In the Know: March 8, 2019

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Minnesota Department of Human Rights sues plasma donation company on behalf of transgender woman, Star Tribune
Minnesota attorney general sounds alarm over ‘tech support’ scammers, Star Tribune
State officials say plasma company violated transgender woman’s rights, MPR
Minnesota sues blood plasma company for barring transgender woman from donating, Pioneer Press
CSL Plasma has a ‘flat-out ban’ on trans donors, so Minnesota sues, CityPages

Congress
Reader’s View: Stauber’s votes showed lack of integrity, Duluth News Tribune
Democrats target big money in politics with ethics reform package, The Guardian

Governor Tim Walz
Walz appointees promise a kinder, gentler Met Council, MinnPost
Steven Schier: Tim Walz governs not one, but three Minnesotas, Pioneer Press
Walz pitches ‘generational investment’ in transit, Southwest Journal

Minnesota
Campaign spending watchdog says 3M donated illegally, Pioneer Press
Minnesota Sun: A Republican mega-donor site masquerading as ‘local news’, CityPages
Minnesota judge issues restraining order against another snowstorm, MPR
White Bear Township Community Sounds Off On Water Gremlin Pollution Scandal, WCCO
Hall seeks top job at state GOP, Duluth News Tribune
Duluth’s Becky Hall Running for MN GOP Chair, WDIO
45TV apologizes after announcer Doug McLeod makes lynching reference during boys’ state hockey tournament game, Star Tribune
Metro could see near 10 inches of heavy snow when ‘major winter storm’ arrives Saturday, Pioneer Press
For-profit Argosy University in Eagan announces closure, owes students $1.38M, Pioneer Press
Update: Storm will reach Rochester by 1 p.m. Saturday, Rochester Post-Bulletin
‘Lynching’ line gets Doug McLeod yanked off KSTC 45 hockey tournament, CityPages

Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota House passes Equal Rights Amendment, Star Tribune
House backs proposal to add ERA to Minnesota Constitution, Pioneer Press
Lawmakers want to address housing, but at what cost?, Mankato Free Press
Sports betting bill passes 1st test at Minnesota Legislature, AP
And the Minnesota Senate chaplain asked God for no more snow. And God said, ‘Wait.’, Pioneer Press
Republican bill would give drivers option to pay 20-cent gas tax at pump, FOX9
Minnesota deer farmers fear they’ll be cast as ‘villain’ in talks about beating fatal disease, Grand Forks Herald
MN Senate advances ‘Snow Day Relief Act’ that would let schools skip makeup days, Pioneer Press
Fetishist? Pansexual? Minnesota House approves Equal Rights Amendment after winding debate, Bemidji Pioneer
Lawmakers push funding boost for U of M research on alternative crops, MPR
State lawmakers join those preparing for spring floods, MPR
State bonding bill fix secures Lake Redwood funding, Crookston Times
Can Minnesota talk about new nuclear power while there’s still a ban?, MPR
Sports betting bill clears first committee, but odds still against it, MPR
Minnesota Senate backs snow-day relief for schools, MPR
Together, let’s address 70 years of electoral map dysfunction, MinnPost

Representative Dean Phillips

Senator Tina Smith

Trump
Manafort gets 47 months, judge cites mostly ‘blameless’ life, AP
Trump says he feels very badly for former campaign chairman Manafort, Reuters
Trump budget to include $100M for Ivanka’s women’s fund, AP
Cohen sues Trump Organization, wants it to pay legal bills, AP
Farmer patience on tariffs comes with caution flag for Trump, AP
U.S. reportedly compiled database of journalists working along southwest border, MPR
The White House and its ‘shadow cabinet’ of Fox News TV hosts, MPR
Trump inauguration took money from shell companies tied to foreigners, The Guardian

U.S.
Why International Women’s Day Isn’t Going Away, New York Times
Hidden FDA Reports Detail Harm Caused By Scores Of Medical Devices, Kaiser Health News
Facebook vows to quash anti-vaccine misinformation, MPR
West Virginia right-to-work law overturned, WTRF
Kansas Medicaid expansion push hasn’t cracked GOP roadblock, KCTV
Texas Governor Fills Courts With GOP Judges Who Voters Rejected, Governing
Study: where gun laws are weaker, there are more mass shootings, Vox

Upcoming DFL Events

  • 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 9, 1:30 to 3:30 PM —  Rep. Phillips’ Community Conversation on HR1, Little Theater, Hopkins High School, 2400 Lindbergh Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305. Rep. Phillips will be joined by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, President of End Ciitizens United Tiffany Miller and Hamline University Professor David Schultz.
  • 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, 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Business Meeting, EOC (Lower Level), Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Pkwy N, Maple Grove, MN 55369. Registration opens at 6:30 PM.  Meeting gaveled to order at 7:00 PM
  • 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 16, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM — SD48 DFL Convention, Main Commons, Eden Prairie High School, 17185 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
  • March 19, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD44 DFL 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Silent Auction, Back Channel Brewing Company, 4787 Shoreline Dr, Spring Park, MN 55384. Enjoy the delicious entries and all the fixings.  Wonderful silent auction items.  All are welcome.  $10 suggested donation and PCR receipts provided.  More information and tickets here.
  • March 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee 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
    • 6:00 to 8:00 PM — CD3 Leadership Screening Session, Davanni’s Meeting Room, 8061 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, contact them for more information.
  • March 27, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Leadership Screening Session, Lunds & Byerlys Meeting Room, 13081 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • March 29, 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.