A pipe burst this morning at WCCO-Radio. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hkCpVR
Some school districts canceled classes today because of the cold. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4h0CFtv
Houston and New Orleans are on track to get more snow than Minneapolis this month. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4aonNSW
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3CqGoRN
Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy and Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson were both on Sunday Take to discuss fraud, co-equal governing and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42lWBCv
Blois
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MNLEG: Via Minnesota House GOP, VERBATIM: “This morning House Republicans filed a petition response to the lawsuits filed by Secretary of State Simon and Rep. Hortman . . . The 39 page brief decisively outlines four specific arguments why the petitions should be dismissed or denied: I. Disputes About The Legislature’s Internal Organization Are For The Legislature, Not The Courts. II. Petitioners Lack Standing. III. Petitioners Cannot Seek Extraordinary-Writ Relief To ‘Correct’ The Results Of Their Own Misconduct. IV. The House Has A Quorum Under Long-Settled Minnesota Law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aygW9S PETITION: https://fluence-media.co/4aqS57E
MORE: From Clay Masters via MPR, VERBATIM: “Week 2 of an unusual Minnesota legislative session gets underway with the fight over power still gripping the Capitol. Republicans in the House continue to hold floor sessions while Democrats continue to boycott. Court decisions late last week pushed a House special election into March while a senator who faces felony charges will not stand trial until after the session. The power struggle has been playing out in the judicial branch.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40Ih3fq
PHILLIPS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Former Minnesota Congressman and also former presidential candidate Dean Phillips (D) is optimistic following Monday's transition of power in Washington during the inauguration and the start of the second presidency for Donald Trump.” QUOTE: "I think we're going to see some good from this administration," Phillips told WCCO's Chad Hartman. "I think you will address some of the issues that have been existing for some time going unaddressed, and I just hope and pray that the United States Congress, particularly my Republican colleagues, put the Constitution first, put our country first, and do their jobs." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3CtzQ4V
CRAIG: Rep. Angie Craig talked with Vineeta Sawkar on WCCO-Radio’s The Morning News about Monday’s inauguration festivities, including an agriculture-themed ball where she advocated, as ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, for a new Farm Bill. QUOTE: “It is certainly important, I think, that we keep showing up. You know that’s what I’ve done no matter who the president is – I show up and I support them when I believe the policy is right for the Second District, and I stand up to them when I don’t.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3CijwE3
MINING: From Izabella Zadra via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Regional political expert Aaron Brown says the biggest changes in Minnesota could revolve around copper-nickel mining in the northeast part of the state. ‘We could expect the reversal of the moratorium on mining exploration in the watershed of the Boundary Waters,’ Brown said. During his campaign, Trump said he’d reverse the 20-year ban on such mining near the Boundary Waters as soon as he could after the Biden Administration canceled Twin Metals leases due to environmental concerns. The company wanted to locate a mine on federal land in the Superior National Forest.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4h2pTuu
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
AWARD: From Jennifer Lewerenz via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota has given the group Communities United Against Police Brutality the Outstanding Community Service Award . . . The Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association called the move ‘shocking and inappropriate’ for the U to partner with and award CUAPB, calling it ‘an extremist organization that spreads misleading and harmful narratives about law enforcement. They create an atmosphere where students are led to believe all police officers are inherently racist, encouraging them to side with criminals instead of supporting law enforcement.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aI6uNb
3M: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “U.S. industrial conglomerate 3M Co on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter adjusted profit above estimates as demand for industrial adhesives, tapes and electronics picked up, sending its shares more than 5% higher in premarket trade. An uptick in demand for electronics used in vehicles and mobile phones boosted results during the holiday quarter, after months of a demand slowdown wrought by inflation-hit consumers postponing big-ticket purchases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h4EHsk
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
DATA CENTERS: From Nick Halter via Axios, VERBATIM: “Massive, energy-sucking data centers are coming to Minnesota amid a national surge in demand driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Why it matters: The proliferation of data centers raises questions about how Minnesota utilities can satisfy this demand while simultaneously meeting a state mandate for 100% carbon-free energy by 2040. State of play: Virginia, California and Texas have been leading states for data center development over the last decade, but real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield recently identified Minnesota as a top 5 emerging market in the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42qFfEv
