Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey took the unusual step Wednesday of calling on county prosecutors to charge the city police officer as he took the man into custody on Memorial Day. Floyd later died. “We watched for five whole, excruciating minutes as a white officer firmly pressed his knee into the neck of an unarmed, handcuffed black man,” an emotional Frey said of the video that surfaced and led the city to immediately fire four officers Tuesday.“I saw no threat. I saw nothing that would signal that this kind of force was necessary,” he told reporters. “If you had done it, or I had done it,...…Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey took the unusual step Wednesday of calling on county prosecutors to charge the city police officer as he took the man into custody on Memorial Day. Floyd later died. “We watched for five whole, excruciating minutes as a white officer firmly pressed his knee into the neck of an unarmed, handcuffed black man,” an emotional Frey said of the video that surfaced and led the city to immediately fire four officers Tuesday.“I saw no threat. I saw nothing that would signal that this kind of force was necessary,” he told reporters. “If you had done it, or I had done it,...WW…

It was in October 2015 that a white Richfield police officer striking a Somali American teenager in the head. Officer Nate Kinsey, who had previously been disciplined for how he used force, was fired over the incident. But in Minnesota, public employees, including police officers can appeal discipline to an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator in Kinsey’s case changed his termination to a three-day suspension. The city and police union fought it out all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled that Kinsey should get his job back. He’s currently a Richfield police...…It was in October 2015 that a white Richfield police officer striking a Somali American teenager in the head. Officer Nate Kinsey, who had previously been disciplined for how he used force, was fired over the incident. But in Minnesota, public employees, including police officers can appeal discipline to an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator in Kinsey’s case changed his termination to a three-day suspension. The city and police union fought it out all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled that Kinsey should get his job back. He’s currently a Richfield police...WW…

Just a quarter of Minneapolis residents hold a favorable opinion of the Minneapolis Police Department, according to a poll commissioned by MPR News, the Star Tribune and KARE 11. The Minneapolis Police Department is unpopular across racial lines. People who identify as Republicans and older residents were more likely to have favorable views of the department. Jasmine Elliston, who is Black, said the killing of George Floyd has changed how even her young children talk about police officers. “‘I’m brown and George Floyd was brown, so that means they’re going to kill me, too?’”...…Just a quarter of Minneapolis residents hold a favorable opinion of the Minneapolis Police Department, according to a poll commissioned by MPR News, the Star Tribune and KARE 11. The Minneapolis Police Department is unpopular across racial lines. People who identify as Republicans and older residents were more likely to have favorable views of the department. Jasmine Elliston, who is Black, said the killing of George Floyd has changed how even her young children talk about police officers. “‘I’m brown and George Floyd was brown, so that means they’re going to kill me, too?’”...WW…

At a time when the Minneapolis Police Department is facing unprecedented scrutiny, 29 recruits joined the department after graduating on Friday.The ceremony took place nearly two tumultuous months after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by an officer in south Minneapolis.In his speech to the recruits, Mayor Jacob Frey said policing is an honorable profession, but that officers' accountability to the public is “nonnegotiable.” "You also have an incredible opportunity right now to demonstrate to the community that we are doing things differently and to continue to build trust in...…At a time when the Minneapolis Police Department is facing unprecedented scrutiny, 29 recruits joined the department after graduating on Friday.The ceremony took place nearly two tumultuous months after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by an officer in south Minneapolis.In his speech to the recruits, Mayor Jacob Frey said policing is an honorable profession, but that officers' accountability to the public is “nonnegotiable.” "You also have an incredible opportunity right now to demonstrate to the community that we are doing things differently and to continue to build trust in...WW…

It started out as images spread through neighborhood security groups in the early hours of Tuesday in south Minneapolis. They showed a big white Ford F-350 with no license plates. Neighbors reported on online forums that they had seen four people get out of an SUV and slash three tires. The vandals said they’d found gas cans in the truck bed. Then they drove away.  Minneapolis residents are on edge following a week that included protests, looting and arson. Although there are still signs all over demanding justice for George Floyd, now there are also signs on utility poles saying...…It started out as images spread through neighborhood security groups in the early hours of Tuesday in south Minneapolis. They showed a big white Ford F-350 with no license plates. Neighbors reported on online forums that they had seen four people get out of an SUV and slash three tires. The vandals said they’d found gas cans in the truck bed. Then they drove away.  Minneapolis residents are on edge following a week that included protests, looting and arson. Although there are still signs all over demanding justice for George Floyd, now there are also signs on utility poles saying...WW…

