Welcome to Tuesday. Here are the top news stories of the morning, right after the weather: Today’s weather outlook isn’t fabulous, but hopefully things will turn around tomorrow. Today will be cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers, possibly mixed with rain showers, and a high temperature of about 40. Check out the latest forecast from Updraft. Cop who killed Daunte Wright fired handgun by mistake, chief says . The yet-to-be-named Brooklyn Center police officer who shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright on Sunday during a traffic stop meant to use her Taser on him, Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon said during a news conference Monday. Wright was pulled over because his license plate tabs were expired, Gannon said. The officers who pulled Wright over then realized there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest. U.S. recommends 'pause' for J&J vaccine over clot reports
In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they were investigating clots in six women that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots were observed in the sinuses of the brain along with reduced platelet counts — making the usual treatment for blood clots, the blood thinner heparin, potentially “dangerous.”
More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects.
Chauvin defense presents its case starting today. After more than two weeks of testimony from eyewitnesses, Minneapolis police officials, medical experts and George Floyd’s brother, the prosecution is nearing the finish line with its murder and manslaughter case against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. During today’s court proceedings, Chauvin's attorney will begin calling witnesses to the stand, trying to counter the prosecution's case that George Floyd died as a direct result of Chauvin's use of force. The defense argues that Floyd’s health conditions and drug use are to blame for his death. 3 things to know: -
Defense will start presenting its case Tuesday; judge rejects sequestering jurors early due to Brooklyn Center police shooting. -
A use-of-force expert testifying for the state said Chauvin’s actions against Floyd were not an acceptable practice anywhere in modern policing. Floyd’s brother, Philonise, provided emotional testimony about how his older brother cared for his siblings and was heartbroken over the death of his mother in 2018. Watch a clip from his testimony here.
The trial continues at 9:15 a.m. Watch a livestream of the proceedings on MPRNews.org or our Facebook page. COVID-19 cases swell in Minnesota. Nearly a third of adult Minnesotans are fully vaccinated, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Disease metrics continue to show Minnesota is headed down the wrong path, with active cases, hospitalizations and death trends at levels seen during the winter. State officials believe the state’s vaccination effort will ensure that Minnesota doesn’t relive the worst of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the next few weeks will be easy. Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics: 6,959 deaths (2 new) 544,046 positive cases; 95 percent off isolation 47.3 percent of adults with at least one dose; 32.2 percent completely vaccinated About 84 percent of Minnesotans 65 and older with at least one vaccine
— Katie Moritz, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @katecmoritz | 
