VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota attorney general sues 2 companies over COVID tests

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s top law enforcement official has filed suit against two Illinois-based companies over the results of COVID-19 tests he says were often slow to arrive and not accurate. Attorney General Keith Ellison is seeking an injunction and financial penalties against Center for Covid Control and Doctors Clinical Laboratory. Their tests were offered at eight sites in Minnesota. The complaint alleges people failed to get timely results or any at all. Others said they received results for tests they didn’t take. Ellison says deceptive practices during a pandemic won’t go unanswered. A Center for Covid Control statement issued last week blamed high demand for problems. It recently paused operations to fix flaws but plans to resume testing this weekend.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS

3 cops face complex federal trial in George Floyd’s death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The federal trial for three former Minneapolis police officers who were with Derek Chauvin when he pinned George Floyd to the street is expected to be complex as prosecutors try to prove each officer willingly violated the Black man’s constitutional rights. Jury selection begins Thursday in the federal case against J. Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. All three are broadly charged with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under “color of law,” or government authority. Legal experts say the federal case will be more complicated than a pending state case against the officers, because prosecutors will have the difficult task of proving the men willfully did not take action.

GEORGE FLOYD-OTHER OFFICERS

June 13 date set for state trial for 3 cops in Floyd’s death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state court trial for three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd has been rescheduled for June 13, after both the defense and prosecutors requested a postponement. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao face charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. Their trial was supposed to start March 7, but both sides sought a delay because the three officers are about to begin a federal trial on allegations that they violated Floyd’s civil rights while acting under government authority. Their federal trial starts Thursday with jury selection. Their former colleague, Derek Chauvin, was already convicted of state murder and manslaughter and has pleaded guilty to a federal charge.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICERS-WHO ARE THEY?

Who are the 3 officers on trial in George Floyd’s death?

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three former Minneapolis officers headed to a federal trial on civil rights charges this week in the death 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.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS-ACCESS

Judge won’t expand media access for 3 ex-officers’ trial

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request by a coalition of media groups for greater access to the civil rights trial of three former Minneapolis police officers in George Floyd’s death. Judge Paul Magnuson says the trial will go forward with the restrictions he imposed due to the pandemic, including limits on the number of reporters allowed inside the courtroom. Media organizations say the restrictions amount to an unconstitutional courtroom closure. Jury selection begins Thursday in the trial of Tou Thao, J. Kueng and Thomas Lane on charges that they deprived Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority.

WIND FARM

Co-op to receive power from largest wind farm in ND

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Minnesota-based cooperative plans to receive power from what is expected to be the largest stand-alone wind farm in North Dakota. The Great River Energy cooperative and wind developer Apex Clean Energy formally announced plans Tuesday for the 400-megawatt Discovery Wind project slated for southern McLean County near Coal Creek Station. When the wind farm is producing power, that electricity will displace energy from Coal Creek under an agreement reached with affiliates of Rainbow Energy Marketing Corp., which are purchasing the coal-fired power plant and power line from Great River.

MOTHER SHOT

Teen charged with shooting mother in dispute over meth

COOK, Minn. (AP) — Prosecutors in St. Louis County say they have charged a 16-year-old with attempting to kill her mother because she took methamphetamine away from her daughter. The teen is charged in juvenile court with attempted murder. The 40-year-old mother was shot and wounded Sunday afternoon west of Cook. Deputies found the teen’s car stuck in a ditch about two miles from the crime scene. Three people were in another vehicle nearby. Two were identified as good Samaritans, while the third was the suspect. The girl was taken to St. Louis County Courthouse in Hibbing for processing. According to the petition, she admitted shooting her mother.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS-TIMELINE

Timeline of events since George Floyd’s arrest and death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — George Floyd’s death after his arrest by police officers in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, sparked widespread anger after millions of people saw video of the event. The four officers at the scene were quickly fired and charged in his death. Video shows Floyd repeatedly crying “I can’t breathe” and eventually going still as Officer Derek Chauvin presses his knee on Floyd’s neck. Chauvin was convicted of murder last year. The other three officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, now face a federal trial accusing them of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Jury selection starts Thursday.