Minnesota Today

The murder trial of Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd enters the final stages, with closing arguments set for Monday. The defense rested its case on Thursday after the former Minneapolis police officer said he would not take the stand in his own defense. And the Twin Cities area is rocked by another police killing of a Black man. This is a special edition of Minnesota Today for Saturday, April 17, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The funeral for Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by Brooklyn Center police during a traffic stop last week, will be held next week in Minneapolis, where the city is preparing for jury deliberations in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, charged with murder in the death of George Floyd. 

This afternoon MPR News update for Friday, April 16, 2021, was hosted by Marcheta Fornoff.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Hundreds of protesters again filled the streets in front of the police station in Brooklyn Center, where an officer shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop over the weekend. The protesters — shouting obscenities, shaking the police station’s security fence and occasionally lobbing water bottles — began thinning out as the 10 p.m. curfew approached Thursday. Police did not issue a dispersal order or respond to protesters with tear gas as they had the previous nights. Most of the protesters left by 11 p.m.

This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, April 16, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Both the state and the defense rested their cases on Thursday, the latter without testimony from former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd.

This afternoon MPR News update for Thursday, April 15, 2021, was hosted by Kirsti Marohn.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Protests continued for a fourth day after a Brooklyn Center police officer shot and killed Daunte Wright. Another large crowd gathered Wednesday after the former officer was charged with second-degree manslaughter. Kim Potter is expected to make her first appearance Thursday. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents arrested Potter and booked her into Hennepin County Jail Wednesday. She resigned from the department Tuesday.

This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, April 15, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput on Wednesday said he is filing a second-degree manslaughter charge against former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright.

This is the afternoon MPR News update for Wednesday, April 14, 2021, hosted by Catharine Richert.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott on Tuesday called for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to handle the case of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old who was killed Sunday by a Brooklyn Center police officer during a traffic stop. Elliott also said that Kim Potter, the officer who shot Wright, has resigned, as has Tim Gannon, who was the city’s police chief.

This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott Tuesday called for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to determine if Officer Kim Potter should be charged in the death of Wright. The 20-year-old Black man was shot to death by the Brooklyn Center police officer during a traffic stop Sunday.

This edition of Minnesota Today for Tuesday, April 13, 2021, was hosted by John Enger.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Police clashed with a large crowd Monday who gathered for a second night to protest the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said earlier in the day that officer Kim Potter had intended to stun the man with her Taser gun but accidentally drew her handgun instead and fired once.

This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz on Monday ordered a four-county curfew overnight into Tuesday to help keep the peace as the Twin Cities reeled over news of another fatal encounter with police, this time in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center.

This edition of Minnesota Today for Monday, April 12, 2021, was hosted by Dan Kraker.

Theme music by Gary Meister.