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Dear John, We wrote most of this week’s Digest from the Capitol rotunda, listening to Minnesota House members debate the #PaidSickDays bill. We’re excited to report that the bill passed! 🎉 None of us should worry about losing our job if we need a sick day, and now we’re one step closer to closing that gap. Thanks to all of you who contacted your Representatives this week and shared your stories. For those of you who took our #PaidSickDays survey, it was powerful to deliver your experiences on printed cards directly to legislators in the hours before they cast their votes. In those moments, our stories should be front and center. Next step is getting this bill through the Senate. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be in touch at key moments to take action. Text SICK to 87843 to make sure you get our action alerts for this bill. Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week: 1. Earthquakes and preparedness The death toll of last week’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria has very sadly and steadily risen to around 40,000. Our hearts break for the families and communities affected not just by the earthquake but by the inadequate response in an already war-torn region. This NPR piece is a reminder to all of us about the roles any one of us can play in a crisis. 2. In: Free lunch for kids The Minnesota House passed legislation that would provide free and reduced-price meals for kids. MinnPost explains how schools and hunger activists are using lessons learned from the pandemic to make sure kids don’t go hungry. 3. Out: Childhood povertyTo make sure Minnesota is the best place to raise a family, we need to reduce childhood poverty. One way to do that: the child tax credit. Check out how the child tax credit has provided relief for families during the pandemic and how Minnesota policymakers are thinking of making this policy happen for the long term. 4. Werk, werk, werkRihanna’s concert (a.k.a. the Super Bowl halftime show this past Sunday) was a gift for fans like me (Jessica) – as would be Paid Family & Medical Leave. This WNYC Studios podcast digs into why Democratic lawmakers are renewing their push to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to include paid leave for new parents and caregivers. 5. Keep nurses at the bedsideAt the Capitol this week, I (Jessica) saw dozens of visitors sporting red flannel attire. It turns out, these visitors were in fact nurses showing up in support of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, legislation that would support solutions to staff shortages at Minnesota hospitals. 6. Missing and Murdered Indigenous RelativesThe annual march returned for the first time this past week since the pandemic in both Minneapolis and Bemidji. Speakers included Senator Mary Kunesh, who established the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women task force in 2019. She shares, “The work is never going to be done … we will continue working at the legislature because yes, representation matters.” 7. Gender and editorial biasHundreds of New York Times contributors wrote an open letter to the editors of the New York Times to raise serious concerns about editorial bias in the newspaper’s reporting on transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people. 8. Black farmers9. '32 Nasty'A freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in Ohio last week creating a toxic cloud and forcing thousands to evacuate. Workers knew the train had safety issues. 10. Egg-citing signs of Spring!The Minnesota DNR’s EagleCam has captured sightings of the first egg laid in the eagle’s nest so far this year! Experts say this is one indicator that spring is coming.
And that’s a wrap! Send us what you’re reading, watching, and listening to. Until next time, Katie Blanchard (she/her) Jessica Zimmerman (she/her)
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