DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER

Trial for ex-cop in Daunte Wright death won't be broadcast

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The judge overseeing the trial of a former suburban Minneapolis police officer who is charged in the death of Daunte Wright has denied a request to broadcast the proceedings. Judge Regina Chu ruled Thursday that there will be no recording or livestreaming of the trial of former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter. Potter, who is white, fatally shot Wright, a 20-year-old Black motorist, on April 11. The city's former police chief said he believed Potter meant to use her Taser instead of her handgun. She's charged with second-degree manslaughter. Chu also rescheduled the trial to start about a week earlier. It will now begin on Nov. 30.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank push back office returns due to virus

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Wells Fargo and U.S. Bancorp are pushing back their return-to-office plans this fall as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, spurred largely by the contagious delta variant. Wells Fargo sent a memo to employees on Thursday, saying the company is aiming for a phased return starting Oct. 4, a month later than planned. U.S. Bank also pushed back its Sept. 7 planned return to a date that's yet to be determined. On Thursday, health officials reported five new deaths from COVID-19 and 878 new cases. So far in Minnesota, 69.2% of those 16 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

AP-US-ENBRIDGE-ENERGY-LINE-3

Line 3 pipeline opponents file suit on behalf of wild rice

OGEMA, Minn. (AP) — Opponents of Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 oil pipeline that’s being replaced across northern Minnesota are taking a novel legal approach to try to halt construction — they are suing on behalf of wild rice. Wild rice is the lead plaintiff in a complaint filed Wednesday in White Earth Nation Tribal Court. The lawsuit, which names the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources among the defendants, is only the second “rights of nature” case to be filed in the U.S., according to Frank Bibeau, a lawyer for the White Earth tribe. The DNR said it is reviewing the lawsuit and had no further comment.

DROUGHT-MINNESOTA

Walz supports emergency relief for drought-stricken farms

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz and a top state lawmakers say they will support an emergency financial relief package for farmers in Minnesota, where most of the state is in a severe or extreme drought. Walz says he would support an aid package in a special session next month. The governor got an earful at Farmfest in Redwood County Wednesday from farmers and ranchers seeking drought relief. Agriculture officials say livestock and specialty crop farmers are hardest hit because their insurance generally covers less than corn and soybean farmers. House Speaker Melissa Hortman said a financial relief package could be modeled after previous aid that lawmakers approved after flooding.

POLITICIANS-CRASH

State auditor, senator injured in Redwood County crash

THREE LAKES TOWNSHIP, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s state auditor and a state senator are hospitalized following a collision with a semi in Redwood County. A legislative aide for Sen. Melisa Franzen says Franzen and state Auditor Julie Blaha were injured Wednesday while driving back from Farmfest in Redwood County. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Jeep Cherokee driven by Blaha collided with a semi at an intersection in Three Lakes Township about 5 p.m. Both women were taken to Redwood Hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. The semi driver was not injured. Farmfest is a three-day agricultural show in southwestern Minnesota.

AP-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICER-TRIAL

Media attorney: It's time to release names of Chauvin jurors

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A coalition of news media outlets is asking the judge who oversaw the trial of Derek Chauvin to release the identities of jurors who convicted him. Chauvin was found guilty of murder in the May 2020 death of George Floyd. In a Wednesday court filing, the coalition, which includes The Associated Press, asked Judge Peter Cahill to immediately unseal the identities of the jurors as well as the prospective juror list, juror profiles, questionnaires and juror forms. Cahill kept the identities of jurors under seal but said he would make their names public. Attorneys for the coalition say there is no known threat to juror safety so the time to release their names is now.

PERMIT TO CARRY-MINNESOTA

Minnesota Supreme Court upholds state's permit-to-carry law

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has found that a state law requiring individuals to have a permit to carry a handgun in public is constitutional and does not violate the Second Amendment. The ruling comes in the case of a man who was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit in 2018. Nathan Hatch argued that the state's permit-to-carry law violated his right to bear arms and failed to survive strict scrutiny because it was not narrowly tailored to advance the state’s interests of public safety. The Supreme Court disagreed. Hatch's attorney said they plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

SENATE-HARASSMENT POLICY

Senate requests outside investigation of harassment claim

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Senate Democrats have asked that an outside investigator look into allegations of sexual harassment made by a former staff member. Senate leaders say an internal evaluation of the claim would not instill confidence in its results. A former aide to a senator says she was harassed by another legislative staff member. That person previously worked in the state House and as a campaign operative for Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent. The man accused of harassment was dismissed by Kent’s campaign and eventually fired by the House. He denies doing anything wrong.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021