Ex-cop charged in Daunte Wright's killing pleads not guilty

Judge eyes Dec. 6 trial date for Kim Potter 

View this email as a web page May 17, 2021 🌺Enjoy the spring beauty! Tonight will be clear with lows in the 50s. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s. Get the latest from Updraft. City leaders in Minneapolis are calling for additional police resources to battle a recent wave of gun violence. The most recent is Trinity Ottson-Smith, the 9-year-old who was shot in the head by someone in a passing car Saturday night as she was jumping on a trampoline at a north Minneapolis home. "This violence cannot continue. I refuse to have to call the mayor at a late hour to tell him one of our children has been shot and wounded. That should not happen," said Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.  Mayor Jacob Frey, flanked by a handful of city council members, laid out a four-point plan to step up public safety, including a focus on gun violence, requests for funding from the federal government, police accountability and what he called cultural and community shifts. On the last day of the regular session, Gov. Tim Walz and top legislative leaders have reached a broad agreement on a new two-year budget. The bipartisan deal is strictly numbers and many contentious policy provisions remain unresolved. The announcement came on the final day of the 2021 session, which means a special session is needed, likely in mid-June, to complete the work and pass the budget bills. In COVID-19 news today, state health officials reported no additional COVID-19 deaths, the second time this month. The latest data shows some hopeful signs in recent days. Like last Monday, the state reported no new deaths, and active cases have fallen below 10,000 for the first time since March.  Also, the weekend total of new cases — a number that often reflects a rise as people get tested late in the work week — fell to the lowest point in Minnesota since the week after Labor Day.  Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get the up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Tim Nelson | MPR News Judge eyes Dec. 6 trial date for ex-cop charged in Daunte Wright killing A Hennepin County judge on Monday said probable cause exists to support the charge of second-degree manslaughter against former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter in the killing of Daunte Wright . Potter did not speak during the hearing, other than to give her consent to hold the proceeding by Zoom. Court records show that a plea of not guilty has been entered. Clinical trials underway for 5-and-younger COVID-19 vaccinations Early trials for using the COVID-19 vaccine on those 5 years old and younger are underway. Parents who've enrolled their kids in these studies say the risk is worth it for the greater good. Biden to boost world vaccine sharing commitment to 80M doses President Joe Biden will announce Monday that the U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world in the coming six weeks, the White House said. Related: Border communities offer surplus COVID vaccines to Canadian neighbors Supreme Court to weigh rollback of abortion rights The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will decide whether states can ban abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb. U.S. distances itself from demands for Israel-Hamas cease-fire The Biden administration distanced itself Monday from growing calls by Democrats and others for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers as fighting entered a second week, with more than 200 people dead, most of them Palestinians in Gaza. Related: Israel says Gaza tunnels destroyed in heavy airstrikes EU response: Vows to boost efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian fighting Poll details the very different views of Black and white Americans on race and police White and Black Americans have very different views of race in America and have had very different experiences when it comes to dealing with discrimination and trusting police, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll details. SPONSOR   New film documents little-known Minnesota WWII military intelligence school "Armed with Language," a new film premiering tonight on Twin Cities PBS, documents the history and legacy of a military intelligence school that trained thousands of Japanese Americans during WWII. The documentary's writer David Mura joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer for an interview. 80% of Asian Americans say they are discriminated against A recent survey found that nearly 80 percent of Asian Americans don't feel respected and say they are discriminated against by their fellow Americans. Additionally, a significant portion of respondents of multiple races said they were unaware of an increase in hate crimes and racism against Asian Americans over the past year. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101