AGP Executive Report

Public Finance & Schools: Minnesota voters will see a constitutional amendment this fall that would boost annual distributions from the state’s $2.4 billion Permanent School Fund, with supporters calling it “no new taxes” and critics warning it won’t cover the wider budget pressures districts face. State Politics: House Speaker Lisa Demuth is navigating a tricky governor’s race—trying to rally GOP voters without getting too tied to President Trump in a state where he’s unpopular. AI & Privacy Law: A Minnesota “AI nudification” ban remains in effect after xAI’s court challenges failed, keeping the law on track. Cybersecurity & Local Government: Winona County paid about $128,000 after a January ransomware attack, underscoring how quickly cyber incidents can disrupt county services. Tech Infrastructure Backlash: A new look at data centers finds resistance is spreading as concerns grow over land, water use, power demand, and heat impacts. Local Business: A Dilworth meat processor is drawing deer hunters from far and wide during peak season, showing how small-town trades keep thriving. Labor & Health Care: Allina doctors at Unity and Mercy hospitals filed a strike notice after stalled contract talks, raising pressure on Minnesota’s health system.

School Funding Vote: Minnesota voters will see a constitutional amendment this fall that would boost annual distributions from the state’s $2.4 billion Permanent School Fund, with supporters saying it adds money without new taxes and critics warning it won’t cover wider district budget pressures. Vikings Personnel: The Vikings agreed to bring back safety Harrison Smith on a one-year deal worth up to about $16 million with incentives, a move aimed at stabilizing the secondary. Twins Injury Update: Joe Ryan’s rehab is trending toward a return; the Twins say there’s a “good chance” his next start could be in the majors after a bullpen session and a strong rehab outing. Workforce Development: Minnesota marked Workforce Development Month in September, highlighting efforts to connect job seekers and employers as AI, childcare and other barriers complicate hiring and job searches. AI Deepfake Law: A federal judge kept Minnesota’s “AI nudification” app ban in effect after xAI’s challenge, allowing fines and lawsuits to proceed. Public Safety & Housing: A downtown Minneapolis mass shooting at Shoreline Plaza dealt a setback to a neighborhood and to building owners who had been trying to improve safety and evict problem tenants. Energy Prices: GasBuddy data shows diesel and midgrade prices remain volatile, with some Minnesota counties reporting notably lower diesel or midgrade deals in the week ending Aug. 29.

Education Funding: Minnesota voters will weigh a constitutional amendment to boost annual distributions from the state’s Permanent School Fund, with supporters calling it tax-neutral relief and critics warning it won’t cover district pressures. Sports Business: The WNBA says Cathy Engelbert will retire at year-end, setting up a leadership search after a period of rapid league growth and public criticism. Tech & Courts: Minnesota’s “AI nudification” ban stays in force after federal court rulings, while xAI seeks to appeal. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Itasca County approved courthouse security upgrades and a runway overhaul, with federal funding covering most costs. Water Systems: Marble won more than $3 million for drinking-water improvements, including filtration upgrades to remove iron and manganese. Outdoor Licensing: Minnesota’s new DNR license system shifts deer validation to a digital process, raising questions for hunters without smartphones. Health & Policy: UMN infectious-disease expert Michael Osterholm weighs in on vaccine misinformation and updated flu/COVID guidance. Local Economy: Pine River’s Gardiner’s Hardware transitions to a new owner, continuing a long-running community business. Housing: Bipartisan federal and state housing measures advance, including Minnesota’s 2026 housing package.

School Funding Vote: Minnesota voters will see a constitutional amendment this fall that would boost annual payouts from the Permanent School Fund by changing the distribution rate from 2.5% to 4.5%, raising per-student funding from about $68 to $101—supporters say it adds money without new taxes, while critics warn it won’t solve broader district budget pressures. WNBA Leadership Shakeup: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire effective Dec. 31, setting up a replacement search as the league weighs the legacy of rapid growth alongside years of player and governance controversy. Public Health & Food Safety: A Minnesota-area sprout recall expanded again after Everything Sprouts added a radish mix to the recall tied to a multi-state E. coli outbreak; separate recalls also hit frozen berries sold in multiple states including Minnesota. Local Business Climate: Duluth-area businesses are pulling out of the Duluth Area Chamber after it backed a proposed Hermantown data center, with owners citing lack of input and potential harm to nearby operations. Tech & Privacy: Eden Prairie says it won’t share automated license plate reader data without a criminal warrant, as other Minnesota cities reconsidered contracts over privacy concerns. Sports Business: Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive local streaming home for six NHL teams, including Minnesota.

