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BC-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL-RIGHTS

Witness at officers’ trial says he believed Floyd would die

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A bystander who says he feared George Floyd would die under the knee of Derek Chauvin wept Tuesday at the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights. Prosecutors have said that even people without medical training knew Floyd needed help, but that officers with basic medical training did nothing. Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were there when Chauvin pinned Floyd’s neck to the ground with his knee for 9 1/2 minutes as the Black man was facedown in handcuffs and gasping for air. Chauvin was convicted of murder and pleaded guilty to a federal count of violating Floyd’s civil rights.

SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET-MINNESOTA

Gov. Walz reveals $5B spending plan for children, families

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has unveiled a wide-ranging spending plan that would fund several programs intended to help schools, children and their families. The spending plan announced Tuesday is the third of his four-part supplemental budget plan rollout and would cost $5.1 billion over three years. It includes an expansion of access to child care and pre-K and free meals for students. Paid family and medical leave, sick and safe time off for workers and a 2% increase in per-pupil funding for schools were also part of the proposal. Senate Republicans called Walz’s proposed package a “spending spree.”

POLYMET MINE

Wildlife groups sue agencies over assessment on PolyMet mine

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A proposed copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota is facing more legal action. A lawsuit filed Tuesday by several environmental organizations alleges that the PolyMet Mining Corp. project threatens critical habitat for gray wolves, Canada lynx and the northern long-eared bats. They say a wildlife assessment on impacts of the mine is highly flawed and decisions based on the study violate the Endangered Species Act. The 42-page complaint names Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as defendants. Among other things, the environmental groups are seeking to void the June 2018 land exchange between the Forest Service and PolyMet. The suit is the latest of several challenges to the project.

GIRLFRIEND KILLED

Parole possible in 30 years for man who killed girlfriend

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Brooklyn Park man has been sentenced to life in prison with a chance for parole in 30 years for fatally shooting his girlfriend who was struck by gunfire intended for the man’s rival. Twenty-nine-year-old Devon Manley earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and premeditated attempted first-degree murder in the July 2020 drive-by shooting that killed Shanette Marable on her 31st birthday. In his plea, Manley admitted to pulling up alongside the vehicle of his intended target, and stated he was trying to shoot him, but acknowledged that he missed and shot Marable instead. Marable’s 2-year-old child was in the car and was struck by broken glass.

BC-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL-RIGHTS-EXPLAINER-CHARGES

EXPLAINER: Federal charges against 3 cops in Floyd killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three former officers who were with Derek Chauvin during the arrest that led to George Floyd’s killing are on trial on federal charges they violated the Black man’s civil rights. J. Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are broadly accused of willfully depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights while acting under “color of law,” or government authority. All three are charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his liberty without due process, specifically depriving him of the right to be free from an officer’s deliberate indifference to his medical needs. Thao and Kueng are also charged with willfully violating Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure by not intervening to stop Chauvin.

AP-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-EXPLAINER-DEFENDANTS

EXPLAINER: Who are 3 officers on trial in Floyd’s killing?

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three former Minneapolis officers who face federal civil rights charges in the killing of George Floyd aren’t as familiar to most people as Derek Chauvin, a fellow officer who was convicted of murder last spring. Thomas Lane and J. Kueng were the first officers to respond to a report that Floyd had tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill, and they helped Chauvin restrain Floyd. Lane and Kueng were rookies just a few days into their jobs as full-fledged officers. Tou Thao was the second-most senior officer on the scene after Chauvin. He held back a group of bystanders shouting at the officers to get off Floyd.

AP-US-POLYMET-MINE

Court offers mixed views on water permit for Minnesota mine

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota appeals court has issued a mixed opinion in a complicated case contesting one of the key permits that a St. Paul-based company needs to build what would be the state’s first copper-nickel mine. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed a decision by regulators to issue the PolyMet Mining Corp. a water quality permit for the project. It now goes back to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to determine whether any pollution discharges from the mine into groundwater would violate the federal Clean Water Act. However, the three-judge panel rejected several other arguments from PolyMet’s opponents, leaving both sides claiming victory.

CANADA-US-BORDER DEATHS

Human smuggling suspect from Florida released without bond

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Florida man arrested for human smuggling after the bodies of four people were found near the Canada and U.S. border during a blizzard has been released from jail without having to pay bond. Steve Shand is charged with transport or attempted transport of illegal immigrants, after the four bodies were discovered in Canada and seven Indian nationals were found in the U.S. He is not charged in the deaths. Federal Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer of Minnesota didn’t order bond Monday, but said Shand must obey several release conditions. Shand had to surrender his passport. He is only allowed to travel to Florida and Minnesota, where court proceedings will take place.