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AP-US-POLICE-SHOOTING-MINNEAPOLIS

Amir Locke protesters seek acting police chief’s resignation

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A caravan of vehicles drove through Minneapolis demanding justice in the death of Amir Locke, the 22-year old Black man who was fatally shot by Minneapolis police as officers served a no-knock search warrant. Sunday’s caravan of about 50 vehicles was organized by the Racial Justice Network and other police accountability groups. Some in the caravan then gathered in a neighborhood outside what’s believed to be the home of interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman. They chanted the names of Locke as well as Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was killed by Kentucky police during a no-knock raid in 2020. They also called for Huffman’s resignation.

BIDEN-POLICE SHOOTING-MINNEAPOLIS

White House considers expanding limits on ‘no-knock’ warrant

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is considering expanding a policy that limits the use of “no-knock” warrants for certain federal agents. A “no-knock warrant” is an order from a judge that allows law enforcement officials with a search warrant to enter a home without announcing their presence first. It’s an exemption to usual practice. In most cases, the law requires that officers must knock and announce themselves before entering a private home to execute a search warrant. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Biden is looking at whether to further limit federal agents’ use of the tactic after a local SWAT team fatally shot 22-year-old Amir Locke in Minneapolis.

GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS

Lung expert: Officers could have saved George Floyd’s life

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A lung specialist says George Floyd could have been saved if police officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily. Dr. David Systrom testified Monday at the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating Floyd’s rights. He also says Floyd’s survival chances would have doubled or tripled if the officers had performed CPR as soon as his heart stopped. Federal prosecutors say J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao deprived Floyd of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the Black man’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene.

BC-MN-XGR-UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Senate GOP reveals plan to resolve unemployment fund deficit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Senate Republicans on Monday released a $2.73 billion proposal to repay the state’s debt to the federal government for unemployment benefits during the pandemic and prevent a looming tax hike on businesses. Minnesota’s unemployment trust fund swung from a $1.7 billion balance in January 2020 to a deficit of $1.2 billion. More than 1.3 million Minnesotans applied for unemployment benefits from the start of the pandemic through September 2021 as businesses closed or laid off workers. GOP senators and House Democrats have both signaled support for paying back the debt and replenish the trust fund early during the session.

ROAD DISPUTE

Ruling could decide whether towns must maintain roads

MORA, Minn. (AP) — A central Minnesota town is asking the state appeals court to decide whether towns can maintain only portions of their roads. The Star Tribune reports that Hillman Township in Kanabec County asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in January to review a lower court ruling forcing it to maintain Hornet Street, a half-mile gravel road that leads to the home of Renee and Andy Crisman just outside Mora. The Minnesota Association of Townships argues the ruling imposes a tremendous financial burden on towns and robs towns of their authority over roads granted by the Legislature. Minnesota has more than 55,000 miles of township roads.

PARTY SHOOTING

16-year-old shot in leg at St. Paul birthday party

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Police are trying to piece together how a 16-year-old ended up shot in the leg at a St. Paul birthday party. The Star Tribune reports shots were fired into the crowded party around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Police spokesman Steve Linders said private security was working at the party and turned away people who tried to bring guns inside. Someone with a gun was pushed out of the entrance and he opened fire. A second person also began shooting. Police arrived to find about 100 people outside the party. Some started fighting and interfering as officers worked to find the teenager who had been shot. The teen was take to a hospital and is expected to survive.

TRACK ARREST

Man who passed out on tracks convicted on gun charge

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A man found passed out on light-rail train tracks in St. Paul last fall has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge. The Pioneer Press reports that 34-year-old Deandre Lenier Neal-Hill of Maplewood pleaded guilty Friday to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Metro Transit police officers found Neal-Hill sitting in the driver’s seat of a car parked on the Green Line commuter tracks in October. The car’s engine was still running, had a flat tire and was stuck on the tracks. Neal-Hill was unresponsive. As officers removed him from the car they noticed a pistol on the driver’s side floor. Neal-Hill has several felony convictions, including drive-by shooting, assault and drug sales.

PARK RENAMING

City considers paying American Indians for name change

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — City officials in Roseville are considering paying American Indians for their thoughts on renaming a park. The city has been considering renaming Pocahontas Park since 2020, when high schooler Andrew Kim told the parks commission he was concerned that the name was inappropriate. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that commissioners recommended this week that the city council pay American Indians to participate in the naming process. Commissioner Darrell Baggenstoss likened the payment to hiring consultants for other city work. No dollar amount has been determined but the Pioneer Press reports the council is open to the idea and directed the commission to keep working on the name change.