MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors deciding the fate of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the alleged murder of George Floyd finished their first day of deliberations on Monday. The 12-juror panel is due to resume deliberating on Tuesday morning. The high-profile case was handed over to the jury around 4 p.m. local time on Monday, after more than two weeks of testimony. The jury, of six white people and six people who are black or multiracial, adjourned about four hours later. They then retired to a hotel where they are being sequestered for this final phase of the trial. The first readmore

Connecticut plans to phase out many COVID-19 restrictions affecting businesses next month, including long-shuttered bars, while keeping the mandatory indoor mask-wearing rules in place for now, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Monday. The announcement came as the state surpassed 8,000 COVID-associated deaths. Diners seperated by barriers at Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford, Connecticut on March 19, 2021.AP Photo/Jessica Hill Beginning May 1, outdoor restrictions will be lifted on businesses, such as mask-wearing when social distancing can’t be observed. Also, the rule that alcohol can’t be served without food will be lifted, essentially allowing outdoor bar service. Additionally, readmore

Walter Mondale, who served as vice president under Jimmy Carter and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, died Monday at 93, according to a family spokesperson. Nearing his death on Sunday, the elder statesman from Minnesota spoke by phone with President Biden and former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, as well as Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Axios reported. President Jimmy Carter embraces Vice President Walter Mondale on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 7, 1978.AP In a goodbye email obtained by the website, Mondale told 320 staffers who worked for him over readmore

Nine juveniles were shot after a feud broke out at a 12-year-old child’s birthday party in Louisiana on Saturday night, authorities said. About 60 young people were attending the gathering at a home in LaPlace when gunfire rang out at about 8:40 p.m., according to a press release from St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Investigators believe an argument between two groups of young males sparked the shooting. The gunshot victims were aged 17 and younger. Two of them remained hospitalized as of Monday, police said, while the other seven were treated and released. No arrests have been made readmore

Enlarge Image People walking in Galeao International airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 13, 2021. Brazil is one of the listed as "Level 4: Do Not Travel" by the State Department. Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images The US State Department on Monday said it will up its “Do Not Travel” advisory to about 80 percent of countries worldwide. “The Department of State strongly recommends US citizens reconsider all travel abroad,” the agency said in a statement. At least 34 out of about 200 countries were already listed as “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” the department’s highest warning. They include readmore