential legislative fixes. … Also on Monday, Senator Heather Gustafson (D-Vadnais Heights) requested an independent review of Capitol security from the Office of the Legislative Auditor. … Walz said he would [also] support an independent review.” WALZ: “The door the individual came through did not set off an alarm. … You can't have [a] capitol fortress, but you certainly can't have somebody like this [having] unfettered access to the Capitol.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/44SUnLR
MORE: Capitol security officials will hold a news conference to announce a security assessment and review – details are below.
TAKE: There seems to be a missing urgency (again) on Capitol security since that horrific and tragic Saturday morning. This past weekend’s incidents shouldn’t have been the catalyst, which it appears to be the case. There is a balance that can and should be achieved between access to the people’s building, and the safety and security of those who work in the complex. However, it appears as though there’s hasn’t even been anything discussed at a higher level.
A meeting with legislative leaders was mentioned by Gov. Tim Walz yesterday and Lt. Gov. Flanagan, chair of the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security (ACCAS) finally had a spokesperson put out a statement. Someone should ask questions about the urgency, and the leadership from Flanagan and the too tight-lipped other bipartisan members of the ACCAS.
LTGOV: via KTTC, VERBATIM: “ACCAS provides advice and makes recommendations to the governor and legislature but has no authority to implement changes to Capitol security,” a spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Monday. QUOTE: “The Lieutenant Governor has been working with legislators and public safety officials for the last several weeks to prepare for an ACCAS meeting set for August 20,” the spokesperson added. “The committee will conduct discussions with lawmakers and public safety officials in future meetings over the coming months regarding how best to continue to ensure the Capitol is a safe place to work and visit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l55R3H
MORE: Via KSTP, additional details on the man who allegedly broke into the Capitol over the weekend. VERBATIM: “DPS said an active warrant out of Wisconsin for [Dominic] Peace’s arrest ‘was not something that initially allowed for extradition,’ which is part of why he was not initially taken into custody, according to the agency. That warrant, according to Wisconsin court records, was issued in February after Peace failed to attend a restitution hearing. … DPS officials say when state law enforcement officers searched Peace in the system, the warrant from Wisconsin read ‘no extradition, in-state pickup only.’ In the time since the February warrant was issued…Peace was cited by police at least five different times for minor offenses.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/46xglFs
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)
VOTER LIST: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office has told the U.S. Justice Department it won't comply with a request to share the state’s voter registration list. The decision comes after the DOJ asked Minnesota election officials last month for access to the state's voter rolls and other information in an effort to show proof of compliance with federal election law. … General counsel for the Secretary of State’s Office Justin Erickson said the Justice Department didn't ‘identify any legal basis’ for its request, nor did it explain how the data would be ‘used, stored and secured.’ The DOJ did not explicitly say why it needed the state's voter roll data.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3H5U3Aa
RESPONSE: via a House GOP press release, VERBATIM: “Republican members of the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee have sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Steve Simon urging his office to comply with a request from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for Minnesota’s statewide voter registration list. … Committee members expressed concern that refusing to comply with a routine DOJ request could expose the state to unnecessary legal risk…[and] trigger costly legal action from the federal government. The letter [was] signed by all House Republicans on the committee.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45pHNDS
CD5: via Ilhan for Congress, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar [announced] a slate of endorsements from DFL leaders, including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Tina Smith.” OMAR: “Together, we are going to continue to build a strong coalition to regain Democratic majorities at every level of government and deliver meaningful results. I am proud to stand alongside these public servants.”
