INSIDER
Watch a conversation about progressive America at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival
Read full article: Watch a conversation about progressive America at the 2024 Texas Tribune FestivalMSNBC host Katie Phang will moderate a conversation with three leading progressives: U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The conversation starts at 1:15 p.m. Saturday.
Minnesota Supreme Court upholds law restoring right to vote to people with felony convictions
Read full article: Minnesota Supreme Court upholds law restoring right to vote to people with felony convictionsThe Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld a 2023 state law that restores voting rights for felons once they have completed their prison sentences.
They’re a path to becoming governor, but attorney general jobs are now a destination, too
Read full article: They’re a path to becoming governor, but attorney general jobs are now a destination, tooRather than trying to keep their seats in Congress, two of North Carolina’s U.S. representatives are vying for a role closer to home: state attorney general.
5 takeaways from AP's Black attorneys general interviews about race, justice and politics
Read full article: 5 takeaways from AP's Black attorneys general interviews about race, justice and politicsIn wide-ranging interviews with The Associated Press, six sitting Black attorneys general discussed the challenges and opportunities of serving as the top law enforcement officer in their respective states.
AP Exclusive: America's Black attorneys general discuss race, politics and the justice system
Read full article: AP Exclusive: America's Black attorneys general discuss race, politics and the justice systemThe American legal system has never faced greater challenges or demands for reform from people of all races and across the political spectrum.
Top prosecutor in trial of officer who killed George Floyd writes book recounting case
Read full article: Top prosecutor in trial of officer who killed George Floyd writes book recounting caseMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reveals in a new book how worried prosecutors were that a judge would move the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin out of the city where he killed George Floyd.
Minnesota Democrats set emergency meeting in response to melee at Minneapolis political convention
Read full article: Minnesota Democrats set emergency meeting in response to melee at Minneapolis political conventionMinnesota Democratic leaders will convene an emergency meeting Thursday evening to respond to the chaos that broke out during a convention to endorse a candidate for a Minneapolis City Council race.
Ex-officer Tou Thao convicted of aiding George Floyd’s killing
Read full article: Ex-officer Tou Thao convicted of aiding George Floyd’s killingA judge has found a former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Minnesota town drops Texas-style anti-abortion lawsuit plan
Read full article: Minnesota town drops Texas-style anti-abortion lawsuit planA Minnesota town has backed away from a proposal to let people sue abortion providers, including organizations that provide abortion drugs by mail, after the state attorney general warned that the plan was unconstitutional.
In Minnesota, abortion key to Keith Ellison's 2nd term hopes
Read full article: In Minnesota, abortion key to Keith Ellison's 2nd term hopesKeith Ellison gave up a safe seat in Congress to run for Minnesota attorney general, saying it was his best chance to push back against the policies of Donald Trump.
Walz and Jensen set in Minn. governor race; Schultz advances
Read full article: Walz and Jensen set in Minn. governor race; Schultz advancesDemocratic Gov. Tim Walz and Republican challenger Scott Jensen scored easy victories Tuesday in their primaries to set the stage for their fall matchup in Minnesota’s top race this fall.
Legal battles likely as divided states grapple with abortion
Read full article: Legal battles likely as divided states grapple with abortionThe Supreme Court's decision to end the constitutional right to abortion likely will lead to legal battles as already divided states grapple with the new landscape of abortion access.
Dr. Scott Jensen wins GOP endorsement for Minnesota governor
Read full article: Dr. Scott Jensen wins GOP endorsement for Minnesota governorDr. Scott Jensen, a skeptic of the government’s response to COVID-19, has won the Minnesota GOP’s endorsement to challenge Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in the November election.
No charges filed in no-knock warrant killing of Amir Locke
Read full article: No charges filed in no-knock warrant killing of Amir LockeMinnesota prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Minneapolis police SWAT team officer who fatally shot Amir Locke while executing an early morning no-knock search warrant in February.
Minneapolis voters reject replacing police with new agency
Read full article: Minneapolis voters reject replacing police with new agencyMinneapolis voters have rejected a proposal to replace the city’s police department with a new Department of Public Safety — an idea that arose from the May 2020 death of George Floyd.
Minnesota AG after Chauvin's sentence: 'It's time to act'
Read full article: Minnesota AG after Chauvin's sentence: 'It's time to act'Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he’s hoping a judge’s 22 1/2-year sentence imposed on former police Officer Derek Chauvin will be a “moment for change.”.
In Minnesota, move to sidestep locals in prosecuting police
Read full article: In Minnesota, move to sidestep locals in prosecuting policeMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison resisted calls for weeks to take over the prosecution of the white suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot Black motorist Daunte Wright.
