In the Know: April 6, 2020

Days to the November Election:  211

2020 Election
Wisconsin’s Warning for the November Election, The Atlantic
Who Has Emergency Authority Over Elections? Nobody’s Quite Sure., ProPublica

Agriculture
Canada, U.S. farms face crop losses due to foreign worker delays, Reuters
Food goes to waste amid coronavirus crisis, Politico
Dairies Dump Milk, Frustration Mounts Over Retail Buying Limits, AgWeb

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Pine County landlord targeted by state for attempt to evict during pandemic, Duluth News Tribune
Ellison starts statewide crackdown on pandemic profiteering, Brainerd Dispatch
Keith Ellison Speaks On Price Gouging And Funerals During COVID-19, WCCO

Congress
Trapped By The Coronavirus Pandemic, Congress Tries New Ways Of Legislating From Home, NPR

Donald Trump
Trump tries on a fourth chief of staff in the middle of a devastating crisis, Politico
Trump has nominated one of his lawyers to oversee coronavirus relief funds, Vox
Intelligence IG Says Trump Fired Him For Dealing With Whistleblower Complaint Impartially, Talking Points Memo
‘Trump is killing his own supporters’ – even White House insiders know it, The Guardian
Trump promotes use of drug for coronavirus: ‘I’m not a doctor. But I have common sense’, The Hill
Trump tries on a fourth chief of staff in the middle of a devastating crisis, Politico
Trump administration tells states to step up as governors plead for aid, Politico

Economy
How People Seeking Bankruptcy Will Suffer in the Pandemic, The American Prospect
Health experts call for Roosevelt-style programs to kill virus, revive economy, The Hill
Beware of Austerity Demands Once the Immediate Crisis Passes, The American Prospect

Education
NYC Department of Education is banning Zoom over privacy concerns for students and teachers, Business Insider
Coronavirus is closing day cares; child care providers worry they may never reopen, USA Today
University of Minnesota students ask for new backdate on refund plan, Post Bulletin

Environment
Does Coronavirus Bring a New Perspective on Climate Change? NY Times
How Environmental Movement Plans to Leverage the Coronavirus Pandemic, Wall Street Journal

Governor Tim Walz
Full text of Gov. Tim Walz’s State of the State speech, Star Tribune
Walz calls for a ‘united’ state of the state amid COVID-19, Star Tribune
Gov. Tim Walz requests federal aid for COVID-19 disaster relief, KARE11
Walz: Staying home is the only vaccine we have right now, MPR

Health
Early Data Shows African Americans Have Contracted and Died of Coronavirus at an Alarming Rate, ProPublica
Trump’s fight against Obamacare continues despite coronavirus crisis, CNN

Immigration Can Save Lives During America’s COVID-19 Crisis, Forbes
CarryOn Homes working to connect communities amid COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota Daily
Dreamers on the frontlines of the coronavirus health crisis work in limbo, The Guardian
Pandemic, border crackdown hamper Catholics’ aid to migrants, Washington Post

Labor
US unemployment is up by 3,000% in just three weeks. Congress must act, The Guardian
The Unemployment Rate Is Probably Around 13 Percent, New York Times
Record number of unemployed Americans will stress state Medicaid programs, NBC
Amazon white-collar employees are fuming over management targeting a fired warehouse worker, VOX
Grocery unions protect workers and save lives, The Hill

Minnesota News
Minnesota facing same struggles as other states in getting crucial medical supplies as coronavirus numbers grow, Bemidji Pioneer
Minn. nonprofits serving people with disabilities hustle to stay connected, MPR
National model lowering Minnesota’s death toll estimate for 1st wave of coronavirus pandemic, Bring Me The News
Coronavirus in Minnesota: Traffic decrease shows people staying inside, Pioneer Press
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Planning, Preparations Continue For 2020 MN State Fair Despite Uncertainties, WCCO
First charges for breaking Minnesota stay-at-home order are… a little sketchy, City Pages

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Jayapal, Omar & Haaland introduce bill to suspend school meal debt during COVID-19 outbreak, NBC

Republicans
Devin Nunes Went on Fox News and Compared Homeless People to “Zombie Apocalypse”, Mother Jones
Wisconsin Republicans are exploiting the pandemic to grab power. It’s a dangerous precedent., Washington Post
Wisconsin Republicans Are Willing to Kill to Suppress the Vote, Mother Jones
White House Adviser Argued With Dr. Fauci Over Anti-Malaria Drug, Talking Points Memo
Georgia and Florida Governors Finally Issued Shelter-in-Place Orders. But Not for Churches., Mother Jones

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senators Urge Formal Probe of Navy Carrier Commander’s Firing Over Coronavirus Plea, New York Times

Senator Tina Smith
Smith to introduce legislation raising age of dependents for COVID-19 relief, Brainerd Dispatch
Coronavirus pandemic responses of Trump critiqued by Sen. Smith, MSNBC
Unknown number of Minnesotans still stranded abroad, Star Tribune

U.S. News
Americans warned of ‘Pearl Harbor moment’ as Trump tells parts of the nation to brace for ‘peak’, Washington Post
COVID-19 death toll nears 10,000 in U.S., CBS News
Peter Navarro on his qualifications to disagree with Dr. Anthony Fauci on coronavirus treatments: ‘I’m a social scientist’, CNN
Washington state returns hundreds of federal ventilators for use in New York, New York Post
Watchdog report finds severe shortages and significant challenges to hospitals’ coronavirus responses, CNN
‘Stupid and crazy’: Local officials protest Gov. Kemp’s decision to reopen beaches in hard-hit Georgia, Washington Post

World News
British PM Boris Johnson admitted to hospital for tests over ‘persistent’ coronavirus symptoms, CNBC
Japan to declare emergency as Tokyo cases soar, BBC
Chinese tourist sites packed as country comes out of lockdown, but experts say risk still high, CNN
Global Lockdowns Resulting In ‘Horrifying Surge’ In Domestic Violence, U.N. Warns, NPR

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.

• Today through April 10 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
• April 7, 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD40 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting via FreeConferenceCall.com. Contact 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.