Testimony continues today in the Derek Chauvin trial. Another medical expert for the state is expected to be up first this morning. On Friday, there was key testimony from Hennepin County Chief Medical examiner Dr. Andrew Baker. He conducted George Floyd's autopsy and ruled his death a homicide. The cause of George Floyd's death is a key factor in the case. Dr. Baker testified on Friday that Floyd's heart condition and drug use were factors in his death The defense will soon begin calling its witness in the case and former U-S attorney for Minnesota Tom Heffelfinger says they'll be trying [...]

The City of Mankato was made aware of offensive stickers placed on traffic lights. Since these stickers do not align with the community's or city's values and are considered graffiti, the City staff is in the process of removing the stickers.

Though at least 11 colleges and universities in the nation are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to return to campus this fall, both St. Catherine University in St. Paul and Minnesota State University-Mankato are not. Officials say the emergency use authorization for the shots limit them in what they can mandate, and they believe most students, faculty, and staff want to get vaccinated anyway. Leaders emphasize this is a temporary decision, as laws and guidance for getting the vaccine may change over time. For years, hundreds of colleges have required vaccinations against infectious diseases for enrollment.

Jennifer Carnahan will lead Minnesota's Republican Party for a third term. She was re-elected as chair of the MN GOP Saturday following a hard-fought battle with state Senator Mark Koran. During her campaign, the Star Tribune reported that some top officials accused her of using fear and intimidation, as well as operating with financial negligence.   Still, it is said that Carnahan won 67-percent on the first ballot. In a tweet, she thanked her party for "always leading with hope, positivity and a kind spirit."

As part of Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week (April 12 through 16), the City of Mankato will participate in the annual statewide tornado drills at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., Thursday, April 15. Outdoor warning sirens (see map) and weather radios will sound at these times to simulate a tornado warning. Public Safety recommends purchasing a weather radio approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide warning to take cover because outdoor sirens are not designed to be loud enough to be heard inside a home. Drills are designed to help remind and educate about seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them.

Both North Mankato Fun Days and Mapleton's Town and Country Days have been cancelled for this summer. Both towns cite COVID concerns as the reason for their decision.

Six people are being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in St. Paul. Fire crews responded to a property on the 800-block of Edmund Avenue yesterday on a report of possible CO poisoning. Six people, including some children, were taken to the hospital. Authorities believe problems with the property's ventilation and furnace are at fault for the incident.

More coronavirus cases and related deaths have been reported in Minnesota.   Yesterday, health officials listed one-thousand-776 new cases and 13 additional deaths. With those numbers introduced, the state's totals show over 542-thousand infections and about 69-hundred-57 deaths overall. About two-million-50-thousand-888 people have received their first shot of the coronavirus vaccine so far.

A Minnesota mother says her son was pulled over outside Minneapolis Sunday because of the air fresheners in his car. Brooklyn Center Police say they pulled over 20-year-old Daunte Wright for a traffic violation and tried to take him into custody because of an outstanding warrant.   As he tried to get back into the car, an officer shot him. Authorities deployed flash bangs and chemical munitions to disperse hundreds of protesters who then marched on the police department last night. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will investigate the death of Wright.

(Brainerd, MN) --   In its latest report on the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., The New York Times lists the Brainerd area as one which could suffer a potential coronavirus outbreak. This is because that region ranks seventh in the nation for the biggest case growth in the last two weeks based on their COVID criteria. However, the state Department of Health says all of Minnesota has seen increased COVID-19 infections so Brainerd is not particularly abnormal. The NYT report may single out the Brainerd area as opposed to other state regions because it has at least 50-thousand people.v