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Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, credited with expanding the office of the vice president and the first presidential candidate to choose a woman as running mate, died Monday in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Mondale’s death was announced in a statement from his family. No cause was cited.
Mondale served Minnesota as attorney general and U.S. senator. He combined liberal Democratic beliefs with pragmatic policy-making, but saw his national aspirations curtailed as the country turned toward Republicans promising smaller government.
He followed the trail blazed by his political mentor, Hubert H. Humphrey, to the vice presidency, serving under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981.
Jury deliberation begins in Chauvin trial after hours of closing statements Derek Chauvin’s fate is now in the hands of 12 jurors who must decide if the former Minneapolis police officer acted reasonably in his use of force to restrain and subdue George Floyd last May during an arrest that ended in Floyd’s death, or if his actions killed Floyd. The case went to the jury just before 4 p.m. Monday after the prosecution got a chance to push back against many of the points made in the defense’s nearly three-hour closing argument. At that time, Gov. Tim Walz and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul made public statements asking for peace when the jury comes to a verdict, which could happen any time. Jurors deliberated for about 4 hours yesterday and resume this morning.
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Jury deliberations begin as prosecution, defense end arguments; jury sequestered Chauvin faces second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; he did not testify in his defense, invoking his right to remain silent Case expected to hinge on responsibility for George Floyd’s death; defense points to Floyd’s health conditions, drugs; prosecution points to Chauvin’s actions, knee on Floyd’s neck
Mistrial based on Rep. Waters rhetoric rejected
The judge in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin criticized comments made by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., over the weekend, calling them "disrespectful to the rule of law," but rejected a motion from the defense to use her rhetoric as grounds for a mistrial.
Lawmakers tussle over public safety practices as Chauvin verdict nears The state Senate voted 48 to 19 on Monday to provide $9 million toward security expenses tied to the murder and manslaughter trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. As the public braces for a verdict and security plans are put in motion, pressure will also be on state leaders as they decide how to respond to both the short-term ramifications of the verdict and broader calls for changes to policing practices. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter told reporters Monday that they didn't plan to issue preemptive curfews in their cities in the days leading up to the Chauvin verdict.
More than half of Minnesotans now vaccinated As Minnesota races to beat back a more contagious variant of COVID-19, the state reached an important milestone this weekend, with more than half of Minnesotans 16 and older vaccinated. The state’s average positivity rate of new COVID-19 cases is down, after falling for four days in a row. Still, more than 680 Minnesotans are in the hospital seeking treatment for COVID-19, and the state reported six additional deaths Monday, bringing the state’s death toll to 7,026.
Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics: 7,026 deaths (6 new) 557,665 positive cases; 95 percent off isolation 52 percent of adults with at least one vaccine dose; 36 percent completely vaccinated About 85 percent of Minnesotans 65 and older with at least one dose
— Katie Moritz, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @katecmoritz
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