In the Know

Minnesota DFL
Feb. 19, 2016
217 days before people can begin to vote by no excuse absentee ballot, Sept. 23
262 days until Election Day, Nov. 8
11 days until the DFL SD48 convention
 
Events today

• Lt. Gov. Smith will provide remarks at a meeting of the SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Executive Board.
• Noon – Lt. Gov. Smith will provide remarks at the UNCF State of Minnesota Leaders’ Luncheon on Education. Windows on Minnesota, 50th Floor, IDS Tower, 80 S 8th St., Minneapolis.
• 1:30 p.m. – Lt. Gov. Smith will chair a meeting of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. Fifth Floor Conference Room, Veterans Service Building, 20 W 12th St., St. Paul.
• 7 p.m. – Congressional District 5 DFL will host its Heart of the Party fundraiser. 301 on Main, Minneapolis. There is free parking adjacent to the building in an open surface lot. Tickets are $35.

Events Saturday

• 10:30 a.m. – Caucus Convener Training, Hosmer Library, 347 E 36th St, Minneapolis.
• Democratic caucuses in Nevada.
• Republican primary in South Carolina.
• Gov. Dayton has officially proclaimed February 20-21 to be “NHL Stadium Series Weekend” in Minnesota. Along with the proclamation, the lights of the iconic I-35W bridge will be changed to official Minnesota Wild colors Iron Range Red and Forest Green as a special tribute. The bridge extends across the Mississippi River and will be lit both nights of the NHL Stadium Series. The piers of the bridge will be cast in green with the body of the bridge glowing in red. The lighting will take place 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise.

Event Sunday

• 1:30 p.m. – The DFL Disabilities Caucus will hold a membership meeting at Rondo Library, University and Dale, St. Paul, in the Youth Library Room. The Caucus will pass political resolutions, elect a Secretary, and discuss the Compassionate Care bill to be introduced in the MN Legislature this year.

Precinct caucuses March 1

• 7 p.m. – Help spread the word that people can find their precinct caucus locations here.

Mark your calendars

• Feb. 22 – Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis) and other legislators will host a pollinator forum at 7 p.m. at Washburn High, 201 W 49th St., Minneapolis.
• Feb. 23 – Republican caucuses in Nevada.
• Feb. 23 – Rep. Erin Murphy will hold a meeting from 8-9 p.m. at Gustavus Adolphus College to talk with students about student debt. Rep. Murphy is currently working on legislation in legislature on student debt and is seeking opinions on the legislation. Everyone is invited to attend this event hosted by the Gustavus Democrats.
• Feb. 25 – Secretary of State Steve Simon will host the “Secretary’s State on the State of Elections” at noonat the Wellstone Neighborhood House, St. Paul. After the speech, participants can attend one of two workshops, “What happens at a precinct caucus,” or “Building the next generation of poll workers.” For more information,click here.
• Feb. 25 – Forum News Service will host a unique preview of the Minnesota legislative session. Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, House Speaker Kurt Daudt, Senate Minority Leader David Hann and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen will sit at the same table to answer questions from Minnesota reporters.
• Feb. 26 – Republicans debate in Houston on NBC. The co-sponsors are Telemundo and National Review.
• Feb. 27 – The Democratic primary in South Carolina.
• Feb. 27 – The DFL African American Caucus will meet, 10 a.m., 3240 Library Ln, Minneapolis.
• March 5 – 2016 DFL Elected Officials Convocation, 10 a.m., DFL Headquarters, 255 Plato Blvd E., St. Paul. The convocation will elect representatives to various roles in the party: five persons from each Congressional District to serve as delegates to the State DFL Convention; 10 persons to serve as delegates to the State DFL Central Committee for a two-year term; three persons to serve as directors on the State DFL Executive Committee for a two-year term; and six persons who are DFL endorsed, elected members of the Minnesota House of Representatives or State Senate, State Constitutional Officers, or members of the U.S. Congress to serve as members of the State Platform, Issues, and Legislative Affairs Committee for a two-year term.
• March 6 – Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will debate in Flint, Michigan.
• April 30 – CD 2 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Shakopee West Junior High School, 200 10th Ave. E, Shakopee.
• April 30 – CD 7 DFL Convention, 1 p.m., Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 1080 28th Ave. S, Moorhead.
• May 7 – CD 5 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., South High School, 3131 S 19th Ave., Minneapolis.
• May 7 – CD 8 DFL Convention, 10 a.m., Duluth Holiday Inn, 200 W 1st St., Duluth.
• May 14 – CD 1 DFL Convention, 1 p.m., Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Dr., Worthington.
• May 14 – CD 3 DFL Convention, 10:30 a.m., Osseo Senior High School, 317 2nd Ave. NW, Osseo.
• May 21 – CD 6 DFL Convention, noon, St. Cloud Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave. N, St. Cloud.
• May 22 – CD 4 DFL Convention, noon, Carpenters Union Hall, 700 Olive St., St. Paul.

