| April 29, 2021 In the forecast tonight, mostly clear across Minnesota, lows near 30 north to near 40 south. For Friday, another nice day. Partly sunny with highs in the mid-50s to lower 60s northeast, to mid-60s to lower 70s southwest. Get the latest on Updraft. Federal authorities are reportedly weighing a separate civil rights case against Derek Chauvin, even after his murder conviction for the death of George Floyd. The Star Tribune reports federal investigators are looking into Floyd's killing and a 2017 teenager's arrest as potential civil rights cases. John Marti is a former federal prosecutor and says he isn't surprised the Department of Justice is turning up the pressure on Minneapolis — including a review of the entire department announced last week. "Under the Trump administration there was significant resources that were diverted from the select division," Marti said, "and there was an emphasis on pursuing civil rights violations by the Department of Justice. Elections matter." The New York Times did report that the Justice Department was weighing a plea agreement with Chauvin last year.
Federal authorities did not confirm that, and declined comment on the current status of any other cases related to Chauvin or other officers.
In COVID-19 news, Minnesota health officials say more than 20 cases have been tentatively linked to protests earlier this month in Brooklyn Center. They're urging people who were there to get tested, and quarantine if they may have been exposed.
Rallies in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright drew hundreds of people as well as a large law enforcement response. State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said Thursday there have been 11 cases among people who said they were at the protests, and another 11 among law enforcement personnel. She says the timing means they'd have been infectious while amid those outdoor crowds. Health officials reported another 15 COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota, and more than 1,900 new cases. Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get the up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Matt Sepic | MPR News | 