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Four years after narrowly surviving a primary challenge, DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar looks increasingly unlikely to face major opposition on her way to winning a fifth term. … [Don] Samuels, who lost to Omar the last two cycles but came closer than anyone to defeating her, said he won’t run again in 2026. Former House DFL Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, who was seen as another formidable contender, also [said] he has no plans to run.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3GYmXCm
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)
MEDICAID: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “As changes to Medicaid funding and enrollment requirements come into effect over the next few years, the Minnesota Department of Human Services estimates that 140,000 Minnesotans will lose their coverage, officials said. … ‘That's about 12% of current program enrollment,’ said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. … The state's latest analysis of the impacts of the [Big Beautiful Bill] predicts that, over the next four years, Minnesota will lose $1.4 billion in federal funding. ‘We actually expect those losses to get bigger over time, as well,’ Connolly said.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4l1N35k
HIGHER ED: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Charlie Rollin, a rising St. Olaf College junior, has begun to retool his plans to attend veterinary school. That’s because within the [Big Beautiful Bill] are new restrictions on borrowing for graduate and professional school students. Some schools are now financially out of reach for Rollin, who is relying on loans and scholarships to finance his education. … The changes mean many students in expensive but high-earning professional programs like law or medicine may not be able to pursue them without family wealth or access to private loans, since total costs often climb above the new loan limits.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46soMSp
DATA PRIVACY: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “One of the strongest data protection laws in the country will go into effect on July 31. The Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act creates new protections for the personal data of Minnesotans, which includes anything from a person’s name to their search history. … Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a press conference [that] the law is expected to crack down on data brokers that store and sell personal information. Small businesses are exempt. … The Attorney General’s Office will be hiring attorneys and an investigator to enforce the law.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/40FCu0w
MINING: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The massive [Keetac tailings basin] complex has stored the leftovers of taconite mining for decades. Every day, the processing plant sends about 20 million gallons of water laced with sulfate into it. Water is also constantly draining out of the basin, flowing south to a wild rice bed in Hay Lake. Now, state regulators are poised to restrict the pollution from the Keetac basin. A draft permit would make owner U.S. Steel add eight sites to test the water and impose limits on sulfate discharges. If successful, it will be the first tailings site on the Iron Range where the state will enforce a rule to protect wild rice.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4mdi8DZ
LAWSUIT: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A troubled housing development geared toward East African immigrants now faces default judgement for not cooperating with a state investigation and lawsuit into alleged fraud. Hennepin County District Court Judge Christian Sande granted the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office request to end its lawsuit against Nolosha Development by ruling that the company violated [the law]. … Sande will hold a future evidentiary hearing to determine how much Nolosha must pay back to its clients.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4kYSlys
METRO TRANSIT: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Metro Transit staff will host pop-up open houses to answer questions and gather comments as it plans the next arterial bus rapid transit lines. … Project staff are gathering feedback for the Metro Transit’s Arterial BRT Plan Update which will identify the next three arterial bus rapid transit lines known as the J, K and L lines. Those lines are planned to open between 2030 and 2035. … Ten corridors are under consideration, and Metro Transit officials began accepting comments on them July 23. That feedback, as well as technical evaluation and input from cities, counties and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will help identify the J, K and L lines later this year.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4f8h0iK
AG BILL: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today held a ceremonial bill signing for the Agriculture Finance and Policy Omnibus bill. The bill strengthens Minnesota’s agricultural economy, boosts support for family farmers, and invests in local food systems. To celebrate the signing, Governor Walz visited Apple Jack Orchards owned by Mary and Ray Mithun, and was joined by legislators and members of Minnesota’s agriculture industry. … The legislation provides critical investments to support farmers and modernizes Minnesota’s agriculture systems across the state.”
DRONES: via a Rep. Brad Finstad press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced his introduction of the Protecting America’s Airspace from Unauthorized Drone Activity Act, legislation that would codify President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty. The [bill] works to address the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, by criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors who have recently intensified their use of drone technology.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/40E97vB
DUCKS: via a Rep. Michelle Fischbach press release, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) introduced the HEN Act to significantly increase the production of mallards across the country and support the hunting community. … The HEN Act will authorize $3.5 million in competitive grant funding each year for five years for the construction, installation, and maintenance of nearly 20,000 hen houses, resulting in the production of tens of thousands of additional mallards throughout the country.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4o6hTg1
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)
