GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICER TRIAL

Minnesota prosecutors oppose releasing Chauvin juror names

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors have asked a judge to reject a request by media outlets to unseal the names of the jurors who convicted ex-Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the death of George Floyd.Judge Peter Cahill had ordered earlier that the jurors’ identities be kept secret for at least 180 days. The media coalition asked Cahill earlier this month to release the information immediately, saying there was no known threat to warrant keeping their names sealed. But prosecutor Matthew Frank argued Monday that releasing their names now could subject them to harassment and make it harder to seat a jury for the trial of three codefendants.

ACTIVIST’S GRANDSON SLAIN-CONVICTION

Minneapolis man convicted in activist’s grandson slaying

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jurors have convicted a man charged in the fatal shooting of the grandson of a prominent Minneapolis civil rights activist. Twenty-five-year-old Dontae D. White was convicted Friday of intentional second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. White is charged in the death of 27-year-old Kevin Beasley on April 18, 2020 at a house party in north Minneapolis. Beasley was the grandson of civil rights leader Spike Moss. According to the criminal complaint, Beasley was shot after confronting White’s brother about being at the party. White is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 27.

HOTEL-RECORDINGS-TEACHER-CHARGED

Ex-Wisconsin teacher to pleads guilty to filming students

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A former Wisconsin high school teacher accused of secretly videotaping undressed students during field trips in Wisconsin and Minnesota pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, under a plea deal with prosecutors. Thirty-nine-year-old David M. Kruchten faces six to 20 years in prison, after pleading guilty to two federal charges. Sentencing has been set for Oct. 22. In Minnesota, Kruchten still faces three counts of interfering with the privacy of a minor. Kruchten told U.S. District Judge James Peterson that he wanted to see students undressed, and had been setting up cameras compulsively.

WILDFIRES-MINNESOTA

Wildfire in northeastern Minnesota grows to 1,500 acres

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A rapidly growing wildfire in northeastern Minnesota has expanded to at least 1,500 acres and prompted some evacuations. The fire was spotted around 3 p.m. Sunday near Greenwood Lake, about 15 miles southwest of Isabella, in the Superior National Forest. Officials say the the cause has not been determined. Authorities ordered cabin and property owners in the area just to the north around McDougal Lake to evacuate Monday and closed nearby recreation areas, campgrounds and boat launches. There were reports of extensive ash and smoke along Minnesota Highway 1. Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday night authorized the National Guard to assist.

CANOEIST-BODY RECOVERED

Canoeists body recovered from lake after 4-day search

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say the body of a missing 21-year-old canoeist was recovered from a lake Monday after a four-day search. WDIO-TV reports Philip Poulose, of Roseville, and a friend were canoeing on Sand Lake on Thursday when strong winds and waves started to swamp their canoe. Officials say Poulose had told his friend he was going to try and swim for the shoreline. The friend swam toward a small island on the lake, where he was eventually rescued. Neither were wearing a life jacket.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota COVID-19 hospitalizations highest since mid-May

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health officials are reporting the highest number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 since mid-May. Minnesota hospitals were treating 411 coronavirus patients as of Friday, That’s up from up from 90 in mid-July. Of those current patients, 109 were sick enough to warrant intensive care. The state is also reporting five new deaths from COVID-19, along with 1,470 new infections. More than 7,000 residents vaccinated against the virus have been infected, but health officials say that’s a tiny fraction of the vaccinated population. Gov. Tim Walz has extended a $100 incentive program for new vaccine recipients for one more week.

STABBING TRIAL

Trial date set for man accused of stabbing wife to death

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Woodbury man accused of stabbing his wife while six children were upstairs watching TV will stand trial this spring. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Washington County District Judge Juanita Freemen scheduled 40-year-old McKinley Phillips’ trial to start April 11. She anticipates the proceedings will last about a week. Phillips faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with the June 25 death of his wife, Shevon. According to court documents, Phillips allegedly stabbed her in the basement while the children, ages 5 to 15, were watching TV upstairs, then fled the state on a Greyhound bus. He was captured on the bus near Tomah, Wisconsin, on June 26.

CAR-TO-CAR HOMICIDE

Car-to-car shooting leads to Minneapolis’ 62nd homicide

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A car-to-car shooting has led to Minneapolis’ 62nd homicide of the year. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports police received multiple calls of shots fired near the Lyndale neighborhood in south-central Minneapolis early Sunday morning. First responders found a 20-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Investigators believe occupants of two vehicles were shooting at each other. The victim was inside one of the vehicles when he was hit. His name has not been released. The other vehicle fled the scene.