In the Know: April 8, 2020

Days to the November Election:  209

2020 Election
Bernie Sanders Is Suspending His Presidential Campaign, NPR

Agriculture
With restaurants closed, a bacon backup is building in Minnesota and prices are plunging, Star Tribune
MILK DUMPING IS A CORONAVIRUS REALITY, Successful Farming
Lawmakers, industry leaders, lobby for produce relief program, AgWeb

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Attorney General Keith Ellison Stops Landlord From Illegally Evicting Sandstone Family, WCCO

Congress
Pelosi and Schumer push for emergency coronavirus bill with at least $500 billion more in aid, CNBC
‘We Should Reward Them’: Senate Democrats To Push For Frontline Worker Hazard Pay, NPR

Donald Trump
The Coronavirus Has Not Halted Trump’s Power Grab, The Atlantic
Trump removes inspector general who was to oversee $2 trillion stimulus spending, Washington Post
Trump claims that his daughter created 10 percent of all the jobs in the United States, Vox
Trump’s ‘I’m not responsible’ presidency, Los Angeles Times
Trump: GOP should fight mail-in voting because it ‘doesn’t work out well for Republicans’, Politico
Trump order encourages US to mine the moon, The Guardian
Trump Declares War on Watchdogs, Mother Jones
Navarro left a trail of political wreckage in California, Politico
How Peter Navarro went from an anti-China ‘gadfly’ to trusted Trump coronavirus adviser, CNN

Economy
How the Coronavirus Bailout Repeats 2008’s Mistakes: Huge Corporate Payoffs With Little Accountability, ProPublica
Wobbly U.S. fiscal response could deepen coronavirus recession, Reuters
The Rise of Neo-Feudalism, The American Prospect
Government and Businesses Turn Attention to Eventual Reopening of $22 Trillion U.S. Economy, Wall Street Journal

Education
Meals on Wheels volunteers are staying home because of covid-19. College kids are filling the gap., Washington Post
4 in 10 U.S. teens say they haven’t done online learning since schools closed, MPR

Environment
Los Angeles has notoriously polluted air. But right now it has some of the cleanest of any major city, CNN
Now, more than ever, is the time to adopt clean car standards, not allow more pollution, MN Reformer
Record-size hole opens in ozone layer above the Arctic, The Guardian

Govern0r Tim Walz
Coronavirus: Gov. Tim Walz to give afternoon press conference, Bring Me the News MN
Coronavirus Daily Briefing: Governor to make ‘tweaks’ to stay at home order, efforts so far ‘making a difference’, KSTP
Walz announces partnership with Cub Foods to provide critical supplies for child care providers, KSTP
With religious holidays coming up, Gov. Walz encourages creativity, Pioneer Press

Health
Coronavirus Was Slow to Spread to Rural America. Not Anymore., New York Times
A Nurse Bought Protective Supplies for Her Colleagues Using GoFundMe. The Hospital Suspended Her, ProPublica
Trump Claims Hospitals Are In ‘Great Shape’ With Ventilators Because Hannity Said So, TPM
What Power Does The Federal Government Really Have To Seize Medical Supplies?, TPM
Therapists forge ahead with telehealth — not knowing if they’ll be paid, MPR
Borders Didn’t Stop The Pandemic. But They Might Block The Trade Of Medical Goods, NPR

Immigration

ICE says it will consider freeing vulnerable immigrants as coronavirus cases rise, CBS News
Hundreds Of Immigrant Detainees Considered Vulnerable To The Coronavirus May Be Released, Buzzfeed News
Coronavirus fueling ‘total chaos’ and tough decisions for Minnesota’s immigrant workers, MPR

Labor
Unemployment in Minnesota: 11.4 percent of labor force has applied for help during coronavirus crisis, Pioneer Press
Uber and Lyft Drivers Face Hurdles to Stimulus Bill Benefits, the New York Times
Thursday’s Unemployment Claims Could Match Last Week’s 6.6 Million, Forbes
Women Are Losing More Jobs In Coronavirus Shutdowns, NPR

Minnesota News
Under pandemic pressure, Hennepin County already has nearly drained its $10 million emergency fund, Star Tribune
Legislature OKs protection for front-line COVID-19 workers, St. Cloud Times
Tracking coronavirus in Minnesota, Star Tribune
Live updates: Minnesota receives federal disaster declaration, KARE11
University of Minnesota bracing for up to a $300 million hit from COVID-19, Star Tribune

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Omar Pushes For Relief Checks For Mixed-Status Families, WCCO

Senator Amy Klobuchar
‘It’s like nothing else’: Klobuchar, husband talk about his battle with coronavirus, NBC

Senator Tina Smith
Smith co-signs Klobuchar letter urging protections for rural food supplies, Brainerd Dispatch

U.S. News
Acting Navy Secretary Modly offers resignation amid public criticism, MSNBC
U.S. Records Highest Death Toll in Single Day; Black Americans Disproportionately Hit, New York Times
A Frustrating, Dangerous Election Day in Wisconsin, The American Prospect
Trump Attacks W.H.O. Over Criticisms of U.S. Approach to Coronavirus, NY Times
Trump threatens to hold WHO funding, then backtracks, amid search for scapegoat, The Guardian
Kushner’s team seeks national coronavirus surveillance system, Politico

World News
New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it., MSN
Boris Johnson spends second night in intensive care fighting coronavirus, CNN
Worst recession in decades piles pressure on EU to agree new relief package, CNN
Euro zone fails to reach a deal on new coronavirus stimulus after 16 hours of talks, CNBC
Wuhan emerges from the harshest of lockdowns, BBC

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 May 4 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
  • 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.