MPLS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The opening of a North Minneapolis riverfront amphitheater is coming sooner than you might expect, given how long it took to get a deal done. A groundbreaking is scheduled for Sept. 20, which would create a timeline for the first show on Memorial Day weekend 2027. … First Avenue owner Dayna Frank told Axios last week her team would have to begin booking concerts for the summer of 2027 ‘tomorrow,’ because that's the lead time on musical acts. … Frank said the project fills two voids in the Twin Cities' concert scene — it'll be the only urban amphitheater of a ‘boutique’ size and it will be the only one in North Minneapolis.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4f8hPIm
ST PAUL: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “New safety measures have gone up around Como Regional Park's athletic fields. St. Paul Parks and Recreation recently spent about $117,000 to install rock barriers and fortified poles at McMurray Athletic Fields in an effort to prevent vehicles from accessing the soccer and baseball fields. A spokesperson tells Bring Me The News that they're a ‘precautionary measure’ stemming from an incident in the spring. A driver drove onto the park's soccer fields during a game in April. No one was injured, but the city wants to make sure it never happens again.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3U4CH9P
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A state lawmaker says she plans to create legislation to block development of Rochester’s planned sports and recreation complex if the Rochester City Council refuses to put the brakes on the $65 million outdoor phase of the project. … HICKS: ‘If the City Council decides not to pause and come back to the community and ask what we want and center our voices, I will offer a bill to rework the sports complex portion of the 2023 revision for the local sales tax,’ Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, said Monday during an event at City Hall prior to a council update on the project.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4f79c0A
WILLMAR: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For the nearly 40 families who visited the newest food shelf in Willmar, Minn., the bags of onions, potatoes and milk came with a welcome guarantee: Everything was halal and conforming to their faith. The Community Connector Services Halal Food Shelf, which opened Friday, hopes to meet the needs of Willmar’s growing East African population. … Willmar, a city of nearly 20,000 two hours west of Minneapolis, has seen a growing number of Somali immigrants, drawn by jobs at the Jennie-O meatpacking plants.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4f7Ph1C
STEWARTVILLE: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Stewartville Public Schools Superintendent Belinda Selfors has announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The announcement is the latest in a number of recent leadership changes among Rochester-area school districts. … As of [now], there are new superintendents at the school districts of Byron, Kasson-Mantorville, Pine Island, Kenyon-Wanamingo and Plainview-Elgin-Millville. … The Stewartville School Board [discussed] the search process for a new superintendent on Monday.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lkvBt7
TODAY: via news advisory from Dept. of Public Safety, VERBATIM: The Minnesota State Patrol will be hiring a third-party expert to conduct a full security assessment at the Minnesota State Capitol complex. The State Patrol began discussing the importance of hiring a firm for an independent security review following the June 14 murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the shootings of John and Yvette Hoffman. The assessment is in addition to measures already taken to improve security at the Capitol complex in collaboration with local law enforcement partners.” WHO: Commissioner Bob Jacobson, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, Interim Police Chief Joseph Dotseth, Metro Transit Police Department, Chief Axel Henry, St. Paul Police Department
Inspector Darin McDonald, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Inspector Daryl Gullette, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Representatives from the House and Senate sergeants at arms, Executive Director Sue Abderholden, National Alliance on Mental Illness
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will meet with Medical Alley leadership.
TODAY: via a DCYF advisory, VERBATIM: “The Department of Children, Youth, and Families…is inviting members of the media to attend an upcoming briefing to learn more about program impacts of the recently passed federal budget bill. … Scheduled panelists include Tikki Brown, [DCYF] commissioner.” The virtual event is at 10:00 a.m.
TOMORROW: via Rep. Kelly Morrison, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) will join small businesses from across Minnesota for a press conference to highlight the cost of President [Donald] Trump’s tariff wars. … In addition to the press conference on Wednesday, Rep. Morrison will spend the week traveling to small businesses across Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.” The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TOMORROW: via MN Budget Project, VERBATIM: “Medicaid advocates are coming together to celebrate all that Medicaid means to Minnesotans, and to remind state policymakers that our coalition will continue to advocate for [the program]. … Advocates will sign a giant birthday card and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to celebrate Medicaid’s 60th birthday.” The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TOMORROW: via Citizens League, VERBATIM: “Join us online for ‘The Future of Small, Local, and Cultural Media.’ … [It’s] an important conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing small, local and cultural media outlets; how existing news and media outlets are trying to evolve and adjust operations; and what we can do to preserve local media outlets as critical community resources across the state.” The event is at 12:00 noon. DETAILS: http://fluence-media.co/44Ko8yh
SATURDAY: MN 50501 will host the protest event “Rage Against the Regime” in St. Paul on Saturday, described in a release as “a gathering of protestors and activists to safely let out their rage at the current administration. Old electronics and other objects will be smashed in a controlled area. There will also be music, food, and a satirical puppet show.” The event is at 11:00 a.m.
BDAYS: public affairs pro Pat Sexton, Senate DFL’s Mike Mullen, MSPBJ’s Editor Dirk DeYoung, Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, fmr. Rep. Andy Dawkins
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take from now to the future is in memory of Melissa Hortman her accessibility, leadership and commitment to public service.
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