June 13 date set for state trial for 3 cops in Floyd’s death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state court trial for three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd has been rescheduled for June 13, after both the defense and prosecutors requested a postponement.

Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao face charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. Their trial was supposed to start March 7, but both sides sought a delay because the three officers also face a federal trial on allegations that they violated Floyd’s civil rights while acting under government authority. Their federal trial starts Thursday with jury selection.

Derek Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck as Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breath. Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Black man as he was on the ground. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back and Lane held down Floyd’s legs. Thao kept bystanders from intervening.

Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to a federal count of violating Floyd’s civil rights during the May, 25, 2020, arrest. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years on the state murder conviction, and is awaiting sentencing in the federal case.

The killing, which was captured on video, galvanized protests against police brutality around the globe.

Teen charged with shooting mother in dispute over meth

COOK (AP) — A 16-year-old girl has been charged with attempting to kill her mother because she took methamphetamine away from her daughter, according to prosecutors in St. Louis County.

The teen is charged in juvenile court with attempted murder. The 40-year-old mother was shot and wounded Sunday afternoon west of Cook.

Authorities received a call about a woman who was being taken to the hospital in Cook with a possible gunshot wound. They were told that the suspected shooter was a juvenile family member who was last seen at the residence where the shooting occurred.

Deputies found the teen’s car stuck in a ditch about two miles from the crime scene. Three people were in another vehicle nearby. Two were identified as good Samaritans, while the third was identified as the suspect, officials said.

The girl was taken to St. Louis County Courthouse in Hibbing for processing. According to the petition, she admitted shooting her mother, WDIO-TV reported.

The mother’s gunshot wound is not believed to be life threatening.

Minnesota attorney general sues 2 companies over COVID tests

ST. PAUL (AP) — Minnesota’s top law enforcement official filed suit against two Illinois-based companies Wednesday over the results of COVID-19 tests he said were often slow to arrive and not accurate.

Attorney General Keith Ellison is seeking an injunction and financial penalties, including restitution for affected residents, against Center for Covid Control and Doctors Clinical Laboratory. Their tests were offered at eight sites in Minnesota.

The complaint alleges people failed to get timely results or any at all. Others said they received results for tests they didn’t take. Ellison said deceptive practices during a pandemic won’t go unanswered.

“I’m holding these companies accountable that sent back false or inaccurate results, when they sent them back at all, for deceiving Minnesotans and undermining the public’s trust in testing,” Ellison said at news conference.

Ellison said the companies are making money off Minnesotans during a vulnerable time, which he called “unconscionable.”

A Center for Covid Control statement issued last week blamed high demand for problems. It recently paused operations to fix flaws but plans to resume testing this weekend. The companies have also received complaints in other states.