Minnesota AG's office to prosecute case in Wright's death
Read full article: Minnesota AG's office to prosecute case in Wright's deathMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says his office will lead the prosecution of a former suburban police officer who is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright.
Activists hope Chauvin convictions are start to real change
Read full article: Activists hope Chauvin convictions are start to real changeActivists, members of George Floyd’s family and some public officials say the guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin are just a start, and they will continue to push for systemic change in policing in Minneapolis and beyond.
The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd case
Read full article: The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd caseCrowds nationwide are reacting with jubilation but also with deep awareness of the progress left to be made after a jury convicted former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
EXPLAINER: Why outside prosecutors review killings by police
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why outside prosecutors review killings by policeA white former police officer is being charged with second-degree manslaughter in the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, just three days after the Black man was shot during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb.
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Opening statements are set for Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. THE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. PROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case. He helped win an acquittal for a Minnesota man who was charged with fatally shooting his unarmed neighbor in 2017.
Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death
Read full article: Key events since George Floyd's arrest and deathAs the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death. AdFeb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Defense in ex-cop's trial fears impact of $27M settlement
Read full article: Defense in ex-cop's trial fears impact of $27M settlementDefense attorney Eric Nelson also raised the possibility of renewing his previously unsuccessful motion to move Derek Chauvin's trial to another city. AdMayor Jacob Frey deferred questions about the timing of the settlement to City Attorney Jim Rowader, who declined to comment. Potential jurors questioned later didn't mention hearing of the settlement, and neither attorneys nor the judge directly asked if they were aware of it. At least four potential jurors dismissed Monday said they couldn’t be impartial. Three other former officers face an August trial on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death
Read full article: Key events since George Floyd's arrest and deathAs the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death and the nationwide protests continue. Feb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Jury selection begins Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death. City, county and state officials are preparing for any sort of reaction that trial testimony or a verdict might elicit. AdTHE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. AdPROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case.
Minnesota juvenile lifer walks free after 18 years in prison
Read full article: Minnesota juvenile lifer walks free after 18 years in prisonJust hours after receiving the news, he walked out the front door of Stillwater prison into below-freezing temperatures. The AP investigation that followed sparked national outrage and gave Burrell’s family and community organizers the ammunition they needed to get Klobuchar’s attention. One had his 16-year prison sentence cut to three. He said the justice system failed his family, and media coverage and support for Burrell’s release overshadowed his sister’s death. Edwards III, Tyesha’s brother, said news of Burrell’s release is especially hard after the death of his mother last year.
The Latest: Biden: I've learned from Clinton campaign errors
Read full article: The Latest: Biden: I've learned from Clinton campaign errorsWASHINGTON – The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):9:20 p.m.Joe Biden says he has learned from the mistakes that Hillary Clinton's campaign made four years ago in the Midwest. After her stunning loss to Donald Trump in 2016, many Democrats criticized her campaign as overconfident and too complacent. President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are campaigning hard to win both states, where Trump scored narrow victories in 2016. The campaign announced in addition to his Monday trip to the state, Biden will campaign in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Minnesota Department of Health has linked 28 coronavirus cases to other recent Trump campaign events in the state.
Former executive admitted to stealing $2M from Houston oil services company, DOJ says
Read full article: Former executive admitted to stealing $2M from Houston oil services company, DOJ saysHOUSTON – A 45-year-old Katy man has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $2 million from a local oil services company, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. K. Patrick said in a news release that Robert Andrew Bishop was the vice president of resource management at International Professional Management (IPM), an oil services company located in Houston. DOJ said he admitted he would inflate the loan amount needed and then divert the excess money to fake vendor accounts he controlled. Over the span of approximately six years, Bishop diverted roughly $2.1 million from the company’s operating expenses, authorities say. At that time, Bishop could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Federal appeals court temporarily halts order to give some Texas geriatric inmates hand sanitizer
Read full article: Federal appeals court temporarily halts order to give some Texas geriatric inmates hand sanitizerBirds fly overhead at the Hilltop prison unit in Gatesville, Texas. A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a lower court’s order that would require Texas to provide more protective measures against the coronavirus at a geriatric prison, like giving hand sanitizer to inmates who use wheelchairs. Two dozen Texas prison employees have also died with the virus. TDCJ appealed the ruling, having argued that it had many protective measures in place already, and hand sanitizer could be used to drink or start fires. Inmates’ attorneys said the concerns were “disingenuous,” as fires are not a problem at the prison and inmates have plenty of other flammable material, like paper.
Federal court orders Texas prison system to provide hand sanitizer for some geriatric inmates during pandemic
Read full article: Federal court orders Texas prison system to provide hand sanitizer for some geriatric inmates during pandemicA federal judge ordered the Texas prison system on Tuesday to provide more protective measures against the coronavirus, like hand sanitizer for wheelchair-bound prisoners, at a prison for geriatric inmates. Texas has had more inmate deaths related to the coronavirus than any other prison system in the nation. Its death toll of at least 162 inmates outranks every other state as well as the federal prison system. More than 20 Texas prison employees have also died with the virus. The trial included testimony from several inmates, TDCJ officials and experts on health and prison conditions.
