MPR News PM Update
June 25, 2021

Cloudy and cooler across Minnesota this evening with overnight lows in the 50s and 60s.
Parts of the state might get some much needed rain this weekend. There's a chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Weekend highs will be in the 70s and 80s. Find the latest on Updraft.

Judge Peter Cahill sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 and 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd more than a year ago in Minneapolis.

The sentence is 10 years longer than state guidelines recommend. Cahill said he departed from the guidance because of Chauvin's abuse of authority. 

Before the sentence was handed down, members of the Floyd family addressed the court.

George Floyd's brother Terrence said he wanted Derek Chauvin to explain his brothers death. 

"I wanted to know from the man himself. Why? What were you thinking? What was going through your head? When you had your knee on my brother's neck?"

The Floyd family did not get the answer they sought.

When given a chance to speak, Chauvin said he had to limit his comments to the court because of pending legal matters. 

"I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There's going to be some other information in the future, that would be of interest. And I hope things will give you some, some peace of mind."

Friday’s COVID-19 data continues to paint a picture of a receding pandemic with cases and hospital admissions in Minnesota trending at or near their lows from April of last year, when the pandemic was just beginning.

But, the vaccination pace remains at a crawl. It will be mid-August before the state reaches its goal of getting at least one shot into 70 percent of residents 16 and older.

Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Dan Gunderson | MPR News
 
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