The first death threat that Ashley Weller and her family received was rolled up in the handles of their front door at 8:30 a.m. Monday. “When our son opened the front door, the note fell out,” said Ashley. “It was incredibly threatening.”The note was about the Black Lives Matter signs in their yard: “Your neighbors have grown sick of your [expletive] riots and [expletive] matters signs. Remove them or we torch your home and cars real quiet with lighter fluid while you sleep.”An hour later, they found another note: “You [expletive] want a war you will get them.” As law enforcement...…The first death threat that Ashley Weller and her family received was rolled up in the handles of their front door at 8:30 a.m. Monday. “When our son opened the front door, the note fell out,” said Ashley. “It was incredibly threatening.”The note was about the Black Lives Matter signs in their yard: “Your neighbors have grown sick of your [expletive] riots and [expletive] matters signs. Remove them or we torch your home and cars real quiet with lighter fluid while you sleep.”An hour later, they found another note: “You [expletive] want a war you will get them.” As law enforcement...WW…

MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch Friday morning proceedings . Watch afternoon proceedings :Judge Peter Cahill said Friday he will not delay or move the Derek Chauvin trial. He also said he would allow limited evidence from a 2019 arrest of George Floyd.Cahill’s decision followed a defense request to delay or move the trial in the wake of last week’s announced between Minneapolis and the family of George Floyd.Chauvin’s attorneys argued that the massive...…MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch Friday morning proceedings . Watch afternoon proceedings :Judge Peter Cahill said Friday he will not delay or move the Derek Chauvin trial. He also said he would allow limited evidence from a 2019 arrest of George Floyd.Cahill’s decision followed a defense request to delay or move the trial in the wake of last week’s announced between Minneapolis and the family of George Floyd.Chauvin’s attorneys argued that the massive...WW…

MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch the morning proceedings . Watch the afternoon proceedings The between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family continues to hang over jury selection in Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. The judge on Wednesday dismissed two previously chosen jurors who said they knew of the payout.Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill interviewed jurors by video conference Wednesday morning who’d been selected prior to Friday’s settlement...…MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch the morning proceedings . Watch the afternoon proceedings The between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family continues to hang over jury selection in Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. The judge on Wednesday dismissed two previously chosen jurors who said they knew of the payout.Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill interviewed jurors by video conference Wednesday morning who’d been selected prior to Friday’s settlement...WW…

Prosecutors want all four former officers charged in the killing of George Floyd to get an additional charge of third-degree murder. The motion filed Thursday is based on a state appeals court decision earlier this week tied to the case of another former Minneapolis police officer, Mohamed Noor, who was convicted in the 2017 killing of Justine Ruszczyk. On Monday, a split Court of Appeals upheld Noor’s 2019 conviction. Prosecutors with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office say the appeals court ruling in the Noor case makes clear that third-degree murder charges can be directed...…Prosecutors want all four former officers charged in the killing of George Floyd to get an additional charge of third-degree murder. The motion filed Thursday is based on a state appeals court decision earlier this week tied to the case of another former Minneapolis police officer, Mohamed Noor, who was convicted in the 2017 killing of Justine Ruszczyk. On Monday, a split Court of Appeals upheld Noor’s 2019 conviction. Prosecutors with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office say the appeals court ruling in the Noor case makes clear that third-degree murder charges can be directed...WW…

Just 10 days after bringing some students back for in-person learning, an outbreak of COVID-19 among transportation workers has forced Bloomington Public Schools to return to distance learning until mid-February. The changes underscore the unique challenges to protect bus drivers, many of whom are older and at higher risk of severe illness stemming from the virus. District officials say concerns about student and staff health during the COVID-19 pandemic led to this difficult decision.“We want nothing more than for our students and staff to be in schools learning safely,”...…Just 10 days after bringing some students back for in-person learning, an outbreak of COVID-19 among transportation workers has forced Bloomington Public Schools to return to distance learning until mid-February. The changes underscore the unique challenges to protect bus drivers, many of whom are older and at higher risk of severe illness stemming from the virus. District officials say concerns about student and staff health during the COVID-19 pandemic led to this difficult decision.“We want nothing more than for our students and staff to be in schools learning safely,”...WW…