GRANTS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $6.9 million for 11 communities to assess and clean up contaminated sites for private or public redevelopment. The grants are expected to create 481 new jobs, collectively increase local tax bases by $4.7 million and leverage more than $395 million in private investment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E3N8po
“MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED:” EMPOWERMENT TRAINING OPENS PATHWAY INTO THE TRADES - Since 2019, a partnership between Five Skies Empowerment Training and Enbridge has broadened as unions, contractors and other groups look to connect Native American job seekers to meaningful careers. “They’re gonna open the door for you,” says Joel, a program graduate. “Before the 5 Skies program I wasn’t aware there were so many opportunities,” explains Ashley. “My whole life changed,” says Melissa. Click here to submit an application, and find out more on upcoming training. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XoPg0D (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
CRIME: From Christopher Ingraham via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota, like virtually every other state, imposes enhanced penalties for drug crimes committed in the vicinity of a school, park or public housing — drug-free zones, in legal parlance. And in Minnesota, those zones encompass not just the property itself, but also the area up to one block around it. Violations of Minnesota’s drug-free zone statutes are uncommon. They make up just a sliver — about 1% — of all drug crimes charged in the state. They’re also much less common than many other criminal offenses, like disorderly conduct, domestic assault, DWI or trespassing. But things are different in Polk County, a largely rural county in the northern Red River Valley in the state’s northwest. After traffic infractions like speeding and DWI, drug-free zone offenses like the ones cited above were the most commonly charged crimes in the county between 2019 and 2023, according to data from the Minnesota Judicial Branch. During those years there were 1,621 drug-free zone possession charges in the entire state. Prosecutors in Polk County, home to about 0.5% of the state population, filed 40% of them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jp8BZR
MOVE: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Medtronic will appoint Renault's finance chief Thierry Pieton as its chief financial officer effective March 3, the medical device maker said on Tuesday. Pieton will succeed Gary Corona, who has been serving as interim CFO, after Medtronic's previous CFO Karen Parkhill jumped ship to join HP Inc in June last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ayjuEY
NEXT WEEK: From Hormel via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced it will virtually host its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting is open to all registered stockholders or beneficial owners of the company's common stock at the close of business on Nov. 29, 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g2kZfv
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
VEGAS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Our Minnesota Pavilion is back in Las Vegas for the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show. Six local food and beverage businesses are exhibiting at the event - Mixly Cocktail Co, Von Hanson’s Snacks, Riff’s Smokehouse, Maud Borup, Maazah & Peace Coffee.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/42lxSOF
USDA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The Senate Ag Committee will meet for [USDA nominee Brooke] Rollins’ confirmation hearing on Thursday, as your host first reported. Rollins’ hearing was delayed due to missing financial disclosures and ethics agreements, which were released publicly Friday. Despite those paperwork delays, Trump’s USDA nominee is still flying through the process compared to the president’s first USDA pick, Sonny Perdue. Perdue wasn’t confirmed until late April.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42h9cXC
VILSACK: From outgoing Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack via X, VERBATIM: “The more than 100,000 public servants at USDA who carry on this work are some of the most dedicated and talented professionals around. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve done together, and forever grateful for my time at the People’s Department.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4g5eKHS
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NEXT MONTH: From Minneapolis-based Bio-Techne via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) today announced that management will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CST to review its second quarter fiscal 2025 financial results.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4atdgpz
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FOOD HALL: From Macy Harder via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “North Loop’s Graze Food Hall by Travail (formerly Graze Provisions + Libations) already boasts several James Beard-nominated chefs under one roof, but why stop there? Three new concepts from well-known Twin Cities restaurateurs are coming to the food hall: Umami by Travail, Tixtli by Nixta, and Caja Fried Chicken by the chefs of Alma and Brasa.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PLlkbK
PEACE: From KSTP-TV’s Tom Hauser via X, VERBATIM: “Sad news in the State of Hockey: Legendary Edina Hockey Coach Willard Ikola passed away last night at 92. He was a great player and coach…and an even better person.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4hnnKJE
BDAYS: DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobsen, fmr. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis, lobbyist Bentley Graves
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