In the Know: March 23, 2020

Days to the November Election:  225

Agriculture
PANIC BUYING, LOCKDOWNS MAY DRIVE WORLD FOOD INFLATION-FAO, ANALYSTS, Successful Farming

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison warns of price gouging amid pandemic, FOX 9

Congress
Tensions run high on Capitol Hill as Senate works to advance economic stimulus, CNN
Senators urge Jeff Bezos to give Amazon warehouse workers sick leave, hazard pay, CNBC
Senate to resume talks on massive economic stimulus bill for the coronavirus after Democrats block vote on legislation, Washington Post

Donald Trump
Trump made 33 false claims about the coronavirus crisis in the first two weeks of March, CNN
Fauci gets frank about Trump: ‘I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down’, Washington Post
Trump appears to waffle on shutdown as Congress pursues aid, Star Tribune
Dr Anthony Fauci counters Trump claims amid crisis: ‘I just want to get the facts out’, The Guardian

Economy
US stock futures plunge, trigger limit down trading halt, after Senate fails to agree on $1.6 trillion stimulus package, Business Insider
The Federal Reserve just pledged asset purchases with no limit to support markets, CNBC
Democrats, please don’t waste the coronavirus crisis. Hold out for what Americans need.,USA Today

Education
Graduation, Financial Aid, Admissions — For This Year’s College-Bound, The Future Is In Turmoil, NPR
The Trump Administration To Cancel Standardized Tests For Closed Schools, HuffPost

Environment
Poor water infrastructure is greater risk than coronavirus, says UN, The Guardian
Pentagon cleanup of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ likely to last decades, The Hill

Governor Tim Walz
Walz considers coronavirus ‘shelter in place’ order: What would that look like?, Pioneer Press
Coronavirus: Gov. Tim Walz to provide update at Monday press conference, Bring Me the News
Executive order from Gov. Tim Walz targets COVID-19 gouging and scams in Minnesota, Star Trib
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Grocery Store Workers Granted Special Emergency Status, WCCO
Walz authorizes National Guard to help deliver supplies to Minnesota hospitals, Pioneer Press
Asked to stay open during the COVID-19 crisis, Minnesota child care providers are calling for financial aid to help them stay afloat, MinnPost

Health
What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Pandemic, Washington Post
US surgeon general warns ‘this week, it’s going to get bad’ as hospitals struggle to keep up with sharply increasing coronavirus cases, CNN
‘Terrified’ Package Delivery Employees Are Going to Work Sick, New York Times
Elizabeth Warren Calls Out Walmart, Amazon And McDonald’s Over Sick Leave, Huff Post
Keeping the Coronavirus from Infecting Health-Care Workers, The New Yorker

Immigration
ICE Is Ignoring Recommendations to Release Immigrant Detainees to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus, Mother Jones

Labor
Labor Department asked states to delay releasing increased unemployment numbers: report, The Hill
Spike in unemployment filings overwhelms state systems, CNN
St. Louis Fed chair says US unemployment rate could hit 30 percent, The Hill

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagans
Coronavirus In MN: Lt. Gov. Flanagan Says Her Brother Died From COVID-19 In Tennessee, WCCO

Minnesota News
Minnesota receives record 95,300 unemployment applications following COVID-19 closures, FOX 9
Here’s what Politico got wrong about the Iron Range., MN Reformer
Pregnant women in the Twin Cities face fear, uncertainty and strict regulations amid COVID-19, Pioneer Press
Tracking coronavirus in Minnesota, Star Tribune

Minnesota State Legislature
Minnesota Doctor Sen. Klein Gearing Up To Make A Difference In State Legislature, WCCO

Representative Betty McCollum (CD4)
House Democrat trying to enlist Trudeau in fight to save boundary waters, Politico

Republicans
3 GOP Senators In Self-Quarantine Will Be Unable To Vote On Coronavirus Relief, NPR
Rand Paul is the first senator to test positive for Covid-19, Vox

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senators urge Congress to include election funds in coronavirus stimulus, The Hill

Senator Tina Smith
Minnesota’s Democratic Congress members ask feds to expedite medical equipment to state, Duluth News Tribune

SCOTUS
Supreme Court: Justices healthy and trying to stay that way, Associated Press

U.S. News
These states are ordering residents to stay home or shelter in place. What does that mean?, USA Today
Crowds packed California beaches despite shelter in place order, CNN
New York Gov. Cuomo Calls For Army Corps To Help Build Temporary Hospitals, NPR
Louisiana governor says his state has the fastest growth rate of coronavirus cases in the world, CNN
US axed CDC expert job in China months before outbreak: Reuters, Al Jazeera
Illinois governor says ‘it’s a wild west’ for medical supplies because of Trump’s response to states’ requests, CNN

World News
Millions in India under coronavirus lockdown as major cities restrict daily life, CNN
Global coronavirus cases cross 350,000, death toll passes 15,000 as pandemic takes hold, CNBC
Wuhan finally loosens coronavirus restrictions after two-month lockdown, New York Post

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.

• March 23, 7:00 PM —  POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Gov. Tim Walz State of the State Address, more information as it become available.
• April 1 — April Fools’ Day
  • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, PROBABLY POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, contact the Chair for specifics
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting Virtual Meeting on the Zoom platform. Contact the Chair for more information.
• April 2, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, PROBABLY POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, contact the Chair for specifics
• April 7, 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
• April 9 through 13 —  Passover
• April 9
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Normal Blvd NW, Coon  Rapids, MN 55433.
  • 7:00 to  9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
• April 10 — Good Friday
• April 12 — Easter
• April 13
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
• April 15 — Tax Day
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CD3 DFL Central Committee Meting
• April 18
• April 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
• April 22 — Earth Day
• April 23 through May 23 — Ramadan
• April 24 — Arbor Day
• 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
  • 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.