EPA Data Center Rule: The Trump administration is pushing an EPA proposal that would let states issue air permits for data centers without binding public notice and comment, potentially speeding projects while reducing community input. Local Public Safety Funding: Itasca County approved courthouse security upgrades and a near-$2.5 million runway/taxiway overhaul request, with federal funding covering most of the airport work. Minnesota Economy Watch: A new report says Minnesota unemployment has climbed above the national rate, adding pressure to household budgets. Workplace & Business Climate: Prairie Business highlighted its 2026 “Best Places to Work,” spotlighting regional employers and employee-driven nominations. Corporate Pay Transparency: A Minnesota analysis of required median pay disclosures shows wide CEO-to-median gaps across major companies, with part-time-heavy models contributing to low medians. Legal/Insurance Settlement: A Rochester-area law firm announced a $30 million settlement tied to clergy sexual abuse claims involving the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Agriculture: Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative reports promising 2026 sugarbeet early yields, with pre-pile harvest suggesting some of the largest root yields on record.

Energy Costs: AAA says Labor Day gas prices are set to hit the highest level on record, with the national average topping $4 and local Mankato-area regular averaging $3.86 Thursday. Grid & Infrastructure: Midcontinent Grid Solutions is seeking public feedback on the BECI transmission project (Tranche 2.1), a multi-state power-line plan that could generate billions in value by avoiding new plants and cutting congestion. Health & Food Security: Second Harvest Northland is running a mobile blood donation push to address both hunger and a summer blood shortage, citing food insecurity rates outpacing state averages. Local Business & Connectivity: Midco Mobile launches in Cambridge and Isanti with plans starting at $15/month, aiming to expand affordable wireless options. Public Safety & Community: St. Louis Park police released its Aug. 23-29 activity log, including fraud, burglary, and overdose-related calls. Consumer Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states are affected by an expanded recall of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend due to potential E. coli contamination. Sports Business: The Vikings named 2026 captains and GM Nolan Teasley said J.J. McCarthy is back to full practice after an ankle injury timeline.

MLB Deadline One Month Later: One month after the frenetic 2026 trade deadline, teams are still too early to judge fully, but a fresh look focuses on how deadline moves are playing out in the postseason race. Minnesota Manufacturing Deal: Stellar Industries (Iowa) is acquiring Luverne-based Midwest Fire, keeping Midwest Fire’s headquarters and operations in Luverne while expanding Stellar’s work truck and emergency response portfolio. Cybersecurity for Water Systems: RedVeil says it’s launching a procurement relief package for municipalities after cyberattacks on municipal water systems, including incidents that began in Minnesota. Workforce Pipeline: A reader argues Minnesota should expand apprenticeships and skills training to create paid, on-the-job routes into biotech, health care, construction and advanced manufacturing. Local Business & Community: Milroy’s Funfest is set for Sept. 12, and Owatonna’s Little Theatre is upgrading seating with 336 new seats to improve comfort and access.

NBA Sanctions: The league hit the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard with major penalties for salary-cap circumvention, including a $30 million fine, five first-round pick forfeitures (2029-2033), and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and top executives; Leonard gets a $700,000 payment to the NBA. Minnesota Public Safety: Downtown Minneapolis saw a shooting that left at least one person dead and multiple injured, including two officers, prompting FBI and ATF involvement and a nearby St. Thomas campus lockdown. Data Centers & Local Economy: Faribault is moving toward finalized data center standards by November, while Duluth’s chamber backed a proposed Google data center in Hermantown, citing jobs and regional GDP impact. EV Infrastructure: MnDOT is awarding $41.2 million for NEVI fast-charging sites across Greater Minnesota beyond the main interstates. Business & Tech: C.H. Robinson earned a Forbes/Statista “Best Employers for Tech Workers” nod, highlighting its tech and AI push. Sports Business: Prime Video secured exclusive local NHL streaming rights for six teams, including the Minnesota Wild. Agriculture & Trade: U.S.-Canada trade tensions are raising potash uncertainty for Minnesota farmers heading into next spring.

