In the Know: March 4, 2019

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Victims of Wells Fargo fake-account scandal can use website to seek restitution, Star Tribune
Ellison announces Wells Fargo Consumer Redress Review Program, KSTP

Congress
Congressman Stauber in Walker March 4, The Pilot-Independent
How They Voted: Border emergency, gun sale background checks, EPA administrator, Mankato Free Press
N. Carolina Elections Board to Set Date for US House Election, Voice Of America
North Carolina Democrats see opportunity in do-over election, ABC News
A teen got vaccinated against his parents’ wishes – now, he’ll testify before Congress, Duluth News Tribune
Cohen and Abrams: A double standard on lying to Congress?, PolitiFact
What You Should Know About Progressives’ Ambitious New Medicare for All Bill, New York Magazine
EMILY’s List names 2020 House and Senate targets, Roll Call
Poll: Americans support government action to curb prescription drug prices, MPR
Looking beyond Mueller, Democrats cast investigative nets, MPR
Populism or socialism? The divided heart of the Green New Deal, MinnPost
Members of Congress make civil rights pilgrimage through Alabama, Alabama Media Group
House Democrats won’t restore ‘earmarks’, AP
Board That Handles Federal Worker Disputes Is Now Vacant, U.S. News and World Report

Governor Tim Walz
My Budget Reflects The Morals Of Minnesotans, Grand Rapids Herald Review
Walz unveils plan for all carbon-free electricity by 2050, MPR
Governor Walz To Push Education Proposal During Statewide Tour, KVRR
Walz stresses college affordability while UMN faces tuition increases, Minnesota Daily
Gov. Walz stops by FOX 9 to talk recent bills, plan head, FOX9
Gov. Walz Brings Education Tour to Mankato, KEYC
Walz announces three part policy for energy, climate initiative, CBS3
Johanna Rupprecht and Paul Sobocinski: Walz health care budget is a good prescription, Winona Daily News
Gov. Tim Walz had a tough week — perhaps the first of many to come, Star Tribune

Minnesota
Late Sen. Paul Wellstone is a force in 2020 presidential race, Star Tribune
Bernie Sanders is Hitler? Republicans under fire for Facebook post, Preston Business Review
Welfare check of ‘deranged person’ turns out to be cardboard cutout of MyPillow guy, Pioneer Press
Noor pleads not guilty in death of Justine Damond, MinnPost
Corridors For Commerce Program Could Fund Completion Of Highway 169, Grand Rapids Herald Review
Noxious weeds continue to spread across Minnesota, St. James News
New Commissioner of DEED Pays Visit To Mankato, KEYC
Developer seeks $107M public subsidy for St. Paul Ford site, MPR
He’s Ramsey County elections chief, but really he’s the state’s expert. Now Joe Mansky is retiring., Pioneer Press
“Run As You Are,” VoteRunLead Advises Female Candidates, The Mac Weekly
Minnesota patients paying the price of drug roulette, Star Tribune
County considers raising age limit to buy tobacco, Rochester Post-Bulletin
Minnesota State colleges and universities system seeks to reinvent itself — again, Star Tribune
‘I was dead for three minutes’: Close-up on a crisis spilling into Duluth’s streets, Duluth News Tribune
White Bear Township manufacturer to pay $7M for toxic air emissions, Star Tribune
February snowstorms may have been the last straw for some struggling dairy farms, Star Tribune
Water Gremlin to pay $7 million settlement for air pollution, MPR
Firefighters contain large chemical spill in Minneapolis, MPR
Snow, ice cause structure concerns, Rochester Post-Bulletin
Lawyer well-being emphasized at MN Supreme Court’s ‘Call to Action’ conference, MinnPost
Small towns near Rochester hope — and plan — for DMC-fueled growth, MinnPost
Minnesota Supreme Court taking aim at mental health ‘crisis’ in legal profession, Star Tribune
Judge: Can’t use cop’s silence at trial in Damond shooting, AP

Representative Ilhan Omar
FBI investigating graffiti targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, MPR
Rep. Ilhan Omar blasts GOP over poster linking her with the 9/11 attacks, CNN
Ilhan Omar brands Mark Meadows a racist, citing his 2012 ‘birther’ comments, Washington Examiner
Ilhan Omar’s rattling America… but that might be a good thing, CityPages
Anti-Muslim signs at West Virginia Capitol roil state, draw outrage, MPR

