Days to the November Election: 215
2020 Election
Building an L.G.B.T.Q. Political Pipeline, New York Times
Agriculture
Yes, There are COVID-19 Impacts on Agriculture, Farm Bureau
A food crisis looms as coronavirus forces farms to stay idle and countries hoard supplies, CNBC
Economic fallout from coronavirus is also hitting farmers, Star Tribune
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Toilet paper shortage has people waiting on the edge of their seats, Rochester Post Bulletin
Attorney general tackles ‘pandemic profiteering’, Minnesota Daily
Congress
Mnuchin says he will ask Congress for more small business loan funding if $350 billion pool runs out, CNBC
Donald Trump
OAN gets the boot: Trump’s favorite outlet expelled from White House press briefings, Salon
Authoritarian Populists Have Six Classic Moves. Trump’s Response to COVID-19 Uses Five of Them., The Atlantic
Fact check: Trump again misleads on ventilator shortages and coronavirus timeline at off-topic briefing, CNN
Economy
US weekly jobless claims double to 6.6 million, CNBC
11 questions about the coronavirus economic crisis you were too embarrassed to ask, Vox
The Four Rules of Pandemic Economics, The Atlantic
It’s the First of the Month, The American Prospect
Environment
The Unexpected Environmental Consequences of Covid-19, Bloomberg
An environmental stimulus bill could help us bounce back from COVID-19, Popular Science
Oceans can be restored to former glory within 30 years, say scientists, The Guardian
Governor Tim Walz
Walz to give MN State of the State address under self-quarantine amid coronavirus, Pioneer Press
Gov. Tim Walz calls off Governor’s Fishing Opener; season still set to open as scheduled, Star Tribune
Health
‘What are you waiting for?’ California governor appeals to 11 states that haven’t ordered residents to stay home, CNN
More than 40 spring breakers who ignored public health advice test positive for coronavirus, CNN
Medicaid will be a coronavirus lifeline, Axios
Medicare and Medicaid patients get temporary access to telemedicine amid coronavirus crisis, but challenges remain, ABC News
The Coronavirus’s Unique Threat to the South, The Atlantic
Domestic Violence and Coronavirus: Hell Behind Closed Doors, The Nation
Immigration
Ice agents are still performing raids – and using precious N95 masks to do so, The Guardian
Labor
Workers Are Essential, CEOs Are Not, In These Times
A Major Medical Staffing Company Just Slashed Benefits for Doctors and Nurses Fighting Coronavirus, ProPublica
In the midst of a pandemic, Trump’s NLRB makes it nearly impossible for workers to organize a union, Workday Minnesota
Minnesota News
Minnesota tops nation in census response — with a familiar rival, MPR
Minnesota COVID-19 cases increase by 60 to 689 with 5 more deaths, Star Tribune
Walz: Minnesotans’ social distancing could be better, Rochester Post Bulletin
Minnesota health officials continue to conceal names of senior care facilities with coronavirus, Star Tribune
The Minnesota House successfully held its first committee meeting via conference call. The meeting’s closed-captioning was less successful., MinnPost
Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Bill from Rep. Angie Craig would correct oversight in COVID-19 rescue bill, Bring Me the News
MN congresswoman to host webinar explaining how small businesses can get assistance, KTTC
Republicans
Anthony Fauci’s security is stepped up as doctor and face of U.S. coronavirus response receives threats, Washington Post
Alarm, Denial, Blame: The Pro-Trump Media’s Coronavirus Distortion, New York Times
Georgia Republican: It would be ‘extremely devastating’ for the GOP if people are allowed to vote by mail, Raw Story
The biggest obstacle to remote voting in Congress may be Democratic mistrust of the Supreme Court, Vox
Senator Tina Smith
Senator calls for relief for virus-stricken cruise ship carrying Minnesotans, Rochester Post Bulletin
Minnesota passengers stuck on ill-fated Zaandam cruise ship, KSTP
U.S. News
Pentagon aiming to get 100,000 body bags for FEMA coronavirus response, report says, CNBC
Engineer intentionally crashes train near hospital ship Mercy, believing in weird coronavirus conspiracy, feds say, Washington Post
Many of New York City’s coronavirus patients are young people, CBS News
Shivering, hallucinating, beaten ‘like a pinata’: Chris Cuomo’s ‘haunted’ night with coronavirus, Washington Post
Coronavirus cases approach 10,000 as California braces for worsening conditions, Los Angeles Times
World News
‘US wants to shift the blame’: China denies hiding coronavirus cases, New York Post
9 Out Of 10 Children Are Out Of School Worldwide. What Now?, NPR
Russian plane with coronavirus medical gear lands in U.S. after Trump-Putin call, NBC News
Upcoming DFL Events
With the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.
All DFL conventions will now be held virtually. If you were elected as a Delegate or Alternate at Caucuses, you will be hearing from your district with specifics. If you don’t, please check with the hosting organization.
- April 2, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact the Chair for more information
- April 4, 1:00 to 3:00 PM — DFL Volunteer Webinar Training, more information and RSVP here.
- April 7, 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD40 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, contact the Chair for more information
- April 9 through 13 — Passover
- April 9
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact the Chair for more information.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact the Chair for more information.
- April 10 — Good Friday
- April 12 — Easter
- April 13
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact the Chair for more information
- April 15 — Tax Day
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meting, contact the Chair for more information
- April 17, 5:00 PM — Deadline for DFL local units to provide a roster to delegates/alternates and ballot content
- April 18
- April 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for more information on how the meeting will be held
- April 22 — Earth Day
- April 23 through May 23 — Ramadan
- April 23 — Deadline for DFL local units to certify their ballot in writing to DFL Staff
- April 24 — Arbor Day
- April 25 – May 4 — DFL Virtual Convention Balloting Window
- May 5 — Cinco de Mayo
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, location to be determined
- May 6
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
- May 7, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
- May 9, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM — CD3 DFL Convention, Park Center High School, Performing Arts Center, 7300 Brooklyn Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55344.
- May 10 — Mother’s Day
- May 11 — deadline for certification of DFL local unit balloting results
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- May 14
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
- 7:oo to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Community Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 30 -30 — State DFL Convention, Rochester, MN, more information as it becomes available.