Minnesota Housing Politics: Minnesota’s gubernatorial candidates will take on housing at the State Fair, with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and House Speaker Lisa Demuth discussing shortages, affordability, homelessness and workforce housing. Food Safety: Hodo recalled 75,250 packages of Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu after ink from packaging “may have migrated into the product,” with sales reported in Minnesota and many other states. Farm Economy: Rep. Angie Craig is pushing for congressional hearings on the farm economy, citing rising input costs, tariffs, and pressure on rural communities. Local Business Expansion: Stellar Industries, an Iowa-based fire apparatus maker, bought Luverne’s Midwest Fire, keeping operations and headquarters in Luverne and folding eligible employees into an employee stock plan. Retail & Community: El Choco: Panaderia Y Pasteleria La Estrella in Faribault rebranded under new ownership while keeping the original recipes, adding candies, spices and weekend prepared foods. Real Estate Watch: A new ATTOM report says Minnesota’s “seriously underwater” mortgages rose sharply year-over-year, though local Realtors urge calm. Workforce & Costs: A new push to delay the federal hemp THC ban passed Congress, giving Minnesota businesses and farmers more runway. Public Safety Funding: Kandiyohi County approved pursuing a state grant for courthouse security upgrades, including locks and a key card system.

Renters & Housing: Minneapolis approved an ordinance targeting algorithm-based rent setting, while Minnesota renters may be eligible for a share of a nearly $360 million RealPage settlement tied to alleged rent-inflation software use from 2018 to 2025. Public Safety & Schools: New Minnesota school bus safety rules clarify that drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a bus when red lights flash, plus updated first-aid kit requirements. Health Care Policy: A federal fight over rural hospital funding is heating up as Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr trade accusations over Medicaid changes affecting rural providers. Fraud & Enforcement: DOJ sued a Kansas school system over transgender student privacy policies, and Minnesota also saw a major local fraud case: a man charged after taking down payments from 37 customers for food trucks that never arrived. Energy & Costs: Gas prices stayed in focus, with Pipestone County hitting a weekly low of $3.94 for regular and diesel in Renville County recording a low of $5.19. Business Operations: Mrs. Gerry’s cut packaging labor by moving to an automated palletizing and packaging line, boosting output and consistency. Community & Growth: Otter Tail County’s “Giants” roadside sculpture tour is drawing visitors and spillover spending for local shops and events.

Medtronic Investment Watch: The Minnesota medtech giant says it blew past expectations and announced $780M in strategic investments, including Cornerstone Robotics and Pi-Cardia, as demand stays strong in areas like AFib ablation. AI in Healthcare: Lumea and TreatmentGPS are integrating “Alpine Path” into pathology workflows to turn findings into NCCN-aligned treatment guidance for clinicians and a patient-friendly summary. Local Consumer Protection: A Minnesota used-car dealer agreed to a $100,000 settlement and change practices after allegations of misleading “certified” marketing and unauthorized service contracts. State Politics: The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected Mike Lindell’s bid for a full recount, backing a partial recount plan. Water Quality: Cottage Grove is asking residents to report brown water complaints as it reviews the utility’s history and current causes. Business & Community: An Iron Range nonprofit is building an 11,000-square-foot indoor playground in Eveleth, targeting a December 2026 opening. Regional Infrastructure: Minnesota and Wisconsin marked the start of the Blatnik Bridge reconstruction after $1B+ in federal funding cleared, with major goods traffic at stake. Small Business Spotlight: A Traverse City entrepreneur expanded “Lakes and Grapes” from a blog into a downtown storefront.

Health Care & Business Banking: Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp is expanding its business-banking team beyond its footprint, adding roles in Florida and Georgia and accelerating growth in Texas and Arizona, aiming to deepen cross-sell with wealth management and commercial real estate. Infrastructure: Groundbreaking is underway for the Blatnik Bridge replacement in Duluth/Superior, a $1.8 billion project funded by $400 million each from Minnesota and Wisconsin plus $1.05 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the current bridge staying open until 2027 and a new opening targeted for fall 2031. Consumer Protection: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison announced a $100,000 settlement with Midwest Car Search over alleged deceptive practices targeting Spanish speakers, including claims about “certified” used cars and added service contracts. Local Economy & Food Access: Sioux Falls relaunched its Mobile Market to fight food insecurity, using neighborhood stops and a partnership that keeps prices low. Regulation Watch: The federal crackdown on commercial driving schools for English-proficiency compliance did not include Minnesota for now, though some local schools have faced closer scrutiny. State Fair Business Buzz: The Fresh French Fries booth at the Minnesota State Fair switched back to Minnesota-grown potatoes after early complaints. Sports Front Office: The Twins plan to select Ben Ross’s contract as roster expands, and the Wild’s Bill Guerin reiterated efforts to extend Quinn Hughes.