Minnesota Legislature
Well, we finally know how much the Minnesota Jobs Coalition spent on the 2018 election, MinnPost
Mandatory sex-ed? Minn. lawmakers consider adding requirement, Star Tribune
KARE 11 Investigates: Mandating schools test for radon, KARE11
Calling current curriculum inadequate, advocates call for comprehensive sex ed in MInn. schools, Northfield News
Civics, cursive writing, sexual consent: Lawmakers propose school mandates, Pioneer Press
Minn. budget surplus decreases by nearly $500M, Wahpeton Daily News
Northstar could be rolling into St. Cloud, Morrison County Record
Freedom to Drive Act passes in first committee hearing, The Globe
Northstar extension to St. Cloud is worth considering, Star Tribune
Impact of Minnesota gas tax hike proposal, Valley News
Capitol Notebook: Gun bills tee up a legislative battle, goalposts set for state spending, West Central Tribune
Civics, cursive writing, sexual consent: Lawmakers propose school mandates, Pioneer Press
Minn. lawmakers debate sex education, KARE11
Environmental education might be solution to making natural resources relevant, Star Tribune
Special education funding gaps growing, inequitable, Mankato Free Press
Economic forecast signals caution in Minnesota, Star Tribune
Legislature explained: How building a budget is like baking a cake, MPR
The billion dollar bummer: Why some Minnesota lawmakers are so conflicted about the state’s not-exactly-small projected budget surplus, MinnPost

Trump
Trump claims Cohen hearing may have hurt North Korea summit, AP
House Republican not ruling out Libertarian run in 2020, Politico
Jacob Wohl, the Trump internet activist cashing in on conspiracy theories, explained, Vox
House Judiciary launches probe of allegations of obstruction by President Trump, MPR
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s epic speech is laced with fabrication, AP
Rand Paul Says He’ll Vote Against Trump’s Border Emergency, Likely Forcing A Veto, NPR
40 Years After The Vietnam War, Some Refugees Face Deportation Under Trump, NPR
Eyeing 2020, White House steps up ‘socialism’ attack on Dems, MPR
Otto Warmbier’s parents dispute Trump’s seeming absolution of Kim Jong Un, MPR
Battle over security clearances accelerates with report of Trump intervention, MPR
Meet the White House’s new chief climate change skeptic, MPR
‘Bulls—‘: Trump goes off script in over 2-hour CPAC speech, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The U.S. could end up paying dearly for Trump’s disregard for Africa, MinnPost
Trump likes ‘actings,’ experts say permanent staff is better, Business Insider
Trump is now firmly in control of the Republican Party, Star Tribune
Donald Trump rouses right with prediction of a big 2020 win, The Economic Times
Two days in July: As Republicans convened in Cleveland, did Trump receive a heads-up about WikiLeaks?, MSN
AP fact check: Trump twists Cohen’s words on collusion, PBS
Nielsen estimates about 16 million watched Michael Cohen, AP
Trump claims ‘very good’ Kim relations despite failed summit, AP

U.S.
Wisconsin’s Evers Also Wants To Increase Gas Taxes, WCCO
‘Sanctuary’ cities are getting their grants despite threats, AP
Texas church shooting victims’ families sue gun retailer, The Hill
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week, AP
Stop the Title X gag rule to retain comprehensive reproductive care for all, MinnPost
Tornado kills 23 in Alabama, rescuers search for victims, AP
Medical marijuana makes its North Dakota debut in Fargo, MPR
In New Orleans, the fight over blackface renews scrutiny of a Mardi Gras tradition, MPR
Organizers of deadly white nationalist rally drop lawsuit, AP

Upcoming DFL Events

  • March 5
    • 6:30 to 8:00 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Teamsters Hall, 9422 Ylysses St NE, Blaine, MN 55434
    • 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
    • 6:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Leadership Screening Session, Maple Grove Library, Room #107, 8001 Main St, Maple Grove, MN
    • 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, 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 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.