Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. News is changing constantly, but here's a slice of what you should know before going about your day. Storms are coming, and they may be severe. The day will start sunny before afternoon thunderstorms in the Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota. Metro highs in the lower 90s with statewide highs from near 80 in the northwest to 90 in the southeast. More on Updraft | Forecast George Floyd's official cause of death: homicide. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's report found that former officer Derek Chauvin's knee pressed into Floyd's neck sent him into cardiopulmonary arrest. The office also identified “hypertensive heart disease, “fentanyl intoxication” and “recent methamphetamine use” as other “significant conditions.”
The official report came shortly after the Floyd family's independent autopsy contradicted earlier information from the county medical examiner. The family's lawyer said their autopsy found Floyd died at the scene from “asphyxia due to neck and back compression." However, the official preliminary autopsy released last week said the combined effects of being restrained, potential intoxicants in Floyd's system and his underlying health issues, including heart disease, likely contributed to his death.
Chauvin's first court hearing will be June 8. The fired former Minneapolis cop faces third-degree murder and manslaughter charges. He's in jail at an unspecified facility.
Protests are continuing in Minneapolis, St. Paul and elsewhere. With the ever-changing nature of the events, follow along our live blog for the latest coverage.
If you'd like to help out Twin Cities communities, we've updated our list. More ways to pitch in here.
"Everyone should be on heightened alert" for coronavirus symptoms. That's according to Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, who said her department is bracing for a potential spike in cases from the mass protests over Floyd's killing.
While the protests' being outside could limit COVID-19 transmission, the state is working on a way for demonstrators to get tested even if they don't have symptoms. Health Department epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield said officials will work with community health centers and clinics to secure enough testing capacity for people to get tested. She said protesters should wait until several days after exposure because the test may produce a false negative if it's done too early. Health officials expect to see whether the protests spread the virus within three weeks.
Minnesota's blood supply is running low. "We are in desparate need," said Kris Ehresmann, the state's infectious disease director, urging Minnesotans to donate blood.
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics:25,208 cases confirmed via 255,592 tests 1,050 deaths 3,086 cases requiring hospitalization 549 people remain hospitalized; 253 in intensive care 19,441 patients no longer needing isolation — Cody Nelson. MPR News | @codyleenelson | 