In the Know: February 14, 2019

Climate
Republicans love this one climate change plan — but can it save us?, CityPages

Congress
New voting laws can disrupt GOP’s ‘power grab’, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

GOP Government Shutdown Pt. II?
AP FACT CHECK: Declaring emergency for wall not so ordinary, AP

Guns
Parkland shooting 1 year later: Remembering the 17 victims of the school massacre, Yahoo News
Poll: A year after Parkland, urgency for new gun restrictions declines, MPR
Coming up: One year after Parkland, are Americans equipped to prevent school shootings?, MPR

Health
Eating high amounts of ‘ultraprocessed’ foods linked to small increased risk of early death, MinnPost

Minnesota
Report Blames 2 State Agencies for Botched MNLARS Launch, U.S. News and World Report
Auditor’s report details what went wrong with MNLARS, Star Tribune
Racist social media posts spark altercation at Owatonna High School, ending in arrests, CityPages
Rail to Twin Cities draws closer look from Amtrak, Duluth News Tribune
After a pretty below-average December and January, February is close to setting a Twin Cities snow record, MinnPost
Richest city in U.S. got even richer for third straight year, data show Also, the west-metro suburb of Medina made its debut in the top 100 of the annual Bloomberg Richest Places index., Star Tribune
Almost 50,000 people now calling downtown Minneapolis home, Star Tribune
‘Forever’ chemicals leave costly water problem in Bemidji, cities across the country, MPR
St. Cloud NAACP sues Minnesota over special education underfunding in schools, St. Cloud Times

Minnesota Legislature
To make state’s schools safer, Minnesota lawmakers focus on student mental health, Star Tribune
Lawmakers should repeal the provider tax’s sunset provision, MinnPost
‘It’s time’: How the politics of addressing Minnesota’s opioid crisis changed at the Capitol, MinnPost
Lawmakers consider banning ‘conversion therapy’, MinnPost
In the Hopper: DWI omnibus; single-subject amendment; moving on, Minnesota Lawyer
MN legal sports betting? First proposal made at Capitol. Here are the odds., Pioneer Press
Battle over gay ‘conversion therapy’ ban heats up at Minnesota Capitol, Pioneer Press
Minnesota legislators and student groups push for free college, Star Tribune
Free college? Some Minnesotans say it’s time, others say cost may be too high, MPR
Search group, legislators seek help for Minnesota’s missing American Indian women, Star Tribune
Felon voting bill moving in House; blocked in Senate, MPR
Farm-to-school bill would put local, healthy food in student lunches across Minnesota, Winona Daily News

Senator Tina Smith

Trump
Judge VOIDS Paul Manafort’s plea deal and rules he intentionally lied to the FBI and Mueller about his contacts with Russian ‘spy’ in 2016 – leaving Trump’s ex-campaign manager facing years in prison, DailyMail
Former FBI Deputy Director McCabe Says He Opened Obstruction Investigation After Conversation with Trump, Slate
Poll shows most Americans trust Mueller over Trump, MinnPost

Trump Cabinet
FEMA head Brock Long, investigated over vehicle use, resigns, Yahoo Finance

U.S.
Sentencing set in race-based shooting amid Katrina chaos, KTBS
States weigh bills addressing Native deaths, disappearances, Rochester Post-Bulletin
Howard Dean to lead new Democratic voter data exchange, CBS News

Upcoming DFL Events

  • 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 16, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM — DFL Train to Win Conference Call:  Community Conversations, presented by Alyse Maye Quade and Vicki Wright. Contact the State DFL with questions, Contact us at info@dfl3cd.org for specifics.
  • 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 21, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — CD3 DFL Leadership Position Screening, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St. N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
  • 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.
  • February 23
    • 10:00 to 11:00 AM — Listening Session with Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B), Westonka Library, 2079 Commerce Blvd, Mound, MN 55364.
    • 1:30 to 2:30 PM — Listening Session with Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B), Chanhassen Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317
  • February 26, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — CD3 DFL Leadership Position Screening, Lunds & Byerlys, 13081 Rigedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • February 27, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — CD3 DFL Leadership Position Screening, Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies,8061 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
  • March 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.
  • March 2, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM —  State DFL Business Conference, Eagan High School, 4185 Braddock Trl, Eagan, MN 55123.
  • March 5
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, visit their website for more information
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, Room C, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
  • March 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • March 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.
  • March 10, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club, contact them for more information
  • March 11
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 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
  • March 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Business Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
  • March 13
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, City of Crystal, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55422
  • March 14
    • 7:00 to 8:00 PM — SD49 Town Hall with Sen. Melissa Franzen, Rep. Heather Edelson, Rep. Steve Elkins, 4801 West 50th St, Edina, MN 55424
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • March 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.
  • March 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Business Meeting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • March 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.
  • March 26, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, contact them for more information.