Biden friend Sen. Coons to elevate faith on convention stage
Read full article: Biden friend Sen. Coons to elevate faith on convention stageFILE - In this Jan. 6, 2015, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden administers the Senate oath to Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., as Coons' wife, Annie Coons, watches during a ceremonial re-enactment swearing-in, in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. The theme and timing of Coons speech on the pandemic-altered convention schedule underscore Democrats' interest in engaging with religious voters on the basis of shared values with Biden. For Joe, faith isnt a prop or a political tool, Coons is set to say, according to prepared remarks shared with The Associated Press ahead of time. Coons is also one of the more vocal Democrats when it comes to coaxing fellow party members to be more open about faith. When it comes to speaking for Biden about faith, though, Coons will have the most prominent forum.
More US churches sue to challenge COVID-19 restrictions
Read full article: More US churches sue to challenge COVID-19 restrictionsTim Walzs executive orders requiring 6-foot social distancing and the wearing of face masks at worship services. The Thomas More Society, which specializes in litigation on religious issues, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in California Superior Court against Gov. A few churches have been openly defiant, including one in California's Ventura County which held indoor worship services Sunday despite a judges temporary restraining order. Earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings in a suit filed by South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, California. In June a federal judge blocked New York state from enforcing restrictions on indoor religious gatherings to 25% capacity when other types of gatherings were limited to 50%.
Disturbing leaked bodycam footage shows first moments of George Floyds arrest
Read full article: Disturbing leaked bodycam footage shows first moments of George Floyds arrestHOUSTON Newly leaked bodycam footage shows the moments Houston-raised George Floyd, 46, was arrested. In the disturbing video, Floyd is heard begging for the officers to not lock him in a squad car, shortly before he lost consciousness. The video, published by UK-based The Daily Mail, is part of the evidence against former Minneapolis officers, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Lane, Kueng and Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Biden snags support from prominent Muslim American officials
Read full article: Biden snags support from prominent Muslim American officials(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)Several prominent Muslim American elected officials endorsed Joe Biden for president in a letter organized by Emgage Action ahead of an online summit that starts Monday and features the presumptive Democratic nominee. A Biden administration will move the nation forward on many of the issues we care about, it said, citing racial justice, affordable health care, climate change and immigration. The Muslim American officials also praised Bidens agenda for their communities. Other state- and local-level Muslim American officials signing onto the pro-Biden letter hail from 10 states, including Michigan a state where Alzayat said he believes there are more than 150,000 registered Muslim voters. Farooq Mitha, senior adviser for Muslim engagement with Bidens campaign, said reaching out to Muslim American voters is a priority for Biden, pointing to his own appointment as an example.
Judge rejects cameras for ex-cops' hearings in Floyd death
Read full article: Judge rejects cameras for ex-cops' hearings in Floyd deathMINNEAPOLIS A Minnesota judge on Friday rejected allowing cameras in the court for pretrial proceedings of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. Minnesota rules allow the judge, prosecutors or defense attorneys to veto camera coverage during criminal court proceedings before a conviction. The judge will rule later on whether cameras will be allowed at trial. A defense attorney filed a motion Thursday on behalf of the ex-officers to allow recording of all pretrial and trial proceedings. Doing otherwise allows these public officials to geld the Constitution, wrote attorney Thomas Plunkett, representing J. Kueng, one of four fired officers charged in Floyd's death.
For Ellison, Floyd case brings pressure -- and opportunity
Read full article: For Ellison, Floyd case brings pressure -- and opportunityDoing so is giving Ellison a national platform to talk about race in America. Ellison, the first African American elected to his job, is now tasked with nothing less than making that system work. What we need is accountability from a top lawyer like Keith Ellison to put these cops in jail. If Ellisons national reputation was as a progressive purist, his work as attorney general has been more tempered. The Floyd case could bring some tensions with progressives who have long viewed Ellison as an uncompromising ally.
Minnesota pardons black man in century-old lynching case
Read full article: Minnesota pardons black man in century-old lynching case(Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)Minnesota's pardons board on Friday granted a posthumous pardon to a black man imprisoned a century ago in the alleged rape of a white woman, part of a case that included the infamous lynchings of three other black men in Duluth. The board voted 3-0 to pardon Max Mason, one of several traveling circus workers accused in the 1920 case. According to the summary, the young man made no mention of any attack when dropping off Tusken at her parents house but related the story to his father early the next morning. Mason was allowed to travel to the circus next city, but was re-arrested the next day, and eventually identified as an attacker by Tusken and the young man. In recent weeks we have seen an injustice at the hands of those who are sworn to serve and protect in the murder of George Floyd, Tusken said.
