Attorney General Keith Ellison
AG Ellison’s latest hires include litigator, ex-lawmaker, MPR
Keith Ellison Interview series: Part 4: Ending discrimination, unfairness that is legal, Insight News
Climate
These governors are showing what happens when you campaign on climate action and win, Vox
Congress
Federal contract workers deserve back pay, Star Tribune
The shutdown is over. Now the federal workforce faces ‘untold morale problems’, MPR
DFL
DFL donors poured millions into Minnesota 2018 election season, Star Tribune
Economy
USDA’s SNAP decision means there will be a gap in food assistance program, Duluth News Tribune
Low Unemployment: The Recipe for Higher Wages, Center for Economic and Policy Research
America Is Producing the Wrong Kind of Oil, Bloomberg
Governor Tim Walz
Walz: School Districts Will Not Be Penalized In June For Keeping Their Students Safe, WCCO
Gov. Walz won’t rule out tax hikes on businesses, alarming Republicans, FOX9
Legislation could end marijuana prohibition in Minnesota, Wahpeton Daily News
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz proposes $30 million boost to local government aid, Star Tribune
‘Moonshot’ for rural broadband, local gov aid on Walz’s to-do list, Duluth News Tribune
Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Lawmakers are Crafting a Plan to Help Federal Workers if Another Shutdown Occurs, Twin Cities Business
Lawmakers Propose Naming Bridge After Rukavina, Mesabi Daily News
Minnesota District 4 Senator Kent Eken gives a 2019 MN legislative session update, KFGO
Prison safety, child care, children’s museum funds: Here’s what local lawmakers are up to, St. Cloud Times
Minnesota lawmakers: Tax drug makers over opioid crisis, The News Tribune
Minnesota has the only split state legislature in the nation — can we make it work?, City Pages
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities backs $128 million for clean water projects, Duluth News Tribune
Prison tour an eye-opener for lawmakers, Minnesota Lawyer
House panel advances automatic voter registration bill, MPR
Lawmaker looks to eliminate one of Minnesota’s peculiar, and possibly illegal, election rules, MinnPost
Minnesota News
Automated ‘platoons’ of trucks might soon be driving on Minnesota roads, MinnPost
10 things you can do right now to help immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and beyond, MinnPost
It’s been a decade since the Great Recession ended. How has Minnesota recovered?, MinnPost
Representative Angie Craig
Craig pledges to work across aisle on tough issues, South Washington County Bulletin
Angie Craig bill would cut pay to congress during shutdown, KWLM
Representative Collin Peterson
Peterson Preparing For Possible Second Shutdown, KTIC
Representative Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar: Green New Deal would help Minnesota, could pass House, MPR
Rep. Ilhan Omar wants to tax the rich at 70 percent – here’s why you shouldn’t freak out, CityPages
Representative Jim Hagedorn
Hagedorn shouldn’t represent Trump, Mankato Free Press
Representative Pete Stauber
Reader’s View: Stauber didn’t deserve the praise, Duluth News Tribune
Senate District 11
Senate District 11 candidates raise almost $110K, Duluth News Tribune
Candidates race against time, apathy in critical Senate special election, MPR
Senator Tina Smith
Trump
In N.Y. Times interview, Trump calls border wall talks ‘waste of time,’ dismisses investigations, Star Tribune
Revealed: FBI investigated civil rights group as ‘terrorism’ threat and viewed KKK as victims, The Guardian
The US is withdrawing from a nuclear arms treaty with Russia. An arms race might be next., Vox
The news about Donald Trump Jr.’s mysterious calls before the Trump Tower meeting, explained, Vox
FACT CHECK: Did The FBI Use Unusual Force When It Arrested Roger Stone?, NPR
U.S.
The controversy around Virginia’s new abortion bill, explained, Vox
Polar vortex death toll rises to 21 as US cold snap continues, BBC
Upcoming DFL Events
- February 1, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
- February 2
- 10:00 to 11:00 AM — SD44 Town Hall with Rep. Ginny Klevorn (HD44A) and Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B), Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Rep. Mike Nelson Town Hall, Brooklyn Center Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN
- 11:30 to 12:30 PM — SD50 Listening Session with Sen. Melissa Wiklund, Rep. Andrew Carlson and Rep. Michael Howard, Northwestern Health Science University, Lecture Room 2, 2501 W 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55431
- February 3, 2:30 to 5:00 PM — DFL Disability Caucus annual Meeting and Elections, Rondo Public Library, 461 Dale St N. St. Paul, MN 55103
- February 4, 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
- February 5
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting,Teamsters Local 120 Hall, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, Mississippi Room
- February 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
- February 8, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
- February 10, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact SD40 DFL for more information
- February 11
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- February 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available
- February 13
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Crystal City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55422
- February 14 — Valentine’s Day
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka Mills Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
- February 15, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
- February 18 — Presidents’ Day
- 9:00 AM — DFL Senior Caucus Day on the Hill, AFL-CIO Capitol Office Building, 175 Aurora Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103. Registration at 9:00 AM. Program at 9:30 AM. Light breakfast and lunch available for a $5.00 donation. The event will focus on elder health justice
- February 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- February 22, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.