Days to the November Election: 186
2020 Election
Congressional Democrats are governing from the minority, Vox
Agriculture
THREE PORK PLANTS ARE TOP U.S. PRIORITY FOR REOPENING, SAYS PETERSON, Successful Farming
Feeding strawberries to cows: Farmers forced to throw fruit and flowers as coronavirus disrupts supplies, CNBC
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison sues Ramsey County landlords for attempting to evict tenant during state of emergency, Bring Me the News MN
Wright County egg producer agrees to cost cap after price-gouging probe, Pioneer Press
Donald Trump
Trump threatens new tariffs on China in retaliation for coronavirus, Reuters
Trump reportedly warned Saudis to cut oil supply or lose US military support, New York Post
Government orders 100,000 new body bags as Trump minimizes death toll, NBC News
Trump push to keep meatpacking plants open comes as pork producers profit from China trade deal,CNBC
History According to Trump: The President and the 1917 Pandemic That Wasn’t, New Yorker
Economy
Crashing Economy, Rising Stocks: What’s Going On? New York Times
Easing lockdowns seen unlikely to stop economy bleeding, The Hill
Bank stocks could surge in economic recovery, Bank of America strategist says, CNBC
Federal Reserve Expands Business-Lending Program, Wall Street Journal
Environment
Highest ever concentration of microplastics found on sea floor, CNN
Coronavirus is driving down global carbon dioxide emissions to levels last seen 10 years ago, agency says, Washington Post
Governor Tim Walz
Minnesotans to get two more weeks of stay-at-home, but with new flexibility, Star Tribune
Walz administration asks activists to back off on calls for a rent strike in Minnesota, MinnPost
Gov. Tim Walz to unveil what’s next for Minnesota after stay-at-home order, Star Tribune
Walz Administration signs lease on facility to handle non-COVID care in Roseville, Bring Me the New MN
Health
Coronavirus exposes major flaws in health care system, NBC
Plunge in health-care spending a big reason US economy sank in first quarter, CNBC
Fauci Says It’s ‘Doable’ To Have Millions Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine By January, NPR
Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus, NPR
How reliable are COVID-19 tests? Depends which one you mean, MPR
Immigration
‘Remain in Mexico’ asylum hearings suspended through June 1, Associated Press
Labor
Nearly 20 Percent Of The U.S. Labor Force Has Filed For Unemployment Since Mid-March, FiveThirtyEight
Virus Labor Market Damage Could Equate to 305 Million Jobs, Bloomberg
Long-Sought U.S. Labor Rule Change Raises Worker Safety Questions in Coronavirus Crisis, New York Times
Ex-Labor Secretary Explains How Donald Trump Is Exploiting Coronavirus For Personal Gain, Huff Post
Minnesota Legislature
Vote-by-mail may become new norm, Wahpeton Daily News
In a Minnesota Legislature on lockdown, State Capitol gets used to a new normal, Star Tribune
Minnesota higher ed in crisis, administrators tell Legislature, Northfield News
Minnesota News
Deadly toll grows at Minnesota’s New Hope nursing home, with 47 dead and 130 sickened by the coronavirus,Star Tribune
How COVID-19 could exacerbate inequalities in Minnesota’s workforce, MinnPost
Children’s Minnesota plans to furlough 181 nurses, Star Tribune
This year, farmers markets aim to offer comforting tradition. Plus produce, MPR
Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Congresswoman Angie Craig, Senator Smith Host DEED and SBA for Constituent Briefing, KYMN
Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
LIVE: Congressman Collin Peterson holds press conference addressing pork processing facility closures and related hog backup, Grand Forks Herald
Rep. Collin Peterson says U.S. is three weeks away from pork shortage, RFD TV
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Gov. Walz, Congressmen Visit Worthington To Talk Safe Reopening Of Pork Plant, WCCO
Republicans
White House declares success while experts say the coronavirus fight isn’t over, NBC News
Jeff Flake: A ‘sound defeat’ of Trump in the 2020 election would be better for the Republican Party, CNN
Republicans literally want to work Americans to death,The Week
Republicans in Minnesota
Daily Reformer: The good Dr. Jensen is back at it, MN Reformer
Minnesota’s right wing keyboard warriors lapping up COVID-19 conspiracy theories, MN Reformer
Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith: Trump ‘making stuff up’ during public health crisis, MSNBC
U.S. Sens. Smith, Warren Press To Include $50B Childcare Bailout In Next Relief Package, WCCO
Unemployment benefits for Minnesota freelancers have started, but not everyone has been paid yet, MinnPost
U.S. News
Hundreds of protesters, some carrying guns in the state Capitol, demonstrate against Michigan’s emergency measures, NBC News
After a day of armed protesters and a GOP lawsuit threat, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends state of emergency, Washington Post
More than 80% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Georgia last month were black, CDC study finds, CBS News
Trump contradicts US intel community by claiming he’s seen evidence coronavirus originated in Chinese lab, CNN
Coronavirus updates from April 30, 2020,CBS News
World News
Russia’s Prime Minister Says He Has Coronavirus, As Country Tops 100,000 Cases, NPR
Taliban attacks in Afghanistan surge after U.S. peace deal, inflicting heavy casualties, Washington Post
Canada to make announcement on assault weapons ban after mass shooting in Nova Scotia, ABC News
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 18 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
- Today through May 23 — Ramadan
- Today through 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 18 — Last Day of the 2020 Legislative Session
- May 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 25 — Memorial Day
- May 30 -30 — State DFL Convention has now move to a virtual convention, more information as it becomes available.
- May 31 — Mandatory meeting for district-level DFL National Delegates, more information as it becomes available
- June 3
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 4, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 8
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.