Appeals court tosses order that required face masks, hand sanitizer for inmates at geriatric Texas prison
Read full article: Appeals court tosses order that required face masks, hand sanitizer for inmates at geriatric Texas prisonPrison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. The appeals judges noted that many of the district judges orders had already been met by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. At least five have died from the virus, a states attorney said during a hearing in front of the appeals court judges last week. Inmates countered, and the district judge agreed, that court intervention was needed to protect them from the prison's apparent "deliberate indifference" to inmates' risk. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the appeals court ruling Friday, saying in a statement that the district court's order reflected "outdated guidance" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Beyonc Urges Fans to 'Remain Aligned and Focused' Amid Protests Following George Floyd's Death
Read full article: Beyonc Urges Fans to 'Remain Aligned and Focused' Amid Protests Following George Floyd's Death"The world came together for George Floyd," Beyonc wrote alongside an aerial photo showing the massive crowd of protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Floyd was killed by police on May 25. Charges were also raised against former officer Derek Chauvin from third degree murder to second degree murder. Beyonc had previously expressed support and solidarity with the protests and her horror at what happened to Floyd in an emotional message posted last Friday. For more on the ongoing protests and demonstrations being held across the world, see the video below. RELATED CONTENT:Amber Riley Sings Beyonc's 'Freedom' at Black Lives Matter Protest3 Other Fired Police Officers Charged for George Floyd's DeathBeyonc, Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and More React to Fatal Arrest of George Floyd
Three Other Former Police Officers Involved in George Floyd's Death Charged
Read full article: Three Other Former Police Officers Involved in George Floyd's Death ChargedThe three other Minneapolis police officers who were fired for their involvement in George Floyd's death have been charged with aiding and abetting murder, according to court records obtained by CBS Minnesota. Additionally, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has also increased former officer Derek Chauvin's murder charge to second-degree murder. Per CBS, "Minnesotas sentencing guidelines indicate two different possibilities for intentional second-degree murder and unintentional second-degree murder. Floyd's family conducted an independent autopsy, with the results stating that his cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation and called the death a homicide. Floyd's death has led to widespread outrage, protests and unrest across the nation, as many people call for justice.
JAY-Z Buys Full-Page Ads Across the U.S. in Dedication to George Floyd
Read full article: JAY-Z Buys Full-Page Ads Across the U.S. in Dedication to George FloydJAY-Z's Roc Nation has taken out full-page ads in newspapers across the United States in the wake of George Floyd's death. We're going to stand up right here amid police dogs, if they have them. "Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me -- a dad and a black man in pain. Yet, I am a human, a father and a black man in pain, and I am not the only one." RELATED CONTENT:Mother of George Floyd's 6-Year-Old Daughter Speaks OutKeke Palmer Encourages National Guard to March Alongside ProtestersBen Affleck, Keke Palmer and More Celebs Take to the Streets to Protest George Floyd's Death
AP: Minnesota AG to upgrade murder charge against officer in Floyd case, 3 other officers involved charged
Read full article: AP: Minnesota AG to upgrade murder charge against officer in Floyd case, 3 other officers involved chargedThe officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired May 26 and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers involved were also fired but were not immediately charged. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers who were present were also fired but have not been charged in Floyds May 25 death. Family attorney Ben Crump repeated his call for all four officers to be charged in Floyds death.
JAY-Z Says Justice for George Floyd Is 'Just a First Step' After Call With Minnesota Governor
Read full article: JAY-Z Says Justice for George Floyd Is 'Just a First Step' After Call With Minnesota GovernorTim Walz and called for the prosecution of the police officers involved in the death of George Floyd -- but added that justice in this case is just the beginning. "After our very earnest conversation, thank you to Governor Walz for doing what's right and calling in Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the George Floyd case," he wrote. "Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me -- a dad and a black man in pain. "I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have." "He knows the world is watching, and how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country," Walz added.
The Latest: California closes all downtown state buildings
Read full article: The Latest: California closes all downtown state buildingsProtests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. ___PORTLAND, Ore. Police in Portland deployed tear gas to disperse a large crowd downtown late Sunday night after authorities said projectiles were thrown at officers. Thousands of people marched throughout Oregons largest city on Sunday, the third day of George Floyd protests in Portland. Unlike Dallas, where police made dozens of arrests to enforce a downtown curfew, Austin doesnt have a curfew and demonstrators have been roaming downtown from the police station to the state Capitol several blocks away for nearly 10 hours. The demonstration over the death of George Floyd came after turbulent protests that led to the arrest of 83 people Saturday night.