Good morning. It's Wednesday. The day will be mostly sunny with highs in the 50s north and mid-60s south. By this evening — cloudy with showers in the west and southwest of the state. For more weather, head over to Updraft.
Yesterday's COVID-19 data offered more evidence that the pandemic is in retreat. That included the lowest daily count since August at 256. These hopeful trends come as the state gears up to end all remaining statewide COVID-19 restrictions. And as of yesterday afternoon, half of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated.
A meditation coach, beekeeper and prosecutor The evidence in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin was so compelling to Jerry Blackwell that he took on the case for free. He became known around the world as the lawyer who opened the case against Chauvin — and then sealed it. As Chauvin sits in prison awaiting his sentence, Blackwell, 59, is quietly returning to a life where he was better known as a meditation coach, hobby farmer, beekeeper and corporate lawyer. MPR News reporter Riham Feshir shares this profile of Blackwell.
George Floyd: One year later
Legislators look to end ban on evictions
One of Gov. Walz's last remaining pandemic restrictions is a ban on rental property evictions. He says the ban won't lift unless lawmakers agree on a path forward. Legislators say they want to be fair to both tenants and landlords in allowing evictions again. And they're currently at a standstill.
Brian Bakst has the full story.
Here's what else we're watching
– Grace Birnstengel, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @grace__ | 