Fundraisers

• Feb. 22 – The DFL Senate District 13, in partnership with the College Democrats of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University will host “An Evening with Secretary of State Steve Simon.” 6:30 p.m., Gorecki Conference Center on the campus of the College of St. Benedict.
• Feb. 27 – SD36 DFL Fundraiser and Elections Pre-Caucus Rally. North Hennepin Community College, College of Business & Technology, Grand Hall, 7411 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park. Participants will discuss the importance of Elections in Minnesota and your local Senate District. Keynote speakers are Minnesota Secretary of State,
  Steve Simon and Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey. Suggested donation $20. All donations appreciated. Please RSVP with Reva Chamblis at  or call Reva at .
• March 12 – Senate District 63 DFL hosts its annual Spaghetti Dinner. 5 p.m., Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4120 17th Ave. S, Minneapolis.
• March 12 – The Senate District 16 DFL fundraiser will be held at Jackpot Junction, Morton. It kicks off at 5 p.m. and will feather a buffet meal, silent and live auctions and speakers.

2016 election
Legislature
GOP, DFL ready for fierce battle for House control, KSTP
Anzelc to run for reelection to House seat, Brainerd Dispatch
Lestrud to seek 15A DFL endorsement, Mille Lacs County Times
President
Republicans 2016: From South Carolina to the Ides of March, Sabato’s Crystal Ball
Trump serves up non-answer word salads, Rubio brave (if canned) eloquence, MinnPost
Big win for Bernie: AFL-CIO holds off on presidential endorsement, Huffington Post
Questions farm workers have for Bernie Sanders, Huffington Latino Post
The power brokers who could decide the 2016 election, The Hill
Donald Trump wobbles on Iraq, muses about fatherhood and loves…Elton John and Michael Jackson?Washington Post
Marco Rubio opens Minnesota campaign office, KSTP
 
2016 special election
How Republicans scored their big upset in House District 50B, MinnPost

Biden, Joe
On the Biden beat, MPR
Biden says St. Paul’s Union Depot highlights stimulus’ success, Star Tribune
Biden touts St. Paul Depot restoration as a stimulus success, KSTP
Joe Biden touts stimulus during St. Paul Union Depot visit, Pioneer Press
Biden highlights stimulus in visit to St. Paul, WCCO
Vice President Biden talks 1-On-1 with Frank Vascellaro, WCCO
Minnesota stimulus dollars helped finance Mall of America hotel, KSTP
RECAP + REPLAY: Vice President Biden at Union Depot in St. Paul, KARE
 
Education (E-12)
Legislature poised for another preschool debate, MPR
Revival of Minnesota’s portfolio teacher licensing sparks interest, Pioneer Press
How schools are targeting student health to raise attendance, graduation rates, Fox 9
 
Energy
Congressman Tim Walz tours solar farm, KEYC
 
Labor
Demonstrators block Minneapolis intersections in campaign for fair wage, Workday Minnesota
Protest stops morning rush hour in Mpls., KARE
 
Legislators
How did Joyce Peppin become one of the most important players in the Minnesota Legislature? Very quietlyMinnPost
 
Polls
Sanders tops Clinton in a national poll for the first time, The Hill
New poll shows that black voters really aren’t ‘Feeling the Bern,’ Washington Post
Donald Trump falls behind Ted Cruz in national NBC/WSJ poll, NBC
Trump dominates in Bloomberg poll before South Carolina primary, Bloomberg

Pope Francis
Pope on Trump: Anyone who wants border walls isn’t Christian, MPR
Pope Francis joins a chorus of world leaders in condemning Donald Trump, Washington Post
Trump slams Pope Francis for questioning his faith: ‘Disgraceful,’ The Hill
Trump goes to war with the pope, Politico

The subject line of the Trump campaign’s email made clear just how bizarre Thursday would be: “Donald J. Trump Response to the Pope.” Pope Francis had just laid into Trump over his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, telling reporters after wrapping up a visit to Mexico that “a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the Gospel.” Trump immediately fired back, calling Francis’ comments “disgraceful” in his statement. “No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith,” he said. Trump also said: “If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS’s ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president.” CNN
 
Precinct caucus
Strong turnout expected March 1 for precinct caucuses, Elk River Star News
 
South Carolina
Trump on brink of huge win, The Hill
 
Sunday liquor sales
Pressure mounts for Sunday retail liquor sales in Minnesota, Star Tribune
 
Transportation
U.S.-Japan agree to deal that may doom MSP-Tokyo daily nonstop, MPR

University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota research lapses show self-reform is failing, Star Tribune

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