Banking Expansion: U.S. Bank is growing its business banking team, adding bankers in Florida and Georgia and accelerating coverage in Texas and Arizona for firms with $2.5M–$50M in annual sales. Corporate Governance: Target faces mounting shareholder pressure after nearly 13% opposed Executive Chair Brian Cornell’s reelection, with investors also backing a push for an independent board chair. Legal/Professional Regulation: A federal judge ruled Strong Towns founder Charles Marohn can legally use the “professional engineer” title, a potential check on Minnesota’s engineering licensing board. Public Safety & Privacy: Red Wing is weighing an agreement to share automatic license plate reader data with Pierce County, as privacy concerns continue to dog the technology. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest Benton County midgrade price at $4.13/gal (week ending Aug. 22), while Minnesota midgrade averaged $4.50/gal. Local Fraud Signals: Osseo ranked among Minnesota’s higher-volume scam-report cities in July, with two online purchase scam reports totaling $63.49. Workforce/Community Training: Minnesota Department of Agriculture and partners are offering free QPR for Agriculture suicide-prevention trainings, including an Oct. 1 session in Fergus Falls. Real Estate Development: Hyde Development and Mortenson are moving forward on a 155,000-square-foot Roseville industrial project, Twin Lakes Technology Center, targeting completion in Feb. 2027. Housing/Construction Finance: Sherman Associates closed on a $136.5M mixed-income multifamily project in downtown Rochester, adding 349 homes near Mayo Clinic.

NFL roster churn with Minnesota ties: The Patriots finalized their 53-man roster and added Vikings OT Walter Rouse in a late pick swap, a move framed as offensive-line depth insurance ahead of the Sept. 13 opener. Packers’ cutdown fixes: Green Bay also reshuffled after Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, trading for RB Kaleb Johnson and adding TE depth (Jonnu Smith, Mark Redman) to patch injuries and roster gaps. Vikings QB uncertainty: Minnesota kept J.J. McCarthy on the initial roster, but his backup spot remains unsettled after an ankle-limited preseason and ongoing trade chatter. Local health-care spending snapshot: Medicaid billing data show sharp local increases in categories like dental services and procedures across several metro and suburban communities, underscoring how public dollars are shifting at the neighborhood level. Business & community: Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul is closing, while KOOTASCA Community Action is asking residents to boost food-shelf support as demand rises. Construction: Blaine begins work on a new Highway 65 pedestrian/bicycle bridge, with a turn-lane closure starting Monday.

Minnesota Courts: The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected MyPillow founder Mike Lindell’s bid for a full hand recount of the Aug. 11 GOP governor primary, saying election officials followed the law and that Lindell sought the wrong legal remedy; House Speaker Lisa Demuth remains the certified nominee, setting up her November matchup with Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Healthcare Spending Watch: New federal Medicaid billing data show sharp local swings in Minnesota categories—Temporary Codes jumped in Mankato (to $3,335 in 2024) and Maple Grove (to $10, up 150%), while Apple Valley’s Medical and Surgical Supplies rose 31.7% and Roseville’s Prosthetic Procedures increased 8.5%. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the cheapest premium gas in Mahnomen County hit $4.59 (week ending Aug. 22), while Blue Earth County’s low was $4.13. Sports Business/Cap Moves: The Timberwolves traded Josh Green to the Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar, then waived Konchar to create salary-cap flexibility for signing Jonathan Kuminga.

NBA Trade & Salary Flexibility: The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar, clearing salary space to help complete the Jonathan Kuminga signing. Housing & Real Estate: Redfin reports new listings hit a four-month high while pending sales fell 3.1% in late August, pointing to more supply but weaker buyer demand. Energy Costs & Grid Planning: Minnesota regulators are pushing virtual power plants to better use existing grid resources and slow rising electricity costs for Xcel and other utilities. Agriculture & Food Prices: A federal order allowing discounted imported lean beef trimmings is raising alarms for Minnesota cattle producers and independent butchers, who warn it could destabilize local markets. Healthcare Deal: Minnesota’s attorney general approved the Sanford Health acquisition of North Memorial Health under a 10-year oversight agreement. Local Business Growth: Central Minnesota Housing Partnership celebrated completion of The Views on 7th in Little Falls, adding 45 apartments. Community Grants: The Initiative Foundation awarded $39,000 to Morrison County organizations, including projects tied to housing, energy, and community connection. Sports Business Watch: The Twins’ playoff hopes keep slipping after a 3-2 loss to the White Sox, while Walker Jenkins made his MLB debut.