Wintry weather to stay for the weekend. Tonight, look for occasional snow in central Minnesota and the northeast tonight, mixed in with light and freezing drizzle in the southwest and east-central parts of the state. Lows will be in the upper teens north to low 30s southeast. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of freezing drizzle again southeast and flurries in the north.

A Hennepin County judge dismissed the lesser of two murder charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd. The judge said the most serious charge, second-degree murder, and the manslaughter charge remain and may proceed toward trial.

Also today, Hennepin County prosecutors brought charges against a truck driver who drove onto the Interstate 35W bridge that was filled with protesters last May, narrowly missing people.

Bogdan Vechirko, 35, faces felony and gross misdemeanor charges of threats of violence and criminal vehicular operation. The charges say he admitted trying to drive through the crowd.

Minnesota health officials are reporting elevated COVID-19 deaths across the state again today, though they’ve dropped from yesterday’s record toll.

The state reported an additional 20 deaths, nearly double the rolling seven-day average for the state. Testing is reaching its usual mid-week rise, and returned more than 1,500 positive cases in the latest data. 

Health officials have rolled out an at-home saliva COVID-19 testing program. The at-home collection pilot program is launching in two dozen counties or tribal nations around the state. 

People in these counties will be able to order a test through the mail. It will be shipped to their home and performed with the help of a health care professional over the internet. The test will then be shipped to a facility in Oakdale, and results will be available electronically in 24-48 hours. 

For more of the latest news in under 10 minutes, subscribe to the Minnesota Today podcast.