Derek Chauvin’s boss thought he went too far

Happy Easter and Passover weekend, Minnesota! Here are top stories for your Friday morning, after the weather:

We're getting a taste of summer this weekend. Highs today push into the 50s north to near 70 in western Minnesota, and by tomorrow, the 70s spread across most of the state. We are expected to see summery temps in the 80s in Minnesota by Monday. Check out the latest from Updraft.

When George Floyd stopped resisting, officers "could've ended the restraint," Derek Chauvin's then-boss testified in the ex-cop's trial.

David Pleoger told jurors Thursday that using a knee is appropriate only until an officer is able to handcuff an individual. The now-retired police sergeant said Chauvin told him only that George Floyd “suffered a medical emergency” and nothing about keeping his knee pressed against Floyd’s neck when he was already handcuffed. Pleoger’s testimony capped a day in court that included testimony from Floyd's girlfriend and from paramedics who said they believed Floyd was dead at the scene.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the trial Thursday:

The trial resumes around 9:15 a.m. today. Watch the proceedings live on MPRNews.org or our Facebook livestream.

📺 Watch: Recap of the yesterday's proceedings.

Listen at 11 a.m. today: Journalists reflect on the first week of testimony in the Chauvin trial.

The first week of testimony in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was full of raw emotion. This morning, MPR News host Angela Davis will talk with several local journalists about key moments in the trial and what stands out to them. She will also hear listener stories and take questions via phone lines at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828 or her Twitter @AngelaDavisMPR during the live show.

How are the witnesses in Chauvin trial supported and protected while they relive trauma?

Recollecting memories from May 25, 2020, and watching video footage of the fatal encounter, witnesses in the Chauvin trial are experiencing trauma and the sense of guilt all over again. “These people have been walking around with this pain for a year, unbeknownst to us ... They were victims of a crime. We just cannot forget that," says New York Law School criminal law professor Kirk Burkhalter. In this explainer piece, Burkhalter explains what kind of support and legal protections the witnesses can seek.

Have a family member living in a nursing home? Good news for you: You can celebrate this holiday weekend with them outside their facility.

That's according to new guidance from state health officials, who said residents of assisted living and nursing homes can now leave their facility for less than 24 hours without having to quarantine when they return. Officials said that because vaccination rates are high and disease rates are down in assisted living facilities, the state is loosening rules to allow for more opening dining and socializing.

And here comes not-so-good news: First time in 3 months, Minnesota reported over 2,000 new cases Thursday.

Vaccinations are trending the right way, disease metrics are not. Minnesota now has over 14,000 active, known COVID-19 cases, and new daily cases in the state passed the 2,000 mark on Thursday, for the first time since early January. State public health experts say they believe the more contagious U.K. variant is responsible for the majority of the new cases reported in recent days.

Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:

Minnesota's effort to boost its community solar program has largely missed out low-income residents, who tend to pay more for energy bills, while living in more polluted areas.

While community gardens have fueled rapid growth in the state’s solar production, experts believe the program has failed to account for residents who pay the most for power and live in more polluted neighborhoods. New projects are changing that by reducing barriers for low-income residents and people of color. Read more from Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard.

🎧 Tune in to stay informed and connected. Here's what's coming up on MPR News today.— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @ChoiGEE1