April 9, 2021

Mostly cloudy skies tonight with rain likely in the northeast. Lows ranging from the upper 20s to mid-30s in the northwest, to near 40 southeast. For your Saturday, expect partly sunny skies with highs in the 50s. Get the latest from Updraft.

Long-awaited testimony from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner in the trial of Derek Chauvin is focused on how George Floyd died.

On the stand Friday, Dr. Andrew Baker said, with the autopsy, he determined the force applied to Floyd was too great for him to bear, given his heart disease.

"In my opinion, the law enforcement subdual and restraint was just more than Mr. Floyd could take by virtue of those heart conditions,” said Baker.

Baker ruled Floyd's death a homicide. He attributed the cause of death to cardiopulmonary arrest, as Chauvin's knee was on the man's neck. But he also believed Floyd's recent drug use and heart condition contributed to his death.

The number of coronavirus cases and hospital admissions in the state continues to trend upward, with no slowdown in sight.

Newly released data from the Minnesota Department of Health show the number of active, confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state is now around where it was in late December.

Deaths are also up, at their highest level in two months. But the state's vaccination rate continues to grow. Minnesota today reported about 70,000 more vaccinations. The seven-day trend is the highest it's been since vaccinations began in late December.

More than 1.9 million Minnesotans have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, while about 1.3 million are fully inoculated.

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As vaccine eligibility expands, one southern MN health department recalibrates

A week into Minnesota’s expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, at least one regional health department is beginning to feel the pinch. Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties, a two-county public health department in southern Minnesota, requested 300 doses of vaccine to administer this week, but they’re struggling to fill appointment slots — and dealing with no-shows. So next week, the state won’t be sending any vaccine for the department to administer.

White Bear Lake students walk out to protest racism

Dozens of White Bear Lake Area High School students walked out of class on Friday to demand school leaders do more to address racist incidents. Holding signs and chanting, they listened to fellow students describe racist incidents they’d endured at the school. Then they marched down McKnight Road.

Carnahan faces GOP leadership challenge from state Sen. Koran

About 350 of the most active members of the Republican Party of Minnesota meet virtually Saturday to decide whether Jennifer Carnahan remains state party chair.

Can vaccines stop variants? Here's what we know so far

One of the hottest areas of research right now: Studies to determine how well current vaccines work against emerging coronavirus "variants of concern."

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Britain's Prince Philip dies at age 99

Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that both defined and constricted his life, has died, Buckingham Palace said Friday. He was 99.

Rapper-actor DMX, known for gruff delivery, dies at 50

DMX, the raspy-voiced hip-hop artist who produced the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)" and who rapped with a trademark delivery that was often paired with growls, barks and “What!” as an ad-lib, has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 50.

Olympic Gold: Men's gymnastics struggling to survive

For decades, Division I programs have produced an overwhelming majority of the U.S. Olympic team. But the number of Division I programs is shrinking. The University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa will stop offering it as a scholarship sport at the end of the month.

Have you been tested for COVID-19? We want to hear from you.

While the state and federal government have increased attention on COVID-19 vaccinations, epidemiologists say testing for COVID-19 has to be a priority to pinpoint an outbreak. MPR News and our partners at APM Reports are interested in better understanding the types and costs of COVID-19 tests available across the country.

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