Days to the November Election: 203
2020 Election
Obama set to endorse Biden’s White House bid, Politico
Wisconsin Democrat Jill Karofsky in Supreme Court election upset, BBC
DNC CHAIR SAYS JUDGE KAROFSKY WINNING WISCONSIN’S SC RACE SHOULD ‘TERRIFY’ TRUMP GIVEN GOP ‘VOTER SUPPRESSION EFFORTS’, Newsweek
Bernie Sanders endorses Joe Biden for president: ‘We need you in the White House’,NBCRepublicans Tried to Use the Coronavirus to Steal a Wisconsin Supreme Court Election. The Liberal Challenger Just Won Anyway., Mother Jones
Election debacle backfires on Wisconsin Republicans, MSNBC
Agriculture
Former Agriculture Secretary: ‘Cascading series of events’ disrupting the US food chain, The Hill
Food supply worries grow after outbreak closes Smithfield meat plant, The Hill
Economy
Meet The Corporate Bailout’s First Policeman, The American Prospect
Bailouts Won’t Save the Economy. More Coronavirus Tests Will., The New Republic
A Special Gift for Donald Trump’s Friends: An Excess Profits Tax, Beat The Press
Donald Trump
Fauci acknowledged a delay in the US coronavirus response. Trump then retweeted a call to fire him., Vox
Trump claims he has ‘total’ authority over reopening economy, Star Tribune
Who Will Advise Trump On Reopening The U.S.? White House To Set New Pandemic Council, NPR
Pelosi looks to seize Trump’s bully pulpit, Politico
Trump Is the Obstacle to Defeating the Coronavirus, The Atlantic
Trump’s latest coronavirus press briefing featured one of his most memorable meltdowns yet, Vox
Speculation grows about Fauci’s future, The Hill
Being an Actual Authoritarian Is Too Much Work for Trump, The Atlantic
Education
DeVos Backs Down, Agrees To Process Student Loan Forgiveness Applications, Forbes
How covid-19 has laid bare the vast inequities in U.S. public education, Washington Post
Environment
What does air pollution have to do with Covid-19?, CNN
Climate Change Turns the Tide on Waterfront Living, Washington Post
Republicans Are Planning to Use Coronavirus to Gut Renewable Energy, Vice
In MN, enforcement of pollution laws goes on — with a few exceptions, MPR
Governor Tim Walz
Gov. Walz says testing is key to reopening economy, KARE11
Gov Walz, Commissioners take COVID-19 pay cut; hiring freeze on all executive branch positions, KTOE
Walz names Segal chief judge of Minnesota appeals court, KEYC
Walz Extends Peacetime Emergency to May 13, New Ulm Journal
Health
Rural hospitals shut out of stimulus loans face financial crisis , Politico
Illinois Democrats call on HHS to address racial health disparities, The Hill
The next coronavirus testing debacle, Politico
Walmart Hid That It Was Under Criminal Investigation for Its Opioid Sales, Lawyers Say, ProPublica
Immigration
Immigrant Meatpackers Fightback Against Intimidation & Death Traps, Workday MN
Detained immigrants plead for masks, protection from virus, Associated Press
Millions of taxpaying immigrants won’t get stimulus checks, Los Angeles Times
Labor
Inside the Union Where Coronavirus Put 98% of Members Out of Work, Workday MN
Amazon Fired An Employee Involved In Workplace Organizing In Minnesota, Sources Say, Buzzfeed News
Minnesota Legislature
Wisconsin’s election can’t happen here, Star Tribune
Let’s expand mail-in voting in Minnesota to protect our elections, Northfield News
Minnesota News
Northshore Mining on Iron Range laying off 470 workers until August, Star Tribune
Cargill temporarily stops production at Big Lake, Minnesota facility, employees laid off, Fox 9
Minnesota readies antibody COVID-19 response, Star Tribune
Minneapolis police commander who put ‘offensive’ shirt on Facebook demoted, City Pages
You’re not imagining it: there are more and more turkeys among us, Star Tribune
In a pandemic, ‘gig’ workers can fall through the social safety net, MPR
Republicans
Republicans Are Trying to Kick Thousands of Voters Off the Rolls During a Pandemic, Mother Jones
How a pair of anti-vaccine activists sparked a #FireFauci furor, Politico
Trump sent Arizona a fraction of the ventilators it sought. Republicans still framed it as a big win., Vox
Paul Manafort Wants Out Of Federal Prison To Avoid COVID-19, Talking Points Memo
U.S. News
Governors on East, West coasts form compacts to coordinate reopening society, Star Tribune
Gov. Northam signs legislation that repeals Virginia vote ID law, makes Election Day state holiday, WVEC
‘Overwhelmed and Frustrated’: What It’s Like Trying to Get an Abortion in Texas, New York Times
Florida tops 21,000 coronavirus cases and nears 500 deaths statewide, Miami Herald
Why coronavirus conspiracy theories have spread so quickly, Vox
South Dakota’s governor resisted ordering people to stay home. Now it has one of the nation’s largest coronavirus hot spots., Star Tribune
World News
IMF says the world will ‘very likely’ experience worst recession since the 1930s, CNBC
India Extends ‘Total’ Lockdown By Nearly 3 Weeks, NPR
North Korea Fires Missiles as South’s Elections Loom, New York Times
Wildfires ‘edge closer to Chernobyl nuclear plant,BBC
Coronavirus: Italians fear second wave as lockdown is eased, NBC
Putin Warns That Russia’s COVID-19 Pandemic Is Getting Worse, NPR
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 4 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
- April 15 — Tax Day
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meting, contact the Chair for more information
- April 17, 5:00 PM — Deadline for DFL local units to provide a roster to delegates/alternates and ballot content
- April 18
- April 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for more information on how the meeting will be held
- April 22 — Earth Day
- April 23 through May 23 — Ramadan
- April 23 — Deadline for DFL local units to certify their ballot in writing to DFL Staff
- April 24 — Arbor Day
- April 25 – 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 30 -30 — State DFL Convention, Rochester, MN, more information as it becomes available.